Jana Deleon

Leigh loaned me an ebook by Jana Deleon. It was the first in the Miss Fortune series. It is light reading, like a book sit com. The first one is free on Amazon. She has another series with a free first, too. I've downloaded it, too.
The Janet Evanovitch books are funny to me, too. I like books with action but these are nice to read between the scary stuff.

Good News!

http://www.thekindlebookreview.net/top-5-category-finalists/
That's the link that goes to the semi-finalists' independently-published books.  Richard's book, Jump Drive, made it to the top five in the young adult category!  Wow!
I'm also interested to see some of the other books listed as semi-finalists.  I'd tried reading some of the indie books thinking good authors have to start somewhere, but I wasn't impressed frequently enough to continue reading them. I like a good story with good characters.

Audible Books

I'm listening to David Weber's Honor Harrington series on Audible while I walk.  The bad guys (Peeps...Peoples' Republic of Haven) pretty much sound like cartoon Frenchmen with adenoid problems and tongue studs.

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon - a Comment

I think I know why it is taking Diana Gabaldon so long to publish the next book after An Echo in the Bone. She got her characters in such an awful mess that even she can't figure out how to extricate them!

Niccolo Rising

I first read a book by Dorothy Dunnett in the Citronelle, Alabama, library.  It was the third of the Lymond Chronicles.  It was rich in devious plot twists, descriptions, historic settings, and wonderfully complex characters.
After reading the third one, I started on the series in order. I wanted to buy the series but couldn't find it.  It was before computers in homes or internet.
I eventually found the series in hardback going through a reprint at Harrod's in London.  I bought the ones they'd had so far and put the future editions on my credit card to be delivered as they appeared in reprint.
Then a new series started...Niccolo Rising was the first.  I was almost afraid to read it in case the author had used all of her brilliance on the characters of the first series and the next would be a disappointment.
I don't like the second series quite as well, but it is still wonderful.  In addition to all that, the setting is in Bruges, a jewel of a small city that I especially like. Some people can spend hours in art museums.  I love wandering the streets, reveling in the old architecture.  So when I read (or reread) the book, I also revisit the town in memory.
These books are not for the faint of heart who think history is tidy and noble.  It is rather more Machiavellian...interesting to read about but better viewed from a distance.
BUT! Niccolo Rising has appeared in audio.  I was delighted. It is the only one, so far.  I think collecting books used to be more difficult.  Now I have the hardbacked books (acquired in England), ebooks, and have started on the audio books as they become available:)

audio books

When I read books, it is possible for it to contain a good bit of description and lengthy passages I don't pay much attention to.  I just skim over it looking to see when the next part of the plot starts back.  When listening to an audio book, I find that sometimes I'm immersed in passage after passage of detailed intimate information that I really can't easily skip because my hands are busy with something else.  I don't always have a clue as to how much of it there is in a book and have blithely suggested such books to others only to think later when listening that the suggestion may not have been suitable. 

Dubious

I'm listening to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  I am on the third book in the series.  I've read and listened to the series several times over the years.  I wonder if I will begin speaking with an English accent or Scottish.  I like the reader as well as the story.
But.
She uses the word "dubious" repeatedly.  It continuously reminds me that I first learned the word from my dad who pronounced it "jubous."

Catherine Coulter

Catherine Coulter's FBI series is good.  But people who are reading it might miss one of her entertaining series...the bride series.  I don't know if guys will like this series, but to me, it is hysterically funny.  I frequently reread books.  I collect the ones I like because I like the characters and revisit them from time to time.
I do not revisit the suspense books.  I already know how they turn out.  But I'm really fine with rereading books with entertaining, likable characters.  Those authors make a lot of money from me because I buy the books, I buy them again in e-format, and some I even buy in audible format! 
I have over a thousand books on my Kindle.  I've donated a lot of books to the library once I got them in e-format.  I am pretty sure I can't be the only person who does this.  So this post is for people like me.