Finished 3-28-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2008

He spotted Violet – she had said she’d be the one wearing red plastic sandals – sitting on the sidewalk in the ticket holders’ line, engrossed in the New York Times, and listening to a Walkman.  Two movie were tucked under her leg.  She wasn’t a knockout, but wasn’t fat either, and had a face you wanted to look into.  She turned the page of the business section and folded it, then folded it again.  An artsy chick who read the business section?  Who was responsible enough to have arrived early and bought tickets?  With enough Ivy League pluck to sit on a dirty sidewalk and not care who saw her?  It was done and done.  He had to have her.  As he stepped forward, she absent mindedly twisted her long hair off her neck.  That’s when he first glimpsed the tatoo behind her ear, teasing him from the edge of her hairline.  He found it wildly sexy.  But something inside him sank.  He knew then there’d be a part of her he’d never possess.

Chapter One

Violet has what most women dream of, a rich and important husband, a child, no job, and people she pays to make her life easier.  So, when Violet has a chance encounter in a bathroom with a down on his luck musician, her life takes a surprising turn.  She becomes a bit obsessed with the sex-addicted, alcoholic and life at home becomes more unbearable for her.  Teddy awakes a spark in her that had been missing.

Violet’s husband David is real jerk.  He treats her badly and is a self-proclaimed asshole, but when it becomes clear that Violet may be cheating on him he manages to show another side, one with feelings and regrets.  David’s sister Sally, is the third messed up person in this story who only cares about landing a rich husband, no matter the consequences.

 I really loved this book. For the better part of the book these people are easy to dislike.  Violet is a whiner, David is a jerk, and Sally is only concerned with herself.  But somehow as we learn their motivations and see the way they react to life you realize they are wonderfully flawed.  In most people you start with the perfect image and the more you learn the less there is to like, but it worked the opposite way in this book.   I was hoping that by the end I might grow to love or appreciate Teddy too, but that didn’t happen for me, but that didn’t take any of the enjoyment away.  The writing was superb and I look forward to more from this debut author. 

This book was sent to me by the publisher.  Come back on Friday for my interview with Maria.

Finished 3-20-10, rating 4.5/5, romance, pub. 2006

Book 8 of the Deadly series (Book 1) (Book 2) (Book 3) (Book 4) (Book 5) (Book 6) (Book 7)

Her grip on the paperweight tightened.  She debated turning to flee, but in a moment whoever was beyond her would appear and see her.  Instead, she pressed against the wall, waiting.  The shadowy form of a man appeared, carrying a candle.  He saw her against the wall, halted in midstride and lifted the candle higher.

Francesca was illuminated-but so was he.

Chapter 2

If you have been following along as I have been reading this series, you know that Francesca is a modern gal caught in 1902 New York City.  She is headstrong reformer and a brave sleuth in a time that a lady, especially one as well-to-do as she, is not looked upon favorably by most.  Even her family is against he working with the police to solve crimes that put her in the direct path of dangerous criminals.  She does seem to get injured in every book so I understand their concern.

Francesca begins this story being called to the home of her fiance’s ex-mistress and finding her stabbed to death.  Calder is the main suspect, but not the only one and Francesca takes it upon herself to find the real killer.  When Calder is  arrested he breaks off their engagement to save her from scandal and Francesca is devastated.

This is also the continuation of Rick and Leann’s reconciliation and Evan’s downward spiral into gambling debt and ill-chosen mistresses. 

I have now re-read the series that I have always thought to be a favorite and was not disappointed.  The romance could sometimes get a little melodramatic, but the mystery was always spot on and not always easy to figure out.  I love Calder and Francesca and look forward to next year when the next in the series comes out after five long years.

This was from my personal library.

Finished 3-8-10, rating 3.5/5, mystery, pub. 2010

Book 3 in the Della Cooks mystery series (Book 1) (Book 2)

“We look like twin cat burglars,” I said.  “Maybe we should stop at a gas station and buy some black grease to cover our faces.”

Liddy shuddered.  That would be awful for our skin.  Open the glove compartment and take out a baggie.”

I did as directed and removed a Ziploc bag.  “What’s in here?”

“Two pairs of Bill’s powder-free latex examination gloves.  So we won’t leave fingerprints.”

Chapter 13

TV chef Della Carmichael is asked to host a fancy Celebrity Cook-Off for charity.  As one of three judges she walks around the gala mingling with the guests and judging the celebrity dishes.  When a smoke bomb goes off Della is thrown to the floor by a favorite author and when the smoke clears Della finds another judge stabbed to death.  Della is afraid because one of her oldest friends, John O’Hara, is the lead suspect and Eileen who is like a daughter to her has been dating the dead judge.  Della decides to do a little investigation of her own.  The dead judge had been blackmailing Eileen so her first order of business is to break into his house and remove the sex tape. 

I enjoy the Della Carmichael series and this was no exception.  They are fun cozy mysteries with a protagonist in her 40’s and recipes included in the back.  This one even contained a little story about the actress Linda Dano (and a recipe) who I watched back in the day on Another World.  I didn’t guess the killer, although I had my suspicions, until it was revealed, so that’s a big plus.  And there was a fight with her boyfriend Nicholas and I enjoyed the progression of their relationship.

A fun, light  series.

This was from my personal library.