County Reader reminded me of a book I'd read long ago, well before my blog started, so I read it again so I could list it. :-) Set in the American West, in the late 1800's, two brothers are riding the range, looking for work. They get hired at a mysterious ranch with an ill-tempered boss. They plan to just keep their heads down and get on with their work, but (of course) they come across a body. One of the brothers loves the stories about Sherlock Holmes (he doesn't read, so his younger brother reads to him, meaning he, too, knows all about Holmes). He patterns his investigation on things Holmes would do. Remember though, this is not London, it's the wild west, so it is all done in 'cowboy' lingo and references. Good action, very little swearing, and wonderful interactions between the hired hands and the (not so elite) Brit that actually owns the ranch. Holmes on the Range, by Steve Hockensmith, is the first in this series. (Warning! There is one, tragic, violent event that occurs towards the end, one that I forgot about, or maybe blocked it out of my mind. As far as this reader is concerned it did not need to happen and seriously dampened my enthusiasm. It might not do so for other readers).

I will admit I am a bit, mmm, stodgy when it comes to poetry. I like it to rhyme, I like a meter, a pulse that gives it energy, so I tend to stick to my old favorites. Still, when Solstice: Light & Dark of the Salish Sea, a poetry anthology edited by Carla Shafer arrived as a gift from a friend, I knew I'd be giving it a try. It wasn't bad! I liked the Winter Solstice section the best (no big surprise), and especially the poem "Solstice" by Leslie Wharton who mentions reading, and soups, cuddling down, and dancing in the dark! Reading her bio at the back, I learned that she too, hid from the heat dome and too much sun! :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog