Raylan Givens is one of my FAV TV anti-heroes. Elmore Leonard – the creator of Givens – is one of my FAV crime writers.

Now, the Killer Instincts Facebook contest pairs the two in a fantastic DVD and book giveaway.

Here is what you can win:

One grand-prize winner will receive:
Season 1 of Justified on DVD
Season 2 of Justified on DVD
1 copy of trade paperback of PRONTO
1 copy of trade paperback of RIDING THE RAP
1 copy of trade paperback of FIRE IN THE HOLE

Two additional winners will receive Season 1 of Justified on DVD

Click this link to enter to win Justified swag:

https://apps.odylfarm.com/killerinstincts/Giveaways/2620

Don’t forget: Raylan, the Crowders and new crooks are coming back to FX this Tuesday at 9 p.m. CST! Tune in to see what happens next, after the explosive end to Season 2!

This story is billed as a retelling of the legend of Tristan and Isolde, which I have always found fascinating.

However, I have yet to find a retelling that is truly satisfying.

A recent film version proved disappointing and boring, despite starring James Franco as Tristan. Still, I had high hopes for this book. A modern retelling of the legend that portrays the lead characters as high school students and is chock full of danger and magic? What’s not to love?

Unfortunately, there were a few things that dragged this story down, but not enough to prevent me from finishing it. Despite the flaws, I was still captivated by the idea of the story.

The thing that drew me out of the story more than once was the way it was written. I can forgive many things – like an unsympathetic character who’s too into her own looks to notice that her best friend has the hots for her boyfriend – but I can’t forgive writing that makes me too aware of the fact that I’m reading a book.

When I read, I like to get so totally lost in the story that I’m completely focused on the characters and the action and forget about the author and the fact that it’s a book and not a fantasy that I’m having. Unfortunately, I kept getting reminders of this throughout the story. Those only served to pull me out of it.

I know this is a young adult book and is aimed at a specific audience, but young adults are pretty sophisticated these days and might find that this is meant for someone younger. It comes off as somewhat juvenile and perhaps it’s due to the fact that it’s written in the first person. If so, then Izzie is more self-involved than I originally thought.

This wouldn’t be a problem if she learned from her mistakes and matured throughout the story, but she’s just as self-involved at the end as she was in the beginning. And Tristan, though completely heroic and drool-worthy, is never really developed to his full potential.

Still, the concept of the story was enough to carry me through and there were several scenes throughout that made it worth reading. But although the situation is resolved in a somewhat unique manner, it might not be satisfying enough for readers looking for the thrill of the climax in other books of magic, such as any of the Harry Potter books. But if you’re looking for a quick, light read, then this may be the book for you.

(Copy provided by NetGalley)

This is the perfect example of how to create quagmire in a story which most readers do not want.

The main characters investigate a death and try to figure out who did what along the way. Okay, great premise as I love these kinds of stories.

So, where did this one go wrong?

Well, instead of offering the past of certain tertiary characters up as discovery by the investigators as they unearth the evidence, the author chooses to just “tell” you the entire – completely boring – past story of three little boys.

Why is this a problem?

“Show don’t tell” for one. Second, as the story goes on, the reader ends up with conflicting main characters, thus giving the story some sort of an identity crisis. The author really should have chosen one set of main characters – the three boys or the investigators – and developed the story accordingly but that’s not what happened. As a result, the reader ends up with an overdeveloped-stretched-out-too-much storyline (past of three boys) woven into an underdeveloped storyline (current day murder).  The end result being a slog of a book.

Don’t get me wrong, the current day murder investigation is great and I think the author should have focused on that and settled on one pov – that of the investigators only – and this would have been a great story. I was intrigued by the characters of Lynley and Havers enough that I just might check out the other books or the TV series.

Some readers felt this was a page turner, while others (like me) felt the author stretched the story on too long. I don’t know if this is her regular style, but some readers have noted that the social commentary evident in this book isn’t the norm for this author.

Rating for most people is subjective, but I’m not that way. If I find something wrong with a story, I deduct from the overall rating, even if I generally liked the story.

I didn’t deduct for the social commentary as to why juvenile offenders go on to do heinous acts, but more for how this commentary is presented. Again, the mixing of the two storylines presented too many main characters which weakened the overall plot and bogged the story down. While I’m all for complex characters, plots and storylines, I prefer streamlined stories that limit details relevant only to the current story. Basically, if the author needed to tell the story of the three boys, she very well could have presented that story in a separate, shorter novel with the characters alluding to case notes as they became relevant in the current day investigation.

Another deduction came for the fact that it annoys me when I figure out the killer and then I have to read through 300+ pages before the main characters catch up. I prefer to be the investigator. I want to watch the story unfold through the pov of the investigators. While I do like 3rd person omnipotent pov, I prefer third person limited when it comes to murder/crime investigation stories because it adds to the suspense and mystery. That’s why I watch investigative shows, I like to see how the investigators follow the evidence, how they interpret that evidence and how that evidence leads to the killer.

If you’re like me and prefer to follow the evidence and see how the evidence leads to the killer or prefer a more limited POV, then this story may not be for you. On the other hand if you really don’t care about following the evidence and love third-person omniscience, then this story is for you.

This is my first review with A&A. I post regularly on Goodreads (when migraines aren’t striking) and try to keep that site updated with where I am when I read, so you’ll often see that I have multiple books in progress because not every book has the ability to suck me in completely and my attention span will wander, or I will just plain need a break from the storyline.

But there are some that can suck me in and keep me from doing anything else but reading, and this book was one of them. I finished it in one day…1 day! That’s close to a record for me!

I could barely put this book down long enough to eat or pee – that’s how strongly I was immersed into the surroundings. From the beginning, the author managed to make me feel as though I was on Cariba Island, with imagery, scene setting and character interaction as well as dialect.

I sat on the edge of my seat starting with the prologue, and I stayed there until the epilogue. While the book jacket boasts “Phantom of the Opera” themes, there’s so much more than that. Shakespeare is woven deeply into the aspects of this story too. From Romeo and Juliet to Rosalind, you read Shakespeare’s words, but the author does a magnificent job offering the reader insight into the feelings that go beyond the seemingly simple characters in Shakespeare’s plays, making them deep and complex.

Not only did Keyes manage to tell a great story, she managed to ignite an appreciation for Shakespeare’s work – or at least what they could be and do.

If I could have given this book 6/5 or 12/10 stars, I would have! It’s that good! This one gets full marks!

Great for readers of any age, including some of the more mature tweens!

This was one of the hardest stories for me to complete because it was just that: a story.

Aren’t all stories just stories?

Um…no…

What sets apart other novels from stories like this are emotional connections to characters. Supreme Justice did not offer any. Sure, it defined characters, but they were flat.

What also makes for even a good novel is immersion into the surroundings. That didn’t happen either.

Honestly, I felt like I was being told a story, not like I was part of it.

Okay, there’s a bias for me – I like to feel like I’m right in the thick of things with the characters. If a book can’t do this, then it isn’t going to get above 2/5 stars for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love law stories – LA Law and Law and Order were two of my favorite shows – and I love crime stories, so I thought this one would be a great read. It just fell below my expectations.

If you need to have an emotional connection to the characters – and care about what happens to the main character – then I’d suggest skipping this book. I didn’t give a fig about the outcome of the trial this book chronicles, which was a big negative. I can’t say that this has ever happened to me before, where I could care less what happens to the main character, but that’s how I felt.

If you’re the type of person who doesn’t need to feel connected to the characters or setting and don’t mind just being told a story, then you might want to give this one a try.

★★★★★

This is book 3 in Nancy’s Possesions series. If you want to dig into the series after reading this review, be sure to read the books in order: Possessions (Book 1), The Evil Within (Book 2) and The Screaming Season (Book 3).

The Screaming Season is a great continuation of the tale started in Possessions. While many see this as a great conclusion for the tale, I didn’t see it that way. In fact, it certainly feels like things are just getting started…at least I hope that’s the case. Characters like Miles Winters and Lindsay Cavanaugh need to make many more appearances!

Nancy Holder is one of the great authors in the genre. In fact, I’d call her an artisan – a master of her craft. Whether or not you like the story she presents, you can’t help but get drawn into the world she creates and care for the characters that come to life within the pages.

Beyond that, I found myself shocked and caught of guard by what some of the characters did or said – and not because it went against their personalities! It’s just that things happened in the story that the reader wasn’t always aware of because the main character wasn’t aware of them! That’s great story telling!

The three stories (Possessions, The Evil Within, The Screaming Season) in the Possessions series combine to make a great tale for readers of all ages who enjoy scary tales. The presentation of the story is such that even a reluctant reader might be willing to give this one a try.

They will make perfect gifts for this Halloween season!

When I first decided to read this book, I did so based upon the fact that it had an interesting premise, a unique story to tell. That is one of the main criteria I use for picking many of the books I decide to read.

It has to engage me in some way. Since I love art and history, I thought it was intriguing that the author chose to interweave the life of van Gogh with those of modern characters, namely Ellis and Tom Spencer, Holly Carter, who all work for a pharmaceutical company, and the mysterious Mimi, who owns a bizarre bookstore and thinks she’s a vampire. So now we have an interesting premise, a mix of time, art and history, and some quirky characters. So far so good.

As I delved further into the story of these characters and how they connect with van Gogh, I couldn’t help but to think, on many occasions, that this was the type of book Oprah would have loved to pick for her book club. I’ve read some of Oprah’s picks and she has an affinity for the literary, the unusual, and the complex stories of complex people.

Although this is a slim book, a mere 175 pages, it is filled to brimming with all the above. At times, I found myself wondering if I could finish this book (the same reaction I had with the Oprah picks, which is why I thought she’d love this book) because I sometimes couldn’t make sense of what was going on. But I kept on reading because I wanted to discover how all of these characters tied into the story of van Gogh and his sad life and death. I’m glad I did because, in the end, it was a satisfying book that left no loose ends and delivered on its promise to the reader.

Miss Przekop is a skilled writer who knows her way around a piece of art, a complicated history and intriguing characters. Yes, she might have had me wondering if I would ever understand what was going on, at times, but that is the beauty of the story. It might confuse you at one point, but it delivers a satisfying conclusion at another.

There are twists and plot devices that I wasn’t expecting, but they only enhanced the story. All in all, a very satisfying read So if you like reading about the art world with a twist of the supernatural, you will enjoy this book.

(Review copy provided by author)

I wrote this post in August. Somehow, it remained a draft until today. Enjoy!

The month of August has been BUSY.

This is the time of year our tomatoes come out in droves. Some farmers will chop, then freeze them to can in the winter. We don’t have a large freezer, so that means canning is immediate.

Since I’ve started canning, I’ve picked a few tricks to make the process easier.

Peel & Seed – NOT

When I started reading up on canning tomatoes, I couldn’t believe the amount of time it would take just to do one batch. Most recipes call for the tomatoes to be peeled after blanching, then seeded.

I thought, There HAS to be an easier way!

After a lot of research, I found several canners who don’t bother with either.

One woman offered the brilliant idea of crushing tomatoes in a food processor. This is a terrific way to cut down on the time it takes to make ketchup, pasta sauce and chunky salsa. In another recipe, Heavenly Homemakers‘ author Laura puts hers in a blender.

I like to use a stainless steel potato cutter from the 1960s. These are still on the market today – and just as good. I quarter the tomatoes, put them in a stainless steel pot, then mash them with the cutter. I leave the mixture coarse. It will eventually cook down. I also like chunky tomato dishes. For those who don’t, you will want to cut them until they are mostly liquid.

NOTE: Old timers always said one little piece of skin in the tomatoes would rot them. I have not found this to be the case. In fact, some organic salsas on the market have skins in them. Just look! I have used both a boiling water bath and pressure canner. No batches in either have gone bad so far.

Cooking

Tomatoes are notorious for sticking to the pan. No matter how much you stir, there will always be a nice line of crusty, burnt juice on the bottom of the pan – which can give your tomatoes a nasty flavor.

If you don’t have a lot of time to watch them, consider putting them in a slow cooker. I use the slow cooker to make ketchup. I’ve done it enough that I know exactly how many tomatoes are needed just by looking at how full the pot is.

Put the mixture on high and leave it to boil, stirring occasionally. (Yes, you still have to stir – just not as much.) This method offers less heat in the house, little or no burning and a lot less stress.

Canning

Most recipes call for tomatoes to be canned for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath.

My father lost some jars using the BWB, so we started using the pressure canner. We put the hot tomato mixture in hot, sterile jars, seal them up and put them in a pressure canner for 15 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure.

Works beautifully. We haven’t lost a far since.

On an editorial note: You should follow the recipe directions, and pay attention to time limits and proper pressure needed for your elevation. While the methods mentioned in this post might work for me, some canning fans may not be comfortable with them.

Those are my tips for canning tomatoes. What are yours?

After having read – and been disappointed by – Supreme Justice by Phillip Margolin, this book came as quite a pleasant surprise. Because I read this book on the heels of a mediocre one, I waited a bit to write my review to see if my feelings would change – as they sometimes do after I’ve had a chance to absorb all the details.

They haven’t.

I still consider this an excellent example of an intriguing, crime thriller taking place on Wall Street. I’d recommend this book to anyone who can appreciate a good story. The characters are strong and memorable, as is the plot. I found myself thinking it would make a great movie!

After a long search, I FINALLY landed a full-time gig.

I’m excited. I start tomorrow. The job itself is going to be fun and challenging – and also offer opportunities for advancement.

What I really didn’t count on was the stress of fixing brown bag lunches. I’m not sure if I will have access to a microwave or refrigerator, and no longer have a lunch carry case. I also haven’t had to take a lunch with me for six years, since I was just part-time. That is a LONG time!

My first step was to think about the three most important brown bag rules:

Make a list. Write down nonperishable items and take that list to the store. Don’t try to remember everything. It won’t happen.

Prep time. Make meals the night before to avoid morning hassles. That is especially important as winter sets in and I need more time to dig my car out of a snow pile, or to warm it up longer during extremely cold periods.

Remember snacks. I MUST have snacks throughout the day. It not only keeps up my energy, it also helps my metabolism – and my effort to eat smaller meals several times a day. I made sure to include some Kashi GoLean bars in my brown bag for break time.

While eating in the cafeteria can be a quick, easy fix for mealtimes, I find that it can sometimes stretch my budget. I’m going on a firm – only slightly bendable – budget plan to pay off my debt. That means fixing a LOT of dinners at home, and using leftovers for lunch the next day.

So, for the last week, I’ve struggled to come up with meals that I can easily carry in my purse, that won’t need to be chilled or cooked, and won’t bust my strained budget. I also have to find snacks that will fit into my new eating habits (i.e. smaller meals a day).

For my first meal, I decided to go simple: PB&J, an apple, an orange, chips and a Kashi protein bar for a snack. It’s not fancy. It’s not homemade enchiladas, or chili, but it works.

I also decided to check out some other sites for ideas on what to pack. I’ll update you as I get into the groove of my job and adjust my brown bag specials.

Check out these sites for other brown bag suggestions:

No Excuses Take Your Lunch to Work Guide (Mint.com)

Cheap and Health Brown Bag Lunch Ideas for Grownups (WebMD)

The Brown Bag Brigade: Your One-Stop Shop for Work Lunch Ideas (CheapHealthlyGood)

Bring Your Lunch to Work (Saving without a Budget)

What do you pack in your brown bag?