Five Things I’m Obsessing over:

By Liz Everly

Here’s some of the things keeping my monkey-mind occupied these days.

Darynda Jones’s series. I had heard about this series awhile ago and recently read the first book, “First Grave from the Right,” and LOVED it. It’s definitely a genre-bending series, which I like a lot. The main character is a grim reaper and a private investigator. The dead come to her to “cross over,” but sometimes she needs to figure our who killed them before they can cross. What I liked about the first book is that the mystery-crime aspect to it was complex enough to keep my interest. But, surprise, surprise! It was also HAWT read. There is a creature that she has known in her past and that comes to her in dreams and more…I’m not going to say what he is or it would give too much away. But the romantic scenes sizzle between them and now I MUST read the second in the series. It kind of reminds me of the Sookie Stackhouse series in the way in mashes up paranomal/mystery/romance in a fun, clever, and sexy way.
The Young Adult genre. I’m on a serious junket here started by my editor who told me about “Tiger Lily” by by Jodi Lynn Anderson How much did I love this book? Let me count the ways, people. I love a good twist on a fairy tale, plus the writing was just superb. Next I read “The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender” by Leslye Walton, an exquisitely told story about a young woman, her family, and her life—and a brutal incident that happens to her. Oh, did I mention she was born with wings? So, now I’m reading “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green because my daughter loves it and has been singing its praises. It is good—though it’s a different kind of YA than I’ve been reading. But here’s the thing, the word “Dutch” is used in this book in relating to the nationality. But I’m still feeling the after effects from the way it was used in “First Grave from the Right.” (Yeah, that’s how vivid that book was for me. The word Dutch might always haunt me.)
Polenta on the grill. Okay so you knew there would have be a food item on my list, right? I’ve always liked polenta. But I’ve been eating more of it since I’ve been watching my gluten in-take. These days, they make it with great ingredients already in it and you just have to slice it to cook it. My favorite is the jalepeno and cilantro. Grilling it gives it an extra zing.
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. This is an Australian  series set in the 1920s. (Oh to have been born a flapper, right?) She’s not a flapper, but she has a title or inheritance or something and sort of can do what ever she want—and sometimes she does, which leads to very sexy parts. One of my favorite lines: “I don’t allow myself to be lustfully compromised during murder investigations.” But otherwise? She is quite game. The show is very well written and the clothes and sets are to-die for. And the actress who plays Miss Fisher is rather gorgeous. Check this out:
Summer. We have nothing grand planned, just the whole glorious season stretching out before us like a dream. I love the fresh food from the garden (food again) and the way at the beginning of the summer feels like it might not ever end. The beginning. And this is the first summer in years that I don’t have a deadline pressing down on me. I might just take some time off. Yes. Indeed.

Speaking of taking time-off—you should, but don’t forget to subscribe to Lady Smut to keep you entertained and informed.

In the mean time, what are you obsessing about?