And Then I Read... By Merry at Annie's Book Stop/Sharon, MA

Ever read a book and feel that something was lacking at the very end - that the author perhaps left a few ends hanging - and then discover that there are SIX more books in the series? And that they average 600 pages each? And then, like a fool, you scrounge up the other books and add them to your TBR pile? Why not? What's another 3600 pages, anyway?

Well, that's what I did last week - I read "Freehold" by Michael Z. Williamson (667 pages), and got hooked. The Freehold universe is well-constructed, with an interesting twist. It's SF, and postulates an Earth which has become extremely Big Brother-ish ("Papers, please!"), even while becoming more crime-ridden (because the authorities have better things to do than protect the citizens from "petty crimes" like robbery, arson, rape, etc.), while the colony planets in space are far more free-wheeling politically and philosophically. I found myself thinking of Earth as an Iron-Curtain-type socialist state, while Freehold is more "American" in its attitudes. After completing the first book, I know where I'd rather live, for sure.

While I'm compiling my new Freehold collection, I've been reading Sabrina's Jeffries' forthcoming historical romance, which is due out in July. I'm enjoying "What the Duke Desires" immensely. Max Cale, British Duke of Lyons, accepted many years ago that his kidnapped elder brother was dead, but when a cryptic note brings the case back to life he sets out to find the private investigator who has revived his hopes. Then he discovers that the investigator himself has disappeared with the new evidence of his brother's possible survival; that will not do, not at all. He seeks out the man's sister, sure she will know where her sibling is hiding out - and the two begin to search for her brother and his. No spoilers, now, but this is one of Sabrina's best efforts - the characters are well-drawn and sympathetic, the action is pretty much non-stop, and the suspense keeps the reader going down to the last page. There are several interesting side plots and secondary characters who will no doubt show up in books of their own later in this new series from the bestselling author.

Sudden thought - I suppose it does look odd that I switched so easily from "hard" science fiction to historical romance; but then, I read so many genres it's perfectly normal to go from Marines-in-Space! to demure misses in 19th-century England to a nice cozy modern mystery set in a bookbinder's workroom to a contemporary romance to a sword-and-sorcery fantasy and back again. Do you read different genres, too, or just stick to one or maybe two? I'd be interested to know.

Keep your schedule open for July 20 - a very special event is being planned with a local big-name author! More details as they gel, I promise. I will say that mystery lovers will be very happy with our forthcoming author event....

Summertime is fast approaching - don't forget to stock up on some good reads at your local independent new/used bookstore!

Keep reading, and visit us on Facebook (Annie's Book Stop of Sharon) or on our own website, nearly ready for business... www.anniesbooksofsharon.com.