HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED - Mark Henry

I have heard some good things about HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED. I had to get over an aversion of a book about zombies. I did that by reading Max Brooks' THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE: COMPLETE PROTECTION FROM THE LIVING DEAD a couple of months ago. After reading that survival guide, I felt about ready for Mark's take on the supernormal world that includes hot chick zombies.
Amanda Feral didn't ask to become a zombie. She was minding her own business, a highly successful ad partner, when a complete stranger came up behind her and gave her the breath of death on afternoon in the elevator. She fell, hit her head, woke up undead. Now what?
She has to find her way through the world of the undead and she does quickly and with mucho style and fashion sense.
Then the mystery of who is using Starbucks as a means to turn people into zombies, the mindless mistake kind, not like Amanda at all. Amanda and her friends, Wendy, fellow zombie, Gil, the vampire, and Liesl, the succubus are on the trail to find and stop this madness.

I still had to get past the ick factor of the the body parts flying and the descriptions of how Amanda and her buddy Wendy tracked, unhinged jaws, and devoured their bi-ped meals. I admit to skimming a wee bit there.
The ick parts were there, but the mystery and the snort laugh funny rest of the book made me keep reading.

Four zombie beans......


and the, I thought, rather appropriate bookmark for the book....

AmberKatze Interviewing Casey Daniels

AmberKatze has an interview with the delightful Casey Daniels, author of the Pepper Martin Mystery series. If you haven't read DON OF THE DEAD, THE CHICK AND THE DEAD, or TOMBS OF ENDEARMENT, then you are in for a treat. Her fourth in the series, NIGHT OF THE LOVING DEAD is out very soon and this interview gives a chance to win a signed copy. Casey also writes as Miranda Bliss with the not so paranormal mystery series, The Cooking Class Mystery.

Craft Project

Lady K saw a craft project on one of the Sprout Channel and decided to give it a try. Here's the project afloat..... Then Lady K tried a little physics experiment...the squirrel was just the right weight to take a spin....

INDIGO DYING: A China Bayles Mystery - Susan Wittig Albert

Really having a banner five bean book reading time of it lately. Susan Wittig Albert is always a win and INDIGO DYING is now my most favorite of the China Bayles series. I keep her books on my shelf as a treasured sweet. Along with a fab mystery to enjoy, I learn something new in herbal lore.
This weekend is the Colors to Dye For workshop and art fair in Indigo. China and her friend Ruby will be staying with their friend, Allie, who raises angora goats, cards and spins her own wool and then dyes and creates weavings.
China and Ruby are on their way to the small (read VERY small) town of Indigo where Allie lives. It was once a ghost town that is being brought back to life with a passionate cadre of artists.
There is one person standing in the way of the thriving of the town, Casey Ford. He has lived in (and owns most of) the town forever and has decided to sell his mining rights. Once he signs the rights, the town will be plowed under. Casey hasn't made any friends in the past and definitely hasn't with this bombshell. When Casey winds up dead from a shotgun blast and no one is coming forward to help find the killer. China and Ruby take on the task and find the town full of dark secrets.

Five indigo blue beans......

And the bookmark.....

THE BECOMING: An Anna Strong, Vampire Novel - Jeanne C. Stein

Ahhhhhh.....What a refreshing vampire story! A refreshing story, plain ol'. I like the strong lead characters, especially when the author makes the lead character a strong female. Anna Strong is indeed a strong female lead character and she rocks!

Anna is a private investigator and she and her partner are attacked while on stakeout of a bail jumper. Anna awakens in the hospital and her memory slowly begins to come back, along with an emerging strength and ability to heal quickly. She finds her doctor to be her mentor after he breaks the news that Anna is now a vampire. Life, or unlife, as she knows it has changed.

The vampire who attacked her is on the loose and Anna feels the need to find and put him down. And she knows she needs to figure out how to work with the men in our lives: Max her DEA agent boyfriend, David her partner, and Avery the doctor who becomes her mentor in the world of the vampire.

I thank Jeanne for LEGACY, #4 in the series and the gift card that allowed me to get #1 and #3 in the series sooner. And thank you Mark Henry for the interview with Jeanne that led to my winning.

Five rockin' beans.....

.....and here's the bookmark

SHAKESPEARE'S CHRISTMAS: Lily Bard Mystery - Charlaine Harris

SHAKESPEARE'S CHRISTMAS was my only holiday read this December and it was a good choice.

Lily resists going to her hometown of Bartley as often as possible, but this is a chance to get over the past that has haunted her and colors the way her family and friends look at her in her hometown. She moved to Shakespeare to move on and hide her scars, but now she is asked by her sister to be her maid of honor at Varena's upcoming Christmas wedding.

Lily's private investigator boyfriend is also in town, following a lead in an eight year old baby kidnapping case. This case will affect one of three families and also leads to murder.

Five Christmas beans....and the bookmark, thank you SuziBell!

Merry Christmas to You and Yours

Twas the Night Before Christmas and Bob Dylan

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

You'll have to imagine Bob Dylan performing this. We heard him Monday night on his radio show on SIRIUS. It was priceless. I need to get this audio somehow.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet!

On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

7 Years of Wedded (mostly) Bliss

Happy Anniversary to DH and me. It's been 7 years since we got hitched at the Little White Wedding Chapel in fabulous Las Vegas. Elvis was an extra $200, so we said nuh-uh, we'll take who's next up in the draw. We had Charlotte, the owner of the famous Little White Wedding Chapel. She's the one who's married all the biggies and we were lucky to get her. We're as cool as Demi and Bruce, I reckon.

Amberkatze is at it again....interview & contest with author Jeaniene Frost

Get on over to AmberKatze's blog to read a darn fine interview with author Jeanine Frost and a chance to win her latest book AT GRAVE'S END.

Lady K-ism of the Day

"Ghostwider...do you copy? I am coming into your area...giving fair warning from me Xena. Over. From me Xena."

...Lady K and DH playing with the walkie-talkies....

Vampires anyone?? Chance to win a book...

Had a note on my Shelfari page from Evie over at RandomMinutiae. She is giving away chances to win Raven Hart's THE VAMPIRE'S SEDUCTION over at her site. There's a fab interview to go with....

DEVIL'S CORNER - Lisa Scottoline, narr Barbara Rosenblatt

I always get a new favorite when I listen to or read one of Lisa Scottoline's books. This is my new favorite.

Assistant US Attorney Vicki Allegretti is in the wrong place at the very wrong time when she arrives to interview a confidential informant and almost gets shot. Her ATF partner does and ends up dead. So begins Vicki's investigation into the death of her partner and what exactly can be done to keep the deals of crack cocaine from ruining a neighborhood of Devil's Corner and her beloved city of Philadelphia.

I always feel this sense of aggravation with Scottoline's characters. They always go above and beyond to do the right thing, sometimes at the cost of their jobs and relationships. I know I will be patient and see the books through, because each character goes through a lot of growth and self realization as the book progresses. That's what I like the most. And the fringe characters surrounding the champion who is always a female lawyer of strong fortitude and sense of humor.

Favorite character: Raheema Bristow. Raheema's crack addicted mother was murdered and Vicki knows in her heart that the crack dealer gangs and the murder are connected. She and Raheema make a very unlikely pair as they team up, antagonistically in the beginning, to find the truth.

Barbara Rosenblatt remains in my top five of favorite narrators. She delightfully enhances Scottoline's words.

Five Philly beans.....

A TEST OF WILLS - Charles Todd

I picked this book up from Our Lady of the Books Pamala, it may have been a freebie in one of my hewgah orders. I read it for the A-Z Challenge or it might have stayed on the shelf for a while longer. And I would have missed a fab read.

It's 1919, after War to End All Wars has ended. There is still a lot of healing to attend to, that seems to be a focus of the book along with the superior mystery of who killed Colonel Harris on his land while out riding.

Scotland Yard is requested by the local village constabulary and Inspector Ian Rutledge is sent to Warwickshire. The main suspect is a decorated war hero and a friend to the Royal Family, creating a political nightmare of a case.

Inspector Rutledge is just returned from the war and has been diagnosed shell-shocked. He has a little voice in his cranium, Hamish, the young Scot in his command he had executed because he refused to fight. Now he hears Hamish in his mind. He has to keep his mind focused on the complicated case and keep his wits about him or go mad.

Four harrowing beans.... and the book's bookmark....

Lady K-ism of the Day

"I am the Great and Amazing Katherine! Watch and prepare to be amazed! But, first, close your eyes! Give me one more minute......Now, where did the magic sock go? "

Bitten By Books is At It Again....

Bitten by Books is at it again over at her site. She has the wherewithall (sp??) to offer up the ARC of Jeaniene Frost's next up book, AT GRAVE'S END, before its release at the end of December.

Lady K Skating for the First Time

There's a great shopping center near our house and they have set up a mini skating rink in the center of the place. Before Friday night, Lady K had never been on skates and has been begging to give it a try. She had a great time. I wanted her to try the double blades, but they were out of them. So she gave the single blades a go.....She's seen 'Max and Ruby' skate on TV and doesn't think she needs lessons....we're currently in negotiations....

Here she comes...

And there she goes....

TWENTY-SEVEN BONES - Jonathan Nasaw

From the book: Interesting statistic about Antisocial Personality Disorder: it has the lowest suicide rate of any major psychiatric illness. Psychopaths don't get the blues, they give them, and their will to live is an extraordinary thing to behold-ask any cop who's ever cornered one.
The reader learns fairly early on who the killers are, we know why they are doing what they are doing. We get to go along with the people who set out to capture them before they kill again.
Pender is a retired FBI agent. He is asked by an old colleague to go to the island of St Luke to investigate the mysterious killings that are occurring on his island paradise. The islanders want the tourist trade and the killings are obviously going to hamper that.
There are various characters in the mix, Holly the masseuse who is caring for her dead sister's two kids, Marley and Dawn. Dawson the fugitive from justice; Fran Bendt, reporter and peeper; Lewis and Hokey Apgard, old family money; Emily and Phil Eps, local anthropologists...and many more.
I alternated between impatience with the story and intrigue with it. In the end, I really liked it and I will definitely look for more of this author, likely start at the beginning of this four book series with THE GIRLS HE ADORED.
Four bony beans....







Bookmark for this book....

Please Meet Miss Fashiona

Lady K as "Miss Fashiona". She is very famous and exotic and rich like Richie Rich. And very pretty.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

Today is my mom's birthday.....Happy Birthday Mom!!!

This is how young she is today......

She is still pretty hot and single.....just sayin'......LOVE YOU MOM!!!

Lady K-ism of the Day

"Mommie, you know what I am NOT going to do when I am a teenager?"

Me: No, what?

"I am never going to have sex when I am a teenager."

Me: I am very glad to hear that. Your Daddy and I would like it if you would wait to have sex until you are married.

"Well, since I am NEVER going to get married, so I guess I will NEVER have sex!"

Mary Has a Christmas Book Review and Giveaway

My friend, Mary, has a fab review of a terrific sounding book revolving around the Christmas season. Take a look-see and see if it doesn't compell you to go out and try this set of two books, FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS and ENGAGING FATHER CHRISTMAS.

FROM DEAD TO WORSE: Book 8 Sookie Stackhouse series - Charlaine Harris, BOCD

I LOVE this series!!!! This is book 8 in the series and it just keeps getting better.

Sookie's first act of bravery is to stand in as a last minute bridesmaid for a friend. Then it gets even scarier.

Werewolves are getting picked off and it's only the females. Sookie is asked to broker a peace deal between the rival packs. All hell breaks loose....

There's a new vampire in town and he wants to be king....Sookie is asked to assist introductions....

There's a new handsome mysterious man in Sookie's life, too.

And then there's the cat, Bob.....

Five superior supernatural beans....

Amberkatze is at it again...this time with Shirley Damsgaard

Amberkatz has another great interview this week, this time with author Shirley Damsgaard. She writes the fabulous Abby and Ophelia Mystery series. There's the great interview and a chance to wins some of Shirley's books!

Lady K Chattin' With Santa

"Santa, I really would like a pink Barbie remote control convertible, please. And a fire station. And whatever else you think would be a good present for me. I've been really good. Mommie says I am a 90/10 girl. 90% sweetie pie and 10% ornery pod girl. That's when the pod people come take away the good Katherine and leave the ornery one for a little while. What're pod people?"

VOICES CARRY - Mariah Stewart

I am not a big fan of the romantic suspense novel gigs. This one I read because of the A-Z Challenge and I needed a V title. I thought it might be time to give the genre a try.....I was wrong.

I am not saying that Mariah Stewart is a bad author. She is a talented writer. I was intrigued in the beginning, but towards mid-book, I could see where the co-ink-kee-dinks were going and I began skimming. I finished it, but it wasn't a full on concentrated read for me.

B&N synopsis:

FBI agent Genna Snow's seccessful career cannot fully erase the heartache of a shattered childhood. After breaking the silence surrounding the abusive acts of a summer camp counselor, young Genna was abandoned by her family even as justice was being served in the courtroom. Years later, Genna was forced to relive the pain of abandonment when the man she loved, special agent John Mancini, walked out of her life without explanation.
Now, having returned from his own private hell, John is determined to win Genna back. Even as she struggles to keep their relationship strictly professional, Genna is selected for a special FBI team led by John, charged with tracking down the person behind a series of seemingly random abductions of young women across the country. But as a terrifying pattern begins to emerge, Genna faces the chilling realization that someone else from her past may be on the way back into her life—and that she stands in danger of losing more than just her heart.
Featuring two fascinating characters from her acclaimed bestseller Brown-Eyed Girl, Mariah Stewart delivers a page-turner of passion and suspense.

I didn't get as much from the book as the synopsis writin' folks.

So only three ehhhh...beans.....

SEX: A MYSTERY - Fiona Quirina

I found this book while adding to my A-Z Challenge stack. It was amazingly difficult to find a Q author of a book I'd be interested in reading. I'm sure I will find plenty now, of course....

I expected to only tolerate reading this one, skimming if I needed to. I read every word.

From the B&N synopsis:

But in the therapy biz, she's what's called a "sex surrogate." It's a job Lydia fell into after her recent position as Senior Vice President of a major conglomerate came to a resounding finale when she blew the whistle on some seriously unethical business practices. At least Lydia is able to meet the rent on her Fifth Avenue duplex, keep her closet full of designer clothes, and support the homeless ministry of her roommate. Until one of her favorite clients is stabbed in the back with an ice pick in her very own bed. Now, Lydia finds herself the prime suspect, and-to clear her name-she must step into what is probably the world's second oldest profession: detective.

I absolutely flew through this book! Lydia Quess is a great character! I had absolutely no idea 'whodunnit' and it made sense when all was revealed. I loved watching Lydia work on her own to solve the crime and work with other characters. She had a great sense of self assurance and it seemed to emanate to everyone around her willing to accept her for who she was and what she did for a living.

Fiona Quirina is a wonderfully talented, funny, bright author! I was sad to find that this is the only book she's written under this name. I will be going to her website to find the rest of her books. She's written four mysteries and three medical thrillers! I am going to look up her website: lydiaquess.com

Four sexy beans.....

Pimpin' Out Mark Henry...cuz he asked us to....

If you go over to visit Mark Henry's new site, this link will lead you to his contest of chances to win free books.

Lady K-ism of the Day

"Mommie, did you know that the sun is really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really......[breath].....really, really, really, really, really, really...HOT?! So don't go there okay? Daddy told me."

FIRST IN SERIES CHALLENGE Completion

THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT - Robert Crais (Jan)

WHISKEY SOUR - J A Konrath (May)

THYME OF DEATH - Susan Wittig Albert (Jan)

STORM FRONT - Jim Butcher (Feb)

ILL WIND:Weather Warden - Rachel Caine (Jan)

TWILIGHT - Stephanie Meyer (Jun)

HOUNDING THE MOON - P R Frost (Feb)

AGATHA RAISIN AND THE QUICHE OF DEATH - M C Beaton (Mar)

WITCHLING - Yasmine Galenorn (Mar)

PACIFIC VORTEX - Clive Cussler (Mar)

THE BLACK ECHO - Michael Connelly (Apr)

THE KILLING FLOOR - Lee Child (Sep)

CITY OF MASKS - Daniel Hecht (Feb)

NYMPHOS OF ROCKY FLATS - Mario Acevedo (Feb)

FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES - Kathy Love (Apr)

TALL,DARK & DEAD - Tate Hallaway (Apr)

SERVANT: THE AWAKENING - L L Foster (Apr)

SECOND SUNRISE - David and Aimee Thurlo (Apr)

TULAROSA - Michael McGarrity (May)

THE GOLDEN COMPASS - Philip Pullman (May)

COOKING UP MURDER - Miranda Bliss (June)

THE SPELLMAN FILES - Lisa Lutz (June)

THE BODY IN THE BELFRY - Katherine Hall Page (July)

HOOD:Book One King Raven Trilogy - Stephen Lawhead(July)

DANCING WITH WEREWOLVES:Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator - Carole Nelson Douglas (July)

GHOST OF A CHANCE - Kate Marsh, aka Katie MacAlister (Aug)

THE TALE OF HILL TOP FARM: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter - Susan Wittig Albert (Sep)

A KISS GONE BAD - Jeff Abbott (Sep)

ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY - Lori Handeland (Sep)

HOMINIDS - Robert J Sawyer (Oct)

MURDER AMONG NEIGHBORS - Jonnie Jacobs (Nov)

CHUNKSTER CHALLENGE 2008 Completion

CITY OF MASKS - Daniel Hecht, 464 pages (Feb)
TRIPTYCH - Karin Slaughter, 480 pages (May)
TWILIGHT - Stephanie Meyer, 498 pages (June)
HOOD - Stephen Lawhead, 496 pages (July)
WIDDERSHINS - Charles De Lint, 586 pages (Oct)
SCENT OF SHADOWS: The First Sign of the Zodiac - Vicki Pettersson, 455 pages (Dec)

LADY KILLER - Lisa Scottoline

I meander away from this sort of series and meander back again every year or so. I meander away because I tire of lawyer mysteries. Then I remember how good Lisa Scottoline is and meander back. This was a good meander.

Mary DiNunzio is my favorite of the lawyers at the all female firm of Rosato & Associates.

Mary is hired by her high school nemesis, Trish Gambone, one of the Mean Girls who made nerdy little Mary's life miserable. Now Trish needs Mary to protect her from Trish's "connected" boyfriend. There are all kinds of reasons why Mary shouldn't help Trish, besides the fact of how Trish used to treat Mary. Mary tutored said "connected" boyfriend in Latin and sorta kinda also dated Trish's Mob boyfriend, pre-Mob, back in high school. Yikes.....

Then the "connected" boyfriend ends up dead in an alley and Trish has disappeared. Double yikes....

Mary makes it her mission to find Trish and find who murdered the boyfriend.

I really enjoyed listening to this, especially because it's one of my favorite narrators, Barbara Rosenblatt, telling me the story. And I adore Mary's spunk, caution towards change, and the love she has for her parents, friends and her neighborhood and her clients.

Four killer beans....

SCENT OF SHADOWS: FIRST SIGN OF THE ZODIAC - Vicki Pettersson

This is SUCH a good book! I really cannot believe I have waited this long to read one of Vicki Pettersson's books.

Joanna Archer has led a rough life, even though from a wealthy and powerful family in Las Vegas. It started when she was raped, beaten and left for dead when she was 16 years old. She survived, even after her mother left her. Joanna made herself move on, distancing herself from her father and sister. She maintained a semblance of relationship with her sister, Olivia (the sweet one), mostly because Olivia kept wouldn't give her up.

Joanna is a photographer by day and prowls around her beloved gritty Las Vegas at night. On one of her evening prowls, she finds demons do exist and there is a battle going on between Light and Dark. Which way should she go? She is drawn to both sides. Especially after more tragedy hits her in the gut.

Five demon-hunting beans.....

NOVEMBER BOOK JOURNAL

HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE - Jeaniene Frost, MPB, most excellent, look for more

BLUEGATE FIELDS - Anne Perry, BOT, decent and sad

X-RATED BLOODSUCKERS - Mario Acevedo, TPB, excellent fun, already a favorite

MURDER AMONG NEIGHBORS - Jonnie Jacobs, MPB, very good cozy, look for more

FEAST OF FOOLS: BOOK 4 MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES - Rachel Caine, MPB, series just keeps getting better, already a favorite

THE WITCH IS DEAD - Shirley Damsgaard, MPB, superb,already a favorite

THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE - Max Brooks, TPB, good, looking forward to WORLD WAR Z

DECEPTION PASS - Earl Emerson, MPB, good detective mystery...look for more

BLACK WIDOW - Randy Wayne White, BOCD, darn fine suspense/thriller

BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD - Sean Chercover, MPB, gritty noir detective novel, look for more

UP JUMPS THE DEVIL - Margaret Maron, MPB, just love this series

TWO PLAYS FOR VOICES - Neil Gaiman, BOCD, holey shmokes!

MOM MEETS HER MAKER - James Yaffe, MPB, decent story