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Archive for the Category "review"

Book Review: Lost and Found Mar 04

*Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links. And, while I strive to avoid spoilers, there are details that need to be shared to make a thorough review.*

Oh, the betrayal.

Scarlet Moreno has no idea what she’s in for when she sends investigative partner, Krista Hart, on the search for a missing witness from the case that shuffled Scarlet out of the LAPD. All she wants is the answer to WHY she was set up to die by someone she thought was a friend. With Krista’s help, Scarlet gets her answers, but the cost is high.

While I doubt it is, this story could signal the end of Moreno and Hart. Can Scarlet overcome this much betrayal? Will she be able to pick up the pieces and move on?

Without spoilers, I can’t even begin to guess at the answers to these questions. All I ask of authors Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin is, IS there going to be another book? The depth of story that they have created over all four books in the series is phenomenal, but so many loose ends for both characters have been wrapped up in the most recent releases. What does this mean for the future of Moreno and Hart, both as characters and as a series?

Hopefully the answer is coming in the near future.

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Book Review: Frosted Jan 12

*Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. Post may contain affiliate links. And, while I strive to avoid spoilers, there are details that need to be shared to make a thorough review.*

One of the more recent additions to my list of favorite authors is Laura Griffin. I’ve followed her Tracers series from the beginning. Frequently when I would search the internet to find a new author to try while waiting on my favorites to write a new book, the author Allison Brennan would come up. Her Lucy Kincaid series sounds right up my alley, but I know how I am with book series. If I like it, I will obtain and read them all. Start to finish, pausing only to eat and take or pick up the children from school. The series was already at least five books in at that point, and I just couldn’t commit myself to it. And then! During one of these searches, I discovered that a book co-authored by these two individuals was available for pre-order. And it would be a series.

I was ridiculously excited and pre-ordered it. And a new love was born.

As much as I would like to start at the beginning and review them in order (I love order), that would be a stumbling block for me to actually write a review. So instead, I start with a very recent release in the Moreno and Hart series, a novella titled Frosted.

Private investigators Scarlet Moreno and Krista Hart receive an all expenses paid weekend to a ski resort as compensation for helping up-and-coming actor Adam Brock determine if he is actually being stalked. He also happens to be Krista’s ex-husband. The interactions between Krista and Adam perfectly explain why their marriage failed, but you can’t help but feel affection for them.

Also invited along for the weekend are Adam’s manager, Dave, and acting coach, Trina. They all share the penthouse suite at the resort, which is the only one available after a wedding fills up the rest of the resort. The odd interactions between the wedding guests and Adam, Krista, Scarlet, Dave, and Trina make for some interesting distractions to the the case being investigated.

In order to get the answers that Adam needs, Moreno and Hart ask for help from Scarlet’s brother, who is a cop, and the interactions between siblings give you some nice background and updates to Scarlet’s life, since this book is more about Krista. I, personally, appreciated that glimpse.

There was one thing that really bothered me about the story, and it’s going to be hard to write about without giving away the ending. The reason that Adam is being stalked is unusual to me. The depth to which the plot goes that results in Adam being stalked is a little extreme. Part of me appreciates this. But, it actually read as very rushed. I just re-read the ending, hoping I had missed something because it was late and I was tired by the time I finished the book. I still do not actually understand WHY ANY of the events happened that resulted in Adam being stalked.

Despite this, it was an enjoyable 100-page read. I’m ready to tackle their next book, Lost and Found, which is waiting for me on my Nook. If you’re already a fan of either Laura Griffin or Allison Brennan, or enjoy mysteries with realistic characters, this book, and the entire series, needs to be on your list of books to read.

Category: books, review, Writing  | Comments off
PacSafe MetroSafe 200 Anti Theft Shoulder Bag Nov 13

MetroSafe 200

For those of you who read my very belated birthday post, or my opportunities post, you probably noticed that I went to Prague this summer. One of the biggest concerns for anyone in a foreign location is pickpocketing and the possibility of identity theft. My husband found a company called PacSafe that helps reduce the possibility of this happening.

After many hours perusing the company’s site and several minutes spent searching Amazon, I decided to purchase Pacsafe MetroSafe 200 Shoulder Bag – Grape Wine (affiliate link)
to be used as a flight carryon and as a purse during our upcoming travel. Thanks to Amazon Prime, it was at my doorstep in 2 days, ready for me to inspect it.

I ordered the bag in Grape wine, which is a pretty appropriate description of the color. It’s purple, but with a little bit of red, much like a red wine. I showed the bag off to everyone I knew (almost literally) within the first 24 hours that I had it. They all like the bag, but think it’s too small for a carryon, but would make a great purse for travel. I took this as a challenge and set out to see exactly how much this bag could hold!

(In an effort to get this post out of draft form, please accept my apologies that there isn’t a picture here. Every time I find the kitchen table to create the picture, the tornado that is life comes through and covers it up again. I’m sure you know how that goes!)

I carried on the plane with me:
Neck pillow clipped to the strap
Tums
Super size bottle of Advil that also held other OTC medications not available OTC in Europe (which is most)
A spare t-shirt and underwear
Noise cancelling headphones (that I couldn’t use because they’re single input and the plane is dual audio output)
Bottle of water
Gum/candy for take-off and landing
Nook (My husband’s laptop bag carried charging cables for all of our devices, since we have the same)
iPod Touch
Blackberry Torch
ID holder containing driver’s license, debit card, and 1 international credit card
$100 USD for emergencies
Passport
1 quart ziploc containing hand sanitizer, lip balm and travel sized deodorant

So that’s everything I remember cramming into the bag, and I’m having a REALLY hard time coming up with anything else that anyone would NEED to have in a carryon. Sure, there’s plenty I could take, but how much do I want to schlep through airports and have to stow on board?

When I walked around the city of Prague, I kept the ID, Blackberry, iPod and payment with me, and was left with plenty of space to hold any small items that were purchased while sightseeing. I was able to have my hands free and my bag secure, so I could be aware of what was going on around me.

Overall, I love this bag and will be using it any time I travel away from home. The features and capacity are a perfect fit for the way I like to pack.

**Disclaimer: PacSafe and Amazon have no idea who am I and I was not compensated in any way for this post. All items were paid for with my own money and I just wanted to share my experience with others.**

Category: review, travel  | Comments off