Tuesday, May 31, 2011

May's Book Reports

 Cold Truth by Mariah Stewart
Ms.Stewart's series just keep getting better and better. This New Jersey shore hamlet hasn't seen the serial killers kills for 26 years. Is he back - you bet! Police detective, Cass and true crime writer, Regan, are on the hunt to stop the killings (along with a couple FBI agents when things get personal). And it gets personal when Cass is stalked by the killer.  Another series starting point.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
A 1920's series set in England with Maisie starting her private detective agency. This story is a mix of current conflict and flashbacks to give us Maisie's history. An award winning story, slow to progress in the mystery department, but gives us much of Maisie's back story to set the stage for future stories.

Heads You Lose by Lisa Lutz & David Hayward
Alternating chapters with author notes and comments at the end of each chapter, Lisa and David give us banter and humor. That's about all they give us with this book. The mystery (is there really a mystery here?) is all over the place and never settles down to tell a story until the last page. Although I'd read anything Lisa Lutz writes -- this is not one of them.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
with Annie Barrows (editing niece)
I loved this book! A series of letters to Juliet Ashton, London 1946. Letters she's written and written to her.  Juliet successfully wrote a series of articles about London life during WWII and then puts them into a book - that starts a chain of letters to her from a group of people living on the Channel Island of Guernsey. This is about their story during German occupation and Juliet seeing the seed of her next book. This is a wonderful read with humor and intrigue. 

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly
Another Lincoln Lawyer novel (timed to come out when the original LL story hits the big screen). Mickey has had to start supplementing his criminal practice to include forecloser clients.  Not really his cup of tea, but it's paying the bills.  Until he ends up defending one of his clients on a murder charge and Mickey goes after the banks - forecloser practices and the in between companies. Good story.

Spider Web by Earlene Fowler
Another Benni Harper mystery. With the Memory Festival coming up, Benni is busy. When a sniper enters the town all hell breaks loose.  An OKay read.

Hard Truth by Mariah Stewart
When Lorna Temple returns to rural PA to sell her family's property after the passing of her parents, the last thing she expected were bodies being discovered in the back 40.  Over 20 years ago, 2 children went missing and one was Lorna's best friend. Are the questions finally getting answers to the disappearances or are more questions about to be asked? Good book....

Dark Truth by Mariah Stewart
FBI agent, Nina Madden's life changed when her professor father was convicted of a series of killings on campus. He died in prison. That was 20 years ago. Nina left town and never looked back. When a series of killing's MO matches the earlier killings, Nina and the detective from her father's case start comparing notes. They come across some new evidence, missed truths and a killer ready to strike again.

Final Truth by Mariah Stewart
Regan Landry is following in her deceased true-crime writer father's footsteps and looking for the next "best seller" to write.  When fraud is discovered at a DNA testing lab and releases a few convicted felons, Regan looks into the story to be her next book. But, she and FBI boyfriend, Mitch are in the thick of things when a series of killings follow them -- all the way home.

Friday, May 27, 2011

What's Behind Door Number 1?


A few weeks ago, I decided that our guest room needed a complete overhaul. It's the room that got all the left-overs.  Furniture that didn't fit anywhere else in the house - blankets and comforters that have been around for eons (and didn't fit anywhere else in the house) - changing art work and wall hangings to make it look pulled together (and never did).  It was time to make it a room of it's own. 

I have been painting - sewing - shopping - sewing - and giving the room a complete new look. It's starting to look the way I imagined it --- but, I've got a lot yet to do. Along with planning a birthday party, being a graphic designer, meeting with exterior house painters (yup, that's going to get done too, this summer), roof cleaners, and then taking a few days to feel under the weather  (where does that phrase come from anyway?). When the room is done -- I'm posting lots of photos. Before and After -- so stayed tuned.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Monday Monday

Another great challenge from Jessica Sprague site - 
pick your favorite day of the week and scrap it.
and I did just that...
(photos from the web and Fairhaven post cards)

Friday, May 13, 2011

Mine were: see made passion
(that's my story and I'm sticking to it)
Leave a comment what the 3 words are that describe you
(the 1st 3 words you see - be quick)

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

90!

Today is my dad's 90th birthday.
He was born May 11, 1921, in Duluth, MN.
Happy Birthday, Dad and Many Many More!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

April's Book Reports


A Morning For Flamingos by James Lee Burke
Southern Louisiana is the backdrop for Dave's next series installment. Dave goes undercover after a shooting incident leaves him wounded and with a dead partner. This story brings out the best and worse New Orleans has to offer - from voodoo, drug lords to a new love interest surfacing from Dave's past.

Last Look by Mariah Stewart
When a dead prostitute is found, her identity turns out to have been a woman murdered 24 years ago, the FBI get involved. FBI agent, Shannon, remembers the 24 old case, her father got a conviction and execution the first time around -- did he get it wrong? Shannon needs to know and digs up more than she can handle. The first of the Last Series my Ms. Stewart.

Last Words by Mariah Stewart
In the nine years with the FBI, special agent Mia Shields has seen it all -- but nothing prepares her for the serial killer in St. Dennis on Maryland's eastern shore. While living in her cousin Connor's Maryland home, she and chief of police, Beck, are determined to find and stop the gruesome killings. Another good book by Mariah Stewart

Last Breath by Mariah Stewart
Archaeologist Dr. Daria McGowan is offered the job to curate her great grandfather's artifacts at the university museum her family established. When she finds missing artifacts that have been stored for over a hundred years, she calls on FBI agent Connor Shields to help investigate the thievery. Thievery isn't all that comes their way.  One of the best in the "Last" series by Stewart.

Forgotten by Mariah Stewart
(this book is listed as a stand alone - but really is the last of the "Last" series)
FBI agent, Portia Cahill, has just returned to the states and is handed what looks like a simple assignment.  Portia would rather be on the other side of the world fighting undercover -- but this new case just keeps getting stranger and stranger and she's out to get the facts.  Portia must communicate with the incarcerated serial murderer to find one more body.  When a copycat murderer surfaces, Portia and the original murderer's lawyer find themselves in unexpected territory with twists and turns no one expected. Very Good Read!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Who do you Admire?

A recent scrapbook layout challenge on the Jessica Sprague site (one I frequently join for the challenges) was to pick a famous person that you admire or inspires you.  I could have picked a few - but, Teddy came to mind first. Especially, after visiting the Badlands and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and again spending time on the Washington D.C. island with his memorial. Both fantastic sites! Here's my entry to the challenge using web photos. Bully!


Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Mumford & Sons




I'm not much of a grunge or shabby scrapbooker, but I sure had fun with this one.
May have to give it a go, again.  Great concert by the way from a great group.
(photo by Sara & Scott Mansfield)

Sunday, May 1, 2011

and the music lives on......

October 1, 2010

October 2, 2010

October 3, 2010