Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
by Nancy Atherton
Lori Shepherd, feeling a touch world-weary, decides to become a volunteer at the Radcliffe Infirmary, where she can spread a little good cheer in the community. There she meets Elizabeth Beacham, a kind, retired legal secretary with no family except a brother who has mysteriously disappeared. Lori is saddened when Miss Beacham passes away suddenly after only a few visits. But when she receives an envelope containing a set of keys and a letter Miss Beacham wrote to her just a few days before her death, it becomes clear that there was much more to the gentle invalid than met the eye. Notices start arriving around the village of the large bequests made before her death. And Lori finds that Miss Beacham’s flat is filled with priceless antiques—an inheritance too precious to remain unclaimed. Armed with a few clues and Aunt Dimity’s help, Lori begins to unearth Miss Beacham’s secrets and, ultimately, the surprising truth about her next-of-kin.
#10 is this interesting series. I get a little tired of the main character so I haven't read any of this series for quite a while. But I thought I would give it a try with this one. This was one of the better stories as it gives Lori some humility which she really needed.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Saddlemaker's Wife by Earlene Fowler
Ruby McGavin, grieving over the recent death of her husband, Cole, is shocked to discover that Cole lied to her about his family. They're not all dead, as he told her, but very much alive, and in his will, he has left her his share of the family ranch in California. Ruby heads to tiny Cardinal, Calif., with Cole's ashes, intent on selling her share of the ranch, but she quickly realizes that Cole had hidden many things from her. Cole's younger brother, Lucas, who has fled his life as a lawyer in San Francisco, has returned to Cardinal, where he scrapes out a life as a saddlemaker. Slowly Ruby and Lucas edge closer to the truth of a secret that haunts both their lives.
This was a very interesting story. You really feel like you are in this small town and getting to know the characters. I've tried to read her other quilting stories and while I enjoyed it but not as much as this story. It will be interesting to see if she writes more with these characters.
Ruby McGavin, grieving over the recent death of her husband, Cole, is shocked to discover that Cole lied to her about his family. They're not all dead, as he told her, but very much alive, and in his will, he has left her his share of the family ranch in California. Ruby heads to tiny Cardinal, Calif., with Cole's ashes, intent on selling her share of the ranch, but she quickly realizes that Cole had hidden many things from her. Cole's younger brother, Lucas, who has fled his life as a lawyer in San Francisco, has returned to Cardinal, where he scrapes out a life as a saddlemaker. Slowly Ruby and Lucas edge closer to the truth of a secret that haunts both their lives.
This was a very interesting story. You really feel like you are in this small town and getting to know the characters. I've tried to read her other quilting stories and while I enjoyed it but not as much as this story. It will be interesting to see if she writes more with these characters.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Whales on Stilts! by M. T. Anderson
Lily Gefelty's father works for a mad scientist who wears a sack over his head. When she overhears him say that he wants to take over the world, her oblivious father assures her, "Honey, sometimes adults use irony. They don't really mean what they say." Nonetheless, the 12-year-old calls on her two best friends, Katie Mulligan, the star of the "Horror Hollow" novels (think "Goosebumps"), and Jasper Dash, also known as the Boy Technonaut (think "Tom Swift"), to investigate. The trio soon learns that Larry does indeed plan to conquer the world using mind-controlled whales on stilts with laser-beam eyes. No adult will believe them, so it's up to the kids to save the Earth.
This was a very fun entertaining read. Book 2 is already in the works. I love how it shows sometimes the kids do know best.
Lily Gefelty's father works for a mad scientist who wears a sack over his head. When she overhears him say that he wants to take over the world, her oblivious father assures her, "Honey, sometimes adults use irony. They don't really mean what they say." Nonetheless, the 12-year-old calls on her two best friends, Katie Mulligan, the star of the "Horror Hollow" novels (think "Goosebumps"), and Jasper Dash, also known as the Boy Technonaut (think "Tom Swift"), to investigate. The trio soon learns that Larry does indeed plan to conquer the world using mind-controlled whales on stilts with laser-beam eyes. No adult will believe them, so it's up to the kids to save the Earth.
This was a very fun entertaining read. Book 2 is already in the works. I love how it shows sometimes the kids do know best.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. While on a cruise he is thrown overboard and became lost. While he lived with Abilene he just existed. He never listened to Abilene's stories or understood what it ment to be alone and never loved Abilene though she loved him.
His adventues take him from part of the world to another as he is chosen and lost by several different people who need him at the time. He learns to listen and love and be loved. He discovers that everyone matters and has a story to tell. It is another beautiful story by DiCamillo and the color plates illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline really adds to the story. This would make a great read-a-loud or to read at bedtime. It is lovely.
Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. While on a cruise he is thrown overboard and became lost. While he lived with Abilene he just existed. He never listened to Abilene's stories or understood what it ment to be alone and never loved Abilene though she loved him.
His adventues take him from part of the world to another as he is chosen and lost by several different people who need him at the time. He learns to listen and love and be loved. He discovers that everyone matters and has a story to tell. It is another beautiful story by DiCamillo and the color plates illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline really adds to the story. This would make a great read-a-loud or to read at bedtime. It is lovely.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer
A story of romance and action story, written by two experts in the genres. Jenny Crusie writes Lucy Armstrong, a film director with family problems--why is her sister so depressed, her niece so unhappy, and her ex-husband so intent on getting her back--and career problems--why is the star so determined to do his own stunts, the ingenue so determined to seduce the stunt double, and that Green Beret stunt double so damn attractive? Bob Mayer writers J. T. Wilder, a Green Beret who has his own troubles including the goofball actor he's doubling for, the stunt coordinator who's gunning for him (literally), and the director who looks like Wonder Woman and keeps distracting him from his mission. And that's before the CIA, the Russian mob, and the one-eyed alligator show up.
I've read other books by Jennifer Cruise and she always makes a fun read. Interesting to see her work combined with Boy Mayer who I have not read before. I got kind of tired of the young niece being the comic relief plus the ending was a little predictable to me. A good book to take on vacation or read on the beach.
A story of romance and action story, written by two experts in the genres. Jenny Crusie writes Lucy Armstrong, a film director with family problems--why is her sister so depressed, her niece so unhappy, and her ex-husband so intent on getting her back--and career problems--why is the star so determined to do his own stunts, the ingenue so determined to seduce the stunt double, and that Green Beret stunt double so damn attractive? Bob Mayer writers J. T. Wilder, a Green Beret who has his own troubles including the goofball actor he's doubling for, the stunt coordinator who's gunning for him (literally), and the director who looks like Wonder Woman and keeps distracting him from his mission. And that's before the CIA, the Russian mob, and the one-eyed alligator show up.
I've read other books by Jennifer Cruise and she always makes a fun read. Interesting to see her work combined with Boy Mayer who I have not read before. I got kind of tired of the young niece being the comic relief plus the ending was a little predictable to me. A good book to take on vacation or read on the beach.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
My Name is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton
Kids in my library love this series - it is never on the shelf so I thought I would try one and it is not the first in the series. We are introduced to his young assistant editor, Pinky Pick, who is only thirteen years old! Geronimo is a nervous, mild-mannered mouse who would like nothing better than to live a quiet life, but he keeps getting involved in far-away adventures with Thea, Trap and Benjamin. The books are written as though they are autobiographical adventure stories. The author is identified only as Geronimo Stilton, and references are occasionally made to past and future books in the series.
The series originated in Italy and has become the most popular children's book series in that country. The books are bright with color pictures and the text changes font styles and colors to match what is happening in the storyline to highlight a certain word. It was distracting to me but I can see why kids like it.
Kids in my library love this series - it is never on the shelf so I thought I would try one and it is not the first in the series. We are introduced to his young assistant editor, Pinky Pick, who is only thirteen years old! Geronimo is a nervous, mild-mannered mouse who would like nothing better than to live a quiet life, but he keeps getting involved in far-away adventures with Thea, Trap and Benjamin. The books are written as though they are autobiographical adventure stories. The author is identified only as Geronimo Stilton, and references are occasionally made to past and future books in the series.
The series originated in Italy and has become the most popular children's book series in that country. The books are bright with color pictures and the text changes font styles and colors to match what is happening in the storyline to highlight a certain word. It was distracting to me but I can see why kids like it.
Monday, June 12, 2006
John Rain books by Barry Eisler
Rain Fall
John Rain was born of an American mother and a Japanese father, Rain is a businessman based in Tokyo, living a life of meticulously planned anonymity. Trained by the U.S. Special Forces and a veteran of Vietnam, he is a cool, self-contained loner—and he has built a steady business over the past twenty-five years specializing in death by "natural causes." He is also a man struggling with his own divided nature: Japanese/American; soldier/assassin; samurai/ronin. He is given an assignment to kill a man on a train but to make it look like a heart attack. When he notices an american man going through the dead man's pockets Rain's carefully ordered world begins to unravel. Unknown agents from within and without the international intelligence communities have been circling him for years and, having connected him to the subway job, now have the scent they have been seeking. At the same time, Rain is drawn outside his private world by an alluring jazz pianist, the dead man's daughter, who is the key to the very secrets that her father died trying to reveal.
Fascinating read. You really get a feel like you are in Tokyo and walking beside him. Looking forward to reading more.
Hard Rain
Rain Storm
Killing Rain
Last Assassin
Rain Fall
John Rain was born of an American mother and a Japanese father, Rain is a businessman based in Tokyo, living a life of meticulously planned anonymity. Trained by the U.S. Special Forces and a veteran of Vietnam, he is a cool, self-contained loner—and he has built a steady business over the past twenty-five years specializing in death by "natural causes." He is also a man struggling with his own divided nature: Japanese/American; soldier/assassin; samurai/ronin. He is given an assignment to kill a man on a train but to make it look like a heart attack. When he notices an american man going through the dead man's pockets Rain's carefully ordered world begins to unravel. Unknown agents from within and without the international intelligence communities have been circling him for years and, having connected him to the subway job, now have the scent they have been seeking. At the same time, Rain is drawn outside his private world by an alluring jazz pianist, the dead man's daughter, who is the key to the very secrets that her father died trying to reveal.
Fascinating read. You really get a feel like you are in Tokyo and walking beside him. Looking forward to reading more.
Hard Rain
Rain Storm
Killing Rain
Last Assassin
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