Lucky Bastard, S.G Browne

Meet Bay area PI Nick Monday (not his real name). Nick’s true talent is luck, because for the right price Nick can give you the kind of luck to take to Vegas or the slightly less potent kind to ace that job interview. A simple handshake and your luck walks away with him. With a talent like that it doesn’t pay to advertise but somehow Nick has the Chinese mafia, Tuesday Knight (both of them) and a murky government agency all clamouring for his services. Nick could up and leave town if the Feds weren’t threatening his twin sister. Is Nick’s luck about to run out or worse turn into bad luck?

code name verity

I read this young adult novel on the plane to UK, twice.

Wein's book is a brilliant tale of female friendship and heroism, but it also gives the flavour of 1940's Britain.

In the world of the SOE nothing is ever as it seems.

‘Verity’s’ mistake was simple and will probably cost her her life. In occupied France in WWII capture is an allied spy’s worst nightmare and faced with imprisonment and torture by the Gestapo ‘Verity’ chooses instead to confess, buying time by spinning out her knowledge of British codes and ciphers while telling the story of her unshakable friendship with Maddie the pilot whose wrecked plane lies in a field a few miles away. ‘Verity’ has a purpose, she wants her words to survive even if she doesn’t. As soon as you finish this tale of brave Brits and evil Nazis you will have to read it again to unlock its secrets

WBN and stealthy signings

So yesterday I picked up my books for WBN, we had a launch party. The local newspaper came and took pics and interviewed us. It was a right giggle. Also as a result of reading The Key (the arc-book is out in June), follow up to Sanctus, I liked Simon Toyne's page on facebook. How cool is this, he's going into places that carry his book and doing a stealth signing. Then he posts the details on fb. I plan to go and look in the little bookshop in Steyning to see if he's managed to sign one in there.

Also 'liked' Laurie King so I'm getting a whole new view of Japan.  Now time for a bit more writing before I start my shift.

World Book Night-coming soon!

April 23rd is world book night in the US. It was a huge hit last year when it happened in UK so this year is the first time it is happening over here. A lot of TKE staff have signed up as 'givers' and I'm proud to say I'm one of them. We have a reception for givers this coming Thursday and then on Monday 23rd I will be at the Beans & Brews at 791 E 3300 S from 5pm to 8.30pm (or whenever the books have been given away) I could tell you what I'm giving away 20 copies of but that would ruin the surprise (hint I love mysteries). Come over and find out:-)

Did it finally happen?

Did I finally fall out of love with Scandinavian mysteries? The last one I was assigned I fell on with the usual gusto but. . .I couldn't get into it. Things kept pulling me out of the story and yesterday afternoon I admitted defeat and put it down. Don't get me wrong, anything by Adler-Olssen, Nesbo, Kepler, Holt, Lackberg I will still happily read but this one left me-pardon the pun-cold.

On the plus side, I'm reading a nf book about the science of sleep, which is funny and informative in equal measure. I'm also playing catch-up reading Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman, I loved Mr G so I'm going backwards as the title suggests this is about Einstein and his theories of time. Also on the time theme, Chicks Dig Timelords which is a series of essays by women who are fans of Doctor Who (note to self find out what squee is)

Eyes spinning like slot machine reels.

Finished reading Chasing Magic, think I need a bit more background so I've ordered the first in Stacia Kane's series (this was number 5) Ghostbusters meets Escape from New York is how it was pitched. Also finished Garment of Shadows, the new Laurie King, intrigue in 1924 Morocco, loved it, comes out in September. The Key is great I should have that finished by tomorrow comes out in June and in looking for the release date I just found out that the new Matthew Dunn title 'Sentinel' will be out in the Summer so will have to track that down.

One major headache was reading all of the above on a tablet, I really am an old fashioned girl when it comes to my reading material.

Thoughts on Drift

All I can say is read it. Maddow throws into sharp relief the unmooring of the US military to go and fight wars without disturbing the civilian way of life here in the US. She doesn't play favourites she doesn't blame D's or R's. And she offers some solutions. One caveat don't have anything breakable nearby although she includes humour some of the facts will make you want to throw the book at something.