LIBRARY LOOT

This is an enticing new meme (for me) that showcases the books we’ve found at the library this week.

Hosted by Eva and Marg, this week’s host is Marg, at Reading Adventures.

For years I’d gone to the library regularly, but then I lost the habit.

A newly rediscovered practice, I’m finding it an exciting event.  Especially the part about going online and requesting books.  Then when I get there to pick up the book I’ve reserved, I find other books.

I try not to go overboard, because I’m still working my way through my TBR stacks, and now I have a few other books to review from authors and Amazon Vine.

First we have Patricia Cornwell’s At Risk, which is the one I’d requested.  I’ve been seeing her books everywhere, and now that I’m participating in the Awesome Authors Challenge, I thought she would be another great author to explore.

On Amazon, we read:

A Massachusetts state investigator is called home from Knoxville, Tennessee, where he is completing a course at the National Forensic Academy. His boss, the district attorney, attractive but hard-charging, is planning to run for governor, and as a showcase she’s planning to use a new crime initiative called At Risk-its motto: “Any crime, any time.” In particular, she’s been looking for a way to employ cutting-edge DNA technology, and she thinks she’s found the perfect subject in an unsolved twenty-year-old murder-in Tennessee. If her office solves the case, it ought to make them all look pretty good, right?

Her investigator is not so sure-not sure about anything to do with this woman, really-but before he can open his mouth, a shocking piece of violence intervenes, an act that shakes up not only both their lives but the lives of everyone around them. It’s not a random event. Is it personal? Is it professional? Whatever it is, the implications are very, very bad indeed . . . and they’re about to get much worse.

Sparks fly, traps spring, twists abound-this is the master working at the top of her game.

Next, I discovered another Evanovich novel, having read my first Stephanie Plum adventure last week.   Plum Lovin’ is described as a “between-the-numbers” tale, and this is the Amazon blurb:

A perfect Valentine’s Day bonbon, a dreamy comma in the numbered series that features Stephanie Plum of Trenton, bounty hunter and gal from the Burg. A few years ago at Christmas, Diesel appeared in Stephanie’s apartment. He’s back, still blond, disheveled, and now hiding matchmaker Annie Hart. Stephanie is looking for Annie because she’s wanted on assault. Diesel wants Stephanie to do the matchmaking in Annie’s place and then he will hand her over so Stephanie can collect the bond. Is Diesel an angel? He does have a few interesting abilities, and he doesn’t seem bothered by walls and doors. There is a hint of sweet magic as this odd couple bring together a butcher and a barista, a woman with too many kids and pets and a lonely veterinarian, and even Lula, Stephanie’s plus-sized colleague, and Tank (longtime readers will know the silent Tank as Ranger’s second in command). Evanovich keeps the language light and sweet and the action nonstop, filling a few plot holes in the main series and finally getting Stephanie’s sister, Valerie, married to the ill-named Albert Kloughn on Valentine’s Day. Adorable. GraceAnne DeCandido

Great!  I didn’t even know the part about Valentine’s Day when I checked it out.  I just grabbed it, because it was the only Evanovich book that was on the shelves!

And last, but not least, a Fannie Flagg.  I’ve enjoyed her books since “Fried Green Tomatoes.” The one I picked was Can’t Wait To Get To Heaven.

So what does Amazon say about this one?

Life is the strangest thing. One minute, Mrs. Elner Shimfissle is up in her tree, picking figs, and the next thing she knows, she is off on an adventure she never dreamed of, running into people she never in a million years expected to meet. Meanwhile, back home, Elner’s nervous, high-strung niece Norma faints and winds up in bed with a cold rag on her head; Elner’s neighbor Verbena rushes immediately to the Bible; her truck driver friend, Luther Griggs, runs his eighteen-wheeler into a ditch–and the entire town is thrown for a loop and left wondering, “What is life all about, anyway?” Except for Tot Whooten, who owns Tot’s Tell It Like It Is Beauty Shop. Her main concern is that the end of the world might come before she can collect her social security.

In this comedy-mystery, those near and dear to Elner discover something wonderful: Heaven is actually right here, right now, with people you love, neighbors you help, friendships you keep. Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven is proof once more that Fannie Flagg “was put on this earth to write” (Southern Living), spinning tales as sweet and refreshing as iced tea on a summer day, with a little extra kick thrown in.

So that’s my haul…manageable, I hope, since I’m going to be reading from my stacks as well.  In fact, I still have a book left from the last library haul.

Hope you’ll stop by, share your comments and links, and enjoy your reading week.

NEW ADVENTURES TO EXPLORE

Welcome to my Blog, and welcome to February!

This month is one of my favorites, for lots of reasons.

First, even though it doesn’t have the same celebratory feeling as it used to have—back when I was working at a full-time career—we have the President’s Day holiday.

Then, my two granddaughters (my only two!) have birthdays this month.  One on the 13th and the other on the 21st.  The same year, too!  Imagine that.  Dedicated to these two, I have a blog called Snow Impressions, which features a photo of them taken in the snow during a vacation at Big Bear (near LA).  The two girls were seven that year (and this year they’ll be thirteen!).

How time flies!

One of the girls lives here in Fresno, and the other lives in LA.  A couple of summers ago, I had the two of them visiting me during the same week.  That was fun!

With their busy lives, there is less and less time for these occasions.  But the blog and the header featuring them helps me remember those special moments.

Oh…and the other thing I like about February is how short the month is…less time between paydays!  LOL.

Because there would be no other reason for me to celebrate the galloping of Time.  Certainly not at my age when I have so much more to do yet!

My newest blog, Creative Moments, is my special place to document my creations.  My newest creations,  like short stories and my current novel (in progress).

Another blog here is my go-to site for documenting my progress through my TBR stacks, which is moving right along, BTW.  That blog is CURL UP AND READ.

I just posted some reviews there…as well as on RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS.

Now I must get back to reading…and later, I’ll be working on my manuscript.

Hope you’ll stop by and share your own explorations.

SPOTLIGHTING FRAN LEWIS

Today I have had the pleasure to spotlight another blogger/author, Fran Lewis, whose story is told as a Guest Blogger.

Fran describes in detail her journey toward her career as a writer, which came together for her when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

In this process, she also shares her experiences growing up, and the challenges she faced.

What Fran has to tell is her own “coming-of-age” tale, as well as her mother’s journey toward memory loss and the unique tragedy that brings.

Memories are Precious reveals much about that voyage.

LIBRARY LOOT

Yesterday was filled with appointments and seemingly over-programmed, but I wended my way to the library.

My “draw” on this day was a book I had requested.

So naturally, while there, I had to pick up a couple of additional ones.

Check out my haul:

The one I’d requested was Mrs. Dalloway. Then, I saw the Janet Evanovich book, Eleven on Top,  and I’d been planning to start that series.  Then, finally, an Alice Hoffman book that I’d had on my list for awhile, Skylight Confessions.

Today’s Library Loot is hosted by Marg, at Reading Adventures.

Hope to see some of you here, commenting and linking to your own library stash.

LAUREL-RAIN SNOW CREATIONS

Check out my Slide Show!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW — DIANA BLACK

The other day, I had the opportunity to interview this charming author, Diana Black, whose book about Women Over Fifty brought forth an interesting club, some blogs, etc.

They are the WOOFERS, so check out this link to my interview to find out more!

WOOFERS INTERVIEW here, and have a look at this book cover.

A MAGICAL JOURNEY — A Review of “Whale Song”

From the talented author Cheryl Kaye Tardif we are given a poignant and haunting tale—a coming-of-age story of a young girl transplanted to an island culture that combined Native mysticism with the beautiful animal world of the whales.

When Sarah Richardson’s family moved from Wyoming to Vancouver Island, she was not happy. Leaving behind a life of familiarity and comfort, including her best friend, she could not imagine ever experiencing joy again. Her parents, however, immerse themselves into their new lives—her mother resumes her art and her father, his marine biology.

But soon enough, she finds herself seamlessly drawn to the island, the ocean, and eventually to a new best friend—Goldie Dixon—and a wise old woman called Nana, who instilled Native Nootka mysticism into her new identity.

Unfortunately, as she begins a new school year, she becomes the victim of racism meted out by another young girl and learns what it’s like to be bullied. In the process, however, she discovers the other girl’s secret abuse by her father, and during a school field trip, when she saves the other girl’s life, they become fast friends.

As life begins to settle into some kind of normalcy, Sarah is happy— she even has experienced her first crush on Adam, a young boy in her class.

But then life takes a tragic turn, as she learns of her mother’s terminal illness. Then in a horrible and devastating moment that dramatically alters all of their lives, something happens in that hospital room; something that Sarah cannot remember—hysterical amnesia, the doctors report. Because her father is the suspect, he is sent to prison for murder…for allegedly turning off his wife’s life support.

Through the horrible aftermath, Sarah clings to Nana’s words: “When wolf walks by her, she will remember.”

What finally emerges, years later, will set them all free.

A powerful tale of mystery, drama, coming-of-age, and Native mysticism, Whale Song: A Novel was like a magical journey…I couldn’t put it down!

SENTIMENTALITY — A Review of “Same Time Next Year”

When this movie came out, I loved it! In fact, I listened to the music from Johnny Mathis (“The Last Time I Felt Like This”) over and over.

In this movie, the premise seems trite. A couple meets, spends a weekend together, and that’s it. But it isn’t, and this particular couple, played by Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn, decides to meet again the “same time next year.” And then, over the next couple of decades, we see the two of them connect again and again. We watch them as they grow and change—sometimes she grows more than he, and sometimes vice versa.

We’re kind of rooting for them to get together, but we also know, on some level, that if this relationship were to become permanent, it would change…irrevocably.

I love the pairing of these two actors, and the theme music from Johnny Mathis evokes so many emotions in me…from that time. It transports me back to what was happening in my own life.

A memorable movie that touches on emotions and reminds us that it’s the moments in life that are most memorable.

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED — A Review of “One Good Turn”

When a mysterious man driving a Peugeot puts on the brakes to avoid hitting a passenger, he is struck from behind by a blue Honda. This action sets in motion a whole series of events – beginning with Honda Man wielding a bat toward Peugeot driver’s head – which next leads to a bystander’s intervention. The mild-mannered bystander hits the bat-wielding individual with his laptop case.

The lives of these disparate individuals collide in this moment; then they begin to intersect at various points along the way in the upcoming days. As it turns out, the mild-mannered man is a successful mystery writer – Martin Canning – who pens his novels under the name Alex Blake. The man in the Peugeot is “Paul Bradley,” but in actuality, this is an alias. And Honda Man turns out to be one Terence Smith.

Add to the mix a businessman, Graham Hatter, whose dealings are fraudulent; his disenchanted wife Gloria, who is not unhappy when he has an accident in a hotel room with a woman and ends up in ICU, near death; and then toss in the machinations of members of a cleaning/miscellaneous assignments crew called Favors – and you have the makings for a complex suspense tale that draws the attention of the local police – namely Louise Monroe – and a former policeman/private detective named Jackson Brodie.

All are in Edinburgh, where a Festival is going on – and where Julia, Jackson’s girlfriend, is a participant, along with comedian Richard Mott, who also happens to be Martin Canning’s houseguest.

How does each of these characters figure into the overall plot? Who has set in motion the events that will lead to murder, mayhem, and destruction? Rapidly turning pages, hoping to find the answers, I could not get there fast enough.

Just as exciting as Atkinson’s previous and subsequent novels, Case Histories: A Novel and When Will There be Good News? (Import) (UK Hardcover) Atkinson, One Good Turn: A Jolly Murder Mystery leaves the reader wanting more – all the way to the surprising end.

A CAPTIVATING SAGA — POWERFUL BONDS

“Show us your true colors, who you used to be.”

This is the challenge posed to the patriarch of the Grey family, by the oldest daughter Winona—at a pivotal moment in their lives— and when he responded by slamming the door to his study, making himself an island, separate and alone, she knew. He had chosen not to care about the things that mattered to his daughters.

Thus comes the beginning of the end to this family saga. The three sisters, joined by family connections and the wish of their dying mother that they never forget that they are sisters…Connected by their heritage and their history, these three—Winona, the oldest, a well-known attorney, who is always seeking (and seldom receiving) her father’s approval; Aurora, the family peacemaker; and Vivi Ann, the undisputed star of the family, the one to whom everything seemingly comes easily—until that time when a stranger comes to town.

When Vivi Ann falls for the handsome, dangerous-appearing man who has become their ranch hand, she is already engaged to Luke— the love of Winona’s life—and settled into an acceptable plan for her own future. Marriage, children—all of the things she supposedly wants—but instead, she walks the dangerous path of defiance and runs off with her lover.

Dallas Raintree, half-Indian with a juvenile history of assaults and thefts, strikes a discordant note in all of their lives. For Winona, especially—since her unrequited love for Luke is now a possibility, if only Vivi Ann leaves him for another. But when Winona manipulates things so that Luke discovers the betrayal, she is totally unprepared for the consequences that will ripple through all of their lives for years to come.

For the joining of Dallas and Vivi Ann is not the end of anything. It is the beginning of a lifetime for Vivi Ann of being on the outside of the approval her father cares so much about.

And when something happens that wrests away the happiness the two lovers had sought—something outside the law—the pair spends many years apart, wronged by the judgment of a town and the small-minded law enforcement investigation that rushes to judgment.

Will Winona finally come through for her sister and the “wronged” lover? Can she find a resolution that will turn aside a conviction?

True Colors is a magnificent portrayal of family dynamics that shift and turn as destiny unfolds. A memorable and thought-provoking voyage to a satisfying conclusion.