Cold Days by Jim Butcher

First let me say I am a big fan of this series.  Harry Dresden is a marvelously drawn protagonist who is magnificently flawed and also capable of mythic heroics. Additionally, Butcher's writing draws you in, keeps you on the edge and all told from Harry's point of view.  Few authors manage the style with such grace and grit.

In this installment "Cold Days" (ROC division of Penguin Books, 2012) we see Harry Dresden dealing with a command from Queen Mab, who is not someone you would mess with, that is not only dangerous, but doesn't really make sense to him. He has been commanded to kill the Winter Lady, Mab's daughter! Almost from the beginning you wonder how can Dresden follow this command and keep his humanity. (For those who don't know Harry Dresden is a wizard and now the Winter Knight owing allegiance to the Winter Queen, Mab)

Dresden calls upon his many friends, family and enemies to try to stop what my be the end of the world.  In the hands of Butcher you totally believe these events and actions, even though you know this is fiction.  Such is the power of the storytelling.

Butcher also has kept Dresden growing and changing throughout the whole series.  This may be part of the continued success of these tales. Even if you think you know how it will end, Butcher makes sure you don't see it coming.  I continue to be surprised and I read the end of the book first.  I still get kicked in the head.

There are books in the series that I like better than others.  This one, while not at the top, is in the top five.  If you want to know the truth, my favorite is still "Dead Beat" the seventh in the series.

For those who haven't tried this series, and each book can stand on its own, give it a try. It is so much fun watching Dresden make mistakes, fall on his face and still get up and get it done, that I recommend starting at the beginning and read through all of them.

The opinions are that of the author of this post.

Hell's Canon by T.T. Flynn

I am a fan of short stories and grab the chance to read them whenever possible. "Hell's Canon" a Western Quintet, by T. T. Flynn , copyright 2002, Five Star, was a joy.

Flynn, probably best known for his novel "The Man from Laramie" which was made into a movie with Jimmy  Stewart, is in great form here.  From the beginning story the reader is drawn into the lives of each character and continues through to the last.

I will admit that of the five the story of Sundown Daly, in 'Satan's Deputy', captured my attention maybe more than the others.  We meet Daly as he is being released from prison and makes his threats to the warden and a visiting sheriff.  From that point on anything that could go wrong does.  It is Daly's handling of those situations that makes this such a great story.

The title story is also a fun tale that has some twists and turns you don't expect. The story starts with a man being 'pistol-slugged' for attempting to buy a drink with a bent half dollar.  From that point on the story weaves and bobs along with enough twist to keep the reader completely interested and wondering how the author will resolve the conflicts.

Additional stories include a couple of cowboys who find something doesn't smell right in the story 'A Stranger Rides'. A wild horse hunter may have met a situation he can't figure a way out of in 'So Wild and Free'.  The last of the five, 'Gambler's Lady', has a river boat race, secrets, and hidden identities.

For anyone who enjoys a well plotted story with nicely drawn characters I would recommend "Hell's Canon" as a book to add to the list. Each story is different and yet there is a thread that runs through each story of making choices, trying to find your way and do the right thing.

"Fire Eyes"

Cheryl Pierson's "Fire Eyes" ( Western Trail Blazer, 2012) had me invested in the two main characters, Kaed and Jessica from the early pages. As young widow Jessica strives to save Kaed, a U.S. Deputy Marshall, from injuries he sustained at the hands of a sadistic and well written character by the name of Fallon, you are pulled into the time and place with practiced ease.  Even Standing Bear, another deeply drawn character, lends to the mystery and wonder of the area.

Pierson deftly explains the rather quick emotional and physical bonding of the leads, although some readers might find the events happening a little too quickly.  Nonetheless, the reader can feel the reality of the emotions and the needs of Kaed and Jessica.  It is this bonding that ties the whole story together and therefore as necessary as breathing.

For me the weakest part of the book is the characters of the remaining U. S Deputy Marshals that populate the remaining parts of the book.  As a reader I had trouble keeping them straight.  There was not much in terms of descriptions that allowed me to visualize how they looked.  It was not until the book was almost over that I was able to tell the difference in a couple of them.  If anything there is a desire to know much much more about these men.  Other than the sub-plot of Frank, who I still have no idea how he looks, the story stays on track the best when focusing in the two main characters.

Yet even with these minor setbacks the book was an enjoyable and fast read.  It is worth the time to check out this early effort by the author.