One Kid's Trash by Jamie Sumner

One Kid's Trash by Jamie Sumner 225 pages Hugo is not happy about being dragged halfway across the state of Colorado just because his dad had a midlife crisis and decided to become a ski instructor. It'd be different if Hugo weren't so tiny, if girls didn't think he was adorable like a puppy in a purse and guys didn't call him 'leprechaun' and rub his head for luck. But here he is, the tiny new kid on his first day of middle school. When his fellow students discover his remarkable talent for garbology, the science of studying trash to tell you anything you could ever want to know about a person, Hugo becomes the cool kid for the first time in his life. But what happens when it all goes to his head? Great middle school book about bullying and trying to fit in at a new school. Hugo is small and tried to steer away from bullies, then he finds he has a hidden talent, garbology. When his world is turned upside down, he finds his true friends and to stand up for himself.

Widowmaker by Paul Doiron

Widowmaker by Paul Doiron - 320 pages
Mike Bowditch Mysteries - Book 7

A mysterious woman appears in front of Main Game Warden Mike Bowditch's house to try and get his assistance in locating her missing son who may or may not be tied to Bowditch's past.  Bowditch has finally got his life in order both professionally and personally after many reckless years so he is hesitant to dive in, but eventually circumstances somewhat force his hand.  The hunt for the missing man takes him to the ski country of his youth and puts his resolve to the test. 

The plot in this book is fairly straight forward but I don't read this series for the mystery.  It's a great read because of the way the author treats the landscape like a character on its own, and everyone that Bowditch encounters is fully fleshed out with an interesting back story that makes you want to know more.  I'm always happy to dip into this world and am looking forward to the next one. 

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson, 336 pages

Book 9 in the Culinary Mystery series features top caterer Goldy Bear hosting a PBS cooking show in the Denver area just before the Christmas holidays.  She views this as an opportunity to promote her new business as a personal chef - a change made necessary as her newly remodeled professional/home kitchen has been shut down by the health department.

Of course it's not long before Goldy is knee deep in a murder mystery - and soon thereafter finds herself in danger.

Davidson's reads are nice, easy reads with some violence, but not a lot of gore or lurid sexual content.