Why I love Clint Eastood

"These people who are making a big deal out of gay marriage? I don't give a fuck about who wants to get married to anybody else! Why not?! We're making a big deal out of things we shouldn't be making a deal out of. They go on and on with all this bullshit about "sanctity" — don't give me that sanctity crap! Just give everybody the chance to have the life they want."

- Clint Eastwood to GQ magazine about his thoughts on gay marriage

Long time no blog.... but I've read some great books!

It's been ages since I took the time to blog.  After moving I went through a bizarre series of life events that led me to leave my job and begin to seek new avenues in life.  Although decisions of this magnitude are often made in haste, mine was not, and I am happily planning the next phase of the amazing gift and adventure that is life.  Since I have posted on this blog I have read cozy mystery's and Young Adult fiction like a fiend.  Cookbooks, art history books and the amazing HBO production of George R.R. Martin's
Game of Thrones also kept my mind occupied and satisfied. And... this respite has proved "just what the doctor ordered" in a time I needed to heal my body, mind and soul.

Early in May I stumbled upon Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen Mysteries; with recipes included!  http://www.murdershebaked.com/  The books in this series are delightfully light and cozy mysteries with deceptive plots and a little romance, just a little, which to me is perfect.  Too much romance and this girls a goner.  Filled with delicious recipes for cookies, cakes, appetizers, and eventually every kind of food you can imagine, I highly recommend the series.  I'm waiting for the most recent publication Devil's Food Cake Murder to arrive at the library, and I am ready for it!  Also, this fall Joanne Fluke is publishing a cook book with all the cookie recipes plus some never before published recipes.  Exciting!!  I am not going to tell a lie... My favorite part of these books is the recipes.  Twin Chocolate Delight Cookies truly changed my life.  Even if you aren't a huge mystery reader - check them out.  The cookies are worth the try - I haven't found a bad recipe yet and I have tried a lot of them.

Other than devouring cookie books, hee hee, I've read a couple of great YA novels.  First I finally got my hands on Rick Riordan's ( http://www.rickriordan.com/home.aspx ) latest adventure at Camp Half Blood -  The Lost Hero.  It was AMAZING!!!  I loved getting back to the world of the Half-Bloods and the Greek Gods.  I can honestly say the Percy Jackson series are among my favorite books ever written.

There are still a few lucky souls ahead of me on the waiting list for Riordan's 2nd adventure with the Kane Twins, The Throne of Fire, and I have no doubt it will satisfy as all Riordan's works seem to do.  I love the sense of adventure all his characters posses and I really respect that he keeps his series to a manageable length.  Moving on is often a good thing when you've got that flow.  Especially in the way Riordan has connected the new Camp Half Blood Adventures.



Today I started The Warlock book 5 in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott.  Another of my favorite YA series I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in my favorite chair and reading the first half of the book this afternoon.  As soon as I finish dithering on here about reading, I plan to curl back up with The Warlock and get back on the ride.  Michael Scott. once again, dose not fail to impress.  From the first page the adventures of Josh and Sophie take off running as the twins divided each try to save the world and stop the other before it is too late.  Epic adventure, this book and I highly suggest you all read this series.

On that note.... I'll end this rather long blog and get back to my book.  I'll try to make more frequent and shorter entries in the future.  Until then happy reading and happy adventures. Remember, in the end, it's usually worth it when you go down the rabbit hole.

Keep on Dancing till the World Ends

Just in case their right - Keep On Dancing Till the World Ends!!!

Otherwise...  We're pretty much finished moving and I hope to get back to reading soon....

Until then...  Just Dance!

Peace.

Deadly Threads by Jane K. Cleland

By far one of my favorite mystery authors, Jane K. Cleland's newest publication Deadly Threads delivered another educational, exciting and well written cozy mystery to add to her Josie Prescott Antique Mystery Series.  This time around Josie is working with vintage clothes, shoes and handbags ~~~ Three of my Favorite Things!  A girl can have loves....  Anywho... after Josie's friend, and fellow vintage fashonista, Riley Jordan is murdered in the tag room of Prescott's Antiques, Josie, Gretchen, the entire Prescott's staff, including their new found Gallery Cat, Hank, find themselves deeply involved in a race to stop a killer before the killer gets to them.

Moving blues 'caus I don't have time to read....

Although there is something completely exhilarating about moving the obscene amount of time it takes is making me blue.  I haven't had time to read much.  This makes for a sad library ninja.  :(

However, I did have a night for Scorpia Rising the latest and last installment in Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series.  I thoroughly enjoyed it - as I though I would!  Horowitz has a magical quality to his prose and each time I read one of his books I'm whisked away on adventures I would have dearly loved to have experienced as a teenager.  One must admit a bit of sadness that the Alex Rider Series has come to a close, however, I have a lot of respect for the author as he chose not to drag it on and on and on like many authors do.  Characters, like humans, have a life span.  I like authors that get that.  I'm really hoping Mr. Horowitz will get to penning the next book in the Power of Five series, but alas, like all kids and grow up kids alike ... I have to wait.  *sigh*  :)

As I pack and move I'm re-reading, via Recorded Books, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.  I forgot how much I love this series.  It's very well paralleled to our current world situations.  I am also reading The Sherlokian, by Graham Moore.  Well I will be as soon as I finish writing this and get to reading.

Cheers!

A Lesson In Secrets

Absolutely my favorite author of the 21st Century, Jacqueline Winspear has done it once again, a brilliantly written epic adventure into the world of Masie Dobbs.  In the 8th installment of the Masie Dobbs series we are taken to 1932 as Masie finally begins to fulfill the destiny left to her by her mentor Maruice Blanche.  Caught up in the world of espionage and as a representative of His Majesty's Secret Service Masie is sent back to her beloved Cambridge to pose as a junior lecturer in Philosophy.    In her role as undercover professor, Masie is forced to step back when the founder and president of the college is murdered.  However, Masie must solve the problem of the murder to solve the problem for the secret service.  


As Masie delves into the university staff and students the undercurrent of Nazi sentiments in Britain become apparent.  Winspear does an amazing job of setting the scene of how Heir Hitler had an affect in many places.  I think this point was one of my favorite points of the book.  Masie seems to realize, beyond any doubt, that the Nazi influence was bad and something to be aware of - but the secret service might not have been ready to listen to a woman.  


If you're new to the Masie Dobbs series, you can get the full scoop here; http://jacquelinewinspear.com/ Jacqueline Winspear's blog.  

A Lesson In Secrets Jacqueline Winspear
Harper, Hardcover, (March 2011), ISBN-13: 978-0061727672
Paperback, (March 2011), ISBN-13: 978-0062065063

WTF

I really like Jennifer Garner, but WTF is this that she has been cast as the new Miss Marple.  ( http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=30544 )  I'm sorry, but as a TRUE Agatha Christie lover (both literary & film) this is an awful decision on someone's part.  1) she's TOO YOUNG & 2) she's AMERICAN!  Why not Helen Mirrin or Judi Dench.

LORD!

The Witch's Daughter

Just finished The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston.  I really did enjoy it, but it took a while for me to get into it.  Then the ending kind of disappointed, but overall I gave it a 3/5 on Shelfari.  As far as an overall sense of the book I found the writing well done and the story was easy to get wrapped up in after the "story in the story" began.  I'll defiantly read more by this author.  

Discovering Aunt Dimity!

I'm really not sure how I've managed to overlook Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series for the last 15 years, but I have!  However, I'm so excited to have discovered it.  What fun, lighthearted mysteries!  I've just finished Aunt Dimity's Death and am excited to get the next book in the series tomorrow, when I'm a Saturday Librarian.

In the mean time.... I'll be reading Murder Past Due by Miranda James and finishing up Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk the newest book from the AMAZING David Sedaris.  There is also a new R.A. Salvatore I've got checked out - but I'll save that one for Sunday.

Cheers for a peaceful weekend!  Right now, my prayers are going out to everyone in Japan.  Such sad news to wake up to today.

Gawd I'm a bad blogger.....

I know I'm a horrid blogger....  That said - if you LOVE mysteries make sure you pick up 2 fantastic new series reads:  Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton and Bless the Bride by Rhys Bowen.  They are both well written and take you away from the daily grind.  


Next up?  Don't know yet.  I've been taking an audio book journey through the Harry Potter series and I can't say enough good things about Jim Dale and his oratory skills.  :)  


Right now I'm stuck in Library Land and just hoping to get through the day.  


Peace.


BUT - On an amazing note...  George R.R. Martin's much anticipated (for 6 years) Dance with Dragons is set to publish in July 2o11.   YEAH!!! 

ahhh... the Lord of the Rings

I'll never get enough of J R R Tolkien's epic tome.  Never.  I just listened to the books whilst enjoying my 2 hour daily commute and was amazed.  Read by Rob Inglis I was once again taken to the magical place that is Middle Earth.  I read the trilogy every couple of years, but this was the first time for me to listen to it.  AMAZEBALLS! I loved it.  So many songs put to tune... so many memories that filled my head.  Happy!

My Dad first read these books to me when I was 8 years old.  My Grandfather was dying of cancer and Daddy read them, to the two of us.  I will forever remember them both with each experience with the Lord of the Rings trilogy and other works of J R R Tolkien.  What an amazing bonding experience to have with your Dad and Granddad  -  especially after they have shuffled off this mortal coil.

OK - current audio books - a re-visitation to the wonderful world of Hogwarts.  On Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets now.  J. K. Rowling is another AMAZING fantasy author.   Exciting!!  :)  Reading - the new J. A. Jance; Fatal Error.

Backstage Stuff - Sharon Fiffer

Another hit from Sharon Fiffer!  What I wouldn't give to have Jane Wheel's job, a PPI -Picker and Private Investigator - it would be amazing.  Each book teaches me about antiques and the trade that is picking, all the while surrounded by a great plot and a fun story.  I look forward to the next installment of this series. 


http://www.sharonfiffer.com/

Have a Blessed Day!

Mystery, Inc....

I so love a good cozy mystery. There's really nothing better than a comfy chair, a blanket, my cat, a nice beverage & a new cozy mystery. Today I'm reading Backstage Stuff a Jane Wheel novel written by Sharon Fiffer. It completely lives up to expectation, this being one of my favorite sleuthing series.

After this I'm sure it's a return to my forage into Joan Hess's Claire Mallory mysteries while I await the new J. A. Jance & new M. C. Beaton. Excitement abounds. :)