Dead Giveaway – Joanne Fluke
Well this book was much more tolerable than Joanne’s “Winter Chill” story. The first few chapters were a bit overwhelming, with 16 individuals, or 8 couples, being introduced as well as explanations of how they were all hooked together.
I enjoyed this story, and this is a book I would gladly lend out to others to enjoy as well.
The setting was a mountain condominium in Nevada, near Las Vegas. The richest of the rich live there, and they all have their own personal issues that seem to involve the other tenants more than you would expect to be involved with your neighbors. An avalanche traps everyone inside, and the bodies quickly start piling up.
I did not have a clue who the murderer was, until it was revealed. There was a nice twist at the end of the story as well.
This was an older story for Joanne as well, and I was surprised at the end of this to see that she has another mystery story coming out August 2014 (The Other Child). I thought she was strictly writing the Hannah Swensen stories; great mystery books with recipes included.
It’s Really Hard To Read With All The Noise!
You Know You Need a Break…
…when you post your Friday Fun Facts on Thursday, and have no idea it really is only Thursday!
Taking Thursday night (my Friday) off from work completely threw my whole schedule into a mess. How tired, stressed, and overworked do you need to be to actually forget what day of the week it is? (Pointing at myself~this tired!)
Wishing all my literary, book loving friends an awesome weekend! I will be in downtown Muskegon, Michigan for Bike Time 2014. Word is they are expecting 80,000 motorcycles, and at least 130,000 people. And Yes, I will get some reading in!
Friday Fun Facts!
Author: Joe R. Roper
Wrote: The Hunter Awakens: Book 1 of the Morus Chronicles
A local author, whom I have featured in this blog for his release party, is getting rave reviews for his story “The Hunter Awakens”. I have to admit, I have not had a chance yet to read it, as it was a bit laborious for me to get the Kindle reading app downloaded on my Nook HD ( 🙂 ) No worries, it was operator issues, not Kindle, Amazon, or the Nook!
I have it all set and ready to read, which I will be digging into this weekend as I spend a weekend in downtown Muskegon during Bike Time 2014 (yes, I am enough of a nerd that I have no issues sitting in an air-conditioned hotel room reading while tens of thousands of people are outside drinking, partying, and having a great weekend enjoying Muskegon’s sights!)
If you haven’t had a chance to get this book yet, please do! When it is too hot to be outside, there is nothing better than being inside, reading a great story!
For plenty more great information, check out Joe’s website, at http://joerroper.com/
This Should Never Happen!
The Silkworm – Robert Galbraith – AKA J. K. Rowling
I cannot remember the last time it took me 2 weeks to finish a story. It felt like every chapter I read, two more were added at the end of the story.
Am I saying it was bad? Not at all. It just never, ever takes me that long to read a story. I would pick it up. I would get interrupted. I would start reading it, and doze off. I would open it up, and then watch television.
So I was very happy to finally get to the end of the story, and the whole “Whodunnit” question was answered. I have to say I never saw that ending coming, and maybe it was my difficulty focusing, but I am still a bit unclear of how we reached that ending anyhow.
It felt like the last 2-3 chapters were written in a hurry, everything thrown together to just “get it over with”. I do not wish or want to give away any type of spoilers here, so I am keeping this one short and unfortunately, not so sweet.
I did enjoy the story. I was happy to again be a part of Cormoran Strike and Robin’s lives; finding out what they had been up to, and where there budding relationship (maybe by book 4?) is at. I would recommend this book if you read the first one, but I would borrow it before I bought it.
I am the person who when I have one book in a series, I have to have all the books in the series. Whether I will ever read them again or not. Someone else may want to. I am all in favor of the lending of books, I just make sure mine never get too far from home. So I already know I will be buying the 3rd book as well, whenever that may be.
I am still looking for that book that I am willing to stand in a line before midnight to get in my hands, and stay up all night reading. The book that will be finished before the weekend is over, without television, cellphone, computer, or Facebook interruptions. The book I fall asleep reading, and pick up where I left off before I get up for my first cup of coffee.
What happened to those writers? Where are their stories?
Tuesday’s Thought For The Day!
I Just Have To Share…
…When I was about 12 or 13, I read a book that just literally blew my mind. It wasn’t that the prose was perfect, or it had a beautiful ending, but I was amazed at how the author made so many small details fit together. At that young age, I hadn’t been exposed to a lot. But I had read a lot. It was to the point that every time my Mom would go to the grocery store, I would go with her, so I could look at the books. Yes, she would always get me the book I asked for. I would have it read within the day. She said she should return them the next day and say it wasn’t read (she never did!).
I was so amazed at how this author wrote this book with so many details that just worked, that I pulled out my typewriter (Yes, typewriter) and wrote him a letter. I had no address to send it to, so I sent it to his publisher.
About 2 months later I came home from school and my Mom said I had some package that came in the mail. I looked at the return address, and it was from him! Being 13 years old, I was a rock star! Someone important wrote to me!
There was a signed book that I hadn’t yet read, and a long letter telling me to never give up my dream of writing ( 😦 ) I wrote to him, and he always wrote back. I have several letters from him that I will always cherish.
I went to high school, I read books I had to read, I went to band camp, I studied, and I still tried to read when I could. We lost touch, and as time passed, I looked him up, and he went from writing gore stories (think Stephen King) to writing westerns. Not my thing for reading, but I never have, and never will forget the time a grown man spent replying to a young girl who wanted to be a writer, and admired him.

He passed away on February 8, 2004, and I will forever regret that I never stayed in touch with him.
Writers today (not all, but most) are not writing because it is “in them” and they can do nothing else; they write hoping for the next screenplay and millions of dollars in revenue.
So Mr. William W. Johnstone, I am sorry I never had the last chance to tell you Thank You. Thank You for taking the time to write to a teenager who had dreams of doing what you did. Writing stories that brought others joy.



