Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 74

Swimming is Good for the Soul: Julianne Chadwick Talks About Her MIL, Her New Book, and Cuba

Some seven years ago my mother-in-law Gloria Maria   – was left a widow after 64 years of marriage. The funeral of her husband the renowned sugar agronomic Alfonso Fors had taken place in Miami and on her way back to Guadalajara, Mexico, where she lived - (they always kept their doctors in Miami and went back and forth since moving to Mexico some thirty years before) she decided to come and visit her eldest son, my husband – Alfonso Fors jr, who for visa reasons could not attend his father’s funeral in the States.  

We lived on the Pacific coast of Mexico in a landscape not unlike that of parts of Cuba and I wondered if I could help heal her with beach visits and coconut ice creams, maybe help her bring back some of the flavours from her youth. 
The day before picking her up at the airport it occurred to me also that Gloria was the same age as Castro and probably had some insights into him and life in Cuba at that time. Her story could be of historical interest to many of my friends - Gloria was very smart and still had a wonderful memory for her age.   I knew some of the family story from my husband, but mostly his take on events as a five-year-old and certainly not any of the important details.
We sat in my swimming pool the evening she arrived  – just the two of us sitting on the steps of the pool - our voices echoing around the walled gardens.  My first question was one I already had the answer to but asked it all the same
"Cuantos hermanos tenias, Gloria?"  (How many brothers and sisters did you have, Gloria?) 
"Twenty," she answered in English…. That was the only English word she ever spoke again during our week-long talks.
But it was the next sentence that threw me right against the walls we were echoing through that first night and the exact moment I knew I had to put pen to paper.
"My father left my mother when I was 6 and she was 60. He left her for another woman after she had given birth to 21 of his children.
 She was left rolling her cigars at the end of the long table of the finca - completely alone, looking out into the night - with me looking at her - from the other end. A six-year-old grieving at the sight of her mother’s face."
I didn’t need to ask Gloria Maria any more questions, the story flowed out of her like wine at a wedding – night after night after night.
We met - each evening after my university job finished, at the end of the day. Sunset - In the pool.  She would announce before I put my briefcase down on the porch; "Las patas al agua.” (ducks to the water).
  I was told she waited for my arrival with her swimsuit already on, two hours before I stepped in the door.
I realized instantly the poignancy that these memories were bringing to her on a personal level and the significance of them on her as a Cuban -- as a Cuban woman of her time - who had just lost her last link to the land of her memories – her Cuban man - who she loved so much for so long.
 I was left with a sense that I should record these memories for her children and for my father-in-law’s memory – a man I respected deeply.
I spent the next year doing just that - collaborating with her eldest daughter and eldest son.  
Upon finishing I bound 8 copies of the book with the help of the university - for each of her children, for Gloria (in Spanish) and one for myself.  I also recorded a CD of the book using my own voice – accompanied by Cuban and original music with Gloria singing acapella in the very last chapter –
She chose the song she would sing to my husband to put him to sleep as a young baby.
It is a song about the burning of the homeland set to rhythms that have your hips swinging.
"The dance is all in the hips," she would tell me.

"The telling is all in the twist," I would answer.


Gloria dancing the Salsa
Maria Elvira is a strong and courageous woman born in pre-revolutionary Cuba with a privileged background, living happily with her husband until they are forced to flee an oppressive regime.

‘To The Other Side’ is a chronicle of upheaval and mistrust—of youth and aging, of life and death, of danger and survival.

It is written in a seamless mix of prose and poetry that captures the essence of a Caribbean culture transplanted to another way of life while still true to itself.

‘To The Other Side’ is above all the story of Maria Elvira, life seen through her eyes. A portrait of a young woman caught up—on the outside—in the tumult of Cuba’s history whilst the effects of her own father’s absence at an early age runs deep.

Maria Elvira was never able to forgive or forget that first abandonment and watched for signs in all the men that met her life thereafter. Castro, himself, is one of the many in her line of fire.

Sparks Fly by Cheryl Cooke Harrington

I was drawn to this title because of the airplane on the cover. I know from following the author's blog that she actually took flight lessons before writing this book, so this is an author who pays attention to detail. I appreciate that and that knowledge made the book interesting to me.

In a nutshell: a schoolteacher goes back to her woodland home after being away ten years. She's not sure how her grandfather is going to welcome her, but hopes to stay for good and become involved in running the inn. When she arrives she meets a handsome, rugged, slightly arrogant pilot who it turns out is her new business partner. But some "flags" raise and he may not be all he seems. Can she withdraw her heart once it's out there though?

What I liked about this story was the look into the area. I'm not the least bit familiar with Canadian wildlife or living in that northern part of the continent. It sounds nice, frankly, except for the lack of Internet. I don't think they had that or cell phones. It's also obvious the author did her research on forest fires too. I forgot to mention there's a small but significant subplot about fires. OH--and mineral rights. I didn't know anything about that either.

But I must confess, the real conflict with the hero doesn't show up until very late, and until that point, it's just a romance. I was surprised by this. Maybe as there isn't the usual kissing/embracing/fornicating couple on the cover as has come to be the (ugh) norm for romance covers, I wasn't expecting it to be so romancey. My bad. There was a lot of the typical "aware of each others' bods" stuff and it was just slightly overdone, but it's a clean romance, which I appreciate. I just wish it had been a bit faster-paced throughout rather than just the last eighth. Another minor annoyance was the way the grandfather talked, but I realize the author was staying true to that area's dialect.

Does it feature a spunky heroine who doesn't take crap? It sure does. Does it have aviation? YES! Is it worth reading? Yes, it is. Is it enjoyable? Yep. Ms. Harrington has a promising writing career ahead of her.

I received a digital copy of this from the author.

My Reading Radar 11/23/2013

What hit my reading and wishlist this week? Let's take a look:

The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi. Spotted on Edelweiss, requested, declined. *sigh* The premise intrigues me. Imagine having to pass as a boy just to get an education.


Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel, The Pearl that Broke Its Shell, is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own fate that combines the cultural flavor and emotional resonance of the works of Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lisa See


In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school, and can rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters.

But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-aunt, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way.

Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl the Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive?

***
The Boleyn Reckoning by Laura Andersen. I really enjoyed books one and two. Can't wait for this one.
Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir! After presenting readers with an irresistible premise in The Boleyn King (what if Anne gave birth to a healthy royal boy who would grow up to rule England?) and returning to the dangerous world of the Tudor court in The Boleyn Deceit, Laura Andersen brings to a triumphant conclusion the enthralling tale of the Tudor king who never was.

Elizabeth Tudor is at a crossroads. After a disastrous winter, the Duke of Northumberland has been executed for treason while his son, Robert Dudley, claims from the Tower that the true traitor has not yet been caught. And though her brother, William, has survived smallpox, scars linger in the king's body and mind and his patience is at an end. As English ships and soldiers arm themselves against the threat of invasion, William marches to the drumbeat of his own desires rather than his country's welfare. Wary of this changed royal brother, Elizabeth assembles her own shadow court to protect England as best she can. But William, able to command armies and navies, cannot command hearts. Minuette and Dominic have married in secret, and after an ill-timed pregnancy, they take to flight. Faced with betrayal by the two he loved most, William's need for vengeance pushes England to the brink of civil war and in the end, Elizabeth must choose: her brother, or her country?

***
The January Wish by Juliet Madison. I loved her Fast Forward and though I haven't enjoyed her follow-ups quite as much, I have high hopes for this women's fiction. This lady is talented.
From Escape's queen of ro-magic comedy comes a sweet, emotional contemporary romance about the pleasures of making a wish and seeing it come true.

When Dr Sylvia Greene makes an impromptu wish at the Tarrin’s Bay Wishing Festival, it's the most out of character action she can think of. Hers is not a life of wishes. Hers is a controlled life of order, plans and preparation…of science and research and diagnosis and treatment. But her past has been weighing on her mind, and decisions made long ago have far-reaching consequences.

A week later, the daughter she secretly gave up for adoption at sixteen arrives in Sylvia's small coastal town with secrets that can't be shared. Between feelings of guilt, gossip, and a growing attraction to an emotionally unavailable colleague, Sylvia's well-ordered life is soon thrown into chaos. She is no longer alone, and for the first time she feels as if her world is open to possibilities.

They say be careful what you wish for, but, for Sylvia, the unexpected consequences may be just what the doctor ordered.


***
Because the premise makes me laugh and it sounds pretty fun/funny: The Bitches of Brooklyn by Rosemarry Harris. I spotted this one on NG.

Four friends from Brooklyn await the arrival of a fifth at a Cape Cod bungalow where they spend an all-girls weekend every summer. But this time the fifth woman doesn't show. Instead she sends a note that reads - "I've run off with one of your men."

Fast, funny and filled with Harris' trademark snappy dialog and quirky characters forced to reevaluate their friendships, their marriages and their memories.
***
Because I'm a huge fan and have enjoyed most everything she's penned, I'm giving Michelle Diener's new fantasy, Mistress of the Wind, an attempt. She always writes strong heroines, Diener.
Bjorn needs to find a very special woman . . .

The fate of his people, and his own life, depends on it. But when he does find her, she is nothing like he imagined, and may just harbor more secrets than he does himself.

Astrid has never taken well to commands. No matter who issues them . . .

She's clashed her whole life with her father, and now her lover, the mysterious man who comes to her bedroom in darkness and disappears to guard his mountain by day as a bear, is finding it out the hard way. And when he's taken by his enemies, no one is prepared for Astrid's response.

It is never wise to anger the mistress of the wind . . .

This novel is a retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon.


***

Spotted on a blog I follow and on my wishlist: Hometown Heroines by Betty Bolte. During the 1800s, daring and courageous girls across America left their unique mark on history. 

Milly Cooper galloped 9 miles through hostile Indian Territory to summon help when Fort Cooper was under attack. 
Belle Boyd risked her life spying for the Rebels during the Civil War.
Kate Shelly, when she was 15, crawled across a nearly washed-out railroad bridge during a ferocious thunderstorm to warn the next train. 
Lucille Mulhall, age 14, outperformed cowboys to become the World's First Famous Cowgirl. 
These are just a few of the inspiring true stories inside Hometown Heroines-American Girls who faced danger and adversity and made a difference in their world.

Suddenly Royal (Suddenly #1) by Nichole Chase

You think the life of a royal is all hunky dory? Money and a title can fix everything, right? Not so... This book serves to remind us--in an entertaining, fun way--that even royals aren't immune to tragedy.

I expected this to be a piece of fluff, a Cinderella story. I didn't expect much of it, to be honest, but I was sucked in by the Audrey Hepburn-like cover. I'm so glad I gave this a chance. It made me laugh and cry and think deeply. This isn't your average romance.

It is a Cinderella story...girl struggling to put herself through college discovers she's a long-lost royal with an estate and millions to her name, and while it comes across as preposterous and somewhat cheesy at first, the story unfolds in a believable, realistic way. Samantha never loses sight of who she really is. That's something I think many people need to be reminded of--whether they're obtaining a supervisor position or just coming into some good fortune or whatever.

We have a heroine with a huge heart and an incredible inner strength. She also has a terrific sense of humor.

"Sorry, the Bentley is being detailed." (When she pulls up in an old falling-apart truck)

"And you can apologize when you get back with your tail between your legs." Operation Pissed was coming into play.

There wasn't a mystery or murder plot or anything major, but I found myself riveted just the same. There was never any doubt in my mind the hero and heroine would end up together either. This is simply a story about a spunky girl who discovers she's a duchess, travels to her "new" country, and while being overwhelmed and frightened, makes the most of it and tries her best to always do the right thing, even at a cost to herself.

Well done!

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Melissa Dehavilland

Book: Suited to be a Cowboy
Author: Lorraine Nelson
Heroine: Melissa Dehavilland

Strong:Melissa Dehavilland found out that money doesn’t guarantee happiness. When her marriage falls apart and she’s left with a young son to raise, she doesn’t allow it to get her down. Fate intervenes when she and her son inherit her Grandfather’s horse ranch, and she decides to move there. A new start…a better life, for herself and for her son.
Taking over the running of the ranch meant hard work and long hours, but she was determined to fulfill her grandfather’s trust. Melissa could ride and rope as good as any of her wranglers, but she had a lot to learn. She tackled it head-on, one project or chore at a time. During the process, she’s rebuilt her self-esteem and reinforced positive values for her son. Strong and determined, the only thing she refuses to tackle is paperwork. Give her the outdoors any day. She’d sooner muck out the horse barn than do accounting or try to balance her checkbook.
Sexy: (excerpt)Not unexpectedly, she rode like the wind, at one with her horse, her golden tresses blowing out behind her, tempting him, as did her derriere. It bounced nicely up and down as she rode. Jimmy kept his horse at a slow trot as he followed in her wake, thinking that he’d love to cup those butt cheeks in his bare hands and make her body bounce on his. If they hadn’t been on horseback, he might’ve breached the employer/employee relationship back there. Her eyes had darkened with desire and those firm, full lips had begged to be kissed. Right or proper protocol had nothing to do with it. He’d wanted to hold her tight, mold her body against his. When she dismounted and stood beside her son, the reddish haze of sunset provided the perfect backdrop to outline her enticing curves. He gave his head a shake and rode closer, ready to dismount, but a quick glimpse of the area beyond rooted him to his saddle.
Blurb: Inheriting a ranch on the heels of her husband walking out has Melissa Dehavilland struggling to learn the ropes. James McGovern, raised in foster care, has saved all his life toward a dream…that of owning a ranch. Such diverse backgrounds don’t always converge in harmony, especially when their first meeting turned sour, but working together means saving her ranch and restoring his dream. Respect is hard-earned and trust non-existent as they fight their attraction to each other. Melissa’s ex shows up, wanting a cut and causing trouble. The difficulties bind them closer together as they strive to guarantee a future…together.
Excerpt: (Strong)Walt’s was the lead truck in their little convoy. Although he tended to flirt outrageously, Walt was good company and he soon realized that Melissa could give as good as she got. It all served to help pass the time and she found she enjoyed the ride to Kentucky…until they pulled onto the racetrack to find her ex-husband waiting with the potential buyers.She thanked Walt and jumped down from the cab ready to send Marcus on his way while the men unloaded the stock. The sale of her horses had nothing to do with his running of Dehavilland Downs. If he hadn’t been the father of her only son, she would have sent him packing when the marriage ended.Still fuming, she motioned him to one side and confronted him. “What are you doing here?”“Why, darling, I’m overseeing the sale of our horses. Surely you wouldn’t expect me to leave something so important in your incapable hands.” Marcus wore an evil smirk that did nothing to cool her anger.“How dare you! These are my horses.”“Oh, I dare. I can fetch a much better price for them than you can. My share of the proceeds will compensate for the pittance I’m allowed for managing the track.”“These are my buyers and my horses. You get paid handsomely for what you do and you’re not getting one red cent of my sale money. Now get off this track before I call security and have you removed for good.”“Tut, tut, darling. Such a temper. What would Aaron say if you followed through on that threat?”That thought gave her pause, but only for a moment. “Oh, I think he’d understand well enough, given the way you’ve kept in contact with him. Not! And don’t call me darling. You gave up that right when you walked out.”She palmed her cell phone and began to dial.“All right. You’ve won this round, but you’ll be sorry. Those buyers will strip you bare of the horses’ real worth, but you’re on your own. Know that I’ll be laughing from my position on the bleachers.”
Melissa breathed a sigh of relief as he stomped off. He could watch the proceedings or not. She really didn’t care.
At this time, Suited is available at Secret Cravings Publishing. This post will be updated with the Amazon link as soon as it is available on that site.

Lizzie Borden by Elizabeth Engstrom

For those who may not know, Lizzie Borden was accused and acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892. What happened that day in the Borden household to this day remains shrouded in mystery. Nursery rhymes have penned about it.

Lizzie Borden took an axe
gave her mother 40 whacks
When she saw what she had done
she gave her father 41...

In actuality, her father was struck 10 or 11 times and her stepmum 19. They were killed with a hatchet.

Was it Lizzie in some odd fugue-like state? Was it the maid? Was it...well, we'll never know. But we can sure have fun speculating...

This novel portrays Lizzie as mentally unstable, a lesbian, a woman imprisoned by her family and her own weaknesses. Her sister Emma calls the shots and controls everything, mentally puts Lizzie down every chance she gets. The stepmother is insecure. There are binge-eating disorders, alcoholism. Lizzie seems to be having blackouts. The book chronicles the time period about a year? before the murders and ends with the deaths.

I found parts of it really boring. It tends to repeat and pontificate. I also would have appreciated more explanation about what was wrong with Lizzie and Emma. They are both crazy. I'm sure there's a medical term/reason/explanation, but the book didn't find a way to tell us. Emma seems to have a few screws loose. She leaves in fits of rage, goes and gets drunk and beaten up every few weeks...there's something really wrong with her. Rage, however, seems to run in the family.

There's a somewhat disgusting love triangle and except for possibly contributing to Lizzie's finally cracking, I fail to see why this story twist existed.

Why the  headaches? What did they have? Was it hereditary? I feel the book gave us just only so much idea and didn't explain itself well enough. It was interesting, but fell short. I was left asking more questions than when I first picked it up.

But those of you who have read or heard of her, what do you think?

I got this book on Paperback Swap.

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio

This story reminds me of the TV show Cold Case. It's not just a time slip chronicling two separate stories in two different eras. It's a mystery and as the modern-day heroine digs for answers, the past subtly unfolds, the overlap growing blurry. At times I could visualize the fifties' people standing there looking on, watching from the sidelines as their past was put together and the mystery solved.

As always, Ms. Jio impresses me with her writing skills. She's one of the best. Even when I don't care for the actions of some of her characters, I find myself utterly immersed, dying to know what happens  next.

In the fifities, a woman went missing from her houseboat one night, leaving behind an artist husband, a little neighbor boy who adored her, a boat-maker who wanted her, and a community of people intent on hiding the truth. Did she just sail away? Did someone kill her?

The modern-day heroine becomes obsessed with finding out as she resides on the missing woman's former houseboat, recovering from a great loss. The past story is about how you can't play games without others, and possibly yourself. The past heroine messes with people's hearts, can't make up her mind who she wants to be with. The modern-day heroine's story has a theme of moving on, of learning to live with grief.

I didn't like Penny, the past heroine. I saw a woman playing games, weak. I like strength in a woman and by strength, I totally realize it doesn't mean wielding a sword or whatever, but strength comes in many forms and this woman had next to none. Her actions were not strong, but selfish. She wanted to bounce man to man, to whomever it was convenient to be with at that moment. She lived in a shadow of another man, was a submissive wallflower. The conclusion in the end, even that was selfish. What she allows people to believe...someone will pay for that, just not her.

But I have to admit, despite my dislike of one of the heroine, I was very intrigued by the mystery. It takes a talented writer to keep me interested when I so blatantly dislike its heroine. Now, Ada, the modern-day woman, was strong. I appreciated the theme of overcoming grief without dishonoring the deceaseds' memories.

Once again, Jio delivers a great story.

I received this via LibraryThing.

Spotlight: Searching for Normal by Alison Neuman

Searching for Normal is a book about following in the great tradition of creative nonfiction. Detailing her personal experience from the onset of a rare and painful illness at the age of three, Alison Neuman recounts her personal journey coming to terms with an ever-shifting conception of 'normality'. The disease having shaped her life in ways most could never imagine, a carefree childhood quickly morphed into a blur of ongoing hospitalizations, increasingly reduced mobility, and overwhelming fatigue and pain.

But amidst her constant battles with her health, Alison emerged as a champion. Searching for Normal will leave readers awed by Alison's perseverance and strength of character. Her story serves as a pertinent reminder that 'normal', is in the eye of the beholder.


Barnes & NoblePaperback

Meet the author: Alison Neuman lives in Alberta, Canada, where she works as a freelance writer. Nearing the end of her studies at Grant MacEwan College, she was inspired to complete the first draft of Ice Rose: A Young Adult Spy Novel. The YA novel integrates her love for gadgetry with the broad imaginative license afforded by the secret agent genre, and features a female protagonist in a wheelchair. It was published in 2010 by Fireside Publications.

Alison’s work has appeared in MacEwan Today, Westword, and the Edmonton Journal as well as on three tracks of the CD release, Outside The Window, and as a credit on the script for Cheryl Kaye Tardif's screenplay adaptation of Whale Song. She was also an "Edmonton Stories' top-ten finalist, a winner in the "Expressions of Hunger" in the Emotional Poetry Category (2009), and a nominee for the Northlands Award for Emerging Artist (2012), Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award, and Avenue’s "Top 40 Under 40."

Alison was also honoured in 2011 for her human rights work in advocating for the rights of the disabled. One of her greatest achievements is an integrative camp she started for children from all walks of life—both with and without disabilities. Camp Mission Access uses a secret agent theme and activities as children of all abilities complete mission activities. Since 2010, she has been a member of iDANCE Edmonton, performing regularly. A musical version of Searching for Normal, will debut at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in August 2013.
Alison is currently working towards her Master of Arts at Athabasca University and, when time permits, completing her next YA novel.
Follow Alison:https://twitter.com/crossingts
http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/alison-neuman/14/427/b77
https://www.facebook.com/alison.neuman.14

Follow the Book Tour

Broken Dolls by B.R. Kingsolver

*My Review*
I've never read anything like this before. It's unique, and that's a hard thing to accomplish in the writing world nowadays. You have a book full of succubuses, women who need sex to survive, who drain men's energy. There are even genetic sluts, kid you not. There's sex trafficking, telekinesis, mind reading, mind manipulation, brainwashing, everything you can think of.
At the heart of it all is this tough, incredibly powerful woman who's a Telepath and private investigator. What starts as a favor to a long-time friend becomes an agenda of sorts to rescue as many "broken dolls" as she can. The heroine has a good heart and lets nothing stop her.
The broken dolls are succubuses, norms, or Telepath who have been abducted and sold and turned into unemotional, walking robots who exist for the sole purpose of pleasing the men who purchase them. Sex trafficking is a serious problem and I appreciate what the author did here, mixing a serious, very real issue with tons of paranormal excitement.
Just when I thought I'd finally learned about all the "powers" the heroine had, another ability popped up. I am truly amazed at the author's imagination.
I laughed out loud at the heroine's mother...
"Rhi! What a wonderful present!" Mum exclaimed, fixing them (two men/bodyguards accompanying the heroine at the time) with a smile. "Just go on into the bedroom and take off your clothes. I'll be with you as soon as I fix my daughter a cup of tea."
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! (Her mom's a succubus.)
It was a very enjoyable and interesting read, but I must admit to being overwhelmed at times. Too many characters made it hard to remember everyone and who they were/what they'd done. There was also just too many powers and abilities to keep track of and remember as well. The clan war thing became jumbled after a while also. I think, as odd as this will sound, the book needed more boring moments, tamer scenes, to balance out the constant action/revelations, so readers are not bombarded with so much to remember at one time. It would also have been nice to really get to know the heroine better. More emotion/internal thoughts from her would have gone a long way. Despite it being first person, I never felt we were really IN her head, that I was getting to know her.
But if you want something completely and utterly different, this is for you.

I received this from Promotional Book Tours.


*Blurb*

Private investigator RB Kendrick makes her living nailing cheating spouses, digging up other dirt to help in a divorce, finding long-lost relatives, and occasionally sniffing out criminal activity and fraud.
When she takes a job to find a missing girl, she has no idea she is headed for the most dangerous case of her career. Usually, her ability to read minds gives her an edge. But when the people she’s hunting are also telepaths, that advantage is limited.

The search takes her into the dark underbelly of telepathic society, where anything, and anyone, is for sale. She discovers that telepathic women and girls are being trafficked as the ultimate sex slaves.

With people trying to kill her, she’s on the run, not knowing who she can trust. Will she find the missing girl, or become a victim herself?



 Barnes & Noble / Kobo


*About the Author*I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master's in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, and somehow found a career working with computers.

I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I've skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I've hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven't done enough of it. I've seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England and France. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite.

I have a very significant other, two cats and two Basset Hounds. I'm currently living in Baltimore, nine blocks from the harbor, but still own a home in New Mexico.
Follow BR Kingsolver on FaceBook | Twitter | Website | GoodreadsFollow the tour here

Prime Suspect Part Two

So I left off last month having watched about half of all the available-on-blueray mysteries featuring Jane Tennison. I'm afraid I was unable to watch all twenty-something hours in a month, so this month, I'm sharing my thoughts on series 5, 6, and 7.

Series 5: This one is in two parts. It's gang and drug-related and appears there just may be a leak in the force. I find it interesting that almost every mystery reveals at least one corrupt person in high standing within the ranks. There's this kid named Street and he seems to get away with everything...he's way too powerful and it looks like it's up to Jane to take him down a few pegs. There won't be a happy ending in this one. Too many people have been hurt... At the heart of this though is how drugs and addiction can totally destroy a family.

Jane is also a tad distracted by her new affair with her married boss. To be honest, I'm not sure why they have her having affairs at all. They mystery and crime and the investigations are enough to keep us on our toes. Though this one is not totally irrelevant, such as the one with the doctor was.

I swear, I thought Jane was going to die in this one, even though common sense tells me that if if there's a season 6, obviously she lives...it was just that INTENSE. I'm using that word a lot for this TV show.

Series 6: I especially appreciate this one because it delves into war crimes. She treads a fine line as she disobeys direct orders to charge a man she knows is guilty but her gov't is protecting. I have a lot of respect for this side of Jane. She does what she knows is right. This "mystery" involves dead, tortured girls, political refugees, whistle-blowing, stolen identity, political corruptness--lots of that in these.

Series 7: Jane seems to be falling in this, into a bad slump of alcoholism and self-destruction. The case involves a missing and later dead girl. Who killed her and why? The suspect list has two main players and the end result was a surprise. This particular series also shows us more of Jane's personal life, her relationship with her family, her drinking. I'm a tad sad the show ended this way. I'd have preferred to see Jane go out on a ball of glory, kicking butt as she retires, not drowning in drink, but then again, what I've appreciated about this series is it's real life. It doesn't always paint a pretty picture, because life--especially that of detective who witnesses horrid things all day--is not a pretty picture.

As I conclude this show, I am once again going to use the word INTENSE. 

I received from Acorn Media in exchange for an honest review.