Flash Fiction: On James Street

by Carol5 Comments
"On James Street" This job was more difficult than she had anticipated. The dealer had not informed her that the long-abandoned city was falling, sinking into the sea. The towers collapsing, buildings that had stood for centuries being pulled under the waves. She had had to dive into the muddy water and swim through a window of the old palace. Even in the murkiness, the sword had shown, glowing with an inner fire from the algae coated wall where it had been left in the rush to evacuate. She had grabbed it and surfaced, gasping for air. After handing the weapon to her brother, she pulled herself onto the rooftop where he waited. The sword was marvelous. For ceremonies, not battles, the hilt was encrusted with jewels, intricate carvings covered the blades, it practically pulsed with power. The legendary Gladius, forged by dwarves, set with gems from a dragon's hoard, engraved with the words of victory, but only for the worthy. And...
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Thursdays Tale: The Little Girl Sold with the Pears

by Carol8 Comments
We're still visiting Italy this week. "The Little Girl Sold with the Pears" is a fairy tale collected by Italo Calvino in Italian Folktales, published in 1954. You'll notice some familiar themes in the story. A man had to pay the king four baskets of pears each year, but one year he only had 3½ baskets to send, so he put his little girl in the bottom of the fourth basket and covered her up. She is eventually discovered by the King's kitchen staff. She is given the name Perina and she goes to work in the kitchen. Of course, she's beautiful and kind and smart and the prince falls in love with her. The other maids though become jealous and tell the King that Perina has boasted that she can steal the witches' treasure, and he sends her out to do so. Perina travels through the woods, spending the night in a pear tree. In the morning, a little old woman...
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Review: The Litigators by John Grisham

by Carol6 Comments
It's been a while since I've read a Grisham novel, but decided to give this new one a go. And I'm glad I did. The Litigators is  not spectacular, but it has a nice, feel good ending. David Zinc, a young attorney, turns his back on his fancy downtown firm, ending up at the small office of Finley & Figg after a day of drinking. Finley and Figg are two street lawyers, ambulance chasers, who seem to specialize in quickie divorces. But Wally Figg has run across their ticket to riches. A class action lawsuit is forming against Varrick labs, a huge pharmaceutical company, because of their cholesterol-lowering drug, Kryox. As Wally sees it, they can scrounge up some clients, joint the suit and just hang on for the ride. Money with little work. Of course, it's not going to be that easy and by the end both Finley and Figg are relying on the inexperienced David. I actually liked Oscar Finley...
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Review: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram

by Carol6 Comments
Egypt- mysterious, magical, a land of adventure and secrets. The Secret of the Sacred Scarab brings that Egypt to life. Cousins Justin and Adam are thrilled to be visiting Egypt with their aunt and grandmother. Both love adventure and are familiar with the work of James Kinnaird, an archaeologist searching for the tomb of an ancient Egyptian ruler, the Scarab King. Most people think the King is just legend and that the tomb doesn't exit, but Adam and Justin are sure it's all true. Soon after they arrive in Egypt, a street peddler gives them a mysterious scarab, and the adventure begins. They have to use their intelligence to solve the riddle of the scarab and the message that came with it. I read The Secret of the Sacred Scarab with Amber (12), and the story is perfect for tweens. It's kind of an Indiana Jones story for the younger crowd. The boys are smart and working together can survive any situation,...
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Mailbox Monday

by Carol14 Comments
This month, Mailbox Monday is hosted by Kim at Metroreader. My mailbox, and Kindle, were pretty busy during January. Here's what I added to my to-read stack. A Will to Murder by Hilary Thomson (from the author and Pongid Press) Creative Spirit by Scott Nicholson and the screenplay (Won at the Minding Spot. Thanks, Wendy!) No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie (from William Morrow) Borneo Tom by Tom McLaughlin that came with a cute little bag (from Pump Up Your Book for a blog tour) Shore Excursion by Marie Moore (from Tribute Books for a blog tour) The Professionals by Owen Laukkanen (from Penguin) Henry Wood Detective Agency by Brian Meeks (from Pump Up Your Book for a blog tour) The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality by Gahan Hanmer (from Tribute Books for a blog tour) Snake Skin by C. J. Lyons (Purchased) The Fairy Tale Fiction of Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie edited by Heidi Anne Heiner (Purchased) I also received a couple of beautiful photos of Paris, won from...
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Venice in February: Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon

by Carol8 Comments
Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon is an engaging mystery, where setting and plot fit hand in hand. This is not the first I've read in this series, although it is the one that began it all, so I fully expected to enjoy it, as I did. Internationally renowned German conductor Helmut Wellauer was performing La Traviata at Teatro La Fenice when he failed to come out for the second act. After being asked if there is a doctor in the house, Dr. Rizzardi enters the maestro’s dressing room to find Helmut dead. Since this is Venice, the police arrive by boat rather quickly.  Police Vice-Commissario Guido Brunetti leads the  investigation into the cyanide poisoning of the conductor.  Suspects abound from the victim’s much younger wife to musical peers and rivals.  Soon Brunetti learns that  Helmut has destroyed several singers' careers through the years, including a trio of young women.  With no help from his boss or assistants, Brunetti still manages, with calmness, tact and persistence...
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