Pam's Top Picks-Part Two of 2015

7. MURDER in the PAPERBACK PARLOR by Ellery Adams
Jane Steward run a book themed resort. This time she is organizing a Valentine's Day Regency Readers theme.
What Jane hasn't planned on is that a famous talented author is murdered.
She also had no idea how cut throat the world of romance could be.
She has plenty of help finding the murderer. her book club "The Cover Girls" are on the case. Jane's family and Storyton Hall family are also a huge help but nothing could prepare her for what happens next...
Ellery Adams has my admiration for the whole concept of this series. Titles and covers are cozy, the family I want to be a part of an would love to stay at the retreat and write my books there all day.

8. Booked for Trouble by Eva Gates, is every library lovers dream come true. Lucy Richardson has a dream job. She lives and works at the local lighthouse that is indeed the town library.
Lucy has moved away from most of her family and loves the fact she no longer has many family demands. The island lighthouse library keeps her busy, the island is good for her soul, she loves her life.
Then chaos strikes in the form of her mother. Her mother surprised her with a visit and has no plans to leave. The worst part is that her mother seems troubled and worried. When stolen jewelry is found on her mother. Lucy knows her mother is innocent. Since her mother grew up and moved away from Bodie Island some people that she once went to school with and knew have long memories and short tempers.
When her mother is baited into a public argument with a woman who was once an old school mate this bad enough. However when the woman turns up murdered in the parking lot outside the Bodie Lighthouse her mother becomes suspect number one.
Eva knows how to weave a plot and her characters reel us in hook, line and sinker.

9. the Longest Yard Sale by Sherry Harris For one day Sarah Winston turns Ellington, Massachusetts into to die for town yard sale. When a murder happens she is furious that it happened on her watch.
Trying to find out who murdered him is more than she bargained for and Sarah loves a bargain. This mystery series has something for everyone. It made the cut because I adore that Sherry Harris knows her way around a plot, a bargain, she includes practical tips for having a garage sale. Let's not forget that she also knows about military life and what secrets others people's treasures can clue us in to knowing about them. Couple all of this with clues, lies, cheating husbands, cheating wives, town managers, the mob and a double dose of strangers who don't seem to fit into the New England lifestyle.

10. Aunt Dimity and the Wishing Well by Nancy Atherton,
A young man comes to the village to settle his late-uncle's affairs. A wishing well is discovered and soon the village residents all have their wishes granted. Soon people are making life changing decisions. This leads to bad tempers, gossip, stolen objects and much more. Laurie is sure there is a logical reason behind all of the magic.


Okay now I have to say that on Monday (later in the day) I will post my non-fiction, non cozy books and the how to book list of 2015.

Hugs,
Pam

Pam's 2015: Top Picks of books

Top Ten Picks: I will narrow them down to my top five this week.

1. Black Cat Crossing by Kay Finch. This get the new first book award for being the first book in a new series. I loved, the title, plot and cover.

2. A Christmas Carol Murder by Leslie Meir. When Mr. Marlowe dies after opening a mail bomb not many people are sorry to see him die.
The list of suspects is very long. He wasn't a nice man and when you foreclose on people's property they do take it personally but Lucy must find who would murder this man. The series is comfortable and cozy. This book in the series is no exception.

3. Cover Story by Erika Chase. This is a reading group mystery and I loved every moment of the book. Any reader or writer of mysteries will love this series.

4. A Mainely Murder Mystery by Lea Wait. Let me just say that hand stitching and mystery go hand in hand when it comes to murder. What  great group of women and the setting is to die for...

5. The Skeleton Takes A Bow (A family Skeleton Mystery Series), by Leigh Perry. This is a great cozy mystery but you must suspend disbelief. I always have fun reading this series. Sid is a skeleton and when he has a chance to be a prop in the high school production of Hamlet. Sid loves the idea. What he doesn't love is being doubted when he relates that he overheard a murder. When no body is found this doesn't give his story much credit.

6. A Seamless Murder by Melissa Bourbon. Harlow Jane Cassidy is asked to sew aprons for each of the members of the local women's group. She jumps at the chance. The problem is that whatever Harlow sew gives the owner it is made for their deepest wishes and desires. In Bliss, Texas this is not always a good thing. When one of the members body is found in the cemetery Harlow has to find who murdered Delta, before she sews her last stitch.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope everyone has a healthy, happy brand new year.
I also wish you good books to read. The realization of your dreams.

I am going to post my 2015 best read books list later today.

Love,
Pamela, Pepper and Frank

Review: Crimes, Detection and Death of Jack the Ripper by Martin Fido

Jack the Ripper fascinates so many of us. So many theories and we never (CAN never) know for sure. This work explores the crimes, the social factors and the credibility of the police involved. He provides evidence debunking many theories and explores sources and their reliability. Each victim (and victim eliminated from the Ripper canon) is carefully discussed in detail.  He also discusses evidence that he feels has been disproved or mis-interpreted.  He tries to trace the formation of various theories and the information they resulted from.  He discusses the role of the press and politics as well as clarifying the roles senior officers played. Sometimes the book is a bit dry but the information it contains is very well-researched and thought out. The edition I read was updated from the original after new information had come to light.  His theory of the culprit may be the strongest I have seen, but then we really will never know and that mystery is probably why we find it so intriguing. This is one of the must-read sources out there. Terri

Good Morning Everyone

I hope this is a week of magic for all o you. May the mayhem lead to the magical memories. After all of the mayhem then I hope you have plenty of good books and warm drinks to enjoy.
I am visiting my daughter and her family. So if I am slow to answer or not at all this is why because I took my yearly vacation now to be with family.
So far I have attended my grandson Aiden's wrestling practice which was fun as the age group was 8-13.
I have tried very hard to have portion control with meals and desserts. You seen I have had a couple of meals that were Mexican, then chilidogs, then there are desserts that probably put back on the pounds I had lost (even with portion control0, I had Travis's cheesecake that was to die for, I had Melissa's pumpkin roll and that is one of her special recipes.
We did have Chinese food last night.
My reading has been light, my stitching has not happened but I have colored several pictures as we binge watched House Of Cards, True Detective and I caught up on The Librarians and Legends.
I hope you have a wonderful beginning to winter and your winter reading.
Pamela

An Interview with Constance Barker

MM: Tell us about your favorite place to write and your

writing schedule?

I use one of the bedrooms in our house as an office and that’s where I write most of the time. It has a window where I can look out at our pond and front field. Sometimes I’ll see deer or even wild turkeys lumbering through. Most of the time I need quiet when writing, but when figuring out plots or developing characters, I like to head to a little diner in our small town. My schedule is sporadic. I have days where I can’t write a thing and other days I can’t stop.

MM: Let's talk about your latest and newest books?

I’m very excited about the newest book “A Sinister Slice of Murder” as it starts a brand new series. I co-author the book with A. J. DeBellis who is a dream to work with, an incredible story teller, and a fantastic editor as well.

The series is a departure from my other two series as it delves into more paranormal subjects. That’s not to say it’s scary or terrifying. My readers will still find the quirky characters and humorous situations that are the foundation of my other series. Only this time some of the comical antics might be from the ghosts themselves. The series is set in the mythical tourist town of Whispering Pines, Georgia. My heroine, Jessie, is greeted with ghosts from her past as she moves back to Whispering Pines after years of being away. It’s a lot of fun and Jessie, like my other heroines, is feisty, but loveable.

I also released the latest book in the Caesars Creek Mystery Series, “A Drizzle of Deception.” This is the tenth book in the series. These books and the Sweet Home Series have been a joy to write. I love my characters and enjoy bringing them to life.

MM: 2016 in your life and writing, what are you looking forward to doing, writing and what will be published?

I hope to travel more in 2016. Getting out of a normal routine, even for a week or a few days, can help with creativity. I’ve noticed that when I take a day or two and just get away from the keyboard, I come back refreshed and ready to write.

I have another series I hope to launch in 2016. This one will also surround the paranormal, but the setting is quite different from any of my other series. I don’t want to give too much away, but quirkiness and humor will remain in this series as well.

MM: Do you ever binge watch television shows? Which ones do you like to watch?

I love to binge watch television shows. My husband and I have binge watched “Lost” and “Breaking Bad.” I also binge watched the David Tennant years of “Dr. Who” as well.

MM: If you were going to sit down to a meal with five authors from the past (this means dead or alive), who would they be? What would you ask them? What meal would you have?

Wow. Well, definitely Stephen King. He has been my favorite author for over 20 years. I also like true crime authors, Ann Rule and Katherine Casey. I’d like to ask Stephen how he sleeps at night with all those strange and horrific thoughts running through his head.lol

However, his latest works aren’t as grim and violent as earlier books.

I would like to ask Ann and Katherine how different it is when writing true events instead of fiction. Many of my books are cozy murder mysteries, but they’re not real. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to write about some of the savagery of man.

As far as what would be served….I would like to offer a few appetizers or finger foods such as stuffed mushrooms or Asian lettuce wraps. For the main course I’d like to serve ribeye steaks, grilled asparagus, and a gourmet mac and cheese. Dessert would be red velvet cake.

MM: Do you ever re-read some of your favorite books?

I use to when I was younger, but now there are so many wonderful books to read I have a hard time getting to them all.

MM: What would your characters tell us about you?

Hmmm…Well I think Stormi, one of my favorite characters from the Caesars Creek Series, would say I worry too much and that I should be more like her. She’s a firecracker and lives life large with no regrets. She would definitely tell me to do the same.

Essie and Hildie from the Sweet Home series would likely say that I work too much and should take a ride in their golf cart once in a while to get out of the house.

MM: They say it takes a village to publish a book. Who is in your village?

My village consists of my husband who produces my cover art and my mother who beta reads my books, pointing out any errors. A. J. Debellis has also edited many of the books.

MM: What would you like to say to your readers?

Thank you so much for reading, providing positive reviews, and bolstering my confidence to keep writing. There were many times when I read a one or two star review that I thought about just hanging up my pen, so to speak. But then I’d read the comments on my FB page of how much people loved the characters and stories, and that has meant so much to me. My readers help me to keep trudging on.

MM: As a child growing up were you a reader? What authors and their books were your favorites?

Oh yes. My grandmother would give me the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books to read and I would devour them. I couldn’t wait to see who the culprit was. I could get lost in the stories and being an only child they were my companions.

MM: Here are some fun questions. What is your favorite place to vacation? Your favorite song, movies, meal. dessert, snack, and be our tour guide. Tell us why you like living where you live?

I love Las Vegas. It’s always changing and there’s so much to see, even outside the city. I love going to the shows, relaxing by the pool, and of course a little gambling too.

Favorite song: That’s difficult because there are so many. But “Love Shack” always makes me smile.

Favorite movie: Shawshank Redemption

Meal: Ribeye steak

Dessert: Chocolate ice cream

Snack: Nachos

The area around my home is very tranquil. I don’t have to go camping because I feel like I am right where I live. We have a woods behind our home that my husband has mowed down and removed the brush so it looks more like a park. We live almost 900 feet from the main road so in front of the house is an open field and a small pond that we fish in. I love my screened in porch as it allows me to sit outside without slapping bugs and mosquitoes. We have a line of pine trees that follows up the driveway.

MM: If your books were turned into a series or movies who can you see playing the lead characters?

I could envision a blond Melissa McCarthy playing Stormi.

MM: What comes first, the plot, setting, character or situation? How do you build your book?

For me it’s the characters and the plot flows from them. I want my characters to move the plot along and they tell me what kind of situations they’ll fall into and how to get them out of those predicaments.

MM: Let's plug some conventions, conferences, retreats and book signings for you?

I don't have any conventions, conferences or book signings. Maybe someday.; )

MM: In your life who makes you laugh the most and why?

My husband. He has a funny sense of humor and I'm often surprised at some of the things he says.

MM: Lastly leave us with some sage words of writing wisdom.

Don't let doubt keep you from your dream. I allowed doubt and low confidence rob me of many years of writing. I think you'll find it's easier when you go ahead and give yourself the green light to write. I started by envisioning my characters and from there it was easy to write about them.

Review: Inside the Mind of Casey Anthony by Keith Ablow, MD

Dr. Ablow tells a very fascinating portrayal of Casey Anthony's psychological makeup, trying to explain why she acted the way she did and told all the lies she did.  The thing is, he never once spoke to her.  He uses documents and interviews to base his analysis.  I think a lot of it is probably accurate, but I also think a lot is conjecture.  Essentially, he believes that all of Casey's behavior is the result of the pathology of her parents, particularly her mother, Cindy.  He repeatedly asserts that Casey has no self or identity of her own and that the tales she spins are a coping mechanism.  There is a lot more of course and it is very engaging to read.  

However, without actually interviewing her himself, how can his assertions be validated?  Very little of the book deals with the death of her daughter Caylee.  It is a study of a very sick woman who was acquitted of murder.  He attempts to explain what made her the person everyone watched aghast as her behavior and lies came to light after her arrest.  That said, despite the way his explanations (he ends with a diagnosis of her not based on DSM standards.  It may be true, who knows, but I think you have to take it all with a grain of salt because just because he believes it is likely true (like her allegations of sexual abuse), it doesn't mean it is.  Therefore, conclusions based on the assumptions are not necessarily valid.

So, MY conclusion:  a very interesting read, certainly full of talking points, seems to paint a portrait of a very troubled family.  We knew that from what we did see from the media.  That doesn't mean she is any less culpable or excuse any of it.  Nor does it mean his conclusions are definitive.