Sunday Post: A Jump Start on Spring

New to My Shelves: The March  My Lit Box came my way this month. It's always a treat to find my subscription box in the mail. This box included a copy of Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give, which has been getting good reviews. The subject matter is very relevant to today.

What I Am Reading: I stayed up Friday night finishing The Book Club Murders by Leslie Nagel. Those of you voted for it as my March read, have good taste! I am in the middle of Allen Esken's The Life We Bury, which is also very good. I am not reading as much as I had hoped this month, but then, I kind of expected that. I went five days without cracking open a book--not even on my e-reader. How terrible is that?! When I finally did find time to read after that long absence away, I felt such joy and peace when I settled into my book.

What I Am Watching: We went to see the new Beauty and the Beast this weekend after Mouse's soccer class. Oh my gosh, what fun! We all enjoyed it very much. 

What's Going On Off the Blog: While some of you have been buried under more snow, spring has definitely decided to push winter aside early here. The weather has been beautiful. Most days we open our windows now. It did reach over 90 one day this past week, but we decided against starting up the air conditioner just yet. We are expecting more rain this coming week.

One of the trees in my yard

Mouse had a blast at her birthday party last weekend. We hosted it at a local pizza/game restaurant, and it was worth every penny. We had family in from out of town to celebrate as well. Things are just now getting back to normal.

Making birthday cupcakes for her class

 Mouse's family birthday cake

Since we last "talked" there was a Girl Scout meeting, soccer classes, homework, mailing my postcards on the 15th, work meetings, and all the other usual activities. Mouse brought her report card home this past week. Parker isn't feeling too well as of late, and a visit to the veterinarian may be in order soon. That's really about all the news I have right now.

Tell me about what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this coming week?

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Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do you read a lot of diverse or own voices books? Why or why not?

While I enjoy reading books in which I share a similar world view or lifestyle, I also really like to read books featuring diversity or by diverse authors. I love stepping outside my own reality and lifestyle through books and seeing the world a bit differently than what I'm used  to. I confess I do not read as many books of diversity as I would like to, but I am making an effort to do so. It is one of the reasons I subscribe to the  My Lit Box, which focuses on promoting authors of color. I do not have a good excuse for not reading more diversely than I do, other than perhaps the sheer volume of books out there I want to read, many of which don't fall into the diverse category. And frankly, the genres I gravitate most toward could use more diversity. It's there if you look, but not always easy to find.

For a number of years, particularly before I began blogging, it was something I never thought about at all. It wasn't until I started more closely tracking my reading that I began paying more attention to diversity in my reading. I think reading outside one's own "voice" or experience is important, especially in this day and age. Gaining insight and learning about other ways of life, cultures, beliefs, traditions, and ideas only benefits us. Reading diversely challenges me to think differently and more compassionately. Diversity in books empower and normalize those who may feel forgotten, invisible or marginalized by providing voices that are sorely lacking in the majority of mainstream literature. And, most importantly, reading diversely isn't just about acknowledging and celebrating differences, but also in recognizing how alike we are deep down inside. We are all humans, after all. Diversity in books is a good thing, and I am glad to see more of a movement out there to bring diversity in books to the forefront.

What about you? Do you read a lot of diverse books?

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Every Sunday, Kendra Allen of Reads and Treats comes up with a theme for a Sunday list  of 5 things (because making lists are fun!) and asks participants to share.


Today's 5 Things on Sunday theme is my favorite songs. Always a tough one because my favorites are always changing. I'm going to go with the current top five songs on my playlist. At least for this week.

1. Demons by Imagine Dragons

2. Anyway by Martina McBride

3. Hello by Adele

4. Piece by Piece by Kelly Clarkson

5. Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys

What songs are you listening to a lot these days?

I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. 

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© 2017, 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.

Merely Mystery Reading Challenge 2012 January Reviews

If you haven't already, please sign up for the Merely Mystery Challenge here!

One of my favorite parts of challenges is supporting and cheering on my fellow participants--not to mention all the great new-to-me book recommendations I come across! Please leave direct links to your January review posts for qualifying reviews for the challenge here. Participants without blogs can post reviews on general review sites such as LibraryThing, Goodreads or Shelfari. And if you have the time, stop by and check out some of your fellow participants reviews as well! I am sure they would love to hear from you!


Please include your name or blog name along with the title of the book you reviewed as well as a direct link to your review post (not just a general link to your blog). Thank you!

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© 2012, 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.

Scatterbrained Saturday: New Books, Fill Ins, Another Challenge

For this week's Mailbox Monday on Saturday, I have two books to report:

Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town by Warren St. John

The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee


The books that came in through the front door via the bookstore:

Tangled Webs by Anne Bishop

As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins

The Death of Ivan Ilych and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy

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1. Surprising my husband with pizza a couple of nights ago was my last random act of kindness. For those who do not know, my husband is the cook in the family so my supplying dinner is very out of the ordinary.

2. Another place and another time in my life, I might have felt differently about the book.

3. Do not rely on your horoscope in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, caffeinated tea and soda are on my list of no-no's.

5. We walk together on this journey through life, though we may take separate paths.

6. Our recent discussion about books reminds me that there is a particular book I have been meaning to read.

7. And as for the weekend, Saturday my plans include sleeping in (which I did even if being woken up several times by each of the animals as they took turns trying to drag me out of bed), finishing reading Watchmen, and putting the final touches on The Woman in White review; and Sunday, I want to spend a lazy day at home, catching up on TV shows from the week before, reading, and playing with the animals!

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Host: Trish
Goal: Option 1: Classics Snack - Read 4 (four) classics. Bonus option is available: to read 1 (one) modern classic. Lists are not set in stone and can be changed at anytime.
Time Frame: April 1, 2009 to October 31, 2009

Book Choices:

1 – 4 To Be Announced

I will most likely read something by Jane Austen in my continuing effort to read all of the books she has written. I am not quite yet settled on what else to try. It's a shame I wasn't able to draw out The Woman in White a little longer, but there are plenty of other classics out there I am looking forward to reading.

Do you have a favorite classic? What would you recommend?

Support Group For Reading Challenge Obsessed Individuals

I decided to sign up for one more challenge this month. It is only a challenge in name. It really is more of a support group for people who struggle with challenges, either by being slackers, or, well, addicts.

Challenge participants may join one of two categories:

The Slackers
(Aka "I will finish the Canadian Reading Challenge, I swear.")

Join The Slackers if there are a couple particular challenges you are having trouble completing or you know you'll have trouble completing due to your track record. (Only count ongoing challenges that have deadlines of more than 3 months away, you are waaaaaay behind and you are particularly lazy. There's no shame in admitting it.)

The 12 Steppers
(Aka "I can stop whenever I want.")

There's a challenge. You see it. Your palms start to sweat. Mr Linky mocks you. You try to stop yourself but it's too late. You've committed yourself to Books That Start With Q Challenge and you know you'll do it again when the next challenge comes along. The only thing is, how are you ever going to complete them all? Sound like you? Then you are a 12 Stepper. No program is going to help you though; you're addicted.

Join The 12 Steppers if you've signed up for more reading challenges than you can handle.

Host: Chris from Book-a-rama
Goal: To work toward successful completion of challenges for which one signed up and to provide monthly progress reports. Offer support and encouragement to other 12 Steppers and Slackers.
Deadline: January 1, 2009 to July 1, 2009

I am not really addicted, and I can stop whenever I want to. Really. I just choose not to. Not yet anyway. I guess that makes me a 12 Stepper, doesn't it? At least I am in good company.

2009 Challenges I am participating in currently:
1st in a Series Challenge
2nds Challenge
ARC Challenge
Buy One Book and Read It Challenge
Chunkster Challenge 2009
New Authors Challenge
TBR Challenge
Themed Challenge
Pub Challenge
War Through the Generations: WWII Challenge
What's In a Name? Challenge

1st in the Series Wrap Up

What was the goal of the 1st in the Series Challenge 2008? How did you do?

The goal for this particular challenge was to read 12 books that were the first in a series. I took several liberties with this challenge to make it look like I completed it successfully. At least for my piece of mind. Whether anyone else counts it as a success is another matter entirely.

I managed to read one book from my original list. That being Murder on a Girls' Night Out by Anne George. This year was just not a challenge year for me. I started the year with good intentions, but, well, my reading took off in another direction and the reading challenges suffered for it as a result. I am not sad about that and neither should you be on my behalf.

And yet, here I am, summing up a challenge I bent all the rules to just to make it look like I finished it. Go figure.

All of the books I read for this challenge are first in a series, save for one. I am counting Sun and Shadow as a first, however, because it is the first in the series to be published in English in the U.S.A. The true first in the Erik Winter series has yet to be translated into a language I can actually read, and therefore, does not count as the first book in the series at this point in time. At least by my rules.

I also played loosely with the term "series". All of the books I read for the challenge are in fact, by my definition, first in a series. It's just that in many cases, the second book has yet to be published. I suppose you could argue that a 1st in a series can only be a part of a series if there are books that come after it already available. I chose to ignore that technicality and took the authors at their word that there would be later books in the series to follow.

In one case (The House on Tradd Street), I am not really sure the book counts as a first in a series per say. It is the first of two at least.

So, did I really complete this challenge? Probably not. And if there were prizes being offered (which as far as I know there are not), I would definitely not count myself among those qualified to win any. Still, it's fun to say I did finish this one for the sake of this summary. And for my ego.


What books did you read for the challenge?

• Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake


• Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson


• Baby Shark by Robert Fate


• Murder on a Girls' Night Out by Anne George


• Moonlight Downs by Adrian Hyland


• The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson


• Twilight by Stephanie Meyer


• Say Goodbye by E.J. Rand


• Farworld, Book 1: Water Keep by J Scott Savage


• The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller


• Murder Takes the Cake by Gayle Trent


• The House on Tradd Street by Karen White

What was the best book you read for this challenge? Your least favorite?

I enjoyed each of the books I read for this challenge and would be hard pressed to name one I did not like. Craig Johnson's Sheriff Longmire Series is by far my favorite new find of the year. Cold Dish was the starting point of what has become a fruitful relationship.

Did you try any new-to-you authors? Will you seek out other books by these authors?

Every author for this challenge was new-to-me. I definitely am looking forward to continuing on with the many series I began reading for this challenge. Fortunately for me, a few of the authors have books in the series I have yet to read available already, including Åke Edwardson, Robert Fate, Anne George, Craig Johnson, Stephanie Meyer and EJ Rand.

Many thanks to Joy for hosting the 1st in the Series Challenge this year. I apologize for taking such liberties with your wonderful challenge and will try to do better at sticking to the actual rules in future challenges.

Review: Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson

First Sentence: It had started raining.


Sun and Shadow by Åke Edwardson
Translated by Laurie Thompson
Penguin, 2005 (Originally published in 1995)
Crime Fiction (MYS); 392 pgs



With the new millennium approaching and preparations being made to ensure the year 2000 rolls in without too many hitches, the Gothenburg police have their hands full. For many, it is business as usual, but for others, the weight of the job has become burdensome. A gruesome double homicide will take all of their attention as they try and track down the elusive killer. The investigation takes the police into the underground world of black metal and unconventional sex, eventually leading them in a direction none of them want to go.

Erik Winter, the youngest Detective Chief Inspector at the age of 39, is at the helm of the investigation. He is conscientious and intelligent, doing his best not to miss anything that might lead them to the murderer. As the investigation unfolds and paints a dark picture of a struggle between good and evil, Erik's personal life also demands his attention. His girlfriend has just moved in, they are expecting a child, and those prank calls that once he so easily dismissed are becoming more troublesome.

The novel jumps from character to character, offering a broad perspective of the lives of the characters and the ongoing investigation. This includes a look into the mind of the killer. There are several minor stories at play amongst the bigger plot line. The main story takes a while to build as the foundation is laid and readers are introduced to a host of characters, many of whom will prove to be an integral part in the events that unfold. The slow set up is perhaps the novel's weakest feature, and yet it works just the same.

Sun and Shadow is a character driven crime fiction novel. Author Åke Edwardson gets into the psyche of his characters offering a close look at each of them and their motivations. What readers see at first glance is not necessarily the same impression that will be held by the end of the book. For many of the law enforcement officers, the job has taken a toll on their lives. What they see and experience touches them, sometimes haunts them. That extends beyond just the authorities. It holds true for other characters in the novel as well: the vicar and her daughter, the abused boy, and the doctor who feels like she doesn't have enough time to offer her patients. The killer could be just about anyone, and the author keeps the reader guessing for most of the book.

The streets of Sweden have a personality all their own as do the streets of Marbella, Spain, where Erik Winter spends a short time, visiting his ailing father. People go about their business, moving in and out of the shadows, carrying their burdens with them. The grayish skies, rain and white snow are fitting backdrops to such a dark tale.

Sun and Shadow is the third book in the Erik Winter Series, but the first translated into English for American publication. The Swedish setting could not be more appropriate; the characters are well developed and the story itself is compelling. Åke Edwardson is an author to watch for. Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Wendy Runyon, 2008.

Rating: (Very Good)

Review: Baby Shark by Robert Fate

First Paragraph: The rumble of the machines stopped everything cold. No one spoke, but everyone knew what was next.


Baby Shark by Robert Fate
Capital Crime Press, 2006
Crime Fiction (S/T); 270 pgs


My recent crime spree has taken me from Laos to Sweden and landed me in Texas, the setting for Robert Fate’s novel Baby Shark. Kristin Van Dijk is only seventeen when her father is murdered before her very eyes. She is left for dead after being sexually assaulted and beaten.

Although he lost his own son to the murderous biker gang, Henry Chin, owner of the pool hall where the crime went down, comes to Kristin’s rescue, pulling her out of the burning building and saving her life. Together, Kristin and Henry are determined to go after the men responsible for the deaths of their loved ones and for hurting Kristin. The police do not seem to care and someone has to pay the price of justice.

Baby Shark is set in Texas during the early 1950’s, a time before DNA testing, cell phones and computers. Women and minorities had their place in society and rarely stepped outside of that. Kristin broke the mold when she picked up the pool cue, following in her father’s footsteps, and trained to be a killer. She had been victimized once and instead of turning inward, she decided to face her fear and act out against it.

Kristin is both intelligent and quick on her feet. She has a hard outer shell, having built up her defenses to protect herself as best as she can. She can kill without remorse. And yet, she still holds onto her humanity. One of my favorite moments in the book is when she asks about the welfare of the dogs, knowing the owner will not be able to see to them anymore.

Robert Fate brings together an unlikely cast of characters. There is Henry Chin, the cabinet maker, who takes Kristin in and helps guide her down her new life path; Sarge, a World War II veteran, who teaches both Kristin and Henry how to fight; Albert, the one legged Korean War veteran who has a weakness for booze and whose knowledge in guns comes in handy; Harlan, a con man and pool hustler who mentors Kristin in the game of pool, shaping her into Baby Shark, a force to be reckoned with at the pool table; and Otis Millett, the former police officer now private investigator, who Henry hires to find the men behind the attack at the pool hall on that fateful night. Each of these men plays an important part in Kristin’s life as she transitions over from child to woman.

The novel is even more salient, coming from Kristin’s point of view. Robert Fate’s writing style is straight forward, and the story he has created is captivating. There was a split second near the beginning of the novel when I wondered if Baby Shark was for me, but that thought died a quick death the more I read. Baby Shark is one of those stories that grips hold of the reader and plays on the emotions. It is easy to understand why Kristin and Henry seek a justice of their own variety—and I cheered for them all along the way.

As an aside, I commented to my husband a couple of times as I was reading the novel how I could see this book being made into a movie, and so I was quite pleased when author Robert Fate mentioned at the book signing this past Saturday that it will in fact become a movie. I look forward to seeing it!

Rating: (Very Good)


Check out Robert Fate's website to learn more about the author and his books.


“I read everything. My dad started that habit. I cherish books and reading because of him. There were times when I was with him that we would drive to somewhere pretty in the morning and just read our books until it was dark. And we would consider that a day well spent.” [pg 129]

Review: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (Book & Movie)

I'd never given much thought to how I would die - though I'd had reason enough in the last few months -but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this. [pg 1]


Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Little, Brown. 2005
Fantasy (YA); 498 pgs


From Publisher:

Deeply sensuous and extraordinarily suspenseful, TWILIGHT captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite. Isabella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife-between desire and danger.

For months now, my Harry-Potter-fanatic coworker has demanded I read Twilight. With the movie released this past month, she was threatening to never speak to me again. I couldn't help but to ask her if that would be such a bad thing. She was not amused. Well, maybe a little. She actually did try to ignore me the day she made that statement, but she eventually gave in. She's a talker and I'm too good of a listener.

I've had a copy of Twilight for awhile now--least you think it was all her influence and none of my own that made me curious to read this particular book. I was no doubt going to read it. I do like vampire fiction, after all. It was the when that was up in the air.

I began reading a stray copy of Twilight that was laying around the office one day a couple of weeks ago because the book I was reading proved not to be a book I should be reading while in such a public place as work. It was dredging up too many dark memories from my past, and I decided something lighter and less emotional was in order. Since I had planned to read Twilight next anyway, it seemed the most obvious choice. I did not expect it to suck me in so completely. I think all the negative reviews I had been reading lately had me skeptical that I would like the novel.

Because I cannot read while I am actually working, I read during my half hour lunch break and even took an afternoon break, something I never do, to continue. Since I had a copy of the book at home, I memorized the page number I left off on (page 80) before leaving the office and resumed reading my own book at home that evening. A few hours later, I had read all 498 pages.

Stephanie Meyer's Twilight swept me out of my world and straight into the one of her creation without any hesitation. I had not expected to be quite so blown away with the book, but there I was, totally immersed in Bella and Edward's story. I can understand why so many people loved this novel, this series. The author captured the essence of a teenager quite well with Bella and actually with Edward too even if technically he is not the age he pretends to be. They are both rather moody and curious. Their emotions are more intense and their feelings for each other border on obsession. I was drawn to both Bella and Edward. I thought Jacob was adorable; he reminded me more of a little brother than anything else.

That said, I also understand some of the minor complaints about the novel. Stephanie Meyer is an amazing story teller, but I wondered a couple of times if all the details and repetitive descriptions were necessary. That did not slow me down though or take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel, however.

A part of me was motivated to read the book when I did so that I would be ready for the movie when it came out. I actually had not intended to see it opening weekend, but my coworker, who tried to convince me to come with her to the midnight release, at least got my promise to try and see it before we met up again at work the following Monday. She hates having to keep her thoughts to herself, you see (and for the record, she's perfectly okay with me posting about her here on my blog. She even said I could use her name, which I won't).

I had a lot of misgivings about seeing the movie. The trailers did nothing for me and the reviews I had been reading were not very promising. My expectations going in, therefore, were low. I ended up enjoying the movie--in spite of or perhaps as a result of that fact. I loved the Oregon scenery--so green and all those beautiful trees! To live somewhere where it rains so frequently! Heaven, I say! The movie screenwriters took some liberties with switching up the story a little, adding elements to the plot which I thought were very effective in introducing characters early on and moving the story along. I thought the movie was well cast. The intensity between Bella and Edward carried over from the book to the movie, although bordered on the melodramatic at times (and yes, I know melodrama comes with being a teenager).

I would have loved to see more of the minor characters, but then, there really is only so much you can put into a movie. The special effects were a bit giggle worthy. There were some funny moments (intentional or not) and plenty of romantic ones. All said and done, unless you are a die hard Twilight fan, I think seeing the movie on DVD will be satisfactory enough. But even with my nitpicky complaints, I thought the movie accomplished what it set out to do, and I walked out of the theater satisfied. Both times.

As a side note: my husband liked the movie quite a bit. Maybe even more than I did in some respects. It's hard to say. Seeing the movie with a couple of girlfriends the second time (well, it was actually their third viewing and my second) was a real blast. My only regret was that I admitted to getting teary-eyed at one spot during my first viewing of the movie, and so, when watching it with my friends, they made a point of checking to see if I was okay when that same scene came up, tissues at the ready. Okay, so maybe you had to be there.

Review: The House on Tradd Street by Karen White

The woman was there again, pushing the swing, except this time the swing wasn’t empty. Holding tightly to the rope arms sat a small boy, his mouth open in laughter, the sound like soft air brushing against my cheeks. [pg 21]


The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
New American Library, 2008
Fiction; 329 pgs

Melanie Middleton was the best at her job. She had made a name for herself as the go to person if you were looking to buy or sell a historical home in Charleston. However, her own tastes ran toward the modern, finding the old homes to be money holes and more trouble than they were worth. Her feelings had everything to do with the fact that she could see dead people, a gift she had inherited from the mother who had abandoned her when she was a young child.

She never anticipated what a single visit to the elderly Nevin Vanderhorst would bring about. Melanie went to the home hoping to add it to her list of available homes for sale, only to discover Nevin was really only interested in talking to her. His father and Melanie’s grandfather had at one time been best friends and business partners until a falling out in the early 1930’s. Nevin’s mother had supposedly abandoned him around that time, although Nevin knew in his heart that could not possibly be true.

Upon his death, just days after Melanie’s visit with him, Nevin willed his house to Melanie. In a letter, he mentioned that he wanted Melanie to uncover the truth about his mother’s disappearance. Due to terms in the will which includes that she cannot sell the house for at least a year and is to spend funds from the estate on its restoration, Melanie is saddled with a house and a dog she does not want. Meanwhile, she is also surrounded by the ghosts of the house, including a malevolent spirit that desperately wants her out.

Author Jack Trenholm, well known for exposing little known histories, has taken an interest in the house and its history. He convinces Melanie to allow him access to the house; however, he is not completely forthcoming with her about his motives. The two have their work cut out for them as they begin the restoration process and their quest to uncover the truth behind the secrets buried there.

Karen White’s novel, The House on Tradd Street, is all at once a ghost story, a mystery, with a dash of romance. Melanie’s own past is connected to that old house both by ancestral ties as well as the similarities in hers and Nevin’s situations. They were both seemingly abandoned by their mothers at a young age, and, as Melanie searches out the truth of one past, she must face her own.

Melanie is one of those women most of us love to hate. She is both beautiful and can eat anything she wants without worry about gaining a pound. She is extremely practical and likes to maintain control of her life and situations she finds herself in. She sees her ability to communicate with the dead as a burden and tries to stifle her gift, ignoring the voices and spirits around her as often as she can. She is highly successful in her career but her personal life is lacking. Melanie does not let many people get too close. She has been disappointed too many times to take that risk again. There was an occasion or two when I did get annoyed with Melanie, knowing she was smarter than she was acting, but I suppose we all have moments like that, don't we?

I was most drawn to Melanie’s relationship with her father. For as long as she could remember, Melanie had to pick up after her father who drank too much. She has trouble believing he can maintain his new found sobriety and is not sure she wants to give him another chance. They are forced together due to the terms of Nevin’s will, however. I could plainly feel Melanie’s distrust, skepticism, and love for her father just as I could sense Mr. Middleton’s desire to make things right in his daughter’s eyes, knowing he’s disappointed her almost beyond repair.

The ghosts themselves were intriguing characters. Louisa, Nevin’s mother, carried the scent of roses with her. She had loved her son dearly, as well as her husband. Although it took awhile for Melanie to figure out who the evil spirit in the house was, it really was no surprise. He lived in the afterlife much as he did when he was alive.

The story was both absorbing and compelling. Not to mention I loved the setting of the novel. Karen White made me feel right at home in Charleston, South Carolina, capturing the atmosphere and the history. It will be interesting to see where the author takes us in the second installment, The Girl on Legare Street, featuring Melanie Middleton and Jack Trenholm, which is due out about this time next year. I would love the opportunity to meet Melanie’s mother.

Rating: (Good +)


Be sure and check out the author's website. If you would like to follow Karen White's book tour in progress, visit the Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours blog.


Thank you to Dorothy of Pump Up Your Book Promotion and the author, Karen White, for the opportunity to participate in this book tour.

See What Others Had to Say About This Book:
The Book Czar
Cafe of Dreams
Diary of an Eccentric
S. Krishna's Books
Savvy Verse & Wit (Author's Guest Post)

Review: Murder Takes the Cake by Gayle Trent

I turned forty this year. Forty seems to be a sobering age for every woman, but it hit me especially hard. When most women get to be my age, they at least have some bragging rights: successful career, happy marriage, beautiful children, nice home. I had none of the above. My so-called bragging rights included a failed marriage, a dingy apartment, and twenty years’ service in a dead-end job. Cue violins. [Excerpt from Murder Takes the Cake]


Murder Takes the Cake by Gayle Trent
Bell Bridge Books, 2008
Crime Fiction (MYS); 260 pgs

Murder Takes a Cake was my first experience reading an e-book. Technically though, I cheated by printing the book out so that I could carry it around to read at my convenience. For those who prefer paper books, it is available in that format as well so do not despair if you decide you would like to read this book.

Daphne Martin, named by her mother after author Daphne du Maurier, has left behind an abusive husband and a dead end job in Tennessee, returning to small town Virginia to be closer to her family. She is trying her hand at running her own business, baking and decorating cakes. Daphne’s first customer just had to be Yodel Watson, the town’s meanest gossip.

Hoping that the third time is the charm, Daphne makes her way to Mrs. Watson’s house with her latest attempt to meet the older woman’s demands; only, she finds the woman dead on the floor. Gayle Trent’s cozy mystery takes off like a shot, growing more complex and multilayered as the story unfolds.

The mystery deepens when Daphne is asked to retrieve the dead woman’s diary for safe keeping until Mrs. Watson’s daughter can come to town to get it. Inside the diary, Daphne discovers secrets she may regret knowing for all the trouble it lands her in. Unfortunately, some of what she uncovers hits close to home, and she begins to question her own family’s past, particularly that of her mother, a woman Daphne does not especially get along with.

Daphne decides to search for answers herself when her name is tarnished by evidence that Mrs. Watson had been poisoned. Plus, she cannot help but to pry into her own family history.

Daphne is a well meaning character who has had a difficult past. She can be stubborn, which proves to be both a curse and an advantage as it sometimes leads her astray while at other times makes her stand her ground even when threatened. Daphne comes close to being annoying, but did not quite go over that edge fortunately. With all the small town gossip, I wondered just how much Daphne was contributing to it herself.

There is a host of interesting characters that Daphne encounters both in her inquiries and through her business. I look forward to getting to know Ben better. He is a childhood friend of Daphne’s, now a reporter with the local newspaper. One of my favorite characters, besides Sparrow, the one-eyed cat, is Juanita who works at the local grocery store. She is a very minor character, but one that holds a lot of promise. Then there are the eccentrics like Belinda Fremont who throws birthday parties for her dear guinea pigs and Fred, a bagger at the grocery store, who runs hot and cold depending on the day.

The mystery itself is curious, leading readers in a variety of directions. Although I figured out the whodunit before Daphne did, it still came as a surprise when I realized who it was.

Murder Takes the Cake has all the earmarks of a good cozy: a mystery to solve, a cast of colorful characters, humor, and tiny hint of romance. It is a promising start to a new series. You did not think I could resist a one-eyed cat, did you?

Rating: (Good +)


Visit Gayle's Websites:
GayleTrent.com
Daphne's Delectable Cakes
Gayle's Squidoo Page on Freelance Writing

Thank you to Angela with WOW! Women On Writing and author Gayle Trent for the opportunity to read and review Murder Takes the Cake.

Review: The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller

“We turn now to the issue of what constitutes an appropriate punishment for your various infractions,” said the judge in the middle, the gray-haired one whose name Jaywalker always had trouble remembering. [First Sentence]




The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller
Mira, 2008 (ARE)
Crime Fiction; 388 pgs

From the Publisher:

Criminal defense attorney Harrison J. Walker, better known as Jaywalker, has just been suspended for using "creative" tactics and receiving "gratitude" in the courtroom stairwell from a client charged with prostitution. Convincing the judge that his other clients are counting on him, Jaywalker is allowed to complete ten cases. But it's the last case that truly tests his abilities—and his acquittal record. Samara Moss—young, petite and sexy as hell—stabbed her husband in the heart. Or so everyone believes. Having married the elderly billionaire when she was an eighteen-year-old former prostitute, Samara appears to be the clichéd gold digger. But Jaywalker knows all too well that appearances can be deceiving. Who else could have killed the billionaire? Has Samara been framed? Or is Jaywalker just driven by his need to win his clients' cases—and this particular client's undying gratitude?

Joseph Teller's novel, The Tenth Case, was true to life, notably with regards to the little nuances of the preparation for and the actual trial process. In one respect, it was a refreshing change from many legal thrillers I have read in the past in that, despite Jaywalker's blurring of convention, the author did not turn the story into a run for your life, action packed thrill ride with gun or fist fights. Just the same, the novel was plenty suspenseful as Jaywalker struggles to defend a woman whose innocence even he questions as the trial unfolds. There were a couple of slow spots in which I worried that the author had gone into too much detail. However, I also realize that my familiarity with the court process might have contributed to that feeling. Even then, the book would pick up again right away and not once did I lose interest in the story line or the characters.

Defense attorney Jaywalker is a bit of a maverick, not afraid of making his own rules as he goes along. It has obviously landed him in trouble, resulting in his three year suspension from practicing law. He has a conscience and a sense of fair play, however, that balances out the "bad boy" image. He’s easy to like and no doubt a good person to have on your side in a pinch. Samara Moss straddles that line as well. I never completely warmed up to her character, but it was easy to see how the past impacted the decisions she would make throughout her life.

Jaywalker is one of those complex characters that has many layers, some of which were peeled back enough to tempt the reader to want to learn more about him. I look forward to reading more by Joseph Teller and seeing what trouble Jaywalker can get out of next time.

Rating: (Good)

Thank you to TJ Dietderich of Planned Television Arts for the opportunity to read this book!


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Review: Murder on a Girls’ Night Out by Anne George

Mary Alice flung her purse on my kitchen table, where it landed with a crash, pulled a stool over to the counter and perched on it. [First Sentence]


Murder on a Girls’ Night Out by Anne George
Avon Mystery, 1996
Crime Fiction (MYS); 244 pgs

From the Publisher:

Patricia Anne -- "Mouse" -- is respectful, respectable, and demure, a perfect example of genteel Southern womanhood. Mary Alice -- "Sister" -- is big, brassy, flamboyant, and bold. Together they have a knack for finding themselves in the center of some of Birmingham's most unfortunate unpleasantness.

Country Western is red hot these days, so overimpulsive Mary Alice thinks it makes perfect sense to buy the Skoot 'n' Boot bar -- since that's where the many-times-divorced "Sister" and her boyfriend du jour like to hang out anyway. Sensible retired schoolteacher Patricia Anne is inclined to disagree -- especially when they find a strangled and stabbed dead body dangling in the pub's wishing well. The sheriff has some questions for Mouse and her sister Sister, who were the last people, besides the murderer, of course, to see the ill-fated victim alive. And they had better come up with some answers soon -- because a killer with unfinished business has begun sending them some mighty threatening messages...

Comments: I cannot remember where I first heard about this particular series, but I have had a copy of this book sitting in my TBR collection for quite some time. I added it to my 1st in a Series Challenge list in hopes of finally getting to it—and I am so glad I did. Anne George’s novel is both funny and charming.

I adore the main character, Patricia Anne, and her husband Fred. They both reminded me a bit of my husband and me in the way they interact and talk with each other. Mary Alice, Patricia Anne’s sister, is both eccentric and a hoot. One of my favorite parts of the novel was the interactions between the two sisters. The banter between the two, barbed at times and sweet at others, set the mood of the book nicely. The Southern setting was especially alluring.

The mystery itself was interesting and kept me guessing for the most part. I did figure out bits and pieces here and there, but the outcome was not quite as simple as one might expect in a cozy mystery such as this.

I definitely am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If the other books are anything like Murder on a Girls' Night Out, they are sure to be delightful fun.

Rating: (Very Good)

Check out the author's official fan website for more information about her books.

Find Your Magic : Farworld 2008 Blog Tour

I was thrilled when author J. Scott Savage contacted me about reading and reviewing his new book on my blog as part of his virtual book tour. The author was kind enough not only to provide me an autographed copy of his book, but also agreed to an interview and a giveaway.

Far World, Book 1: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage
Shadow Mountain, September 2008 (ARE)
Fantasy (YA); 419 pgs

One of the first things I do when I crack open a book is to read the dedication. This one I read out loud to my husband and he immediately zeroed in on the mention of solving Ultima games. As a result, he plans to read this book based on that alone. Okay, so maybe that isn’t quite true. He does enjoy a good fantasy story and that may have something to do with it too.

Thirteen year old Marcus Kanenas is alone in the world. He is an orphan, having moved from place to place, school to school, and he isn’t sure how long he’ll be at the latest one. Bound to a wheelchair and the target of bullies, he has learned to be resourceful. He has a talent for disappearing and sensing what is to come, gifts he does not fully understand, but which have come in handy in a pinch. He often dreams of a far away world, one full of magic and talking animals and trees. He calls it Farworld. He daydreams about a young girl about his age whose name begins with a K, an imaginary friend—or so he believes.

Marcus discovers that his dreams are not so farfetched, however, when a man comes for him, posing as an attorney representing his long lost parents. Once the man has Marcus alone, his true identity and intentions are revealed and Marcus must fight for his life. A helping hand comes from an unexpected place—an unexpected world, in fact. Kyja reaches out to Marcus, sensing the danger he is in, and pulls him into her world, that of Farworld. Farworld is even more amazing than Marcus imagined it would be. He marvels at the joking horse and the singing flowers. He is enamored by the commonness of magic.

Like Marcus on earth, Kyja is a bit of an outcast in Farworld. Magic is commonplace in her world, a natural ability that everyone shares. Everyone that is except for Kyja. Like Marcus, she has had to endure stares and jokes on her behalf. She has learned to live without magic, and yet it is something she longs for. Perhaps it is buried deep within her as her friend and teacher, the wizard, Master Therapass suggests.

Kyja’s opening the way for Marcus to enter into Farworld has much bigger ramifications than either can imagine. A balance has been disrupted and both will quickly discover that they are a part of a bigger plot. The Dark Circle is growing more powerful and will stop and nothing to find Marcus and Kyja to either destroy them or bend them to their will. The only hope is for Kyja and Marcus to bring together the four Elementals—water, land, air and fire. Their search will not be an easy one. Not only do they face the threat of the Dark Circle and its minions, but also other enemies such as the mimickers and unmakers.

While separately the two do not seem like much of a threat against any evil, together they make quite a team. Their friendship and faith in each other is strong, but will it be strong enough to see them through to the end?

Water Keep is the first in the Far World series by J. Scott Savage. There is innocence about both Kyja and Marcus that is instantly endearing and yet both characters are wise beyond their years. They have had to overcome a lot in their thirteen years, faced loneliness and learned to make do with what little they had. Neither thought they were special in any way, and yet when faced with danger, they both proved they had more courage and strength than most people would probably have shown in the same situations.

The author did a great job of capturing the wonder and newness of Farworld to Marcus and of Earth to both Kyja and Riph Raph, the skyte. Kyja especially touched my heart; she is thoughtful and cares about complete strangers in need. She never asks for anything in return, just doing what she knows is the right thing to do. She also is quite blunt when she needs to be, standing up for what she believes and is not willing to back down just because danger is too close at hand.

J. Scott Savage has created characters that will appeal to young audiences as well as older ones. It is definitely a young adult series, the story is not overly complex and the characters are easy to relate to.

Farworld is an amazing place, full of magic and life. While avid fantasy readers may see some similarities in the set up as compared to other well known fantasy novels, there are plenty of differences and fresh ideas present as well. There is definitely a connection between Earth and Farworld, and I look forward to discovering more about it as the series progresses. J. Scott Savage’s Far World series was a delightful reading experience. I can’t wait until the next adventure.

Rating: Rating: (Very Good)

---

Literary Feline: J. Scott Savage was nice enough to travel all the way to California via the virtual route for an interview. I couldn't afford the Disneyland passes and so we settled for my living room.

J. Scott Savage: Disneyland, schmislyland. We can have our own theme park right here. You sing, “Yo ho, yo ho.” and then I’ll do the whole script from Haunted Mansion. Really, I can. It’s a gift.

LF: Thank you so much for coming. Can I get you anything to drink? Maybe a little snack?

JSS: Anything other than vegetables. I just finished weeding a virtual garden and I’m feeling a little too close to the carrots and things to even think about eating them. Felines are carnivores right? Maybe we can eat some raw tuna or something.

LF: I may have some raw tuna lying around. Hold on, let me get you a can.

LF: I hope you like animals. My dog and two cats are not shy. You might want to keep the dog in front of you. Riley has a thing for jumping up behind a person sitting on the couch and licking their ears. And you might want to keep your shoes on. The new kitten, Anya, thinks feet are toys especially designed for her.

JSS: Oh whew. I thought that was you doing the whole ear-licking thing a minute ago. And we just met.

LF: I thought we could start with a few general questions.

JSS: You mean like Pershing? Or Washington? Sorry that was a little general joke.

LF: [Laugh] You’re such a card!

LF: What made you decide to switch from mystery to fantasy writing? Are there any advantages or drawbacks to writing one genre over the other?

JSS: I really don’t know. It’s a mystery I guess. Although I’ve always fantasized about it. Thanks everybody! I’m here till Thursday.

Actually, I didn’t intend to write a fantasy. I didn’t think I could. But this story just got stuck in my head. I started writing Farworld at 2:00 AM to prove to myself I couldn’t do it. But five hours and five thousand words later, I realized I was writing a fantasy and the rest is history. Well actually fantasy. I think there are pros and cons to any genre. But probably the coolest thing about fantasy is that anything can happen if you write it well enough. There are no limits.

LF: I am always curious about an author's writing environment and preferences. Some authors prefer to isolate themselves in an office and keep strict writing hours while other prefer a more loose schedule or settling in at the local coffee shop. Do you have any writing routines, preferences or quirks?

JSS: I’m really pretty much of a wherever whenever guy. Once I get into the story, a bomb could explode next door and I wouldn’t notice. I’d love to have a schedule. But a lot of times you have to grab the spare moments when you can. For example, I’m writing this on a plane. It’s not that quiet, but while I’m answering your questions I really don’t notice what’s going on around me.

LF: What was the first story you ever put to paper about?

JSS: Hmm. That’s a great question. I have actually never been asked it before. I’m sure I had written lots of things before as a kid. In fact I know I did. But the first time I can remember really feeling excited about a story I was writing was an urban fantasy about a killer named Flower who attacks a business man and breaks into the guy’s apartment to find a female thief going through the guy’s stuff. It was probably crap. But I thought I was writing the coolest story ever.

LF: Would you like me to move the cat? Parker is a bit of a lap cat.

JSS: Nope. I like cats and dogs. Even though I strongly believe that cats are actually minor demons.

LF: As it turns out, the kitten is named after a demon. A vengeance demon to be exact.

LF: It would have been easy to focus solely on Farworld, and I am glad you did not do that. Earth is just as much a character in your book as Farworld is in many ways. When you set out to write this series, were you aiming for such a balance?

JSS: Absolutely. I want readers to understand from book one that this is a story about both Marcus and Kyja and about both Farworld and Earth. Balance is and will become a much bigger issue in the book.

LF: Both Marcus and Kyja have disabilities. Marcus is wheelchair bound and Kyja cannot use magic. It would be easy to sympathize more with Marcus because his handicaps are much more familiar to readers, but Kyja's handicap is just as severe and dehabilitating. And yet both are also very strong and resourceful characters, made that way in part by their life experiences no doubt. Can you tell me a little bit about what went into the creation of these two great characters?

JSS: Thanks so much. I think that the characters were the first part of the story that came to me. You are exactly right. Most people tend to focus on Marcus’s disability because it is more familiar to us. We don’t view Kyja as disabled because none of us have magic either. But in Kyja’s world, magic is the equivalent of technology here. Imagine not being able to use any tools at all, from a screwdriver to a car. It is a huge disability in her world. The thing that I was focusing on was creating characters who didn’t magically lose their weaknesses when they discovered who they are. I wanted them to struggle, learn, and if not overcome, at least come to terms with their weaknesses.

LF: Will Dew Drop be back? She was such a fun character! I hope we get to see more of the Frost Pinnois too. And what about the ishkabiddles?

JSS: Yes, yes, and yes. I didn’t get to spend as much time with the water elementals in book one. But we have not seen the last of them. And the Ishkabiddle has become a star in her own right. Now she’s demanding more minutes and a dialogue coach. Hmph. Stars!

LF: And finally, what and who inspire you?

JSS: So much inspires me. A movie, a walk in a forest, an unusual name I see while driving, an unexpected book. I am always collecting new ideas I want to write about. People ask where my ideas come from, but it would be easier to ask where they don’t come from.

LF: Thank you for taking the time to visit with me, Scott. I also appreciate your patience with my animals!

JSS: Thank you! It was a lot of fun.

You can learn more about the author and his books at his website: Find Your Magic.

GIVEAWAY!

J. Scott Savage has been kind enough to offer an autographed copy of his fantasy novel to one lucky winner in the USA or Canada. If you are interested in entering the drawing for the book, leave a comment here. Please provide your e-mail address if you do not have a blog or a way of contacting your via your blog. The deadline for the drawing is 11:59 PM (PDT) on Sunday, August 31, 2008. Good luck!

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Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake

Something in my soul had been hurt by what surrounded me, but I was not physically hurt. [excerpt from Nightwalker]


Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake
Harper, August 2008 (ARE)
Fantasy; 370 pgs

It has been too long since last read a fantasy novel about vampires. I was thrilled when I learned that I was selected to receive a copy of Jocelynn Drake’s Nightwalker through Harper Collins First Look Program. It sounded like a promising start to a new series. A series reader can never have enough series to read, right? And what could be more fun than a tale of magic, vampires, lycanthropes, great battles, and a little flicker of romance?

Nightwalker introduces readers to Mira, a vampire with a special talent of being able to start fires. She is greatly feared and admired by those in the magic realm. Mira is content with her life in Savannah, Georgia, watching over her domain and protecting the secret of her people, keeping the knowledge of the dark forces hidden from the humans. When a powerful vampire hunter comes to town bearing an unexpected gift, Mira finds herself face to face with an enemy she long believed to be dead.

Danaus, the mysterious hunter, is not out to kill her just yet. He needs her help. The naturi were one of biggest threats to both nightwalkers and humanity centuries ago, and there are signs that they are returning to the world. Mira still has nightmares of her time in captivity when she was kidnapped and held prisoner by the naturi. She must decide whether to join forces with the hunter in fighting their common foe. One thing she knows for sure, however. She must seek out the triad that created the seal that had blocked the naturi from returning. Only they will be able to stop the naturi from growing in strength and ushering their queen across the barrier. If that were to happen, humans and nightwalkers would face certain death and destruction.

Although the book got off to a slow start, it wasn’t long before I was drawn into the story. I especially found myself curious about Danaus. He is human and yet holds his own special powers. He has a strong sense of justice and is not sure what to think of Mira and her kind. He was taught all his life that vampires were evil and that they killed out of blood lust. Mira has her own code. She does not kill indiscriminately and cares about the humans as well as her own people. She will do what she must to protect the secrets that she keeps just the same, and if that means spilling blood, then so be it.

It took me a little while to warm up to Mira. She seemed cold and calculating at first, using her wiles to get what she wanted. She was not above using force to prove her point and could just as quickly use her sensuality to get what she wanted. Jocelynn Drake did a good job, however, of bringing out the more human side of Mira as the story unfolded. And as her character often reminded the vampire hunter, humans are themselves a violent race—even more so in some ways than the nightwalkers.

The novel takes readers from the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia to Africa and on to England where the isle is rich in magic. I felt like I was wandering the streets right alongside Mira and Danaus as they went about their business. I wouldn’t have minded lingering a bit longer.

The biggest disadvantage to reading this book is that it ends with a bit of a cliffhanger. It is obvious there is much more to Mira’s story, and, of course, now I have to wait before I will be able to see where Jocelynn Drake will take me next. Jocelynn Drake has created an intriguing and magical world that I cannot wait to visit again.

Rating: (Good +)

Be sure and check out the author’s blog and website for more information about the author and her book.

The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson

First Sentence: “Bob Barnes says they got a dead body out on BLM land. He’s on line one.”


The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
Viking, 2005
Crime Fiction (MYS); 354 pgs

I love a good mystery. I remember the first time I read a Sue Grafton novel; I knew there was no going back. Kinsey Milhone had an edge about her and there was a grittiness and realism to the novels that instantly pulled me in. They were funny in on offbeat sort of way, just the kind of humor I like. Michael Connelly’s novels also come to mind. I had the same experience reading Craig Johnson’s The Cold Dish. That isn’t to say the series are alike—if you don’t like one, don’t count out the others until you have given one or the other a try.

Walt Longmire is the sheriff of Absaroka County in Wyoming, a relatively quiet and mostly rural community with only an occasional disturbance. Not many people mourn when the body of Cody Pritchard is discovered. He, along with three of his friends, had been convicted of brutally assaulting a young Native American girl, Melissa Little Bird years before. The boys were let off with suspended sentences at the time, something that did not sit well with quite a few people. Could Cody’s death have been a hunting accident or was it murder, perhaps an act of revenge or something else altogether?

Walt is joined by a cast of supporting characters that stand out on their own. Among them is Walt’s best friend, Henry Standing Bear, who is determined to get Walt back in shape and moving on with his life, realizing his friend has fallen into a rut. Walt’s foul-mouthed but extremely competent deputy, Victoria Moratti is a good match for the sheriff. The former sheriff, Lucian, despite his penchant for throwing political correctness out the window, was among my favorites as was the mother-like Ruby, the dispatcher/secretary at the sheriff’s office. She said what was on her mind and let Walt have it when he deserved it most. As for Sheriff Walt Longmire himself, he has seen a lot in his lifetime, having served in the military during the Vietnam War and more recently losing his wife to cancer. There’s a strength about him as well as a generosity of spirit. He seems like the kind of man I would want to have as sheriff in my own town as well as a friend.

Craig Johnson paints a breathtaking picture of Wyoming with the harsh wintry weather, the beautiful mountains and lakes as well as the ranch and reservation lands that are stretched out over the county where the novel is set. He shows the diversity of the land as well as of the people. He also touches upon the past and current tensions between the Native Americans and the white folk, weaving it throughout the book.

It is a rare treat when I can read straight through a mystery and not figure out the end before the protagonist does. Craig Johnson succeeds in doing just that though. The Cold Dish had me both chuckling now and then and, near the end, shedding a tear or two. I am looking forward to spending more time with Sheriff Longmire in the near future.

Rating: (Very Good +)


Be sure and stop by Craig Johnson's website for more information about his books.