The day after her high school reunion hits Ingrid Beaumont hard: someone has murdered Wylie Jamestone, famous artist and member of the close-knit group of former dissenters that included Ingrid. Wylie bequeathes Ingrid a painting and a cryptic note referring to a treasure hunt, so she begins a quest to find his murderer.
I didn't like this as much as I had hoped to. The characters were shallow, many were nasty people and why would you do anything for a murder victim who had made many peoples lives hell? The elephant jokes were the best part.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
When an exotic stranger, Vianne Rocher, arrives in the French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique directly opposite the church, Father Reynaud identifies her as a serious danger to his flock - especially as it is the beginning of Lent, the traditional season of self-denial. War is declared as the priest denounces the newcomer's wares as the ultimate sin. Suddenly Vianne's shop-cum-café means that there is somewhere for secrets to be whispered, grievances to be aired, dreams to be tested. But Vianne's plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival divide the whole community in a conflict that escalates into a 'Church not Chocolate' battle. As mouths water in anticipation, can the solemnity of the Church compare with the pagan passion of a chocolate éclair?
I loved this book. It was about chocolate so how could I not, lol?
The language evokes clear, luscious images of the people, the smells, the feel of this small French village.I enjoyed the touch of magic. I enjoyed the way the story was told from 2 viewpoints and the way the stories of the main characters were gradually revealed.
I loved this book. It was about chocolate so how could I not, lol?
The language evokes clear, luscious images of the people, the smells, the feel of this small French village.I enjoyed the touch of magic. I enjoyed the way the story was told from 2 viewpoints and the way the stories of the main characters were gradually revealed.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole
Emmaline is half vampire and half Valkyrie. She is known in her coven as Emma the timid. Her family is shocked when she decides she wants to travel to Paris alone to find out the truth about her father. While there she is attacked by a handsome, yummy, strong, yummy, scary, yummy man who scares the stuffing out of her. She is even more shocked to find out that in order to return to Louisiana she will have to help Lachlain MacRieve the leader of a Lykae Clan return to his home in Scotland. She'll do it believing she will be allowed to return home. She has no idea Lachlain is her forever mate and he has no plans on ever letting her get away.
Lachlain has spent the last hundred and fifty years being tortured by the vampire Demestriu. He is slowly going mad and then...he scents his mate. He has been waiting an eternity to find her and he is not going to let her get away now. He is shocked and somewhat disgusted when he finds out his long awaited mate is half vampire. But despite this he can't keep himself from feeling things for the wee little Emma. She fires his blood and he will do what he must to keep her...even if it means to lie to her. Anything to get her home to Scotland where he will be able to keep her safe and protected when he goes to get revenge against Demestriu. But, life doesn't always go according to plan and wooing Emma is just one of those things.
Lachlain and Emmaline hooked me from page one. Vampires, lycans, witches, valkyries and wraiths make for an interesting cast of characters with lots of potential.
I enjoyed this and now want to read more in this series.
Lachlain has spent the last hundred and fifty years being tortured by the vampire Demestriu. He is slowly going mad and then...he scents his mate. He has been waiting an eternity to find her and he is not going to let her get away now. He is shocked and somewhat disgusted when he finds out his long awaited mate is half vampire. But despite this he can't keep himself from feeling things for the wee little Emma. She fires his blood and he will do what he must to keep her...even if it means to lie to her. Anything to get her home to Scotland where he will be able to keep her safe and protected when he goes to get revenge against Demestriu. But, life doesn't always go according to plan and wooing Emma is just one of those things.
Lachlain and Emmaline hooked me from page one. Vampires, lycans, witches, valkyries and wraiths make for an interesting cast of characters with lots of potential.
I enjoyed this and now want to read more in this series.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Fear and Trembling by Amelie Nothomb
This is a strange little book covering the narrator's experiences working for a big Japanese corporation. It documents her fear and humiliation and the intricacies of Japanese etiquette.
This book is delightful and engaging. I read it in a single sitting.
This book is delightful and engaging. I read it in a single sitting.
Killer Pancake by Diane Mott Davidson
Caterer and amateur sleuth Goldy B. Schulz gets caught between a ruthless cosmetic company and a violent animal rights group. When Goldy, owner of Goldilocks' Catering, faces the challenge of whipping up a sumptuous lowfat feast for the Mignon Cosmetics' company banquet, she rises to the occasion brilliantly...only to discover just how ugly the beauty biz can be!
On the day of the banquet Goldy finds herself confronting an angry mob of demonstrators--"Spare the Hares"--who object to Mignon Cosmetics' animal-testing policies. As she struggles to carry forty pounds of lowfat fare from her van to the mall where the banquet is being held, she hears an ominous squeal of tires and a horrifying thump. Seconds later, a Mignon employee lies dead on the pavement. And soon the police discover that this hit-and-run was no accident.
Now Goldy is enmeshed up to her saute pans in a homicide investigation. Could the murder have had something to do with Spare the Hares--or with the exotic flower found near the dead body? Though busy serving up Hoisin Turkey and Grand Marnier Cranberry Muffins, Goldy decides to start digging at Mignon's million-dollar cosmetics counter. But when another murder takes place and Goldy herself is attacked, the caterer turned sleuth knows she must step up her search for a gruesome killer.
The first I've read in this series and I enjoyed it. I also liked the recipes scattered throughout the book.
On the day of the banquet Goldy finds herself confronting an angry mob of demonstrators--"Spare the Hares"--who object to Mignon Cosmetics' animal-testing policies. As she struggles to carry forty pounds of lowfat fare from her van to the mall where the banquet is being held, she hears an ominous squeal of tires and a horrifying thump. Seconds later, a Mignon employee lies dead on the pavement. And soon the police discover that this hit-and-run was no accident.
Now Goldy is enmeshed up to her saute pans in a homicide investigation. Could the murder have had something to do with Spare the Hares--or with the exotic flower found near the dead body? Though busy serving up Hoisin Turkey and Grand Marnier Cranberry Muffins, Goldy decides to start digging at Mignon's million-dollar cosmetics counter. But when another murder takes place and Goldy herself is attacked, the caterer turned sleuth knows she must step up her search for a gruesome killer.
The first I've read in this series and I enjoyed it. I also liked the recipes scattered throughout the book.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
This book is about Julie Powell (the author) recounting the year she spent cooking every recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Childs (famous cooking person).
She wrote this book based on her Blog and at times it comes across as very chick-lit and whiny.
I liked the 2nd half of the book more than the first half, perhaps because by then she had started to, as Julie put it, "get over herself".
She wrote this book based on her Blog and at times it comes across as very chick-lit and whiny.
I liked the 2nd half of the book more than the first half, perhaps because by then she had started to, as Julie put it, "get over herself".
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Raisins and Almonds by Kerry Greenwood
Handsome, Jewish Simon Abraham made a nice distraction for a while. Phryne and Simon entered a dance contest and would have won if Phryne had been Jewish. When a Jewish student was poisoned in "Lee's Books New and Secondhand," Simon's father Benjamin Abraham asked Phryne Fisher to investigate. Benjamin owns the building housing the bookstore. Miss Sylvia Lee ran a quiet and neat establishment. When the body was removed, Miss Lee swept and cleaned, bringing suspicion upon herself. Phryne agrees to look into the matter for ten quid a day. She warns Benjamin that she will tell him only the truth. It may be that a "Jew murdered a Jew." The investigation takes Phryne deep into the Jewish community, politics, and culture.
This isn't my favorite of the series. Too much emphasis on the Jewishness of Phryne's latest young lover, the victim, the suspects and their interest in Middle Eastern politics and I even guessed right about the villain.
This isn't my favorite of the series. Too much emphasis on the Jewishness of Phryne's latest young lover, the victim, the suspects and their interest in Middle Eastern politics and I even guessed right about the villain.
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