Thursday, October 28, 2010

Laughing and A Mystery

I wanted to catch your attention today as I’m sharing reviews on two completely different genres again and I hope you’ll want to add both to the TBR stack on your nightstands. First the laughing part.

MY NEST ISN’T EMPTY, IT JUST HAS MORE CLOSET SPACE 
by Lisa Scottoline and 
Francesa Scottoline Serriteela

I’ve been a fan of bestselling author Lisa Scottoline’s suspense thrillers for sometime. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that she can not only keep me in suspense with her thrillers, but have me laughing until I cried with her 'other writing,’ but it did.

I thought I’d find it humorous, but I never imaged I would see myself in some of the things she wrote about. I have no children so how could I relate to the ’empty nest’ syndrome?

But I found out this book is oh, so much more. I’ve finally found someone else whose TV is shrinking and who believes a box fan should blow in, not out. LOL

If you need a break from the crazy pace we call life, pickup a copy of MY NEST ISN’T EMPTY and prepare to be entertained. This book will draw you in and make you forget all your troubles and worries giving you renewed energy to face day-to-day challenges, while making you realize other people have crazy days too.

This is a collection of some 70 essays inspired by the author’s column 'Chick Wit’ published Sundays in the Philadelphia Inquirer. In addition to Scottoline’s take on life, you get insights from Daughter Francesa.

This is a book about the quirky activities involving three generations of strong, independent, wise and funny women - Mother Mary (Lisa’s feisty octogenarian mother); Lisa; and her daughter, Francesa whose age she seems to have problems remembering, now is she 24 or 26? 

MY NEST ISN’T EMPTY is a life-affirming look at how we all face similar problems, it just depends on how we decide to deal with them that matters. The sub-title sums it up, THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF AN ORDINARY WOMAN.

The first book featuring true-life stories from Scottoline’s column, WHY MY THIRD HUSABND WILL BE A DOG, has just been released in paperback. This is also a great humorous read.

Author Lisa Scottoline's website is www.lisascottoline.com

My Nest Isn‘t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space, The Amazing Adventures of An Ordinary Woman by Lisa Scottoline and Francesa Scottoline Serritella, St. Martin‘s Press, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-312-66229-5, Hardcover, 256 pages


FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

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KEY LIME PIE, A CULINARY MYSTERY by Josi S. Kilpack

Amateur sleuth Sadie Hoffmiller is getting involved in other people’s problems once again. She just can't help herself.

Having to do community service work for an earlier incident, Sadie has been working along side Eric Burton. Sadie finds herself being drawn to Eric’s charms. Not really knowing where her relationship is going with Detective Pete Cunningham, Sadie breaks it off with him.

Meanwhile, Eric gets a call from the police in Florida informing him they may have found the body of his missing daughter. He asks Sadie to go with him, but she declines - what would people say? Later Eric calls Sadie asking if she will send him a box from the closet in his bedroom.

Sadie agrees, but she can’t help herself and peeks inside the mysterious box. The contents lead Sadie to believe Eric is hiding something and is in more trouble than he’s letting on.

Before she has a chance to talk herself out of it, Sadie boards a plane to carry the box to Eric and help him find his daughter. In Miami, Sadie finds herself among a group of colorful characters as she tries to put all the pieces of the mystery together.

The twists and turns of KEY LIME PIE will keep you guessing what is next. The payoff is an intriguing journey with Sadie as her heart leads her to a peaceful solution. Readers are also rewarded with a number of great recipes throughout the book. In addition, readers get a sneak peek at the next installment in the culinary series, BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE, coming in the Spring of 2011.

KEY LIME PIE is the fourth installment in the Culinary Mystery series, but is a stand alone book. Author Josi S. Kilpack gives readers just a taste of prior adventures Sadie has been part of, but not too much to leave you in the dark. This is a delicious cozy murder mystery to curl with up.

Author Josi S. Kilpack’s website is www.josiskilpack.com

Key Lime Pie, A Culinary Mystery by Josi S. Kilpack, Deseret Book Company, @2010, ISBN: 978-1-60641-813-0, Paperback,  320 pages


FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

16 comments:

  1. Oh, my Mason, I do love to laugh at self and others. I think that first book is for me. I love love love to laugh. YAY! I'll get it.

    Thanks for both reviews.

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  2. Mason - Thanks for these reviews :-). I didn't realize that Lisa Scottoline wrote non-fiction as well, but this one sound quite funny. No wonder I always stop at your blog. I learn something every time!

    The mystery novel sounds interesting, too :-)

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  3. I think both of these books sound terrific! Thanks for the tips :)

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  4. Mason - great reviews. You know I'm gonna jump on the laughter right now and Key Lime seems to have the makings of a Sunday read.
    Thanks bunches.

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  5. I've read Lisa's "Why My Third..." and plan to pick up this one this afternoon.

    I recently discovered Josi's work and have included her book on my ever-growing reading list.

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  6. ahahaaaa ... that is the funniest book tittle I've ever seen :))))0

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  7. Scottoline's book sounds like the one for me. I like it when authors venture off into different writing genres, this one looks interesting.

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  8. Teresa, I definitely think you'll enjoy Lisa's book. There are some laugh out loud moments in it.

    Margot, thank you for the kind words. I've always enjoyed Lisa's mysteries. The lady does have a great sense of humor too.

    Jemi, hope you like both books.

    Mary, I highly recommend Lisa's book for a great laugh and Josi's book is definitely a good Sunday read. The protagonist is pretty funny in that series too.

    Dru, I think you'll enjoy Josi too. This culinary series is quite fun.

    Dez, I'm with you. I love the book title.

    Joanne, this is a departure from her usually suspense thrillers. But now I can see where the tiny bits of humor in her thrillers comes from.

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  9. Oh Mason now you do have my TBR getting a lot longer lol.

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  10. I've heard the name Lisa Scottoline, but have not read anything of hers - yet. Love the title of this one. And I do like a book that makes me laugh!

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  11. Mason, thank you!

    I ADORE Lisa Scottoline! I'm a huge fan of her thrillers, but more recently have discovered her humor. And it is priceless.

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  12. the chick wisdom collection sounds amazing! and I've heard about that key lime book twice now!!! They both sound like great reads. Thanks, Mason~ :o)

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  13. I love a good laugh, but it’s so hard to find in books. I will check this one out. The culinary mysteries look pretty interesting too. Thanks.

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  14. Consider them added! In fact, I already had My Nest reserved at the library! And the Kilpack series looks great. Glad to know I could start with Key Lime!

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  15. Babs, these two are great additions to the TBR stack. Enjoy.

    Helen, I enjoy Lisa's suspense thrillers but this book was what I really needed this week. You can laugh with this one and forget everything for awhile.

    Kaye, Lisa's humor is priceless. I'm a fan now no matter what she writes.

    LTM, I hope you enjoy both books. They are both enjoyable reads.

    Holly, Lisa's book is full of laughs and KEY LIME Pie has a few laughs too, plus some good recipes.

    Julia, you can start with KEY LIME PIE and no be lost. It hints at something Sadie did in the 3rd book, but it doesn't hurt if you haven't read it. I've only read this and one other and was still able to keep up.

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  16. Hi Mason .. the culinary mysteries really tick my box .. and one day I must buy one .. will be doing so at some stage ..

    Have a good weekend .. Hilary

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.