~Book Review~ Antiques Flee Market

Who and What: Antiques Flee Market by Barbara Allen; Hardcover Edition; ISBN 978-0-7582-1195-8  This is the third book in the Trash 'N' Treasures Mystery Series


What it's about: Brandy Borne's new life in the small Mississippi River town of Serenity is anything but serene. Moving back in with her bipolar mom, Vivian-an antique herself, who treats Brandy like a perpetual five-year old-is challenging enough, but stocking and running their antiques holiday booth at the mall together is positively daunting. And as the big Christmas season gets into full swing, they find themselves in the midst of small-town mayhem when an old flame of Vivian's turns up mysteriously deceased. `Tis the season-to be murdered?

Brandy and her diva mom last saw the recently departed dealer, Walter Yeager, at a flea market where Vivian made her usual theatrical scene while saving Walter from under-pricing a valuable first edition of Tarzan and the Apes. The prospective buyer was furious, and when Walter winds up dead the next day-"officially" of a heart attack-and the book goes missing, Vivian senses a Yuletide homicide.

As the season's first flakes of snow drift lazily down over Serenity, Brandy and her mother-with moral support from Sushi, the decidedly spoiled Shih Tzu-must unearth vintage clues that point to restless ghosts from the town's past. If there's any duo that can tell a fake from the real thing, it's Brandy and her scene-stealing mother. But even though they may know who's been naughty and who's been nice, they'll have to be very careful not to disturb too many ghosts from Christmas past...

What I thought: I enjoyed the first book of this series very much, but I had trouble with this one. Maybe because I skipped the second one? I don't know for sure. There were enough questions left at the end though that I feel compelled to read the rest of the series. It seems that the books might actually be getting some substance to the characters towards the end, which makes checking the next one out worth it.


Would I recommend it? Probably not. Unless you really want some antiquing tips which show up at the end of each chapter. I'm only sucked in because I actually read the dang thing - so don't go there!


Where I got it: The Sumter County Library


Challenges this book counts towards: 100 Books in a Year; 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

~Book Review~ Killer Blonde

Who and What: Killer Blonde by Laura Levine; Hardcover Edition; ISBN 0-75820162-1; Third book in the Jaine Austen mystery series

What it's about: A gal with a serious Ben & jerry's habit and credits including a tome entitled "I Was Henry Kissinger's Sex Slave" can't afford to be too picky about employment opportunities. So when Beverly Hills socialite Sue Ellen Kingsley offers Jaine megabucks to ghostwrite a book of hostess tips, it's time to sharpen the #2s. So what if Jaine has to take dictation from a rail-thin lady of leisure in a bubble bath? Pride doesn't feed the cat and the dubious side benefit of this particular job is an up-close, personal view of the amorous exploits of Hollywood's ladies-who-lunch. The only bright spot is sixteen-year-old Heidi, a girl after Jaine's own heart. Shy, overweight, and oppressed by her step-mother, Sue Ellen, Heidi could use a friend as much as Jaine could use an ally. But everything short circuits when Jaine finds Sue Ellen floating face down in her tub, fried by her own blow dryer. Peroxided suspects abound, including a very private masseuse, a jealous nurse, a former game show hostess...even a closet blonde with a surprising secret. One of them is hiding a murderous heart behind pricey highlights, and laine's out to expose the killer's dark roots. Because blondes have enough fun without getting away with murder. (Amazon Product Description)

My thoughts: I'm back on the Jaine Train! After the last offering, which I found lacking, I was very glad to see the writing I fell in love with is back! This one actually had a surprise ending that I didn't see coming - so it gets extra points for that. The main characters are starting to grow on me - even the man crazy best friend - and Jaine's parents - what a hoot!

Would I recommend it? Yes - it was a fun, summertime read.

Where I got it: The Library

Challenges this book counts towards: 100 Books in a Year; 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

~Book Review~ Hex Hall

Who and What: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins; Hardcover Edition; ISBN 978-142312130-5; First book in the Hex Hall Series

What it's about: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.     By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.     As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her. (from goodreads)

What I thought about it: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It grabbed me in from the very first and I couldn't put it down. The characters seem like regular kids - just with abilities. The cliques form different ways in the school, but you get to see them as normal (almost) teenagers. It's a perfect sit down and enjoy kind of book.

Would I recommend it? Yeck YA! It was a very good book - I only hope the second book is written as well.

Where did I get it? The Library

Challenges this book counts toward: 100 Books in a Year Challenge; 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Oh No!

I found out that my Borders (Waldens) is closing. This is the only bookstore in town. How annoying and frustrating. I love to go in there and wander around, find new books, grab something that catches my fancy. Now with an hour drive to the nearest bookstore I won't be able to wander randomly nearly as long as I'd like to. *sigh* On the good side - they have to get rid of all those books, right? Maybe there will be a kick ass sale....

In other related annoying book news - yesterday I saw a book that someone was reading (on the WWW Wednesday blog hop) that sounds exactly like my kind of book. It's called Diavolino by Steve Emmett. So, I began my search - Borders.com, the library, paperback swap, Kobo - nothing. Then I went to Amazon - and they have it - but just for the Kindle. Barnes and Noble - only for the Nook. *sigh again* I have a Kobo folks - and I really want to read this book. Frustrating. If anyone has seen or heard of this book in another form please let me know!

I had to vent my new book frustrations - have a great evening!


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Library Thursday

Time to link up with Lazy Girl Reads and see what we all got from the library this week. I more than made up for my one lone book last week! This week I picked up:

I've been in a ghosty mood lately plus I really love paranormal stuff. What can I say? I figured it was time to check out something other than a cozy!

Believe me, I'm not crazy about no carbs. At all. But when your doctor "highly recommends" something because if you don't do anything you're in danger of keeling over - well I guess I have to follow that advice.

I've been reading a lot of reviews lately about Steampunk and it seems like it might be an interesting genre. I saw this book on more than one list about the subject, so I thought it might be a good one to test out the waters on.






And now for my list of shame: the books I've had checked out for weeks and haven't finished reading yet:
Antiques Flee Market, Hex Hall, Don't Hex with Texas, The Homeplace, Killer Blonde, Real Murders, Rusty Nail, and Shoes to Die For


Yeah, I'm thinking I really need to stay out of the library for a while!


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

~Book Review~ Last Writes

Who and What: Last Writes by Laura Levine, Hardcover Edition, ISBN 0-7582-0160-5, This is the second book in the Jaine Austen Mystery Series.

What it's about: (from goodreads)  Jaine still hasn t found a good man or a way to keep all those sugary snacks from going straight to her hips. But with a little help from her best friend Kandi she s finally landed a gig as a sitcom writer! True, Muffy n Me (aka Bewitched with Tits ) isn t going to win any Emmys. And her office at Miracle Studios needs a little sprucing up, and a few dozen rat traps. But it sure beats writing boring brochures and bad resumes, so Jaine s not complaining. Until the plot thickens with murder

Jaine figures the trouble all started when Muffy n Me s hottest star, gorgeous Quinn Kirkland, seduced the head writer whose husband also works on the show. But when Quinn s caught in bed with the barely-legal actress who plays his niece, things really heat up and his many jealous girlfriends start to figure things out

So when the no-good heartthrob drops dead after nibbling a poisoned doughnut, Jaine isn t terribly surprised. But who could have done it? A competitive co-star and a couple of scorned lovers top Jaine s list of suspects, but the police have zeroed in on her man-crazy pal Kandi. She fell hard for Quinn and nearly fell apart when she learned of all his other women. Now Jaine has to figure out who finally stopped Quinn s cheatin heart before her best friend ends up behind bars

What I thought: I actually like this series a lot, but for some reason this one didn't speak to me as much as the others I've read. I love Jaine, Prozac, and her crazy parents and the book was fairly well written. I think the problem is I've hit a cozy wall and it's time to read something different. Overall it was just o.k. for me.

Would I recommend? Yes, it was still a decent read.

Where I got it: The Library

Challenges this book counts towards: 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge; 100 Books in a Year 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 15

Time to share with Should be Reading. Want to play? Just answer these three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

Currently I'm reading Last Writes by Laura Levine. It's the second book in the Jaine Austen Mystery Series

Recently I finished Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle. The seventh in the Coffee House Mystery Series. The first one I read, but I'm like that - I usually always start somewhere in the middle.

Next I plan on reading Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. It's one of my almost overdue library books so I need to get it read and returned pronto! This, surprisingly, seems to be the first in a series - who knew?!







~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown