Hooray, a fantasy for real fantasy fiends! With twists and turns worthy of a great magician Red Wolf takes the reader on a breathless journey. Very soon after a devastating war, a six-hundred-year-old ship sets sail for enemy lands. On board is a royal and reluctant bride-to-be. This voyage is supposed to be an attempt at forging a lasting peace. But others on board uncover a conspiracy, someone is after the the Red Wolf, an extremely dangerous artifact.  Finding it could mean destruction for both empires if it ends up in the wrong hands. On board this floating city; a stowaway tribe of tiny warriors, a deckhand with a heritage of treason, and a rat who talks. The young bride, the deck-hand and their friends face lethal assassins, nasty mermaids and slavers to uncover secrets and hopefully save their world. From the first page to the last you will find it hard to put down and it will leave you begging for more. Patience – more will come. But you must start with The Red Wolf Conspiracy.

Recommended by Lee

A favorite local author, Ms. Hirahara has done it again! Old, cantankerous Mas Arai has once more fallen into having to solve a crime. And this one is a real mess because his friend is involved – sort of. Pretty much against his wishes, Mas has agreed to stand up for Harou – at his wedding! But before the nuptials occur, a set of ancient Japanese dolls disappear from Harou’s fiancé’s house. Mas suspects the drug-addled daughter of the fiancé but everyone else is pointing the finger at Harou. Mas knows this couldn’t be true and sets out to clear his friend and fellow WWII atom bomb survivor’s name. There’s a lot of fascinating history in this tale – as always. It’s certainly not one you want to miss if you’ve enjoyed Mas’ previous adventures.

Recommended by Lee Kelley

It started with Odalisque, continued in Emissary and is brilliantly ended with Goddess. Fiona McIntosh’s Percheron trilogy takes the reader on a journey of belief. Zaradine Ana has been captured by a desert rebel. It’s also believed she is pregnant with Zar Boaz’s son. There are doubts about Lazar, Zar Boaz’s mother is still fighting for position in the harem and the Goddess is closer to ascending. Maliz believes he will once again win the fight of the gods but there are those who believe otherwise. The Sparrow and the Owl have become known and Maliz chases after Ana thinking that somehow she is responsible for the coming of Goddess Lyana. The fight becomes confusing, no one knowing who to turn to and the very existence of Percheron hangs in the balance. If you haven’t read the first two books, you really have missed out. This trilogy is a great set for all you fantasy readers. Don’t pass it up!

Recommended by Lee Kelley

This provocative tale follows 12-year-old Twig as she tries to help her clan find safety from the horror she has dreamed about. Though a talented Dreamer her mother fears for her and won't allow her to learn from the only Shaman capable of teaching her. But Twig knows that the fire ball from the sky is coming closer and closer and she enlists the help of her best friend Greyhawk and the banished Shaman Screech Owl to convince their people of the danger and changes that are coming. Changes that will force a westward migration to the mysterious Duskland.

The authors are experienced archaeologists and with this book starts a series of tales about the prehistoric American heritage. Children of the Dawnland takes place at the end of the Pleistocene ice age when a comet exploded over North America destroying the Clovis mammoth hunters. Twig's tale is a wonderful way to open the door for learning more about our ancient Native American cultures.

Recommended by Lee

What's your definition of madness?  How do you feel about the copious use of drugs along with inoluntary institutionalization to keep the odd-balls off  the street and away from the 'normal' people?  Norah Vincent addresses these issues and many others involving depression, drug dependency and even true madness in a very personal way.  She started out to write about the lack of care in the institutions she saw.  She hoped to change the way people in them were treated.  Believe me, you will have a whole new perspective on things by the end of the book.  There is no quick fix but her insightful conclusion about treatment for depression, among other things, are logical and real.  This isn't a horror story but a true, sometimes funny, often sad story of finding a way to cope with life.

Recommended by Lee

I had no idea that the beautiful Akita was such an old breed. I did know it came from Japan but it’s thanks to an unusual man that the breed even exists at all. During WWII Morie Sawataishi took in and raised an Akita puppy when most people in Japan were killing them for their pelt and their meat. By the end of the war there were perhaps no more than sixteen left in the country. Morie takes his dogs and his city-born young wife into the snow country of Japan and over the years his passion creates an enduring breed that people all over the world can be proud to own. He rarely shows for money because the dog is more important. He often gives away puppies that someone else would sell for a lot of money because the person he gives it to helped him at some time or has the same passion he has. He is a man of old Japan and is rarely demonstrative with his wife and children but always greets his dogs with shows of affection. He is at his liveliest when drinking sake and talking to others about dogs. Eventually most people realize he’s a good man who has led an extraordinary life because it was the right thing to do. This is a piece of canine history that might have been left in obscurity if not for Martha Sherrill’s wonderful ability to bring Japan, Morie and his dogs to life.

Recommended by Lee Kelley

First was Ariel. Ariel who came because of the Change. Now it's thirty years later and Fred lives in a time of magic. It's all he's ever known because he was born after the Change. But his father and others remember the way it used to be; the magic of electricity and mechanical engines. One day the lights just went out; it all stopped working. Fred's friend Yan thinks he can change it back to the way it was. But Yan goes to far and is told to leave Del Mar. Then the Unicorn Ariel, an old friend of Fred's father, arrives telling a tale of death. Death ultimately caused by Yan's magic. Now she, Fred, his father and Yan's father must find Yan and stop him before he destroys the world as it is now. It has to be done because Yan isn't just planning to put it back the way it used to be – at least not completely. Elegy Beach is a wonderful sequel to Ariel. The wait was worth it.

Recommended by Lee

Remember the Spellman Files? Well, here we go again! This has to be the most dysfunctional loving family I’ve ever run across. Izzy is really in trouble this time - she’s been arrested! And it’s all because she’s suspicious of a new neighbor. Is he a drug dealer? Or perhaps a killer - he does dig in the garden a lot! Her mother, father and brother are acting really odd too. To make matters worse her precocious little sister is taking driving lessons - or at least she was until she ran over her instructor police Inspector Henry Stone! And that’s when Izzy suddenly finds she’s engaged to Henry - because it explains Petra’s constantly being with him to concerned Social Services! This a mystery laugh-fest indeed!

Recommended by Lee Kelley