Teaser from The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

by Carol14 Comments
"What fun it will be, responded Tuppence. "Marriage is called all sorts of things, a haven, and a refuge, and a crowning glory, and a state of bondage, and lots more. But do you know what I think it is?" "What?" "A sport!" "And a damned good sport too," said Tommy. (from The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie) Okay, so it's more of a quote than a teaser really, since it has nothing to do with the actual mystery. I liked it though. Our marriage is fun a lot of the time. Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. The rules are easy and I only cheated a little. Grab your current read, open to a random page, and give us two teaser sentences. Remember, no spoilers. My Kindle copy was free and the above is my honest opinion....
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Review: The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg

by Carol12 Comments
Amber saw me reading this one and said that it must be boring, since it had "princess" in the title. I explained no, it's actually a murder mystery; the Ice Princess is a woman who is found dead in a bathtub filled with frozen water. I guess that made more sense to her, seemed more like something worth reading, since she moved on to telling me about her day. In the story, we quickly learn that the woman, Alex, was actually murdered. Erica, the woman's childhood friend, discovers the body and along with a local police detective, Patrick Hedström, uncover secrets that stretch back over twenty years, secrets someone would do anything to protect, including commit murder. First of all, I have to say the cover is gorgeous. The ice, the shades of blue, the mysterious woman fit the novel perfectly. I have to admit that part of the reason I wanted to read this was the Sweden setting, and I wasn't...
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Short Story Monday: “Turning Leo” by Clark Howard

by Carol5 Comments
Leo Pilsen is in the Outfit, Chicago's mob, but he has been friends with Danny Manley, a lieutenant with the Chicago PD since childhood. When Pilsen's 18 year old daughter is arrested, Manley sees an opportunity. As Pilsen's friend, he promises to do all he can to help the fmaily. As a cop, he sees this as a perfect opportunity to take down some mobsters, including Grank Carpenter, one of the six commissioners who governs the Outfit. "Turning Leo" by Clark Howard tells how Manley takes one girl's mistake and uses it to turn Leo's life upside down, forcing him to become an informant. Manley and all his cohorts get accolades and promotions; Leo and his family have to start over with new identities in a new city. I liked the intricacies involved in presenting the case in a way that makes Leo think he has not option, but I couldn't have done without the few glimpses into Manley's social life....
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Another Monday

by Carol17 Comments
I received one book in the mail this week, a signed hardback that I won at Books, Thoughts, and a Few Adventures. Thanks, Patty! A World I Never Made by James LePore Pat Nolan, an American man, is summoned to Paris to claim the body of his estranged daughter Megan, who has committed suicide. The body, however, is not Megan's and it becomes instantly clear to Pat that Megan staged this, that she is in serious trouble, and that she is calling to him for help. This sends Pat on an odyssey that stretches across France and into the Czech Republic and that makes him the target of both the French police and a band of international terrorists. Joining Pat on his search is Catherine Laurence, a beautiful but tormented Paris detective who sees in Pat something she never thought she'd find--genuine passion and desperate need. As they look for Megan, they come...
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Review: Muppet Snow White by Jesse Blaze Snider

by Carol4 Comments
(Suggested Reading Level: Grades 4 and up) Last time I reviewed a Muppet book, I forgot to mention a few things on my list of belongings. I have six glasses with picture from The Great Muppet Caper that McDonalds was giving away back in the 80s, a bunch of Sesame Street beanie babies, a couple Pez dispensers, and a fabric Kermit book we got when Amber was a baby. Oh, and a Kermit the Frog puppet. I think that's it. I adore the Muppet remakes of classic stories. This time it's Snow White, and I do think that Miss Piggy is perfect as the evil stepmother. Of course the story has a few Muppet twists and I just flat out enjoyed it. It's light-hearted and funny. I read it with Amber - yes, comic books are really tough to read aloud, but that's life. It's worth it when the story's good. You may think you know the Snow White story, but not the...
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