Musings of a Bookish Kitty: February 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015

February 2015 in Review

The weather has been: Much like last month, there have been sunny days and overcast and rainy days. In fact, we will be getting rain off and on the next few days. One of the trees in our yard has purple blooms all over the branches. The bees are having a field day. The rain has come in spurts today, luckily the big downpour waited until after Mouse's soccer class. We didn't spend much time at the park afterward though.

I am listening to: I am still listening to Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. I know, I know, what's taking me so long?! It's the same as always; hardly any time to listen. Those of you who have long commutes and can listen while you clean house or exercise are lucky. Because of the February holidays, I did have extra reading time, but instead of listening to an audio book, I decided I would rather use that time to read my e-books and print books.

I am watching: The Walking Dead came back this month. Oh, how I love that show! I am still watching Scandal. Is anyone else annoyed with the whole kidnapping story line too? I'm so glad it's over. I saw the finale of How to Get Away With Murder. I heard there were a couple versions of the end filmed to avoid spoilers getting out. Now I want to know what the alternate ending was. The Voice started again this week. I watched it for the first time last season and enjoyed it. It's one of the few shows I like to watch that I can watch in the presence of my daughter. I don't know why, but The Voice always leaves me feeling happy. I love how supportive the coaches are. So different from American Idol, which I haven't seen in years.

I am reading: February shaped into the month of fantasy, whether it be paranormal romance or urban fantasy, interspersed with a crime fiction novels. I finished reading Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop last night, the second in her Others series. This book has a bit more humor in it than the first in the series, Written in Red, which I had read just before it, but it is still very dark. It will be hard to top this series as my new favorite series this year, I think. I also started re-reading Jane Eyre this month, which I am reading alongside my husband. Sort of. He's ahead of me right now.

I am thinking/feeling: February always feels like it's only a couple weeks long, maybe in part because there are two holidays smack dab in the middle. Early in the month, I had my second post-op appointment and got a clean bill of health. The doctor did advise me to go easy on myself still and warned me against running any marathons (like that would happen). I do not have to go back for another year. I am feeling so much better physically than I was the beginning of January.

Work has been extremely busy, as it always is this time of year. If January and February are anything to go by, the last week of each month are going to be drama filled this year--and not in a good way. This week wasn't even close to being as bad as the last week of January though, and for that I am grateful.

The child this week: I cannot believe my little girl will be four in just over a week. It seems impossible. She's both ready and not. Some days she tells me she cannot wait to be a big girl and other days she cries because she does not want to get any older. She's starting to question her mortality, asking me about death, telling me she does not want to die and asking me to point out Heaven on a map. I think she finally understands what it means to die, at least in terms of not being able to see a person or animal again. I never expected to be asked such questions by her at such a young age, especially given the losses she often refers to happened last year--or in the case of her grandfather, 3 1/2 years ago). She gets very sad when she talks about Heaven and death. I do not know if any of the answers I give her are the right ones. It's so easy to make light of them, but she's so serious and that would not be fair.

On a lighter note, Mouse's teacher told me the other day that it is obvious Mouse is read to a lot at home because of how much she knows. I guess they were learning about sea life one week and Mouse was able to name the fish and whales before anyone else, even the teacher. I did not tell the teacher Mouse likely learned those names via Octonauts, a cartoon show, she watches on television.

Plans for March: In a week from now, Mouse will be celebrating her fourth birthday with her family and friends. It's not possible she is already four, is it? It seems like yesterday when I was taken to the hospital to give birth to her.

I haven't thought much farther than having a house full of family visiting next weekend and into the following week. I think once everyone is gone and I will breath a huge sigh of relief and need at least the rest of the month to recover. I'm an introvert through and through.

How did February turn out for you? Does anything in particular stand out?

What was your favorite February read?

February In Reading Mews:

At the beginning of February, I completed the Goodreads Reading Challenge!

Number of Books Completed in February: 8

Favorite Book of the Month: Written in Red by Anne Bishop (review pending)

Currently Reading:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Next Up:

Vision in Silver (Others, #3) by Anne Bishop

Reviews Posted:

Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall
Last Words by Rich Zahradnik
From the Archives:Joanna Brady Series by J.A. Jance
From the Archives: More J.A. Jance
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes

Posts of Interest This Week:

Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/03/2015) (Including Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read From the Mystery/Crime Fiction and Fantasy Genres)
Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/10/2015) (Including Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes to Romances in Books)
Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/17/2015) (Including Ten Book Related Problems I Have)
Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/24/2015) (Including Top Ten Books I'd Love to Read If I Had A Book Club)

© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Bookish Thoughts: Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes

In years to come, Flora would remember this as the day of Before and After. ~ Opening of Under a Silent Moon

Under a Silent Moon (DCI Louisa Smith #1) by Elizabeth Haynes

Sphere, 2013

Crime Fiction; 368 pgs

An excerpt from the Publisher:

Two women share one fate.

A suspected murder at an English Farm. A reported suicide at a local quarry.

Can DCI Louisa Smith and her team gather the evidence and discover a link between them, a link which sealed their fate one cold night, Under a Silent Moon?

A couple of years ago, I read and loved Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. It was an intense reading experience that left me checking the locks on my doors and windows more than I had before. Under a Silent Moon is a very different crime fiction novel. While the other had been more of a thriller, Under a Silent Moon is most definitely a police procedural.

Haynes was meticulous in her research and in detailing the investigation of the two deaths as it unfolded over six days time. As a result, I felt as if I was right in the middle of the investigation with the police, rushing to find the truth, waiting for resources and technology outside their control to become available and chasing each lead as it came in, hoping one or two would lead them in the right direction. The novel is told from multiple perspectives, giving the reader a good overview of the various parts of the investigation.

I always find it interesting to be in the middle of a police investigation, seeing how the pieces falling into place as well as the dynamics of those involved in the investigation. At the head of this investigation is DCI Louisa (Lou) Smith. It is her first time at the helm, and she wants to make a good impression. It isn't always easy for her. Her lead detective seems distracted and their history together only complicates matters.

As focused on the two deaths and their possible connection as the novel was, I admit to being concerned character development would suffer as a result. I should not have worried. The reader gets a good feel for many of the players in the book as the investigation unfolds, including the victims. And given this is just the first book in a series, I am sure the reader will get to know more about the various continuing characters in future books. I definitely want to know more about Lou and Jason Mercer, the analyst.

Many possible motives are raised throughout the book, some more likely than others. For the last third of the book, I was racing through to the end to see what the conclusion would be. While I was not surprised by the final outcome, I wanted--and needed--to know how everything would play out. In some ways this book is very similar to other police procedurals out there, but I really like Elizabeth Haynes' writing style and her characters, and I am looking forward to reading Behind Closed Doors, the next book in the series.

Rating:

(Very Good)

To learn more about Elizabeth Haynes and her books, please visit the author's website.

Source: I bought an e-copy version of this book for my own reading pleasure.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/24/2015)

Oh, how I love the rain! We got some rain this past weekend, a most welcome sight. My daughter was eager to try out the rain boots she had received for Christmas (she was not interested in testing them out earlier this year), and so, despite it being dark out, we let her explore our backyard in the rain, dressed in her boots and raincoat. The sky was overcast, but rain free enough for her soccer class on Saturday, which was a good thing given her best friend met her after for a visit to the library and park. The girls had a blast, playing on the swings and slides. Mouse's friend "read" to her on the couch at the library. It made for a fun weekend.

Then came the shoe shopping. I already do not like shoe shopping, but having to do it with my daughter is even more of a challenge. She hates new shoes. She gets very attached to her shoes, no matter how torn and small they may get. After announcing her dislike for every pair I showed her, threatening finally to buy her whichever pair I liked, she finally chose two--both the ones I initially said she might like. It would be so much easier to go shoe shopping without her, I know. It's hard to know though what size she wears when her feet are growing so fast. And I do like to include her when I can. Although, now that I think about it, I generally buy her clothes without asking her . . . Anyway, she has new shoes, and I tossed some of her old ones, although not her favorite pair. I'll let her keep them a little while longer.

On a completely different topic, I have been on a good reading streak as of late, my most recent endeavor being Anne Bishop's Written in Red, the first book in her Others series. Anne Bishop is one of those author's whose name I see, and I melt in anticipation. Written in Red is a dark urban fantasy novel set in an alternate world in which humans have migrated into areas belonging to the Others, supernatural beings with untold powers and abilities. The Others generally do not like the humans, viewing them as food, while the humans fear the Others, hoping they can live peacefully alongside them. In Written in Red, a young woman seeking to escape the compound she's been kept a prisoner in all her life, seeks refuge with the Others by taking a job as their human liaison. They have no idea who she is or what secrets she hides, not at first. The leader of the Others in that area takes a special interest in her. I devoured the 487 page book over the weekend (much to the chagrin of my daughter and husband--who I hope will forgive me) and will share the first paragraph with you below. I am now in a state of wondering what to read next but not quite being ready to jump into something else. I might just pick up the second in the series, Murder of Crows.

What have you been reading lately? Is it anything you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Here is the opening of the first chapter Written in Red by Anne Bishop, which I just finished reading:

Half blinded by the storm, she stumbled into the open area between two buildings. Hoping to hide from whomever was hunting for her as well as get some relief from the snow and wind, she followed an angled wall and ducked around the corner. Her socks and sneakers were soaked, her feet were so cold she couldn't feel them. She knew that wasn't good, wasn't safe, but she had taken the clothing available just as she had taken the opportunity to run.

I imagine if you are not a reader of dark fantasy and do not like shape-shifters and vampires, this book might not appeal to you, but if you do enjoy this type of fiction, I highly recommend this book.

Would you continue reading?

Katherine from I Wish I Lived in a Library tagged me for the Mustache You a Question meme (my husband is groaning as he reads the title, I'm sure). Thank you, Katherine! It was fun to do.

Four names people call me other than my real name:
Literary Feline
Mama (and all it's other variations)
Mouse's Mom
Wen

Four Jobs I've Had:
1. Receptionist
2. Circulation Desk Assistant/Supervisor
3. Recreational Leader
4. Social Worker

Four Movies I Have Watched More Than Once (too many times to count really):
1. While You Were Sleeping
2. Sleepless in Seattle
3. Ever After
4. Caillou's Holiday Movie (but only because I have to--I've probably see this one more than any other movie ever--and my daughter is only 3 1/2)

Four Books I'd Recommend:
1. The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli
2. The Last Policeman Trilogy (Yes, I'm cheating and counting three books as one because you have to read all three!)
3. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
4. Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

Four Places I've Been:
1. Niagara Falls (New York & Canada)
2. Kaneohe, Hawaii (lived there for three years)
3. Warren, Pennsylvania
4. Seattle, Washington

Four Places I'd Rather Be:
1. My comfy bed
2. London, England
3. Adelaide, Australia
4. Scotland

Four Things I Don't Eat:
1. Seafood
2. Hot Dogs
3. Beets
4. Sauerkraut

Four of my Favorite Foods (all bad for me):
1. Ice cream
2. Chocolate
3. Pasta
4. Pizza

Four TV Shows That I Watch:
1. Walking Dead
2. Scandal
3. The Voice
4. Blacklist

Four Things I'm Looking Forward to This Year (2015):
1. Maybe, hopefully, taking an actual vacation this year.
2. Getting in better shape.
3. Visiting the San Diego Zoo
4. Reading a lot of good books

Four Things I'm Always Saying:
1. "Do you think you should be doing that?"
2. "Do you need to use the restroom before we go?"
3. Come on, Honey, please try."
4. "Heavens!"

Four People I Tag:
Can I tag all of you? You should all do this meme.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

From the Archives: More J.A. Jance

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. The first half of 2006 seemed to be my time for series reading. I read quite a few books by J.A. Jance during that time. Here are some of my reviews from 2006:

Edge of Evil (1st in Ali Reynolds Series) by J.A. Jance
Avon Books, 2006

Crime Fiction; 374 pgs

J.A. Jance’s latest suspense novel takes readers into the life of TV journalist Alison Reynolds. Her life suddenly goes into a spiral downward when she loses her job, finds out her husband is cheating on her, loses her best friend in a suspicious death, and becomes the target of violent man because of posts on Ali’s blog. Alison’s run of bad luck doesn’t stop there. There was definitely plenty going on in Edge of Evil and the suspense level was high almost from page one. J.A. Jance again shows off her gift for being able to create likeable characters that immediately find a place in the reader’s heart—at least this reader’s heart. Edge of Evil was an entertaining thrill ride. I do think that J.A. Jance took on an awful lot of subjects in this book that may be overwhelming to some readers.

Hour of the Hunter (Walker Family, #1) by J.A. Jance
Avon Books, 1991
Crime Fiction; 407 pgs

Hour of the Hunter is an intense and engrossing suspense novel about a psychopath bent on revenge, targeting the woman who helped land him in prison for brutally murdering a young Native American woman. J.A. Jance uses Papago legends and flashbacks to help weave the characters and story together, bringing them to life. In some cases, having so many perspectives from many different characters could have been confusing, however, Ms. Jance successfully pulls it off.

Kiss of the Bees (Walker Family, #2) by Linda Fairstein
Avon Books, 1993

Crime Fiction; 454 pgs

Twenty-one years since that fateful day when Andrew Carlisle attempted to murder Diana Ladd, the Ladd-Walker clan are faced with a very similar darkness. Andrew Carlisle may be dead, but his protégé is determined to carry out Andrew’s revenge as well as a little of his own. In Kiss the Bees, I was especially drawn to the Papago legends once again. I liked how Ms. Jance brought the Anglo and Native American worlds together, focusing on their friendships as well as touching upon the prejudices.

Day of the Dead (Walker Family, #3) by Linda Fairstein
Avon Books, 2004

Crime Fiction; 395 pgs

Brandon Walker and his family and friends return in Day of the Dead. This time, he is working for a private organization that solves cold cases. When asked to solve the 30-year-old murder of a teenage girl, he realizes his case might not be an isolated event—nor has the murderer stopped. With the help of his sons’ stepbrother, detective Brian Fellows, Brandon Walker is determined to learn the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed Day of the Dead. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. It was intense and suspenseful at almost every turn. Again, Ms. Jance demonstrates her ability to create characters that touch the reader’s heart. Her books keep getting better and better.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Bookish Thoughts: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Ove is fifty-nine. ~ Opening of A Man Called Ove

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Atria Books, 2014
Fiction; 337 pgs

From the Publisher:

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon -- the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him "the bitter neighbor from hell." But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

Let me start off by saying how much I loved this book. Ove, for all his rigidness, judgmental ways, and crankiness, was impossible not to like once I got to know him. His strong work ethic and natural propensity to do the right thing stand out above all else. Through his reflections into his past, the reader gets a good sense of what led Ove to his current place in life, to make the choices he made, and to ultimately understand who exactly Ove was. My heart broke for Ove; and at times my heart soared for Ove. I came to really care about him. I couldn't help it.

Ove believes he has very little to look forward to as the book opens. He has suffered through so many losses, and it has weighed him down. He doesn't believe life is worth living anymore. Nothing is as it used to be. It's not a world he wants to understand or be a part of. When his new neighbors move in, Ove's orderly world is thrown into a tailspin.

I adored his neighbors, especially Parvaneh who saw behind the frowns and scowls on Ove's face. While the author does not go much into her back story, I couldn't help but get a good idea of the kind of person she is. She's someone I would want to get to know and spend afternoons chatting with. Maybe our girls could play together. I loved her daughters and the role they played in the story. Having a 3 year old of my own, I know the irresistibly factor they can have at that age.

Perhaps my most favorite character of the book is the cat. He reminded me a lot of Ove. Life was not easy for either one, but they proved to be a strong person/animal.

This book could have been overly sentimental as these books sometimes tend to be. It wasn't. It's a feel good book to be sure, but one that touches on the harsh realities of life as well as the necessity to move forward.

I gave a copy of this book to my mother-in-law for her birthday last August after reading a few positive book blogger reviews. I meant to read it too, but wasn't able to get to it. Now I know why she named it as her favorite read of 2014. I can just imagine how much the main character reminded her of her own father--at least from the stories I have heard. I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite reads of 2015. One I can see myself coming back to time and time again. And that's saying something given how rare it is I reread a book.

Rating:

(Outstanding)

Source: Many thanks to Kristen of BookNAround for sharing this book with me through our postal bookclub! I also received an e-copy from the publisher for an honest review.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/17/2015)

I am not sure what it was about this past weekend (probably because it was a long one--five days!), but I somehow managed to fit in three books after finishing Elizabeth Haynes Under a Silent Moon. It seemed like the perfect weekend for romance, and so I decided to give Vonnie Davis's paranormal romance A Highlander's Obsession and A Highlander's Passion a try. They are the first two books in what I believe is a trilogy about a set of Scottish shape-shifting brothers. Admittedly, I am not a huge fan of the men in kilts, but these were both entertaining books to read. I also fit in the popular thriller by S. J. Watson, Before I Go to Sleep, because Athira of Reading on a Rainy Day asked me if it was anything like another book I recommended she might want to try. I decided the best way to find out was to just read it. And so I did.

I am finally ready to settle in and re-read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, I think. But I also am reading a crime thriller called Shady Cross by James Hankins that I just couldn't resist.

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Here is a snippet from the opening of Shady Cross by James Hankins, a crime fiction novel about a small time crook who must make a choice: save an innocent life or keep the cash he's stolen.

"You just got out of jail? Seriously?"

Stokes heard nothing but curiosity in the guy's voice. No judgment no fear, just curiosity and maybe a slur from the alcohol.

"Didn't say I was in jail," Stokes said. He took a sip of Budweiser and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, the one that held a the bottle. "I said I was at the jail. They had me in for questioning. It was no big deal."

Would you continue reading?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This weeks' Top Ten Tuesday theme is Ten Book Related Problems I Have. This is one that proved to be a little harder then it sounded like at first sight.

1) I never have time to read. I say this ALL the time. A friend told me the other day she enjoys reading but never has time to read--and so maybe she reads one book a year if that. Puts things in perspective considering how many books I read this past year, doesn't it? Not as much as many bloggers I know, but still a decent number of books. More than a book a week, on average. So, when I complain that I never have time to read, what I really mean is that I don't have time to read as much as I would like.

2) I love print copies of books. I do. I remember when I was very firm about the fact I would never like reading e-books. You can't smell them, or turn actual pages. They're cold and soulless. *Sigh* Now I sometimes buy e-copies of print books I already own because it's more convenient for me to read the book on my e-reader.

3) I have three e-readers. And I also have a pretty decent collection of print books still.

4) I hate it when someone says to me, "I only read for pleasure." And I don't just because I read a book that was sad or *gulp* a classic?

5) Conversely, I don't appreciate comments such as, "I only read books with substance." Because that paranormal romance novel I just finished in which the heroine had to struggle with recovery after a domestic violence relationship and two miscarriages clearly isn't serious enough.

6) Constant interruptions are a given in a house with a young child. Why does it always have to be when I'm so close to the end of the book especially? (My husband is good at interrupting me at this point too--I think he does it on purpose though.)

7) When I am in between books, I must have the next book picked out by the time I start my lunch break or else I spend my entire lunch period trying to decide. What a waste of precious reading time!

8) I have a list of rules I go over with anyone I loan a book to for books I hope to get back. It's not long, but after a few bad experiences, it became a must. Even then though, I have had people break the rules. I have never loaned them another book as a result. (They likely have no idea they are on my bad borrower list though.)

9) I really need to use my library more. For me. I use it for my daughter, but not for me. Sad, I know.

10) I own too many books. As my enablers, I know you probably disagree with this one, but really, I do. I actually do not buy books like I once did, rarely buying print books anymore.

What about you? What are some of your book related problems?

Mouse's collection of books (sorry for the mess)

More of Mouse's collection of books (sorry again for the mess)

The shelf by my bedside (Notice the empty space? It's not so empty anymore.)

The Manga and Graphic Novel Collection

After a massive culling, this is what is left of the first part of my mass market paperback collection

The second part of my mass market paperback collection - double shelved to save room

(and some reference books)

My personal library shelves (empty space a result of the culling last fall--still empty, surprisingly)

More of my personal library shelves

(empty space a result of the culling last fall--still empty, surprisingly)

More of my personal library shelves

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Bookish Thoughts: Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

She sat at the piano, fingers still poised over the now-silent keys. ~ Opening of Miramont's Ghost

Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

Lake Union Publishing, 2015

Fiction (Historical); 334 pgs

From the Publisher:

Miramont Castle, built in 1897 and mysteriously abandoned three years later, is home to many secrets. Only one person knows the truth: Adrienne Beauvier, granddaughter of the Comte de Challembelles and cousin to the man who built the castle. Clairvoyant from the time she could talk, Adrienne's visions show her the secrets of those around her. When her visions begin to reveal dark mysteries of her own aristocratic French family, Adrienne is confronted by her formidable Aunt Marie, who is determined to keep the young woman silent at any cost. Marie wrenches Adrienne from her home in France and takes her to America, to Miramont Castle, where she keeps the girl isolated and imprisoned. Surrounded by eerie premonitions, Adrienne is locked in a life-or-death struggle to learn the truth and escape her torment. Reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, this hauntingly atmospheric tale is inspired by historical research into the real-life Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

The prologue opens with our dear Adrienne looking back in time, remembering her life, how happy she once was and then at the terrible turn her life took. It is a strong opening, one that drew me in immediately. Next the reader is running in the fields in France with a young Adrienne who is happy and carefree. Life was indeed good for the young girl at that time. Her grandfather was her world and his love made everything all right. At four, Adrienne did not understand the fear her clairvoyance struck in others. She did not fully understand what her visions were or what they meant. It was a gift she inherited from her grandmother, or was it really more of a curse?

I hesitated in including the book blurb for a couple of reasons. The main one being that a good portion of it does not take place until the last third of the book. Much of the book is of Adrienne's life in France, in the mansion she was raised in. The reader sees her grow up and how she changes as she learns the dangers of her visions, warned by her grandfather to keep them to herself. There's a subtle building of tension with each turn of the page between Adrienne and her Aunt Marie who clearly sees Adrienne as a threat. Adrienne is not sure why--not until much later.

Adrienne had so little guidance as a child in terms of her visions. She had a supportive nanny who listened to her, but really didn't understand herself. Adrienne's grandfather tried to protect her by not talking directly to her about the risks of talking about her visions. Adrienne's mother was too lost in her own drama--and a little afraid of her daughter--that she was not really much in the way of a mother to Adrienne at all. It was hard not to like Adrienne, in all her innocence and with her kind heart.

When the events unfold with her aunt and cousin in the later half of the book, as we learn their secrets and truths that had been buried, the novel takes a very dark turn. The reader and Adrienne are taken to Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs, Colorado, a beautiful place, much like the part of France in which Adrienne grew up. Adrienne's cousin is a Catholic Priest there, having before served in Santa Fe among Native Americans who were less than thrilled with the Church's encroachment on their lives and beliefs.

I especially enjoyed the historical aspects of the novel, from the conversations between the characters about life in America to the history of Miramont Castle and its occupants. Aunt Marie and her son see the world through late 1890's European eyes, a time when Native Americans were viewed by many as "savages" and efforts were being made to "civilize" them. Every time Aunt Marie would open her mouth just about, I would cringe. She was a rather despicable woman. Even taking in her past, I never grew to like her or even sympathize with her. The story of Miramont Castle is both a sad and dark one. Elizabeth Hall weaves fiction with that history in such a way you believe it could have perhaps happened that way. I won't say more for fear of spoiling the story. I was also very curious about that time period in France, the role women played in society and the social and economic issues of the day.

I have not read Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and so cannot speak as to any comparison. I do know I want to read Rebecca even more now. I love a Gothic novel. Admittedly, I was not as enamored by Miramont's Ghost as I hoped to be. It is hard to put my finger on exactly why. I wanted more. More character depth, more build up earlier on in the book in terms of tension and what was to come. Subtle is necessary in books like this, but I felt there was too much subtlety. It made what came later, some aspects of the story at least, seem too abrupt.

While I did not fall in love with Elizabeth Hall's Miramont's Ghost the way I hoped I would, I did enjoy reading the novel overall. I was intrigued by Adrienne's plight and frightened for her at the same time. Miramont's Ghost is a compelling read, both disturbing and rich in history, and definitely thought provoking.

Rating:

(Good)

I hope you will check out what others had to say about Miramont's Ghost on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. E-Copy of the book provided by the publisher.

© 2014, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Monday, February 09, 2015

Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/10/2015)

What a lovely weekend we had! Mouse's soccer lessons started up again and this time one of her friends from school is in her class. It was a nice surprise for both girls. The other little girl is several months younger than Mouse and this is her first time playing soccer. It made my heart proud to see Mouse take the lead with her friend at times to keep her friend on task.

We spent Sunday decorating hearts and putting them on our ~~Christmas~~ Valentine tree. I think it turned out pretty well, don't you? It was a fun family project. I am not sure yet how I feel about having the tree up much longer, but Mouse wants it up for her birthday next month, so we'll see.

I finished reading Elizabeth Hall's Miramont's Ghost this past week and am now reading Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes. Under a Silent Moon is quite different from Into the Darkest Corner by the same author, which I read and loved a couple years ago. Under a Silent Moon is the first in the author's Briarstone Major Crime series, and it is written more in the fashion of your typical police procedural. I am enjoying it so far.

My husband began reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte recently. I think he got tired of waiting for me (we're supposed to read it together). I will likely be starting it soon to try to catch up. It is his first time reading Jane Eyre and it will be my third. I am nervous about him reading it as it is one of my all time favorite books.

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Here is the opening of Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes, the book I currently am reading:

(The novel actually opens with a dispatch log entry, which I am skipping over in favor of sharing the actual story narrative.)
.
10:52

In years to come, Flora would remember this as the day of Before and After.

Before, she had been working on the canvas that had troubled her for nearly three months. She had reworked it so many times, had stared at it, loved it and hated it, often at the same time. On that Thursday it had gone well. The blue was right, finally, and while she had the sun slanting in even strips from the skylight overhead, she traced the lines with her brush delicately as though she were touching the softest human skin and not canvas.

An excerpt from the Publisher:

Two women share one fate.

A suspected murder at an English Farm. A reported suicide at a local quarry.

Can DCI Louisa Smith and her team gather the evidence and discover a link between them, a link which sealed their fate one cold night, Under a Silent Moon?

Would you continue reading?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This weeks' Top Ten Tuesday theme is Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes to Romances in Books.

Maybe you don't read romance novels or maybe you do. I know a lot of people I know are very adamant that they don't. Five years ago, that would have been me. At least not books labeled as "romance novels." It is hard to completely avoid books with even a little romance in them if you are an avid reader, so I imagine you have some thoughts on what you like and dislike about romance in a book just the same.

Like with every type of book, every reader has different likes and dislikes. Just because something may annoy me about a character or story line, doesn't mean others feel the same. These are just my personal feelings about romance in books, whether it's a romance novel or a book with romance as a side story:

1. I recently re-discovered an interest in reading actual romance novels where romance is the main focus of the plot. Admittedly, I still have a preference for books in which it isn't the only story. I read and enjoy those too occasionally, don't get me wrong. But put a romantic suspense novel or a paranormal-mystery type romance in front of me, and I am more likely to pick those up over the straight forward romance any day. Crossover genre books rule!

2. I want actual romance. Not just sex.

3. I am not a fan of what's commonly referred to as insta-love. A story in which love happens gradually or blooms out of friendship is easier for me to buy into. Insta-love, in my mind, would be more aptly named insta-lust. Which leads me to . . .

4. I do not especially like it when characters jump into bed together in the first chapter. Or even the second and third. I have read and enjoyed romance novels that begin this way, but more often than not, I end up rolling my eyes and it doesn't leave me with a good first impression of the characters.

5. Communication. I get that mis-communication and secrets are often key in creating necessary conflict between characters, not to mention in building tension. But there is such a thing as too much of that. All I ask for is balance. I know when a couple has just met and aren't sure they trust each other, they might not want to share everything--I get that. It's when they are in the actual relationship and hide things from each other than clearly should be shared that I get annoyed.

6-7. I have very limited experience with gay and lesbian relationships in romance situations, and so will focus on the male/female romance threads in books I have read. Notice the overlap? I could have probably made one list.

Male love interests - I prefer that he isn't arrogant/conceited, seducing every woman in the tri-state area, and doesn't have stereotypical ideas about women. I like a man who can see a woman as an equal, supporting her right to make her own choices and who is willing to stand up for her and with her. Being a good listener and honest and open are also musts. I like to see vulnerability in the character. It opens up a character for growth, I think, and makes him seem more real.

Female love interests - I like a heroine who is independent, resourceful, and doesn't always need a man to rescue her. She can be sassy or more down to earth or in between. Any of these doesn't bother me. I like it when the heroine is supportive of her love interest, and asks questions and doesn't jump to conclusions. Honesty and being a good listener are desirable here too. Flaws are also good here; having a vulnerable side is important, I think, for the same reasons listed above.

8. I am not a fan of infidelity or cheating in books. As a back story where the hero or heroine has been cheated on is one thing. The subject of infidelity has popped up in my regular fiction reading on occasion. I tend to run the other direction when I hear a book is about infidelity. That said, I have read a few books that deal with the topic that have been very good.

9. I do like a happy ending now and then--there's something refreshing about it, especially when I'm having a difficult day or week.

10.. In novels in which romance is a side story, it doesn't always work out--and I'm perfectly okay with that too. Relationships can be messy.

What do you like or dislike about romances in the books you read?

Sunday, February 08, 2015

From the Archives: Joanna Brady Series by J.A. Jance

Dead to Rights (Joanna Brady, #4) by J.A. Jance

Avon Books, 1996

Crime Fiction; 374 pgs

When the town veterinarian is murdered, Sheriff Joanna Brady is determined to find out who did it. The obvious suspect is a man whose wife was killed in a DUI accident that had occurred several years before. Bucky, the veterinarian, had been the one driving the vehicle that hit Hal’s wife. Joanna is still mourning the death of her husband and struggling to raise her daughter. She is a likeable character with grit and a vulnerability that draws the reader right to her. I found Dead to Rights an enjoyable read, but I’ve read better. I still prefer Ms. Jance’s J.P. Beaumont series.

Skeleton Canyon (Joanna Brady, #5) by J.A. Jance

Avon Books, 1997

Crime Fiction; 371 pgs

Sheriff Joanna Brady has her hands full when the daughter of a wealthy resident of Cochise County is murdered. As the investigation unfolds, she uncovers truths that have been kept hidden: forbidden love, murder, racism, and smuggling. Skeleton Canyon was a fast paced mystery novel that I didn’t want to put down. Sheriff Brady continues to define her position as sheriff both for herself and her constituents. She definitely doesn’t fit the typical image of a sheriff.

Rattlesnake Crossing (Joanna Brady, #6) by J.A. Jance

Avon Books, 1998

Crime Fiction; 374 pgs

The Sheriff Joanna Brady series just keeps getting better! Rattlesnake Crossing is suspenseful and at times intense. J.A. Jance has a way of bringing the setting to life as well as her characters who are always a joy to spend time with. This time Sheriff Brady has a serial killer on her hands and she must find out who the killer is and stop this person before anyone else dies. On the personal stage, Joanna’s best friend’s daughter is undergoing an organ transplant and the situation between Joanna and her friend Butch heat up.

Outlaw Mountain (Joanna Brady, #7) by J.A. Jance

Avon Books,1999

Crime Fiction; 360 pgs

J.A. Jance’s character, Sheriff Joanna Brady, can’t seem to get a break. She constantly has to put her personal life on hold while she fights crime. In Outlaw Mountain, Sheriff Brady must contend with a conflict between a land developer and environmental protests that isn’t quite what it seems on the surface. She and her investigators are also trying to uncover the killer of an elderly woman whose children would benefit from her death and a younger boyfriend who takes off as soon as he learns about her death. And then there is the developmentally disabled man Joanna and friends take in during their search for his family who appear to have abandoned him. Although I enjoyed Outlaw Mountain, I came away from the book feeling a little disappointed in the wrap up of the various story lines. J.A. Jance did a good job of conveying just how hectic life is for Sheriff Brady, and it almost feels as if her character is headed for a breakdown—or at least a bit of a fall-- if she keeps up at the pace she is going. I am curious to know how that will play out in future books in the future.

Devil’s Claw (Joanna Brady, #8) by J.A. Jance

Avon Books, 2000

Crime Fiction; 388 pgs

With her wedding a week away, a missing teenager, the murder of the teenager’s mother, a diskette that could hold the answers to the murder as well as the murder of the girl’s father years before, and a bereaved daughter who targets Joanna with her wrath, Sheriff Joanna Brady has her hands full yet again in the mystery novel, Devil’s Claw. J.A. Jance’s mysteries are always good for a quick read, although I had so much else going on this past week that I hardly had a chance to sit down and read—at least not as much as I wanted to. J.A. Jance continues to write about characters that are hard not to like. Joanna has a big heart and it comes through in every page.

Paradise Lost (Joanna Brady, #9) by J.A. Jance

Avon Books, 2001

Crime Fiction; 256 pgs

In another quick paced mystery, J.A. Jance does it again. Her cast of characters warms the heart and brings the novel to life. I enjoyed traveling around Cochise County with Sheriff Joanna Brady as she tries to uncover the identity of one and maybe two vicious murderers. The first victim is a woman who is brutally raped and murdered. Her husband is at the top of the suspect list because he seems to have disappeared with all of her money. The second victim is a pregnant thirteen-year-old girl whose death touches close to home for Joanna, her mother and her daughter, Jenny in more ways than one.

Exit Wounds (Joanna Brady, #11) by J.A. Jance

Avon Books. 2003

Crime Fiction; 390 pgs

Exit Wounds is the 11th book in the Sheriff Joanna Brady series set in Cochise County, Arizona. Sheriff Brady not only is knee deep in a murder investigation but she also has to play the game of politics as the next election approaches. Exit Wounds was by far the best book in the Sheriff Joanna Brady series that I’ve read to date. The author’s portrayal of the stress and time pressures that Joanna face jumps out of the pages and feels so real. I have no doubt that no matter how bad things may appear in the moment, Joanna will win out in the end because her good heart and hard work will shine above all else.

Thursday, February 05, 2015

Bookish Thoughts: Last Words by Rich Zahradnik

The dead sitting on his desk could wait. ~ Opening from Last Words

Last Words (Coleridge Taylor Series, #1) by Rich Zahradnik
Camel Press, 2014
Crime Fiction; 248 pgs

The publisher blurb begins, "In March of 1975, as New York City hurtles toward bankruptcy and the Bronx burns, newsman Coleridge Taylor roams police precincts and ERs." Taylor is down on his luck. Once the top reporter on the police beat in New York City, he now works obituaries. He doesn't belong behind desk, and so he spends his time visiting the hospitals and police stations, hoping to catch a story that will get his name in the headlines again. A side and overarching story which will likely flow into the next novel is the reason Taylor ends up sitting at the obits desk. He is determined to clear his name and gain back his reputation.

When a body is brought into Bellevue, Taylor immediately knows something is off. The young man, although dressed in homeless garb, is a little too clean to have been living on the streets. Sensing a story, he begins to follow whatever thread he can to find out the truth. Who was the victim? Who killed him? And why? With the help of fellow reporter Laura Wheeler, Taylor follows a trail that leads him deep into the homeless community and into the heart of the wealthy where he finds corruption and betrayal.

I suspected I would like Last Words when I first agreed to review it, but I didn't realize just how much. Author Rich Zahradnik has created richly drawn characters, both the major ones and the minor ones. Taylor may seem ambitious, and I suppose he even believes he is only out to get the story to save his reputation, but he clearly has a good heart. He believes in the truth and going out of his way to bring justice where it is needed. The reader also sees a more personal side to Taylor, his careful control of his drinking, his memories of his brother who was lost to the Vietnam War, and living in a trailer outside his own house. He's definitely got issues, and that makes him all the more interesting of a character.

I am quite fond of Laura Wheeler, another reporter, who, unfortunately, because of the time period, isn't being taken as seriously as her skills and intelligence deserve. She is very capable, however, and part of me hopes she shows up that patriarchy that holds women back in future novels in the series. Yes, I know she's not the main character in the series. But one can hope.

One of the aspects I loved most about this novel was the sense of time and place. I felt transported back to 1975, right to the streets that time period. The political, economic and social climate of the era feels palatable. I saw parallels between now and then, particularly for the newspaper business. In 1975, newspapers were suffering because of the popularity of television, forced out of business and merging to survive. Today it is the internet.

Last Words was an enjoyable mystery, atmospheric and suspenseful. This is one of those books I hope gets lots of attention. It deserves it.

Rating:

(Very Good)

To learn more about Rich Zahradnik, and his work, please visit the author's website.

Source: I received a print copy of this book from the publicist with Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. for an honest review.