The Snow Gypsy

 

Rose is a veterinarian living in England at the end of World War II.  Lola is a young Gypsy living in Spain at the time of the Spanish Civil War.  She has lost her family.

 

Rose and Lola connect when Rose travels to Spain to try to find out what has happened to her brother, Nathan.  He went to Spain to fight against Franco’s politics and Rose hasn’t heard from him for eight years.  The women’s love for Nieve, a little girl Lola rescued as a baby after a massacre in her village further strengthens their bond.

 

The historical setting and descriptions of the Spanish countryside are interesting, as is the information about the Gypsy or Roma culture and the flamenco dancing descriptions.  I like Lola and Rose and the interaction between them.  I love Nieve, she’s a lively little girl, and I love Gunesh, Rose’s dog. 

 

I didn’t like the way Rose slept with not just one, but two men who weren’t honest with her.  I kind of understand where Zoltan is coming from.  He is ashamed of his past and doesn’t want to broadcast it.  He should have been upfront with Rose, however.  Cristobal is a jerk.  Of course, Rose chose to get involved with these men.  I understand it takes two.  This content didn’t add to or make the story better in my opinion.

 

More information about the Spanish Civil War itself would have been interesting.  The story focuses mostly on the characters, and while there is nothing intrinsically wrong with that, more about the historical setting would have been good.  The ending is abrupt and unexpected.  There are a lot of years not accounted for between the last two chapters.

 

I did enjoy The Snow Gypsy for the most part, but it’s not a book I would go out of my way to read again.  I am interested in checking out some of Lindsay Jayne Ashford’s other books.

Wild Child by Katie Cross

Ellie and Devin have been best friends since childhood and plan to go to college together.  This changes when Devin decides to join the Marines (for a good reason-to help his family).  However, Devin doesn’t tell Ellie his plans until just before he’s supposed to leave.

 

Ellie is understandably upset about this and doesn’t attend Devin’s going away party in person but watches from a distance.  Ellie and Devin don’t speak for three years.  Ellie deliberately avoids situations where she might see Devin when he visits.  They finally reconnect and express their feelings.  Ellie and Devin have always loved each other and still do.  This is made more apparent when Ellie and Devin have to deal with some people who are into drugs.

 

Wild Child is a sweet, entertaining book.  I love the interaction between Ellie and Devin.  The importance of sharing thoughts and feelings and listening to another person’s side of the story is communicated well.  I love the mountain setting, and Ellie’s job as an outdoor guide is interesting.  I did wonder about her agreeing to take people she is getting bad vibes from on an outdoor guide, but at least Devin went with her.  The outdoor guide is an opportunity for Ellie and Devin to spend time together and help each other.

 

Wild Child is the sixth book in the Coffee Shop series another winner by Katie Cross. 

4th of July wishes

 

Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

 

Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist living and working in Montreal, Canada, believes there is a connection in cases involving women whose bodies have been mutilated in a similar fashion.  The Canadian police aren’t inclined to believe this unfortunately.

 

Circumstances change when a friend of Brennan’s is murdered, and evidence suggests someone is after Brennan and her daughter Katy.  Brennan is confronted by the killer and in danger before she manages to get away from him and he is brought to justice.

 

Pros:  Brennan is an engaging character.  She’s tough on the outside and sticks up for herself as necessary.  On the inside, she is vulnerable and struggling with the tragedy she deals with at work.  The information on how investigations are conducted and the French phrases throughout the book are interesting.

 

Cons:  I don't care for the bad language, although in this case it fits into the context of the story.  The content is gruesome, which of course isn’t surprising.  Murder and forensics aren’t pleasant.  However, there is no balance.  I’m familiar with the TV show Bones, although I haven’t watched it for a while.  The book and the show are very different.  The investigations on the show are gruesome also, but the interaction between Brennan and Booth is funny and provides a break from the grimness.  The book is rather long too.

 

For the most part, I enjoyed Deja Dead, and I will likely read more books by Ms. Reichs, but I’m not going to rush to do so.