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The Dark Wind
The Dark Wind
Tony Hillerman | 1982 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Plane Crash Brings Mystery
Navajo police detective Jim Chee has recently transferred to a new area in the reservation, and his unfamiliarity with the area and people is making it hard to investigate cases. For example, there’s the John Doe body he can’t even identify. And he has no leads on the case of the windmill that is being sabotaged. While out staking it out overnight, Chee witnesses a plane crash. A plane that was flying low without lights. Chee figures those flying the plane were up to no good, and he is ordered to stay away from the Federal investigation. But it’s kind of hard when the Feds think he knows more about the crash. Can he figure out what happened without framing himself more?

While this is the fifth book in the series, and the second to feature Jim Chee, it reads like a standalone, with little from the previous book being brought up here. That isn’t to say that the characters are bad, it’s just a difference in storytelling from what we get today. I found the characters pulled me in. The mystery was strong with plenty to keep me guessing and a red herring that distracted me. Yet the ending was logical. As always, the landscape and culture came to life. I’m looking forward to more.
  
Michelangelo's Ghost (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery, #4)
Michelangelo's Ghost (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery, #4)
Gigi Pandian | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jaya’s on the Trail of an Obscure Italian Painter
Jaya Jones has gotten a tantalizing email from an old mentor. Dr. Lilith Vine has found an obscure Renaissance artist she thinks was not only a protege of Michelangelo, but someone who traveled to India, incorporating that culture into his work. His name and work have been lost to history, but Jaya can’t help but be intrigued at the possibility. After a death under suspicious – at least to Jaya – circumstances, she travels to Italy in hopes of finding the man’s long-lost work. But can she find a centuries old trail?

I let too long go between reading books in this series, but it was nice to be back in Jaya’s presence. The story grabbed me quickly and I was hooked the entire way through. This is different from a typical murder mystery, and I was on board for it. I loved how it all came together at the end and how some clues had been woven in early. The characters were interesting, and I need to read more soon to find out about what happens next to them. Fans of the author’s new Secret Staircase series will enjoy some references to those characters thanks to a crossover character. This is a fun book that will keep the pages turning.
  
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    Learn Spanish with Babbel

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Tori Harned (1 KP) rated Divide by Ed Sheeran in Music

May 25, 2018  
Divide  by Ed Sheeran
Divide by Ed Sheeran
2017 | Singer-Songwriter
Embracing his culture (5 more)
No more bad language
His signature style
Thoughtful lyrics
Ability to write about various topics
The sound
A Brand New Ed
This album has really impressed me and sort of brought me back to Ed Sheeran's fan base. Admittedly, I'm kind of snobby when it comes to bad language and I kind of hate when artists use bad language unnecessarily (I have three little sisters that don't need to hear that). When Ed Sheeran first broke out, I was in love at first listen, but as time wore on and his foul mouth became a part of every song, I kind of stopped listening or caring. This album I knew was different the moment I heard "Castle on the Hill" and then when I heard an interview with Ed talking about a cab driver who said if there was less cursing in his music he would let his daughter listen to it and how Ed took that to heart, I knew I had to check it out. I've been pleased ever since. This album takes every little good thing about Ed (minus the potty mouth) and turns it into these beautiful, meaningful songs that share new sides to him, and expand on pieces of him we knew were already there. I think Ed is fabulously innovative with music and someone I will always watch out for when new albums drop in the future.
  
I've been anxiously awaiting the sequel to Summer of Secrets, and this book was worth the wait. A few matters that were left unfinished in the previous book are accounted for here, such as Rachel and Micah's wedding, and the humbling of Bishop Hiram's brash behavior. The introduction of several new characters, such as Ben's two maidel aunts, served to add color to the community of Willow Ridge and even added a dash of humor to the several romance-heavy sub-plots.
I thoroughly enjoyed following along in the lives of Miriam Lantz and her daughters, especially when reading about all of the mouth-watering food that the Sweet Seasons Bakery and Cafe served up everyday. I plan on trying out of a few of the recipes in the back of the book, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a bread recipe that I've tried among those listed.
The background of Amish culture I have also continued to find fascinating, as I learned more of the nuances in speech, behavior, and traditional beliefs. While I find some things too restrictive, such as the clothing and lack of electricity, the adherence to gender roles, the respect they give to one another, their beliefs in the Bible, and their use of wholesome and naturally-grown foods are all things I greatly admire. This book only serves to bring it all to life and make it that much more appealing. I look forward to reading more of this series.