I have an overstuffed green chair in my living room that is perfect for curling up in. There is a lamp behind it, and my favorite throws are nearby in case I need to warm up. Love the picture; it makes me wish I had a giant bear to cuddle!
I have been a library manager/administrator for over 30 years, in Ohio, Florida, Arizona, and, now, Indiana. Winner of the 2011 Arizona Library Association Outstanding Library Service Award. I am a contributing Book Reviewer for Library Journal, Mystery Readers Journal, ReadertoReader.com and VibrantNation.com. Winner of the 2009 and 2010 Spinetingler Awards for Best Reviewer. First Fan Guest of Honor for Desert Sleuths Chapter of Sisters in Crime, Write Now! Conference.
It's an honor to be asked to review books, and I'm grateful to all the publishers, publicists, and authors who send me books. Thank you. Reviews will appear on my blog if I've had a chance to read, and finish, the book. If I do not finish a book, I won't review it, and I will not respond to emails asking when, or if, I'll be reviewing a book.
My reviews are only my opinion, and do not reflect the views of the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library.
I will not review self-published books, and, at the present time, do not accept books in e-book format.
Fixing Water Gaps
-
Note from PW: Yesterday I posted a list of organizations that are helping
Oklahoma tornado victims. You can see that list here if you’d like to help,
or ch...
“Writing to the Edge” (by Sandi Ault)
-
Adventure is a mystery-crossover category that we haven’t discussed much
yet on this blog, but we’re correcting that today. Sandi Ault’s series of
novels f...
A Touch of Frost Television Series
-
A Touch of Frost is yet another example of a British police procedural
television show that (to me) makes most of these types of shows made in the
USA look...
WWW Wednesdays (May 22)
-
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions… • What are
you currently reading? • What did you recently finish reading? • What do
you think...
The Big Idea: Rhiannon Held
-
Readers often have default expectations when it comes to their reading —
default expectations that we call “tropes.” But where do you go as a writer
when t...
Please Welcome Mystery Author Gretchen Archer
-
[image: Omnimystery News: Author Interview with Gretchen Archer]
with Gretchen Archer
We are delighted to welcome mystery author Gretchen Archer to Omnimy...
Poppet - Mo Hayder
-
Quite frankly, Mo Hayder scares the bejesus out of me. The first page of
her latest book Poppet grabbed me and just never let go. (and check out
that cree...
Secondary Characters Blogfest
-
Hosted by *Rachel Schieffelbein *in celebration of her book,* Secondary
Characters,* which releases on May 28th.
Sometimes secondary characters steal the...
Waiting on Wednesday – 19
-
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. * Two YA
contemp...
Wondrous Words Wednesday
-
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where you can share new words
that you’ve encountered or spotlight words you love. Feel free to get
creative! ...
YA From My Youth by Alexia Casale
-
*As part of The Bone Dragon blog tour, I’m pleased to welcome debut author
Alexia Casale. *
[image: Casale, Alexia photo]
I am so excited to be part of this...
Lost in a Good Book
-
by Chris F. Holm
"If you could step into the world of a fictional sleuth or crime-stopper,
which would it be? What would be your role/character in their st...
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
-
I read *Gone Girl* last year like the rest of the country and enjoyed it.
So when Christine sent me *Dark Places* as part a Halloween swap Ana and I
did, ...
Where is Your Bookmark?
-
It is only Wednesday, but already the week has taken its toll on me.
Monday was an especially difficult day. The kind of day I can't write
about here. ...
Villains Behind the Badges
-
by Sandra Parshall
I read far more books than I will ever write, so it’s not surprising that I have the same preferences and pet peeves as any other reader. ...
Crime Critters Caught Reading Crime - Darla & Bogart
-
I have a brother-sister team of readers for you today! When crime fiction
author *Eric Beetner* says in his bio that he's the "father of two" I'm
pretty ce...
Color me a happy writer
-
I recently put a little color into my life, but apparently I need a whole
lot more. When we moved to the small Montana town where we live, we bought
a smal...
In search of the midnight sun
-
Barbara here. Author book tours are reputedly the stuff of legends and glamour. Imagine agents swanning around, media jostling for interviews, adoring fans l...
Tomato and Cheddar Soup Recipe
-
From Daryl/Avery: I love spring because the weather is so changeable. One
day you have rain, the next sun. It can be really cool and possibly hot.
You ...
How Convenient--Plot Contrivance
-
*by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig*
*Morgue File--o0o0xmods0o0o*
Sometimes when we’re drafting a book or writing an outline, we’ll run into
somethi...
Today's Special - - Terri Osburn
-
I can't put into words how excited I am to welcome debut author, Terri Osburn to The Romance Dish today. I met Terri online more than seven years ago and ha...
How to Analyze Your Website Traffic
-
For many of us, traffic and website analytics are very foreign ideas. But
understanding traffic and reading website analytics reports doesn’t have to
be a ...
Book Review: SILKEN PREY by John Sandford
-
[image: Book Review: SILKEN PREY by John Sandford]
This review originally appeared in Shelf Awareness for Readers, and is
reprinted here with permission. ...
Book Review - The Mermaid of Brooklyn by Amy Shearn
-
Everyone needs a little magic in their lives every once in a while, and a
fun new book, "The Mermaid of Brooklyn" by Amy Shearn, supplies that bit
of ma...
The Annual Bluebell Wood Photo Album*
-
Bluebells, like everything else this cold nasty year, are late.** I’ve
been out stomping through the critical bit of countryside several times in
the la...
BOTNS #231: Unlikeable Characters
-
This week: May short-story read-along, a new Q&A feature, our thoughts on
“unlikeable characters,” and A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. I’ve
announced t...
Crime in the Summertime
-
I have previously noted that the British historical whodunit *Foyle’s War*will return to PBS-TV’s
*Masterpiece Mystery!* line-up in September. Before then, ...
Farewell, Bernard Waber
-
Bernard Waber, the creator of many beloved picture books featuring Lyle the
Crocodile and other gentle souls, passed away on May 16 at age 91. His
books in...
Now On Our Shelves: THE BLACK COUNTRY
-
Alex Grecian’s debut novel The Yard was a big hit with us. As Tommy said in
his review, “He makes us feel as if we are walking the gas lit, refuse
choked s...
1, 2, 3 ... By the Sea: A Counting Book
-
Book: 1, 2, 3 ... By the Sea: A Counting Book Author: Dianne Moritz Illustrator: Hazel Mitchell Pages: 36 Age Range: 3-6 1, 2, 3 ... By the Sea is a nice lit...
Looking for Snow Leopards: Lisa Brackmann
-
The latest issue of M*ystery Readers Journal focuses on Environmental
Mysteries (Volume 29:1)*. You'll want to *check out the entire issue*, but
here's a ...
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
-
Beautiful Elizabeth Holland lives in Manhattan 1899, and her world is a
whirlwind of parties, visits to the dressmakers, and visiting other wealthy
socia...
Travels with Nikki
-
From the messy desk of Paul Levine
I'm writing this aboard American Airlines 977 which was supposed to have
just landed in Miami but instead we're on the t...
BOOK CLUB – The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
-
Welcome to BOOK CLUB, which I run with co-conspirator Nicole from Linus’s
Blanket. Today we will be chatting about The Golem and the Jinni by Helene
Wecker...
[Top 10 Tuesday] Cover Love
-
Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Today's topic is: *Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of Books I've Read* (in n...
A Moment That Had to Be Overcome
-
-from Susan “Moments in history”? It sounds like an essay question on an SAT exam! How about the stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe, one of the inspirations for t...
Review: Pierced by Thomas Enger
-
*Pierced* by Thomas Enger translated by Charlotte Barslund, December 2012,
544 pages, Faber and Faber, ISBN: 0571272460
*Reviewed by Laura Root. *
(Read mo...
Sacred Games by Gary Corby
-
First Line: *The procession wound past the Sanctuary of Zeus*.
The procession consists of athletes, trainers, priests, officials, and
spectators who are ...
Took a Week Off
-
Well, sort of.
I am on Chapter 6 of my next Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery in that series. I've
sent the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery off to the publisher....
Review: THE HUMANITY PROJECT, by Jean Thompson
-
*The Humanity Project*, by Jean Thompson. Published by Blue Rider Press,
2013.
So, I became a fan-for-life of novelist Jean Thompson after 2011's luminous ...
Mystery Trivia Challenge
-
Well I blew it and missed posting about the Children's book week. It was
last weekend. Dang! But in case you collect the posters or would still
like to ...
-
It's called "Leigh's Looks at Books", but once and a while I just have to
make an exception. And I'm going to make it for Mel Brooks.
I'm watching KET (yes...
-
Writers have to be prepared to take their knocks when they put their work before the public, and some of the knocks are pretty hard. Some of them are sucker ...
Back to the Future
-
I’ve just read, almost back to back, two terrific new novels: THE RIVER OF
NO RETURN by Bee Ridgway and LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson. Each novel
is int...
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
-
"What if we had a chance to do it again and again, until we finally did get
it right? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
That's the premise in Kate Atkinson's t...
Cassie Scot: Normal Detective
-
Hello, folks!
Today we are featuring a mini-mystery from author Christine Amsden. Her new
book, *Cassie Scott: Paranormal Detective,* just came out last w...
After Bread Loaf, a Retreat
-
The New England Young Writers Conference at Bread Loaf was a tremendous
success. It always is, but I'd been away from it for five years, and felt
pretty r...
"Fatal Descent"
-
You might think of it as a disgruntled author's revenge: an arrogant and
well-disliked publisher gets into his small, private elevator on the top
floor of ...
Sunday Salon: More Mario Cooper (1905 - 1995)
-
Mario Cooper for Colliers 1941 *source*
Mario Cooper 1930 *Source*
Mario Cooper - *Source*
Mario Cooper 'Bad Dream' Colliers 1944 *Source*
Mario Cooper ...
Beck and Davenport
-
I've been reading through Maj Sjöwall's and Per Wahlöö's Martin Beck series
from the 1960s-70s. Since books in (there are 10 in the series), the
stories va...
The Mousetrap
-
Call myself an Agatha Christie fan? It's a dreadful confession, but until a
short time ago, I'd never even got around to watching *The Mousetrap*. Yes,
the...
You Can Go Home Again, Kind Of, Sort Of...
-
Lately, I've had the very interesting experience of spending some time in
my hometown, after more than 25 years away.
When it comes to hometowns, I'm lucki...
Learning to Use Ravelry
-
Back in 2009 I signed up for a Ravelry account to keep in touch with a
friend, and to find some fun crochet and knitting patterns.... then I kind
of lost...
The '60s by Reed Farrel Coleman
-
Called a hard-boiled poet by NPR’s Maureen Corrigan and the “noir poet
laureate” in the *Huffington Post*, Reed Farrel Coleman has published
sixteen novel...
A Conversation with I.J. Parker
-
* *
Award-winning author Ingird (I. J.) Parker was born in Munich,
Germany, and arrived in the U.S. in 1960 to marry her Texan husband while a
student at ...
The Light Between Oceans
-
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Fiction
2013 Scribner
Finished on 4/24/13
Rating: 5/5 (Excellent!)
*
*
*An extraordinary and heart-rending boo...
Juan Martinez: A Prosecutor's Success
-
*by Women In Crime Ink*
As the jury determines in the next few days whether convicted killer Jodi
Arias should serve life in prison or get the death p...
As I Lay Dying
-
A number of characters die in my new novel, Angel Baby. Ooops! Was that a
spoiler? Well, it’ll be the last one, I promise. Anyway, from the beginning
I kne...
Big Library Read is Here!
-
Yesterday was the rollout of the Big Library Read pilot. This pilot program
allows millions of patrons from more than 7,500 participating libraries to
si...
Hot Guys Reading Books is Coming Back... Sort Of!
-
It’s going to be different, but you’re going to like it.
Any day now, the site will be “down” (I’m just going to make it private)
for a few days, then re...
Selling ads by time, not space
-
I just saw some mind-bending work Chartbeat is about to release about
measuring the time users spend exposed to an ad online. As background, to
quote Chart...
Going North. Way, way North!
-
I get excited about all my travels, but this one looks to be something
really special.
I've teamed up with my good friend and outstanding writer Barbara Fr...
Canterbury Cathedral in Danger of Closing
-
According to this article from BBC News, Canterbury Cathedral, the sight of Crispin's adventure in TROUBLED BONES, is in desperate need of funds to refurbish...
[TSS] The Week That Got Away From Me
-
It’s been one of those weeks – you know the kind, where at first glance it
doesn’t look like you have too much scheduled, and then you find out first
glanc...
Malice Domestic - Great Success
-
We're got back late Monday from the Malice Domestic Conference in Bethesda,
Maryland after a great weekend. It was great catching up with old friends
and m...
Shine and Soar with Bethany Aleshire
-
*Here in the frozen tundra of Minnesota (yes, it's still snowing in May),
most teenagers hunker down and play video games. Not Bethany Aleshire. This
si...
May 2013 African American Book Releases
-
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie A House Divided by Kimberla Lawson
Roby Good Man Friday by Barbara Hambly Little Green by Walter Mosley Love
is P...
Made It Moment: Suzanne Adair
-
One of the questions I get as people are writing their Moments is, “Can it
be an Almost Made It Moment?” I had the pleasure of meeting author Suzanne
Adair...
The Festival of Books is almost here!!!
-
It’s almost here! A week from today, Vroman’s and Book Soup will be headed
to set up booths for the Los Angeles Times Festival Books on the always
lovely ...
Forever Young: Blessing or Curse Promo Tale
-
Since my thriller, Forever Young: Blessing or Curse, had participated in
quite a few KDP Select freebie events before this past weekend, I wondered
if the...
Notice a pattern?
-
I still struggle with this blog's identity. When I started writing about
four years ago, I categorized myself as a book blogger. I absolutely loved
to re...
Mailbox Monday
-
Pirate Mailbox (image source) So sorry for the delay in posting - the
morning got away from me! Today's mailbox is related to nothing I'm
reading, but se...
Murder Uncorked
-
I am pretty sure I have read another mystery by Michelle Scott, and possibly even reviewed it here, but I am too lazy to try to figure that out. I came acros...
Top 10 Thriller Links
-
The current Top 10 links at The Thrill of it All:
01 Thriller News: James Bond, Psych, Sherlock Holmes (Feb 20)
02 Complete PETER DECKER and RINA LAZARUS by...
"Must Love Sandwiches" Free March 15-19
-
*Emma has worked hard to establish herself as an artist. The artists'
colony where she lives is heaven compared to the rundown trailer parks she
grew up ...
The Tucson Festival of Books
-
Hello All!
I'm so excited to be participating as a panel moderator at the Tucson
Festival of Books again this year. The Festival is being held the second
...
Coming Soon
-
...A new anthology. ...A website redesign. Finally. No, really. This time I mean it. ...Another, standalone website. Time to change things up around here. Ag...
An Open Letter to Barnes and Noble (redux)
-
With all the buzz about B&N's plight these days, I decided to resurrect an open letter that four of us wrote to Microsoft last May after they announced they ...
Remembering Audrey 20 Years Later
-
I have dedicated my book blog site to, “Audrey Hepburn” on the newsstands
there is a copy of a magazine dedicated to her life and the legacy that she
left...
50 States Challenge 2013
-
I came across a book challenge, the 50 States Challenge 2013, on Book
Obsessed which sounded like a lot of fun to me.
The goal: To read a book set in every...
Gigi's Book News
-
It's been a while since the Pens have posted on a daily basis, but we still
keep the site up for the archives as well as to post news of interest about
wha...
film!
-
Sunny, cold - frost warning - temps 5
Wow - how the season's change. Autumn is here - and the leaves are
falling...snow in high elevations.
And the film ...
Eulogy for Julie Cannon by Karin Gillespie
-
*“I **think the key to making a story come alive is being willing to rip a
page from your own life, to draw upon your deepest pain without
flinching~Julie ...
On hiatus...permanently
-
I'm on hiatus for a while - a few weeks - a few months - 'til whenever.
Life is busy and sometimes it is just the right thing to step away for a
time. No...
Getting In: Researching in Hard to Reach Places
-
I had always wanted to write a series of crime novels – not simply a single
thriller, but the books in which readers become attached to the characters
and ...
Making Time
-
One of the problems of owning a bookstore is being surrounded by books but
never having time to read. I am very adamant with the people in my life
that the...
Comic Con Recap
-
Comic Con was a blast this year and as always there were several panels
dedicated to the ways digital comics are changing the industry for
creators, publis...
5 Hand Mode of Blackjack
-
There are two types of online casino: web-based and download-based online
casinos. The first type of online casino can be played in websites that
offer on...
Review: Listen to My Trumpet!
-
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best
friend...
Blogging about Crime Fiction flourishes
-
The sole purpose of this blog page is to point to an enormous range of
crime fiction blogs that you might follow.
They generally provide reviews of books ...
Friday Five: Recommendation Edition
-
revkjarla at RevGalBlogPals posts:
"So, it's the time of year I get inundated with requests for
recommendations for students that are looking to be camp cou...
A Fond Farewell
-
Thanks for all the years of reading, discussing, laughing. We'll all miss the community we created together. Until we meet again, here's where you can find T...
Moving day at Read Street
-
The Baltimore Sun is shifting the platform for its blogs, so Read Street is moving to a new address: http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/books/read-street. ...
What you need to include in your email signature
-
As a book publicist, I often correspond with journalists and bloggers, via
email as likely as not, these days. If I’m reaching out to someone with an
unsol...
Tammy Kaehler-- October 30h at 2pm
-
Signs Dead Man's Switch (Poisoned Pen $25; trade paper $14.95), a First
Mystery Club Pick set in the competitive world of racing with a sleuth who
could st...
MIA.
-
Hi All! We've been MIA for a little while now, but don't worry we'll be
back in top form soon. We've been working to consolidate all of our
internet presen...
MIA.
-
Hi All! We've been MIA for a little while now, but don't worry we'll be
back in top form soon. We've been working to consolidate all of our
internet presen...
SKINNY by Diana Spechler (A TLC Tour)
-
With summer/swimsuit season around the corner (though that corner is
looking farrrrrrrrrrr away on this dismal day!) and more and more health
issues stemmi...
Santa Fe Favorites and Tips cont.
-
Hey all. One bar I like a lot is at the Hotel St. Francis. The head
mixologist really enjoys making old-time drinks — the stuff of Hollywood in
the 20s — a...
We've moved! Please update your RSS
-
If you read OOM through an RSS, take note: we've moved platforms, which
means you'll need to update your RSS feeds.
Simply go to oomscholastic.com where y...
Sleeping... But Not Gone
-
Seems I was having this same debate about a year ago. Then, as it is now,
it was over Blogger's less than feature-rich commenting system -- plus it
seemed...
MYSTIFY, Book Two of the Mystyx Series
-
MYSTIFY: A Mystyx Novel
By Artist Arthur
Kimani Tru | January 2011 | ISBN: 978-0373534319
US $9.99/$11.99 Canada | 256 pages | Paperback
Artist Arthur on Tw...
I Guess I Was Ready
-
Remember* this entire recitative about the Gift of Magic cover I could
never find, no matter how often I scoured used book tables on Sixth Avenue,
so much ...
We’ve Moved!
-
Our new website is up and running. Check us out at
http://awfullibrarybooks.net Don’t worry all of the old posts and comments
moved with us!
Dis-order in the Court!
-
"Right Ginger Tail, just pass me my funny wig and help me into my nice red
robes." I said.
“Yes my lord, they make you look like Santa Claus" replied Ginger...
So Long! (Switch your RSS and bookmarks!)
-
*Book Love Affair* is relocating/renaming to *Dreams and Speculation*.
Please update all your RSS feeds, book marks, and email subscriptions to
the new web...
Ghost Stories by Joyce Lavene
-
Do you believe in ghosts? Asking this question will make most people relate
a ghost story, sometimes from their childhood. They immediately say they
DON'...
The End.
-
Without getting sappy or maudlin about this (okay - we actually are gonna be sappy and maudlin), we've decided that FO has run it's course and we've decided ...
Pun Facts About Hockey
-
By Jo Ella Straley Here is a great example of an unexpected
factoid--something you would normally not even think to wonder
about--making a cool news item, ...
Michael Connelly stars, writes scene for Castle
-
Michael Connelly will tackle the role of a lifetime – playing himself on the season debut of ABC’s Castle, beginning at 10 p.m. eastern standard time on Mond...
Librarian Secret #7
-
Do you need a copy of a birth certificate, death certificate, marriage license, or certificate of divorce and you don't know how to find it or who to contact...
My Oct. 19, 2009 blog provides full disclosure that I only receive review copies of books, with no other compensation. All review copies are marked as such. If there any any questions, please feel free to contact me.
5 comments:
My favorite cuddle spot to read is actually on the couch in our living room, with two cats on my stomach, and the sun coming in the window.
Mine is curled up in my bed with a big pile of blankets/quilts on me and a ton of pillows behind my head (in the winter that is!)
Wendy (ARM Mommy)
Mine's on my bed or on the subway-helps me block out everyone-the picture is so cute!
-Jen
Ah! This is so adorable! Maggie
I have an overstuffed green chair in my living room that is perfect for curling up in. There is a lamp behind it, and my favorite throws are nearby in case I need to warm up.
Love the picture; it makes me wish I had a giant bear to cuddle!
Post a Comment