Tuesday, December 31, 2019

End-of-the-Year Goodies & THANGS



Went to Nashville with my cousin this past weekend.  Needless to say, I messed around and ran across the best shrimp Alfredo IN MY LIFE (so far)!  OMG.  Pasta.  Cheese.  Alfredo.  Bread.  Grilled shrimp.  ALL ON POINT!  Same went for the lobster bites and crab cakes.  Chile.  Chile.  Chile-chile-chile.  The place was called Boston Commons, located in Nashville's 5-Points area (my moving spirit considered transporting to the area in 2020).  

Anyway, I love eating out with my cousin because she's a foodie like me.  Her and I love, adore and appreciate food.  Shoot, we should've been food critics.  We have similar tastes and can tell you when some ish ain't right in a dish.  Plus, she's fun to go out to eat with because she likes to spend money trying new places and dishes.  See, I can't stand going out to eat with someone who is petrified of the menu.  Or scared to crack into his or her wallet to try something new.

2019 END-OF-THE-YEAR Goodreads Stats




Saturday, December 21, 2019

Crime and Poetry Detour ~ MAKE IT MAKE SENSE

THIS IS THE BOOK...


THESE ARE A FEW OF THE STRANGE MOMENTS...



Wellllll, she did discover the body.  She did see the scarf wrapped around the body's neck.  I mean... AFTER ALL.  Like, what the hell did she think?  The thought that the guy strangled himself really crossed her mind?

Thursday, December 12, 2019

FOLLOW IT UP ~ Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs

"Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is finally invited to a social event that she doesn’t have to cater—but there’s more than champagne bubbling… 

Theo is mingling with the cream of Charleston society at the engagement soiree of the season. But as they eagerly await the dazzling young couple’s arrival—the groom meets with a freak accident. The exquisite wedding ring—a family heirloom from the crown of Marie Antoinette—is mysteriously missing.

Theodosia suspects that trouble is brewing. But when she goes to the authorities, they treat her like she’s been reading tea leaves—and that’s the surest way to put Theodosia’s kettle on the boil…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is a bit of disappointment in writing this post. Why? Well, I found the third book in Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery series, Shades of Earl Grey, uneventful and "gray". Earlier this year I did a video describing how I adored the series. I especially adored Childs’ red-headed amateur sleuth and tea shop owner, Theodosia Browning. Theodosia came across as the quiet type of character. She seemed reserved and soft-spoken. While standing as a determined type of character. I could see myself getting attached to her, as well as her murder mystery excursions down the road. You see, I gravitate towards the cozy sleuth who harbors a bold and witty and coy personality. Theodosia was the opposite, but she was cool. I adored my time with her within the first two books of the series.

Then came the third book, Shades of Earl Grey. Afterwards, my enthusiasm for Theodosia “regressed” a bit.

THE NOT-SO MURDER MYSTERY

But first things first–the actual story/murder mystery. So Shades of Earl Grey does contain a murder. And it's no doubt a murder of the wrong-place-wrong-time variety. Yet the book isn't about said death, per se. Instead the story orbits around the jewel-stealing, heist-plotting contrivances of a small-town cat burglar. This left some of the suspecting characters, as well as his or her various failings in connection to the victim, elsewhere. The need to care about the majority of the story seemed removed to me, as the focus wasn't on the victim (as in the dead one and not the victims of burglary, of course). This lacking may or may not be part of my eventual disillusionment with Theodosia from this entry. Either way these events need notice.

So back to my original point about Theodosia herself…

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Well, I Guess...

Bookmarked for Death.  Book #2 in Lorna Barrett's Booktown Mystery book.  

Well, the main character, Tricia Myles, STILL hates her older sister Angelica.  To the point where she has to fight the urge to punch the poor woman...  LOL.



Friday, December 6, 2019

Last-Month-of-the-Year COZIES TBR!


I'm just going to drop this here.  No details.  No explanation.  Other than I've slowed down reading from September to November, and am ready for some major end-of-the-year cozies.  Particularly those series I started last year and am now ready for the follow-ups.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Another J. D. Robb Golden in Death Pre-Order UPDATE

Did you guys get this email from St. Martin's Press regarding a pre-order bonus consisting of a necklace?  Oh yeah, in celebration of Golden in Death, book #50 in J. D. Robb's In Death series!  If not, let me share the images (thanks to St. Martin's Press for the download ease of them) as well as the link where you can grab one for yourself.  This is really neat, though.


According to the email, it's:
"In anticipation of Golden in Death , J.D. Robb's 50th In Death book, St. Martin's Press partnered up with Swarovski® to create a necklace that's as iconic as the series' kick-ass detective, Lieutenant Eve Dallas. This special, limited-edition necklace features Swarovski® crystals and was inspired by Roarke's beautiful gift to Eve, The Giant's Tear, and her NYPD badge, as pictured below."

You can pre-order the set of Golden in Death along with the necklace, exclusively HERE ON BOOKPALS' WEBSITE.

Golden in Death releases February 4th, 2020!

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

BWMW Reads ~ Author Terris McMahan Grimes's Two Theresa Galloway Books


Book #1 in Grimes's Theresa Galloway series:
"Theresa Galloway knows a call at three a.m. means trouble, especially when it's from her septuagenarian mother.  Mrs. Barkley, always keenly watching her deteriorating Sacramento neighborhood, phoned to report that something nasty was sure going on with an old friend next door.  And she was right.  Within hours the neighbor would be brutally murdered, and a little boy would be missing.  Theresa hates to admit it, but Mama usually does know best... until she insists Theresa has a better chance than the police to track down the killer and find the child."

Book #2 in Grimes's Theresa Galloway series:

"Her mother said there'd be days like this, but today's shock of her life is the red-haired stranger who moved into her mother's Sacramento home, claiming to be her father's "love child."  Being an African-American career woman juggling a stressed-out husband, two kids, and a meddlesome mom who is a magnet for trouble is more than enough for Theresa–who needs a long-lost brother? 
But what really sends Theresa over the edge is when that very same young man is suddenly missing–and then turns up as a corpse."

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

A Peep Into J. D. Robb's In Death #51

I totally credit the website fantasticfiction.com for this (gurllll, I'm over there checking regularly).  I'll provide the link HERE.  Yet, in other words, apparently this is the 51st In Death entry coming in September of 2020.  Shadows in Death.



And you guys.  We still have the 50th entry, Golden in Death, releasing in February of 2020.  But I just learned the Barnes & Noble edition has bonus content.  The overview on the site state it as:
"This Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition celebrates the 50th novel in J.D. Robb's In Death series with bonus content, including a personal essay from JD Robb's longtime editor and a quick look at every case in the series so far."
I'M GOING FOR THIS ONEEEEEEE AS MY PRE-ORDER!



Bless you, J. D. Robb.  Just... bless you.

Oh, yeah.  Remember to peep my selfie in the fan collage behind the dust-jacket of Golden in Death. :)

Monday, December 2, 2019

These Kids Are Getting BOOKS for Christmas ~ 2019

Since all this COPPA [Children's Online Privacy Protection Act] business from the FTC [Federal Trade Commission] is stirring up YouTube, I’ve decided to skip making a video sharing the books I’m giving my little cousins for Christmas this year. For those interested in my 2018 picks, you can go back and check out the video from last year. So ain’t nobody got time to deal with all that COPPA/FTC stuff (or that potential over $40k infringement fine), but because we’re here to talk about books, we’ll do it here.


Below is a synopsis from the first book in the series, The Last Kids on Earth
"Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen year old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he's armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack's loyal pet monster, Rover; and Jack's crush, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it? "
My eleven-going-on-twelve-year-old cousin has Christmas then his birthday coming up five days down the road. So in celebration of both, I got him the first three books in The Last Kids on Earth series. He's a sixth-grader so the books are right on time, considering the reading Grade is from 3-6. Anyway, the series arrived toted as Diary of the Wimpy Kid blended with The Walking Dead. And, well, he picked them out. I thought they sounded/looked cool myself (who doesn't love zombies!?). I push for him to read more, so luckily the hunt for his interests went smooth. I didn't have to wonder if this or that series would grab his attention.

Anyway, the first book in this series released in 2015; the books are also up for a Netflix series. And two things rang when I learned this. One: there were plenty more books up ahead to keep him reading. Two: kids love Netflix so what better way to keep him reading as he relates the two forms of media.

Friday, November 29, 2019

2020 Mystery Series Catching Up List

Hi, folks.  I wrote this list in Google Docs and just wanted to share it.  I have GOT to get these series under control.  With that said, while I won't say this listing is "tentative" I will stretch around when needed.  This is from just one single shelf–out of four.  I also want to focus on this list to see what's going to stick around and what isn't. 
2020 Mystery Series Catching Up List
1st BOOK SHELF
I’m making this list because I’m tired of myself starting a new series, while having series I already need to read hanging around my shelves.  
This list will be used to help me stay focused!  Other genres in-between will come as well.
Mrs. Murphy Series by Rita Mae Brown
Book #13: Cat’s Eyewitness
Book #14: Sour Puss
Book #15: Puss N’ Choots
Book #16: The Perrfect Murder
(The rest of the series I’ll check out from the library)
John Le’ Carre Smiley Spy Series
Book #3 The Spy Who Came Out of the Cold
Book #4 The Looking Glass War
Stand-Alone: A Small Town in Germany (This’ll be my first read)
Suzanne Arruda’s Cameron Del African Series
It is vital that I finish this series this year.  I only have five books left to read.  The last two I’ll have to order.  Nevertheless, I must finish this series in 2020.
Book# 3: The Serpent’s Daughter
Book #4: The Leopard’s Prey
Book #5: Treasure of the Golden Cheetah
(I have to order the following two for my personal library.  Will not do until I’m done with BOOK #5)
Book #6: The Crocodile’s Last Embrace
Book#7: Devil Dance
Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley Series
Book #3: Well-Schooled in Murder
I have to either order or check out the following books in this series.  I’m still in limbo about my approach with this series.  Maybe after I wrap up a few other series will I come back to this one.
Nikki Bakker’s Virginia Kelly Series
(Will be completed with these three books)
Book #2: The Lavender House
Book #3: The Long Goodbye
Book #4: The Ultimate Exit Strategy
Charlotte Carter’s Nanette Hayes Series
(Will be completed with these two books)
Book #2: Rhode Island Read
Book #3: Drumsticks
Tanya Huff’s Torin Kerr Series
(Will be completed with these three books)
Book #1: An Ancient Peace
Book #2: A Peace Divided
Book #3: The Privilege of Peace
Tony Hillerman’s Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Series
(Really excited to continue forward in this series.  I will not buy the following 3-book collection UNTIL I finished the one I currently am up-to-date with)
Book #4: People of Darkness
Book #5: The Dark Wind
Book #6: The Ghostway
Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody Series
This is probably going to take the longest.  I have all the remaining books in this series, and they’re all long-winded reads.  But, if able, maybe I can finish this series in 2020.  It’s possible with nine books left.  One or two books a month, perhaps?
Book #13: Lord of the Silent
Book #14: The Golden One
Book #15: Children of the Storm
Book #16: Guardian of the Horizon
Book #17: The Serpent on the Crown
Book #18: Tomb of the Golden Bird
Book #19: A River in the Sky
Book #20: The Painted Queen
I will focus on these series for the time being.  That is before starting any new series.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

A Touch of Sailor Moon-Related Updates

Yoooooooo. Listen. Errr… read. I finally bought my first Sailor Moon S.H. Figuarts figure. I picked my favorite character, Aino Minako. And she's here in my favorite of her two heroine identities as Sailor V. As opposed to Sailor Venus–which I plan on getting sooner than later. Sailor V is Naoko Takeuchi’s first Sailor Senshi. So that counts as well.


Anyway, I stopped buying Sailor Moon figures and collectibles a long time ago. I suppose that's a product of my getting older and focusing more toward the manga and video releases. Still, I wanted to make the exception here with this figure.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

WEEK TWO #NonFictionNovember ~ CLASS & CHINA


So what’s next on the #NonFictionNovember reading TBR? The image is obvious, but to walk it on down through there it goes like this…
"In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same." 
Yes, yes, yes. I’m a year late to this party. But, as I always say, when a book comes it comes at the right moment in which it needs to be one's hand (or, heck, e-reader). Which, as a given, is now about Michelle Obama's Becoming for me. I wanted to use this #NonFictionNovember to lean into inspirational memoirs/autobiographical stories. You know, to get my own inner seas a glimpse of direction. Besides, life is a recipe that takes the right amount of timing of ingredients to bring it taste. BOOOOMMMMM! Put that expression on a T-shirt, buddy. It sounds like an opening tagline for a Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member. I’m picturing Cynthia Bailey. (But did y'all see what I just did there?)
But I digress. Y’all get the gist. I'm taking on the story of one of my most classiest of classiest women ever to exist. And that twinkle of thought is only the beginning. Basically, I'm looking for more confirmation to commit to this...


"Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister is a gripping story of love, war, intrigue, bravery, glamour and betrayal, which takes us on a sweeping journey from Canton to Hawaii to New York, from exiles' quarters in Japan and Berlin to secret meeting rooms in Moscow, and from the compounds of the Communist elite in Beijing to the corridors of power in democratic Taiwan. In a group biography that is by turns intimate and epic, Jung Chang reveals the lives of three extraordinary women who helped shape twentieth-century China."

Author Jung Chang tackles China’s history in the most storytelling of fashions. And finally we have a new release (you better believe it was on my pre-orders list) from her. Chang hasn’t released a book since 2013’s Empress Dowager Cixi (CLICK HERE TO SEE MY THOUGHTS ON THAT BOOK). Now she’s back with Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three Women at the Heart of Twentieth-Century China. As I said, Chang knows how to relay China's history and make it both real, fascinating and enjoyable to digest. With this book I’m particularly interested in getting into Madame Chiang Kai-shek’s story. Years ago I attempted to read a biography of her story, but also that of her surrounding sisters. Let’s just say that biography didn’t have the spell-binding gusto and finesse as a Jung Chang book. HA! Now’s my chance to go further into this fascinating woman in history. And just China's history as a whole. Considering I have a deep fascination with The Cultural Revolution–among other eras of extremeness within China's history.

Anyway, I’m off to read. How about yourself, eh?

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

CHOP IT UP: The Little Death by Michael Nava (Henry Dios Mystery #1)

Published in 1986, The Little Death is the first book in Michael Nava’s Henry Rio legal mystery series. Henry Rios is a gay, Latino public defender based out of San Jose. At the opening of The Little Death he acquires a case involving of a young socialite named Hugh Paris. Hugh has found himself arrested for being under the influenced of PCP as well as in possession of it. Which turned into an arrest and battery of an officer situation for him. During Rio’s prodding toward building Hugh's case, the two become lovers. Until Huge turns up dead underneath a bridge.
A budding companionship soured by death; with a few bizarre family-related clues in hand, Rio begins to question Hugh's death. And it's here where Rio unravels dark, generation-long secrets surrounding Hugh's family. These secrets involve the wealth and control behind the patriarchal governing of the Paris family. With, of course, many resulting family murders to unbury.

The character of Henry Rios is a direct reflection of the author, Michael Nava, himself. Both identify as gay. Both are Latino. And both are attorneys. All three landed me this book into my "trust" box. I knew the author was going to give it to me straight (no pun intended) from all three angles. Yet, the glowing reason I wanted to read this book was because of the gay lead element in a mystery series.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Let's Buy Some Newly Released Mystery Books!



"When a guilt-ridden client has an unexpected change of heart, the Mack team’s careful preparation for his grand jury testimony is blown to smithereens. Now, Charlie and Gil must pull out all the stops to defend him from his new enemies and the estrangement of his father. Meanwhile, Charlie reports for jury duty and unwittingly begins to unravel a disturbing plan to alter the outcome of a crime lord’s conspiracy trial. Before she knows it, Charlie’s dangerous meddling lands a bull’s-eye squarely on the intersection of her personal and professional lives, putting all that she holds dear in jeopardy."


Motherless Child (An R. J. Franklin Mystery Book 2) by V. M. Burns



"When John Paul Rollins is murdered during his niece’s wedding reception, Detective RJ Franklin quickly realizes this case is going to be anything but routine. The list of people who wanted him dead includes just about everyone he’s ever known including the bride and groom. Can RJ put his personal feelings behind him and catch a killer?"

"Amateur sleuth Samantha Washington’s shopping trip to Chicago takes a deadly detour when a man is murdered on her bus . . .

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