“Oolong Dead” by Laura Childs

“Oolong Dead” by Laura Childs
2009, Berkeley Prime Crime
ISBN: 978-0-425-22599-8

“Oolong Dead” by Laura Childs is number ten in the Tea Shop Mysteries. I found myself entertained by Theo, short for Theodosa, a middle-aged lady who owns a tea shop. She is inevitably drawn into murder investigations. Turns out she’s done this before, but always as an amateur sleuth.

The eye of suspicion looks her way as she is the first to discover the body of a woman who didn’t have nice things to say to Theo. It also didn’t help that the dead lady in question was also the sister of Theo’s ex-boyfriend. Unraveling the stories people made up and uncovering the motives behind what they did takes up the pages of this book. You will be on edge even to the last pages. I enjoy a book like that.

Because Theo’s first interest is the tea shop there is great attention given to different teas they serve at the Indigo Tea Shop and the goodies they serve with the tea. Best of all is a collection of recipes at the end of the book.

You can’t go wrong where ever you start with this series. It’s like a wonderful Southern welcome from Theo and her friends as you join them in a good old fashioned whodunit.

“Many a River” by Elmer Kelton

“Many a River” by Elmer Kelton
2008, A Forge Book
ISBN: 978-0-7753-2050-6

What happens when 2 young brothers find their family torn apart viciously during an Indian attack? After their mother and father were murdered Jeffrey, the older brother hides and Todd, the younger brother is kidnapped by the Indians.

In “Many a River” by Elmer Kelton, the story follows the lives of these two boys as they cope, as they adjust, as they cling to survival in the aftermath of the destruction of their family. Neither knows the other is alive.

Years pass and the Civil War explodes upon the country. One brother is with Union sympathizers and the other with people of the Confederacy. Follow this incredible story of life during the 1800’s in Texas and New Mexico.

“Together Alone” by Barbara Delinsky

“Together Alone” by Barbara Delinsky
1995, Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-171354-5

“Together Alone” by Barbara Delinsky centers in on the stories of three friends. These women are each faced with choices that require them to look at the most basic of life situations and once the decisions are made propel each of their lives in dynamic directions.

Emily and Doug’s daughter is going to college. Now, Emily’s attention turns toward her husband who has become a workaholic. At the heart of their relationship is a grievous ache that has never been solved or healed.

Kay is a teacher. She is involved in many activities related to school but is confused as her husband begins asking her to look at their relationship in a new way.

Celeste is a single mother. Her daughter, too, is going to college for the first time. With the need to totally focus upon her daughter no longer there she thinks that she would like to have a relationship. The question, though, is who?

This is a page turner you won’t want to put down. I enjoyed this book.

“First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux

“First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux
2005, Atria Books
ISBN: 978-0-7434-3714-1

I started it yesterday and finished it today. “First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux is a fast paced romantic mystery. I also like that the heroine and the heroes are getting along there and are solidly middle-aged.

It’s a terrific triangle of the heroine Eden Palmer and two, count them two heroes, Jared the FBI agent and Braddon the local lawyer.

Eden is bequeathed a very old house in North Carolina by a woman she hasn’t seen in years. But, the house doesn’t come to her peacefully. There is someone out there killing people and Eden finds herself being watched by the FBI.

The action is fast and furious at times. And to watch those two heroes vying for Eden’s favor and love is rather interesting. Lovely to have two men fawning over you at the same time whatever age you are.

It’s funny. It’s heart warming. It’s a really good story.

“Seducing an Angel” by Mary Balogh

“Seducing an Angel” by Mary Balogh
2009, Delacorte Press
ISBN: 98-0-385-34105-9

“Seducing an Angel” by Mary Balogh is a Victorian romance set in England. Cassandra Belmont is known far and wide as having killed her husband with an axe. Polite society tends to give her the direct cut and it almost doesn’t bother her anymore. What does bother her, is that the people closest to her, her once upon a time governess Alice who stuck with her through thick and thin, her maid Mary and her little girl Belinda and Roger a maimed, but loyal and loving dog have no one else to support them. The only answer is to find a job. Except, no one would hire Cassandra.

She feels the only answer is to acquire a protector and become his mistress. It sounds cold blooded, but if you think about it sometimes circumstances almost seem to force people into doing things they would not normally do. She picks Stephen out as her mark and spends a great deal of effort seducing him. It sounds sordid and you wonder how anybody can bear to show their face in public. I’d have a hard time doing it, I have to say.

This story has a happier time of it to show that the underlying goodness, the underlying moral character of a person will surface and be that trait best known to represent people rather than a mask they feel forced to wear.

Also, it has some juicy sex. I digress. Anyway, good book. Part of a series I think, but it seems like when Mary writes she just uncovers so many interesting stories about the people in her books that they just don’t fit into one book.