Action and More Action

I’ve been waiting to read Ilona Andrews’s Ruby Fever since I finished the second book in the three-book series. It finally came out, and it loaded on my Kindle, but then two of my online friends came out with new books, and I wanted to read those first to leave reviews. And they were both wonderful. Mae Clair and Staci Troilo’s The Haunting of Chatham Hollow is one of the best books I’ve read this year. And C.S. Boyack’s Midnight Rambler is a fast, fun weekend read that’s super entertaining. Then my good friend and critique partner, M.L. Rigdon/Julia Donner, gave me a new biography of Agatha Christie by Lucy Worsley for my birthday, and I LOVE Agatha Christie. But I couldn’t stand it. I HAD to read Ruby Fever. And by the time I finish it, I’ll need a nice, scholarly book, because Ruby Fever starts out BAM! with action, then there’s more action, then more, and I’m not sure it ever slows down.

So far, I’m over a third of the way into the book, and I haven’t had a chance to take a breath. Authors who write adventure/action books are under a lot of pressure when they write the last book in a three-book series. It has to be bigger and badder than the books that came before it. Ruby Fever is delivering on that, but I sort of miss some of the cheeky flirting and romance in the first book. Catalina and Alessandro are a solid couple by now, and I like that, but right now, every page focuses on the tension and action. Now, don’t get me wrong. I still love the book, but that’s not the only reason I’ve bought every book in this particular series. I love the characters. I’m thinking the youngest sister in the brood will be the next up with three books of her own. At least, I hope so. And I usually like the first book the most out of the three each character gets. So I’m already looking forward to it. Arabella’s going to be a mighty interesting protagonist, and whoever’s brave enough to take her on deserves a purple heart.