Sage contains stories about plant magic; it’s a cozy fantasy read. There’s a little bit of sword and sorcery, definitely mysteries to be solved and some interesting characters to keep things lively.

If you don’t see the update for some reason, let me know. I’ve been working with Amazon for several months in order to make the update available seamlessly. And, if you have a different reader (ePub) the update is not yet available. When it is available, it will probably only be available through my own website. Doing illustrations in the various formatting required for each retailer is simply impossible. There aren’t enough hours in the day!

Around the block we went, minding our own business. On the second corner turn, we noticed a lady coming towards us on a bicycle. She turned with us, wobbling along. Her lack of balance was probably because she was tilting her head against her shoulder so that she could talk into her cell phone–while riding a bicycle and trying to hold onto a twelve pack of beer. Yeah. The cars trying to get around her didn’t seem to appreciate it either.

We kept walking, she kept wobbling along. Until she dropped the beer. Then the bike sort of went sideways and she disappeared behind a parked car as she hopped/fell off. Hope that beer was in cans. She was in front of us now, but by the time she managed to pick the beer up again, we had almost caught up to her. She didn’t try to get back on the bike, but she was having a hard time carrying that beer and holding the bike up while she walked. We went around her.

Little while later, she crossed to the other side of the street. She appeared to be trying to slide the top part of the cardboard beer box over the handle of the bicycle. Uhm.

Husband said, “I don’t think I’d try to transport my beer that way. Bet it doesn’t stay on that handlebar for long.”

Yeah.

We kept walking. Miss Beer Buyer got back on the bike and started peddling away. We stopped for the mail. By the time we resumed our walk, Miss Beer had stopped too. Seems the beer was back on the sidewalk and this time the cans had rolled away. She was holding the bike with one hand and reaching for the beer with the other. One at a time she put them back in the cardboard box. It will surprise you to know that the top of the beer box appeared torn open.

“Be nice to get that home and pop the top on the beer she went to so much trouble to buy,” I said.

“Yeah,” Husband said, “After she waits two hours for it to settle so she can open it without it spraying all over the place.”

Rocket science. I tell you, it’s rocket science.

As he took off again, I looked back. Yup, I was mooned by his underwear. I thought he was pedaling fast to make it home before the rain, but as fast as his pants were falling off, I’m guessing he has to get in as many rotations as he can before stopping to pull them up again.

Come on, people! This is not rocket science. PUT YOUR PANTS ON. There’s a “waist” for a reason. The general idea, in case you’ve missed it, is that you pull the pants OVER your butt so that you can KEEP THEM ON and still walk or ride your bike. And we do not want to see your underwear, no we do not. They are called UNDERwear for a reason. Yes, really–they are to be worn UNDER your other clothes! WHO KNEW????

Husband’s take on the situation: “That does not inspire confidence in our leaders of tomorrow. Not even smart enough to figure out how to keep his pants on!” He paused. “Then again, that seems to be a large problem with our leaders of today too, doesn’t it?”

Yeeeah. You could say that. And now you know where it all starts. Not even smart enough to pull up your pants to ride your bike home in the rain.

The zucchini looks as though it will generate at least another fruit. I had to kill more moths yesterday. I was not saddened by their deaths, but I know I’m not going to win the war. Dang bugs. I don’t know how the moths find the plant under all that cinnamon.

The tomatoes are trickling in. I have two grape tomatoes on the counter for lunch. Another is ripening. No big tomatoes yet, although a couple are threatening to turn. Once they start I’ll have tomatoes for about two months. If I’m lucky I’ll get enough to can some! It’s a short growing season in Texas even if it is all spread out. I’m picking onions too; they were a decent crop, although not a huge one. Many of the onions stayed on the small side before falling over (when the necks break, the bulbs will not get bigger.) I am getting banana peppers. That’s a nice early pepper and it’s my first year to grow it. The yellow and red bells are on the plants but not full grown. I see philly cheesesteaks in my future.

I’m enjoying the cool and rainy week we’re having. I hope we get several of them this summer!

Don of the Dead (Pepper Martin) by Casey Daniels

She sees dead people

Beautiful, smart, and chic, Pepper Martin never had to work a day in her life — until her surgeon daddy was convicted of fraud, her wealthy fiancé took a powder, and the family fortune ran bone dry.

Suddenly desperate, the inexperienced ex-rich girl was forced to take the only job she could get: as a tour guide in a cemetery. But a grave situation took a turn for the worse when a head-on collision with a headstone left her with an unwanted ability to communicate with the disgruntled deceased . . . and now Pepper has a whacked Mafia don demanding that she hunt down his killers — and threatening to haunt her until she does.

The second in the series is also on sale for $3.99: The Chick and the Dead

Always verify price after you click; prices sometimes change rapidly. I’ll be adding to the list and reposting as I find new bargains.

Urban Fantasy/Fantasy

Anything by Frank Tuttle
Most of Tuttle’s books are under 5. His entire Markhat series is 5 dollars or under. I loved every one of them. Urban fantasy with a great mystery; the occasional ghost, some spooky plots; great atmosphere…these are must reads. The first three are in one volume in paperback.

They are also sold stand alone as ebooks and are very affordable. Here are the titles:

The Mister Trophy
Dead Man’s Rain
The Cadaver Client

For those first three, the order isn’t terribly important (I read them: Dead Man’s Rain, Cadaver Client and then The Mister Trophy).

For the next ones, you’ll want to read in order as there is a side plot/romance and some further development of Markhat associates that you’ll want to follow:

Hold the Dark (Book 4)
The Banshee’s Walk (Book 5)

The Broken Bell (Book 6)

Unicorn on Speed Dial – Jeanette Cottrell – Oh how I loved this book. It’s fantasy, it’s cozy, it’s a little bit soccer mom. Top read. Runs about $2.99. Not the best cover in the world, but ignore it. This is a must-read stuff.

Joe Nassise The Heretic This is Urban Fantasy with a military bent; good thriller. I don’t like the new cover; the old one was prettier, but ignore the cover if you’re looking for a very fast-paced harrowing read with a tough hero.

Under Witch Moon and Under Witch Aura from the Moon Shadow series – An urban fantasy series centering around an earth witch. There are shifters, voodoo and a romantic subplot running through the novels.

Mystery

Fatherly Love by B.A. Wallace This is a modern day “pulp” mystery with an Australia setting. It’s a decent little read for the price.

A Gift of Ghosts by Sarah Wynde I enjoyed it quite a bit–fun, quick read with enough mystery to keep the whole thing moving along. The romance is mostly a sweet romance, but falls short of being completely young adult appropriate. Cozy/chick-lit/romance.

Karen Cantwell I enjoyed all three Barbara Marr books with book one being my favorite. These are cozy/chick-lit books.

Michelle Scott The Lilith Straight books are a bit cozy, a bit chick-lit BUT there is definitely a dark side. If you don’t like noir, skip the first book and go straight to the second, Straight to Heaven. Of course, since book two is already out, book one doesn’t end on quite the cliffhanger since you can find out what happens next!

Executive Retention and Executive Sick Days from the Sedona O’Hala Series, the second and third books in the series; zany fun capers as Sedona tries to solve mysteries and keep her job. The romance is woven through all three of the books; Executive Lunch is the first and is often 99 cents.

Catch an Honest Thief (A Haven Mystery) A quick read that isn’t cozy and isn’t thriller with a romantic subplot. This is what happens when an amateur sleuth tries to steal the treasure to protect it and the chaos that ensues keeping it safe.

Non-Fiction/Memoirs

I’m kind of ambivalent about memoirs really; they aren’t my favorite genre. But if you’re looking for some inexpensive wanderings through time, these were decent reads, something I pick up and browse through when I’m in the mood for a magazine/quick read.

Kathy Sue Loudermilk – Lewis Gizzard A kind of memoir of a journalist talking about the things he misses from childhood, columns he wrote, bygone days. It’s kind of a nostalgic read with liberal doses of humor. I’m not done with it yet, but enjoying what I’ve read so far.

Learn Me Good by John Pearson This one is quite cute and high in humor. It’s a nice little read for a plane ride when you’re looking for something light and funny. A new teacher learns the ropes!

Recollections by Jim Chambers. A nostalgic walk down memory lane of the 50s.

Cookbooks/Non Fiction

Homemade Pastrami and To-Die-For Corned Beef by David Cowles. I haven’t tried the recipes yet, but really enjoyed finding this little gem and reading the recipes. I hope to try the corned beef one!

Anthologies

Goblin Tales by Jim Hines I can’t promise every story in this antho is good because I read a lot of Hines’ short stories from other venues before they were pulled into an anthology. However I really enjoy his fantasy writing style and his Goblin series was very good. None of his novels are under five dollars, however. Goblin Quest is the first in the series at $7.99. It was a delightful read and good for adults or YA.
Backlash by Nancy Fulda This is a novelette (short novel) but it’s a good sci/fi thriller.
Tracking Magic Five detective stories ranging from zany capers to more serious crimes. All involve Max Killian an urban fantasy detective; humor.
Sage A collection of fantasy novellas; fantasy/mystery/intrigue–plant magic.

My only knock against it is a couple of things that stretched my believability or didn’t quite fit. There were a couple of characters that could have used some fleshing out. They seemed a bit “convenient” in their reactions at times. As for clues, I thought they led to the ending quite well. I wasn’t surprised and the ending fit. The characters are interesting enough to have me check out the next in the series.

And last but not least, this book will make my 99 cent bargain reads because it’s only 99 cents!

I think I pulled something near my hip as I chased that thing and tried to keep my balance. And I’m not sure the borer will die because it’s hard to say how much of the neem/cinnamon oil/soapy water actually landed–On it, I mean. Plenty blew back onto me and my clothing. There’s a reason I went organic a few years back. I’d much rather have neem and cinnamon on me than some chemical that is likely to shrivel my insides, cause a rash and make my entrails fall…oh, you get the picture.

Here’s a picture of what the eggs look like on a squash plant. If you scroll down that post, you’ll see a picture of the moth. The moth I saw was a much brighter orange and fatter. They don’t always look like wasps (as the one in the picture does.) They’re these unidentifiable flying objects that could be a really large orange fly, a moth, a wasp or some striped orange thing.

I have the zucchini plant sprinkled LIBERALLY with cinnamon powder. LIBERALLY, as in parts are buried in it. I hope it confuses the moth. The moth I saw today was certainly confused, but you’d be confused too if some lady came running at you with an old Fantastic bottle squirting like mad. You know what they say. No guts, no glory. I am on the warpath and my spray bottle is fully loaded. Those zombie apocalypse hunters got nothing on me. I wonder if cinnamon oil works on zombies?? I’ll let you know if I happen to run into any of them in the garden because if I do, I assure you I’ll be shooting them. Liberally. And running.

A handful of walnuts every day is probably better than eating fish once a month, although by all means try to do both. The walnuts are like remembering to stretch every day and the fish is like a decent workout. Trouble is, to keep the eyes in shape, you really do have to have some small habit that includes omega 3 daily. Mine is walnut oil–I make salad dressings with it, put it in oatmeal and when I have no reason to eat it, I’ll substitute in flaxseed. I *plan* to eat fish twice a week, but sometimes have to settle for once a week.

Thankfully, it’s that time of year when the vegetables in the garden are helping me get my daily dose. Did you know that zucchini is a decent source of omega 3? Not as high as fish, of course, but it’s one of those little handfuls of omega 3, kind of a yoga stretch at lunch time. If you’re having a really bad dry eye day, toss it with walnut oil after you’re done cooking it and your dose will be more like a walk around the block.

It’s unfortunate that tomatoes don’t have a lot of omega 3–those are about to ripen and I eat a *lot* of tomatoes. Does anyone have a good vinaigrette recipe? And no Balsamic. Don’t like that stuff. I’ve made one vinaigrette with orange juice that was okay, but it was nothing to write home about.

Nutrition, just like exercise, is a marathon, not a sprint. Eat your veggies. Eat lots of fish. And go ahead and walk around the block too.