Blooms on Sunday - 27 Mar 2011

Soon to be a new varietal of butterfly....

Lady K making friends with a horseshoe crab

Owl butterfly taking a pause at the Butterfly Pavilion

THE KING OF PLAGUES: A Joe Ledger Novel - Jonathan Maberry

From the back of the book: From New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry comes the next Joe Ledger novel---Joe and the DMS are up against a group set to unleash a weaponized version of the Ten Plagues of Egypt on the world....

Saturday 09:11 Hours: A blast rocks a London hospital and thousands are left dead or injured.....10:09 Hours: Joe Ledger arrives on scene to investigate. The horror is unlike anything he has ever seen. Compelled by grief and rage, Joe rejoins the DMS and within hours is attacked by a hit-team of assassins and sent on a suicide into a viral hot zone during an Ebola outbreak.

Soon, Joe Ledger and the Department of Military Sciences begin tearing down the veils of deception to uncover a vast and powerful secret society using weaponized versions of the Ten Plagues of Egypt to destabilize world economies and profit from the resulting chaos. Millions will die unless Joe Ledger meets this powerful new enemy on their own terms as he fights terror with terror.
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Jonathan Maberry had me at GHOST ROAD BLUES (my review), the Pine Deep Trilogy, and I am now a fan of the Joe Ledger series. I was exhausted after each reading time, so this made for a good bedtime read for that, though it did make for some whack-a-doodle dreams.

The reader's eyes are flying across the page to keep up with quick scene changes and multiple characters, but the quick interludes within the chapters and the thriller storyline makes the pages turn faster and keeps you up way after your bedtime so you can read one more page.

I highly enjoy the way Maberry writes a fight scene. I could almost see the end result of bullets and the fists and definitely dreaded what would happen with the infectious diseases. The descriptions were raw and graphic.

The only time I felt like skipping ahead was while reading the scenes with the Seven Kings, the Goddess and the soldiers blindly following along. Not that the scenes were badly written, far from it. I just have a hard time dealing with zealots in any way, shape or form. And these are zealots who are the worst, the ones following the money.

THE KING OF PLAGUES is available on 29 Mar 2011. I received this ARC from the publisher.


Five stay up all night from the vivid whack-a-doodle dreams beans....

Books in the House Monday - 21 MAR 2011

High Crimes Mystery Bookshop:

WARRIOR: The Blades of the Rose - Zoe Archer, steampunk, MPB

DEAD DANCING WOMEN: Emily Kincaid Mystery #1 - Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, amateur sleuth, TPB

TWELVE - Jasper Kent, historical supernatural, TPB

LibraryThing

GONE WITH A HANDSOMER MAN - Michael Lee West, Southern mystery, ARC, release date 12 Apr 2011

unknown, but Thankin' whoever sent this to me!

ONE WAS A SOLDIER: Clare Fergusson #7 - Julia Spencer-Fleming, mystery, ARC, release date 12 Apr 2011

Contest win from Michele Lang via Bitten By Books:

Bag of cool schwag

Whole Lotta Signed Bookmarks from Kalayna Price

Whole Lotta Signed Bookmarks from Julie Hyzy

Signed by the author:

MASTER AND APPRENTICE: Gavyn Donatti Novel - Sonya Bateman, UF, MPB

8 years ago today....

Happy Birthday Lady K! What a great way to start Spring Break every year....

A Lady K St Patrick's Day Tale

Read this with the understanding that Lady K is in the 2nd grade and had to use her word bank and this week's spelling words...and she's still learning to spell...it's the spirit of the story I had to share....Happy St Patrick's Day!

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I was going to the airport. I was going to Ireland for the weekend and hafe of it was to catch a leprechaun. I had it all pland out. Why would I go to Ireland to catch a leprechaun? Well everyone knows that leprechauns are born in Ireland. So once I got there I put my plan into actson. I set up my trap and it was go time. That night it happend a short leprechaun came strolling by and my net came down. He trid to get out with his sword. I came out and said where is your pot of gold? Don't play the sport of one or two pieces of gold on me, I know that trick. So he told me. It was 10,000. I knew it. I let him go. I went back and I was glad conteing my store of gold.

A DEADLY CLICHE: A Books by the Bay Mystery - Ellery Adams

From the back of the book: While walking her poodle, Olivia Limoges discovers a dead body buried in the sand. Could it be connected to the bizarre burglaries plaguing Oyster Bay, North Carolina? The Bayside Book Writers prick up ther ears and pick up their pens to get the story...

The thieves have a distinct MO. At every crime scene, they set up odd tabeleaus: a stick of butter with a knife through it, dolls with silver spoons in their mouths, a deck of cards with a missing queen. Olivia realizes each setup represents a cliche.

Who better to decode the cliche clues than the Bayside Book Writers group, especially since their newest memer is Police Chief Rawlings? As the investigation proceeds, Olivia is surprised to find herself falling for the widowed policeman. But an even greater surprise is in store. Her father ---lost at sea thirty years ago---may still be alive....

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Nothing against any of the other cozy/amateur sleuth mysteries I've read this year (or even last year), but this is the best one I've read in a really long while. I have my favorites, yes, but I was completely taken by surprise at how much I enjoyed reading this second in the Books by the Bay series. I started reading it when I saw a post on Cozy Chicks blog on 3 Mar by Ellery Adams about rewarding readers/reviewers of cozies, especially the Cozy Chick author cozies. The first ten would win some DEADLY CLICHE schtuff and I immediately set KING OF PLAGUES: Joe Ledger #3 - Jonathan Maberry aside as my bedside book (I know, not typical bedtime reading, but that's me) and picked up DEADLY CLICHE from the stack on the nightstand.

I knew I didn't stand a chance to get in on the prezzies, but once I got into the story of Olivia Limoges, both her present and past stories, I didn't care about missing out on the treat bag....I just cared about this tight, well written mystery.

Two main stories going on: the mystery of the break-ins and murders and the mystery of Olivia's father, along with how Olivia handled both mysteries.

Olivia has been used to being removed from people, handling things from behind the scenes and now she finds herself cautiously making friends as well as helping bring Oyster Bay new life with renovations and jobs.

Nothing seemed forced or made to happen. The mystery was well done, the scenes and dialogue not even relating to the two mysteries were smooth and a nice interlude. I cried at times towards the end of the book, sad and happy. I love when I care about the characters.

And I want a dog like Captain Haviland. He and Olivia are a good team and good for each other.

I can't wait to read the third in the series, THE LAST WORD, whenever it comes out. Thankfully, I have the first in the series, A KILLER PLOT, on the nightstand to keep me until then.

Five I want to live in Oyster Bay sparkling diamonds....

ARSENIC AND OLD PAINT: Art Lover's Mystery - Hailey Lind

From the back of the book: Both sides of the art world....

Former art forger Annie Kincaid has been operating a legitimate decorative painting business for quite, but memories are long in the art world. Now, with the blessing of the FBI Art Squad, Annie's using her underworld connections to boost her new art investigation business, where she's partnered with none other than ex-art thief/love interest Michael X. Johnson. At first it's strictly business, but when she stumbles across a body in an exclusive Nob Hill men's club, and an insurance adjuster asks her to find a stolen (and forged) erotic painting, and then her Uncle Anton is attacked, Annie's on the trail of more than just art. This time, she's looking for justice.

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Oh, how I love this series. I would love to be an artist like Annie, I'd love to live in San Francisco and work in a place like her studio. I love my life, but it's fun to imagine what it would be like to know how to faux finish a room to look like a medieval dungeon and know a real Monet from a forged one.

What's not to love about a book that features a posh men's club, a dead body, an artist is found poisoned from paint, secret tunnels, and a sex club? And the sex club part of the story had to be my favorite for the.....

Five faux finish beans.....

MASTER AND APPRENTICE: Gavyn Donatti Novel - Sonya Bateman

Gavyn Donatti was used to being freakishly unlucky as in the worst thief ever. Well, good thief, but unlucky in outcome. Then he met Ian the djinn who is Donatti's great-great-great...etc grandfather and the Donatti luck changed to reasonably okay. Especially when they were both on the hunt for the evil djinn tribe that had basically wiped out Ian's tribe.

The the luck went back to bad and it's affecting everything in Gavyn's life. His truck is wrecked after a head on with a moose, Ian starts drinking beer. Absolutely worst of all, his family is driven away and they need to rescue Princess Akila who has been kidnapped by beyond evil half-breed djinn supremacists.

I like watching Gavyn and how he keeps on keepin' on protecting his loved ones and responsibilities. Even when the injuries keep on comin', he makes himself do what needs doing. Sonya Bateman doesn't sugarcoat the injuries either nor make Donatti into a Superman. He's injured, he hurts, he stumbles. He grows with his newfound abilities, learns as he goes and gets tougher even if he doesn't admit to it.

It may be just me (but I doubt it), I got invested in everything that happened to Gavyn, Ian, Jazz, Akila, Cyrus, the characters I cared most about. I sat at my desk crying at some points and other times wanting to reach inside the computer and to wheal some whoop-ass on some evil djinn half-breed azzwipes.

That is excellent writing, making the reader give a good damn about the characters.

We get more of the history of Ian and Akila's relationship, too. It's a lovely story, a romance and love for the ages.

I love Cyrus, the young son of Jazz and Gavyn. He's a toddler doll and has inherited his father's djinn qualities. Jazz realizes she now has to not only worry about potty-training, but the fact that Cy has magical abilities like turning invisible. That's a hard one to deal with in a toddler when all you figured you needed to teach was stop eating the dirt and don't stick your finger in the light socket.

And, ohhhh....the WTF moments abounded...absolutely loud ones....

Favorite quote:

"I wasn't exactly claustrophobic---just allergic to being trapped."

I received MASTER AND APPRENTICE from Sonya Bateman...thank you Sonya! It will be released 29 Mar 2011....get it here on B&N or here at Amazon or your favorite indie bookshop. Mine are High Crimes or Mystery Lovers Bookshop.

Five big djinn magic diamonds......

Books in the House Monday - 7 MAR 2011

High Crimes Mystery Bookshop:

A DEADLY CLICHE: Books by the Bay Mystery #2 - Ellery Adams, cozy, MPB

Pamala, Our Lady of the Books

FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON: Night Huntress World #1 - Jeaniene Frost, paranormal, MPB

INDEX TO MURDER: Miss Zukas Mystery #11 - Jo Dereske, cozy, MPB

MISS ZUKAS & THE RAVEN'S DANCE - Jo Dereske, cozy, MPB

OUT OF CIRCULATION: Miss Zukas Mystery #5 - Jo Dereske, cozy, MPB

DEAD MEN DON'T CROCHET: A Crochet Mystery #2 - Betty Hechtman, cozy, MPB

THE SHADOWY HORSES - Susanna Kearsley, archeological thriller, MPB

MIDWINTER OF THE SPIRIT: A Merrily Watkins Mystery #2 - Phil Rickman, suspense

THE MAN IN THE MOSS - Phil Rickman, thriller, MPB

Orchard Bookstore:

EIGHT OF SWORDS - David Skibbins, mystery, MPB

DEATH AT BISHOP'S KEEP: Charles and Kate Sheridan Mystery #1 - Robin Paige, Victorian cozy, MPB

SUMMER OF NIGHT - Dan Simmons, horror, MPB, keeper shelf

From the author:

RUN - Blake Crouch, thriller, e-book

From the author:

MASTER AND APPRENTICE: Gavyn Donatti #2 - Sonya Bateman, UF, e-book, out 29 Mar 2011

Rango

Lady K and I just back from seeing the best movie! We both went in knowing Rango would be good, but it was better than good. It was AWESOME! Perfect voices for each character, Johnny Depp is Rango, Timothy Olyphant is Spirit of the West, Bill Nighy is Rattlesnake Jake, there's Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina....
The story is classic Western with the great edge of critters telling the story. And Rango has his own mariachi band of owls.
I'd go back to see it tomorrow, but will wait til Spring Break since I have to go to work...dadgum work..... Definite addition to the collection when it comes out on DVD.

Save Publishing...Buy the Book

Go here...and see what all the hubbub is, bub. It's a little somethin' that author, Sean Cummings, put together on facebook.
Basic idea is if you can spare a few bucks, buy a book on the above 24 hour timeframe and help do your part to save publishing, authors, bookshops (especially the indies!). Once you buy it, post a pic on this facebook page.
I know you're doing your part to help save publishing by reading a book at bedtime....

RUN - Blake Crouch

From the synopsis of the book: Picture this: A landscape of American genocide.....

5 days ago

A rash of bizarre murder swept the country...

Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected.

A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike.

A mass of school shootings.

Prison riots of unprecedented brutality.

Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.

4 days ago

The murders increased ten-fold...

3 days ago

The President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace...

2 days ago

The killers began to mobilize...

Yesterday

All the power went out...

Tonight

They're reading the names of those to be killed on the Emergency Broadcast System. You are listening over the battery-powered radio on your kitchen table, and they've just read yours.

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epic {n}: an episode in the lives of men in which heroic deeds are performed or attempted

Don't look into the light...but if you didn't....RUN!

Good thing the young'n was in school, the house ws reasonably clean and my work was caught up...I wasn't getting to anything else until I finished.

RUN is more than a horror/thriller story, it's what happens to a family when all hell has broken loose in their environment.

Some people are affected by the lights and others aren't...the unaffected are the ones who need to run and run fast.

The Colclough family: Dee, Jack, and their two children, Cole and Naomi, are the center of this epic story. They are the unaffected and the story opens with them packing everything to flee whatever is happening and find a safe haven somewhere, somehow.

Finding out what they have inside them to keep going, finding out what exactly makes them a stronger family. And what they have inside that makes them do whatever it takes to protect each other and survive.

RUN is intense and I found myself involved with the Colcloughs and all that they experienced. I read the book quickly, in less than a day, which is, for me and an 80,000 word thriller, damn fast.

I received this e-book from the author. Thank you Blake, it was an awesome ride.

Five sparkly damn fast diamonds....