C. (Comment, never msg). > Recent Status Updates

I don't know why preferring Vicky Bliss' series has me an oddball. They are so obviously better than the Amelia ones! But her publisher wanted more of those, so Vicky's series comprises few novels. I insisted on about a 2-year wait to mete out Amelia ones,. Now I am engaged and entertained from page one! Barbara hit her stride with this! To counteract sleeping quickly, I'm going to treat myself to reading today.

Another of many authors I have collected for years, before beginning to read them; of course because I thought I would like them. I am reading Ruth Rendell's first novel quickly, which compliments the constancy and level of interest but I am not blown away. I will excuse that it is a first novel but I imagined we should fall in love with "Chief Wexford" and I am not doing so. Few personages are likeable actually.

I have come to enjoy this very much. It doesn't sound like any other mainstream, historical, or "cozy" mystery. An original tone, style, and premise are certainly to be lauded; especially the former too. The general career and environment of a heroine can be new but the tone and writing style direct how creativity and originality. I'm glad I own the succeeding two and a volume mystery far ahead, "Waverly Place".

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my friends and peers, no matter if you are parents to dearly-loved pets, or human mammals. Enjoy your week-end around the world and Canadian gardeners: let's get started! Manitoba is in a drought but I make a prayer for soothing rain soon.

I'm too tired to read lately. Great television aired this week. Not least, though I don't watch sports: our Winnipeg Jets won their NHL hockey game last night and have made it to the Stanley Cup finals! See the history of the Jets. We have not won the Stanley cup since forming in 1972 and in 1996, had no team for years. It would be monumental enough for us but this year: we are the sole Canadian team still in!

Today, I worked up the courage to ask a distant acquaintance for a favour, to locate our dear cat Conan; missing since last year. He could be anywhere in our rural outskirts, where our home is, or our town. We have canvassed several places and put posters in stores. However, this fellow cat Mom is the elementary school bus driver, with a huge reach in every direction! She will show Conan's poster to her busload!

I have collected Victoria Holt for years and this is the first time I am giving her a whirl. Starting with her first novel of this name, in 1960, I am glad to see that I like her! I should not have been surprised. Rather than be confined to a sappy romance, this is an intriguing gothic mystery just like I am used to, with Grand Master Phyllis A. Whitney, Dorothy Daniels, Dorothy Eden, and others.

I'll tell you what. I dislike how the spirit is used as a bitchy, commonplace sidekick, who isn't the character's beloved relative and whose surely surreal presence isn't enchanting at all. "Cozy mysteries" ruin opportunities to create adult paranormal content. However, other than the stupidity of ransoming a friend for money instead of requesting her help, the rest is great. I am invested and enjoying the novel.

As I suspected, a "cozy mystery" is not the place to look for spiritual emotional experiences. They joke it away and there is no wonderment at discovering we can communicate with spirits. This one is instantly here and made into a common, annoying sidekick. Also, I thought this entailed a Great-Grandmother at least, not a former nanny. However I like Carolyn's writing and protagonist. A mystery is just starting.

This portrait looks exactly like our Petal, when she was a kitten. She remains precious looking as a grown-up lady. This photo brightens my heart every time I look at it; exactly like my real girl.

I love this! What a pleasure to find a new favourite author and a new favourite series and heroine. May I compliment Simon that I seldom read men, as authors or protagonists. The win for me is that this is no dry policeman perspective. It is a fascinating, complex woman with a sassy past unknown to us that is part of our fun. It reminds me of Victoria Abbott, whose sleuth dubiously knows about police and steath!

Ah, charity book sales. They entice us to buy series pieces we can't do anything with. Simon Brett is one of the many authors awaiting a turn in our house. I have a good amount of starting volumes in each of his three series now. I sampled the introduction of Mrs. Pargeter's début last night, to see if I like Simon's style especially. The result? I love his hilarious writing and his spunky, intelligent heroine!

This isn't quite a mystery. We are shown what occurred in a small group on a week-end. It is interesting that one is unstable enough to do anything, one egocentric enough to think they could justify anything, and a neutral guest is pushy and less well-known to them. A word to English / Australian authors: please don't assume the rest understand things like "hen" and "bunk" (bachlorette party and skipping school)!

My spouse chose this as a gift for me on a trip in Indiana, USA, where used shops weren't at walking distance. So seldom is my wish list out of play, that I was touhed to try a book he thought I might like. Psychological dramas aren't my forte but it's good to sample genres and Ruth Ware is popular. Thiis gives the impression of being mysterious. One note- Ruth shouldn't assume Canadians know UK words like "hen"!

Another book this a pleasure, so well-written and enjoyable, that the mystery is rightfully a secondary sideline.

This is a pleasure and very unique. I pick the gems!

Back to a cast of characters I enjoy. I cannot do vampires but Charlaine Harris has two more series suited for me. Seeing one of these mysteries as a TV film, with Candice Cameron-Bure and Yannick Bisson, really lifted the interest for me to start these paperback books I had recently gathered and I was happy to find I liked the first one. This one is already taking me along for an entertaining and intriguing ride.

I am impressed! Sometimes having no depth to writing is a "cozy mystery" trait. Rhys Bowen fits the genre for light contents only! She is a real writer, who paints a sharp picture and bonds us with her heroine, even while Molly's wit and dialogue make us laugh. Rhys's novels abound but aren't trivial fiction! We experience in surprisingly realistic ship to dock detail, the historic Irish immigration to New York.