April 2022 Reading and New Book Update

March ended with Jo and I visiting Qualicum Beach for a nice afternoon out; lunch at Gary's Bistro and then a wander around the shops. (I only bought one book) We managed to avoid the rain drops pretty well but by the time we left, it was raining a bit. (The puppies were happy when we got home.) We treated ourselves to another dinner out (sort of), a Big Box of chicken strips from the local Chicken Shack on Dyke road. Just big enough for Jo and I to share satisfactorily.

Didn't do much over the weekend because the weather was kind of crappy. But we did have a nice video chat with my daughter Jenn and her boyfriend. That was nice.

Bonnie in the garden

Yesterday, Bonnie broke one of her toe nails so she had to be brought to the vet to have it removed. She is currently lying on the sofa with her foot bandaged and has to go back tomorrow and Friday to have her bandage replaced with a fresh one. She slept most of yesterday, under the influence of the anesthetic, but seems much better today. While she was at the vet, I took the opportunity to stop at our local pharmacy and pick up my chlorohexidine sponges. I go in for day surgery on Thursday so have to sponge myself down Wednesday night and then again Thursday before I head to the hospital. Jo will have both me and Bonnie on her hands for the next few days because I plan to be feeling quite sorry for myself for at least the weekend. 😟😢😬 

Clyde after his dental surgery....

Of course she will have Clyde to help her... 

Anyway, so things have been a mite topsy - turvy this week. 

So, now on to books. I have finished one book so far in April. I'll provide my review of it as well as those of the last two I completed in March. I'll also provide the synopses of those books I've started since my last reading update and then finish with a look at the newest books gracing my book shelves. Ready? Go!

Just Finished

1. Rhode Island Red by Charlotte Carter (Nanette Hayes #1). A new series for me and I loved it. #2 is on my bookshelf.

"What a breath of fresh air Rhode Island Red by Charlotte Carter was. This is the first book in her Nanette Hayes mystery series. There are currently 4 books in the series and I have the 2nd one on my bookshelf. :0)

Nanette Hayes is a jazz-loving, saxophone playing, beautiful, intelligent woman making her living playing on the street in New York and sometimes translating works between French and English. Her best friend, Aubrey, is a stripper and successful businesswoman. She has an on-again, off-again relationship with Walter. At the moment it's off.

Nanette meets Sig, another street musician, looking for a place to crash and she lets him sleep on her floor of her flat. The next morning she finds him dead, stabbed in the throat. It turns out that Sig is an undercover cop. (Is he also a corrupt cop?) Well, Nanette finds $50,000 stuffed in her saxophone.... 

This begins a fascinating, entertaining, great story as Nanette gets involved with a Greek fella who wants her to teach him everything about Charlie (Bird) Parker... oh and also romances her like she's never been romanced before. The bodies begin to multiply, dead bodies that is... Nanette is harassed by Sig's partner, Det Leman Sweet, angry that his partner is dead and maybe because he might have been corrupt. Nanette begins to conduct her own investigation. What about this money? What is Rhode Island Red? Who is Wild Bill? Who is Henry for that matter? 

It's all excellent. Nanette is such a wonderfully sexy character, full of passion, jazzy, a full-figured, wonderful African-American woman, who you just want to meet and talk about jazz or anything. The story is peopled with wonderful characters; Aubrey, her boss, the gay strip club owner and Mob guy, Thom, even Nanette's mom who makes just a couple of appearances. I enjoyed this so very much. It flowed smoothly, had sufficient action to satisfy me and like I said a couple of times, there is an underlying sexiness to the whole thing. If you are also trying to explore African - American fiction as well, you might like to try this. Being an old white male, I can't attest to its authenticity, but either way, I loved it and will be enjoying more of Carter's writing. (4.5 stars)"

2. Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart (Kopp Sisters #1). Another new author and series for me, excellent historical mystery.

"Girl Waits with Gun by Amy  Stewart is the first book in the Kopp sisters series. There are currently 8 books in this series and I'm looking forward to getting the 2nd book. The first was a pleasant, entertaining surprise.

As I understand it, the book is based on true events and true people, a story that is fictionalized. The Kopp sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette live on a farm outside Wyckoff New Jersey. Their mother has recently died and they are trying to make ends meet. On a buggy trip into town to get supplies, a car driven by one Henry Kaufmann, a local mill owner, and his cronies, crashes into the buggy, overturning it and destroying it. 

Constance sends a letter asking for money to repair the damage caused by Kaufmann. This starts a chain of events that will cause the Kopp sisters to be under threat by Kaufmann and his drunken friends. The local Sheriff, Mr. Heath, will get involved and spend the next year, investigating and trying to protect the sisters. They have windows broken, their house trashed. Heath teaches them to shoot and provides them with handguns for protection.

As well, Constance begins her own investigation into another situation. It seems Mr. Kaufmann has had a child with one of his employees and the child was taken from her. Constance wants to help the lady, for reasons that will come out over the course of the story, and she finds herself drawn into this situation. 

It's an interesting story. The Kopp sisters are well-drawn, each has their own personalities; Norma, the logical, down-to-earth sister, who tries to keep the family out of the spotlight; youngest Fleurette, who is artistic, creative and keeps the other two on their toes, and Constance, who is the core of the story and grows during the course of the book. The Sheriff, Mr. Heath, is so helpful and an interesting, supportive individual. The Kopp's brother Francis, who lives in town with wife Bessie and two children, tries to help his sisters and feels an obligation to them remains on the periphery, but he's interesting. 

The story is well-crafted, written in a somewhat formal style (reminds me of Laurie King's Mary Russel historical mystery series in that way) and moves along nicely. I liked the story, the characters and the ultimate resolution. It left me with the desire to see what the next stage in the Kopp sisters' lives will involve. Worth trying. (4 stars)"

3. Landed Gently by Alan Hunter (George Gently #4). An excellent series that I've unfortunately let lapse. Nice to get back to it again.

"Landed Gently by Alan Hunter is the 4th book in his Chief Inspector George Gently mystery series. I always find it amazing that the books (so far, anyway) is so different from the TV series based on the books. But who knows, maybe at some point in the books Gently does go to Newcastle to work that. In the interim, he is a Chief Inspector in Scotland Yard.

This story is set during Christmas and find the good Inspector heading north to spend Christmas with the Chief Constable of North Northshire, Sir Daynes Broke. On the train journey he meets an American Air Force Lt, William Earle, also heading to the same area. Earle is the guest of Lord Somerhayes. His estate borders that of Sir Broke. Gently is hoping to get in some pike fishing with his host during his visit.

Unfortunately, the young American is found dead on Christmas morning, lying at the bottom of a stairway in the Great Hall of Merely Hall. While Sir Broke feels the death is simply an accident (Earle broke his neck falling down the staircase), his Inspector Dyson, along with the medical officer, believe a murder may have been committed. Gently tends to agree and is reluctantly brought into the investigation at the instigation of Lord Somerhayes.

Thus begins a criminal investigation at the manor. While Earle seems to have been a popular individual, there are also those who had reason to dislike the young man. The manor has become a commercial enterprise, a group of individuals working in one of the wings creating tapestries. Earle seems to have had designs on Lord Somerhayes' cousin, young widow Mrs. Page, and the murder may have been as a result of jealousy due to Earle's actions. 

Like the other Gently mysteries, this is an entertaining story. Gently is a great character tending to rely on instincts when investigating. He feels he's being led in a certain direction as he wanders about, trying to stay out of the way of Sir Broke and Inspector Dyson, but he has to also try to temper the Chief Constable who jumps to conclusions and tries to keep the Lord out of police sights.

It's all very fascinating and very cold (there is a scene on the roof between Gently and Lord Somerhayes that left me shivering). There is relatively no action and it's a closed door type mystery but well-crafted and interesting to work through. The resulting conclusion is satisfying on the whole. I look forward to continuing my journey with George Gently, to see where his future lies. (4 stars)

Currently Reading

1. The Memory Collector by Meg Gardiner (Jo Beckett #2). I have read the first book in this thriller series as well as the first book in Gardiner's Evan Delaney series but it's been 6 years since I tried another. About time.

"Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett's specialty is the psychological autopsy- an investigation into a person's life to determine whether a death was natural, accidental, suicide, or homicide. She calls herself a dead=shrinker instead of a head-shrinker: The silence of her "patients" is a key part of the job's attraction. When Jo is asked to do a psychological autopsy on a living person-one with a suspect memory who can't be trusted to participate in his own medical care-she knows all her skills will be put to the test.

Jo is called to the scene of an aircraft inbound from London to help deal with a passenger who is behaving erratically. She figures out that he's got anterograde amnesia, and can't form new memories. Jo finds herself racing to save a patient who can walk and talk and yet can't help Jo figure out just what happened to him. For every cryptic clue he is able to drag up from his memory, Jo has to sift through a dozen nonsensical statements.

Suddenly a string of clues arises, something to do with a super deadly biological agent code-named "Slick," a missing wife and son, and a secret partnership gone horribly wrong. Jo realizes her patient's addled mind may hold the key to preventing something terrible from happening in her beloved San Francisco.

In order to prevent it, she will have to get deeper into the life of a patient than she ever has before, hoping the truth emerges from the fog of his mind in time to save her city-and herself."

2. Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler & Craig Dirgo (Oregon Files #1). I've tried most of Cussler's series so far but this will be my first attempt at the Oregon Files.

"In his first feature-length adventure, it's up to Cabrillo and his crew of expert intelligence and Naval men to put Tibet back in the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with the Russians and the Chinese. His gambling chip is a golden Buddha containing records of vast oil reserves in the disputed land.

But first, he'll have to locate—and steal—the all-important artifact. And there are certain people who would do anything in their power to see him fail..."

3. Burning Questions; Essays and Occasional Pieces 2004- 2021 by Margaret Atwood (2022). I picked this up when Jo and I were in Qualicum last week and started it while waiting for her to check out a few of her favorite shops. Atwood is one of my most enduring authors; having started reading her books and poetry back in my university days '74 - 78. Btw, I'm enjoying this very much.

"From cultural icon Margaret Atwood comes a brilliant collection of essays--funny, erudite, endlessly curious, uncannily prescient--which seek answers to Burning Questions such as:

Why do people everywhere, in all cultures, tell stories?
How much of yourself can you give away without evaporating?
How can we live on our planet?
Is it true? And is it fair?
What do zombies have to do with authoritarianism?

In over fifty pieces Atwood aims her prodigious intellect and impish humour at the world, and reports back to us on what she finds. This roller-coaster period brought the end of history, a financial crash, the rise of Trump, and a pandemic. From debt to tech, the climate crisis to freedom; from when to dispense advice to the young (answer: only when asked) to how to define granola, we have no better guide to the many and varied mysteries of our universe."

New Books

(6 new books to have you check out.)

1. Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #19). One of my favorite mystery series. One I enjoy curling up with and luckily I still have a few to read.

"Cochran Wilder disappeared fifteen years ago while on a walking holiday in Cornwall. Recently released from a psychiatric hospital after being convicted of indecent assault, he had been a serious embarrassment to his father, a prominent MP. Now his body has been found, buried in the dunes. It is clear that he was murdered.

Wycliffe suspects the involvement of six people, now well-established figures in the community, who at the time had been spending an illicit weekend at a chalet near where Wilder's body was found. All are disturbed by Wycliffe's interest and by a series of threatening anonymous communications. But then a second murder is committed and the investigation takes on a new urgency."

2. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (1996). Yes, another Atwood. I have three or four on my book shelves to still enjoy. Found this at a local Little Free Library when I was out with Jo, making my rounds. Jo and I enjoyed the CBC mini-series based on the book.

"It's 1843, and Grace Marks has been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer and his housekeeper and mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent; others think her evil or insane. Now serving a life sentence, Grace claims to have no memory of the murders.

An up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists who seek a pardon for Grace. He listens to her story while bringing her closer and closer to the day she cannot remember. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories?"

3. The Border by Don Winslow (Power of the Dog #3). I have a couple of Winslow's books now but have yet to try them. I've enjoyed his comments on Twitter very much. He's a powerful voice there.

"What do you do when there are no borders? When the lines you thought existed simply vanish?  How do you plant your feet to make a stand when you no longer know what side you’re on?

The war has come home.

For over forty years, Art Keller has been on the front lines of America’s longest conflict: The War on Drugs. His obsession to defeat the world’s most powerful, wealthy, and lethal kingpin? the godfather of the Sinaloa Cartel, Adán Barrera? has left him bloody and scarred, cost him the people he loves, even taken a piece of his soul.

Now Keller is elevated to the highest ranks of the DEA, only to find that in destroying one monster he has created thirty more that are wreaking even more chaos and suffering in his beloved Mexico. But not just there.

Barrera’s final legacy is the heroin epidemic scourging America. Throwing himself into the gap to stem the deadly flow, Keller finds himself surrounded by enemies? men who want to kill him, politicians who want to destroy him, and worse, the unimaginable, an incoming administration that’s in bed with the very drug traffickers that Keller is trying to bring down.

Art Keller is at war with not only the cartels, but with his own government. And the long fight has taught him more than he ever imagined. Now, he learns the final lesson? there are no borders.

In a story that moves from deserts of Mexico to Wall Street, from the slums of Guatemala to the marbled corridors of Washington, DC, Winslow follows a new generation of narcos, the cops who fight them, street traffickers, addicts, politicians, money-launderers, real-estate moguls, and mere children fleeing the violence for the chance of a life in a new country."

4. Lessons from the Edge; A Memoir by Marie Yovanovitch (2022). I was so impressed with then Ambassador Yovanovitch's testimony during the 1st Trump impeachment. She was calm, strong and intelligent during vicious cross-examination by Trumpy GOP reps. I'm looking forward to reading about her.

"By the time she became US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch had seen her share of corruption, instability, and tragedy in developing countries. But it came as a shock when, in early 2019, she was recalled from her post after a smear campaign by President Trump’s personal attorney and his associates—men operating outside of normal governmental channels, and apparently motivated by personal gain. Her courageous participation in the subsequent impeachment inquiry earned Yovanovitch the nation’s respect, and her dignified response to the president’s attacks won our hearts. She has reclaimed her own narrative, first with her lauded congressional testimony, and now with this memoir.

 
A child of parents who survived Soviet and Nazi terror, Yovanovitch’s life and work have taught her the preciousness of democracy as well as the dangers of corruption. Lessons from the Edge follows the arc of her career as she develops into the person we came to know during the impeachment proceedings."

5. Hannah Arendt: The Last Interview (2013). I bought a similar book about Ursula K. Le Guin. It turns out that a number of personages were subject of similar interviews. I know nothing about Arendt except (I believe) she was a powerful voice during the early 1900's labor movement and efforts to forestall World War 1.. Of course, I may be totally wrong but I had heard of her and wanted to discover more.

"“There are no dangerous thoughts for the simple reason that thinking itself is such a dangerous enterprise.” — Hannah Arendt

In these interviews—including her final interview given in October 1973, in the midst of Watergate and the Yom Kippur War—Hannah Arendt discusses politics, war, protest movements, the Eichmann trial, Jewish identity, and language with the incisiveness and courage that always set her apart."

6. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker - Chan (The Radiant Emperor #1 / 2021). Another new author for me. While I waited for Bonnie to finish her visit at the vet, I wandered through our local Coles Books and saw this in the Fantasy / Sci Fi section. The clerk provided a very positive statement about it so I'm glad that I took a chance. Of course, I may not like, but we'll see.

"In Mongol-occupied imperial China, a peasant girl refuses her fate of an early death. Stealing her dead brother’s identity to survive, she rises from monk to soldier, then to rebel commander. Zhu’s pursuing the destiny her brother somehow failed to attain: greatness. But all the while, she feels Heaven is watching.

Can anyone fool Heaven indefinitely, escaping what’s written in the stars? Or can Zhu claim her own future, burn all the rules and rise as high as she can dream?"

There you go folks. Maybe some of these books might pique your interest. Enjoy your week.

A Sunday Rainy Morning Reading Update

It's rainy out this morning. Jo is in bed sort of listening and watching the Grand Prix. The puppies are downstairs with me as I write (type) this and listen to the Blue Jays spring training game in the background. While I do that, I'll provide a brief update on new books (not too many), books completed and what books I've started to replace those completed.

New Books

Two books arrived at the end of the week.

1. To Journey in the Year of the Tiger (Upper Kingdom #1) by H. Leighton Dixon. Dixon liked a tweet of mine on Twitter and I saw she was a Fantasy writer. Thought I should check out this series. It looks interesting.

"TO JOURNEY IN THE YEAR OF THE TIGER is the first in a Ground-Breaking Original Series by H. Leighton Dickson. This is a powerful, post-apocalyptic story of lions and tigers, wolves and dragons, embracing and blending the cultures of Dynastic China, Ancient India and Feudal Japan. Half feline, half human, this genetically altered world has evolved in the wake of the fall of human civilization. Fans of Tolkien, Game of Thrones, Redwall or Japanese anime will be entertained in these intelligent and beautifully written pages in a blend of science, fantasy and zoological speculation. Kirin Wynegarde-Grey is a young lion with a big job - Captain of the Guard in a Kingdom that spans from the mountains of western China to the deserts of the Middle East. When an ancient threat awakens in the West and threatens to overthrow the Empire, he must lead a team that includes his enigmatic brother, a lethal swordswoman and three radically different and mysterious specialists through a world where humans are legend and animals walk like men. This is the journey of six individuals as they travel beyond the edges of the known Empire, into lands uncharted and wild. It is a journey of magic and mystery, science and swords, romance and intrigue. It is a journey of different perspectives and unexpected kharma and love found in surprising places. It is a journey that takes place five thousand years or so in the future, naturally in the Year of the Tiger."

2. The Religious Body by Catherine Aird (Inspector Sloane #1). I'm always on the lookout for a new mystery series (in the respect that it is new for me, not necessarily a current series)

""Sister Anne," said the Mother Superior unperturbed, "died on Wednesday evening sometime after supper, probably in the corridor leading from the Great Hall to the kitchens. Her body was put into the broom cupboard and later thrown down the cellar steps. "Who would want to kill a cloistered nun? But, astonishingly, someone had. It was as much of a surprise to the sisters of the Convent of St. Anselm as it was to Inspector C. D. Sloan, Criminal Investigation Department. But now it was up to the Inspector to find the motive and the murderer."

Just Finished

Three books finished since my last update, one short graphic novel, one psychological mystery and one noirish mystery.

1. Northwest Resistance by Katherena Vermette (A Girl Called Echo #3).

"Northwest Resistance is the 3rd book in the YA / graphic novel series by Katherena Vermette. It comes under the A Girl Called Echo series of 4 graphic novels. 

Echo is a Métis girl living in Winnipeg Manitoba, adjusting to her mother being in rehab, to a new school and also to jumping back and forth in time to see events that take place in the 1800's in Canada. She follows the Métis people trying to fight for their rights against a recalcitrant Canadian government that is flexing its powers as it tries to expand to the West.

In this story, we see Louis Riel again as he tries to unite the Métis and nearby Indian tribes as they try to establish their communities against incoming English settlers. It's a tragic story and ends with Riel being surrendering to the Canadian authorities to stop the warfare and protect his people. Echo views these tragic events and we see the effect it has on her. At the same time her mother is soon to be out of rehab, another event that will affect her life.

The artwork is clear and beautifully colored and the story is interesting and also provides a perspective on a portion of Canada's history that I knew little about. One more book in this short but interesting series. (3.5 stars)"

2. The Diamond Bikini by Charles Williams (1956).

"The Diamond Bikini by Charles Williams was basically just silly. But a quick check revealed it was silly enough to be turned into a movie in France; Fantasia chez le ploucs (1971).

Seven - year old Billy and his dad, Sam Noonan, live in a trailer, and follow the race track circuit until Dad is forced to hit the road. They end up in Louisiana where Sam's brother, Sagamore Noonan, resides. (Now this story is told from the perspective of Billy and is colored by his childish vision. But, the gist is that Sagamore is a shifty fella, and the local sheriff has been trying to catch him at his illegal activities for years. 

Also showing up at the farm is 'Dr.' Severance and his 'charge' Caroline Harrington. Thinking they can make some money off them, Billy's pop rents out some space for the duo's trailer. It becomes apparent (not to Billy necessarily) that the two are on the run from someone. Caroline seems a very nice lady. She takes a shine to Billy, teaching him to swim in the lake. (Much is made about her skimpy bikini and her tattoo.... 

Things start to pick up. Men armed with tommy guns show up trying to remove Caroline. The police try to arrest Sagamore and Pop for an illegal still. Both events have dire consequences. When another attempt is made on Caroline's life and she disappears, Sagamore and Pop see it as a great money - making opportunity and it degenerates from there.

It's a silly story but an entertaining read. Does it fit in the noir genre? That's why I tried it. It doesn't seem noir to me, but maybe the French are the best arbiters of that style of mystery. Try it and see what you think. (3 stars)"

3. The Players and the Game by Julian Symons (1972).

"My first and only previous exposure to Julian Symons was The Blackheath Poisonings: A Victorian Murder Mystery. I enjoyed it very much and now that I've finally tried a second, The Players and The Game, I think I may have to explore a bit more of his work. Luckily I have a couple of more books by him on my shelf.

At its most basic, The Players and The Game is a police procedural, as we follow Inspector Hazelton and his fellow coppers, Paterson, Brill and Plender as the investigate first the disappearances of a French au-pair and another young woman, then as they discover a possible serial killer, a deeper, more comprehensive investigation begins. But as I got into this story, I discovered there was much more to it and thought that it had sensibilities to others I've enjoyed, by authors Hillary Waugh and Michael Gilbert.

The story follows the police investigation but it also explores the lives of various suspects, especially Paul Vane, a newcomer to Rawley, a man who has his own issues; both with his family and his work. We also get to read the diary of one Dracula, who is discovering his own personality, quoting Nietzsche as he explores his 'criminal' activities with partner Bonnie. I don't want to ruin this story by getting into much more detail about the plot, suffice it say that the mystery is well-crafted, the characters are all fascinating; from the police themselves to the victims / suspects as well, and that the story moves along nicely as everything begins to tie together in such a satisfying fashion.

It's a pretty darn perfect psychological thriller and even though the murderous act(s) seem to have been perverse and shocking, they are left for the most part to your imagination... that can be shocking enough. I enjoyed the story so very much. The deeper I got into it, the more I had to keep reading it. The solution was satisfying and believable. The police aren't perfect but they are hard working and imaginative enough to work through the clues to come to the final result. But as you will see, their work can have unintended tragic consequences as well. Excellent mystery. (5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Landed Gently by Alan Hunter (Inspector George Gently #4). I've enjoyed the first three books and it's been too long since I've visited with this series.

"Having been invited to spend Christmas in the country, fishing for pike, Gently finds himself hunting a completely different predator when a guest at Merely Hall, a nearby stately home, is found dead at the foot of the grand staircase on Christmas morning.

At first the tragedy is assumed to be a simple accident, but Gently is not one to jump to conclusions and is soon in no doubt whatsoever that this was murder.

Merely produces the finest tapestries in England but the threads that Gently must unravel in his investigation are more complex than any weaver's design, with everyone from the lord of the manor to his most lowly servant falling under suspicion."

2. Rhode Island Red by Charlotte Carter (Nanette Hayes #1 / 1997). This will be the last of my March Focus books - Mystery Noir).

"Nanette is doing OK playing her saxophone out on the street. Sure her boyfriend Walter doesn't think it's any way for a black woman with a Masters degree in French to carry on, but she's happy. Then things start happening. An undercover cop dies in her apartment. A strange man wants her to explain the mystery of Charlie Parker. Walter wants to get married. And who or what is Rhode Island Red? Fast, sweet and funny, Rhode Island Red is a classic New York thriller, the story of a Spike Lee heroine in a Woody Allen world."

3. The Child Garden by Geoff Ryman (1989). I've lined this up for my April Focus Challenge - Sci-Fi.

"In a semi-tropical London, surrounded by paddy-fields, the people feed off the sun, like plants, the young are raised in Child Gardens and educated by viruses, And the Consensus oversees the country, 'treating' non-conformism. Information, culture, law and politics are biological functions. But Milena is different: she is resistant to viruses and an incredible musician, one of the most extraordinary women of her age. This is her story and that of her friends, like Lucy the immortal tumor and Joseph the Postman whose mind is an information storehouse for others, and Rolfa, genetically engineered as a Polar Bear, whose beautiful singing voice first awakens Milena to the power of music."

I think it's a nice variety. Check them out and have a great week.