First, let me say all you people out there who rave about your book clubs and how great they are and how ya’ll just love each other- I kind of dislike you. No, actually, I’m envious. Pea green with envy. Because the book club I belong to, well… it does not inspire me to write a love poem about how great it is. It’s not terrible. But it could be a TON better. Hence, my book club blues. Continue reading
Margo is back to talk about #literaryconfessions, #literarycrushes and much more! Plus synopsis of her 2 books (WAKING UP DEAD and FAIRY, TEXAS). So, let’s get this party started! Continue reading
Photo Credit: Harlequin
Thanks to Harlequin Books, Traveling With T has another giveaway for you readers! This giveaway is for CLOSE PURSUIT by Cindy Dees and it’s for US/Canada only (sorry!) Scroll to the bottom of the page for the Rafflecopter link (but first check that synopsis out!) Continue reading
Today, I have Margo Bond Collins stopping by the blog to talk about WAKING UP DEAD! She’s also going to give a little teaser about her newly released book FAIRY,TEXAS. And be sure and check back on Thursday- we’ll be finding out about those #literaryconfessions that are so popular to talk about at Traveling With T! Continue reading
Photo Credit: Random House
Today, today, today- you readers of Traveling With T are super-lucky! Thanks to Random House, Traveling With T is one of the blogs selected in the spotlight and giveaway as part of the promotion of THE CHASE by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg! THE CHASE is the second book in the Fox and O’Hare series, where FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is working with FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List Nick Fox to help bring down other bad guys. Kate finds it hard to work with Nick because she wants to put him back in jail (even though she finds herself attracted to Nick!) If you are looking for a fun new series, filled with witty banter and good plot, give this series a try! Continue reading
Photo Credit: Henery Press
This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for an honest review.
Pirate Vishnu
Jaya Jones, treasure hunter, is back! A normal day at the office leads to an exciting treasure hunt. When Steven Healy comes by to Jaya Jones office asking for help about a map and her relation to Anand Paravar- Jaya is intrigued- especially when Steven accuses Jaya’s great uncle Anand of stealing a treasure. All Jaya’s life, she’s heard about this great uncle, her namesake, and all the good he did. But, now… could it all be false?
Jaya agrees to help Steven find some letters, letters that she denied knowledge of knowing their location. Later that night, when Jaya finds out that Steven Healy is dead. Murdered. Who killed him? And does it have anything to do with the treasure map he left behind with Jaya?
As Jaya begins to hunt for clues, she finds out that someone wants this map- wants it desperately enough to mug her. With Sanjay, Jaya’s best friend’s help, she realizes that the map doesn’t just reflect San Francisco- it also references India. A plane ride to India later, Jaya finds that trouble has followed her.
While in India, Jaya discovers she has allies and enemies- it’s just knowing who is who that is the problem. A special tip leads her back to San Francisco- and Jaya is *thisclose* to solving the mystery. Will Jaya find out that a close friend betrayed her? And will Jaya find out that her great uncle is the good guy or the bad guy?
Traveling With T’s Thoughts
This is my first Gigi Pandian book and I have to say that I really enjoyed Jaya Jones. She’s bright, inquisitive, and interesting. Jaya is a breath of fresh air in the mystery world.
Told in current time and flashbacks to Anand’s time- PIRATE VISHNU is a tale that will appeal to many. Armchair travelers will enjoy getting to learn about life in San Francisco and India, treasure hunters will get a thrill putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and fans of mystery will be pleased to see a new voice, a different voice that is strong and independent in the world.
Enjoyable. Put Gigi Pandian on your author to watch list!
*This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair and honest review. All above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
Today, on Traveling With T, I had the pleasure of an interview with Samara O’Shea. Samara is an author and her recent book is LOVES ME…NOT: How to Survive (and Thrive!) in the Face of Unrequited Love . Samara also is a contributor to Huffington Post– most notably for these 2 articles: Interview With An Adulterer and How Many Marriages End in Happily Ever After? Continue reading
It’s Friday. There is sunshine. I’m happy.
1. Deep South Magazine and their #literaryfriday: Literary Holidays, Wiley Cash book signing, and TurnRow Books tweeted Deep South some good news! Like King Cake? Deep South Mag is featuring where the best is and a King Cake drink recipe (yum!)
2. Traveling With T reviewed 2 books this week: BLACKBERRY PIE MURDER by Joanne Fluke and THE WIFE, THE MAID, and THE MISTRESS by Ariel Lawhon. Blackberry is not Joanne’s strongest- there is really no movement in the series. WMM is Ariel’s debut and it’s fantastic- 1930’s setting, Prohibition, and a missing judge!
3. Are you Google+? Have you heard about this new feature Google+ Ripples? Here is the info on it!
4. Ariel Lawhon, THE WIFE, THE MAID and THE MISTRESS was featured this week on Traveling With T. Here is the Author Spotlight on Ariel.
5. What are your #fridayreads? I just finished PIRATE VISHNU by Gigi Pandian, working through FOUR FRIENDS by Robyn Carr and trying to decide what to read next- suggestions?
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
Today, Ariel is back- revealing her #literarycrush and the character she would most like to be. Plus tons of other things 🙂 Continue reading
Photo Credit: Goodreads
Traveling With T requested this book through Netgalley.
Blackberry Pie Murder
Hannah’s mother, Delores, is outraged. The Swensen women are the butt of a joke by a news reporter about how long it has been since one of the Swensen ladies have found a body. While the daughters are taking the joke in stride, Delores is not. Hannah is not worried- it feels like ages since she found her last body- and with all the things going on (planning Delores’s wedding to Doc, running The Cookie Jar, cuddling up with Moishe and trying to decide between Mike and Norman), Hannah is ok with not finding any bodies.
One day, a dark and stormy day, Lisa, Hannah’s partner at The Cookie Jar, needs to be picked up from the car repair shop. Hannah goes and gets Lisa- worrying about the weather and decides to take the back roads back to town. The weather is terrible and Hannah is worried that if she pulls over, no one would see her and hit her. When Hannah swerves to avoid a large limb, she doesn’t see the man near the side of the road. Overcome with guilt (Hannah’s used to finding dead bodies, not causing them), but knowing that it was an accident- Hannah does not know what will happen next. Will she be arrested?
After some time, Hannah knows that she must know who this man is- why was he on the side of the road? When the Swensen women start to look into this mystery, they find out some surprising information about the victim.
With a main mystery and a smaller mystery that is related to the larger mystery, Delores and Doc’s wedding planning, and typical Moishe hijinks- Blackberry Pie Murder has something for cozy fans.
Traveling With T’s Thoughts
It’s time for tough love, Joanne Fluke. This is the 17th book in the series and the love triangle (if you can even call it that) is still going on. Let Hannah pick Norman- and let Moishe, Cuddles, Norman and Hannah live somewhat happily ever after. Why do I say “if you can even call it a love triangle”- well, at one point, both Norman and Mike seemed to really be interested in Hannah. Although, the last couple of books- Mike has been less interested in Hannah as a woman- and more for her cookies and other food.
But, to the book- Blackberry Pie Murder is not bad. It’s really not. It’s a bit predictable, though. My problem is: it’s just not going anywhere. Hannah does the same thing basically every book and while it was cute for awhile- it’s growing old.
Joanne Fluke has always been hesitant about s-e-x in this series. And while in the earlier books, it was understandable (Hannah had her heart broken by a TA at her college), it’s time for a bit more romance for Hannah (note: ROMANCE, not 50 Shades of Grey territory).
Why do I keep reading this series? Because, for the most part, it’s like a comfy old sweatshirt. Sure, it’s not pretty anymore and you don’t wear it in public- but it makes you feel cozy and warm. I do think, though, that my patience is running thin- I don’t want to quit this series, I want to know my time invested with Hannah has been well-spent. But I’m preparing myself to walk.
Do I recommend this book? Yes- but to a very select group of people- the die hard Joanne Fluke fans. If you enjoy all the previous books, are not growing weary of the triangle, and the recipes make you happy- then this book is perfect for you. If you are like me and really enjoyed earlier Joanne books, but the later ones are not as good to you, then I suggest you pass. If you are a cozy mystery lover, I strongly, strongly, STRONGLY suggest that you begin with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder- when you get to Cream Puff Murder- take a break.
* I requested this book through Netgalley. The above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Traveling With T 