As I mentioned earlier, I liked The Neighbors Are Watching so much, I immediately checked out what other books Ms. Ginsberg wrote. While I really liked Blind Submission, I didn't love it as much as The Neighbors Are Watching. I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
Books can be a dangerous business...
Angel Robinson loves books, loves reading, loves anything to do with the written word. But when Blue Moon Books, the Bay Area bookstore where she worked since college, is squeezed out of business, Angel is forced to find a new job. She lucks into a position as the assistant to the world-renowned literary agent Lucy Fiamma.
Angel soons learns that working for Lucy is no picnic. The agent has a blockbuster ego to match her blockbuster success and Angel must juggle both her boss's prima donna demands and the strange quirks of her authors. But Angel soon becomes indispensible to the agency and develops a keen understanding of big projects and the writers who create them.
What she doesn't realize is just how far one of them will go to get published.
One day a chapter from a mysterious manuscript by an anonympus author arrives at the office. Set in a New York literary agency, the novel, titled Blind Submission, centers on the ambitious assistant to a successful literary agent. Angel is pulled in by the plot- but her initia; curiosity soon turns to panic. As the story unfolds-with chapters e-mailed in one by one- it becomes clear that the mystery author is writing the story of Angel's own life, including secrets she thought were deeply hidden. Someone is watching her, even plotting against her. Could it be her backstabbing coworker, her jealous boyfriend, or her seductive new client?
When the novel's plot turns to murder, Angel knows that if she doesn't discover the author's identity before the final chapter is written, more than just her career will be cut short.
I loved getting the inside view point of how an author becomes published and loved even more Angel. While I love everything about books, including their smell and feel, I have absolutely no desire to write them, just like Angel. While I admit that the mystery of the book first drew me in, I thought it could have been left out. I have a feeling that Ms. Ginsberg added it in to make the book be so not The Devil Wears Prada. It was still a good book, and Ms. Ginsberg does a wonderful job describing what makes a book lover a true book lover!
Showing posts with label cozy mysteries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cozy mysteries. Show all posts
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
60. Christietown by Susan Kandel
After reading and loving Dial H for Hitchcock, I decided to check out Ms. Kandel's previous books. I was a bit disappointed with Christietown, however, and can only give it a B-.
From Amazon:
A new suspense-themed housing tract on the edge of the Mojave Desert is about to open, and who better to help promote the Cotswold-cozy development than mystery biographer extraordinaire Cece Caruso? For the grand opening weekend, Cece is staging a play featuring the beloved sleuth Miss Marple. Of course, everything goes wrong, including a leading lady who ends up dead.
All is not well in Christietown; its secrets are as complicated as the truth behind Agatha Christie's real-life disappearance. The developer, an Englishman who claims to be Dame Agatha's descendent, has ruthless investors breathing down his neck. Meanwhile, Cece's got a wedding to plan, a baby shower to give, and an ex-husband who shows up on her doorstep with his fiancée and future mother-in-law. And when another body surfaces, the intrepid amateur sleuth knows she must play the famed detective for real—or suffer the same mysterious fate.
I felt like there was a lot of bouncing around in the book and there were a ton of characters, so at times I had a hard time keeping track of everyone and what exactly was going on. I did like the premise of the story, though, especially the idea of a community that focuses on the famed mystery writer. I probably would have liked the book more if I was more familiar with Ms. Christie's works, but I haven't read anything by her. Horrible I know! Anyways, a good cozy, but not a memorable one.
From Amazon:
A new suspense-themed housing tract on the edge of the Mojave Desert is about to open, and who better to help promote the Cotswold-cozy development than mystery biographer extraordinaire Cece Caruso? For the grand opening weekend, Cece is staging a play featuring the beloved sleuth Miss Marple. Of course, everything goes wrong, including a leading lady who ends up dead.
All is not well in Christietown; its secrets are as complicated as the truth behind Agatha Christie's real-life disappearance. The developer, an Englishman who claims to be Dame Agatha's descendent, has ruthless investors breathing down his neck. Meanwhile, Cece's got a wedding to plan, a baby shower to give, and an ex-husband who shows up on her doorstep with his fiancée and future mother-in-law. And when another body surfaces, the intrepid amateur sleuth knows she must play the famed detective for real—or suffer the same mysterious fate.
I felt like there was a lot of bouncing around in the book and there were a ton of characters, so at times I had a hard time keeping track of everyone and what exactly was going on. I did like the premise of the story, though, especially the idea of a community that focuses on the famed mystery writer. I probably would have liked the book more if I was more familiar with Ms. Christie's works, but I haven't read anything by her. Horrible I know! Anyways, a good cozy, but not a memorable one.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
58. Murder of a Wedding Belle by Denise Swanson
I love Ms. Swanson's Scumble River series and have bene waiting quite awhile for her latest through my local library. I finally got it and started reading it on a scary flight home from Atlantic City. I finished it the next day and was pleased. I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
School psychologist Skye Denison reluctantly agrees to act as maid of honor in her California cousin's over-the-top platinum-style wedding- and is also expected to assist the control-freak wedding planner. But when Skye discovers the planner dead, just one week before the big event, Skye is suddenly working double-duty. While overseeing every nuptial detail, she's also helping the police find out who hated the bridal consultant enough to kill her. Can Skye get her cousin to the church on time-and save herself from a killer who may actually be on the guest list?
You get exactly what you expect from one of Ms. Swanson's novels, a little mystery and a catching up with friends. While not exactly page turning, the book was a fast read and I was happy to see the Simon/Skye/Wally triangle hopefully be put to rest. If you ask me, that is one of the most annoying things an author can do and drag out for far to long (Stephanie Plum books anyone!?!) I always feel safe and warm while I read on of Ms. Swanson's books and I'm glad I got to read this one. If you are looking for a new cozy series, I highly suggest this one.
From Amazon:
School psychologist Skye Denison reluctantly agrees to act as maid of honor in her California cousin's over-the-top platinum-style wedding- and is also expected to assist the control-freak wedding planner. But when Skye discovers the planner dead, just one week before the big event, Skye is suddenly working double-duty. While overseeing every nuptial detail, she's also helping the police find out who hated the bridal consultant enough to kill her. Can Skye get her cousin to the church on time-and save herself from a killer who may actually be on the guest list?
You get exactly what you expect from one of Ms. Swanson's novels, a little mystery and a catching up with friends. While not exactly page turning, the book was a fast read and I was happy to see the Simon/Skye/Wally triangle hopefully be put to rest. If you ask me, that is one of the most annoying things an author can do and drag out for far to long (Stephanie Plum books anyone!?!) I always feel safe and warm while I read on of Ms. Swanson's books and I'm glad I got to read this one. If you are looking for a new cozy series, I highly suggest this one.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
50. Dial H for Hitchcock by Susan Kandel
As a lover of all things Hitchcock, when I saw this book while browsing at my local library I knew I had to read it. While goofy at times, it was the perfect light hearted cozy mystery and one that I enjoyed. I give it a B.
From Amazon:
Cece Caruso—mystery biographer extraordinaire, vintage clothing enthusiast, and part-time sleuth—is in freefall. First, she calls off her wedding, for reasons even she can't explain. Second, her newest biography (of Alfred Hitchcock) is way past deadline.
So Cece puts on a houndstooth suit with peplum and heads out to see Vertigo, only to come home with a cell phone belonging to a stranger named Anita Colby. Nothing if not a good citizen, Cece tries to return the cell phone—only to hear someone push Anita off a cliff.
Now a woman is dead, and Cece is under suspicion (tip: don't leave rambling, incoherent messages on someone's answering machine just before she gets murdered). To clear her name and put the real murderer in jail, Cece's going on the lam, where she'll encounter mysterious strangers, unhelpful strippers, a bottle of blond hair dye, and twists and turns so eerie it's as if Hitch himself were writing the script
I loved all of the little details thrown in about Alfred Hitchcock's life and some of the stories behind his movies. Certain plot lines that occurred in the movies also happen in the book which I thought was real clever. This is part of a series, and while I normally don't enjoy reading books out of order, I thought it was ok in this sense. I think I missed some of the realationship aspects of Cece's life, but I don't think it will bother me. I even went to the library to check out the previous book in this series, Christietown, based on Agatha Christie books. I read this book while sitting at my grandmother's bedside while she was in hospice (we just lost her last night... I'm still numb from it all) and it was the perfect type of book to pick up and read a few pages here and there. It wa a quick read and probably would have gotten a higher rating if it weren't for the silly ending. I thought the ending was lacking quite a bit. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Cece Caruso—mystery biographer extraordinaire, vintage clothing enthusiast, and part-time sleuth—is in freefall. First, she calls off her wedding, for reasons even she can't explain. Second, her newest biography (of Alfred Hitchcock) is way past deadline.
So Cece puts on a houndstooth suit with peplum and heads out to see Vertigo, only to come home with a cell phone belonging to a stranger named Anita Colby. Nothing if not a good citizen, Cece tries to return the cell phone—only to hear someone push Anita off a cliff.
Now a woman is dead, and Cece is under suspicion (tip: don't leave rambling, incoherent messages on someone's answering machine just before she gets murdered). To clear her name and put the real murderer in jail, Cece's going on the lam, where she'll encounter mysterious strangers, unhelpful strippers, a bottle of blond hair dye, and twists and turns so eerie it's as if Hitch himself were writing the script
I loved all of the little details thrown in about Alfred Hitchcock's life and some of the stories behind his movies. Certain plot lines that occurred in the movies also happen in the book which I thought was real clever. This is part of a series, and while I normally don't enjoy reading books out of order, I thought it was ok in this sense. I think I missed some of the realationship aspects of Cece's life, but I don't think it will bother me. I even went to the library to check out the previous book in this series, Christietown, based on Agatha Christie books. I read this book while sitting at my grandmother's bedside while she was in hospice (we just lost her last night... I'm still numb from it all) and it was the perfect type of book to pick up and read a few pages here and there. It wa a quick read and probably would have gotten a higher rating if it weren't for the silly ending. I thought the ending was lacking quite a bit. Happy Reading!
Monday, June 7, 2010
41. Murder of a Royal Pain by Denise Swanson
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I'd missed a new book by one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. While browsing at the bookstore I noticed that there was not one but two books I hadn't read in the Scumble River series. I immediately checked this one out of my local library and flew through it. I give Murder of a Royal Pain an A-.
From Amazon:
When school psychologist Skye Denison stumbles over the body of pushy “Promfest” chairperson Annette Paine during a Halloween fundraiser, it looks like a clear-cut case of promicide. Annette was not the only prom mom desperate to see her daughter crowned queen. But she was also wearing the same witch costume as Skye, so which witch was the intended victim?
From Amazon:
When school psychologist Skye Denison stumbles over the body of pushy “Promfest” chairperson Annette Paine during a Halloween fundraiser, it looks like a clear-cut case of promicide. Annette was not the only prom mom desperate to see her daughter crowned queen. But she was also wearing the same witch costume as Skye, so which witch was the intended victim?
I so enjoy this series. I love Skye and the attitude that she has of being happy with herself and making no excuses. Maybe because I work in schools I enjoy seeing the situations she puts herself in because of her job, but returning to Scumble River is always enjoyable. While maybe not the most suspenseful books, I always know I am in line for a pleasant way to pass an afternoon. If you haven't read any books from this series and enjoy cozies, I would highly suggest you check them out!
40. Half Price Homicide by Elaine Viets
I have loved Ms. Viets' Dead-End Job Mystery series since the beginning. As a matter of fact, it is one of the few cozy mystery series that I still follow after glomming them for quite awhile. I always look forward to the newest one but was a bit disappointed with Half Price Homicide. I give it a B.
From Amazon:
At Snapdragon, a high-end designer consignment shop, Helen is at the beck and call of snobby- yet frugal-customers. That alone is a deadly combination, especially with Chrissy, a drool-worthy fashionista who walks in with a purse to sell, and ends up screaming at her husband and another customer. Helen is used to dealing with snobby women, controlling husbands, and fashionable politicians. But she's about to have to handle a brand new type of unsatisfied customer-a murderer. Chrissy is found dead in Snapdragon's dressing room, with the hand-painted scarf Helen was just holding tied around her neck. And Helen goes from being low on society's totem pole to high on the police's suspect list.
I guess in the same vain as the Stephanie Plum books, I am looking for some type of resolution to Helen hiding from the authorties and her ex-husband Rob. While there was some resolution, Ms. Viets opened up another can of worms that just won't seem to allow Helen and her fiancee to settle down and live happily ever-after. This book also seemed to lack a bit in the mystery department and most of it focuses on Helen tying to clear up her past. I have to admit I enjoyed the books more before Helen settled down with Phil and worry that she may not have to continue to bounce from one dead end job to the next. With all of that being said, I still enjoyed this quick read, finishing it in one day. I am a bit behind on my reviews, of course! Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
At Snapdragon, a high-end designer consignment shop, Helen is at the beck and call of snobby- yet frugal-customers. That alone is a deadly combination, especially with Chrissy, a drool-worthy fashionista who walks in with a purse to sell, and ends up screaming at her husband and another customer. Helen is used to dealing with snobby women, controlling husbands, and fashionable politicians. But she's about to have to handle a brand new type of unsatisfied customer-a murderer. Chrissy is found dead in Snapdragon's dressing room, with the hand-painted scarf Helen was just holding tied around her neck. And Helen goes from being low on society's totem pole to high on the police's suspect list.
I guess in the same vain as the Stephanie Plum books, I am looking for some type of resolution to Helen hiding from the authorties and her ex-husband Rob. While there was some resolution, Ms. Viets opened up another can of worms that just won't seem to allow Helen and her fiancee to settle down and live happily ever-after. This book also seemed to lack a bit in the mystery department and most of it focuses on Helen tying to clear up her past. I have to admit I enjoyed the books more before Helen settled down with Phil and worry that she may not have to continue to bounce from one dead end job to the next. With all of that being said, I still enjoyed this quick read, finishing it in one day. I am a bit behind on my reviews, of course! Happy Reading!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
36. Death of a Trophy Wife by Laura Levine
Laura Levine's Jaine Austen cozy mystery series is probably one of the only cozy series I keep up on. I love it and look forward to reading the newest one every spring. Her latest did not disappoint and I give it an A-!
From Amazon:
Freelance writer Jaine Austen is moving on up! A cushy new advertising gig promises champagne wishes and caviar dreams, but Jaine soon discovers she's not the only one in town who's making a killing. . .
Without a job or a date in sight, Jaine is equally out of luck in finance and romance. So when her friend Lance offers to treat her to brunch at the Four Seasons, Jaine leaps at the chance like a fashionista at a pair of half-price Louboutins. They've barely made it through the menu when Lance spots his friend Bunny. Dressed like a million bucks--and probably worth twice that--Bunny is the new trophy wife of mattress maven Marvin Cooper.
When Bunny generously offers Jaine a gig writing Marv's new advertising campaign, Jaine accepts the job, and an invitation to her upcoming soirée. But at the party Bunny cruelly rules the Cooper mansion with a fist full of martinis, abusing terrified staff and her browbeaten husband alike. It seems like this society girl could use a good kick in the assets. Indeed, before the evening is over, someone poisons the D-cup diva. Dead must be the new black.
The police arrest Lance, but Jaine knows his murderous urges end at her closet door. She sets out to clear his name and discovers a list of suspects longer than Bunny's credit card bill. Did Mattress Marv get tired of his little bunny hopping into another man's bed, or did a jealous boy-toy fix her a fatal cocktail? Marv's ex-wife Ellen has plenty of motives for murder, as does Bunny's harassed maid Lupe. Or was it Bunny's seething stepdaughter who sent her to that Great Shopping Mall in the Sky?
Jaine is running out of time. Jobless, Lance is losing his mind and taking it out on Jaine's apartment, wardrobe, and indignant cat Prozac. And before Jaine can say 9021Oh-no someone else is murdered. Between a house guest that won't leave, a suitor-turned-stalker, and killer on the loose, Jaine's jackpot may turn out to be fool's gold.
The communication with her parents through email and the loving but hilarous friends Jaine has always leads to a good time. While the mysteries are usually difficult to solve by the clues left for the reader, I really read this story to disappear into Janie's relaxed life for awhile. I love her attitude and these books always puts a smile on my face. Check them out if you haven't!
From Amazon:
Freelance writer Jaine Austen is moving on up! A cushy new advertising gig promises champagne wishes and caviar dreams, but Jaine soon discovers she's not the only one in town who's making a killing. . .
Without a job or a date in sight, Jaine is equally out of luck in finance and romance. So when her friend Lance offers to treat her to brunch at the Four Seasons, Jaine leaps at the chance like a fashionista at a pair of half-price Louboutins. They've barely made it through the menu when Lance spots his friend Bunny. Dressed like a million bucks--and probably worth twice that--Bunny is the new trophy wife of mattress maven Marvin Cooper.
When Bunny generously offers Jaine a gig writing Marv's new advertising campaign, Jaine accepts the job, and an invitation to her upcoming soirée. But at the party Bunny cruelly rules the Cooper mansion with a fist full of martinis, abusing terrified staff and her browbeaten husband alike. It seems like this society girl could use a good kick in the assets. Indeed, before the evening is over, someone poisons the D-cup diva. Dead must be the new black.
The police arrest Lance, but Jaine knows his murderous urges end at her closet door. She sets out to clear his name and discovers a list of suspects longer than Bunny's credit card bill. Did Mattress Marv get tired of his little bunny hopping into another man's bed, or did a jealous boy-toy fix her a fatal cocktail? Marv's ex-wife Ellen has plenty of motives for murder, as does Bunny's harassed maid Lupe. Or was it Bunny's seething stepdaughter who sent her to that Great Shopping Mall in the Sky?
Jaine is running out of time. Jobless, Lance is losing his mind and taking it out on Jaine's apartment, wardrobe, and indignant cat Prozac. And before Jaine can say 9021Oh-no someone else is murdered. Between a house guest that won't leave, a suitor-turned-stalker, and killer on the loose, Jaine's jackpot may turn out to be fool's gold.
The communication with her parents through email and the loving but hilarous friends Jaine has always leads to a good time. While the mysteries are usually difficult to solve by the clues left for the reader, I really read this story to disappear into Janie's relaxed life for awhile. I love her attitude and these books always puts a smile on my face. Check them out if you haven't!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Killer Cuts by Elaine Viets
I always love catching up with all of my "old friends" from the Tropicana Apartments in Fort Lauderdale, so I was very excited to start reading Killer Cuts last night. Unfortunely, I was only able to keep my eyes open for a couple of chapters last night but quickly finished it this afternoon. Killer Cuts was a lot of fun and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
Helen Hawthorne's latest dead-end-job is in Miguel Angel's Fort Lauderdale's hair salon, where a trim can cost as much as a car payment and a blowout can wipe you out. But when one of the salon's most famous clients, gossip blogger and cable-TV show host Kingman "King" Oden is murdered at his own wedding, things get a little hairy and Miguel becomes the prime suspect. To save her boss- and her job- Helen is determined to find the murderer. When she finds herself the target of threatening notes, it's more imperative than ever that she figure out who at the wedding was dressed to kill.
I don't read Ms. Viet's books for the high suspense or thrilling mystery, but it really is just for the sheer fun and the feeling like I am meeting up with some friends. The mystery and Helen's skills at catching the killers is just an added bonus. Ms. Viets does a fantastic job describing the scenery and capturing the essence of Ft. Lauderdale and makes it seem like so much fun living at the Tropicana Apartments. It seems like a place where I would love to retire and move in to. I love all of the characters and always look forward to reading the latest installment. Helen's latest job, though, is nearly as bad as the others she has held in the back, and I almost hope that she keeps this profession. I do wonder though how Ms. Viets will continue this series though, as it seems like some things are wrapping up. I hope it does continue though!
Up next is the book Shadows Still Remain by Peter De Jonge. Mr. De Jonge has co-authored several books with James Patterson, including The Beach House, so I have high hopes for this book. I really enjoyed The Beach House and all of the other books Mr. De Jonge has co-authored. I have to run some errands now and am going out tonight, so the book may have to wait until tomorrow. Have a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Helen Hawthorne's latest dead-end-job is in Miguel Angel's Fort Lauderdale's hair salon, where a trim can cost as much as a car payment and a blowout can wipe you out. But when one of the salon's most famous clients, gossip blogger and cable-TV show host Kingman "King" Oden is murdered at his own wedding, things get a little hairy and Miguel becomes the prime suspect. To save her boss- and her job- Helen is determined to find the murderer. When she finds herself the target of threatening notes, it's more imperative than ever that she figure out who at the wedding was dressed to kill.
I don't read Ms. Viet's books for the high suspense or thrilling mystery, but it really is just for the sheer fun and the feeling like I am meeting up with some friends. The mystery and Helen's skills at catching the killers is just an added bonus. Ms. Viets does a fantastic job describing the scenery and capturing the essence of Ft. Lauderdale and makes it seem like so much fun living at the Tropicana Apartments. It seems like a place where I would love to retire and move in to. I love all of the characters and always look forward to reading the latest installment. Helen's latest job, though, is nearly as bad as the others she has held in the back, and I almost hope that she keeps this profession. I do wonder though how Ms. Viets will continue this series though, as it seems like some things are wrapping up. I hope it does continue though!
Up next is the book Shadows Still Remain by Peter De Jonge. Mr. De Jonge has co-authored several books with James Patterson, including The Beach House, so I have high hopes for this book. I really enjoyed The Beach House and all of the other books Mr. De Jonge has co-authored. I have to run some errands now and am going out tonight, so the book may have to wait until tomorrow. Have a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron
Last Lessons of Summer is a book I have had on my shelves for awhile. I believe I bought it either from a library sale or from a thrift store and I decided to read it because I am ready for some summer weather (Today it was struggling to reach 65... I am sooooo ready for the 80s!). From reading the back of this book, I thought it may be a suspense book, but I would classify this more as a cozy mystery with some women's fiction in it. I give it a B-.
Back cover:
Her grandmother was killed in the very same house where her mother committed suicide. Now, in the suffocating heat of a Southern August, Amy Steadman, heir to the merchandising and publishing empire, returns to the old family homestead to clear out her grandmother's things... and perhaps find some answers. Frightened by parallells between her parents' stormy relationship and her own troubled marriage, Amy desperately needs to connect the dots between her life and the dark heritage that shaped her. Yet the more she learns, the closer she comes to a murderous force that may be part of her own family- and one that will not hesitate to lie, decieve, or kill...
There were a ton of characters here that were very difficult to keep track of. The author does provide a family tree in the beginning of the book, but it was such a pain to keep flipping back and forth to see who was related to who and how they were related. I also thought that there may be more of a mystery here, and maybe a bit more danger, but there was very little of that. Ms. Maron does do a fantastic job of describing the deep south in the summer and I admit there were quite a few times I was imagining myself sitting on a big, long porch reading and sipping sweet tea. Were it not for the wonderful and beautiful descriptions, I probably would have rated this book lower as I thought it was just pretty boring. Maybe if I had been expecting more of a cozy, I would have enjoyed the book more but I felt like there was a bit of switch and bait.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be another one of my own books. I am out of library books, so I will just check something out of my own "library". The Wings play in about 25 minutes are they are currently up 2-0 in the series! As much as I hate to say it, I wouldn't be terribly upset if they lost one of the next two games so they can come home and win the Cup in front of our crowd on Saturday. I hope everyone has been reading wonderful books and Happy Reading!
Back cover:
Her grandmother was killed in the very same house where her mother committed suicide. Now, in the suffocating heat of a Southern August, Amy Steadman, heir to the merchandising and publishing empire, returns to the old family homestead to clear out her grandmother's things... and perhaps find some answers. Frightened by parallells between her parents' stormy relationship and her own troubled marriage, Amy desperately needs to connect the dots between her life and the dark heritage that shaped her. Yet the more she learns, the closer she comes to a murderous force that may be part of her own family- and one that will not hesitate to lie, decieve, or kill...
There were a ton of characters here that were very difficult to keep track of. The author does provide a family tree in the beginning of the book, but it was such a pain to keep flipping back and forth to see who was related to who and how they were related. I also thought that there may be more of a mystery here, and maybe a bit more danger, but there was very little of that. Ms. Maron does do a fantastic job of describing the deep south in the summer and I admit there were quite a few times I was imagining myself sitting on a big, long porch reading and sipping sweet tea. Were it not for the wonderful and beautiful descriptions, I probably would have rated this book lower as I thought it was just pretty boring. Maybe if I had been expecting more of a cozy, I would have enjoyed the book more but I felt like there was a bit of switch and bait.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be another one of my own books. I am out of library books, so I will just check something out of my own "library". The Wings play in about 25 minutes are they are currently up 2-0 in the series! As much as I hate to say it, I wouldn't be terribly upset if they lost one of the next two games so they can come home and win the Cup in front of our crowd on Saturday. I hope everyone has been reading wonderful books and Happy Reading!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Killer Cruise by Laura Levine
I always enjoy Laura Levine's cozy mystery series about lovable author Jaine Austen (no... not that Jane Austin). I always used to buy the books, but awhile ago the publisher began to publish it in hardcover, so I now get the books from the library. This was another good addition to the series, and a pleasant quick read on this Memorial Weekend. I give it a B.
From Amazon:
Things are already off to a rocky start when Jaine discovers a stowaway amisdt her luggage- her persnickety cat, Prozac. To make matters worse, Prozac is also spotted by the ship's steward, an aspiring writer who quickly uses his advantage to blackmail Jaine into editing his massive handwriten manuscript. So much for sun, fun, and relaxation... Jaine's sinking sensation grows stronger at dinner, where she meets chatty Emily Pritchard, a wealthy seventy-year-old who's traveling with her bossy personal secretary, Ms. Nesbitt, and her nephews, arrogant investment banker Kyle, and his ruggedly handsome brother Robbie. Janie can't help but noticing the tension among them, especially when the cruise's charming- and sleazy- British dancer, Graham, whisks Emily on the dance floor and keeps her there for the rest of the evening. Soon Emily is accepting Graham's invitations to every social event on the ship even though her nephews and Ms. Nesbitt clearly don't approve. And when the bubbly couple announce their engagement just two nights later, no one is more surprised than Graham's long time girlfriend Cookie. But the news is quickly overshadowed the next morning by the discovery of Graham's body with an ice pick protuding from his chest...
The captain is quick to accuse Cookie, but Jaine suspects there are more sharks in the water. Was money-hungry Kyle protecting his inhertience? Perhaps Ms. Nesbitt was attempting to regain control over Emily? Or could the notorious lothario have fallen to one of his many paramours? And what about Robbie? Although Jaine finds herself falling for him, she can't help but wonder if he's been completely honest with her. Between hiding a furry fugitive, flirting with Robbie, and baiting the hook for a clever murderer, Jaine is about to dive into her most dangerous case yet...
I always enjoy reading about Jaine and her antics. The situations she finds herself in is always comical, and how she reacts is always good for a few chuckles. I also always enjoy the communication via email with her parents who are always funny and make me smile. I think this book provided more clues towards who the killer was than there were in some of her previous books, which was a pleasure. I like that Jaine is "real" woman, someone who is not concerned about what name brand her shoes are or how she is always dressed, but does sometimes over-indulge into an extra chocolate brownie. If you enjoy a quick, light-hearted cozy mystery, I highly recommend you pick up this book or any other book by Laura Levine. This is not a series that needs to be read in order, as there is no carryover whatsoever.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. Still have more library books to choose from, but I will probably not get to one until later today. The Red Wings start in half an hour and my husband wants me to go to his parents later today. I may beg off of that, but I will get some reading in tonight. I am so happy that all of my cleaning and laundry is done and tomorrow is just filled with enjoying the weather, my day off, and reading a good book. Happy Reading everyone!
From Amazon:
Things are already off to a rocky start when Jaine discovers a stowaway amisdt her luggage- her persnickety cat, Prozac. To make matters worse, Prozac is also spotted by the ship's steward, an aspiring writer who quickly uses his advantage to blackmail Jaine into editing his massive handwriten manuscript. So much for sun, fun, and relaxation... Jaine's sinking sensation grows stronger at dinner, where she meets chatty Emily Pritchard, a wealthy seventy-year-old who's traveling with her bossy personal secretary, Ms. Nesbitt, and her nephews, arrogant investment banker Kyle, and his ruggedly handsome brother Robbie. Janie can't help but noticing the tension among them, especially when the cruise's charming- and sleazy- British dancer, Graham, whisks Emily on the dance floor and keeps her there for the rest of the evening. Soon Emily is accepting Graham's invitations to every social event on the ship even though her nephews and Ms. Nesbitt clearly don't approve. And when the bubbly couple announce their engagement just two nights later, no one is more surprised than Graham's long time girlfriend Cookie. But the news is quickly overshadowed the next morning by the discovery of Graham's body with an ice pick protuding from his chest...
The captain is quick to accuse Cookie, but Jaine suspects there are more sharks in the water. Was money-hungry Kyle protecting his inhertience? Perhaps Ms. Nesbitt was attempting to regain control over Emily? Or could the notorious lothario have fallen to one of his many paramours? And what about Robbie? Although Jaine finds herself falling for him, she can't help but wonder if he's been completely honest with her. Between hiding a furry fugitive, flirting with Robbie, and baiting the hook for a clever murderer, Jaine is about to dive into her most dangerous case yet...
I always enjoy reading about Jaine and her antics. The situations she finds herself in is always comical, and how she reacts is always good for a few chuckles. I also always enjoy the communication via email with her parents who are always funny and make me smile. I think this book provided more clues towards who the killer was than there were in some of her previous books, which was a pleasure. I like that Jaine is "real" woman, someone who is not concerned about what name brand her shoes are or how she is always dressed, but does sometimes over-indulge into an extra chocolate brownie. If you enjoy a quick, light-hearted cozy mystery, I highly recommend you pick up this book or any other book by Laura Levine. This is not a series that needs to be read in order, as there is no carryover whatsoever.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. Still have more library books to choose from, but I will probably not get to one until later today. The Red Wings start in half an hour and my husband wants me to go to his parents later today. I may beg off of that, but I will get some reading in tonight. I am so happy that all of my cleaning and laundry is done and tomorrow is just filled with enjoying the weather, my day off, and reading a good book. Happy Reading everyone!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Little Town Lies by Anne Strieber
Last night I was looking at my TBR books, trying to decide what to read next. My DH came downstairs wondering what I was doing and when I told him, he asked if he could pick the next one. I couldn't decide, so I told him to go ahead. He selected Little Town Lies and it sounded good, so I gave it a shot. It was a disappointment, however, and I can only rate it a C.
From Amazon:
Under the surface of small town Texas are dark undercurrents of suffering and depravity: alcoholism, domestic violence, child abuse, arson, animal mutilations -- and brutal, obscene murder.Social worker Sally Hopkins knows that it's only a matter of time before the perpetrator becomes a sexual predator, a serial killer with a twisted mind. Sally's burnt out on Houston's big city crime, just shy of forty, and she doesn't want to be involved -- but no one else in her East Texas hometown of Maryvale has the training to follow the tell-tale clues left at each scene.And the handsome young state trooper who's also been called in to help is helping Sally. He revitalizes her, rekindles her long-buried passion for life -- and together they break through the walls of secrets and lies, to stop the killer before he strikes again.
I thought that this book would be a great quick read, and while it was quick, it wasn't great. First of all, it was so unbelievable. Sally is a social worker who decides it is time to head home and immediately gets sucked up in animal torture cases. Now I am a huge animal lover and the mere thought of torturing an animal is disgusting, but the stress and importance Sally puts on this case is somewhat laughable. She actually says at one point that some of the officers shouldn't stop and eat dinner because this case needs to be solved now. Then about a third of the way through the book, Sally becomes appointed as the sheriff after the old one decides to retire. I am so sure... someone with absolutely no criminal justice background becomes a sheriff of a county. That, along with other things in the book, just made it too difficult to suspend belief and enjoy the book. I also found that there was way too many exclaimination marks and short sentences, and the timeline did not flow correctly. I blame part of this on the editor though, as I caught a lot of mistakes which tends to irritate me. With all of that being said, I did enjoy reading about a small town in Texas and the mystery was a good idea, but it could have been done much better.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I have a library book checked out but am really not in the mood to read it. I am very tired right now and have a tutoring appointement tomorrow morning at 10:00 along with my online job, so I think I will just wait until tomorrow to pick out my next read. Daylight Savings Time is also going to mess up my inner clock as well, and I really wish I was lucky enough to live in onoe of the two states where they do not participate in this silly event. I hope everyone is having a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Under the surface of small town Texas are dark undercurrents of suffering and depravity: alcoholism, domestic violence, child abuse, arson, animal mutilations -- and brutal, obscene murder.Social worker Sally Hopkins knows that it's only a matter of time before the perpetrator becomes a sexual predator, a serial killer with a twisted mind. Sally's burnt out on Houston's big city crime, just shy of forty, and she doesn't want to be involved -- but no one else in her East Texas hometown of Maryvale has the training to follow the tell-tale clues left at each scene.And the handsome young state trooper who's also been called in to help is helping Sally. He revitalizes her, rekindles her long-buried passion for life -- and together they break through the walls of secrets and lies, to stop the killer before he strikes again.
I thought that this book would be a great quick read, and while it was quick, it wasn't great. First of all, it was so unbelievable. Sally is a social worker who decides it is time to head home and immediately gets sucked up in animal torture cases. Now I am a huge animal lover and the mere thought of torturing an animal is disgusting, but the stress and importance Sally puts on this case is somewhat laughable. She actually says at one point that some of the officers shouldn't stop and eat dinner because this case needs to be solved now. Then about a third of the way through the book, Sally becomes appointed as the sheriff after the old one decides to retire. I am so sure... someone with absolutely no criminal justice background becomes a sheriff of a county. That, along with other things in the book, just made it too difficult to suspend belief and enjoy the book. I also found that there was way too many exclaimination marks and short sentences, and the timeline did not flow correctly. I blame part of this on the editor though, as I caught a lot of mistakes which tends to irritate me. With all of that being said, I did enjoy reading about a small town in Texas and the mystery was a good idea, but it could have been done much better.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I have a library book checked out but am really not in the mood to read it. I am very tired right now and have a tutoring appointement tomorrow morning at 10:00 along with my online job, so I think I will just wait until tomorrow to pick out my next read. Daylight Savings Time is also going to mess up my inner clock as well, and I really wish I was lucky enough to live in onoe of the two states where they do not participate in this silly event. I hope everyone is having a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Teaser by Jan Brogan
I read several different reviews about Teaser from blogs and I believe Romantic Times. I know the premise interested me because I wrote this book down twice. I had really high hopes for the book, but I was left a bit disappointed and can only rate the book a B.
From Amazon:
Hallie Ahern, a Providence, Rhode Island, reporter and recovering gambling addict, is trawling online chat rooms in search of a story for her newspaper’s Web site when an anonymous source sends her a short video clip, a teaser. Featuring two girls striking provocative poses, the clip promises more to come. As Hallie follows up on the lead, staking out tech shops and high school hangouts in search of the girls in the clip, she discovers that men are buying the girls webcams and lavishing them with gifts to make sure they use them. But those gifts are only a taste of the perils to come.The paper’s new owners love the idea of an exposé that warns parents of the dangers of the Internet, but when girls start dying, and when Hallie’s boyfriend—a prosecutor with the Attorney General’s office—ends up on another side of the story altogether, the situation goes from dark to lethal.
The idea of this book was really good, but I thought that the topic could have been more fleshed out. Perhaps I was expecting more of a thriller type book and I would have to classify this as a cozy mystery. I don't think my lower rating has anything to do with the book itself, but just my expectations. Hallie is a very likeable character and I like those surrrounding her. This book is part of a series, though, so I would recommend that you read the previous books first as there were a lot of references to things that happened in the past and you would get a better understanding of her and her boyfriend's relationship. It was a good book, just not what I was expecting.
Up next is a book by Joy Fielding that I picked up from the library. I hope it is as good as the previous Ms. Fielding book I read and helps jump start my reading. I know with Christmas right here, the next couple of days may be lacking in the time, but here is to hoping. We keep getting hit by more and more snow and tomorrow is supposed to be real nasty, so I will be staying home until it is time to go to my mom's. Merry Christmas and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Hallie Ahern, a Providence, Rhode Island, reporter and recovering gambling addict, is trawling online chat rooms in search of a story for her newspaper’s Web site when an anonymous source sends her a short video clip, a teaser. Featuring two girls striking provocative poses, the clip promises more to come. As Hallie follows up on the lead, staking out tech shops and high school hangouts in search of the girls in the clip, she discovers that men are buying the girls webcams and lavishing them with gifts to make sure they use them. But those gifts are only a taste of the perils to come.The paper’s new owners love the idea of an exposé that warns parents of the dangers of the Internet, but when girls start dying, and when Hallie’s boyfriend—a prosecutor with the Attorney General’s office—ends up on another side of the story altogether, the situation goes from dark to lethal.
The idea of this book was really good, but I thought that the topic could have been more fleshed out. Perhaps I was expecting more of a thriller type book and I would have to classify this as a cozy mystery. I don't think my lower rating has anything to do with the book itself, but just my expectations. Hallie is a very likeable character and I like those surrrounding her. This book is part of a series, though, so I would recommend that you read the previous books first as there were a lot of references to things that happened in the past and you would get a better understanding of her and her boyfriend's relationship. It was a good book, just not what I was expecting.
Up next is a book by Joy Fielding that I picked up from the library. I hope it is as good as the previous Ms. Fielding book I read and helps jump start my reading. I know with Christmas right here, the next couple of days may be lacking in the time, but here is to hoping. We keep getting hit by more and more snow and tomorrow is supposed to be real nasty, so I will be staying home until it is time to go to my mom's. Merry Christmas and Happy Reading!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry by Denise Swanson
I finished this book yesterday but am just now getting around to reviewing it. I have been obsessed with the Caylee Anthony case and have been reading a lot about the case and praying that the little girl is finally found. Anyways, this was another pleasant addition to the series and I give it a B.
Back cover:
Skye Denison has never aspired to culinary excellence. In fact, she can't tell the difference between mousse and meringue. So when Grandma Sal's Soup-to-Nuts Cooking Challenge comes to town, competing is the last thing on her mind. That's before she's bullied into entering by her mother, who has four recipes- one of which she has submitted under Skye's name. Right from the start, trouble brews. But a spiteful saboteur takes things too far when cocky contestant Cherry Alexander is discovered drowned in a chocolate fountain.
From time to time, I like catching up on my cozy mystery series. It feels like I am getting to catch up with my friends. I really enjoy the fact that Skye is a school psychologist and wish that the story would have had more interaction with her students. This series does allow the reader enough clues to figure out the mystery, though I do have to admit that I didn't figure it out. I was glad to see Skye's personal relationship move forward a bit because sometimes I think the author gets stuck in this back and forth stuff that really gets old (Stephanie Plum anyone?). This was a quick and easy read, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery.
Up next is Dirt by Stuart Woods. This is my first book by this author and I hope I enjoy it. The premise definitely sounds interesting. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and Happy Reading!
Back cover:
Skye Denison has never aspired to culinary excellence. In fact, she can't tell the difference between mousse and meringue. So when Grandma Sal's Soup-to-Nuts Cooking Challenge comes to town, competing is the last thing on her mind. That's before she's bullied into entering by her mother, who has four recipes- one of which she has submitted under Skye's name. Right from the start, trouble brews. But a spiteful saboteur takes things too far when cocky contestant Cherry Alexander is discovered drowned in a chocolate fountain.
From time to time, I like catching up on my cozy mystery series. It feels like I am getting to catch up with my friends. I really enjoy the fact that Skye is a school psychologist and wish that the story would have had more interaction with her students. This series does allow the reader enough clues to figure out the mystery, though I do have to admit that I didn't figure it out. I was glad to see Skye's personal relationship move forward a bit because sometimes I think the author gets stuck in this back and forth stuff that really gets old (Stephanie Plum anyone?). This was a quick and easy read, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery.
Up next is Dirt by Stuart Woods. This is my first book by this author and I hope I enjoy it. The premise definitely sounds interesting. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and Happy Reading!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer
I have had the Bubbles series sitting on my shelves forever, and when I was looking for something to read, I decided to give it a shot. It was a fun read, and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
Meet Bubbles Yablonsky, beautician-reporter-sleuth and blazing star of Strohmeyer's entertaining, establishment-bashing debut as a mystery writer. Like the mills that gird the book's seen-better-days steel town of Lehigh, Pa., the city is itself a seething cauldron. Battle lines are sharply drawn between the haves and have-nots. Bubbles is hell-bent on getting even with the overlords, especially her former husband, a heel who has gone over to the other side. Opportunity knocks when Bubbles incriminates a wealthy socialite in a brutal murder and then uncovers a murky past, where corpses are littered around the accused's steel-magnate husband. The going is never easy, as Bubbles faces more perils than Pauline: falling off a bridge in the arms of a potential suicide; dodging drive-by gunmen and car bombers; being handcuffed and fitted for cement boots; and always searching for a better way to display her cleavage. Armed with her certificate from Two Guys Community College, abetted by a quirky array of social castoffs and fueled by Doritos, Velveeta and Diet Pepsi, Bubbles overcomes every obstacle on her way to shaking the foundations of the corporate world and, in the process, leaving more than a few wrinkles in her ex's tailored Brooks Brothers suits. Hop in the Camaro and buckle up: Bubbles is behind the wheel, and a wild ride awaits.
I knew before reading this that there was a lot of comparison to Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum and I could definitely see the similarities. However, there were many differences as well that made this story really fun. I liked Bubbles and thought she was a great character, along with her daughter and even her wacko ex-husband. I mean what is not to like about a man who decides to change his name from Dan to Chip? I had a couple of laugh out loud moments and read this book fairly quickly. I also liked the fact that there were actual clues throughout the book that allows the reader to solve the crime and not just find out whodunit at the end. All in all, a fun and pleasant read which I needed today since I had some dental work done today and am in some pain.
Between reading and recovering today, I have been glued to the tv for several different reasons though they all had to do with politics. At lot of my friends don't understand why I get involved and watch the conventions but I like to be informed. That includes getting my news from various sources and doing my own research. I can finally say I have made a decision in this election and am hopeful for the first time in awhile. Then I switch over to local news and see how the city of Detroit is crumbling and falling apart in front of our eyes. The city's wonderful *sarcasm* mayor is in removal hearings with our slightly more wonderful governor being forced out of his job. Forget the 12 felonies he is facing, and his refusal to leave office, and breaking bond and leaving the country, today the news reported that Mr. Kilpatrick feels he is on his way out, so what does he do... give 35% raises to his friends and families in appointed positions! Our state is in such bad shape in the economy that each newscast shows a job opening for people to apply for that is offering $8.00 an hour. Foreclosures are crazy here and the mayor has threatened to layoff 100s of fire and police officers and he gives some people $36,000 a year raises. Ugh!!!!! Drives me crazy. If house prices had not fallen so much my husband and I would be out of here faster than you can blink. I can't find a full time job since teachers who are in their 60s can't afford to retire.
Sorry for going off on such a tangent. I know this blog is called Kristie Loves Books but today the news has been nuts and I had to get some things off of my chest. I have also been taking Vicodin for my pain so I am guessing that a lot of this doesn't even make sense. I will be returning to my regular scheduled programming tomorrow. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Meet Bubbles Yablonsky, beautician-reporter-sleuth and blazing star of Strohmeyer's entertaining, establishment-bashing debut as a mystery writer. Like the mills that gird the book's seen-better-days steel town of Lehigh, Pa., the city is itself a seething cauldron. Battle lines are sharply drawn between the haves and have-nots. Bubbles is hell-bent on getting even with the overlords, especially her former husband, a heel who has gone over to the other side. Opportunity knocks when Bubbles incriminates a wealthy socialite in a brutal murder and then uncovers a murky past, where corpses are littered around the accused's steel-magnate husband. The going is never easy, as Bubbles faces more perils than Pauline: falling off a bridge in the arms of a potential suicide; dodging drive-by gunmen and car bombers; being handcuffed and fitted for cement boots; and always searching for a better way to display her cleavage. Armed with her certificate from Two Guys Community College, abetted by a quirky array of social castoffs and fueled by Doritos, Velveeta and Diet Pepsi, Bubbles overcomes every obstacle on her way to shaking the foundations of the corporate world and, in the process, leaving more than a few wrinkles in her ex's tailored Brooks Brothers suits. Hop in the Camaro and buckle up: Bubbles is behind the wheel, and a wild ride awaits.
I knew before reading this that there was a lot of comparison to Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum and I could definitely see the similarities. However, there were many differences as well that made this story really fun. I liked Bubbles and thought she was a great character, along with her daughter and even her wacko ex-husband. I mean what is not to like about a man who decides to change his name from Dan to Chip? I had a couple of laugh out loud moments and read this book fairly quickly. I also liked the fact that there were actual clues throughout the book that allows the reader to solve the crime and not just find out whodunit at the end. All in all, a fun and pleasant read which I needed today since I had some dental work done today and am in some pain.
Between reading and recovering today, I have been glued to the tv for several different reasons though they all had to do with politics. At lot of my friends don't understand why I get involved and watch the conventions but I like to be informed. That includes getting my news from various sources and doing my own research. I can finally say I have made a decision in this election and am hopeful for the first time in awhile. Then I switch over to local news and see how the city of Detroit is crumbling and falling apart in front of our eyes. The city's wonderful *sarcasm* mayor is in removal hearings with our slightly more wonderful governor being forced out of his job. Forget the 12 felonies he is facing, and his refusal to leave office, and breaking bond and leaving the country, today the news reported that Mr. Kilpatrick feels he is on his way out, so what does he do... give 35% raises to his friends and families in appointed positions! Our state is in such bad shape in the economy that each newscast shows a job opening for people to apply for that is offering $8.00 an hour. Foreclosures are crazy here and the mayor has threatened to layoff 100s of fire and police officers and he gives some people $36,000 a year raises. Ugh!!!!! Drives me crazy. If house prices had not fallen so much my husband and I would be out of here faster than you can blink. I can't find a full time job since teachers who are in their 60s can't afford to retire.
Sorry for going off on such a tangent. I know this blog is called Kristie Loves Books but today the news has been nuts and I had to get some things off of my chest. I have also been taking Vicodin for my pain so I am guessing that a lot of this doesn't even make sense. I will be returning to my regular scheduled programming tomorrow. Happy Reading!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Sacred Cows by Karen E. Olson
I remember hearing a lot about this book throughout the blogosphere so when I was at the library and spotted it, I decided to pick it up and give it a try. However, I was a little disappointed with it and can only rate a B-.
From Amazon:
Pulled from her bed by an early morning phone call from her boss, local New Haven, Connecticut, police reporter Annie Seymour finds herself at a crime scene staring at the naked body of a Yale student. What starts out as bad news for the prestigious university gets worse when Annie learns the girl was a student by day and a high-priced escort by night. Stonewalled by her cop boyfriend and tailed by overeager and incompetent cub reporter Dick Whitfield, Annie stumbles onto a network of corruption that everyoneeven her own motherseems to be involved in. But Annie isnt the only one investigating; a Frank Sinatra look-alike who used to be the biggest geek in Annies high school is also hot on the trail. As if things werent bizarre enough, New Haven is being infiltrated by a parade of ceramic cows. When her boss decides to pull Annie off the story, she must discover the truth on her own before she becomes the next headline.
I can't just pinpoint what exactly I didn't like about this book. I think there were so many characters thrown in and I had a difficult time following who was who. I also didn't really like Annie and her attitude. She just seemed so pessimistic and it get a bit annoying. It wasn't a horrible book, but I probably will not remember much about it or look for anything else by this author.
Next up is a book by one of my favorite author's Diana Diamond. These books are always suspensful and really show how evil some people can be. I am not sure which one I will read as I have two to choose from. This weekend may prove to be a bit busy, but I do plan to get a lot of reading in. I hope everyone is as well and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Pulled from her bed by an early morning phone call from her boss, local New Haven, Connecticut, police reporter Annie Seymour finds herself at a crime scene staring at the naked body of a Yale student. What starts out as bad news for the prestigious university gets worse when Annie learns the girl was a student by day and a high-priced escort by night. Stonewalled by her cop boyfriend and tailed by overeager and incompetent cub reporter Dick Whitfield, Annie stumbles onto a network of corruption that everyoneeven her own motherseems to be involved in. But Annie isnt the only one investigating; a Frank Sinatra look-alike who used to be the biggest geek in Annies high school is also hot on the trail. As if things werent bizarre enough, New Haven is being infiltrated by a parade of ceramic cows. When her boss decides to pull Annie off the story, she must discover the truth on her own before she becomes the next headline.
I can't just pinpoint what exactly I didn't like about this book. I think there were so many characters thrown in and I had a difficult time following who was who. I also didn't really like Annie and her attitude. She just seemed so pessimistic and it get a bit annoying. It wasn't a horrible book, but I probably will not remember much about it or look for anything else by this author.
Next up is a book by one of my favorite author's Diana Diamond. These books are always suspensful and really show how evil some people can be. I am not sure which one I will read as I have two to choose from. This weekend may prove to be a bit busy, but I do plan to get a lot of reading in. I hope everyone is as well and Happy Reading!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Killing Bridezilla by Laura Levine
I love Laura Levine's series featuring Jaine Austen, a writer and sometimes private investigator. Each summer I look forward to reading the newest installment. I picked it up this week from the library and read it last night. Another great installment, and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
When writer-for-hire Jaine Austen signs on to script vows for the ultimate Bridezilla, "I do's" soon become "I wish I hadn't's"--and curtains for the bride spell a veil of woes for Jaine...
Jaine's accepted her share of lame gigs to pay the bills, but rewriting Shakespeare's got to be an all-time low. The fiasco begins with a call from Jaine's high-school nemesis, uber rich uber witch Patti Devane. It seems Patti will soon be sashaying down the aisle with another former classmate from Hermosa High, and she'd like the exchange of vows to evoke Romeo and Juliet...except without the "downer" of an ending.
Even worse than the assignment itself is dealing with Patti as a client. At least Jaine's not alone, as nobody can stand the demanding, spoiled, and incredibly rude Bridezilla from Hell. Patti's managed to rack up an amazingly long list of enemies in a short time, not the least of whom include her prospective mother-in-law, the soon-to-be ex-wife of Patti's stolen soon-to-be groom, and just about everyone involved in the wedding preparations. So it isn't a complete surprise when the erstwhile Juliet plunges to her death during her balcony scene.
The loosened bolts that brought down the bride were clearly an act of sabotage--what's not so obvious is whom, among Patti's numerous haters, committed this murder most foul. Was it the caterer she threatened to ruin? The bridesmaid tossed out of the wedding party for being too chubby? Jaine's determined to learn the truth--if only to end the hideous walk down memory lane kicked off by her association with Patti.
Between fending off advances from the nerd of her high school nightmares and figuring out ways to stop Prozac the cat from corrupting the victim's pet Poodle, Jaine's involvement in this case keeps veering between comedy and tragedy. That is, until another body is discovered--and the killer starts laying plot for a final act--starring Jaine...
This series, and particularly this book, always puts a smile on my face. I love Jaine and all of her friends and family who are zany, yet believable. I love the emails that Jaine's parents use to communicate with her. They are living in Florida and always are up to something. This particular book deals with people from Jaine's past time in high school, and I can relate with that. Jaine always is able to solve the mystery, but mostly by accident, not great detective skills. However, she is such a likeable and relateable character and I love catching up with her. It is one of the few cozy mystery series I continue to read each summer.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I need to pick something up off my TBR shelves. Today, we may attend a bbq party at a friend's house, though I am not sure. The closer the time comes to go, the less I feel like going. I would love to get some reading done along with my cleaning and laundry. I also need to start prepping some materials for summer school and just be kind of low key this weekend. Plus my dog and my mom's dog are here and they are absolutely terrified of fireworks and I hate leaving them alone with all of the noise. One 4th of July, we couldn't find my dog anywhere and she was hiding in our basement bathroom because all of the noise. Whatever your plans are, have a safe and happy weekend! Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
When writer-for-hire Jaine Austen signs on to script vows for the ultimate Bridezilla, "I do's" soon become "I wish I hadn't's"--and curtains for the bride spell a veil of woes for Jaine...
Jaine's accepted her share of lame gigs to pay the bills, but rewriting Shakespeare's got to be an all-time low. The fiasco begins with a call from Jaine's high-school nemesis, uber rich uber witch Patti Devane. It seems Patti will soon be sashaying down the aisle with another former classmate from Hermosa High, and she'd like the exchange of vows to evoke Romeo and Juliet...except without the "downer" of an ending.
Even worse than the assignment itself is dealing with Patti as a client. At least Jaine's not alone, as nobody can stand the demanding, spoiled, and incredibly rude Bridezilla from Hell. Patti's managed to rack up an amazingly long list of enemies in a short time, not the least of whom include her prospective mother-in-law, the soon-to-be ex-wife of Patti's stolen soon-to-be groom, and just about everyone involved in the wedding preparations. So it isn't a complete surprise when the erstwhile Juliet plunges to her death during her balcony scene.
The loosened bolts that brought down the bride were clearly an act of sabotage--what's not so obvious is whom, among Patti's numerous haters, committed this murder most foul. Was it the caterer she threatened to ruin? The bridesmaid tossed out of the wedding party for being too chubby? Jaine's determined to learn the truth--if only to end the hideous walk down memory lane kicked off by her association with Patti.
Between fending off advances from the nerd of her high school nightmares and figuring out ways to stop Prozac the cat from corrupting the victim's pet Poodle, Jaine's involvement in this case keeps veering between comedy and tragedy. That is, until another body is discovered--and the killer starts laying plot for a final act--starring Jaine...
This series, and particularly this book, always puts a smile on my face. I love Jaine and all of her friends and family who are zany, yet believable. I love the emails that Jaine's parents use to communicate with her. They are living in Florida and always are up to something. This particular book deals with people from Jaine's past time in high school, and I can relate with that. Jaine always is able to solve the mystery, but mostly by accident, not great detective skills. However, she is such a likeable and relateable character and I love catching up with her. It is one of the few cozy mystery series I continue to read each summer.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I need to pick something up off my TBR shelves. Today, we may attend a bbq party at a friend's house, though I am not sure. The closer the time comes to go, the less I feel like going. I would love to get some reading done along with my cleaning and laundry. I also need to start prepping some materials for summer school and just be kind of low key this weekend. Plus my dog and my mom's dog are here and they are absolutely terrified of fireworks and I hate leaving them alone with all of the noise. One 4th of July, we couldn't find my dog anywhere and she was hiding in our basement bathroom because all of the noise. Whatever your plans are, have a safe and happy weekend! Happy Reading!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Clubbed to Death by Elaine Viets
Each summer, I always look forward to reading the newest Elaine Viets and Laura Levine books. Those are probably the last of the cozy mystery series I still faithfully read. Clubbed to Death was another good edition to the Dead-End Jobs series by Elaine Viets. I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
Helen Hawthorne’s latest dead-end job is in a country club’s complaint department, dealing with the gripes of the rich and spoiled. Then Rob, her deadbeat ex-husband, sails back into her life aboard the yacht of his new lady, Marcella—known as the Black Widow for her string of dead spouses. The next day Rob’s reported missing. If the Black Widow has such a murderous reputation, then why is Helen led from the club in handcuffs?When Marcella helps Helen get released, the two form an uneasy alliance to find out what really happened. Helen’s barely begun digging when a club patron is discovered beaten to death with a golf club —his membership permanently expired. Someone got more than a little teed off and it’s up to Helen to get to the truth—without getting clubbed herself…
I love catching up with old characters and feel like I am getting to hang out with friends and find out what they have been up to lately. The mystery is subtle, but still gives the reader suspense. I also love how the new renters in 2C are always up to no good and always get a couple chuckles out of that. I wish there would have been more Margery and Peggy but the book was still a fun one to read.
Up next is Don't Tell a Soul by S.K. McAfflerty. I started reading it and am about 50 pages in and I am not sure if it is something I will stick with. I want to get one more book in this month at least, so I really need something that will keep me hooked. I hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Helen Hawthorne’s latest dead-end job is in a country club’s complaint department, dealing with the gripes of the rich and spoiled. Then Rob, her deadbeat ex-husband, sails back into her life aboard the yacht of his new lady, Marcella—known as the Black Widow for her string of dead spouses. The next day Rob’s reported missing. If the Black Widow has such a murderous reputation, then why is Helen led from the club in handcuffs?When Marcella helps Helen get released, the two form an uneasy alliance to find out what really happened. Helen’s barely begun digging when a club patron is discovered beaten to death with a golf club —his membership permanently expired. Someone got more than a little teed off and it’s up to Helen to get to the truth—without getting clubbed herself…
I love catching up with old characters and feel like I am getting to hang out with friends and find out what they have been up to lately. The mystery is subtle, but still gives the reader suspense. I also love how the new renters in 2C are always up to no good and always get a couple chuckles out of that. I wish there would have been more Margery and Peggy but the book was still a fun one to read.
Up next is Don't Tell a Soul by S.K. McAfflerty. I started reading it and am about 50 pages in and I am not sure if it is something I will stick with. I want to get one more book in this month at least, so I really need something that will keep me hooked. I hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Small Favors by Patricia Wallace
Yet again, this another old book from the thrift store. This book was published in 1988 and surprisingly, it didn't really impact the book that much. It was a fast, easy read though it wasn't really anything spectacular. I will give it a B-.
Back cover:
Hillary and Richard Walker seemed to have it all. Plenty of money. All the right connections. A happy marriage. They were the ideal California couple. Until one day Hilary vanished without a trace...
Private Investigator Sydney Bryant had tracked down more than her share of missing spouses. Most of the time they ran away of their own volition. But the case of Hilary Walker just didn't add up. And it was beginning to look like 2 minus 1 equalled the perfect murder. One without a body. And without a murderer.
This book wasn't all that suspensful. It was an easy read, and it kept the pages turning. I finished this book in about two hours, and while I am not sorry that I read it, it probably will not stay with me for long. I really liked the main character, Sydney though, and this was a part of a series. I didn't feel like I missed much, which is always a plus. I don't have much to say about this book, it was just ok. It definitely read more like a cozy mystery, and not a suspense book like I thought it may be.
Up next is another book by David Martin. I got it from the library and plan on starting it tomorrow. Now it is time for bed. I have a job interview tomorrow for a summer school teaching position and am really excited to get it. I would have my own classroom, even if it is only for a month, and I have been waiting for this forever. Plus, I will make more money from my other job I have but I am not getting my hopes up. It is through one of the district's I sub for, so I think that may be a plus. It is for middle school math which I would love to teach. Since the interview isn't until the afternoon, I will need a good book to distract me so I don't get nervous. Please send good thoughts my way! Happy Reading!
Back cover:
Hillary and Richard Walker seemed to have it all. Plenty of money. All the right connections. A happy marriage. They were the ideal California couple. Until one day Hilary vanished without a trace...
Private Investigator Sydney Bryant had tracked down more than her share of missing spouses. Most of the time they ran away of their own volition. But the case of Hilary Walker just didn't add up. And it was beginning to look like 2 minus 1 equalled the perfect murder. One without a body. And without a murderer.
This book wasn't all that suspensful. It was an easy read, and it kept the pages turning. I finished this book in about two hours, and while I am not sorry that I read it, it probably will not stay with me for long. I really liked the main character, Sydney though, and this was a part of a series. I didn't feel like I missed much, which is always a plus. I don't have much to say about this book, it was just ok. It definitely read more like a cozy mystery, and not a suspense book like I thought it may be.
Up next is another book by David Martin. I got it from the library and plan on starting it tomorrow. Now it is time for bed. I have a job interview tomorrow for a summer school teaching position and am really excited to get it. I would have my own classroom, even if it is only for a month, and I have been waiting for this forever. Plus, I will make more money from my other job I have but I am not getting my hopes up. It is through one of the district's I sub for, so I think that may be a plus. It is for middle school math which I would love to teach. Since the interview isn't until the afternoon, I will need a good book to distract me so I don't get nervous. Please send good thoughts my way! Happy Reading!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
After reading The Spellman Files, I immediately placed the next book in this series on hold through my library. The book came at the perfect time in my life, just when I needed a quick, fun, easy read and it did not disappoint! I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
Starred Review. In the two years that have passed since the action in Lutz's hit debut, The Spellman Files (2007), zany Isabel Spellman, who works for the family PI firm in San Francisco, has become a somewhat responsible member of society. Unfortunately, she's also become obsessed with Subject (aka John Brown), a next-door neighbor who she's convinced has an evil secret she must expose, even if it means losing her PI license. Adding further hilarity is The Stone and Spellman Show, transcripts of recordings revealing 15-year-old sister Rae's fascination with her middle-aged best friend, stoic SFPD inspector Henry Stone, who endures Rae's adoration with liberal doses of Doctor Who watching. Henry's link to the Spellman family's fortunes suggests he might be a good candidate for Isabel's Ex-boyfriend #11 when Subject fails to make the grade.
Like The Spellman Files, there is little mystery to solve. While in normal books this may irritate me, but with Ms. Lutz's books it doesn't matter. I love getting to know these characters, especially Rae and Henry. They are written great, and even though there is little to no physical description of the characters they really come alive in my mind. There was always a little smile on my face and I zipped right through it. I am glad that I didn't buy it though, because it is a $25.00 book and I probably spent a total of 2 hours reading it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries, enjoys Janet Evanovich books, or just having a good time reading a book. I would, however, suggest that you start with Ms. Lutz's first book. I hope she continues this series... I will be very disappointed if it isn't!
Up next is another library book I got. I placed this on hold after reading about it somewhere, though I am not sure where. It took so long to come in though that I don't remember what sounded so good and grabbed my interest. It is called An Absolute Gentleman and is by R.M. Kinder. I hope I enjoy it. I hope everyone has a great weekend and gets lots of good reading time in! The weather is supposed to finally warm up here, but I am not holding my breath. We shall see. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Starred Review. In the two years that have passed since the action in Lutz's hit debut, The Spellman Files (2007), zany Isabel Spellman, who works for the family PI firm in San Francisco, has become a somewhat responsible member of society. Unfortunately, she's also become obsessed with Subject (aka John Brown), a next-door neighbor who she's convinced has an evil secret she must expose, even if it means losing her PI license. Adding further hilarity is The Stone and Spellman Show, transcripts of recordings revealing 15-year-old sister Rae's fascination with her middle-aged best friend, stoic SFPD inspector Henry Stone, who endures Rae's adoration with liberal doses of Doctor Who watching. Henry's link to the Spellman family's fortunes suggests he might be a good candidate for Isabel's Ex-boyfriend #11 when Subject fails to make the grade.
Like The Spellman Files, there is little mystery to solve. While in normal books this may irritate me, but with Ms. Lutz's books it doesn't matter. I love getting to know these characters, especially Rae and Henry. They are written great, and even though there is little to no physical description of the characters they really come alive in my mind. There was always a little smile on my face and I zipped right through it. I am glad that I didn't buy it though, because it is a $25.00 book and I probably spent a total of 2 hours reading it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries, enjoys Janet Evanovich books, or just having a good time reading a book. I would, however, suggest that you start with Ms. Lutz's first book. I hope she continues this series... I will be very disappointed if it isn't!
Up next is another library book I got. I placed this on hold after reading about it somewhere, though I am not sure where. It took so long to come in though that I don't remember what sounded so good and grabbed my interest. It is called An Absolute Gentleman and is by R.M. Kinder. I hope I enjoy it. I hope everyone has a great weekend and gets lots of good reading time in! The weather is supposed to finally warm up here, but I am not holding my breath. We shall see. Happy Reading!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Jigsaw by Jerry Kennealy
I can't remember where I heard about this book, but I know my interest was definitely peaked as soon as I read this description. This book had a serial murderer who was taunting a local movie critic with clues from Alfred Hitchcock movies. As a lover of old movies and especially Hitchcock this book seemed like it was right up my alley. However, it didn't quite hold up to my expectations. I rate it a B-.
From Amazon:
A killer calling himself Thanatos, the Greek God of death, has been sending e-mails to entertainment critic Carroll Quint, taunting him with clues about his next target from Alfred Hitchcock movies. The victims were all friends of Quint: a screenwriter, an actor, and a makeup artist. Since Quint is the one person connected to all three victims, the police have fingered him for the murders. Quints mother, a former starlet and movie trivia buff, points him in the right direction when she tells him, Thanatos is like one of the midgets in Casablanca, Carroll. Hes right there, you see him, but you dont take any notice.
The clues were few and far between and I would have liked to see the ties in to Hitchcock have more to do with the characters. I guess this book was a little bit more of a cozy than I would have liked. I think it was a fantastic idea and more could have been done with the idea. That being said, it was an enjoyable read and Mr. Kennealy has written some wonderful characters that surround the main character Carroll Quint. Carroll is also an enjoyable character and had some great one-liners. This book is the first in the series though I don't think I will be actively seeking out the series but if I happen to run across it, I will pick it up. I guess I just like my books a little bit more juicy.
Having gotten back from vacation, I am having a problem getting back into my routine. My anxiety and depression was so much better when I was on vacation and now it is rearing it's ugly head again. However, I am happy to be back in my own surroundings and have my stuff around including my baby Roxy. Right now I am reading All the Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison and so far, its going good. I am only about 50 pages in and haven't had much time to read today since I am getting the house and laundry in order. I need to get organized before the week starts since this week I start working my late nights and Saturdays at my mom's office, so I want everything to go slowly. I hope everyone else had a wonderful week and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
A killer calling himself Thanatos, the Greek God of death, has been sending e-mails to entertainment critic Carroll Quint, taunting him with clues about his next target from Alfred Hitchcock movies. The victims were all friends of Quint: a screenwriter, an actor, and a makeup artist. Since Quint is the one person connected to all three victims, the police have fingered him for the murders. Quints mother, a former starlet and movie trivia buff, points him in the right direction when she tells him, Thanatos is like one of the midgets in Casablanca, Carroll. Hes right there, you see him, but you dont take any notice.
The clues were few and far between and I would have liked to see the ties in to Hitchcock have more to do with the characters. I guess this book was a little bit more of a cozy than I would have liked. I think it was a fantastic idea and more could have been done with the idea. That being said, it was an enjoyable read and Mr. Kennealy has written some wonderful characters that surround the main character Carroll Quint. Carroll is also an enjoyable character and had some great one-liners. This book is the first in the series though I don't think I will be actively seeking out the series but if I happen to run across it, I will pick it up. I guess I just like my books a little bit more juicy.
Having gotten back from vacation, I am having a problem getting back into my routine. My anxiety and depression was so much better when I was on vacation and now it is rearing it's ugly head again. However, I am happy to be back in my own surroundings and have my stuff around including my baby Roxy. Right now I am reading All the Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison and so far, its going good. I am only about 50 pages in and haven't had much time to read today since I am getting the house and laundry in order. I need to get organized before the week starts since this week I start working my late nights and Saturdays at my mom's office, so I want everything to go slowly. I hope everyone else had a wonderful week and Happy Reading!
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