tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30737099262603969152024-03-05T06:17:08.503-05:00The Prey ChroniclesThe ramblings of a voracious genre reader and authorDebi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-4180247066758939612010-05-17T15:31:00.003-04:002010-05-17T16:03:12.614-04:00WordOfHonor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlkz0msJXs1-x8y_VWc5yvJyTxhSvzw5uwVS4EqKYZj7jIgY0rlHMERN-OgQ31NffNnVToWSpQjep-zKuAqFdIEubVUc6iGXVIpv_T0OsQlW6F6oacoDXDVKw9bek9HmiPV5cNhKkA76o/s1600/51p7WPgIUxL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlkz0msJXs1-x8y_VWc5yvJyTxhSvzw5uwVS4EqKYZj7jIgY0rlHMERN-OgQ31NffNnVToWSpQjep-zKuAqFdIEubVUc6iGXVIpv_T0OsQlW6F6oacoDXDVKw9bek9HmiPV5cNhKkA76o/s320/51p7WPgIUxL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472331100368889346" /></a><br />I've been jonesin for a visit with <span style="font-weight:bold;">Nelson DeMille's</span> John Cory. Unfortunately that visit is several months away. Junkie that I am I picked an older story by <span style="font-weight:bold;">Demille</span> called <span style="font-weight:bold;">Word of Honor</span>.<br /><br />The novel was first published in 1987,a former decorated Army Lieutenant Ben Tyson is now a corporate executive,an honest, handsome family man admired by men and desired by women. He's charged with having overseen a massacre of innocent civilians in Vietnam. Now the press, army justice, and the events he tried to forget have caught up with him. His family, his career, and his personal sense of honor hang in the balance.<br /><br />DeMille does well describing the huge moral conflict of the Vietnam war. He probes those conflicting concepts of honor, duty and loyalty as they apply to one soldier and the war. To ratchet up the emotional turmoil further all the hostile witnesses are called up while friendly witnesses are lost or silent. Tyson's own sense of honor lets him give only tiny scraps of information even to his attorney. As with most DeMille novels the dialogue is witty,irreveret and sarcastic. Although it wasn't John Cory, I had a nice visit with Tyson.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-64742551404697303552010-05-10T20:23:00.000-04:002010-05-10T16:43:26.728-04:00AstonishedAndStartled<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6IkFjExUWOBtCNs0wjKC3XV_0uh5D6viTC8l8Ac_iol3uhDzlBBRhSAN-04AHMDU-gFhC9nd8ac0TNhf3a4VoFpHRTmNt0XGVgGXypGgT__fytDERZabfQBY5l1a4yi0pgjUisXX-fUK/s1600/new_cover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 194px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6IkFjExUWOBtCNs0wjKC3XV_0uh5D6viTC8l8Ac_iol3uhDzlBBRhSAN-04AHMDU-gFhC9nd8ac0TNhf3a4VoFpHRTmNt0XGVgGXypGgT__fytDERZabfQBY5l1a4yi0pgjUisXX-fUK/s320/new_cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469732886618551570" /></a><br />I love to be frightened. My husband and I have taken great delight in scaring the be-jesus out of each other over the last twenty-five years. I'm so proud when I catch him off guard and make him jump. Believe me it's hard to startle someone whose been a cop for thirty plus years. However most of the time I'm left living gratuitously through mystery and thriller novels, and suspenseful movies for those moments of astonishment.<br /><br />Alfred Hitchcock stated a thriller is the difference between suspense and surprise. His example was two characters sitting and talking in a cafe, then a bomb goes off under the table. The audience experiences surprise. But Hitchcock says if the audience sees the villain place the bomb, sees him set the timer for one o'clock and the audience can see a clock in the scene, the conversation of the two actors goes from mundane to suspense. The audience now has ten minutes of suspense instead of a ten second surprise. I love Alfred Hitchcocks' movies. Watch them all the time. <br /><br />Recently I read two thrillers,the first passed the Hitchcock rule. What do you get when you cross Steve Berry with Dan Brown and a healthy dollop of Steven King?... <span style="font-weight:bold;">Graham Brown's<a href="http://www.authorgrahambrown.com/"></a></span> debut thriller <span style="font-weight:bold;">Black Rain<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>. Goverment Operative Danielle Laidlaw, takes her search party into the Amazon searching for a Mayan City, and an elusive new fuel source. The plotting is complex as well as fast paced. The rain forest, the indigenous people, the animals, plus the ruthless billionaire doesn't leave you wanting for foes or obstacles that hinder their ability to obtain their prize.<br /><br />My one quibble with the book is that Danielle's character isn't as well fleshed out as her friend, pilot Hawker. Brown does a nice job of sprinkling in the back story for Hawker throughout the book, which is what he needed to do more with the character of Danielle.<br /><br /><br />Once you start it is difficult to put down. Well done on his debut, leaves you wanting to read more. It hit the bookstores the end of January. Thanks to Good Reads for having the contest for the ARC. <br /><br />Dan Brown is back again with another plot driven thriller, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Lost Symbol</span>, that really didn't pass the test. Robert Langdon is trying to save his mentor Peter Soloman from the vicious psychopath Malakh who wants the ultimate Masonic prize. When reading Dan Brown you need to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride and ask no critical thinking questions. Yes, he spins a good tale but the threads are just barely held together. The CIA investigating inside of the US? Well it shouldn't occur and that alone put a big rut in the road which I had trouble believing. He could of easily made it the FBI and the threads of the story would have held together better. I'm sure his "new age" definitions of the bible's meaning didn't pleased the church with this novel either, although his writings weren't as critical as the DaVinci Code.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-23473242165769221732010-04-30T14:07:00.003-04:002010-04-30T14:30:06.535-04:00WhatLiesWithin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YHgzCJxIlRNPqIfGp2nQnFJTnfdZQv2PBo4fD4okEGnQhsu5JdfgNFErXntn0tc_alN6mbTpO6wyXuOilZCYMgAoVlZWULsjp84FPEA3QgC3zPYoRE4nB5T1WInrM0Av_GKWlX_neP2z/s1600/WLW_cover_for_web.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YHgzCJxIlRNPqIfGp2nQnFJTnfdZQv2PBo4fD4okEGnQhsu5JdfgNFErXntn0tc_alN6mbTpO6wyXuOilZCYMgAoVlZWULsjp84FPEA3QgC3zPYoRE4nB5T1WInrM0Av_GKWlX_neP2z/s320/WLW_cover_for_web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465997326125491970" border="0" /></a><br /> Homicide detectives Jake and Frank are being punished and are banished to animal control for a month after an unfortunate accident when a previous murder suspect met his demise. Chasing a feral cat into the old Sin Strip Ember Hotel they make a grisly discovery of a mummified body. Before calling the police department Jake brings in Sam to evaluate the crime scene. Sam is now working as a PI after leaving Chasen Heights PD .<br /><br /><br />Sam's nemesis Police Chief Murphy is running for mayor but as the investigation advances all the evidence points to the Chief as the main suspect. Is it a political set-up or did the Chief have hidden secrets from the Sin Strip era? Forced to defend himself he's left with no choice but to turn to Sam to try and save his political career as well as prove his innocence. But will she?<br /><br />The 5th book in Tooley's Sam Casey series lives up to previous outings. Fast pacing, witty dialogue and an intriguing mix of paranormal with mystery. My one quibble was not enough time spent with Abby and Alex, rightly so since the story didn't support their character interaction. As always Tooley's writing is an appealing mix of eccentric characters and subplots. A must for fans.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-17822279563762798222010-04-19T18:07:00.000-04:002010-04-19T18:07:01.900-04:00YouTube - The Future of Publishing - created by DK (UK)This is some creative advertising by Penguin. Make sure you watch it to the very end, because appearances are deceiving. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Weq_sHxghcg">YouTube - The Future of Publishing - created by DK (UK)</a>Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-56700312381969355312010-04-13T14:53:00.000-04:002010-04-13T14:53:48.685-04:00Blogger: Upload Images<a href="http://www.blogger.com/upload-image.g?blogID=3073709926260396915">Blogger: Upload Images</a>Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-81159786095755608642010-04-13T14:48:00.004-04:002010-04-13T15:25:18.239-04:00The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Book of Spies<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span> by <a href="http://www.gaylelynds.com/index.html">Gayle Lynds</a> is my favorite book of the year. It opened with a bang and kept me glued to the book until the end.<br /><br />The CIA discovers there is a connection between the historical Library of Gold and a terrorist bank account. Like Robert Ludlum, Lynds follows the money welded by the cabal of powerful men. She weaves a tale of intrigue with rare book expert Eva Blake and CIA agent Judd Ryder in solving the mystery. The characters were well developed and she deftly and seamlessly crossed genres; spies, historical, and treasure hunting without losing the tantalizing pace of a thriller. <br /><br />I was tickled pink with the character introduction on page 166. Also I was pleased to see that the Carnivore, one of my favorite Lynds characters made an appearance in this novel. Usually I poo-poo the blurbs on the back of a book, but I have to agree Gayle Lynds is one, if not the best of the suspense writers in the world. If you like espionage or historical novels both readers will be satisfied and left wanting for another outing with Eva and Judd.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-45884962272600421452009-08-19T15:10:00.004-04:002009-08-19T15:56:15.913-04:00SlipOutTheBackJack<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLpSvWlmTkaXnyHWoznWeS_QJ2jELv86lu2YYnsg27ka-nbfvUtg1JSEhUHYPGed5qzvYJQSo91a6Ae2U1KmDCN4iabxO2Jpw0fY09QM4bc_ffYgo0BvPLGWYJXGioWVxqfr-FGyWZSt2/s1600-h/GroundZero-Forge.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLpSvWlmTkaXnyHWoznWeS_QJ2jELv86lu2YYnsg27ka-nbfvUtg1JSEhUHYPGed5qzvYJQSo91a6Ae2U1KmDCN4iabxO2Jpw0fY09QM4bc_ffYgo0BvPLGWYJXGioWVxqfr-FGyWZSt2/s320/GroundZero-Forge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371765141291714450" /></a><br />You know it's going to be bad news when the author puts a note in the front of the novel. I grabbed the box of Kleenex, knowing the puddle of tears would be on there way. Yes, <a href="http://www.repairmanjack.com">F. Paul Wilson</a> decided to end his Repairman Jack series. I know. I know. He always said it was a closed-end series, but who believes a fiction author? He's decided the series will end with number 15 thus, with great reverence I opened and began 13, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ground Zero<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>.<br /><br />I tried to read it slowly, absorb all the details, but I buzzed right through it like usually. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ground Zero<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> starts with September 11, 2001 and suggest an alternative reason for the terrorism that occurred on that day. Jack's childhood friend has now begun to piece the puzzle together and Jack becomes involved in her misfortunes and the craziness of the internet <span style="font-weight:bold;">9/11 Truth Movement</span>. <br /><br />I'm officially in mourning. How else will I live vicariously? I am in awe of Jack's antics to rectify injustices. In a previous novel Wilson kept me white knuckled but giggling the whole time when he had Jack duct taped the villain, wearing reindeer antlers, to the front of a deuce and quarter trunk then drove the bad guy through New York traffic. One can only dream of such possibilities, F Paul Wilson is a clever guy. He comes up with so many unique forms of retribution. If only I were so creative. I do have a itsy favor to ask of Jack. Now if he would just answer my emails. But that's another story.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-32490898628708099402009-07-23T14:46:00.005-04:002009-07-23T16:34:56.976-04:00TwoWinnersOneLoser<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilU8ROFBvHIzH1XE-Xx24eXr12_N5FMMaB8kO2dUjINBaOiE_UmIGXWEvroZsNF82AgH6gPRqtWlxF7AXZXPEGn4rRW-ijwCFryB0BaBcjFtAOgvQRVewgWPQSCknaEbGYunx4HBi-8ytB/s1600-h/The-Scarecrow02.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilU8ROFBvHIzH1XE-Xx24eXr12_N5FMMaB8kO2dUjINBaOiE_UmIGXWEvroZsNF82AgH6gPRqtWlxF7AXZXPEGn4rRW-ijwCFryB0BaBcjFtAOgvQRVewgWPQSCknaEbGYunx4HBi-8ytB/s320/The-Scarecrow02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361741541903840274" /></a><br />I finished <span style="font-weight:bold;">The Scarecrow</span> by <a href="www.michaelconnelly.com">Michael Connelly</a> late last night, a good thriller. Connelly's history as a newspaper crime reporter lends great authenticity to the story. Jack McEvoy, the protagonist, (seen earlier in the Poet & The Narrows) is pink slipped due to downsizing by LA Times. He wants to go out in a blaze of glory so writes a story about a wrongfully accused young gang-banger of murder and rape. I'll admit some of the scenes are sadistic and scary, so be aware. McEvoy calls Rachael Walling (seen in previous books)to help him find the killer. Unfortunately the cyber-bully villian is already tracking McEvoy and Walling and causing havoc for the two. <br /><br />Connelly tells a great story. I missed the character development that is more prevalent in his other series. My only other quibble, he has a great beginning, but the ending I saw coming at midpoint. However Connelly's writing is still heads above most. He also did several book trailers about Rachael Walling back-story just prior to her appearance in the book. I'm embedding the first one here. The rest can be found on <a href="www.michaelconnelly.com">Connelly's website</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8hX-vkB_yo">You Tube.</a><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4b1_wAmjfNw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4b1_wAmjfNw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Max, A Maximum Ride novel</span> by <a href="www.jamespatterson.com/">James Patterson</a>. Lord knows James Patterson needs no extra money. This is for all the parents who still have butt numbing summer rides with pre-teens ahead of them. Get the audio-books from the library and take them with you on the trip. Max, a teenager, is leading her flock of genetically engineered half-human, half-bird hybrids. The flock must rescue Max's Mom who has been kidnapped by a criminal mastermind. Patterson spins a good tale. I'm not saying this is well written fiction, it lacks character development, has implausible plot twists, however the kids won't notice. It has lots of dialogue and quick action scenes that will keep them enthralled. I personally dislike audio-books which add music to increase the tension in a book, however in this instance it works and my preteen enjoyed it and didn't whine as often "are we there yet?". The lack of tension from the back seat was a balm for my soul. Give it a try.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Blood Groove by Alex Bledsoe</span> I couldn't finish. I picked this up while browsing in the bookstore. I even read the first chapter, unfortunately I should have read further. Chapter two was where the problems started. Baron Zginski a vampire from 1915 goes into forced hibernation until the 1970's. When he is revived he must adapt to his new world. The premise has potential. However, the blaxploitation dialogue was lame, characterizations were stereotypical, and the misogynistic treatment of women and minorities was over the top and so offensive I just put it down. It never became apparent why the writer set the novel in the 70's, which further distracted from it's readability.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-88857472034396973042009-07-06T10:42:00.000-04:002009-07-07T16:55:51.747-04:00VisitingOldFriends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7EBZuAjM7Bs0RA6iZNmWiA-9N3UgdX78uetBPYkKKyUC8V-35XYBNRkJuRAKis8voibYPDaQ3yjv83P5E6nuYRIckxkuMjbfsZbnKbfH6l4VU_QpKZn9sAH06hOevW60GLX2yBKLcKYq/s1600-h/15cover_large.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 179px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7EBZuAjM7Bs0RA6iZNmWiA-9N3UgdX78uetBPYkKKyUC8V-35XYBNRkJuRAKis8voibYPDaQ3yjv83P5E6nuYRIckxkuMjbfsZbnKbfH6l4VU_QpKZn9sAH06hOevW60GLX2yBKLcKYq/s400/15cover_large.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355823311806340946" /></a><br />Why do we continue to read or watch a series when the reader knows the plot? We continue to read even when the characters show no growth. What is it that entices us to open the cover when we know the sad truth is the series has run out of steam? Well in my case it's to visit old friends and predictability.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Finger Lickin Fifteen </span>by <a href="http://www.evanovich.com">Janet Evanovich</a>. It's time to visit Stephanie, Lula, Grandma and the boys, Morelli and Ranger. Stephanie is currently not involved with either of her men nor have her bounty hunter skills improved. Lula is still wearing spandex that is stretch to its limits. Grandma and Lula are both carrying a gun and neither one can hit a damn thing. Sounds about like we left them last year. Janet E's Plum series, for me is the novel version of watching I Love Lucy reruns. It's funny and predictable. <br /><br />This time Lula is witness to a murder. Throughout the novel the assassins try to take Lula out, Lula perseveres, even will ducking for cover she decides Stephanie, Grandma and her should enter a million dollar barbecue sauce recipe contest. One small problem, the only thing they now about barbecue sauce is eating it. One can only image the trouble they get into with this contest. The sauce thread alone is worth the read.<br /><br />Ranger, I do love a dangerous man, needs Stephanie to help him figure out who has broken into his data base at Rangeman headquarters and robbing his customers. Stephaine skates along the edges of the envelope trying not to fall in bed with Ranger while working for him. Personally I won't skate. I would take a leap and land in the middle of the bed. Morrelli's nice but Ranger is definitely my pick for Stephanie's love interest. Actually Stephanie ends up solving a problem with her brain this time instead of luck. <br /><br />The Plum Series isn't the most lyrically written, nor does it have a multitude of plot twists. What it does have is lots of belly laughs and a wonderful afternoon of reading. Three stars on my billboard anyday.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-22208293319235109282009-06-20T14:22:00.004-04:002009-06-20T15:49:30.006-04:00GreatDebut<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwB5E13s8log5kpMEy5qj2eUP9zepYnagvEkoQ1qOXd4Owjbq2LcxX84ucB2rnLG1IjCWi4vlhahZFpsNYj6T2nzppDuxaH0eZ1ue3L42AvfJIbtOoKrLJhre2PV449j9XzMhy23kQTbc/s1600-h/even_us.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 181px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwB5E13s8log5kpMEy5qj2eUP9zepYnagvEkoQ1qOXd4Owjbq2LcxX84ucB2rnLG1IjCWi4vlhahZFpsNYj6T2nzppDuxaH0eZ1ue3L42AvfJIbtOoKrLJhre2PV449j9XzMhy23kQTbc/s400/even_us.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349496903976600754" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Even </span>by <a href="http://andrewgrantbooks.com">Andrew Grant</a> has my vote for next year's Debut Anthony Award. I'm sure Andrew will do fine on his own, considering whom he got to blurb his book. Loved the first chapter, then Grant almost lost me slogging through the narrative for the first five chapters. The only thing that kept me going was the glimpses of great dialogue dispensed throughout the beginning chapters. Once I hit page 50, Grant's pace was in place and I didn't put the novel down until the end. <br /><br />His protagonist David Trevellyan, a covert operative in the Royal Navy is a cross between James Bond and Burn Notice's Michael Weston. Grant gave Trevellyan Bond's sardonic humor and Weston's reluctant hero personality a dynamic combination. Trevellyan in New York, walks home from dinner and finds a dead man in the alley just as the police arrive. The police assume Trevellyan killed the man and arrest him. He figures his London bosses will have him out it time for breakfast. Unfortunate for Trevellyan, the London employers wash their hands of their spy and let him swing in the wind. The fun ensues as he tries to rectify this misunderstanding. Grant neatly slipped in the back story in the first paragraphs of each chapter as covert spy tips. We learned how the Royal Navy shaped his character and brought him to his current state with antidotes that read like Dummies For The Would-be-Spies. Nice use of a writing device.<br /><br />I talked with Grant at <a href="http://loveismurder.net">Love is Murder</a> in February over drinks. After minutes of kibitzing over the other conventioneers reenactor costumes, I told him he sounded and looked a bit like Lee Child. He smiled and politely informed me he was Child's younger brother. Color me red. I disengaged my foot from my mouth and lost all train of thought at that point. I"d wanted to ask about his protagonist name David Trevellyan. I love the arcane stuff in writing. The name sounds familiar, but just can't place it.<br /><br />Although the concept of the rebellious spook is an entire sub genre, Grant has given the species a roll-coaster ride in his first outing. The Trevellyan series appears heir apparent of the genre.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-56431894622923524122009-06-15T19:09:00.001-04:002009-06-15T19:11:09.019-04:00SomeHotSomeNot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxi9Z0tp5CKKeh1EtMpceTv26gfdjidRvvBL8UsKJ8M_t5hcVsCxG6N1928VVV05a4XfSYtO0Jn1N2O4mFXiYluOhQq49xuqa6BwSokSD0mawttNxCNvnHF59onQWAOh7w6MeOiR7NqX8/s1600-h/butteredcover_150.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxi9Z0tp5CKKeh1EtMpceTv26gfdjidRvvBL8UsKJ8M_t5hcVsCxG6N1928VVV05a4XfSYtO0Jn1N2O4mFXiYluOhQq49xuqa6BwSokSD0mawttNxCNvnHF59onQWAOh7w6MeOiR7NqX8/s400/butteredcover_150.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347679173242697634" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Some like it Hot Buttered</span> by <a href="http://www.aarontucker.com">Jeffrey Cohen</a> is a funny mystery. I like Jeff's wit and oh the zingers. My face still hurts from smiling like an idiot while reading. Very punny. Well developed characters and plot. This time out a patron dies of poisoned popcorn at the Comedy Tonight movie theater and the fun ensues. Elliot the protagonist investigates the death on his bike. That image alone should get you to buy the book. When I'm down and need a lift I pick up Jeff's double feature series. All his book make me laugh. Great beach read. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">OOLONG DEAD</span> by <a href="http://www.laurachilds.com/">Laura Childs</a> writes a cozy series about the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston. The third in the series, her protagonist Theodosia Browing is asked to host a lavish tea during the Verdi-themed Masked Ball. Already in a bit of a tizzy Theodosia only adds to her work when she finds the dead body of her arch nemesis, Abby Davis. Occasionally I'll read a cozy. Several of my friends lavished this series with praise for her writing, and it's great detail to description of the south and of tea. Unfortunately for me after the second tea set description I was grinding my back teeth. Not my cup of tea.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Zen and The Art of Vampires,</span> A dark ones novel by <a href="http://www.katiemacalister.com/">Kate MacAlitster</a>. This novel was a recommendation from a friend. Not bad, but I prefer more mystery, than romance or scifi in my novels. The premise, a forty year old Pia wants the "normal" life, white picket fence with husband and kids, but what she gets is an unusual European singles tour with lots at stake. (Pun intended) If you like romance this might be a winner for you to sink your teeth in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Off Street Parking</span> by Bill James. Would a wife have the nerve to park her dead husband in the family car in the driveway? What a great hook, and that's why I picked up the book. It's a mystery, a slow slogging mystery, The author used a numbered bullet point as a device to inform us of his heroine's thoughts. That and all the asides the narrator gave in the novel, I lost the plot of the story and put the book down uncompleted. <br /><br />Finally on this week's outing I tried to read <span style="font-weight:bold;">Witch Fire</span> by <a href="www.anyabast.com">Anya Bast</a> The same friend as above gave me this book, said I would love this paranormal mystery. Well the whodunit was I could hardly find or remember the mystery plot from all the romance. Not enough gore, too much romance. I'll have to remember this friend likes romance more than mystery.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-38777364306974674092009-06-03T14:34:00.004-04:002009-06-08T14:08:50.763-04:00SummerReads<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mz0EZI7pqv8By2V0ArE0oV3rcDSoxxNKXxEp5A0p5n_r_F_uW-MFj7U0z9br6IQn1eDp25CINWWm6ktEIvGwaBhdrBsAEGNoTA5f0J0g6oatz6FYEBKJHXvjBI6mdmx6NoqzGwV8pOdu/s1600-h/1233766.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mz0EZI7pqv8By2V0ArE0oV3rcDSoxxNKXxEp5A0p5n_r_F_uW-MFj7U0z9br6IQn1eDp25CINWWm6ktEIvGwaBhdrBsAEGNoTA5f0J0g6oatz6FYEBKJHXvjBI6mdmx6NoqzGwV8pOdu/s400/1233766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343181528532802882" border="0" /></a><br />Time to visit with all my favorite series characters and a few new ones. First up Sookie Stackhouse.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.charlaineharris.com/">Charlaine Harris'</a>s new novel <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dead and Gone</span> was great. It is fun, a good romp of a summer read. Love Charlaine and love Sookie, but this time, maybe it was me, Sookie and I felt out of sync. Overall it was a great addition to the series. The ninth novel in her series filled in those hanging questions from previous books. Lots of action, great dialogue, sex, but the plotting well it wasn't up to Charlaine's great standards. Okay I'm nit pickin here, bare with me a minute.<br /><br />My quibble is with the last third of the book. Not enough clues laid in earlier in the book for the reader to figure out who the murders were. And there's Mel dying declaration, the clues were so superficial I didn't see his announcement coming. I thumbed back through the book and tried to figure out where I missed the clues, which took me out of the reader mode. Plus I'm irritated with the continuous is it Quinn, Bill or Eric triangle in whose my lover? Geez, pick one. I'm not a fan of long drawn out love trysts, a la Stephanie Plum. Enough of my hair splitting. I really did like the book, but disappointed with a few minor details which most people will ignore. My carping won't take away from the fun.<br /><br />Every girl loves a bad boy. They can be tempting, especially if we can love them from afar. My answer is Jack Reacher. What's not to love about Reacher? He lives off the grid. He's a contrarian. He never walks away from trouble and always has a unique solution to problem resolution. Vicariously I get rid of my murderous angst when reading Child's novels.<br /><br />Reacher is back in New York for <a href="http://www.leechild.com/">Lee Child</a>'s novel <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gone Tomorrow</span>. He's riding the subway after attending a jazz club. A passenger appears to be a suicide bomber and Reacher intervenes. And that's just the beginning, the results of his intervention lead to a thumping good story.<br /><br />Lee Child knows how to build tension and he keeps the plot tight. His descriptions lean allow the reader to envision the scene without the purple prose. Great beach read.<br /><br />Where oh where has <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phillip Shelby</span> gone? He writes a good spy novel. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dawn's Early Light</span> written in 2003 was his last solo novel I've been able to find. He co-wrote several with Ludlum, but nothing lately by himself. A google search doesn't reveal much new.<br /><br /><br />Sloane Ryder works for the GAO police. (Who knew we had a secret GAO squad?) Wish we did have one that was as clever as Shelby wrote in his novel. Shelby follows the money like Ludlum always does in his novels, corruption at the highest levels of govt. It's well paced, characters could have been more fleshed out, but the plotting is tight and suspenseful. Good beach read. A quibble, one has to suspend disbelief that Sloane could get fired from Wall Street and easily move into a covert police squad. Plus everyone knows all the capitol police agencies playing together and sharing information is a fairy tale, but if you can get past those two roadblocks its full speed ahead.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-26119335718848996302009-05-13T11:51:00.004-04:002009-05-15T17:58:03.529-04:00BookTrailersWhat makes you pick up a new book? An interesting cover? Favorite author? Enticing hook on the inside cover? How about book trailers? Lately they are all the rage, everybody whose anybody is making one for their book. I like them short, few spoken words, music appropriate for the novels theme, and evocative pictures which pique my interest.<br /><br />I remember my first book trailer. <a href="http://alexkava.com/default.asp">Alex Kava's</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Perfect Evil</span> in 2000. It was extremely simply compared to the current trailers, however it drew me in. The view was the backside of a man, walking in deep snow toward a house surrounded by forest. The sound track consisted of howling wind, a short voice over and more wailing winds. The entire trailer was maybe 30 seconds long. I got goose-flesh, swear I felt the evil radiate off the computer and was immediately drawn into the scene. I didn't realize this was Alex Kava's debut. What a way to start off with a bang. I attended one of her signings, managed to put into words,how much I enjoyed the trailer. I still read Alex and was pleased with her latest novel <span style="font-weight: bold;">Exposed</span>.<br /><br />In earlier posts I've mentioned <a href="http://www.sdtooley.com/">Sandy Tooley's (aka Lee Driver)</a> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Chasing Ghosts</span> trailer, <a href="www.kitehrman.com/">Kit Ehrman's</a> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Triple Cross</span> trailer, done on small budgets but very professional looking and both enticed me to read their books.<br /><br />Can I weed out some books based on the trailer. Yes, The first clue is the music. When I click on the trailer if it has a pounding bass that increases my blood pressure, I know I'm in the wrong age bracket. If there's no tension in the music, it's probably a cozy.(I like to have the be-jesus scared out of me so I rarely read cozies.) If it has pictures of teens or soldiers again not my cup of tea. Although I must admit I enjoy quite a few of the teen book videos. <br /><br />Out of all the trailers I've visited lately here's one which is very well done. Only 90 seconds long. But you get the gist of the debut novel and the potential for a series. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Silver Phoenix </span>by <a href="http://cindypon.com/">Cindy Pon</a> <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ihJ1xy009bk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ihJ1xy009bk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-16156657487222592562009-05-06T11:24:00.004-04:002009-05-06T16:23:09.822-04:00HitsandMissesI'm back from the mother ship. Bruised, but not battered. My sanity is questionable, but normal for me. Any minute now I'll figure out how to use the walker without running over the oxygen tube. Hope abounds. <br /><br />On my enforced vacation I've been reading and listening to audio books to escape mentally from the dungeon. I've got a few tips for authors and publishers. <br /><br />PLEASE, by all things which are holy; chocolate, kettle cooked chips and a good single malt scotch, DO NOT add music to increase tension in an audio book. Give the author back the MS and make them write page-turning thrills or lump in the throat despair. If they can't or won't, then you do your job and get yourself another author. I know, I know, harsh. <br /><br />Authors you've got a difficult job to accomplish in the first fifty pages. You MUST make me like and root for your protagonist to succeed in his/her mission which you've set. Could you do this without boring me to tears on the back story? Yes, I realize it's a ton to ask, yes, I know it's difficult to write, but hey, I'm a picky reader.<br /><br />I loved flawed/handicapped/misfit characters. But damn, give them a backbone and a job most of us wouldn't tackle even for an ocean view house and a pool boy with abs to die for. Have you guessed by now I ran into numerous disappointments in my reading material over the last month?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Revenge of the Spellmans</span> by <a href="http://www.lisalutz.com">Lisa Lutz</a>. I love new authors. I adored and promoted Lisa's debut book. She'd written a quirky protagonist with heart. Her writing was fast paced, irreverent and hilarious. Her second novel, was still funny but the footnotes and annotations were just down right annoying. The third novel, her protagonist, Izzy shows little character growth, her quirks are no longer cute but irritating, the ubiquitous love triangle leaves me rooting for no one. Damn, what a waste of a potentially great series. I'll borrow her novels from the library, if they get good revenues. Disappointed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Starvation Lake</span> by <a href="http://www.bryangruley.com/">Bryan Gruley</a>. A debut. Yippee, a new author. A down on your luck reporter, after a failed attempt at the big Detroit Times, crawls back to his home town to be the local editor. He ends up investigating the death of his hockey coach who died 10 years earlier. Not a bad premise. Blurbs by Michael Connelly, Steve Hamilton, CJ Box and George Pelecanos, saying nice things about his writing. His bio suggests he has the writing chops for the deserved blurb praise. However by page 50, I was bored silly with his protagonist. I didn't even hate him. I wanted to ignore him. I wasn't sure at the 50 page point if there was even a murder worthy of investigating. He had potential for great setting descriptions, cold Michigan winters and hockey, unfortunately, neither of these came alive in his writing. Half way to the end I set the book down and I've yet to pick it back up.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Runner</span> by <a href="www.thomasperryauthor.com/home.html">Thomas Perry</a>. Nine long years since he wrote a Jane Whitfield novel. The original series Jane showed people how to disappear from one place and learn to live in another without them getting killed. Very creative series. Jane was/is a complex protagonist. If you haven't read the series rush out and get the first, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Vanishing Act</span>. Block out reading time because you won't put it down until you've finished the last page. Perry's written pace and tension were up to his usual standards. I do however have a quibble, the back story. BORING, snoring here. Jane was never that introspective. I realize the new reader needs to catch up, but damn, just not all in one book. Hopefully we'll see Jane again soon.<br /><br />I picked up <span style="font-weight:bold;">Dead and Gone</span> by <a href="http://www.charlaineharris.com/">Charlaine Harris</a>. Sookie is a favorite of mine and Charlaine deserves all her recent success with HBO's series <a href="http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/">True Blood</a> which features Sookie. Charlaine has written several other great series, but not with the success of this one, they are worthy of tracking down to be read. After only a few pages I've got one question for Charlaine. Seriously, what's up with the deep fried pickles?<br /><br />PS. Hello Devin and Benjamin welcome to the wacky family.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-31804847108437721052009-02-18T15:17:00.004-05:002009-02-18T16:21:34.878-05:00BoucheronChocolate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZv2A1F1Huo1OsnwAwtopDGFg4nG7rJ69MzWza6VmyB3ebM-cDxJDW1D_SkxEiUUL9ntBbGXCXRn_6UAv_ib61vHQ1y5ggcPgmaruerEXiSfigKpOumUnsc53NYoBIi3drHBGZnI5XToa/s1600-h/bitchplease.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZv2A1F1Huo1OsnwAwtopDGFg4nG7rJ69MzWza6VmyB3ebM-cDxJDW1D_SkxEiUUL9ntBbGXCXRn_6UAv_ib61vHQ1y5ggcPgmaruerEXiSfigKpOumUnsc53NYoBIi3drHBGZnI5XToa/s400/bitchplease.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304247226871863842" border="0" /></a><br />I've been tagged by my niece to play one of the name games. I'll give it a whirl. Really, I'll try. Be warned my tongue is planted firmly in my cheek.<br /><br /><br />1. Given name: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Debora Watson<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />2. Witness protection name:(mother and fathers middle names) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shirley Dale<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />3. NASCAR name:(first name of your mother's dad, father's dad) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joseph Leo<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span> You think I could get away with Joseph? Maybe Joey.<br />4. Star Wars Name:(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your<br />first name) <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Watde<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />5. Detective Name:(favorite color, favorite animal) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Mutt. <span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Actually this name has possibilities. Rather noirish.<br />6. Soap Opera Name:(middle name, town where you were born)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jean Michigan<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />7. Superhero Name:(2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Teal Scotch</span> Really? Oh hell no. Imagine my costume? No, let's not, or at least let's order a drink first.<br />8. Fly Name:(first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Deon<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />9. Street Name:(fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Chocalate Thin Mint</span> Hope the superhero costume is spandex, otherwise I need to pick a different icecream/cookie name, something healthy, Carrot Patty. Oh yeah, I'll get street creds with that name.<br />10. Rock Star Name:(current pets name, current street name)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gandalf Gwinnett<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />11. Porn Name: (1st pet, street you grew up on)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tammy Allover<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />12. Gangsta Name:(first 3 letters of real name plus izzle)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Debizzle<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />14. Goth Name:( black, and the name of one of your pets)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Black Gandalf<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />15. Stripper Name:(name of your fav perfume/cologne,fav candy)<span style="font-weight: bold;">Boucheron chocolate<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><p></p><br />Tag now your it. What's in a name?Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-6736387661074775022009-01-31T15:41:00.004-05:002009-01-31T16:27:26.139-05:00LoveIsMurder<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt63bGK3qhmH0sOnX-jh0FxLLhNK2kkVPSdd8MdVpn8rPwL74HWmwnheLyHWsfJwNOPvK5TuvYByXXF2fVbxsV2vrvayOq4z_SuiGw3CwDy0sDpc6Vhz45cCSoAbLOuRNIyIKGrw94UyxE/s1600-h/header.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 53px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt63bGK3qhmH0sOnX-jh0FxLLhNK2kkVPSdd8MdVpn8rPwL74HWmwnheLyHWsfJwNOPvK5TuvYByXXF2fVbxsV2vrvayOq4z_SuiGw3CwDy0sDpc6Vhz45cCSoAbLOuRNIyIKGrw94UyxE/s400/header.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297572500670136978" border="0" /></a><br />Chicago is cold this time of year, but next week-end, February 6-8, there will be plenty of heat at the <a href="http://www.loveismurder.net/">Love Is Murder Conference </a>held at the Chicago Westin.<br /><br />The headliners include <a href="http://www.jefferydeaver.com/">Jeffery Deaver</a>,(Lincoln Rhyme series) <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.alexkava.com/">Alex Kava,</a>(Maggie O'Dell series) <a href="http://www.sharannewman.com/">Sharan Newman</a>,(Levendeur series) and <a href="http://www.steveberry.org/">Steve Berry.</a>(The Cotton Malone series)<br /><br />The local guest of honor is <a href="http://www.raymondbenson.com/">Raymond Benson</a>. Ray has been an author, composer, computer game designer, stage director, film historian, and film genres instructor for over thirty years. He is also the fourth official author of the James Bond 007 novels. Plus a very cool guy to hang out with at the bar.<br /><br />Got a novel, but not a editor, agent or publisher? You have the opportunity to pitch your manuscript to several literary agents and editors during our Pitch-a-Palooza to be held three times during the weekend.<br /><br />I'll be there in the Newbie author breakfast panel on Saturday. Give me a wave, better yet let's meet in the bar Friday night. I've attended last the last two of LIM conferences. It's a first class conference, great way to mingle with other fans and authors. Rob Walker summed it up nicely when he said,"so what if it's in Chicago in February, how else can you gonna keep the bodies on ice?"<br /><br />The full online registration price of $290 includes ALL the food--from Friday evening's dinner to Sunday morning's breakfast, as well as a High Tea on Saturday afternoon, and admittance to ALL the workshops from Friday at 11:30 a.m. to Sunday at noon. The Pitch-a-Palooza is extra for $55.<br /><br />Hope to see you there.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-67141619642040666992009-01-14T15:51:00.004-05:002009-01-14T16:55:17.289-05:00ByTheSword<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://repairmanjack.com/images/featuredbook_bythesword.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 305px;" src="http://repairmanjack.com/images/featuredbook_bythesword.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Believe it or not I was held captive by little people. They wanted to be played with and fed. They also wanted 24/7 attention.<br /><br />Did you know the new Mario has three worlds on a DS player? News to me, but I'm sure if you have small people around all the time this isn't an earth shattering news flash. Oh well, needless to say my reading was curtailed.<br /><br />I'm having an affair with Jack. Even though we havn't formally been introduced he's got my mind occupied with his antics. <a href="http://www.repairmanjack.com/">F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack</a> is one bad boy in his lasting outing <span style="font-weight: bold;">By The Sword.</span><br /><br />Jack lives off the grid and has no identity. He's an anarchist, an urban mercenary. Jack fixes those problems the establishment can't. I love a character who walks the edge of the envelope between good and evil and battles back when I would under the same circumstances turn into a ball of goop.<br /><br />In <span style="font-weight: bold;">By The Sword</span> Jack must find a legendary sword stolen (kanta) from the Hiroshima Peace Museum. Unfortunately a cabal of Yakuza ganesters, an order of mystical monks, the Kickers from previous novels, and let's not forget his supernatural nemesis Rasolom are all also trying to retrieve the sword. Talk about your bad day at the office. The bodies do pile up in this one. Jack uses his brain more than brawn. A nice cross between the original Bond and MacGiver. I'm amazed at how Jack extricates himself from his latest assignment.<br /><br />Then there is the whole "otherness" and "ally" tug of war going on to boot. Unfortunately you can't really jump into the middle of this series, although F.Paul believes it can. I think they need to be read in order. BTW F.Paul has started a trilogy for young adults The reader meets Jack as a teen, his mother and father, big sister Kate, his bully of a brother Tom, even an old lady with a dog. (Yikes!) Great escapism.<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nEyJ2ImTpEM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nEyJ2ImTpEM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-24956245238933487062008-12-08T19:13:00.005-05:002008-12-08T20:32:49.743-05:00Czarina’s Christmas RulesWhere you going with the gun Deb?<br /><br />Across the street.<br /><br />Why do you need a gun to go across the street?<br /><br />Shoot out the blue Christmas lights.<br /><br />Only the blue lights offend your sensibilities?<br /><br />Yes. Obviously they didn't read the memo. One must only use white lights for display outside of the house.<br /><br />Miss Scrooge, what happens if someone puts out multicolor?<br /><br />Rules. One must follow the Czarina's Christmas Rules. Only white lights for display. Simple, perfect, pure white light. (Pacing Now) If you absolutely must be a non conformist and use a colored light then those lights can only be multicolored strings. NO all red, NO all green, and especially NO NO blue lights. Rules.<br /><br />Dare I ask what happens to the offender who puts out multicolor and white lights in the same display?<br /><br />Their plug is pulled. Permanently.<br /><br />What about those plastic Toy Soldiers, Santas, and Reindeer exhibits? Or those lighted balls in the trees? Better yet what happens to the violator who plays soothing Christmas carols for all to enjoy as they drive past your house to view the Christmas holiday array?<br /><br />OH, HELL NO.<br /><br />Who you calling?<br /><br />The Marine forward air controller. I'm ordering a laser guided smart bomb.<br /><br />Easy Babe. Deep Zen breathes, honey. Put the phone down. I'll trade you, a valium for the pistol.<br /><br />Your an elf. A CIA-Santa planted happy Christmas Elf.<br /><br />Easy babe, it's only a few more weeks and it'll all be over. Here's a martini to chase the valium. Don't worry I've got plenty of gin.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RJISYEbPF4E&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RJISYEbPF4E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-50183653634415286942008-11-15T10:42:00.006-05:002008-11-15T11:00:58.281-05:00HistorialEsther<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsGo3a9FjHDRnoV4MPPQIrs6hCaXQKHA_nk9Knm3FGStbRYZ1N7tXzUc1-UykEZ-qgSVuXDJiS_7fbP7ISdOF2ne4NHTmGJJ-363Aquk9u9Ea-io2SiT3HzKRppu-uQg5ZU7yJL2GGIgV/s1600-h/51J93DN2R2L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsGo3a9FjHDRnoV4MPPQIrs6hCaXQKHA_nk9Knm3FGStbRYZ1N7tXzUc1-UykEZ-qgSVuXDJiS_7fbP7ISdOF2ne4NHTmGJJ-363Aquk9u9Ea-io2SiT3HzKRppu-uQg5ZU7yJL2GGIgV/s200/51J93DN2R2L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268912300746428098" /></a><br />My niece was complaining about school the other day. They had been “forced” to read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. <br /><br />Had I read it? Yes.<br /> <br />Did I like it? Yes.<br /><br />Did I EVER learn anything worthwhile in seventh grade? Well, I had to confess yes I did. <br /><br />I read Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes when I was in Junior High School. At thirteen I didn’t care if the novel had won the Newberry Award in 1944. Nor did I give a hoot that Johnny was involved in the Revolutionary War. Worse of all it was a guy book. I complained bitterly to anyone who would listen that my seventh grade teacher Mr. Nolan was a liar. He had promised the story was exciting, a great adventure, and we’d love it.<br /><br />NOT.<br /> <br />At age thirteen I loved gothic novels (aka romance reader.) I slugged through Johnny’s adventure kicking, screaming and whining until I got to the description of bundling. I read with delight and desire the detailed description of the colonial courting ritual about BUNDLING. Parents who wrapped each adolescent in a different blanket. Parents who then put them both in the same bed, so they might talk through the night. My heart was racing, my hands were sweating and I reread that particular passage until the print began to smudge. How cool were revolutionary parents?<br /><br />Woo Hoo! What a great idea. A blanket, my boyfriend, and a bed and we got to talk all night. Oh yeah. My hormones were in overdrive. I was ready to go and put this old ritual into modern practice. I even had new pajamas.<br /><br />There was however, a fly in the proverbial ointment, MY parents. They knew me too well. NO blankets if a boy was involved. And OH HELL NO, I was getting within sight of a bed if there was a guy in the house.<br /><br />Well Esther made me appreciate history that year and I'll give props to Mr. Nolan for having us read the book. My niece hasn't been seen for days. She's looking through all my book boxes for the my well worn copy of Johnny Tremain.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-85914444297786953042008-11-10T20:14:00.006-05:002008-11-10T21:23:23.967-05:00FriendsI'm a lucky gal. I've got friends on both sides of the aisle so to speak. Although we may not always agree on a topic, we always agree on our friendships. A rare and precious commodity I cherish more as I get older. <br /><br />We've argued over politics, teased about politics, and agreed on politics. Although I have said very little on this blog about the election, I've found myself smiling and invigorated over Obama's campaign. I haven't felt this way since Robert Kennedy. The mood at Obama Headquarters in Indianapolis was light, bright, and party-like. (Dare I say hopeful.) <br /><br />I've got a special <span style="font-weight:bold;">Republican Friend</span> who is all sunshine and light, at least she's practicing long deep chi breaths since election night. She even grinned when I told her I would miss President George Bush like an abscessed tooth. It's good to be able to disagree and still be friends. I miss her dearly, especially our bi-weekly lunches at Panera. So in honor of her new light and sunshine here's a special video to help her reach her zenith.<br /><br /><br />Permalink:<br />Embeddable Player:<div><object width="480" height="341"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k5fVcbjcwV1qNWPqyS&related=1&canvas=medium"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k5fVcbjcwV1qNWPqyS&related=1&canvas=medium" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="341" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7apfm_here-comes-the-sun-indivo_music">Here Comes The Sun - INDIVO</a></b><br /><i>Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/INDIVO">INDIVO</a></i></div><br />cDebi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-64919251911008839532008-11-07T11:48:00.003-05:002008-11-07T12:52:39.250-05:00TheKeepsake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQb_qU-uMLXgb3NGT7DBeM-H97hFwVzDo2x8EtlAPyU43a2OBtBlATz6NbEAM65k3djj8xtxkfP3cpMhyphenhyphenA841LxA21Tq0NDajktB35_p_eOaF4Ug5k0fk9c_xJs0AA4vjgCwf533ocfPB/s1600-h/trailer_left.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQb_qU-uMLXgb3NGT7DBeM-H97hFwVzDo2x8EtlAPyU43a2OBtBlATz6NbEAM65k3djj8xtxkfP3cpMhyphenhyphenA841LxA21Tq0NDajktB35_p_eOaF4Ug5k0fk9c_xJs0AA4vjgCwf533ocfPB/s200/trailer_left.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265973081451357986" border="0" /></a><br />I'm bleary-eyed today because I spent most of the night reading <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Keepsake </span>by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tess Gerritsen</span>. I know better than to start her books at bedtime, I rarely can put them down until I've completed the entire novel.<br /><br />I marvel at her writing. She is one of the few authors whose characterization doesn't suffer from a swift pace. Tess also has the ability to take a well traversed subject such as stalking, and explore it from a new perspective. I know, I'm gushing, but I enjoy a well written novel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Keepsake</span> revolves around a forgotten mummy is rediscovered in a museum basement. Dr. Isles determines that the century old relic however is rather a modern day murder. While following the numerous plot twists, I'm was delighted Gerritsen provides me with medical insight without beating me over the head with 'geek-speak' which often distracts me from the mystery. Like I said earlier there's not much about her writing I don't like. So whose writing skills do you wish would magically materialize inside your brain? Now, just to wait patiently for the next episode in the series.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-73372421035222615272008-10-31T11:50:00.008-04:002008-10-31T12:42:49.120-04:00Heroes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurkUIlmfHFU0IeLdSW4OqnniFWZsCYQc4_A0YorvCpG4EHKY_G4AADlqd6XXuLknSAYBvx_OA2a2vpADIVU9a8FLsNsHi3IWDa1ZhX2xRsTvtYjuOAQhi3qtSKWMzuyioKFctsFJG8JZf/s1600-h/Milo+Ventimiglia"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurkUIlmfHFU0IeLdSW4OqnniFWZsCYQc4_A0YorvCpG4EHKY_G4AADlqd6XXuLknSAYBvx_OA2a2vpADIVU9a8FLsNsHi3IWDa1ZhX2xRsTvtYjuOAQhi3qtSKWMzuyioKFctsFJG8JZf/s200/Milo+Ventimiglia" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263356613532636210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://miloventimigliafan.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Milo Ventimiglia</span></a> is my new pass. I'm sure you've all played this game. If you actually met the guy and clicked, your thoughtful significant other would give you a pass on this one time slip into infidelity. The big part of the game is you must announce far in advance your prey, I mean pass. Over the years my pass has changed and I make sure my husband stays up on my ever changing potential pass victims. (Can we say fickle?) His response is to rolls his eyes, mumbled a threat, and then return to his crossword puzzle. He knows I'm just like Jimmy Carter and only lust from afar. The mumbled threat is just in case I actually would catch my prey. Anyway back to Milo.<br /><br />I recorded season three of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.nbc.com/Heroes"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Heroes</span></a>, unfortunately I'm just now getting around to watching them. (I told you I'd been busy.) The first two seasons I had no lust in my heart for Milo, but wow give a man a scar and I find him intriguing. My curious mind wants to know how he got scared. The scar hints he might be a bad boy and goodness knows women love their bad boys. Season three is great compared to the previous two seasons. Now if they would just get rid of the character Skylar, and Milo's character Peter is just the one to do it.<br /><br />So in the spirit of Halloween I've stalked my prey and laid him out for all to view. No touching. I'm not through playing with him. So who are you stalking? Whose you're prey? Let me know.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-51722720204250431872008-10-23T10:36:00.004-04:002008-10-23T10:58:20.297-04:00TheReapers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXm3-t4neQpEGzYZurutfOee0tYnlU5tRUVgQ_SE5gUfDBx84H2b9pAM2CiIkfXXXTGRKfX2L6uMyvkq_gCIsZr-Xgfzx3Kd7M5yVakqbkJuOVNml0Y-QzYwtS2FyllaYhY4IvXlDNgLua/s1600-h/reapers_us_150.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXm3-t4neQpEGzYZurutfOee0tYnlU5tRUVgQ_SE5gUfDBx84H2b9pAM2CiIkfXXXTGRKfX2L6uMyvkq_gCIsZr-Xgfzx3Kd7M5yVakqbkJuOVNml0Y-QzYwtS2FyllaYhY4IvXlDNgLua/s200/reapers_us_150.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260363304298334882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update</span>: Sorry for the lengthy period of no blogging. My mother fell ill and it's been a very long 8 weeks of recovery for her as well as for me. I'm back in the saddle again expect my weekly posts.<br /><br />I was able to attend Baltimore Bouchercon this year and had a chance to talk and spend time with some of my favorite authors. <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Connolly</span> falls into that category. I adore his Charlie Parker detective series. It's traditional PI series with just a smoky wisp of the supernatural. I've always wondered about the back stories for Louis and Angel two prominent secondary characters in the series and this novel answers those questions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Reapers</span>, provides Louis back story as the premise of the novel. Louis is one of the reapers, assassins, who shall not be named, for fear they will materialize in front of you and preform their magic. Someone is hunting and targeting Louis's friends and businesses. Louis past is so traumatic, and the sins of his past now require retribution. Angel, Charlie and the rest of his friends try to help but the story can end in only one way, Louis provides the redemption with more violence. <br /><br />Connolly's prose is lyrically. His characterizations of Louis and Angel transfix the reader and make it impossible to put the book down. His plotting can be predictable at times, but his pacing and characterizations are so strong you don't mind the plotting. All Connolly's novels provide an unflinching look at the horrors which dwell in quiet unexpected places.<br /><br />It was a great thrill to spend time talking with him at Bouchercon. He's funny and charming, plus he writes and speaks like poet and he's easy on the eyes.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-50455117726787498952008-09-04T17:03:00.011-04:002008-09-04T17:38:01.537-04:00Wheelman<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTWeeZkSayH7a28WpEaVUNDnErDb-LEyZDaQr9aCKc7HvlryeFDN9-5sAVF5Hjp0NYP3k8q92MV2KssmEuOXS-1_52nczw_Jf4xdi2vzK1jHcByUZrA4IAVjffxxYIaQlzC9t_zuY5SeD/s1600-h/SeverancePackage.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTWeeZkSayH7a28WpEaVUNDnErDb-LEyZDaQr9aCKc7HvlryeFDN9-5sAVF5Hjp0NYP3k8q92MV2KssmEuOXS-1_52nczw_Jf4xdi2vzK1jHcByUZrA4IAVjffxxYIaQlzC9t_zuY5SeD/s200/SeverancePackage.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242277077227023602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xPF0BnVL__Y7LX9zfN6BABkRhhv2PvJnrT2f-4Yy1uVEjKcYQsf-eJqMR7IQagAthZJR8iGsbgjTJcFjQksYt6Psh-YUQzX7SWT5CRb5ZNvUiTnx_GQ0xMaZ0We4qLhrzPdsGab5doiY/s1600-h/cleardot.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xPF0BnVL__Y7LX9zfN6BABkRhhv2PvJnrT2f-4Yy1uVEjKcYQsf-eJqMR7IQagAthZJR8iGsbgjTJcFjQksYt6Psh-YUQzX7SWT5CRb5ZNvUiTnx_GQ0xMaZ0We4qLhrzPdsGab5doiY/s200/cleardot.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242275520451142162" border="0" /></a><br />Occasionally I get in a murderous mood. What’s a girl to do if she can’t kill someone every now and then? <br /><br />If I’m being lazy, I’ll beg the hubby to take me to watch Jason Statham, Sam Jackson, or Frank Miller movies. These guys use some imagination. The stars don’t just shoot their enemies. Oh No. I can watch them beat a foe to a pulp for three minutes then they shoot them. Like I said you have to be in the mood.<br /><br />Surprisingly, I love gallows humor. (Bet you didn’t see that one coming.) A friend recommended <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.duaneswierczynski.com">Duane Swierczynski</a></span>, two novels, <span style="font-weight:bold;">The Wheelman</span> and <span style="font-weight:bold;">Severance Package.</span><br /><br />I picked up Wheelman at the library and over lunch I browsed the first few chapters. I couldn’t put it down it had more plot twists than a slinky. I stayed up until the wee hours to finish it. The gritty dialogue was sparse and kept the pacing suspenseful. I was scared to turn the page for fear what next would befalls the protagonist Lennon. Talk about a lousy couple of days. Geez, I never want to be friends with the likes of Lennon, but I sure enjoyed the vicarious ride. This is the best bank heist book I've read.<br /><br />Impressed with the Wheelman I grabbed Severance Package, got a beer and fell into my reading chair. Think film noir meets TV's The Office, with a healthy dose of superfluous bedlam. The plot requires one to suspend disbelief, but it's over-the-top funny. Talk about taking fluid rounds (after-work drinking) a step to far, Duane does it with great style. I wonder if he'll be at B'Con 2008 and can I buy him a brew?<br /><br />Duane's novels have the feel of graphic comic-book novels.(They should since he also writes the <span style="font-weight:bold;">Marvel Series Cable)</span>. If you enjoy gratuitous violence, outrageous plot twists, and need to blow off some vicarious steam towards the boss. Then Severance Package is your book. If you can find humor in the telling of how someone stepped on their own foot and broke it, then you'll laugh all the way through this one.<br /><br />If your in the mood, like noir, well here's two fine books. Look out Ken Bruen and Victor Gischler because Duane's breathing down your neck.Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073709926260396915.post-12444524439212201092008-08-30T11:11:00.003-04:002008-08-31T14:09:23.822-04:00ChasingGhosts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi137k_qWMt1EZbMAN8vnz_myBVaJbL1sTV7cbZ06ASoSYzBNmmKK8E_YEs-6sVecPunqyOY5pRW59ScjLg2MYmV0X9tpMT3QRqu8Ma94dVXejF5fvF0Rvb0SSgCdEmYWV1bYjgZl7WBslD/s1600-h/MySpace.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi137k_qWMt1EZbMAN8vnz_myBVaJbL1sTV7cbZ06ASoSYzBNmmKK8E_YEs-6sVecPunqyOY5pRW59ScjLg2MYmV0X9tpMT3QRqu8Ma94dVXejF5fvF0Rvb0SSgCdEmYWV1bYjgZl7WBslD/s200/MySpace.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240745449953522146" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.sdtooley.com/">Lee Driver</a>'s Chase Dagger series is a must for us cross-genre junkies. She straddles the genres with a foot firmly planted in mystery, yet comfortable with the other entrenched in fantasy. Her novels always make a fantastic read and appeal to both groups. Her skill at plotting keeps the twists and turns coming, but not at the expense of characterization. I always clear time when I pick up her books, knowing once I start I won't stop until I reach the end.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Chasing Ghosts</span> explores Dagger's past and the shadow company BettaTec that has been hinted at in previous novels. Also Chase realizes (about time) that he's in love with Sara. A fun visit with the pair who finally sync their working relationship. And a hilarious longer look at the secondary cast members. My favorite is Skizzy, the brilliant techno-nerd. who is hanging by his fingernails on the mental health floor. Although I wanted to smack him about half way through for continuously calling Sara "girly". Except for that quibble it was a pleasurable romp of a ride. As always I'm left wanting more of Chase and Sara.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lee Driver</span> also writes as <span style="font-weight:bold;">S.D.Tooley <br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ziod_7GoYgY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ziod_7GoYgY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Debi Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10307225900850565403noreply@blogger.com