Upcoming Bookeemonster books

December seems to be a quiet month for me. I've got a hold on Jan Burke's new stand alone, THE MESSENGER. Here's a blurb from Amazon:

Tyler Hawthorne, a British officer wounded at Waterloo, receives a memento mori ring on the battlefield from Messenger Lucien Adrian deVille, Lord Varre. The ring grants the wearer immortality, but in exchange Tyler must forever comfort the dying. Tyler also gets Shade, a black cemetery dog, for protection. In the present, a salvage diver uncovers Adrian's remains in a ship sunk in the Caribbean in 1815. A resurrected Adrian uses the diver to help locate Tyler in Los Angeles, where Tyler is attending to a leukemia patient. Tyler, an ageless 24, has also fallen for wealthy Amanda Clarke, who's haunted by family members killed in an accident that she survived. Mutual attraction and a dedication to do good unite the pair against the evil Adrian.

From the UK, I've got THE WESTMINSTER POISONER by Susanna Gregory coming. It will be released in the US in February and I can't wait that long. It would be the same with a CJ Sansom or Susan Hill book; can't wait. This is the 4th in her Thomas Chaloner, a spy in Restoration England series. Here's the book description from Amazon:

After the Puritan ban on Christmas festivities, Restoration London is awash with excess between Christmas Eve and Twelfth Night, but the two men found in Westminster Hall had not died from a surfeit of gluttony, but from poison. The Lord Chancellor appoints Chaloner as his investigator into the killings, believing them to be of scant importance to the affairs of state he deals with. But Chaloner reveals a stinking seam of corruption in the Palace of White Hall, where even the Queen is a victim to the greed of courtiers and functionaries. And the pickings are so rich that men are prepared to go to any lengths to save their own skins and their stolen fortunes.

THAI DIE by Monica Ferris was released in late November but looks like I'll be getting from the library in December. This is a cosy but I read this series for some reason. It is 12th in the series featuring Betsy Devonshire, a needlework shop owner in Excelsior, Minnesota. And that's it for December as far as I can tell. I'll have to work on my regular series reads otherwise.

Things pick up in January. The one I'm most interested in is the latest in the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig, THE TEMPTATION OF THE NIGHT JASMINE. This is the fifth, I believe, and the concept is taken from, of course, the Scarlet Pimpernel. This description comes from Amazon:

Willig introduces to her series the most elusive spy of all time, whose calling card is the faint whiff of jasmine in the cold night air.After twelve years in India, Robert, duke of Dovedale, returns to his estate in England to avenge the murder of his mentor during the 1803 Battle of Assaye. Robert plans to infiltrate the infamous, secretive Hellfire Club to uncover the murderer’s identity— but he has no idea that an even more difficult challenge awaits him—one Lady Charlotte Lansdowne.Having cherished a romanticized view of Robert since childhood, Charlotte is thrilled by his return. To Charlotte, Robert is all the knights of the Round Table rolled into one. That’s not exactly the case, but she can’t help but search for the man she loves inside this less-than-pristine package. And while Robert works to dissuade Charlotte from her delusions, he can’t help but be drawn to her innocence and inner beauty. When Charlotte is approached by Lady Henrietta Selwick to join her in a bit of espionage—investigating a plot to kidnap the king—Robert soon realizes that Charlotte is not only the perfect partner in crime; she’s the perfect partner, period. Caught in a dangerous game with deadly flower-named spies and secret members of the Hellfire Club, Robert and Charlotte must work together to reveal the villain…and confront their true passion for each other.

This series has different featured characters in each book though they are intertwined but the series as a whole should be read in order. It starts with THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION. Fluffy but fun reads.

Other books in January I'm interested in are BLEEDING HEART SQUARE by Andrew Taylor, CAMBRIDGE BLUE by Alison Bruce and OF MERCHANTS AND HEROES by Paul Waters. Here's a blurb from Amazon about that last one:

The story of a young man's pursuit of his father's murderer and of the values and qualities he develops that will make him a man-a man capable of a deep, noble, and enduring love. At the end of the third century B.C., as Republican Rome's long war with Carthage was at last drawing to a close, it was already threatened by a new enemy, Philip, the tyrant king of Macedon in the east. Into this turbulent world emerges our Roman hero, Marcus, whose father is brutally murdered by pirates on a journey from Italy to Corfu on a visit to his uncle. Fate takes him to some of the great cities of the Greco-Roman world at a time of major turbulence, where he learns much and finds love unexpectedly.This debut novel explores political and philosophical questions that are as timeless as democracy and tyranny, war and self-defense, right and duty, as well as questions of love, loyalty, and betrayal.

Interesting, no?

In February, I've noted the latest Peter Robinson is released in the US, ALL THE COLORS OF DARKNESS. And SJ Rozan is finally doing another Bill and Lydia book, released in this month called THE SHANGHAI MOON. It's been a while for her on this series while she's been doing stand alones -- that I haven't liked.

March 2009 is a doozy. I'll just have to list them for now:

• GRAVE GOODS by Ariana Franklin (3rd in her Mistress of the Art of Death series)
• SILENT ON THE MOOR by Deanna Raybourn (3rd of her Lady Julia Grey, recently widowed, in 1880s London, England series)
• EXECUTION DOCK by Anne Perry (finally a new Monk!)
• PROMISES IN DEATH by JD Robb (yay!)
• FAULT LINE by Barry Eisler (stand alone)
• PLAGUE OF POISON by Maureen Ash (3rd in histmyst series)

March is very very good indeed. And there may be some that I've missed so I'll update is things occur. But I have to say that the next four months look great.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Last minute details

Doh! I nearly forgot to post today.

I finished TRIBUTE by Nora Roberts. She always picks characters who have interesting jobs. In this case it was a former child star who is now a house rehabber/flipper and the guy is a well-known graphic novelist. Her grandmother was famous movie star who died mysteriously; the house she is now moving into and rehabbing used to belong to her. She is being harrassed by someone who hates her. He lives across the road. Love ensues of course and the mystery is solved although in this case it didn't really give enough of the story after the resolution in my opinion. A fluffy read but suited at the time.

I did spend a couple of very nice hours today looking over the books to be released in the next four months and I'm very very pleased that some of my favorite authors are going to be available then. I'll list them tomorrow since I'm at the wrong work station where I have things written down.

I turned in a paper today that I didn't really put much heart into so I hope it will pass muster. Steve and I went to get some groceries and then stopped by the gun show. I walked Tug afterward. We had taco salad for dinner and watched Cops. Just a nice solid day.

Last night was a wasted evening. Instead of reading or even watching something enjoyable I found myself stuck on the Hallmark channel watching two silly Christmas movies. Ugh. But I kept doing it. I was flipping channels between that and the Christmas parade but I couldn't watch the parade exclusively because one of the "commentators" was Corby Skinner who I can't stand. So I didn't Steve and his Dad on tv; I don't even know if they were really shown this year. I don't think they were. I did see the people behind them. Ah well. I'm only sorta glad I wasn't there; Dave was supposed to help but surprise surprise he didn't which is a replay of the Inauguration parade. I shouldn't trust him. So next year I have to be sure to be there -- I hope the weather isn't bad. :)

Now I think I'll watch an MI-5 episode before heading to bed. Life is hard ... not.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

The Day After

The day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday. I am soooo glad I'm not working retail anymore. And I think it is wrong in so many ways that some stores open at 4 am. And I don't have words to say the opinion I have about the worker at Walmart back east who got trampled to death. Despicable; the worst sign of greed and lack of human-ness I've ever heard of.

The other nice thing is that I don't have to help with the Christmas parade tonight. Every year Steve's dad pulls a team of horses and a wagon for First Interstate Bank and Steve of course has to help and I of course have to help Steve. Last year I was sick so I didn't go. This year, Steve's brother is in town with his family and he has (snigger) VOLUNTEERED to help. This year there isn't snow but it will be in the 30s with nasty nasty wind. There is a possibility of snow/ice but I think that is expected over night after the parade. I could go anyway just for points sake but those points won't be big enough in Steve's world so why bother? I'll stay home and read and maybe watch the parade on tv while drinking a glass of wine. Lovely.

Otherwise, not much done today. I've done bedding laundry. I've walked Tug -- in that nasty wind. I dropped off thermals for Steve to wear tonight because he forgot them this morning. I had a lovely couple hours at M&D's and had a turkey on a bun with their nummy stuffing for lunch. I've been loved/mauled by a lab puppy. What more can you ask for?

I think I'm going to pick up some chili from Wendy's and Tug will be glad to have a ride. I can't think of anything else for dinner (I'll be eating alone because Steve will be gone for the parade from 4 until who knows?) and the only other thing I would have here is soup or caving in on some pizza which I shouldn't do. So chili it is and my puppy gets to tour the neighborhood.

Dinner yesterday at the Madsens was fine. We got there at about 3 and got home a little after 8. Same old stuff. :) And the Cowboys won! Good day all around.

I don't know what Steve has planned for tomorrow. His brother and family head back to Denver tomorrow so no plans there. It would be nice if he could just relax at home. He did head in early this morning and stopped by Sears for their Black Friday Doorbusters and got some stuff for the shop. He stopped by the gun show this afternoon and may go again tomorrow. That's what he'll do.

Currently reading TRIBUTE by Nora Roberts. A little cheesy for her but fluffy and I'm in the mood for fluffy. I have a paper due tomorrow so I'm plugging away on that as well.

Gotta change the laundry loads. Happy Thanksgiving a day later everyone.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Count down to T-Day

For not really having to do anything, the days go by very quickly for me and I find I don't get things done that I wanted. It's a strange phenomena.

I went to Walmart to pick up some things; some items for us and a couple things to bring to dinner tomorrow. I stopped by Albertsons for some wine that I may also bring tomorrow. It is Sutter Home White Merlot that my BIL Scott had introduced when they were up in October. Good stuff for wine. Then I went to the library ... more on that in a minute. Next, Steve and I had lunch at Pug Mahons with Dave, Carey, and Lauren. Lauren is 10 months now and good baby size. She's got very large blue eyes and very alert. I had the reuben, of course. I got home and at long last my unemployment check was in the mail so Tug and I went to the Credit Union to deposit it and get a cookie (for Tug). Then we walked. It had warmed up by the afternoon but now the sun is setting and the wind looks like it is picking up.

Steve is going shooting tonight and if things go well then Dave will meet him there. I think Dave is trying to avoid his sister, unfortunately Carey couldn't use the same excuse. Jackie and kids were supposed to arrive at 11:30-ish since they drove halfway last night. Tomorrow will be fun but also a trial so I'm hoping we'll be able to have the wine -- only Dave and Carey and maybe Jackie and I would be drinking it. It would take the edge off, eh?

I'll be watching Stylista and maybe House Hunters tonight. I sent back the Netflix movie today and probably the soonest I could get the next would be Friday, I'm thinking. The good news is that I received today the MI-5 Season One DVD (happy happy) that I got super cheap on eBay so I can watch the first two discs' director's comments while the next one gets to me. I gotta get my MI-5 fix. :)

So, I went to the library as I mentioned previously. I've started reading the next in series for me of the Susanna Gregory series and it has perhaps shifted away my reading slump. I did pick up some books and DVDs while at the library:

• TRIBUTE by Nora Roberts (I don't read much romance but she's very good)
• A BITTER CHILL by Jane Finnis (2nd in roman histmyst series)
• BROTHER CADFAEL'S PENANCE by Ellis Peters (the last in the series and I believe the last that I still need to read in this series -- how sad, good series)
• DEATH AND THE CHAPMAN by Kate Sedley (1st in medieval series I've been meaning to get to)
• PRIVATE WARS by Greg Rucka (2nd of 2 in Queen and Country series - spies)
• SECRET ASSET by Stella Rimington (2nd of 3 in series of MI-5 spies -- can you tell I'm in the mood for spies?)

DVDs:

• PRIME SUSPECT 3
• PRIME SUSPECT 4 (I haven't seen 2 yet but this is a good Brit crime series featuring Helen Mirren and they were on the shelf. I thought they'd get me through while waiting for the next MI-5 DVD from Netflix)
• WIFES AND DAUGHTERS - another Brit Period Drama (BPD)

So maybe I'll get back to reading. Wouldn't that be nice? I think maybe I'll start with the Nora Roberts as that's a 14-day book.

So tomorrow we're expected no later than 3:30 at the Madsens. I expect Steve will sleep in quite a while. I'll walk Tug. I don't know exactly when we'll get there but it would be better to be earlier than that although I know we'll be there into the evening. And I'll have to do the dishes with the help of some of the others -- Alice will be banished except to direct where dishes are to be put away.

I'm very glad we're not having dinner here. I would not be able to afford it; I would be a wreck with trying to clean everywhere with very little help; you can't control when people come and when they finally leave. No thank you. But we do have the better tv system for watching football so that will be a negative. But this year there will be a baby to oggle over so that will take some pressure off. :)

I don't know yet what I'll make for myself for dinner since it's just me. I toyed with the idea of getting something while I was grocery shopping but I talked myself out of it. I may have spaghetti with olive oil. I'm getting kinda tired of my daily soup. If I were really bad I'd splurge and either order a pizza (!) or get something from Mustard Seed. I don't think I should be that bad. I did have a big lunch. Think think think...

I got Tug a knuckle bone to chew on tonight after Steve leaves. Maybe that will keep him occupied for oh, 15 minutes. :)

So I guess not a bad day altogether. It has gone by fast.

Update

I was thinking why I haven't really been making much progress in some of the other projects I could be working on -- the workbook, the class I'll be teaching next summer, etc. I just can't really concentrate on much heavy duty stuff right now. I can't even really read the newspaper either. I'm getting through on MI-5 episodes and British period dramas. I haven't even been able to commit to a book to read.

Although I did read one in the past 24 hours. It was the autobiography of Lisa Williams who is a psychic from the UK. She had a show on Lifetime last year that even Steve would watch with me. She's a very personable ... person. So this book was a breezy quick respite from the book drought.

I'm working on the "L's" on the organizing my books Project and in the middle of bookcase number three which is downstairs in my office. This will be lovely when it's done but then I have to list all the books I'm getting rid of on bookswap.com or something similar. Some of the discards won't be leaving the house immediately unfortunately.

The holidays are beginning. Steve's brother and his family arrive this evening from Denver. I believe they'll be heading back Saturday. We got invited over for dinner (lasagna) at his parents' home but Steve says he's too tired tonight and I imagine Dave and Carey will also be pretty knocked out from being on the road all day and doing the trip with a baby for the first time. Tomorrow, Steve's sister and her family arrive but we won't be doing dinner with them tomorrow evening as well since Steve has shooting (he's in charge of set up and take down even if he didn't feel like shooting). Basically, it will be a Thursday/Friday thing for us (phew). Friday will be the Christmas parade.

I applied for a federal job today online; very very good salary. It's a long shot but you never know. My unemployment claim has now been approved (it only took a month) and I hope a check will show up tomorrow.

I got the first Netflix movie today. Until now I had been only ordering shows that I could watch immediately on my computer. This was the first disc of season two of MI-5, the two shows on it are ones I've already seen but I wanted to watch the additional features that are on the DVD and not available in the online version. I've only got the last episode of the season two to watch now and I don't want to view until I have the first of season three in my hands (not available online, darnit) because I know it ends in a cliffhanger and I don't want to be left hanging for very long. There are only three episodes left that include my favorite character which is very sad but I will probably continue with the series. The show itself I think went into seven years of episodes with a rather changing cast over that period of time.

What I DON'T want for Christmas

Borrowing from Paperback Writer....

What I don't want for Christmas:

1. Clothes. I hate the dread of things not fitting or not really being my taste. If you must, a gift card to CJ Banks would work. I don't do scarves. I don't do turtlenecks.
2. Knick Knacks. My MIL is the queen of this. I don't like 'em, I don't want 'em, they just need dusting and take up room. Uck. No. This includes windchimes, candles, teapots, etc.
3. Books. No really. I adore books but I usually have a list going of what I would like to purchase so again, a gift card would be much appreciated.
4. Kitchen stuff. I'm not that inventive when I cook, nor is Steve that inventive in eating. It just takes up counter space. New counters on the other hand.... :)
5. Food. We really don't need that in the house because we eat them, you know, the baked goods and candies and stuff at the holidays.
6. Jewelry. I wear the things I love. Adding more options just confuses things.

What would I like?

1. A job. Pays well (40k range will do), M-F, 8-5, preferably in the nonprofit field so I can use my degrees.
2. A vacuum that will last for decades. Mine isn't working anymore. Not romantic but needful.
3. Gift card to Amazon or Amazon.uk. Heaven.
4. DVDs. I can create a list, no problem.
5. Gift card to Walmart so I can buy groceries ... until that #$!@#$ unemployment check shows up it's getting a little tight. Oh and those utility bills.

Honestly, I have everything I need. A secure roof over my head, a car that works, entertainment like crazy at home... life is good and I don't need a damn thing ... except a new vacuum.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Monday update

The interview went well this morning I thought. I don't think I really fumbled any questions; the questions were all open ended. They don't really have a specific salary in mind; it will depend upon the candidate's experience. They'll be making a decision next week, they hope.

I filed for my bi-weekly claim today. Not that I've received anything yet on it. (sigh)

Talked to Jody last night. She sounds better in her sinus-ness of pneumonia but is still lacking energy completely. She wants to get back to work very soon and I told her not to push it or she'll relapse and the YAM doesn't want that and won't do anyone any good.

My tire went flat again so I took it to the door shop after the interview. Steve changed the tire so the old one could get fixed or replaced -- there was a nail in very quite evidently. It took two weeks to go down again.

My ear is still bothering me. I think this is a precursor of getting sick or at least the first sign that something is trying to get into sick mode and hopefully it will go away soon. Not pain, just an ache along the ear canal.

We've got Chuck to watch tonight on tv. I'm up to the "G's" on my Project.

This Friday is the Christmas parade in which the Madsens always drive the horses and surrey. Dave wants to help this year so maybe I'm off the hook -- yay! Last year I couldn't because I was sick and had to watch on the tv at home. No such luck this year.

Okay, I'm done. On to the next blog which will be funner, I promise.

PK the Bookeemonster