Lake Charles, by Ed Lynskey

I was privileged to review Lake Charles in preparation for its upcoming release June 15.

With Lake Charles, Ed Lynskey spins a modern noir classic set in the backwoods of Tennessee.  When Brendan Fishback's sister disappears while on vacation, Brendan and his brother-in-law, Cobb, start to search for her.  Police fraud and corruption are just the start of their trouble - they have stumbled into a much bigger mystery . . .  Vivid characters, deft plot twists, and edge-of-your-seat terror mark Lake Charles as one of those rare novels that will be read for generations to come.

 Ed Lynskey's Lake Charles pulls you in and keeps you looking over your shoulder and around upcoming corners, so to speak, for the entire novel.  Set in the 1970's in the woods, it takes you back to that time and straight into trouble along with Brendan.  You won't be able to put it down 'til you know how it ends.

Pre-order it here.

March Reads

For  book group this month we read Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier.  Although I found the book difficult to put down, I did not particularly care for it.




Then I finished The Shack.  I pulled this one off the shelf at my parents' house over Christmas and kept it to finish it.  It is an interesting look at our relationships with God.

Next I read Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews.  This is a cozy mystery novel that was a quick read.  A fun and light mystery book.  I enjoyed it very much and would like to explore more of Ms. Andrews' books.



The next book I read was one I absolutely couldn't put down.  And I loved it.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  I loved it.  The story line is riveting and the subtext on government is also intriguing.  I can't wait to read Catching Fire.

Meet Shelf Reliance

I have been thinking for some time about various business opportunities or ways to employ my skills that would be both profitable and personally rewarding.  I discovered Shelf Reliance through my parents and have decided to join them in this business venture.  But it is so much more than that.  It is a chance for me to share something useful with the people in my life and others.

Let's talk about food storage.  It's been one of those things that I need to work on for awhile.  I know that it is important.  Especially in this economy, I need the security of knowing that I have enough food to feed my family past the end of the week.  I've gathered some food storage here and there - some wheat and some beans, but I had no idea how much I would need or what I would do with it when it became necessary to use it.

Enter Shelf Reliance.  Here is a company that has gone far beyond just making and selling food with a long shelf life.  First, they sell only the highest quality food.  Believe me, their food is delicious!  Second, they take the guess work out of figuring out what to store.  Using their THRIVE Planner you can create a custom food storage plan for your families specific needs.  Once you know what you need to store and you decide how much of your monthly grocery budget you would like to allocate, you set up a Q.  This is like the Netflix of THRIVE food.  You take the food you want to buy, put it in your Q, specify your budget, and each month, Shelf Reliance sends you a shipment of food.  It's that easy.

So now I've got my Q set up and I'm confident about my food storage.  I know that in 6 months, I will have 3 months worth of food for my family.  But even better than that, this food is delicious!  And there are so many great choices of fruits and vegetables, that I can incorporate them into my every day cooking.  That way, I can start to learn how to use my food storage.  In addition, I don't have vegetables going bad in my fridge, I have a can of vegetables in my cupboard that have all the nutrition and flavor of fresh vegetables.  Shelf Reliance also has a collection of recipes that can teach me how to use the food I have stored.

Now I have decided to really jump in and join the Shelf Reliance team as an independent consultant.  By doing so, I get to share this great product with everyone.  I also get the opportunity to earn additional income for my family.  They have an excellent compensation plan and I even make back a percentage of everything I buy.  So I figure, why not?

And now I ask you, why not?  I invite you to take a look around the Shelf Reliance website and decide if you would like to join me in this great opportunity.  If you'd like a chance to see and try the product, contact me about hosting a party.  At the party we will have samples for you and your guests to experience for yourselves and you will have the opportunity to earn free and discounted products.

I invite everyone to take a minute to check out the planner and see what you need to store for your family.  Go ahead and set up a Q and activate it when you are ready.  As an incentive, during the month of March I am giving anyone who signs up for a Q of $150 or more a free THRIVE cookbook.

So what are you waiting for.  At least check it out.  And feel free to contact me with any questions.  I'd love to help.  That is why I am doing this, after all.

Giveaways

Readaholic is hosting some giveaways.  Check them out:

• Midnights with the Mystic
• Healing the Highlander
• Rouge Oracle
• Etched in Bone
• How to Knit a Heart Back Home
• His Other Wife

Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

I am amazed by Alan Brady.  The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, his debut novel, was written when he was 70 years old.  Even more surprising is how well he tells the story through the eyes of a saucy little 11 year old girl.  Here is a review from Amazon.com:

It's the beginning of a lazy summer in 1950 at the sleepy English village of Bishop's Lacey. Up at the great house of Buckshaw, aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce passes the time tinkering in the laboratory she's inherited from her deceased mother and an eccentric great uncle. When Flavia discovers a murdered stranger in the cucumber patch outside her bedroom window early one morning, she decides to leave aside her flasks and Bunsen burners to solve the crime herself, much to the chagrin of the local authorities. But who can blame her? What else does an eleven-year-old science prodigy have to do when left to her own devices? With her widowed father and two older sisters far too preoccupied with their own pursuits and passions—stamp collecting, adventure novels, and boys respectively—Flavia takes off on her trusty bicycle Gladys to catch a murderer. In Alan Bradley's critically acclaimed debut mystery, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, adult readers will be totally charmed by this fearless, funny, and unflappable kid sleuth. But don't be fooled: this carefully plotted detective novel (the first in a new series) features plenty of unexpected twists and turns and loads of tasty period detail. As the pages fly by, you'll be rooting for this curious combination of Harriet the Spy and Sherlock Holmes. Go ahead, take a bite. --Lauren Nemroff

I loved this book.  I read a little slow for me compared to other mystery novels I have read, but I was very pleased with the characters and the plot.  I definitely recommend it!

This is book 2 of 12 for the Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie is a excellent read.  I loved reading this novel.  It kept  me wondering and guessing and analyzing all the way through.  I highly recommend it to everyone!

Check out this link for more info.

This book is 1 of 12 for my Mystery Reading Challenge.

Exit Music by Ian Rankin

This was the first book by Ian Rankin that I read.  I was very interested in checking out his books.  It turns out that I was not disappointed.  It was a good detective story.  I found it quite interested to read a novel that took place in Scotland.  It didn't draw me in quite as much as others I have read, but overall I liked it.

Click here to find out more about it.