Well, San Diego is as beautiful as I remember it being. Today is spa day to me. Hair, manicure, pedicure and maybe a truly lovely massage. (I can dream can’t I?) Anyway, I’m off, so here’s the WW Ladies working hard.
Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers
Read by Heidi Jo Harper has been sent back to her hometown after an embarrassing incident with the Secret Service. Waiting for the smoke to clear, a stepdaughter of an ambassador has gone missing. While searching for clues and battling the bad weather, her biggest challenge becomes her heart, thanks to Elijah Cameron: military man and her first love. This cat and mouse game is wonderful for all thriller readers. The twists and turns keep you guessing, but Carla leaves you wanting more. I felt like the theme to Jaws was playing in the background of my mind while waiting for the cat to strike the mouse. Dah-dum, Dah-dum…. ooh! The bad guys are coming!!
Darkness Calls by Marjorie Liu
Read by Kate
Maxine Kiss is a hunter of zombies, demons and truly evil beings. Her body is a wonderland of tattoos that come to life after dark. Maxine has finally found true love with Grant Cooperon, former priest and in charge of the Coop, the local homeless shelter. Grant is called on his own mission to China and save a friend while Maxine must fight for her life against an evil being bent on destroying her.
Darkness Calls is one riveting book and Marjorie Liu is an incredible, great writer. The action is very intense and there are many scenes that deal with the psychological horrors that reside in all of us. The desperation Maxine feels as she deals with her past and unknown future is one that kept me reading and anxious for the next terror Maxine will have to endure.
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Listened to by joysann
Expatriate American journalist Julia Jarmond is assigned to write an article on the 60th anniversary of what is called "the roundup", the days when French police began to arrest thousands of Jewish families from their homes and ship them to the death camps in Poland. As she researches the history of those atrocities, she gets particularly captivated by the story of one little girl, whose life somehow touches her own. But though she is distracted by the emotional impact of the story she’s writing, she has her own life to live and hard choices to make.
This story was not the usual kind of story for me, but I’m very glad I found it. It is moving, heart-wrenching, horrifying, touching; I will remember it for a long time. I’m also glad I listened to it; the reader Polly Stone did an excellent job, giving the story a richer quality that I might not have found reading it on my own, making it more bearable and more rewarding.
Secret Desires of a Gentleman by Laura Lee Guhrke
Read by Emily
Phillip Hawthorne thought he’d never see Maria Martingale ever again. Two years ago she would have married his brother if he hadn’t paid her off. So what is she doing in the building right next door? Maria, daughter of the Hawthorne family chef, had decided to open her own bakery. If only she knew that Phillip lived right next door. Even though Phillip treats her abominably, you can tell there is an underlying affection that he feels for her. But will he get up the nerve to tell her how he really feels, or will her push her away with his arrogance?
I love the idea of a self made woman, seeing as how women in this time period are so reserved and refined. Maria is definitely a character that you can relate to, and is one that pulls at your heartstrings. You feel so bad for her, trying to tell Phillip how she feels, when all he can show her is haughtiness. This is the third book in the Girl Bachelor series, and for me it is definitely the most enjoyable.
Thriller 2 Written by 23 Thriller Writers
Edited by Clive Cussler
Read by Loretta
This book is advertised : Stories You Just Can’t Put Down - and it’s true. Each chapter is a new thriller making you try the next story and the next. For summer reading, it is a perfect choice, since you are never really in the middle of a big book - but always beginning the next exciting and totally different set of thrills. A wonderful collection showing off the abilities of the best 23 authors, who are tops in the suspense business.
The Dance by J. Goodman
Read by Michelle
Tom Wiley and Anna Perez are two homicide detectives hot on the trail of a psychotic serial killer. What they don’t know is his lover is a demon. Plunging into the world of the supernatural they uncover what truly motivates their killer.
The culmination of an overactive imagination, a sadistic serial killer and the demons that have stared in my nightmares, and you have The Dance. It’s a good read that kept me up a few nights.
Stakes & Stilettos by Michelle Rowen
Read by Christina
Thierry is Sarah’s ancient vampire lover. Sarah is head over heels for him despite his seeming coldness. She gets into her usual amount of trouble, getting staked, rescued by a mysterious masked man and cursed while at her high school reunion.
I loved this book! It was full of Michelle’s trademark snark, jam-packed with action and keeps you turning the pages right up to the cliffhanger end. But don’t despair the next book Tall, Dark, & Fangsome, is due out in September.
The King’s Daughter by Barbara Kyle
Read by Joan
A tale of intrigue, tragedy, and triumph set in 16th century England, during Queen Mary’s reign.
Ms. Kyle’s wonderful imagintion and solid research combines in a fascinating and riveting story. She easily satisfies all of us who love history, mystery and romance. I loved this book! Her writing is vividly descriptive – I felt the raw emotions, was able to picture with ease early London and environs and even imagine the smells! It was difficult to put down! More, please, Ms. Kyle.
Deadly Intent by Camy Tang
Read by Heidi
Naomi Grant has trouble surrounding her. Dr. Devon Knightley is also in hot water. Both are suspects in a murder at Naomi’s spa. They can either trust each other to find a killer, or they can both keep their secrets and end up dead. I adore Camy’s writing. And this book is a new style for her. I wasn’t disappointed. The twists and turns of the book were so juicy! I couldn’t read it fast enough, if that is even possible. Fantastic read for the summer!!
Bottom Line: Time to go and meet with Sven.
It’s not long before a lot of booths are offering up 1/2 price items and it’s so tempting to buy, buy, buy, but once you get home, what exactly do you do with the 2 foot sculpture of Wonder Woman? Even the stand up cut outs are up for sale, so War of Warcraft figures and Star Wars figures are flying out the door. Less to pack up and send home for the vendors.
The event was a fun, light-hearted good time where attendees could relax and enjoy a childhood hero. People were dressed as the turtles as part of the event and there was a short movie (a little over an hour). The movie was an adventure that combined the original cartoon incarnation as well as the most recent incarnation to team up against Shredder when he goes back to the turtle "prime" (the comics) in order to destroy all TMNT ever created (all the incarnations of the turtles over the years). The turtles are supposed to live in parallel alternate demensions. There was laughter and cheers with the interation of the characters. What made them funny was that each set of characters acted as they did in their variations. The comic book turtles even narrated their fight scenes… I’ll be happy to tell you more tomorrow. Hope this and the pictures help. I even included one of me next to the 1988 toy display (top row). I had some of those toys as a kid.
Once inside it was like fish swimming upstream and heaven help you if you tried going the other way. Not too many costumes yet, just convention goers trying to snatch up all the free stuff in sight. And there was plenty available. Comic books, novels, posters, pins, bags and food. Warner Bros. was again giving away the giant bags with Harry Potter on them, so anywhere you walked, you were banged on from all sides.
Meanwhile, here’s some giveaways that you should check out:
