HOOKED ON MURDER: A Crochet Mystery - Betty Hechtman

From the back of the book: Molly Pink is about to discover the joys of crochet. It's a relaxing escape from her hectic life as a bookstore event coordinator....and from the stress of being the latest murder suspect in Tarzana, California.

For Molly, the weekly crochet group at Shedd & Royal Books and More was just another event to manage. Then she stumbled across the body of group leader Ellen Sheridan. Molly's complicated past with Ellen has made her a prime suspect, and after being cuffed and questioned, she could use a diversion. Never mind that she doesn't know how to crochet. Granny squares don't look that hard to make.....

But while Molly's fending off a detective with a grudge and navigating crochet-group politics, the real killer is at large. And it's up to Molly to catch the culprit---before she winds up in a tight knot....

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It took me a couple of chapters to really enjoy hanging with Molly and the crochet peeps, but once I got to chapter 3, I was in there. Molly has a legitimate reason for gettng involved in the murder solving. She was found over the dead body, the victim bought out Molly's business after the death of Molly's husband, the victim's partner, and the detective in charge of the case has the hots for Molly's boyfriend, another police detective.....keeping up? Yeah, that was my problem at first. A whole bunch of backstory with a whole bunch of characters to learn. Once I got the hang of everyone and everything, it was all good and I highly enjoyed the rest of the book.

Molly learning to crochet was fun to watch and I admired her backbone sticking up for herself against her bossy oldest son and the take charge boyfriend.

Nice characters to enjoy and some well written characters with some issues that I wanted to pop upside the cranium.

I started the book not sure I wanted to finish it and by the end of the story, I had the second in the series, DEAD MEN DON'T CROCHET, on the WWBL.

Four crocheting is the next big thing beans.....

January 2011 Book Journal

~IF WALLS COULD TALK: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #1 - Juliet Blackwell, paranormal mystery, MPB, good stuff

~ARSON AND OLD LACE: Far Wychwood Mystery #1 - Patricia Harwin, cozy, MPB, pretty good

~SKINWALKER: Jane Yellowrock #1 - Faith Hunter, UF, MPB, superb!

~THE CORPSE WORE TARTAN - Kaitlyn Dunnett, cozy, HB from LibraryThing, good

~SPECIALS: Uglies #3 - Scott Westerfeld, YA dystopia, BOCD, good

~AMERICAN GODS - Neil Gaiman, fantasy, BOCD, highly excellent

~KINDNESS GOES UNPUNISHED: Walt Longmire #3 - Craig Johnson, suspense, BOCD, excellent

~THE GREYFRIAR: Vampire Empire Book One - Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith, steampunk/alternate history, TPB, supremely excellent

~GHOULS, GHOULS, GHOULS: Ghost Hunters #5 - Victoria Laurie, paranormal mystery, MPB, good

~CURSE OF THE WENDIGO: Monstrumologist #2 - Rick Yancey, YA horror, BOCD, scary good

~PURGATORY RIDGE: Cork O'Connor #3 - William Kent Krueger, suspense, BOCD, best yet of the series

Books read: 6

BOCD listened to: 5

Total in month: 11

Year to date: 11

Books in the House Monday - 31 JAN 2011

From B&N:
A DEVIL IN THE DETAILS: A Jesse James Dawson Novel - K. A. Stewart, UF

Library Thing January Batch Win:
666 PARK AVENUE - Gabriella Pierce, paranormal

High Crimes Mystery Bookshop:
DAEMON EYES - Camille Bacon-Smith, UF

THE GREYFRIAR: Vampire Empire Book One - Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

From the back of the book: In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world. Millions of humans were killed outright. Millions more were died of disease and famine due to the havoc that followed. Within two years, once-great cities were shrouded by the grey empire of the vampire clans. Human refugees fled south to the tropics because vampires could not tolerate the constant heat there. They brought technology and a feverish drive to reestablish their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya.

It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming.

Princess Adele is heir to the Empire Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire. She is quick with her wit aswell as with sword or gun. She is eager for an adventure before she settles inot a life of duty and political marriage to a man she does not know. But her quest turns black when she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan. Her only protector is the Greyfriar, a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans.

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I cannot get over how much I luh-huvved this book!! I've read many reviews for it, all glowing
raves, not a stink-a-roo in the bunch. Not many books can claim that as far as I know.

Strong lead characters, intriguing story, highly excellent eeee-vil vampires, and the Greyfriar conflicted hero. And the steampunk...gotta love it. I know I do.

Anything else I'd say would likely be spoilerific, so I'll stop.

I hope the Griffiths hurry and get the second book in the trilogy written and out on the shelves. It will be a must buy ASAP for me.

Five sparkly steampunk diamonds...

GHOULS, GHOULS, GHOULS: A Ghost Hunter Mystery - Victoria Laurie

From the back of the book: Ghost Hunters turned treasure hunters.

When MJ and the crew of her cable TV show, Ghoul Getters, venture to the haunted ruins of Dunlow Castle in Ireland, they hope that the road will rise up to meet them, that the wind will always be at their backs, that the sun will shine warm upon their faces...and that the resident phantom won't push them off a cliff.

That is what has befallen others drawn to the castle by the legend of hidden treasure. Dunlow Castle has more spooks than turrets---including the long-dead lord in all his ghostly greediness--but they pale in comparison to the phantom. If MJ and her fellow ghost busters treasure their lives, they need to get the drop on the menacing phantom---before they plunge headfirst into one cliffhanger of an ending....

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Victoria Laurie has two series: Abby Cooper Psychic Eye and this one, Ghost Hunter...I started with Abby Cooper, but when I found MJ and the gang in Ghost Hunter, that was the winner of the two series. I enjoy watching MJ and her peeps bust ghost butt in haunted houses and hotels. Now they are in Ireland and looking for treasure in uber haunted Dunlow Castle.

MJ gets help from sort of boyfriend Heath, best friend just-about-a-big-baby Gilley, and the crew from their cable show Ghoul Getters...but she also gets help from the ghostly lord of the manor appearing in her dreams.

The gang is beset by issues and problems from the get-go. The castle is definitely off the mainland and is only accessible at certain times of the tide, the producer of the show goes missing and there's a phantom that no one mentioned.

I liked the book quite a lot, only issue is Gilley and MJ's relationship. Gilley gets all hysterical and selfish and MJ first gets pissed then forgives him. I got a bit tired of the scenes this time around, but it won't keep me from getting the next in the series, GHOUL INTERRUPTED.

Four ghostly beans.....

Save Publishing and Authors....READ A BOOK at Bedtime!

Author Sean Cummings, over at Dark Central Station (Authors Playing With Dead Things), has this request going out. Please help publishing, helping authors, READ A BOOK AT BEDTIME! I know I do my part by reading before going to sleep, I have to or I won't sleep very well. This helps my monthly book journal increase since I get the most reading time at night. The other ones that fair almost as well are the audio books in the car for the 90 min daily commute for work.

So go forth and do your part, read a book at bedtime and help the publishing world stay around. And go over to Dark Central Station for a visit. They pretty much rock.

It's Official...I dig the SyFy Being Human...

I am completely diggin' this version even after only an episode and a half (watching episode 2 as I type this). The thing is, the whole fam is diggin' it too, and the DH and Lady K like to chatter and comment as the show airs...thank the gods I love them so and for the capability to DVR...

SKINWALKER: A Jane Yellowrock Novel - Faith Hunter

From the back of the book: Last year Jane nearly lost her life taking down a deadly family of vampires who preyed on the helpless local populace. Now, after months of recuperation, she's back and ready to fight again. Except this time, she's been hied by those she's trained to kill---vampires.

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind---a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires---and hunts the undead for a living. But now she's been hired by Katherine Fonteneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie's Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who's killing other vamps.

Amidst a bordello full of real "ladies of the night" and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission...or else the next skin she'll need to save may be her own.

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Man oh man! I love finding a series that starts with a big ol' bang. And that it takes place in New Orleans lends that extra little Gothic feel to the vampires and shapeshifters.

SKINWALKER has been on the shelf for about a year after I bought two books in Faith's Rogue Mage series, BLOODRING and SERAPHS. I fully expected to read those pretty much immediately, but they are still on Mt Git'r'Read and I kept hearing so many fab things about Jane Yellowrock, so I made it an imperative to read it soonest. I guess I have been in a vampire and shapeshifter kind of mood and I will be in a rogue mage kind of mood later in the year, probably sooner than too much later.

And..... I liked the premise and characters so damn much that I bought books two and three, BLOOD CROSS and MERCY BLADE pretty much immediately after finishing. I can't wait to read what Jane and the vampires (apparently they don't like being called 'vamps') and the hottie Cajun get up to next.

Five sparkly shapeshifting diamonds.....

Books in the House Monday - 24 Jan 2011

From Our Lady of the Books in Bartlett IL:

GARDEN OF DARKNESS - Anne Frasier, suspense

DEEP DISH - Mary Kay Andrews, funny Southern humor

THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON - Kate Morton, suspense

THE SECRET OF THE GLASS - Donna Russo Morin, historic fiction set in Murano, Italy

MISS ZUKAS AND THE ISLAND MURDERS - Jo Dereske, cozy

THE TROUBLE WITH WITCHES: Ophelia and Abbey #3 - Shirley Damsgaard, paranormal mystery

REBECCA'S TALE - Sally Beauman

99 COFFINS - David Wellington, a historic vampire tale

SEVENTY-SEVEN CLOCKS: Peculiar Crimes Unit #3 - Christopher Fowler, historic mystery

THE SEVENTH WITCH: Ophelia and Abby #7 - Shirley Damsgaard, paranormal mystery

A DEADLY YARN- Maggie Sefton, cozy

THE HERETIC QUEEN - Michelle Morgan, historic fiction

KNITTING - Annie Bartlett, fiction

A POISONED SEASON - Tasha Alexander, mystery

From Bitten By Books contest win from interview with M K Hobson:

NATIVE STAR - M K Hobson, signed by the author, historical paranormal

B&N order:

BLOOD CROSS: Skinwalker #2 - Faith Hunter, UF

MERCY BLADE: Skinwalker #3 - Faith Hunter, UF

Being Human Starts Tonight

Being a fan of the BBC original version, I will be doing some comparison viewing to say the least.

That said, I already like what I see....already signed up for the facebook fan-age...and here's some info on SyFy site on the show...

THE CORPSE WORE TARTAN: A Liss MacCrimmon Scottish Mystery - Kaitlyn Dunnett

From the back of the book: Can there be such a thing as too many men in kilts? Liss MacCrimmon, proprietor of Moosetookalook, Maine's one and only Scottish Emporium, would say no. But that's before one of them turns out to be murderous.....

The bagpipes are blaring at The Spruces, Moosetookalook's finest hotel, reopened just in time to host the Burns Night Supper, an annual celebration of Scotland's beloved poet, Robert Burns. In the midst of the long Maine winter, the festivities are just the thing to give the hotel a much needed boost---and to bring fresh business to Liss's shop.

But when the Scottish Heritage Appreciation Society arrives on the scene, they bring more than a hunger for haggis and a passion for plaid. The quarrelsome group harbors their share of long held grudges, and the animosity only grows as the whiskey flows. Then a fierce blizzard hits, trapping everyone---angry Scotsmen, hapless hotel staff, and Liss herself---inside.

It's a situation with all the makings for mayhem, and sure enough, it isn't long before a body is discovered, face down in a storage room, covered in tartan---and blood.

Lucky for Liss, she's got some good friends alongside her to help sort out the facts: local police officer Sherri Willett, and Dan Ruskin, the man who's got Liss all tied up in Celtic knots. But they'll have to work fast, before another body goes as cold as the snowstorm keeping them cooped up with a killer.

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Don't you just love this cover? Oooooo! Cozy mystery in the classic sense...everyone is trapped in a big old hotel in a snowstorm that shows no sign of letting up, communication is lost with the outside world, and there's a dead body in the basement and it's....murder.

I will be looking for the rest of this series. I didn't feel like I'd missed anything by reading the fourth in the series before any of the others. It did whet my curiosity for the next in the series as well as starting at the beginning to see how everyone gets introduced. There are some interesting characters living in a place I want to visit or live. I really want to meet Liss and Dan and see this grand hotel and shop at the Scottish Emporium. That's a nifty thing when the author makes me want to live in the book.

Five when do we leave for Moosetookalook beans....

ARSON AND OLD LACE: Far Wychwood Mystery - Patricia Harwin

From the back of the book: An American woman. An English town. A whole lot of trouble.

"You're a librarian, not a detective," Catherine Penny's daughter reminds her But Catherine, suddenly single in her sixties, finds it easy to slip into sleuthing mode when she leaves behind New York City and a failed marriage for a lovely 17th century cottage in the idyllic English village of Far Wychwood.

But behind the town's quaint stone walls and lace-curtained window lurk dark secrets and whispers of witchcraft. And when her crusty neighbor George Crocker dies in a tragic fire, Catherine alone suspects arson. Lacking hard evidence, the police pay little attention, and the villagers swear she must be mistaken. Catherine, however, is one feisty expatriate American who leaves no stone unturned when circumstances point to murder. She may not be Miss Marple---yet---but her ingenious knack for uncovering the truth is about to take Far Wychwood by storm!

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You know how much I love finding a new series to enjoy. I definitely found one in ARSON AND OLD LACE. Catherine Penny is a feisty lead character who I grew to admire. She is in her 60s and pulls up roots from her life in New York City after her husband of a chunk of years leaves her for another, younger, woman. Catherine moves to England to be near her daughter who has married an Englishman and had Catherine's grandson.

Catherine is a lot nicer than I would be if the crotchety old neighbor treated me the way he treated her when she goes over to help when she sees smoke coming from his house and puts out the fire and fixes his dinner for him. And continues to do so until she gets fed up, but kind of still looks over him afterwards.

Then she looks into the suspicious death by fire and gets into hot water when she starts digging too deep into the death that no one thinks is worth investigating. Her daughter already thinks there's something wrong with her and the police detective neighbor is gently irritated with her.

She does make some friends pretty much immediately which I thought was pretty nifty. The village is fairly typical for an English village as seen in other English mysteries. Not sure if it's stereotyping, but it's what I tend to expect and love when I read English mysteries, especially English cozies.

I will be on the lookout for the next in the series, SLAYING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW, so I can see how Catherine gets through the visit from her ex and his 'Barbie' he left her for.

Five can't wait to see what happens in this bucolic village beans.....

Books in the House Monday - 10 Jan 2011

LibraryThing:
THE CORPSE WORE TARTAN: A Liss MacCrimmon Scottish Mystery - Kaitlyn Dunnett, cozy

From the author, Laura Bickle/Alayna Williams:
SPARKS: An Anya Kalinczyk Novel #2 - Laura Bickle, UF, signed by the author
DARK ORACLE - Alayna Williams, UF, signed by the author

Buckley Base Exchange:

MORTAR AND MURDER: A Do-It-Yourself Mystery #4 - Jennie Bentley, cozy mystery

BUTTER CREAM BUMP OFF: A Cupcake Bakery Mystery #2 - Jenn McKinlay, cozy

A KILLER CROP: An Orchard Mystery #4 - Sheila Connelly, cozy

GHOULS, GHOULS, GHOULS: Ghost Hunter Mystery #5 - Victoria Laurie, paranormal mystery

IF WALLS COULD TALK: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery - Juliet Blackwell

From the back of the book: She puts up walls, he walks through them.

Since she took over her father's construction business, Melanie Turner has made quite a name for herself remodeling historic houses in San Francisco Bay area. But now her reputation may be on the line.

At her newest renovation project, a run-down Pacific Heights mansion, Mel is visited by the ghost of a colleague who recently met a bad end with power tools. Mel hopes that by tracking down the killer, she can rid herself of the ghostly presence of the murdered man.

Mel's only clue is an odd box she discovers inside a wall at the job site. If she can make sense of its mysterious contents, she might be able to nail a killer----before she becomes the next construction casualty.....

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I really like Juliet Blackwell's other series, about Lily Ivory the witch from Texas who lives in San Francisco and has a vintage clothing shop. I loved that one from the get-go.

It's going to take the next book to get me to really like Mel Turner and this series. There are some loose ends that I don't remember being tied together at the end or anywhere near the end.

That said, I am looking forward to the next one, due in December 2011. I love the premise of Mel being a strong woman character who owns her own construction company and can see ghosts. I think there is a lot of room for discovery of information of Mel and her cast of characters. I read the sneak peek at the end of IF WALLS COULD TALK and the second one looks super.

Five giving it a ghostly shot beans......

HAIL TO THE CHEF: A White House Chef Mystery - Julie Hyzy

From the back of the book: White House chef Ollie Paras has a lot on her plate, what with holiday meals to map out, the First Lady's matchmaking plans to deflect, safety classes to take, and terrorist plots to avoid. Oh, and a senator's assistant has been begging Ollie to rig the countrywide gingerbread-man-decorating contest in favor of the senator's kids.....

Then, a cautious, kindly electrician is electrocuted, and the First Lady's nephew dies in an apparent suicide when not twenty-four hours before he was happily cleaning shrimp with Ollie. Ollie suspects there's something going on that's fishier than shrimp cocktail. Now, she'll have to watch her back---and find a killer unlikely to be pardoned....

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Now that Ollie is the White House executive chef, she has even more on her plate to deal with than what's going on in the kitchen. She has never-ending staff meetings, bomb threat drills, safety classes, constant menu and guest list changes. She manages to take it all in stride for the most part as well as keeping her eyes and ears open to all the upheaval going on with the First Family.

She can't help herself when it comes to what others see as being nosey. She should have enough to do, but she needs to know that all is well within her other home, the White House.

Five all must be well beans......

Books in the House Monday - 3 Jan 2011

Now that the holidays are waned, I have the mellow time to post the stack of books (and book related items) that have been, well, stacking up since mid December:
From Ann at work:
SOUTHERN FRIED - Cathy Pickens, cozy, MPB

BookDepository via a book win from Abigail at the fab AllThingsUrbanFantasy:

DOUBLE CROSSED: Disillusionists #2 - Carolyn Crane, UF, MPB

High Crimes Mystery Bookshop:

SPACKLED AND SPOOKED: A DIY Mystery - Jennie Bentley, cozy, MPB

NAPOLEAN'S PYRAMIDS - William Dietrich, thriller, MPB

STOLEN: A Blackpool Mystery - Jordan Gray, thriller

SIXTY-ONE NAILS - Mike Shevdon, thriller, as highly recommended by Becky (NoMoreGrumpyBookseller)

DAMN NEAR DEAD 2: Live Noir or Die Trying - anthology of noir mystery that includes one by one of my favorites, Kat Richardson

EVIL WAYS: Morris and Chastain Investigations #2 - Justin Gustainis, UF

NIGHT RISING: Vampire Babylon #1 - Chris Marie Green, paranormal, because I finally came to my senses and got this one!

From Devon Monk:

BOARDING INSTRUCTIONS - Ray Vukcevich, thank you Devon, this looks superb!

From Jeri Smith-Ready:

Bookmarks and signed bookplates for my copies of her WVMP series

From Mary Ann:

A CHRISTMAS ODYSSEY - Anne Perr, Christmas mystery, HB

From Julie Hyzy:

Five signed bookmarks

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

UNSYMPATHETIC MAGIC: Third Esther Diamond Novel - Laura Resnick

From the back of the book: Acting jobs don't grow on fire escapes....
So struggling actress Esther Diamond is outraged when her guest role as a hooker on The Dirty Thirty, a controversial TV drama, is jeopardized by zombies, angry spirits, and a voodoo curse. Meanwhile, the talented teens Esther is coaching at a Harlem cultural center are also being attacked by the sinister supernatural power that's spreading through Manhattan. And Esther's love life goes from bad to worse when her bed bursts into deadly flames while her would-be lover, Detective Connor Lopez, is trying to get her into it!

Since the show must go on (and the rent must be paid), Esther boldly helps her friend Dr. Maximillian Zadok, a 350-year-old sorcerer whose day job is protecting New York City from Evil, combat the supernatural forces at work in Harlem durng a sweltering summer heat wave. But will Esther's courage leadher to become a human sacrifice on the altar of Evil's voracious appetite?
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I have completely enjoyed my time with the first two books in the series, DISAPPEARING NIGHTLY and DOPPELGANGSTER (my reviews) and UNSYMPATHETIC MAGIC is even more so. It's a little darker and not as much humor as in the previous two, but I think it's my favorite of the series. And I will likely say that for the next one as each book is read by me. I love watching Esther keep forging ahead in all that she does to keep acting, pay the rent, try for a normal life with all that she knows about having to fight Evil and what's in that supernatural world when you look for it.
Esther, Max, Nelli the familiar deal with zombies, voodoo, good and bad, one big ass snake, a bitchy priestess and assorted other ick factor entities. And there's the whole bed on fire action between Esther and Lopez....woof!


Laura, please tell me there will be more Esther Diamond adventures in the future!!
*just checked a past comment from Laura Resnick on my review of DOPPELGANGSTER and VAMPARAZZI is due out in June!!! YAY!*


Five big ol' sparkly Esther Diamonds.........

MURDER FOR CHRIST'S MASS: A Templar Knight Mystery - Maureen Ash

From the back of the book: After eight years of captivity in the Holy Land, Templar Knight Bascot de marins finally escaped. Injured in both body and soul, he is on a sojourn at Lincoln castle, where the coming holidays hold the promise of hope and long life---but not for everyone.....

The town of Lincoln is covered in white on Christmas morning. But the snow also conceals the mortal remains of a clerk who worked in the local mint---stabbed, robbed, and left on the floor of a stone quarry. With the sheriff busy entertaining noble guests, Bascot is asked to investigate.

The only clue he finds is a pristine coin stamped with the visage of King Stephen, who reigned some fifty years earlier. The sheriff suspects that a hoard of hidden treasure may connect the killer to the victim. But Bascot, aided by his young protege Gianni, soon discovers that the motive goes beyond money---and beyond mere murder...

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Bascot de Marins is a character I will be following as long as Maureen Ash wants to write his story. He is spiritual and a defender of justice. Watching his mind work out the mystery of the murdered man and the interweaving of all of the information he discovers.

I love his relationship with his young servant, Gianni. How he nurtures and guides Gianni to follow his strengths so that when de Marins goes back to his Templar duties, Gianni won't be at a loss for a position in life.

Greed is prevalent throughout the book and takes all forms. Some give into it and others resist.

Plenty of red herrings to go through with de Marins as he makes mistakes, but ultimately figures it all out.

Five medieval mystery beans.....

THE DIVA COOKS A GOOSE: A Domestic Diva Mystery #4 - Krista Davis

From the back of the book: Wrapped up in murder.....

It promises to be a jolly holiday for Sophie Winston, until a scrooge steals the gifts from her family and neighbors and even pinches their holiday meals! Sophie quickly ends the neighbors' finger-pointing by organizing a toy swap for the kids, restoring the spirit of the season. But not for long.....

When her sister-in-law's father shows up to the festive gathering with a diva girlfriend just a month after his separation, more than one person is thinking of murder. And when the girlfriend becomes the victim of foul play, some of Sophie's relatives are at the top of the suspect list. Her detective boyfriend, Wolf, is out of town, so it's up to Sophie to chase this goose and cook it, because nobody ruins her Christmas!

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Another fun cozy featuring the Domestic Diva. Sophie is on the trail of a big ol' Grinch and she has a cast of plenty to choose from. That's my only distraction with this series, there are an awful lot of characters to keep track of and I have to go back and figure out who's who to who sometimes. Otherwise, I enjoy the heck out of the mystery and the domestic tips. Even Natasha, Sophie's Diva rival, has some interesting ones to offer this go 'round. She seems to have mellowed somewhat since the first book, but she's still a pain in the tookus. And has incredibly bad taste as in pink and teal are the new red and green! *shudder*

Sophie also doesn't have Wolf or my other favorite character, her buddy Nina, to help her out this time. She's sort of on her own and runs through several scenarios of the whodunnits. I like that she didn't immediately know and made mistakes along the way.

Five holidays can be murder beans.....

Happy Christmas

MIND GAMES: Disillusionists Book One - Carolyn Crane

From the back of the book: Justine knows she's going to die. Any second now.

Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she's convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startlingly handsome man named Packard peers into Justine's soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It's a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a little of Packard's hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outward on Midcity's worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she's always craved. End of problem.

Or is it? In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine's first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard's help, Justine has freed herself from her madness---only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone's worst fears.

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O..M..G! MIND GAMES was so much better than I thought it would be. I read many glowing reviews, but the book kept going to the bottom of Mt Git'r'Read because of one little quirk of mine...I have low tolerance for hypochondriacs and the main character, Justine, is a raging HUGE one. I kept thinking that it would get to me and I would throw the book across the room or not be able to get past it.

I am so pleased that I was very very wrong. The hypochondria was handled very well and watching Justine learn to control it and use it as a weapon was intriguing as hell. The premise of the team that Justine works with was just so cool. Each member has a problem that they have learned to control and utilize to put away criminals that the law can't touch. Yes, that's vigilante-ism, but it's Urban Fantasy that takes place in an ambiguous time, so it seems like a good thing to do.

It has also been a while since I've actually read through the sex scenes in the books I read that have such scenes. I usually skim past as they can be written in rather uncomfortable phrasing or unbelievable positions. I can suspend belief in fantasy and paranormal, but refuse to do so with the between the sheets action. Whatever that makes me, there it is.

All that said, I read each and every sentence in the scenes between Justine and her two men. Holey McCrappe, Carolyn Crane writes superbly smokin' sex imagery.

Five sparkly didn't think I'd like it, but damned if I didn't dig it a lot diamonds......

Dark Central Station and FRIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Head on over to Dark Central Station, one of my favorite blogs, and see what's up for the week.....there will be prizes and contests every day..you know until 24 Dec, which is before Christmas...hence I reckon the title...
Dark Central Station is the combo team blog of authors Nancy Holzner, Wayne Simmons, Erin Kellison, Thomas Emson, Christina Henry, Sean Cummings and Gary McMahon.

ELVIS AND THE MEMPHIS MAMBO MURDERS: Southern Cousins Mystery - Peggy Webb

From the inner sleeve: A lovable basset hound who's convinced he's the King reincarnated. A blonde bombshell mooning the lobby of the ritziest hotel in the South. And a murder witnessed by a parade of fame-hungry ducks? Something's afoul, alright, and it's definitely a case for the Southern Cousins.....

Callie Valentine Jones and her cousin Lovie really have their work cut out for them this time. Callie's mama Ruby Nell has gone and entered herself--and her hunk-a-geriatric-love dance parnter--- in a Memphis mambo contest, hoping to shake, rattle and roll her way to stardom. And if the past is any indication, she'll need at least two chaperones.

But someone at the competition is determined to step on a lot of blue suede shoes. First, a serial monogamist in a bright pink gown does a fatal swan dive from the top of the hotel. Then Callie finds an overdressed diva floating in a famous fountain. Now there can be no question: A murderer is loose in Memphis, and he's got a lot of killing to do.

With the help from Jack, the mysteriously reappearing ex Callie just can't get over and her delusional dog Elvis, Callie and Lovie are going to have to track down some answers before mayhem strikes again. And with Ruby Nell in the killer's sights, they'll need a little less conversation and a lot more action if they want their family waltzing home in one piece....

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Now I love Elvis, young Elvis that is, tunes, hips, lips, uhhh...anyway...a dog who thinks he is the reincarnation of the King and is allowed to tell part of the story? Okay...neat premise...and maybe if I start this series in the beginning rather than the third one I might dig the premise better. I think I am missing how Elvis came into being, how he came to live with Callie, I want to learn what's the deal with Jack the ex, and how much trouble Ruby Nell can get into.

I had a hard time keeping up with all of the extraneous characters introduced.

They came and went rather quickly, so I didn't care if they were the victim or not.

Now the family members, I did care about and enjoyed my time with. My favorite character is Lovie. I love her no holds barred attitude and zest for life.

I received this book from LibraryThing. You should join, it's a great place to log your bookshelves and win some books from time to time.

Four gotta love those Southern cousins beans.....

BOUNDARY WATERS: Cork O'Connor Mystery - William Kent Krueger, narr David Chandler

From the back of the BOCD: Drawing strong comparisons to the works of James Lee Burke and Tony Hillerman, William Kent Krueger's mysteries featuring Cork O'Connor never fail to please fans. Here, a desperate search-and-rescue mission becomes deadly in the Minnesota wilderness.

As her fame continues its upward climb, a young country-western singer goes missing along the US/Canada border. Accepting an offer from the girl's father, Cork joins a rescue team that includes an ex-con, two FBI agents and a 10-year-old boy. Trekking deeper into the unforgiving wild, the group soon discovers that mother nature isn't the only thing to fear. It seems there are others looking for the missing girl, and they will resort to lethal force if anyone gets in their way.

BOUNDARY WATERS is a pulse-pounding thriller as cool and crisp as a Minnesota breeze. Acclaimed narrator David Chandler helps ramp up the suspense with a riveting performance.

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I have already bumped the third in this series, PURGATORY RIDGE, to the top of my Recorded Books wishlist. BOUNDARY WATERS was just as gripping as IRON LAKE (my review). I think I could easily listen to or read this series back-to-back and I rarely (if ever) do that.

There are so many good characters in the story and the reader cannot get too attached to anyone. That's part of what makes a good suspense read. That and a good suspense story, of course.

Cork is still reeling after the death of the woman he loved and trying to make good with his family, then father of the missing country singer comes asking Cork for his help in the search. Very few of the people are who they appear and that just brings extra zing to the intrigue to say the least.

Five nothing is at it appears beans......

Books in the House Monday - 13 Nov 2010

From Sherri @ Sherri's Jubilee:

THE MERMAID'S PENDANT - Leann Neal Reilly, modern fairytale, TPB

and two gorgeous ribbon bookmarks for me and Lady K...here is where you can find them on Sherri's Etsy site

From High Crimes Mystery Bookshop:

DIVA COOKS A GOOSE: Domestic Diva Mystery #4 - Krista Davis, cozy mystery, MPB

HOOKED ON MURDER: A Crochet Mystery #1 - Betty Hechtman, cozy, MPB

IF WALLS COULD TALK: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #1 - Juliet Blackwell, paranormal cozy mystery, MPB

From St Martin's Press:

THE KING OF PLAGUES: Joe Ledger Novel - Jonathan Maberry, thriller, ARC out in March 2011

Mary Ann on WW/GDT/BTO:

GROUNDS FOR MURDER: Maggie Thorsen Mystery - Sandra Balzo, coffee cozy, TPB

THE DIVA RUNS OUT OF THYME: Domestic Diva Mystery #1 - Krista Davis

From the back of the book: Some dishes are best served cold....

Few can compete with THE Natasha Smith when it comes to entertaining, but her childhood rival, Sophie Winston, certainly tries. While Natasha is known for her intricate centerpieces and painstakingly prepared gourmet meals, Sophie likes to keep things simple....real simple. Natasha may have stolen the spotlight ---and Sophie's husband---but Sophie is determined to take home the prize at the Stupendous Stuffing Shakedown. She just needs the right ingredients....

However, Sophie's search for the perfect turkey takes a basting when she stumbles across a corpse. And when the police find her name and photo inside the victim's car, they think she has some explaining to do. Sophie will have to set her trussing aside to solve the murder or she'll be serving up prison grub---and that definitely wouldn't be a good thing.

Includes delicious recipes and entertaining tips!

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There are two domestic divas in this book, one is a pain in the tookus and the other is Sophie. She is way better at organization and having things on hand than I, or anyone I know, is..are....I marvelled at how Sophie had everything to hand to entertain at a moment's notice or many drop-in guests for dinner. She had room in her house for stay-over guests and had time to go with her friend to go on wacky investigating into the murders that have occurred.

I love Nina, Sophie's ready-for-anything-so-long-as-she-can-escape-her-mother-in-law's-visit buddy.

The murder solving was well-done, though there were an awful lot of characters for me to get introduced to and remember. I know who I don't like and look forward to learning more about in the next books in the series to like them even less or dislike them more....

Five way more organized than me beans.....

MERRY, MERRY GHOST: Bailey Ruth Raeburn Mystery #2 - Carolyn G Hart

From the back of the book: Being dead can't put a damper on spirited, holiday-loving Bailey Ruth Raeburn.

Christmas is a time for family and giving , and a wealthy woman in Adelaide, Oklahoma, is about to embrace both. Discovering that she has a young grandson, the dowager decides to change her will to leave the bulk of her fortune to the young boy---an alteration that stuns the rest of her family. But a scrooge of a determined heir makes sure she never signs the new document. When she is found dead, it's up to that irrepressible spirit Bailey Ruth---on assignment from Wiggins and Heaven's Department of Good Intentions---to protect a little boy, foil a murderer, and save Christmas.

There's only one teeny hitch: how can Bailey Ruth figure out which family member was desperate enough to kill when everyone has a motive?

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My first holiday read of the month and it was a humdinger. Highly enjoyable with engaging characters, especially Bailey Ruth Raeburn, the spirit on a mission from Heaven. She breaks rules, called Precepts, on a regular basis, but doing so with good intentions to help her charges.

Kids and animals can see her and Bailey Ruth lets herself be seen when she thinks it's needed and it's needed quite a bit in this story. She needs to look out for the little boy, Keith, as well as solve the murder of Keith's grandmother.

And Bailey Ruth does it all in style. I love the attention to detail when she "dons her gay apparel". Tip of her toes to the top of her lovely red hair, she is a fashion statement. And a sweetheart of a spirit representative.

Five splendid heavenly beans.....

Books in the House Monday - 6 Dec 2010

From Recorded Books (using my Take it for $12 coupon):

AMERICAN GODS - Neil Gaiman

From Library Thing for October:

ELVIS AND THE MEMPHIS MAMBO MURDERS - Peggy Web, cozy

High Crimes:

WOLF MOON - Charles de Lint

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE: Manor House Mystery - Julie Hyzy, cozy

VAMPIRE EMPIRE: Book One The Greyfriar - Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

BUZZ OFF: A Queen Bee Mystery - Hannah Reed

From the back of the book: When beekeeper Story Fischer is on the case, you can run---but you can't hive....

It's September--National Honey Month--- in Moraine, Wisconsin, and things are looking up for Story Fischer. Her messy divorce is final, the honey from her beekeeping business has been harvested, and the market she owns is thriving. Life seems pretty sweet...until Manny, her mentor in the honey business, is found stung to death in his apiary.

Story is still trying to explain to the panicked locals that her honeybees had nothing to do with Manny's death,when another body is found floating in the Oconomowoc River. This time the evidence points to Story's ex. Sure, he's a womanizer and a buzzkill--but a murderer? Desperate to save her bees and her business (and, okay, her ex). It's up to Story to find a way out of a very sticky situation.

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I like when I read a book and learn something new to me. Being a gardener, I love what bees can do for my blooms and veggies. Pretty much everything we plant is to bring in as many of the little workers as we can. Reading BUZZ OFF was doubly enjoyable with the bee info.

Plenty of good guys, pewp-craniums to pop upside the head, a murder or two to solve and plenty to look forward to in the upcoming books. Seemed a plethora of characters to keep track of, but manageable and I found another town I'd love to live in or near.

Five bees are good beans.....

Books Read in November 2010

Not a bad month for reading for November all things considered:
TOWN IN A BLUEBERRY JAM: Candy Holliday Mystery #1 - B B Haywood, cozy, MPB, good
THE TITAN'S CURSE: Percy Jackson #3 - Rick Riordan, YA fantasy, BOCD, super
BOOKPLATE SPECIAL: Booktown Mystery #3 - Lorna Barrett, cozy, really busy and good
61 HOURS: Jack Reacher #14 - Lee Child, suspense, BOCD, good
DEEPLY, DESPERATELY: Lucy Valentine #2 - cozy, MPB, really good
THE MASK OF ATREUS - A J Hartley, archeological thriller, MPB, good
VANISHED: Greywalker #4 - Kat Richardson, UF, BOCD, superb
STATE OF THE ONION: White House Chef Mystery #1 - Julie Hyzy, cozy, MPB, really good
MURDER MOST FROTHY: Coffeehouse Mystery #4 - Cleo Coyle, really good
SPELLMANS STRIKE AGAIN - Lisa Lutz, funny mystery, BOCD
GLAZED MURDER: Donut Shop Mystery #1 - Jessica Beck, cozy, okay
HUNGER GAMES - Suzanne Collins, YA postapocalyptic, BOCD, amazing!
BUZZ OFF: A Queen Bee Mystery #1 - Hannah Reed, cozy, really good

Books: 8
Audio: 5
Month: 13
YTD: 168