September 2009 Book Journal

SKIN DEEP - Mark Del Franco, ARC, urban fantasy
BONES OF BETRAYAL - Jefferson Bass, BOCD, medical mystery
DIED IN THE WOOL - Rett MacPherson, MPB, cozy mystery
THE MEDIATOR: DARKEST HOUR - Meg Cabot, BOCD, YA paranormal mystery
DISAPPEARING NIGHTLY - Laura Resnick, MPB, paranormal mystery
THROUGH VIOLET EYES - Stephen Woodworth, MPB, thriller
BLACK JACK POINT - Jeff Abbott, BOT, suspense
DIM SUM DEAD - Jerrilyn Farmer, MPB, cozy mystery
STAYING DEAD - Laura Anne Gilman, urban fantasy
MISSING YOU: 1-800-Where-R-You - Meg Cabot, YA paranormal mystery
AUNT DIMITY DIGS IN - Nancy Atherton, HB, cozy mystery

7 books
4 audiobooks
11 for the month
91 total so far for the year

What's In a Name 2 Challenge Complete!

What's In a Name Challenge 2009 is complete as of today.

1. A book with a Profession in the title: GRAVEROBBERS WANTED: NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY - Jeff Strand (Jun 09)
2. A book with a Time of Day in the title: SOMETHING FROM THE NIGHTSIDE - Simon R Green (Apr 09)
3. A book with a Relative in the title: AUNT DIMITY DIGS IN - Nancy Atherton (Sep 09)
4. A book with a Body Part in the title: THROUGH VIOLET EYES - Stephen Woodworth (Sep 09)
5. A book with a Building in the title: THE GHOST AND THE HAUNTED MANSION - Alice Kimberly (Jan 09)
6. A book with a Medical Condition in the title: STAYING DEAD - Laura Anne Gilman (Sep 09)

MISSING YOU: 1-800-Where-R-You? - Meg Cabot, narr Johanna Parker

From the back of the audiobook: A few years ago, Jessica Mastrani was struck by lightning, gaining a special ability to find missing persons. When the government found out, she went to work. Finding terrorists, reuniting soldiers with families, finding the lost kid down the street---you know, that sort of thing.
Now, suddenly, Jessica's lost her powers. Not that she's complaining. But it's not so easy to become a normal teen again after seeing violent terrorist attacks in Iraq, being featured on newscasts across the country, and having a television series made about your life. And then there's the super-hot, kind of social delinquent ex-boyfriend Jess left behind. There's one benefit to actually having psychic powers--you know when he's going to show up.
The 1-800-Where-R-You series, the basis for Lifetime's 'Missing', closes with MISSING YOU. Meg Cabot is also the author of the popular Princess Diaries books and the Mediator series, available on Recorded Books.
******************************
I put this on my wishlist at Recorded Books, not knowing it's the end of the series. It was still highly enjoyable and I will go back to the beginning and listen to all of them. I may look for the Lifetime series.
Jess has her head on straight for all that she's seen in the world after being struck by lightning and having this ability to find the missing in her dreams. And she's still young enough to have uncertainties abounding about her ex-boyfriend who comes asking for her help to find his missing sister. Jess still loves Rob, but doesn't want to really admit it or that he hurt her years ago.
It doesn't stop her from looking for the missing girl and dealing with the fallout.
Meg Cabot is one of the few prolific authors who I enjoy reading or listening to. She makes each series or book fresh and entertaining.

Five lightning beans....

AUNT DIMITY DIGS IN - Nancy Atherton

From the back of the book: At home in the ghostly Aunt Dimity's idyllic English cottage, Lori Shepherd is up to her elbows in pureed avocados and formula bottles as she strives to be the perfect mother to her three-month-old twins! Aunt Dimity restores order--and Lori's sanity--by sending the beautiful and mysterious Frencesca Sciaporelli to lend a hand with the boys. the nanny is a treasure, but Lori's newfound freedom proves to be a mixed blessing. No sooner does she step outside the cottage for a breath of diaper-free air than she finds herself smack in the middle of a civil war brewing in the nearby village of Finch.
****************************
Who shall occupy the church schoolhouse? Will it be the archaeologist, Adrian Culver, who has come to Finch to dig up the find of his life? Or will the unofficial leader/empress of Finch, Peggy Kitchen, get her way of utilizing the building for her Harvest Festival? It divides the small village since there are some in Finch who think the archaeological dig will put Finch on the tourist map. The rest of the village wants the Harvest Festival to go on as they know they will not hear the end of it from Peggy Kitchen.

I love reading this cozy series. Some are light in tone and there are some that have a dark tinge like AUNT DIMITY BEATS THE DEVIL, which is actually my favorite of the series. It's one that doesn't have Lori having everything go her way and she actually has to fight something bad. Lori only seems to struggle slightly with motherhood before someone steps in to help with her twins and she gets to go galavanting off to solve a mystery. I always feel a twinge of envy when I read those parts. *smile*

Four cozy English beans.....

The Hunting Trip

Getting geared up.... . Ready to go!
Hittin' the trail....

Documenting the trek....

Passing on the hunting knowledge....

DIM SUM DEAD: A Madeline Bean Catering Mystery - Jerrilyn Farmer

From the back of the book: Award-winning, #1 Los Angeles Times bestselling author Jerrilyn Farmer is earning a reputation as one of the funniest and most outrageous new mystery authors in years. And now, her fabulous sleuth--witty, sexy, cool party planner Madeline Bean--introduces us to the latest craze on the LA scene....

MAH-JONGG???

Yep. In hip Hollywood, that kitsch old game is fast becoming the next 'new' obsession--and that calls for a party! Madeline Bean and her charming partner Wesley Westcott are determined to throw a gonzo Chinese New Year banquet. But among the hot mah-jongg tiles, the stamy dim sum and the frosty Singapore Slings, no one expects to find one of the players ice-cold dead!

Meanwhile, in one of the historic celebrity mansions that Wesley is restoring as a sideline, a well-aimed crowbar uncovers a stash of precious objects--including an antique mah-jongg set. As Madeline pieces together how these two events are connected, she must separate the yin from the yang to uncover a killer. It doesn't take a fortune cookie to spell it out. There is always a price to pay....whether gambling at mah-jongg--or murder.

**************

I have been in the mood for the cozies that I have on Mt Git'r'Read and this one seemed to leap off the shelf..or out of the drawer...and into my hands. I don't always like foodie cozy mysteries, but I liked the premise of this one and I wasn't disappointed. I like that Mad is a caterer in LA, fascinating as that town can be, and the food wasn't the center of the action so much as an enhancement or garnish (it is a foodie cozy). I've not read this author or series before, but it will definitely not be the last. I really like Mad and her buddies and employees. Madeline is a good planner, always prepared, so (to me) she makes a believable amateur sleuth. I pretty much plowed through this fairly quickly for a purse book. I don't always get time with my purse books on certain schedules, but this one went with me to the gym and kept me on the recumbent bike longer to get just a few more pages in...so it's a good fitness book, too!

Five fitness foodie cozy beans.....

STAYING DEAD: The Retrievers Book 1 - Laura Anne Gilman

From the back of the book: It starts as a simple job--but simple jobs, when you're dealing with the magical world, often end of anything but.

As a Retriever, Wren Valere specializes in finding things gone missing--and then bringing them back, no questions asked. Normally her job is stimulating, challenging and only a little bit dangerous. But every once in a while....

Case in point: A cornerstone containing a spell is stolen and there's a magical complication. (Isn't there always?) Wren's unique abilities aren't enough to lay this particular case to rest, so she turns to some friends: a demon (minor), mage who has lost his mind, and a few others, including Sergei, her business partner (and maybe a bit more?).

Sometimes what a woman has to do to get the job done is enough to give even Wren nightmares.....

**************

My buddy, Amy on Shelfari's Paranormal Mysteries, suggested I read this one ASAP when she heard I had it on Mt Git'r'Read. So...I did! I'd been looking for a quick reading story and this did the trick. I also wanted a title for What's in a Name Challenge 2 for the Medical Condition section. Ta-Da! I'd think 'staying dead' is the ultimate medical condition...anyway...

I really enjoyed reading this one, even if I had some difficulties keeping up with dialogue or changes in scenery and characters from time to time. I blame it on the reader rather than the writer as I was on a different shift and wasn't always as alert as I'd have liked for reading the adventures of Wren and Sergei. Wren, the Talent, kicks ass, Sergei, the Null, is a sweetie with 'tude and the two of them make a perfect partnership. 'Talent' is what the people with magical abilities are called and 'Null' is the non-magical.

There's a lot of politics going on throughout the book: there's the Council who tries to run the Talent to their way of doing business and there's the Silence and not much is known of them, but both the Council and the Silence want Wren and Sergei brought to heel and work for them than on their own.

And there's the growing unrest among Wren's friends and fellow magical creatures, human and nonhuman alike.

I'm very glad I finally read this from Mt Git'r'Read and happy that it is a beginning of a series.

Four kick-ass Talent and Null beans.....

Which 'Bones' Character Are You?/

Which Bones Character Are You?

More on Bones. Created by BuddyTV

TGIF

Ahhhh....I am working on 24 hours awake as I was on a mid shift last night and wasn't sleepy when I got home. Tired, but not sleepy. I read for a while and got up and went to TJ Maxx to look at Christmas presents for Lady K so that I could get them and get them hidden before she's home from school.

Tomorrow is the hunting trip up to Bailey. It's been snowing in the mountains, so not sure how far we'll get, but DH really wants to get up there and look at the leaves changing colors, look for rocks and driftwood and hopefully elk sign.

Sunday will be quiet day as far as I am concerned.

What are your plans?

BLACK JACK POINT: Whit Mosley, 2nd in series - Jeff Abbott, narr L J Ganser

From the back of the book: When A KISS GONE BAD was published, it received rave reviews from major publications including Publishers Weekly and The Midwest Review which called Jeff Abbott "the next John Grisham." BLACK JACK POINT is a riveting continuation of the adventures of Whit Mosley, the laid-back district judge of Port Leo, Texas.

Two of Whit's old friends have been brutally slaughtered at Black Jack Point, stretch of underdeveloped land on the Gulf Coast. But when Whit opens an inquest into their deaths, the evidence points to a plan more wicked than these two murders. Buried treasure and millions in land investment are the prizes and the players won't let anyone stand in their way.

From unpredictable bad guys to the tropical-shirted Judge Mosley, each character vividly stands out against the coastal landscape. Enhanced by L J Ganser's narration, BLACK JACK POINT will keep listeners guessing how Whit will escape the net of violence that is closing around him.

****************

This one wore me out! Action-packed and always having that 'Well HUH...WOW!' factor going throughout the listen. It started with almost sex and digging for treasure and ended with swimming in the Gulf and there was a whole lotta intrigue, murder, bad guys, good guys in between. I like those books. I did figure out some twists early on, so it's a four beaner rating from me. A KISS GONE BAD remains my favorite of the two I've listened to and I will darn well listen to more of the series and maybe not in order since I'm not sure it matters.

Oh and I still have a crush on Gootch.....and L J Ganser rocks!

Four twist figured-outer beans......

Books in the House Monday

A highly excellent week of books coming into the house! I am ready for any kind of book-related drought I think.....

From the use of my B&N coupon:

THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER - Leann Renee Hieber, paranormal mystery

STRANGE BREW - paranormal anthology editied by P N Elrod

From fab High Crimes Mystery Bookshop:

DESOLATE ANGEL - Chaz McGee, paranormal mystery

SOME LIKE IT HOT-BUTTERED - Jeffrey Cohen, cozy mystery

TRIGGER CITY - Sean Chercover, thriller

TETHERED - Amy MacKinnon, thriller

From the fun afternoon yesterday at WhoElse Books (some highly excellent deals I scored):

RETRIBUTION - Jeanne C Stein, SIGNED!!!! I won this in Jeanne's raffle....just so freakin' giddy about the whole afternoon!

DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE - Jeaniene Frost, #4 Night Huntress, urban fantasy

UNCLEAN SPIRITS:Book One The Black Sun's Daughter - M L N Hanover, urban fantasy

CITY OF SOULS: The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac - Vicki Pettersson, urban fantasy

WITH RED HANDS - Stephen Woodworth, thriller, second in Violet series

SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL - Jerrilyn Farmer, 1st in cozy mystery series (signed)

For my dad's birthday:

MONUMENT ROCK - Louis L'Amour

For DH, just because:

BLACK WIND - Clive Cussler w/Dirk Cussler

Off to make room on Mt Git'r'Read.....

Super Fun Saturday with Jeanne C Stein

So I had the best flippin' Saturday afternoon yesterday! DH was my very sweet driver and took us down to Denver (we live in the northwestern 'burbs) to WhoElse! Books on Broadway for their first book signing in their new digs. Their first signing was Jeanne Stein, author of the superb Anna Strong series. I have followed and chatted with Jeanne on the blog she shares with Mario Acevedo, author of the Felix Gomez series, another favorite of mine. I've won some contests from Jeanne and she sent me a signed 2009 calendar last Christmas. She just plain ol' rocks.

We arrived early since we weren't sure we'd know exactly where we needed to be. MapQuest made it easy and we were inside the store extra early. What else does one do in bookshop when one is early for a book signing? Yep, we shopped for books and I found a treasure trove (will be on my Monday Books in the House post tomorrow). Then Jeanne arrived and almost immediately came over to us, recognizing Lady K. Jeanne had a gift for Lady K, a light up duck, a box of chocolates and a pair of vampire teeth. Lady K had a pirate map and a monster picture she'd drawn for Jeanne. Lady K adores the Anna Strong book cover magnets I keep on the fridge and knows I read the books.

Jeanne read from RETRIBUTION, book 5 in the series. She answered questions from the audience, and had several raffle drawings. I won the last draw (loaded with my, Lady K's and DH's tickets as I was). My booty was a copy of RETRIBUTION, book cover magnets, a box of chocolates, a pen, and a WhoElseBooks shopping bag! Just a highly excellent time and supremely memorable. Jeanne reading from RETRIBUTION, fifth in the Anna Strong seriesJeanne answering a question from the audience

Jeanne, Lady K and moiLady K supervising the autographing of the copy of RETRIBUTION we won in the raffle

Oh yeah....Mario Acevedo was there for support and extra charm....

Lady K-ism of the Day

Lady K has been practicing like a fiend (if fiends do indeed practice) to be able to whistle. It's been driving her (and us a little) nuts....today was the day..in fact just now:

LadyK: MOMMIE! I think I can whistle!!! Listen, is this whistling? ...puckers up and produces a soft whistle.
Me: Yep, that's a whistle! (high five shared)
Lady K: This is a whistle...*whistle*...this *not whistle* is just blowing air and spit.

TGIF!

The weekend is off to a rousing start. I worked a swing shift last night, got to bed by 0100, up by 0600 to get Lady K ready for BASE. They saw 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' today. Lady K gives it a thumbs up and is ready to see it again with me on Sunday morning. I cleaned floors for today's chore. I got to use the brand new Windtunnel. Holey mackanoley, that thing can suck up the crud...and our house isn't cruddy! It definitely isn't now. The thing weighs a ton, so I'm glad we got this well after my new hip so I can lug it up and down the stairs.

Tomorrow is the super fun day. Out to breakfast, a birthday party at Little Chefs for Lady K where she and the other partiers will make their own pizzas. It's in a pretty nice shopping center, so this might be a drop-off party and DH and I can go meander about. At 3pm, we will be in Denver on the corner of Broadway and Cedar at WhoElseBooks for a book signing of one of my favorite authors, Jeanne Stein. RETRIBUTION, #5 in the Anna Strong series, is out now and I will get my copy there to support the independent bookstore and get to meet Jeanne!! I am beyond excited.

DH is going to a blues concert in Lyons tomorrow evening and might stay the night with our buds he's going with. I know he is looking forward to the show.

Sunday is NFL for DH and the movies for Lady K and me.

What are your plans? I hope it's a good weekend for you!

THROUGH VIOLET EYES - Stephen Woodworth

From the back of the book: The police call them The Violets...They have a special gift that is crime-fighting's secret weapon....

Through their violet eyes, they can actually expose the face of a murderer.

But now one killer is closing their violet eyes--permanently--and even the FBI can't stop him.

****

Dan Atwater is the FBI agent assigned to protect Natalie Lindstrom, a Violet in touch with the murder victims who were her friends. Atwater needs to keep Natalie safe and alive, for her sake and to help solve the murders before more Violets are killed. The two opposite personalities learn to work together. Both need to overcome their pasts and learn to get along.

I can't imagine what it must be like for Natalie, bombarded at all times with dead souls 'knocking' to get her attention so that they can be heard and somewhat live again if only for a little while. Violets are born with the ability and there isn't a way to shut it off, only control somewhat to have as normal life as possible.

Five intense thriller beans......

DISAPPEARING NIGHTLY - Laura Resnick

From the back of the book: I'm not a heroine--I just play one. Along with psychotics, vamps, housewives and hookers. As my agent is fond of pointing out, there are more actors in New York than there are people in most other cities. Translation: beggars can't be choosers.

This explains how I wound up prancing around stage half naked the night Golly Gee--the female lead in the off-Broadway show "Sorceror!"-- disappeared into thin air. Literally.

Now other performers are also vanishing, and a mysterious stranger is warning me, "There is evil among us." But the producers want me to take over Golly's part.

Looks as if I'm going to need a little magical help if I want to keep my starring role.....

*******

O..M..G! How excellent is this book?! I had such a good time reading it and getting to know Esther, Max, Magic Magnus, Delilah, Whoopsy Daisy, Khyber Pass....and the rest....it's a funny paranormal mystery that had me giggling and staying up way past my bedtime since it was my bedside book.

The characters are fabulously written and the story is smooth. I did kind of figure out who the bad person was about halfway through, but I didn't mind. I wanted to see how it was done and the rest of the relationships and characters pulled me happily along.

Five superbly mystical beans......

Wanton Wantin' Book List Wednesday!

20 or so from the WWBL:

UNBOUND - anthology, paranormal

JAILBAIT ZOMBIE - Mario Acevedo, paranormal

THE EYE OF THE NIGHT - Pauline J Alama, e-book, alternate reality

AND ONLY TO DECEIVE - Tasha Alexander, historical suspense

MAGIC BITES - Ilona Andrews, paranormal

BLOOD TIES - Lori Armstong, mystery

MEMORY ZERO (Spook Squad Series) - Keri Arthur, paranormal

LORD OF SNOW AND SHADOWS: Book One of the Tears of Artamon - Sarah Ash, fantasy

RAVENOUS - Sharon Ashwood, paranormal romance ?

DYING BITES - D D Barant, paranormal

THE LACEMAKERS OF GLENMARA - Heather Barbieri,

NIGHT CHILD: OSI Series #1 - Jes Battis, paranormal

THE SISTERS MORTLAND - Sally Beauman, gothic mystery

SINS AND SHADOWS - Lyn Benedict, paranormal

GHOSTS OF ALBION - Amber Benson & Christopher Golden, paranormal

FATAL FIXER-UPPER - Jennie Bentley, cozy mystery

SPACKLED AND SPOOKED - Jennie Bentley, cozy mystery

GUIDE TO PIRATE PARENTING - Tim Bete, so Lady K can be a pirate kid....

SEBASTIAN - Anne Bishop, paranormal

THE DEVIL INSIDE - Jenna Black, paranormal

SECONDHAND SPIRITS - Juliet Blackwell, cozy mystery

BLOOD GROOVE - Alex Bledsoe, paranormal

SWORD EDGED BLONDE - Alex Bledsoe, fantasy

SHATTERED - Jay Bonansinga, thriller

OPEN SEASON - C J Box, suspense

MOON CALLED - Patricia Briggs, paranormal

DEMON BOUND - Meljean Brook, paranormal

PRIEST - Ken Bruen, thriller

AVALON HIGH - Meg Cabot, YA

BBAW Blog Interview Swap Day!!!

I signed up for the Book Blogger Appreciation Week interview swap a little while ago. This is the week for Book Blogger Appreciation and here is my interview swap!
LadyStorm's blog is called Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!
Here is our question and answer session, which we conducted via email:

Me: How do you pick the books you review?
LadyStorm: Well, when I first got started I was just blogging about books that I would win off of other blog sites. Now I have a few publishing companies that send me books along with a few reviewing sites. They send me a email of what they are offering and I choose which one I think I might like to read and review about. When I first started out I hardly ever received any books now my TBR pile has grown so much I am overloaded with books, but I am not complaining. :0)

Me:Are there books or genres or authors you'd rather not read?
LadyStorm: I don't really have a certain author I won't read, but I will not read erotica, so if they write that then I guess I won't be reading their work. :0)

Me: Do you have favorite TV shows?
LadyStorm: Yes, I am a dedicated NCIS watcher and now they are coming out with NCIS: Los Angeles so I am curious to see if it will be any better. Though I have to admit without Abbie and Agent Gibbs it won't be half as good as the original. :0)
(Me: I concur)

Me: Do you have a laptop or desktop?
LadyStorm: I have a desktop , I just got me a new one at the beginning of the year. It's a HP slimline and I think it's pretty cool. I would like to get myself a laptop or netbook sometime in the future so I can blog on the run. :0)

Me: Have you joined challenges and if so, how many typically do you join?
LadyStorm: I didn't learn about challenges until lately so I haven't really joined any, but it looks like it would be fun.

Me: Do you complete all of your challenges?
LadyStorm: Since I haven't started one I haven't had a chance to finish one.

Me: How do you get your tunes to come up on your blog? Love your tune choice.
LadyStorm: Thanks! I am glad you like them. I am sort of old school in my choice of music..lol. I went to playlist.com and searched for what I thought would be cool book music and then got the code for it and put it up on my blog.

Me: How many books are on your TBR stacks? Does the TBR have a name? I call mine Mt Git'r'Read.
LadyStorm: OH, you would have to ask that...lol. Well if I named it I guess I would call it leaning tower of boxed books..lol. I would say I have over a hundred books in my TBR pile but that is just a estimate.

Me: Stranded on a desert island, what five things would you take with you? (borrowed this one from Amberkatze)
LadyStorm: Well I would most definitely take the book I am reading right now, FOOLS RUSH IN by Janice Thompson. Its a Christian romance and it is soooooo funny I can't wait to finish it. In hopes that my island has electricity...lol..I would want my computer. An assortment of flavored waters to drink while I am soaking up the sun. A pile of my TBR books soI could catch on some reading. And I would have to say my cell phone...lol... :0)

Me: How do the authors find you for the interviews?
LadyStorm: Mostly I get author interviews by putting out a call to authors on some of my sites I am on. Most authors like doing giveaways and author interviews because it helps promote their books. Sometimes when I get a book from a publisher they weill have a way to contact the author if I would like an interview with them. I love doing interviews and giveaways as well as my reviews and anyone can get in touch with me by emailing me at ladystorm282001{at}yahoo{dot}com

Thank you for the interview, LadyStorm!!

And you can find my answers to her questions on her blog!

Books in the House Monday

A very nice week of book arrivals in the house last week.
From my buddy, Marie-Louise:
THE SUGAR QUEEN - Sarah Addison Allen, a book I will be adding to the keeper shelf next to the very wonderful GARDEN SPELLS (my review)

From my buddy, Susie in IL:
SECOND THYME AROUND - Katie Fford, romantic comedy

From my buddy, Mary Ann:
A SPOONFUL OF POISON - M C Beaton, 19th in the superb Agatha Raisin series

From my buddy, Jenna:
The very sweetie pie loan of these Richelle Mead's:
SUCCUBUS DREAMS
SUCCUBUS HEAT
THORN QUEEN
& the gift of:
MARK OF THE DEMON - Diana Rowland
I DREAMED I MARRIED PERRY MASON - Susan Kandel
AND....a Powell's Bookstore pen and sticker and a postcard signed by Kat Richardson (squeeee!), a Terry Brooks bookmark signed by the author, and Camille Alexa - PUSH THE SKY bookmark and highly intriguing container of possible mystical cuffs from Kat Richardson VANISHED....I really look forward to reading this fourth Harper Blaine adventure even more now!
From my High Crimes Mystery Bookshop order:
HAVE MERCY ON US ALL - Fred Vargas, a thriller from a French author I am really looking forward to reading
MAMA DOES TIME - Deborah Sharp, the first in the Mace Bauer Mystery series I chose because I am a sucker for a fab title
And Cynthia who is (High Crimes Mystery Bookshop) sent me a very sweet prezzie, the first 28 pages of Terry Goodkind's first foray into thrillers, THE LAW OF NINES. Thankin' YOU, Cynthia!

DARKEST HOUR: THE MEDIATOR - Meg Cabot, narr Johanna Parker

From the back of the book: When the nineteenth - century ghost of Maria de Silva wakes her up in the middle of the night, Suze knows this is no ordinary visitation--and not just from the knife at her throat either. In life, Maria was the fiancee of Jesse--the same Jesse who was murdered 150 years before. The same Jesse Suze is in love with.

Maria threatens Suze: the backyard construction must cease. Suze has a pretty good what -- or who -- Maria doesn't want found. But in solving Jesse's murder, will Suze end up losing him forever?

**********

This is the best series! I look forward to each one as they show up in the mail from RecordedBooks. Johanna Parker, who also narrates the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series, is a fab voice for Suze and the other characters in this YA paranormal series. Suze is 16 and can talk to ghosts or rather they demand attention from Suze since she is one of the few mediators out there. They help ghosts get to the other side when they get lost or don't realize they are dead.

Suze loves Jesse, the 150 year old ghost who lives in her bedroom. He was murdered by his fiancee so she could marry another and Jesse has been around ever since. In this fourth book in the series, Maria is back to threaten Suze to stop the digging in the back of Suze's house. Suze's stepfather and stepbrother are working on a deck and hot tub and it might be a bit difficult to get them to stop.

Suze is also having her summer vacation hampered by having to get a job at the resort where another stepbrother works as a lifeguard. Suze is a babysitter to the rich and has her hands full with her current charge, Jack. Jack is sullen and doesn't want to go outside and play. It doesn't help that his parents and older brother don't really want to have much to do with him. Suze takes him under her wing when she finds out he's a budding mediator, too.

So Suze has a summer job, a reluctant mediator in training and a ghost with murder on her mind....this is definitely not the summer Suze had planned.

Five ghostly beans.....

TGIF!!

Happy Friday!! A busy evening tonight prepping for the party tomorrow. This is our first 'do' in several years and we have some prep. I will mow the lawn, make potato salad, a veggie tray, a fruit tray, apple dump cake (my first), help DH make a McCrapload of hamburgers.....the list do go on.

We are all pretty much looking forward to this 'do', Lady K most of all. She's got the countdown to the 'par-tay' as she has taken to calling it.

Sunday will be the first official Redskin game of the new season, so DH will be in the mancave and Lady K and I will be otherwise occupied, likely out of the house.

Hope you all have a fab weekend! What are your plans?

DIED IN THE WOOL: A Torie O'Shea Mystery - Rett MacPherson

From the back of the book: A Patchwork Murder...When New Kassel, Missouri's infamous old Kendall home goes up for sale, local historical-society presiden Torie O'Shea hopes to turn it into a textile museum honoring the exquisite quilts of Glory Kendall. Adding to Torie's fascination, Kendall House has a dark unsolved mystery. Nearly a century ago, all three grown siblings, including Glory, committed suicide.

Torie digs into the mystery of the family, and soon finds the cold case heating up when her good friend is poisoned while cataloguing Glory's quilts. tori is convinced the house holds the key--especially the blood-spattered mural depicting combat horrors, drawn by the eldest son, a shattered veteran of World War I. Soon a stunning tale of family secrets comes to life, woven into a tapestry of jealousy, madness and coldhearted murder.

*************************************

A few years ago, I tried a book from this series. And I didn't finish it and for the life of me I can't remember why. I might not have been ready for the writing or the cozy aspect or something. Glad I gave Rett MacPherson and the people of New Kassel Missouri another chance. This is a very well written book, with me trying to make time for it as often as I could. I was rather envious of Torie's smarts and stubborn need to solve the mystery of the suicides of the three siblings in the house in less than a year.

There are the quirky characters that are necessary in all cozies, the town busybody who knows best (Eleanor), town mayor (Colin), town sheriff (Mort), main character who can't help but get involved (Torie).

The mystery is old, but still compelling to the book's characters and to the reader. I wanted to know what happened to Glory Kincaid. Her story was so sad, but she had so much to live for and I wanted to know why she would commit suicide.

A wonderfully written book and I plan to look for more of the series and anything else Rett MacPherson has written.

Five past mystery compelling beans.....

Books In the House!

A quiet week for the books coming in the house. The cool thing about the lone book arriving is that the above Lisa Scottoline is a signed copy, so it will stay in the house on the Keeper Shelf. It's the first in the Rosato & Associates series and Mary DiNunzio is my favorite character in Scottoline's books.

BONES OF BETRAYAL - Jefferson Bass, narr Tom Stechschulte

From the back of the book: Founder of the University of Tennessee's Body Farm, Dr Bill Bass is hailed as the father of forensic anthropology. He and acclaimed journalist Jon Jefferson combine their talents to craft BONES OF BETRAYAL, a sizzling entry from their NY Times best-selling Body Farm series.

When the frozen body of Dr Leonard Novak--formerly a lead scientist on the Manhatten Project--is found near Tennessee's Oak Ridge nuclear research facility, Dr Bill Brockton takes up the investigation. It seems Novak died from ingesting highly radioactive material, and nowthe medical examiner has been poisoned by the same substance. As Brockton digs, he connects Novak's death to long-ago events and realizes the answers may ultimately lie in Oak Ridge's shady past.

A thrilling tale of suspense, BONES OF BETRAYAL shows why Kathy Reichs praises Bass and Jefferson's "terrific forensic detail" and calls them "the real deal." Narrator tom Stechschulte, a natural with Southern accents, lends his rich voice to this riveting audiobook.

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This is the fourth, and best, of the Body Farm series. The story kept me enthralled, to the point of sitting in the driveway or parking lot to listen to what would happen next so I wouldn't have to wait to find out.

I studied WWII in history class in school, I've seen movies on the Manhattan Project, but I found out even more intriguing facts about Oak Ridge, Tennessee. I'm not sure I knew Oak Ridge was part of the nuclear research or part of the atom bomb. Much has been made of the contributions of Los Alamos, but not as much about other placenames of importance.

The story was told in present day and the past with stories told by one of the characters, a woman Brockton meets at Dr Novak's funeral. I found the stories just as fascinating as the mystery of the death of Novak.

I highly recommend this book, either as handheld or audio, especially if you enjoy forensic mysteries. Really well written forensic mysteries.

Five nuclear beans.....

SKIN DEEP - Mark Del Franco

From the back of the book: Laura Blackstone, public relations director for the Fey Guild, can spin a story with ease. Across town, Janice Crawford works her magic as the druidess backup for the DC SWAT. Meanwhile, as an operative for an international intelligence agency, Mariel Tate uses her beauty and brains to hunt down terrorists. Laura, Janice, and Mariel have nothing in common--except they're the same woman...

Being an undercover agent has its occupational hazards, but Laura makes it look easy. As a spy for a fey intelligence agency, she uses her magical abilities to create disguises that are skin deep--glamours, or personas, that must never be compromised.

Now, while Laura publicizes a special fey exhibition at the National Archives, Janice is almost killed in a drug bust gone wrong, and Mariel discovers a connection between the drug raid and threats made against the exhibition's debut. Laura's different worlds are about to collide, and if she can'tkeep it together, she'll have more to worry about than being forced to retire an identity. She may lose her life.

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All of the different glamours, personas..whatever...had me confused for the first half of the book. There were a lot of characters attached to each persona, too, so that aided in my confusion. Thankfully, the story had promise and lived up to that once I got past the halfway point. I've heard too many good things about Del Franco from 'trusted agents' so I knew there was a diamond in all of that confusing dross. Ann Aguirre is one of those 'trusted agents' and I won the book from her blog, so I kept reading.

The story is an interesting premise of the fey world and the possibility of war between the factions. Politics is politics whether it's human or fey, it would seem.

I look forward to the rest of the series and I have other books by Del Franco on the WWBL.

Three give fey peace a chance beans.....

THE WOODSTOCK STORY BOOK - Linanne G Sackett, Photographs by Barry Z Levine

As reviewed and seen through the eyes of 6 1/2 year old Lady K:

"Mommie, this is a great storybook! WOW! Look at all those people! Holy COW! That stage is HUGE! HEY! Those people are NEKKID! I see his BUTT! OHHHHH! Now they're KISSIN'! GWOSSSS! ACK! Turn the page!

Oh! I like the poetwee. That's Janis Joplin? Do we like her? We do? Oh good. Jimi who? Hendwix? Is he good? They both died? Oh, that's sad. I like the fwinge on Jimi's jacket.

How do you say that name? Swami Satchi.....huh? That Country Joe and Fish song is good. OOOOOO! Carlos Santana? He's on my Dora the Explorer CD! I like him! Hey! Those boys are nekkid! Playing drums! Can I play drums nekkid someday? OH! More nekkid people taking a bath in the river! No bathtubs?

We received this from OnlinePublisher to review. We had a lot of fun looking this great photo filled book. Lady K is using it as a teaching book for her dolls and stuffed animals (aka, her students).

Five Lady K diggin' it beans!

August Book Journal

MYTH DIRECTIONS - Robert Asprin, BOT, cute funny fantasy

A CIRCLE OF SOULS - Preetham Grandhi, TPB, page turning fast good

THEM BONES - Carolyn Haines, MPB, WONDERFUL! Easily could become favorite cozy series

SUCCUBUS BLUES - Richelle Mead, TPB, excellent!

DEAD MARCH - Ann McMillan, MPB, fabulously well told story

GRAVE PERIL: Dresden Files #3 - Jim Butcher, MPB, Superb!

PANIC - Jeff Abbott, BOCD, exhaustingly fab

STREET MAGIC - Caitlin Kittredge, MPB, rockin' awesome!

THE UNSCRATCHABLES - Cornelius Kane, TPB, distracting characters-good story

POLTERGEIST - Kat Richardson, BOCD, even better the second time around!

CHILE DEATH - Susan Wittig Albert, MPB, love this series!
8 books

3 audiobooks

11 total for the month

80 total for the year so far