Well, after finishing by Hounded Kevin Hearne, there was nothing to do but get the second book in the Iron Druid Chronicles – Hexed. Back to the world of an Irish Druid, his apprentice and his wolfhound (Oberon is STILL my favourite character)… don’t forget the widow down the street (another absolute gem) and Atticus’ lawyers – a vampire and a werewolf… the list goes on and on, so many amazing and hilarious characters in this series. I have grown firmly attached to them all.

Hexed, as you get a hint of in the name, deals more with witches this time round. Two warring factions, in fact. Now is as good a time as any to remind you to READ THESE IN ORDER, much of the conflict has bearing on past conflicts both resolved and unresolved… oh and it is also good to note… EVERYONE seems to dislike THOR in this universe…

Hexed, like Hounded, is a terrific mix of occult, adventure, humour and general shenanigans. Atticus, the main character, while being basically immortal is flawed and rather human. His friends and associates are equally as flawed and individual. No one is a perfect being, god, demon or other… rather it is a world of super humans, humans and more all trying to find their handhold on the powers available. I will warn you, sex, violence and some adult language is encountered in this book… but there isn’t the crass detail that I personally dislike.

The Iron Druid Chronicles is (at least by the second book) a well thought out and executed series of books. I find that I am sucked in almost immediately. It is relatively easy to follow the characters (though I did get confused on a few of the witches and their names but that may have just been inattention on my side), and equally as easy to find yourself deep into the book while the chores and other humdrum life items pile up around you. I do what to emphasize once again – READ IN ORDER! But what a wonderful continuation to a series that has not yet disappointed. I look forward to getting my hands on the third installment – Hammered and see what all the fuss is about Thor!

Now you would think I would learn my lesson about NOT judging a book by its cover… In fact, one of our Australian facts found recently was that there is a bookstore that has special books wrapped in brown paper with just the genres listed for just that very reason. (Elizabeth’s Bookshops) Yet when I go to the library and have to manage the kids at “library voices” levels… well a quick title read and a brief glance at the cover and then move on. That was what Carbon Copy Cowboy was (add in the series title – Texas Twins). 

Now I realize that I cannot expect too much… first off, I am never sure that if they ARE in a series they are first book (NOPE… book 3!), that I am going to love all the characters (well so so) or that I will even be completely drawn into the book… Carbon Copy Cowboy by Arlene James was a relatively quick and light read. The overlying issue of the story – about the history of the main family, was never answered… annoyingly enough. I WAS able to understand somewhat what had occurred in the previous two books, enough so that blanks are filled in relatively nicely over all. 

The main issue of the book that WAS answered was the identity of the woman found in her car with a bridal veil on of all things post accident with amnesia. This did wrap up a lot of questions through out the story. (very tidy in some respects). The romance is an interesting one, what with one person (“Kendra”) not even knowing if she had a family etc. that were waiting for her. The other half (Jack Colby) has his own unknowns… though his are all centered around his mother in a coma. She has all the answers and he has all the questions… including why he and his sister are actually each half of a set of identical twins who knew nothing about the other.

There are quite a few characters in this book. Of course, starting with the first in the series would have simplified that more than a little! But I think you CAN pick this one up without the others and still get by nicely. All in all an enjoyable read, I am unsure if I will make the effort to hunt down the rest (before and after) of the series. These Love Inspired paperbacks can be as hard to find in the system as a pure Harlequin. (not that I look often!) So if you need something set in Texas with twins and mystery and romance… all in a contemporary setting ON A RANCH… AND with a faith aspect to it.. go for it! Though I have to warn you, this book is FULL of prayer moments. So if that is not your cup of tea….

Well, I know I haven’t mentioned this one the blog yet (being so far behind as I am!) but this is our time to learn all about Australia and all things Australian. It has been almost a full month now of amazing facts and interesting dialogue between ourselves and the friends online who live in Australia currently. While searching for books at the library (and I may add someone else is doing the same topic and chasing me for resources! ACK!) I came across some fiction books under the same keywords. So what is a girl to do but request one and give it a go! So… here goes!

First off, Patchwork Family in the Outback by Soraya Lane is one of a series called Bellaroo Creek (which is also the location they are set at in… you guessed it… the Outback). They are also NOT the inspirationals I usually read, rather a Harlequin Romance, though still soft and without great detail in regards to intimacy… a sort of, kiss kiss fade to black but we darn well know what those two got up to… sort of story.

Basically Bellaroo Creek is in need of a teacher, otherwise its school will close and families will have to move (or as we have learned, take radio school… though this option is not discussed in the book). This is a huge fear for single father Harrison Black who regards life as one bitten always shy… no twice about it… when his wife jumps ship to move to a more urban center. Enter Poppy Carter, wooed by the one dollar a month rent and the chance to make a difference after her own disastrous romantic history.

I enjoyed this book on a rather light hearted, easy read sort of basis. There is no religious component and the speed of the story is relatively quick. I don’t know how true to life it would be, this Bellaroo Creek in the Outback and would love it if someone could fill me in either way.

What I found interesting is the isolation and how the characters reacted to it. I wonder how I would feel out where you really have to depend on those things at hand and people near by with the understanding that outside that bubble is quite the drive to get to more.

The characters are endearing, the issues spring up from the past and the current weather/land/seasonal change. So there is no true bad guy dipping a finger in the pot. I liked that. The intimacy description was well within my comfort range though at times I wanted to swat the man upside the head. So, if you are interested in a light read based in Australia… give it a go… and please let me know if you do!