Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Mistletoe Murder




Author: Leslie Meier

What can I say about Mistletoe Murder? I can say I really enjoyed the story. I think it is a great cozy mystery. No blood,no gore and the heroine didn't have to shoot anybody
There is a review that Jill Churchill wrote "Leslie Meier has created a town I'd like to live in and a sleuth I'd love to meet". And I agree. I would love to visit Tinker's Cove, Maine where there is a little town with a homemade sleuth with a big heart named Lucy Stone. When reading this book I felt that this was a truly Christmas town as everyone got ready for the holiday. People worked, family came for visits, kids went to school and looking forward to Santa coming, dinner to cook. And not to forget someone is murdered ;)


Any favorite characters? Not really. I liked a lot of them. Lucy Stone, her husband Bill who even though seemed to keep an eye on her, did support her in her sleuthing. Sue, Lucy's best friend,no sleuth can go without a best friend. Barney Culpepper, the town police who also was a friend of Lucy's and did activities with for their kids.
These are some of the characters of mine.


Anything unique about the book? Yes there is one thing that stood out in the book. Since Lucy worked at a mail order place, at the begining of each chapter there is a description of something in the catolog. And that something usually had something to do with the chapter, a symbolism.

There was a item of a compass that no hiker should go without. And the symbolism was of the Cub Scouts who needed to do something before the holiday break. Lucy took them on a little hike.
I thought this a little ironic since I'm involved with Scouts. And only know too well how important it is to find something for the boys to do.



Any last thoughts? Even though this book seems to be short and not much to it, there is a twist to it. You have to read to find out



I'm giving Mistletoe Murder 4 



Amazon says Customers who bought this item also bought Christmas Cookie Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier
Turkey Day Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier
Trick Or Treat Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier
Birthday Party Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier
Valentine Murder: A Lucy Stone Mystery (Lucy Stone Mysteries (Paperback)) by Leslie Meier



Yes this is a bookcrossing book and I don't know where it is going yet. But it is part of a Christmas Swap Exchange. Whoever wins the book I hope will enjoy :)




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Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Hallowed Murder






Author: Ellen Hart
Main character: Jane Lawless
1st book in the series introducing Jane to us.


What caught my eye about Hallowed Murder? The cover of the book,which is colorful with a bowl of strawberries on a table with a rose. Second, I read the synopsis. Hmm... I said intresting. A light mystery, a cozy mystery. And what is a cozy mystery? an example is said to be: The detectives in cozies typically use brains and not brawn to get to the bottom of a crime. Last, was the topper. Jane Lawless is written as a gay sleuth. I have read "cozies" before but not with the emphasis on someone being gay and a restaurant owner. Of course the book that started Jane Lawless' life.


Favorite characters: Well that would have to be Jane Lawless, of course. Cordelia Thorn, an old friend of Jane's. And Maggie Christopherson, House manager of KAS, friend of Allison Lord


Why would I pick these characters as favorites? I picked Jane well because she is a nice person, would do anything to help people out, and to sum it up she brings friendship,intimacy and a sense of humor to the people she knows and meets plus she is the main character :) ,Cordelia is funny,she is a friend that Jane could count on, even if she had a lot to say it was always said with Jane's intrest in mind. And than Maggie, I liked her because she was (tried) to be a friend to all in their sorority. Plus I think Maggie needed to have a friend that she could confide in on sorority issues. So it was good that she befriended Jane who is a sorority alumni advisor.


What I thought about the story? Trying not to give to much a way because you got to read this good story. I thought the story unique in a way about a girl Allison Lord who was in a sorority that was trying to find her way of who she was. But than her life got cut short. Than to find out that her friends were trying to find their way around their lives. It is different to read something else about gay issues other than military,law enforcement etc.. the story has a human side to this.

I found that the usual stuff is said about being gay. And Jane trying her hardest to show that there is more important things to do, like finding the killer, than terrorizing others, including her, about being gay.

There are a couple of characters I don't know why was brought in to the story. And they are Edwin Lord and Beth McGrawEdwin is Allison's brother the only thing that he did was come to the memorial and to talk to Jane Lawless. After that pretty much you didn't hear much about him.
Beth is another one, she was there to tell the story about her sister Jamie and the state of mind that Jamie was in on Thanksgiving Day.
Again don't want to say too much than would give the best parts up. But they might be suspects?


A very intresting reason why this book is called Hallowed Murder.

Hallowed meaning..

(American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source) hal·low (hl) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. hal·lowed, hal·low·ing, hal·lows
To make or set apart as holy.
To respect or honor greatly; revere.

In the story says: I have spoken your message to the heathen,oh Lord,your righteous, your hallowed servant!






I give Hallowed Murder a rating of  5
: because it is a 1st in series and a very good story.
Amazon says: What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? The Dartmouth Murders (St. Martin's True Crime Library) by Eric Francis, and Stage Fright (A Jane Lawless Mystery) by Ellen Hart


This is a bookcrossing book and now will travel to New Hampshire. Another place where Jane Lawless can visit :)




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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

The Photograph



Author: Penelope LivelyDo I have a favorite character? Yes I do. I like the main character Kath. Sadly when Kath was talked about she had died. I felt that she didn't get much of a chance. She wasn't heard or seen by her older sister. Even her husband I wonder why he ever married her. The one person that seemed to have an intrest in her was just fasinated by her, in my option. But she did have a good friend Mary Packard. Kath was able to go to her and be herself, her one true friend. There were things going on with her that these people in her life could of appreciated and enrich their lives.


My thoughts on The Photograph: I thought the story was an intresting one. It was the only reason why I kept going on to read it. My true feelings were even though it was a short book, it was a very long story. The author took sections and explained how each character was and was with Kath. Sometimes it's better to say a tree is a tree. And forget about adjectives. Get right to the point. Instead this story just drug it's feet. Glyn, Kath's husband found this photo which said distroy on the envelope. But he decided to find out what the photo was all about. I would too until I seen where it was leading me. He found something that he didn't want to see. After getting the jest of who is wife was. He continued on the trail. Only to find out it's better to leave things the way they are. Can't change the past. He was too late. Instead he upset a lot of people. Hence where it was so boring to hear about each person that was in Kath's life. The moral of the story. Kath had touched everyone's life in a way. And if everyone took the time to get to know her. Her life might of meant something to her
Leave well enough alone!

It wasn't til the end of the book where I started to understand Kath. How she seemed to be a wonderful person. There was more to her than being flaky like a lot of people thought. It took all that time and people to read through to find out that a true friend (Mary Packard) was the one that believed in her.




I give this book a rating of: 3 

just because I like the story.



Amazon says: people that bought The Photograh, bought Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
The Wife: A Novel by Meg Wolitzer
Crow Lake (Today Show Book Club #7) by Mary Lawson
The Birth of Venus: A Novel by Sarah Dunant


This book is a bookcrossing book and it will be going to ME in the States where someone else can enjoy!





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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

looking glass



Author: A. J. Matthews

The character I liked: Well, I think I have two. Of course I like the main character Brenda Ireland. But the second I think was a good one was John Ireland

Why do I like these characters?:
Because Brenda was the one all of this strange stuff was happening too. And in her own way she was trying to be strong. Not for herself so much as for her family.
John Ireland was Brenda and her husband Matt's son. While all this crazy stuff was happening he was trying to understand what his parents and stepsister were going through. He was a younger boy but knew what was right from wrong. A good kid!

A favorite quote in the book: "What's she doing? Is there someone in the house? What the fuck is going on"?

Why do I like that quote? Just because it was said by Matt Ireland he really wasn't paying much attention to Brenda when she was trying to tell him there was something wrong. Than finally when strange things started to happen, this was all he can say. What a guy!

What do I like best about the book?: I like the twist toward the end of the book. And why do I like this? Is that the talk about reflection in the glass, mirror, it wasn't fear of that. But fear for what was going to happen in the story. From the start when Matt, a lawyer, put away a murderer, Matt's ex-wife, a person who was having trouble with drinking to reality, and Brenda's mother who died in a nursing home we can see why Brenda was acting the way she was. And to find out that she is stronger than we all think.

What does this story tell me?: It tells me that it was what was inside of Brenda that all of this strange stuff was happening to her. Not any one thing outside of her world. It was fear from herself and the future. Yes this book leaned toward Twilight Zone moments but it was Brenda that had overcome them and embraced them.
And if we can I think we should try it ourselves

I give this book a rating of: 5 



Amazon says:
Customers that read looking glass was intrested in The White Room by A. J. Matthews, Haunted (MIRA S.) by Heather Graham, Five Mile House: A Novel by Karen Novak, The Loveliest Dead by Ray Garton, Wildwood Road by Christopher Golden


Is looking glass a bookcrossing book?: Yes it is. And it will be heading it's way to Portugal next




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Saturday, September 09, 2006

Down Bound Train



Author: Bill Garnett

The character that I liked:Robert Latimer

Why do I like this character? I like this character because he was a man that just wanted a good life for himself and his family. But had problems that included his wife, and daughter, Felicity. No one is perfect.

The character that was the scariest: Felicity Latimer

Why was this character the scariest? because she was just a little girl that took what was happening as a game. She would provoke everyone to do bad things.It really wasn't of her will either. Was she possessed? hmm...

Favorite part of the book: I actually have two. First one is of Bill Armstrong. He took a walk outside the compartment of the train only to pass other compartments that were empty. He knew that the train was full when heading out of the station. A not so good feeling fell upon him.
Second, is Bill opened it's doors to his compartment "like a man who wakes to a sunny morning after a nightmare". What does he see? His other train mates looking out the window and seeing just above the fog, swung a corpse on a gibbet.

What does this story tell me? It tells me even the people that think they live a good life and really do think they are right morally, will get in the long run the tables turned on them.
Each character in this story acted badly in someway. They happened to be on this same train. A train that was going to a better place indeed, went in a total opposite direction. Is their actions on this train Hell?



I give this book a rating of:  5



Barnes and Noble says: This is an Out of Print book



Is this a BookCrossing book?
Yes it is :D and I am keeping this as a Permanant Collection. For now




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Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Under Construction

Slowly but surely I'm getting my blog to look good :) I have more and will post later more goodies ;)

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Here I am

I thought I would try Blogger. I like their format. Don't exactly know what to say yet but I'll be back :) ;;;;