Bookish Nostalgia - February 2016

Can you believe that we are already into February?  One-twelfth of 2016 gone.  I think that time is passing faster or maybe I'm just getting older faster.  Ah well.  We still have books and reading and what's better than that?  February is the month for Valentine's Day, but I'm not sure that my reading really reflected the month of 'love' over the past 20 years.  Here's what I remember best:

February 1996 - Killing Orders by Sara Paretsky - This is the 3rd V. I. Warshawski book by Sara Paretsky.  There are now 18 books in this series.  Do you know V. I. or Victoria Iphigenia?  She's a tough private eye in Chicago and that city is almost another character.  In this book, V. I. has to step in when her very unpleasant Aunt Rosa is investigated by the authorities in her role as treasurer of St. Albert's Priory.  So we have the Church, some criminals, and horrible Aunt Rosa.  All the fun stuff in one book.  I went through a period where I read a bunch of V. I. books and really enjoyed them.  I'm not caught up at all on this series, but it's one I've always meant to get back to.  Sara Paretsky can certainly write.  She was awarded the Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America in 2011.

February 2001 - Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt - This is the first of a mystery series (20 books) written by the son of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and it stars Eleanor.  I know - what is it about those children of Presidents and writing mysteries (Margaret Truman also)?  I did like this book and this series though.  I'm not sure how well written they were, but I loved the idea of Eleanor Roosevelt as a sleuth.  While FDR was still in the White House.  Set in 1939, a White House staffer is killed and the First Lady's secretary is accused of the crime.  Eleanor to the rescue!  These are out of print and not available as e-books, but I have a few of them around.

February 2006 - Naked in Death by J. D. Robb - This book is the first in J. D. Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) 'In Death' series, which now numbers 41!  And it's a good one.  Eve Dallas is a lieutenant in the New York Police Department, Homicide Division.  She's tough and independent.  Her job means everything to her.  In this first book, she investigates the death of a woman who has connections to all kinds of important people.  One of the people she meets and interviews as a suspect is an Irish billionaire named Roarke.  And life will never be the same again - for either of them.  Now don't assume that this series is all about romance.  It's definitely not.  These are pretty tough police procedurals.  But they are also about the epic love story that Eve and Roarke share.  Oh, and they are set in the future in the 2050's.  We're a lot closer to that date than we were when J. D. Robb wrote this book in 1995!  I really like this series.

February 2011 - The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - This is the first book in Julie Kagwa's Iron Fey series - YA.  It has 6 books at this time.  A little outside of my usual reading type, I can't remember why I picked this one up.  Don't get me wrong - I like young adult books and I like supernatural type creatures - witches, vampires, and the like.  Somehow, I have never been as fond of the Fey or fairies.  Anyway, I do remember liking this book a lot.  In it, Meghan finds out that she's the daughter of a faery king.  Her 4-year-old little brother has been exchanged for a changeling.  Her best friend, Robbie, is actually 'Puck' - yes, that 'Puck'.  There's a prince.  And another world.  Meghan has to rescue her brother and she needs help doing it.  I'm not sure why I didn't read on in this series, but writing about it here makes me want to add The Iron King to my reread list and begin again.

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Well, that's all for this month.  Not much romance or hearts or candy.  Guess you'll have to find those on your own.  See you in March!