March 7th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

And we come to the end of another week.  Which means it's time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

This week, I'm going with a book I hope to finish up today - An Appetite For Murder by Lucy Burdette.  In a rare case of reading out of order, I read an ARC of book 4 in the series back in January, and I liked it enough that I'm going back to the first book now.

So, shall we get down to business?

Here's how the book opens.

Lots of people think they'd love to eat for a living.  Me?  I'd kill for it.

Which is a rather ironic opening considering the main character is the chief suspect in a murder.

Anyway, moving forward to page 56:

My heart sank with a desperate clunk - suddenly the murder felt exquisitely real, and my so-called involvement, very scary.

As I said, my plan as of now is to finish the book today and have the review up on Saturday.  We'll see how I do.

February's Monthly Reading Summary

Yes, I'm a little late getting this up, but here's the summary of what I read this month.  All links take you to my full review.

All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

KILLING CUPID by Laura Levine (Jaine Austen #12) - 5

Jaine's latest freelance writing assignment is for Joy Amoroso, founder of matchmaking service Dates of Joy.  However, Joy is a liar and a cheat, and that's putting it politely.  When Joy dies at the company's annual Valentine's Day party, Jaine has to figure out who of the many people Joy cheated had finally had enough.

This series is always funny, and this book is no exception.  The characters are good and the plot has some good twists, but the humor is the biggest star.  I laughed, chuckled, and smiled my way through to the ending.  If you want a light mystery, I can't recommend this series highly enough.

MORIARTY RETURNS A LETTER by Michael Robertson (Baker Street #4) - 5

The latest case for brothers Reggie and Nigel Heath solves a mystery 100 years in the making.  When Reggie goes to set up a display of the some the letters written to Holmes over the years, he accidentally lets out a secret people will kill to keep quiet.  Can he figure out what it is?

While playing with the Holmes lore, this series is different from the famous stories.  Still, it's very fun.  We know most of what is going on early, but watching to see if our heroes can figure it out kept the pages turning.  I love the characters, too, which helps.

While book 4, this one heavily follows book 2 and spoils much of that one, so make sure you've read it before jumping in here.

MAYHEM AT THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Kylie Logan (League of Literary Ladies #1) - 4

After being forced to form a book club with her feuding neighbors, Bea is shocked to find the owner of the local Chinese restaurant dead behind his cash register.  With events that are mirroring their first book, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, Bea and the reading group must figure out what the clues mean to find the killer.

The pace seemed off at times, although part of that was setting up the characters and the series.  There was still plenty of time for some great twists that would have made Christie herself proud.  Throw in some good characters and a nice dose of humor and you've got a winning series debut.

FAIREST OF ALL by Sarah Mlynowski (Whatever After #1) - 5

Abby and her brother Jonah make a shocking discovery when the mirror in the basement of their new house sucks them through and they find themselves in the woods.  When they keep Snow White from eating the poisoned apple, they must find a way to fix her story and make it home.

This was a short but delightful story that anyone looking for an early chapter book will appreciate.  A twist or two along the way even surprised me.  I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

NOTE: I won this book in a contest.

CITY OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT by Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy #13) - 5

When a case Daniel is working on turns dangerous, Molly and Liam leave New York to join Sid and Gus in Paris.  But when her reception is not what she expected, is Molly in more danger now than she was before?

More than any other book in the series, I felt this one had a large number of real people popping up in Molly's fictional world.  The plot was good with some twists I didn't expect and the characters are so real by this point I just love visiting them.  All told, it was a great trip back to 1905.

NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

MURDER PAST DUE by Miranda James (Cat in the Stacks #1) - 5

When Charlie's high school rival, successful novelist Godfrey Priest, comes to down, Charlie isn't too thrilled.  Godfrey was always an ego driven jerk, and time and success hasn't changed any of that.  But when Godfrey is killed and Charlie finds the body, he starts poking around trying to figure out who did it.

This series debut had lots of twists to the plot, even in the first 100 pages.  The characters were real and fresh right out of the gate as well.  I truly felt for them.  I can't wait to visit them with the next book in the series.

TV Recap: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 1-14 - T.A.H.I.T.I.

So after so long saying they needed to focus on the other characters and give Skye a break, they finally did it last night.  She spent the episode in that medical tube trying not to die while the rest of the characters attempted to save her.

Music Review: Love Will Have the Final Word by Jason Gray

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: More lyrics to encourage and challenge

Cons: None worth dwelling on

The Bottom Line:

These thoughtful lyrics

Encased in soft rock music

Make for winning disc

Encouragement, Challenge, Hope - Jason Gray Still Has It All

Over the last couple of years, Jason Gray has become one of my favorite artists.  I don't think a month goes by without me pulling out one of his CD's for multiple days (possibly a week) in my car as the truths of the lyrics once again sink into my heart.  So you can imagine how excited I was to get his new CD, Love Will Have the Final Word.  It is exactly what I was expecting and hoping for.

The disc opens with a couple of lighter anthems.  "Laugh Out Loud" just celebrates the joy we get when we stop to marvel at God saving us.  It's got a fun beat to it and is sure to make you smile.  Next up is "With Every Act of Love."  While this song still has a fun beat to it, the message is more serious as we are reminded that God is showing His love to others through us.  Definitely a challenging reminder.

Things slow down for the next song, "Not Right Now."  Co-written with Josh Wilson, another of my current favorite artists, it is written from the point of view of someone going facing a trail so fresh that it hurts.  The idea behind the song?  Don't offer words of comfort, just pray, listen, and be there.  While the words you speak might be true, if the wounds are too deep, they will still hurt worse than nothing.  Later, we can discuss those truths.

Which brings us to the title track.  "Love Will Have the Final Word" is a triumphant anthem that God's love and forgiveness are the ultimate measure in our lives.  Yes, I did listen carefully after the controversy in the last couple of years with Rob Bell's book Love Win, but that's not what Jason is saying here.  This song is written more from the point of view of someone who is living with the pain of a past they've confessed but won't forgive themselves over.  And just look at these lyrics:

Of all the things I've ever heard

Let me remember when it hurts

That love wil have the final word

As long as God is on His throne

I am carried by the hope

That love will have the final word.

Put that together with a triumphant melody, and you've got a great song.  The theme is carried over to the next song, "Love's Not Done with You."

"Begin Again" is a nice mid-tempo number that encourages us to turn to God and start again when faced with life's disappointments.  I love how he manages to get a reference to a previous CD of his in the lyrics here.  The line fits perfectly, but it also makes me smile.

Confession is a regular part of Jason's songs, and this time around we get "I Don't Know How."  It lists all the things we are supposed to do, but Jason confesses he just doesn't know how to do them all.  You know, things like walking by faith, leaving the past behind, loving his wife like Christ loved the church - that kind of stuff.  Again, it's a fun, upbeat song that makes you want to sing along.

Slowing things down is "If You Want to Love Someone," a song about how to truly minister to those who need it.

"Even This Will Be Made Beautiful" was co-written with Nichole Nordeman (which gives me an opening to once again say I'd love some new music from her).  It takes the promise of the title track from Romans 8:28 with a reminder that God will use everything for His glory.

"The Best Days of My Life" is written around the idea that "I won't fear my story's end because the author is my friend."  Yes, through good and bad times, God is working to make them the best days.  Another simple reminder that is just powerfully delivered.

Closing out the disc is "As I Am."  No, this isn't a modern version of the hymn, but it is written around a similar idea, that God loves us and forgives us just as we are, even when we have run away from Him.  It's a great way to close out the disc.

If I had one criticism, it's that the songs can begin to sound the same at a couple of points.  There are lots of upbeat songs with a similar mix of instruments.  There is just enough of a mix that it doesn’t blend together for me.  Of course, the fact that I caught so many of these lyrics early on definitely helps.

And once again, Jason has delivered a disc filled with great lyrics and melodies that are fun to sing along to.  I can already predict that Love Will Have the Final Word will get as much play time as his previous discs continue to get.

(And since my birthday is Saturday, I'm counting this as an early birthday present from Jason.  Thanks so much!  I love it!)

CD Length: 41:29

Tracks:

1. Laugh Out Loud

2. With Every Act of Love

3. Not Right Now

4. Love Will Have the Final Word

5. Love's Not Done with You

6. Begin Again

7. I Don't Know How

8. If You Want to Love Someone

9. Even This Will be Made Beautiful

10. The Best Days of My Life

11. As I Am

March 5th's Waiting (Impatiently) on Wednesday

It's time for this week's Waiting on Wednesday.  This week, I've got a book I just found out about a couple days ago, but I am already counting the days.

That's right, an all new mystery based on the TV show Veronica Mars entitled The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line.

Yes, I loved the show a decade ago when it was on TV, and I spent January doing a monster marathon rewatching session to get ready for the movie that comes out in a week and a half.  I'd heard a rumor that they were thinking about putting out some books as well, and I stumbled on this at Amazon over the weekend.  I will be ready to read it when it comes out.

I am trying to stay away from too much info about the book (and the movie), so I just know it sounds like many of the series regulars are in the book.

I won't have long to wait since the book will be out in just three weeks on March 25th.

TV Recap: Castle 6-17 - In the Belly of the Beast

They promised a heart pounding episode, and they certainly delivered.  They even managed to touch Beckett's mother's murder for the first time in a year or so, which was a good thing because I wasn't sure I liked the ending until then.

It all starts with Beckett getting a phone call on her day off.  Narcotics is asking for a favor.  There's a new drug gang in town, and they've found gotten a break - a currier who has a meeting set up for that night.  They are hoping that Beckett will go under cover to this meeting, find out who is involved, and report back.  The meeting is taking place at a hotel room.  What can go wrong?

Never ask that at the beginning of an episode.

Book Review: City of Darkness and Light by Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy #13)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Characters and setting come alive in this great story

Cons: Pacing briefly a time or two

The Bottom Line:

Artists in Paris

Still bring danger and murder

When Molly visits

Artistic Danger in Paris

I love history, so it is a bit of a surprise that I haven’t found more historical mystery series to read.  There is something about stepping back in time through the pages of a story that is magical.  One series I do love for just that reason is the Molly Murphy series.  City of Darkness and Light is the latest entry in the series, and it’s another winner.

When Molly first immigrated to New York from Ireland, she opened a detective agency.  Now that’s she’s married to Captain Daniel Sullivan of the New York Police Department, she’s supposed to be focusing on her new roles as wife and mother to their infant Liam.  But trouble still seems to find her, as this book proves, even on a different continent.

Daniel has spent the last few months hard at work trying to stop a new Italian gang that is infiltrating New York City.  After their leader is arrested, they make good on their threat to retaliate, and the results put Molly and Liam in danger as well.  With a need to get out of town and away from danger, it seems like a great time to take Sid and Gus up on their offer to join them in Paris, so Molly and Liam board a ship.

Molly’s friends and neighbors have been over there so Gus can work on her painting, so they are deep in the flourishing and swirling artistic movement of the time.  However, Molly’s reception on her arrival is not what she expected.  Can she navigate these unfamiliar shores and figure out what is happening?  Is she in more danger now than if she had stayed home?

This book takes a little time at the beginning setting up Molly’s need to travel to Paris.  Because I love the characters, I found this part gripping and just as exciting as anything related to the actual mystery.  There were another couple times I felt the book was beginning to lag, but then the pace would pick right back up and I’d be swept away again.

The mystery itself is very strong and took a few twists I wasn’t expecting.  I was fooled by the ending even though the pieces were right there.

This book more than any others in the series seems to be populated by historical people.  I’m sure there are many I missed, but I did catch a lot of them.  Considering how little art interests me, I was proud of that fact.

Whether real or fictional, all of the people who populated the pages were real.  They just helped pull me into the world of the book even more.

And pulled into the world I was.  I often found myself thinking about the book, the characters, and the story when I’d set it down to get back to my real life.  I felt like I was there with Molly in 1905 Paris.

Molly’s adventures are always enjoyable, and this book is no exception.  Be prepared to be whisked away to another time and place as you open the cover of City of Darkness and Light.

And if you need to catch up on Molly's past cases, check out the Molly Murphy Mysteries in order.

Note: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Dummy of a Ghost by Sue Ann Jaffarian (Ghost of Granny Apples #3.67)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great characters and story

Cons: The next full novel isn't out yet

The Bottom Line:

Ghost in the dummy

Needs help with unknown danger

Series fans will love

Protective Dummies and Unknown Dangers

It's been a couple of years since we got the last full length novel in the Ghost of Granny Apples series, but in the mean time, we've had two novellas to tide us over and keep us updated on the characters.  Dummy of a Ghost is the second of those, and it's a strong story.

If you've missed the earlier three novels and novella, the series revolves around the Whitecastle family.  Emma is our normal main character, and she has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts.  She has teamed up with her great-great grandmother, Granny Apples, to solve some modern mysteries involving ghosts.  Emma's daughter Kelly can also talk to ghosts, and both of the novellas have focused on this normal supporting character.

Kelly is home in Los Angeles for Spring Break and enjoying a chance to catch up with her friends.  One of those friends is Chris May, a ventriloquist who has a promising career in front of him.  But as Chris's show is ending, Kelly sees a familiar glow from the puppet he was using.

Investigating further, Kelly learns that there is indeed a ghost living in the puppet - a ghost with a warning that Chris is in danger.  Kelly quickly enlists the help of Emma and Granny Apples to try to protect Chris.  But since Chris isn't talking and the ghost doesn't know what is happening, can the trio help him?

As much as I love Emma, it has been nice spending some time with Kelly in these novellas.  Even though Kelly is the view point character here, Emma is really the co-lead in the story, and I enjoyed watching the two of them work together.  Of course, Granny is a hoot as always.  The cast of new characters are interesting and real as well, which makes is easy to care about the outcome.

The plot is strong as Kelly and the rest follow the logical clues to the solution.  Of course, it's not quite that straightforward, but everything makes perfect sense in the end.

This book is roughly half the length of a full novel, so the fact that we get such great characters and a strong story is a testament to author Sue Ann's wonderful ability to craft a good story.  Of course, I'm not surprised since her short stories have shown this as well.  It is well worth the money spent.

While the next novel will be available in print and electronic form, this one is an ebook exclusive.  And we only have a month to wait for that next novel, Ghost of a Gamble, which comes out in April.

In the mean time, be sure to read Dummy of a Ghost.  You will not be disappointed.

While it is easy to jump in here, once you start, you'll want to read the rest of the Ghost of Granny Apples Mysteries in order.

NOTE: I was sent an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #2)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Action and humor mixed for a great story

Cons: Characters could be stronger

The Bottom Line:

Plots and counter plots

With many narrow escapes

All over rooster

Who is Chasing Whom?

What do you get when you mix action, improbable heists, and plenty of sexual tension?  The Chase, the newest book by authors Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.  It features international fugitive Nick Fox who has been teamed up with Kate O'Hare, the only FBI agent to arrest him.  Together, they are working on making sure some of the world's biggest criminals are taken down.

The Smithsonian has a bronze rooster on display, an antique from China.  China has decided they would like it back to display with the other bronze animals in the set, which is no problem at all.

Or at least it shouldn’t be.

The rooster was actually stolen several years ago and replaced with a fake.  Now, FBI Agent Kate O’Hare and master criminal and fugitive Nick Fox must put their new partnership to the test to retrieve it before the fake is sent back to China and an international incident starts.  Nick comes up with a risky plan even if things go smoothly, but as things begin to unravel, will the duo be able to pull off the switch?

This is a very plot driven book, and it's easy to tell if you stop and think about the characters.  They just don't feel fully developed to me.  Yes, they are fun and we get to know them enough to root for them to win against some overwhelming odds at times.  The sexual tension between Nick and Kate is very strong.  But even after now two books in the series, I just feel like we should know them better.

However, the story more than makes up for any weaknesses in the characters.  Just when I started to think it was looking too easy, another plot complication would come up that would keep me turning pages.  The action takes place in multiple locations around the world, and it features some narrow escapes and clever schemes.  The pace never slowed, and I was always reluctant to put the book down until the climax.

This is all mixed with some humor I really enjoyed.  Usually it was banter between the characters, but it was right up my alley and left me chuckling and laughing more than a few times.  And I would love to know Kate's secret for eating so much junk food and still staying is such great shape.

This is a light, fun novel that sets out to entertain and fulfills that perfectly.  Be prepared for a globe trotting adventure that will be over before you know it when you pick up The Chase.

If this book leaves you wanting more, be sure to check out other adventures in the Fox and O'Hare series.

NOTE: I was sent an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Weekly TV Thoughts

After not having anything for this post last week, I've got lots this week.  It's almost like the Olympics are over or something.

The Amazing Race - Go Jett and Cord!!!!  Yes, I will biasedly be rooting for them the entire time, but they did very well this week.  I'll also be rooting for the father/son team to do well this time after the way they stuck together when the dad got injured last time.  I'm so glad to have the Twinnies gone already.  Now they can't annoy me this time around.

Melissa and Joey - You know, the reason Melissa broke up with that one boyfriend that we started this season with was because he didn't want any more kids.  Joe was behind it at that point.  So now he doesn't want kids?  Really?  Seems like the writers have forgotten their story to me.

Arrow - I really wish I liked where this season is going.  You just know they are going to kill off Sarah and make us all cry when it happens.  I'm dreading that.  Felicity's story was predictable, but I still liked it.  That ending?  Everything is out in the open now.  It will be very interesting to see how this starts to play out.

Survivor - They need to start every season with two episodes back to back.  However, I've got to say the brains team is not living up to their name.  To not vote out the weakest link twice in a row and lose twice on puzzles?  I know you need to think about the long term, but you need to be around long enough to get to the long term.  Then there's the second guy voted out with the idol still at home.  They'd better turn things around quickly.

Psych - I must admit, I'm not always a fan of episodes where the cast takes on the parts of suspects from the past.  However, this one worked and was lots of fun.  And I don't know why I was surprised at the ending since we knew Maggie Lawson wasn't around for half the season because of her canceled show on ABC.

The Big Bang Theory - Watching Amy deal with Sheldon was great, but frankly the whole episode was brilliant.  Both stories worked and there were lots of laughs.

The Crazy Ones - Watching Zach on the other side of a broken heart was funny, although the ending was fairly predictable.  And now I'm wondering if Sydney has a boyfriend or if he was just a one episode guest star.

Enlisted - The Sergeant Major's story wasn't that great, but I loved the others.  Pete trying to break up with his ex was especially funny, and the ending was great.  I love rooting for he and Jill even if they aren't going to get together any time soon.