Who and What: Icing Ivy by Evan Marshall; Hardcover Edition; ISBN 0-7582-0224-5
What it's about: Once Jane Stuart and Ivy Benson were best friends - until Ivy's daughter Marlene took a job as nanny to Jane's son and was later murdered. Now it's time for Jane and Ivy to heal past wounds and catch up on old times. The perfect opportunity presents itself at a week at the off-season mountain lodge where Jane has scheduled a fiction writers' retreat
So much for best intentions. Ivy's brought Johnny, the new man in her life, who has eyes for one of Jane's students-a local waitress with little promise as a writer but a great future as a home wrecker. But Carla's not the only reason for Johnny's guest appearance. The handsome lothario is also a man on the run, and the Mt. Munsee Lodge is his perfect hideaway.
What Johnny's running from is soon catching up with all of them--and with a blizzard leaving them snowbound, there's little chance for escape. Especially Ivy. Jane's discovered her old pal dead--stabbed with an ice pick--on a lonely mountain trail. Johnny's the likely suspect, except he's disappeared. And as far as Jane's concerned, he had no real motive to ice his latest flame. But one of her student's apparently did.
As the melting ice gives way to startling clues, Jane and Winky's investigation leads them into Ivy's complicated past--and the deadly secrets of a writer who has the clever manipulations of the murder mystery down cold...(from the jacket flap)
What I thought about it: Naturally the person who gets killed is less than likable - but I found Ivy even more so - and the list of suspects was a cast of rude, appalling characters that made me cringe. Normally I really like this series, but for some reason with this cast of characters, I found myself not caring why Ivy was killed or who did it. Granted, I thought the ending was surprising - I missed the clues along the way - but maybe that's because I wanted all of them to go down for the crime? I didn't hate it, but it certainly wasn't one I liked a whole lot either. This is the fourth book in the Jane Stuart and Winky Mystery Series.
Where I got it: the library
Challenges this book counts towards: 100 Books in a Year Challenge, 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge, A to Z Reading Challenge
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
Sunday, June 5, 2011
June Mini Challenge
I know, you all are thinking "Stop already with the challenges!" but I couldn't help myself, this one seems like so much fun.
I belong to the Cozy Mysteries group on Goodreads. I mostly lurk and get tips on great cozies from the members. I do that with blogs too. So, what made me decide to actually participate in something? Well, like I said it seemed like fun.
The challenge is uncommon holidays in June and you read a book that matches that odd holiday. It's all readers choice and since I have a stack of library books screaming at me I was able to pick most of my choices from that stack. Sort of like killing two birds with one stone.
So here are the holidays and the books I've chosen:
June 1st - Flip a Coin Day - choose two books and flip a coin to see which one you'll read. I had Icing Ivy and Yankee Doodle Dead next on my stack - Yankee Doodle Dead by Carolyn Hart won the toss.
June 8th - Best Friends Day - pick a book off one your Goodreads friends shelf. I picked Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle from Jess McC's shelf. She is a bloggy friend and fellow military wife. Her blog is Just a Geek Named Jess - you should check it out. I have this one already checked out from the library too.
June 8th - Name Your Poison Day - Choose a book that has 'poison' in the title or mentioned in the book. I didn't have one these from the library so I chose Sweet Poison by Ellen Hart. I downloaded it to my Kobo.
June 18th - National Splurge Day - Read the most recent mystery book you bought. Since I buy mine in groups I got to pick from the last group I bought and chose Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke.
June 28th - Paul Bunyan Day - Read a book that's 400 or more pages (because Paul Bunyan was huge) or that has a blue cover in honor of Babe, the big blue ox. I went the blue cover route and picked it from my library stack - Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart.
Other than choosing my own books (which was a blast) you can read them in any order - as long as you read them in June. I already finished Yankee Doodle Dead and I've started Sweet Poison. Also, it lets me focus on a different challenge for the month instead of the ones I have on my challenge page. A little mini break because that 100 Books in a Year Challenge is making me all stressed out!
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
I belong to the Cozy Mysteries group on Goodreads. I mostly lurk and get tips on great cozies from the members. I do that with blogs too. So, what made me decide to actually participate in something? Well, like I said it seemed like fun.
The challenge is uncommon holidays in June and you read a book that matches that odd holiday. It's all readers choice and since I have a stack of library books screaming at me I was able to pick most of my choices from that stack. Sort of like killing two birds with one stone.
So here are the holidays and the books I've chosen:
June 1st - Flip a Coin Day - choose two books and flip a coin to see which one you'll read. I had Icing Ivy and Yankee Doodle Dead next on my stack - Yankee Doodle Dead by Carolyn Hart won the toss.
June 8th - Best Friends Day - pick a book off one your Goodreads friends shelf. I picked Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle from Jess McC's shelf. She is a bloggy friend and fellow military wife. Her blog is Just a Geek Named Jess - you should check it out. I have this one already checked out from the library too.
June 8th - Name Your Poison Day - Choose a book that has 'poison' in the title or mentioned in the book. I didn't have one these from the library so I chose Sweet Poison by Ellen Hart. I downloaded it to my Kobo.
June 18th - National Splurge Day - Read the most recent mystery book you bought. Since I buy mine in groups I got to pick from the last group I bought and chose Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke.
June 28th - Paul Bunyan Day - Read a book that's 400 or more pages (because Paul Bunyan was huge) or that has a blue cover in honor of Babe, the big blue ox. I went the blue cover route and picked it from my library stack - Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart.
Other than choosing my own books (which was a blast) you can read them in any order - as long as you read them in June. I already finished Yankee Doodle Dead and I've started Sweet Poison. Also, it lets me focus on a different challenge for the month instead of the ones I have on my challenge page. A little mini break because that 100 Books in a Year Challenge is making me all stressed out!
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
Saturday, June 4, 2011
~Book Review~ Yankee Doodle Dead by Carolyn Hart
Who and What: Yankee Doodle Dead by Carolyn Hart; Hardcover Edition; ISBN 9780380793266
What it's about: Sleuthing couple Annie and Max Darling watch as the Fourth of July explodes not only with fun and fireworks, but with murder. The new library board member has alienated everyone in town, especially the women. But Annie finds it difficult to ignore him--particularly when he is shot dead before her eyes. (goodreads)
What I think: This is book 10 in the Death on Demand Series, but the first one I've read. Of course I always show up in the middle of a series, especially when I'm looking for titles that fill my A to Z reading challenge! Not knowing everyone's background didn't detract from the story though. I loved how the detectives in this case are a couple. It was fun to see what each of them was doing while trying to figure out the killer. I loved how the authors descriptions of South Carolina during the summer were spot on and found it amusing that she even pointed out that South Carolinians call roaches 'palmetto bugs'. Yes, they really do. This book was written a little differently than most cozies, the suspects all had huge personal reasons to do the killing. It also solved in more of a real sleuthing manner than most cozies now. Kind of reminded me of the Hardy Boys, only married adults!
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I think it was a fun read and worth the time to check out.
Where I got it: The Library
Challenges this book counts towards: 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge; 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge; A to Z Reading Challenge
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
What it's about: Sleuthing couple Annie and Max Darling watch as the Fourth of July explodes not only with fun and fireworks, but with murder. The new library board member has alienated everyone in town, especially the women. But Annie finds it difficult to ignore him--particularly when he is shot dead before her eyes. (goodreads)
What I think: This is book 10 in the Death on Demand Series, but the first one I've read. Of course I always show up in the middle of a series, especially when I'm looking for titles that fill my A to Z reading challenge! Not knowing everyone's background didn't detract from the story though. I loved how the detectives in this case are a couple. It was fun to see what each of them was doing while trying to figure out the killer. I loved how the authors descriptions of South Carolina during the summer were spot on and found it amusing that she even pointed out that South Carolinians call roaches 'palmetto bugs'. Yes, they really do. This book was written a little differently than most cozies, the suspects all had huge personal reasons to do the killing. It also solved in more of a real sleuthing manner than most cozies now. Kind of reminded me of the Hardy Boys, only married adults!
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I think it was a fun read and worth the time to check out.
Where I got it: The Library
Challenges this book counts towards: 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge; 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge; A to Z Reading Challenge
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
Friday, June 3, 2011
~Book Review~ The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry
What it's about: Hearing that his old friend Cassiopeia Vitt is in trouble, Malone follows the few clues he has and realises that they are in the middle of something huge, involving Russian and US oil interests and a centuries-old secret. After stumbling across two dead bodies and into the crosshairs of his former boss, Malone finds himself in a race to unravel the mystery of an emperor's tomb, a sinister society, and a deadly battle between two ruthless men for supremacy in China -- and the world. (goodreads)
What I thought: I was a little worried after The Charlemagne Pursuit that Berry had lost his touch, but all I can say is "He's back". The absolute perfect blend of suspense and history. So many double crosses you really can't figure out who's good and who's bad. In the end, you just think they are all human. The backdrop of this book focuses on Chinese history. I knew little of this (you know, like they invented fireworks) but it was interesting to learn that they did so much more and long before Western Civilization. As always, Berry includes the separation of fact from fiction at the end.
How I Rate It: Well, I took my number system away (yes the ever changing blog o' Kris) so I'm just going to say - I loved it.
Where I got it: The library.
Challenges this counts towards: 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge, A to Z Reading Challenge, 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Library Thursday
Crazy me - couldn't resist the library again! I've taken to putting the books on my challenge page so when I have to return them unread, I know which ones to check out again!
What did I pick up this week?
Rusty Nail by J.A. Konrath (audiobook)
Don't Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson
The Homeplace by Janet Daily
Shoes to Die For by Laura Levine
Real Murders by Charlaine Harris
Killer Blonde by Laura Levine
These added to my stack of already have checked outs makes 15 books! I started a summer class on Monday and now for the next 8 weeks I don't know how much time I'll have to do fun reading. So, I must really stop myself from browsing when I return books for the next little while!
What did you check out from the library this week? Link up with Lazy Girl Reads and find out what other people couldn't resist!
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
~Audiobook Review~ The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King
What it's about: In the emotional aftermath of her baby's sudden death, Em starts running. Soon she runs from her husband, to the airport, down to the Florida Gulf and out to the loneliest stretch of Vermillion Key, where her father has offered the use of a conch shack he has kept there for years. Em keeps up her running -- barefoot on the beach, sneakers on the road -- and sees virtually no one. This is doing her all kinds of good, until one day she makes the mistake of looking into the driveway of a man named Pickering. Pickering also enjoys the privacy of Vermillion Key, but the young women he brings there suffer the consequences. Will Em be next? (goodreads)
What I thought about it: The narration was spot on. A well written novella that had me gasping, hoping, and even saying "Don't do that!". Not freaky scary like a lot of King's other offerings, but suspenseful scary. If you are thinking about trying audiobooks I would suggest this as a good starting point - it's not too long and it's worth the listen.
How I rate it: For the first time in a long time I can actually say I loved a book. Even though I'm sure a lot had to do with the brilliant narration the story was still well written.
Where I got it: My personal bookshop (AKA the public library!)
Challenges this counts towards: 2011 Audiobook Challenge
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
W... W... W... Wednesdays June 1
Just answer these three simple questions and you can play too:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?
Currently I'm reading The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry. Yes, after two weeks of cozies I decided it was time to dig in! I'm not sure why I didn't sooner, I love Steve Berry....
I finished Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke before I started my current read. I can't help myself, I love the quick cozies - especially when I'm so far behind on my 100 books in a year challenge!
The next book on my large stack of library books is Icing Ivy by Evan Marshall. The one right beneath that one is Yankee Doodle Dead by Caroline Hart, so I will read either one of those next.
Go check out what everyone else is reading - you know want to!
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
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