Holidays

HOLIDAYS:

As a nation we are gearing up to celebrate the 4th of July holiday. This has me wondering what your favorite holidays are and what are your least favorite holidays? I think the 4th Of July is one of my least favorite holidays (which probably means I am more of a grouch than I think I am) but I really can't warm up to this holiday. I don't dislike it I just don't care for the holiday. This one is probably my least favorite and then probably Easter comes as the next one.

As a child I loved Easter but as an adult it doesn't hold the same feelings for me.

My favorites are Halloween and Thanksgiving which probably has a lot to do with the season they fall in and the fact that as an adult I can still find the magic in these holidays.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas wears me out and in our family someone is always disgruntled with someone else. I just really look forward to New Years Day......LOL anyway tell us your least favorite and your most favorite holidays.

I really hope everyone has a great 4th Of July and no matter how you spend it we are a great nation.

Love,

Pam

Review: Grace Among Thieves

Grace Among Thieves by Julie Hyzy is the third book in the “Manor House” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, June 2012

When Grace’s former professor calls to warn her that there have been a rash of thefts at various historical sites, Grace isn’t surprised—because Marshfield Manor has been targeted, too. She wonders if it has something to do with the film crew roaming the grounds, digitally immortalizing the manor, but then she gets distracted by an incident much more dire: the shooting of one guest and the murder of another.  Grace does her best not to go looking for trouble, but with a murderer on the loose, she can’t seem to leave the dirty work to the cops—especially since the killer still seems to be lurking around town, waiting to finish the job of making Grace history.

Someone is stealing items from Marshfield Manor and things go from bad to worse when a guest is murdered and another shot. Grace captures the killer on film and soon becomes a target herself and will have to use long dormant skills to slice this case open.  Julie has done it again; she’s written a great story that showcases the strength and moxie of Grace Wheaton as she investigates thefts and another murder at Marshfield Manor. The author did a good job in fleshing out this mystery with plenty of diversion that kept my attention as I could not put this book down. This was an excellent read and I can’t wait for what happens next at Marshfield Manor in this enjoyably pleasant series.

--Dru

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Review: Corpse in the Crystal Ball

Corpse in the Crystal Ball by Kari Lee Townsend is the second book in the “Fortune Teller” mystery series. Publisher: June 2012

After clearing her name as the prime suspect in a murder, Sunny Meadows hopes she can finally enjoy some serenity in the idyllic town of Divinity in upstate New York. She’d also like a second chance with Detective Mitch Stone. But when Mitch’s gorgeous ex-girlfriend Isabel Gonzales shows up, Sunny’s not sure she can compete. Then Isabel mysteriously disappears.  When the police turn to Sunny for help, her visions lead to the discovery of Isabel’s corpse in the woods. Before she died, Isabel scrawled a message in the dirt implicating Mitch in her murder. Now Sunny must help the man she’s falling in love with as she sets out to find the real killer. But this time Sunny’s clairvoyant abilities might not save her—as what she doesn’t see can hurt her.

What a great read. I love a book that keeps me in suspense and make me laugh at the same time. This fast-moving and action filled drama entertained me as the author did a good job in leading me in several directions with the many twists and turns in this well-written mystery that quickly became a page-turner. What I enjoy most is the relationships that Sunny has with her friends and family that shines in every scene and their antics had me laughing and the addition of her Granny–awesome. Their antics had me laughing. I look forward to the next book in this delightfully appealing and charming series.

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com

Review: The Diva Digs Up The Dirt

The Diva Digs Up The Dirt by Krista Davis is the sixth book in the “Domestic Diva” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, June 2012

Determined not to be a garden-variety diva, Sophie Winston’s neighbor, Natasha, cultivates a plan to shine on television—using Sophie’s backyard. As the cast and crew of the makeover show Tear It Up With Troy bulldoze through her backyard—and vacation—Sophie retreats to her perennial boyfriend Wolf’s to replace a dead rose bush. But her tender deed goes awry when she digs up a purse belonging to Wolf’s missing wife. As speculations sprout, Wolf bolts, and then a body crops up in a garden. Is Wolf’s thorny past raising a dead head? This is one case the domestic diva can’t let wither on the vine.

Doing a good deed at her boyfriend’s house leads to a discovery that takes Sophie on a journey with surprising results. What an exciting read that I could not put down. The twists and turns in this frantic paced mystery kept me both intrigued and guessing as the story moved towards a conclusion befitting the title of this wonderfully crafted novel. This series keeps getting better and better and I look forward to the new adventure that awaits them in this delightfully entertaining series.

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com

Review - Conviction

I finally watched this movie.  Hillary Swank was great as I expected.  The story for those of you who don't know, is of a woman who's brother is convicted of first degree murder.  She believes his innocence and is determined to help him.  So she goes to law school and passes the bar, enlisting the help of the Innocence Project as well.  She doesn't give up and even pushes state employees to find evidence listed as destroyed that actually had not been in order to take advantage of DNA testing.  Even then he is not released due to a hard-ball DA.  She pushes to find new evidence until finally he is released.  Both her performance and Sam Rockwell (her brother)'s are amazing.

And the really amazing thing is that this is all based on a true story.  I love my brother, but can't imagine going to such extremes for him. And I have to give credit to The Innocence Project as well.  As much as we don't like to admit it, some people are wrongfully convicted.  Especially on eyewitness testimony (which in this case was perjurous).  I remember seeing a powerful play many years ago based on several cases they had freed people on.  It was called The Exonerated and starred Brian Dennehy, Chad Lowe and Mia Farrow.  I still believe the majority of police are good and truly do try to find the truth.  In this movie, the investigating officer was corrupt.  But it heartwarming to see him get out of jail and meet his grown up daughter, though you have to be sad about all he lost.  Excellent movie

Terri

Review: Copycat Killing

Copycat Killing by Sofie Kelly is the third book in the “Magical Cats” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, May 2012

It’s been raining cats and dogs in Mayville Heights. The small town’s been deluged, and now the local artists’ co-op is on the verge of flooding. Kathleen has been working hard to help her friends move their creations to the safety of the upstairs studio.  The artwork survives, but when controversial mask-maker Jaeger Merrill is found drowned in the co-op basement, Kathleen questions whether the death was accidental. With the help of handsome detective Marcus Gordon—and her cats’ extraordinary powers of detection—it’s up to Kathleen to unmask a killer.

This was a good read. Dead bodies seems to find Kathleen when first she falls down an embankment and then finds one drowned in basement. Are the two incidents connected, despite being years apart? Is the drowning accidental or murder?  That is what I faced as this book became a page-turner that I could not put down. The author did a good job in keeping me guessing in this mystifying whodunit. The story boasts a strong heroine who is making her own way in her newly adopted town, two friendly felines who are a whiz at communicating and a supporting cast that rounds out this charmingly terrific series and with that ending, I can’t wait for the next book in this lighthearted tale.

--Dru

    http://notesfromme.wordpress.com

Review - Fashion Faux Paw

Fashion Faux Paw by Judi McCoy

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Signet; Original edition (March 6, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0451236270

Ellie is a professional dog walker.  She has been hired to take care of the models' dogs at a special Fashion Week contest.  When one of the designers is killed, she is asked to snoop and find out who did it.
Ellie also has a special gift of being able to communicate psychicly with her charges which helps her immensely with both her job and her snooping.
I loved Ellie and her friends - they are interesting characters.  And I loved the setting as I am a fashion addict and love competitions like Project runway.
The motive was not easy to figure out but the story was quite satisfying
It is mostly cozy - but the language may offend some readers

Terri