Sandra Cox's Blog, page 36

Writerly Wednesday

 What's your synonym for:

It's Ketch-up Tuesday

 

I trust you had a lovely weekend and have a productive week. Knock on wood, it's quiet here. We've got baby blue birds and Carolina Wrens. Have you got baby birds?

AND

A gift from the HH

AND

June Calendar pics

 

 

AND

The eternal garden pics.

AND

For the vegetarians out there. Have you seen or tried plant-based crab cakes. They're not bad.

AND lastly:

 This is a two-parter. For you thriller readers out there. Have you read author Saul Herzog?  The HH read THE ASSET and raved about it. It's now on my TBR. That was the first question. Now for the second. Who do you think Saul Herzog really is? He's cloaked in mystery. I've got a theory. I'd like to hear yours.

Weekend Wishes

 

Did You Know

 

Did you know, as far as is known, fire does not exist anywhere in the solar system except on earth?

IWSG Wednesday

 

Thefirst Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by NinjaCaptain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discussstruggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

Twitterhandle: @TheIWSG   

Hashtag:#IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 7 posting of the IWSG are Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine! 

Thanks so much for co-hosting.

 
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post.These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experienceor story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let itinspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember,the question is optional!

June7 question - If you ever did stop writing, what would you replace it with? I didn’t even have tothink about this one, I’d spend more time reading and gaming. Notice I didn't mention house or yardwork.😊What about you?

May/June Reviews in noparticular order.

*Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factorthem into my review.

 

IN DARKNESS: THE SHARK by L.Diane Wolfe

 

This was such a fun read anda different twist on an old tale.

Jewels is a loner, her onlyinterest, the ocean and marine biology. It’s not that she doesn’t like peoplebut she’s been hurt and doesn’t want to be again. Then her life turns upsidedown and she cautiously learns to trust again when a shark becomes her new bestfriend.

Recommended for those wholove sea life and a heartwarming ending. 

Available at Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

TRADs

 

HIGH PROFILE BY RobertB. Parker

This is the sixth in theJesse Stone series.

A controversial talk showhost is found hanging from a tree in Paradise and it’s not suicide. Shortly  thereafter, an unknown woman is also foundmurdered in Jesse’s town, giving him two perplexing crimes to solve.

Another good read. On tonumber seven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEA CHANGE by Robert Parker

This is the fifth in theJesse Stone series. A body washes up on shore at Paradise which leads to aninvestigation that takes a turn into depravity. 

Spoiler Alert. This story touches on the uncomfortable topic of incest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIMPLY LIES by DavidBaldacci

 

David Baldacci is a worldclass author and after I got into it, this book held my attention withsuspenseful twists and turns. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for theopener. After reading three pages I put it down and would have never gone backto it if I’d had more reading material. The story is about a work from home momand opens with the protagonist’s toddler hurling vomit chunks on her.Seriously? Been there. Done that. Not my idea of escapism reading.  AND a spoiler alert: there is mention of a catbeing tortured. Something else I can do without reading.

Once past the opener though,and if it weren’t for the mention of the above spoiler alert, the story unfoldedwith a complex plot and interesting characters and turned in to an immersiveread. If anyone else out there has read it, I’d be interested to hear yourthoughts.

 

SAVING FAITH by DavidBaldacci

 

Lee Adams is a PI that findshimself on the run with a woman who the FBI desperately wants to interview fora corruption case.  Also chasing them isa killer who wants to silence them both.

I enjoyed this one. Though,there was one scene where the protagonist stopped just short of rape with thefemale character. I didn’t see where that added anything to the story, nor do Ilike it on general principal. Overall, though, a good read.

 

 

 

 

 

STONE COLD by Robert B.Parker

 

This is the fourth in theJesse Stone series. Jesse is Chief of Police in Paradise, MA. He’s a cop and adarn good one. He has two addictions, alcohol and his ex-wife.

In this book, two serialkillers come to Paradise. One of the people they kill is a woman Jesse datedand their next mark is Jesse himself.

So far, each book in thisseries has delivered and Stone Cold is no exception.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NIGHT SINS by Tami Hoag

 

This is book one in the DeerLake Series.  Like the last two books Iread by Hoag the suspense is tight and tense. Unlike the other two, it has asteamy romance running through it. If you like your murder mysteries straightup with no romance this may not be the series for you. If you like yourmysteries with heat, this is one you’ll probably enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUILTY AS SIN by Tami Hoag

 

The saga of a shatteringkidnapping in a small Minnesota town continues. This time the story focuses onEllen North, Assistant County Attorney and Jay Butler Brooks, a true crimewriter.   

Of everything I’ve read byMs. Hoag, I found Brooks’ character to be the most fascinating. His character packsa high dose of sex appeal even on the written page. As always Hoag’s writing istense and tight. Even though I find the subject of kidnapping, especially wherechildren are concerned disturbing, the book held my attention all the way.

 

 

 

 

 

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS by HarlowGiles Unger

 

It’s always interestingfinding out about our forefathers and what went on in the past. I’m a fan ofHarlow Giles Unger and feel he does a good job of bringing the past to life.For me the last couple of chapters of this book were the most fascinating. JohnQuincy wasn’t a popular president but after he left office, he became  a congressman and the championof the people. He was a patriot through and through and while in congress wouldchallenge either side of the aisle if he felt they were wrong.   I got the impression if he’d put in half thetime and energy into his marriage as he did politics, he would have madeLouisa’s life much easier.

 

 

 

Got books? 

 

It's Ketch-up Tuesday

 

How was your weekend? How is your week shaping up? As you can see from the pics below, all is pretty quiet here,which isn't a bad thing.

  A late blooming Azalea.

As you probably know, a hydrangea's color depends on the acidity of the soil.  Ours must be all over the place:)

And last but not least, Frank sleeping.

What about you, blogger buds, what color are your hydrangeas?  Got flowers? Critters?

Weekend Wishes

 

Did You Know

Did you know, it's illegal to pump your own gas in New Jersey? 

 

Writerly Wednesday

 What's your synonym for:

Ketch-Up Day

 

 

For those of you who had one, how was your extended weekend? As you can see, ours was lazy. By the way, this is my excuse for not getting more writing done.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it;)

The Eternal Garden Pics
 
   Hawaii. Taken  (and shared) by D. L. Finn

Hawaii is on my bucketlist. What about you? Have you been to Hawaii? Or maybe a different island paradise?