Ice Fire - Book Review

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release date: May 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 145162929X
ISBN-13: 978-1451629293
Publication Date: May 1, 2012 in Hard Cover and E-Book

Summary From the Author's Website:

Ice Fire is the first novel in a new series starring Jock Boucher-a renegade federal judge who takes justice into his own hands.

Jock Boucher, a Cajun born and raised on the Louisiana bayou, has overcome modest beginnings to assume one of the most powerful positions in the land: U.S. District Judge of the Eastern District of Louisiana.

One of his first cases on the bench involves Bob Palmetto, a scientist just apprehended, who has been hiding from authorities for twenty years. The fugitive claims that another judge accepted bribes and helped an energy company steal his intellectual property: a way to use energy from below the subsea bed that could end dependence on oil. Palmetto fears that the company’s greed and carelessness could cause an ecological disaster.

Boucher verifies the corruption claims and, with the help of Detective Fitch of the New Orleans Police Department, seeks justice against the company and its powerful founder. Following a trail of cryptic clues, Boucher is pushed to the limits only to find himself in the line of fire—and too far from the law to ever return.

My Thoughts:

I received an advanced review copy of Ice Fire from the author's publicist and enjoyed reading it. The subject matter of the book is timely, i.e., the discovery of methyl hydrate as an alternative source of energy. Methyl hydrate can be found at the bottom of the oceans and Bob Palmetto has discovered a way to safely extract it. In real life, several nations are developing techniques for retrieving the hydrate. The methyl hydrate beds in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone contain about 200,000 trillion cubic feet of methyl hydrate. This is enough clean gas to power the U. S. For centuries.

Back to the book . . . While the topic is scientific, Ice Fire is an easy read. I loved all of the characters but Jock and Palmetto have personal quirks that make them interesting. I can see them in a movie adaptation of the book. Lyons has crafted a fascinating scientific thriller that thriller fans will want to read. Check it out.

Caveat Emptor - Book Review

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Release date: December 21, 2010
Number of Pages: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 1596916087
ISBN-13: 978-1596916081

Caveat Emptor: a Novel of the Roman Empire is Ruth Downie's 4th book in her series. In Caveat main character Gaius Petreius Ruso is back in Britain after a visit to his family in Gaul. He is trying to find another job as a medic but instead he and his new wife Tilla are sent to Verulamium (n/k/a St. Albans) in order to investigate where the town's missing tax payment disappeared to. The town's elected tax collector, Julius Asper, and his brother, Bericus, have also disappeared. Their bodies are eventually found but the money was still missing. The town leaders are angry that Rome sent an investigator to snoop in their business and do their best to thwart Ruso's inquiry. Ruso uncovers a conspiracy involving theft and forgery that almost gets him killed.

While there was crime to resolve, I enjoyed more the development of the Ruso and Tilla characters. They are from different cultures; Ruso is a Roman and Tilla is a barbarian from Briton. I love it when their cultures collide because Tilla always wins in the end. Go Tilla! They are newlyweds who are trying to conceive a baby, a big change in Ruso's way of thinking. Concerning the crime, I was surprised where the plot moved to and was fooled about the ending of the story. There is a huge illustration of the differences in Roman and English tribal life that was informative for me. The author knows her historical time period well. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Helpless - Book Review

Pub Date: Feb. 1st, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7582-4665-3
Page count: 416pp
Publisher: Kensington

I read Helpless for the Mystery and Suspense 2012 Challenge but received a free copy from the author for review. Helpless has an intricate plot with lots of twists and turns. It has been a few weeks since I have read such a satisfying mystery. I just loved it.

The story begins with high schooler Lindsay Wells being talked into sexting her boyfriend nude photos of herself from her cell phone. The scene then changes to soccer practice at Shiloh High School where former Navy Seal Tom Hawkins is the coach and his estranged daughter Jill is a team member. Police Sergeant Brendan Murphy then arrives to inform Tom that his ex-wife Kelly has been killed. Murphey is convinced that Tom is the killer and tries to make the facts fit his hypothesis. We then see FBI agent Lorraine "Rainy" Mills in her office at the Innocent Images National Initiative, a section of the FBI's Computer Analysis Response Team, where she is gathering evidence against a former pharmaceutical employee John Mann. Mann is accused of having child porn on his computer. All of these scenes come together in a satisfying conclusion after many red herrings are explored and debunked.

Helpless is Palmer's second novel but his writing equals that of any seasoned novelist. The chapters end with plenty of suspense to keep you reading all night long. The topic of sexting is timely and I learned much about how law enforcement fights the problem of online pornography. I also learned a lot about how technology is used to fight this crime. Helpless may scare many parents into addressing the sexting issue with their kids. It is scary how one innocent photo sent to one person can destroy lives.

Highly recommended!

Button Holed - Book Review

Publisher: Berkley
Release date: September 6, 2011
ISBN-10: 0425243761
ISBN-13: 978-0425243763

I read Kylie Logan's Button Holed for the Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge. It is the first novel in her Button Box Mystery Series and I loved it. The writing is superb. The murder occurred early, the characters were interesting, the pace was fast and there were plenty of clues planted. Josie Giancola is the main character of the series. She is the owner of the Button Box business, which is located in Chicago, and she is one of the US's experts on buttons.

The story opens with masked men burglarizing the Button Box. Josie hurries to clean up as she has an appointment with celebrity client, Kate Franciscus. Kate is searching for buttons that can be sewn on her wedding dress. Kate arrives and selects some button options but wants to come back another day before making a final decision on which ones she will buy. However, when Josie arrives at her store for that appointment, she finds Kate dead on the floor having been stabbed with a button hook. Josie also finds a rare hand carved button boxwood underneath her. Josie has never seen a button like this before and feels that in order to find Kate's killer she must find out where it was it made and who made it. This is where Josie's sleuthing begins.

I will be following this series. The next book is called Kill Button and I can't wait to get my hands on it. The author also writes with the pen names Casey Daniels and Miranda Bliss. I haven't read any those novels but will look for them on my next trip to the bookstore.

The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen - Book Review

Pub Date: Jan. 9th, 2012
ISBN-10: 0670023213
ISBN-13: 978-0670023219
Page count: 400pp
Publisher: Viking

Several weeks ago I received an ARC of Thomas Caplan's book for review. I expected it to be great because Bill Clinton wrote a glowing Introduction endorsing the book. While I enjoyed the first 50 pages, the plot seemed to go nowhere. I found myself skipping pages until page 140 when the action began again. The story is about Ty Hunter, an actor and former special ops operative. His service is reactivated by the President so that he can thwart the transfer of nuclear warheads into rogue hands. The action stopped shortly after it began again so I stopped reading. The book is so boring that I just couldn't keep reading.

Kill Shot - Book Review

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release date: February 7, 2012
Number of Pages: 400 pages
ISBN-10: 1416595201
ISBN-13: 978-1416595205

I read Vince Flynn's Kill Shot in one sitting this past weekend. It is a riveting sequel to American Assassin, even though there was less action than we are accustomed to in a Flynn novel. The pace was a little slow as the story was more character development than plot driven but it did not bother me.

The book begins with the main character, Mitch Rapp, carrying out an assignment to kill a Libyan diplomat. The kill was not as simple as Rapp's previous assignments and although he kills the diplomat, he gets shot by 4 body guards. Rapp never saw evidence of any body guards during his stake out of the diplomat and feels that he has been set up by his handlers. Rapp does not call in to his handler after the kill and, consequently, an order to kill Rapp is about to be made. Most of the story concerns Rapp's thought process in determining who set him up. Flynn writes this well but my expectation for an action packed plot was not fulfilled. Still, Kill Shot was well written and an enjoyable read.

Culinary Tea - Book Review

I read Cynthia Gold and Lise Stern's Culinary Tea: More Than 150 Recipes Steeped in Tradition from Around the World for the Foodies Read 2 Challenge. The need to try a few recipes before writing a review slowed the review process down. While I loved reading the book, I didn't like the 3 recipes that I made. Still, this would make a lovely coffee table book in any home. The photographs are gorgeous and worthy of any art book. I spent hours on numerous rainy days just perusing through it. Tea connoisseurs Gold and Stern created recipes, savory and sweet, for both novice and experienced cooks but, to me, they did not taste great.

Culinary Tea begins with the history and flavor profile of every tea type. The authors visited estates in Japan, India, and Sri Lanka while doing their research for the book. Brewing tips and tea and food pairings are then discussed. The recipes come last. I made the Matcha Tea Leave cookies, Apple Ceylon Tea Cake and the Classic Tea Smoked Duck. The ingrediants were easy to find in my local Jewel. There was one ingrediant for the Matcha Leaves that sent me on a trip to Chinatown: Chinese 5 spice powder. I left out the Bourbon in the Apple Cake because I do not like liqueurs. The instructions for each recipe were easy to understand

I am very surprised that I did not like the Apple Cake because the spices added were those I frequently use in a pumpkin pie. Only 3 tablespoons of loose leaf oolong tea were required and I did not think that they would affect the taste. However, the competing taste of tea, apple and pumpkin pie spices did not mesh well. I thought that the Matcha Tea Leaves would go great with a cup of Matcha Tea but I felt that they were too light to be matched with a green tea. I must confess that I like very few green teas but I have heard so much positive feedback about Matcha that I thought it might work for me. I would have preferred a heavier cookie or brownie with the cup of tea. The Classic Tea Smoked Duck was my favorite of the 3 recipes but I still prefer a Duck a'lorange. If I was younger I think that these recipes may have worked for me. As I have aged, my stomach cannot handle good food anymore.

After I made the above recipes I went back and reviewed all of the recipes in the book. I discovered that all contain several competing flavors. The recipes are definitely for a gourmet or gourmand. Unfortunately, my 50 year old stomach cannot handle gourmet cooking.

Venice: Pure City - Book Review

Publisher: Chatto & Windus
Release date: October 13, 2009
Number of Pages: 416 pages
ISBN-10: 0701172851
ISBN-13: 978-0701172855

Ackroyd has written a history book that is a quick and easy read. He covers Venice from its founding in 461 to its current state of affairs. He has a ton of detail on many topics but they are easy to keep track of as they are organized by themes. I am amazed that a history book reads like a novel. I couldn't put it down.

Ackroyd mentions frequently that Venetians are concerned with appearances. For example, the exteriors of their homes are ornate but the interiors are the opposite. For these reasons, it is hard to get an invitation to someone's home. There are no natural resources to depend on, so the economy has always been trade. They have been aggressive traders since people began migrating there. Venice has been known for its excesses and vices for centuries which, of course, makes it a great place to vacation. It maintained a status as a city state until the 19th century when it became a part of Italy.

Reading Venice: Pure City has been a learning experience for me. I have never been there and did not know much about it. I highly recommend this book over the Norwich history book because of its readability. The Norwich book was written for another era.

The Tomb of Hercules - Book Review

I picked up Andy McDermott's The Tomb of Hercules based on the merits of his Hunt for Atlantis. However, I was only engaged in Hercules for the first third of the story. The plot is supposed to be a treasure hunt but McDermott spends a lot of time on non-stop action scenes that are boring and do not relate to the search for the treasure in Hercules' tomb. I don't get it. Atlantis was fabulous. What happened here??

The Science of Saving Venice - Book Review

Publisher: Paul Holberton Publishing
Release date: December 2004
Number of Pages: 94 pages
ISBN-10: 8842213101
ISBN-13: 978-8842213109

I read Caroline Fletcher and Jane Da Mosto's The Science of Saving Venice for the Venice in February Reading Challenge. It is a short book but thick on the science that can save this sinking city. A major part of the problem is the support of its citizens for making the necessary changes which will take decades. Most Venetians have left the historical center of Venice for homes and jobs elsewhere. There is a sense that the flooding problems are too big to fix and that maybe they should just let the lagoon waters cover the city.

On November 3, 1966 a storm over the Adriatic Sea swept over the city, causing flooding 2 meters above the normal water level. There was no electricity, black oil oozed into the water and the alleys were filled with garbage and dead pigeons and rats. In 2003 a decision was made to create a barrier system from the Adriatic Sea. The citizens were fiercely opposed because the system would destroy the lagoon's damaged ecosystem. Scientists have concluded that in order to restore Venice, the saltmarshes must be restored as well as the plants that anchor the soft, muddy sediment and the sea creatures that feed upon them. 50% of the bird and fish species have become extinct in the past century due to the effects of large scale tourism and 60% of the lagoon is now under water. The waters of the canals are now the saltwaters of the Adriatic, which has caused buildings to be damaged as well as the destruction of the biodiversity of the Venetian lagoon.

There is so much more science in this book than I have described. It is an important work for us citizens of the world to read because our actions can result in the loss of this great city and its treasures. The book is now 8 years old. I am curious what is happening now with the effort to save the city. The scientists all seem to be in agreement as to the methods for saving Venice. However, it is the people who live there who will ultimately decide what the future will be.

Conqueror - Book Review

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release date: Oct 27, 2011
Number of Pages: 464 pages
ISBN-10: 000727114X
ISBN-13: 978-0007271146

Summary from the Author's Website:

"The one and only Conn Iggulden takes on the story of the mighty Kublai Khan. An epic tale of a great and heroic mind; his action-packed rule; and how in conquering one-fifth of the world’s inhabited land, he changed the course of history forever. A scholar who conquered an empire larger than those of Alexander or Caesar. A warrior who would rule a fifth of the world with strength and wisdom. A man who betrayed a brother to protect a nation. From a young scholar to one of history’s most powerful warriors, Conqueror tells the story of Kublai Khan – an extraordinary man who should be remembered alongside Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte as one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever known. It should have been a golden age, with an empire to dwarf the lands won by the mighty Genghis Khan. Instead, the vast Mongol nation is slowly losing ground, swallowed whole by their most ancient enemy. A new generation has arisen, yet the long shadow of the Great Khan still hangs over them all …. Kublai dreams of an empire stretching from sea to sea. But to see it built, this scholar must first learn the art of war. He must take his nation’s warriors to the ends of the known world. And when he is weary, when he is wounded, he must face his own brothers in bloody civil war."

My thoughts:

I loved this book! The characters were great (I love a bloodthirsty group of people) and the plot moved quickly. The author's knowledge about the era of Ghengis and Kublai Khan is evident. It proved to be a history lesson for me. I am thankful that there was more plot movement via the political machinations of the characters than descriptions of war. I will definately be reading all of the earlier books in the series. The author will be added to my blog's list of favorite authors.

Ashes to Dust - Book Review

USA Release date: April, 2012
Paperback
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Book for Minotaur Books
Number of Pages: 360 pages
ISBN 978-0-312-64174-0

Ashes to Dust is Yrsa Sigurdardottir's 3rd crime novel featuring the heroine Thora Gudmundsdottir. I received a free AAdvanced Reader's Edition for review from the Early Reviewer's Group at Library Thing.

Blurb Summary:

"Thóra peered at the floor, but couldn't see anything that could have frightened Markús that much, only three mounds of dust. She moved the light of her torch over them. It took her some time to realize what she was seeing-- and then it was all she could do not to let the torch slip from her hand. 'Good God,' she said. She ran the light over the three faces, one after another. Sunken cheeks, empty eye-sockets, gaping mouths; they reminded her of photographs of mummies she'd once seen in National Geographic. 'Who are these people?' 'I don't know,' said Markús Magnússon. . ."

My Thoughts:

I had a difficult time following this story. While I skipped quite a few pages, I did not miss any movement of the plot. The plot premise is interesting but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was written as a different mystery sub-genre. Detective fiction does not interest me and if I had known that Ashes to Dust was this sub-genre, I would not have requested a copy of the book.

I have read several of the popular Scandinavian authors and did not like any of them, with the exception of Stieg Larrson. The books are not labeled with the type of genre that they are so I was unpleasantly surprised when I began to read them.

My apologies to the author. It is unfair to review a book that you will never like because of its genre.

The Immortalists - Book Review and Giveaway

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Release date: December 6, 2011
Number of Pages: 332 pages
ISBN-10: 1612181503
ISBN-13: 978-1612181509

I received a free copy of Kyle Mills' thriller The Immortalists for review, as well as a second copy for a giveaway. If you would like to be entered into the giveaway, please leave a comment to this post by 2/15/12. The winner will be selected by a random number generator.

Plot Summary From Inside Cover Blurb:

"What would you do to save the life of your child? Microbiologist Richard Draman thought he'd answered this question when he walked away from his career to focus on curing a genetic defect that causes his daughter to age at a wildly accelerated rate. Just when Richard and his wife Carly force themselves to recognize that eight-year-old Susie's time is running out, they receive an unexpected gift - startling new research into the fundamental secrets of life that could be the answers to their prayers.

When Richard is accused of stealing the research that was sent to him - he takes his family on the run, seeking out a retired special forces operative and old friend to help dig up the truth behind the controversial experiments. Determined to either save Susie's life or die trying, the Draman's plunge into a bloody conflict between two powerful factions vying for control of a discovery that could change the face of humanity."

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. The author followed the typical medical mystery formula which made it a great read. However, Mills also followed a suspense story formula which, for me, takes The Immortalists to a new sub-genre, medical thriller. The usual powerful competitors are present as well as new science. I love the science part of these books. Whether the science is real or not does not matter. Just the thought of future possibilities peeks my interest.

If you like medical mysteries, you should check this book out. Mills is on par with the other great medical mystery authors Robin Cook and Michael Palmer. You won't be disappointed.

The Pharos Objective - Book Review

Publisher: Deviation
Release date: July 2010
Number of Pages: 461 pages
ISBN-10: 1935142151
ISBN-13: 978-1935142157

Back Cover Blurb:

"Driven by visions of his dead father, Professor Caleb Crowe reluctantly joins the Morpheus Initiative, a team of remote-viewing archaeologists determined to locate the remains of the seventh Wonder of the Ancient World - The Pharos Lighthouse - beneath which the legendary treasure of Alexander the Great is rumored to be hidden. Crowe's quest spans two thousand years of visionary history that connects the ashes of Herculaneum and the lost Library of Alexandria with a secret government program and an ancient society called The Keepers. To discover a threshold guarded by deadly traps and forgotten prophecies is one thing, but facing the truth about himself is something else altogether."

My thoughts:

I always love it when I find a new author that I like. Sakmyster is the latest. I loved The Pharos Objective. The plot moved along nicely and I hope the characters return in a sequel. The novel was well researched and the author has a chapter at the end telling us what is real and what is fiction. I had never heard of the Pharos Lighthouse before and feel like I had a history lesson. There was a lot of action and adventure which is a must for the treasure hunt sub-genre of mysteries. I can see this as a movie with Nicholas Cage playing the lead. Highly recommended.

Oath of Office - Book Review

Title: Oath of Office by Michael Palmer
Release date: Feb. 14, 2012
Publisher St. Martin's Press
ISBN 978-0-312-58753-6

Oath of Office is Michael Palmer's 17th medical mystery novel. I received an ARC from the author. The story begins with Dr. John Meacham talking to himself about the consequences he will face for just yelling at a patient. Roberta Jennings is an overweight patient who refuses to diet, risking her health in a myriad of ways. Meacham had already been disciplined for mistreating patients and knows that Jennings will report him to the proper authorities. All that Meacham can think about is that there are witnesses to his behavior who have the power to remove his medical license permanently. In a flash of irrational thinking, Meacham guns down everyone in his waiting room, muttering "no witnesses" before turning the gun on himself. 7 people die at his hand.

His friend and Physician Wellness Office (PWO) mentor Dr. Lou Welcome is suspended from his job with PWO because he was the PWO official who helped Meacham get his license restored. The PWO blames Welcome for the massacre at Meacham's office. Dr. Welcome visits Meacham in the hospital where he is in ICU. Welcome is surprised that the treating physician is trying to extract the bullet from Meacham's brain when doing so jeopardizes his life. One of the hospital's finest nurses fails to see that an IV in sertes into Meacham is not properly working, leaving Welcome to notice and fix it. Later, Meacham's widow Carolyn makes a poor decision while driving irratically to follow a car with no working taillights. She wants to warn the driver of the car that he could get in an accident but ends up in one herself. Upon a recommendation to try a new restaurant, Millie's Diner, Dr. Welcome and his father eat there one evening. Welcome is fascinated by watching one of the chefs cutting carrots when the chef puts his thumb out and cuts it off with his chef's knife. Why is everyone making such poor decisions? Dr. Welcome investigates and finds the answer.

There is a secondary plot involving the President's wife and her childhood friend Russ Evans. Evans was just fired from his cabinet post as Secretary of the Agriculture by the President for having a sexual dalliance with an underage prostitute. He asks the First Lady to try and get his legislative agenda regarding genetically modified food passed in Congress. Enough said. I don't want to give the whole story away.

Oath of Office is a quick read. I read it in one setting. I like the fact that a crime occurred in the first chapter. It is the beginning to the thriller formula and Palmer follows it through-out his story. The plot is a realistic scenario that could actually be happening in real life. In that respect, the novel is chilling. It gives all of us food for thought (pun intended). The ruthless nature of the political and medical association characters remind me of those I have had to deal with over the years. I loved Oath of Office and think that you will too. Palmer is a master at the medical mystery genre and I urge you to read his previous novels also.

Threat Warning - Book Review

Publisher: Pinnacle
Release date: July 1, 2011
Number of Pages: 400 pages
ISBN-10: 0786024925
ISBN-13: 978-0786024926

Threat Warning is the third installment of John Gilstrap's series featuring Jonathan "Digger" Grave who owns a company that rescues hostages. The story opens with 2 snipers shooting drivers at random on Washington D.C.'S Wilson Bridge during rush hour. The shots are preceded by a shooting at a mall in Kansas City, and is followed by a bombing at a Detroit school. One of the shooters kidnaps the wife and son of a special ops soldier away on duty. They are soldiers for The Army of God who are posing as an Army of Allah in order to keep the police at bay. They are using terror to re-educate Users, ie, people who take whatever they can get in life but do not give back to society. What do the terrorists want? They demand the immediate withdrawal of U. S. Troops in the Middle East. Why do they want this? You will have to read the book. I don't want to be a spoiler.

Threat Warning presents a realistic scenario that scares me. His portrayal of the members of the cult, Army of God, remind me of some so-called Christians who have a narrow view of life; a view that only allows their beliefs to exist. I am not saying that all Christians are like this but just a few sects like Westboro Baptist Church led by Fred Phelps. They protest at funerals of soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Gilstrap's characters are also realistic, from the cult members to the law enforecement officials. The pacing of the plot is fast which made Threat Warning a terrific book to read. Highly recommended.

The Abbey - Book Review

Synopsis From the Publisher's Product Description: "Ash Rashid is a former homicide detective who can't stand the thought of handling another death investigation. In another year, he'll be out of the department completely. That's the plan, at least, until his niece's body is found in the guest home of one of his city's most wealthy citizens. The coroner calls it an overdose, but the case doesn't add up. Against orders, Ash launches an investigation to find his niece's murderer, but the longer he searches, the more entangled he becomes in a case that hits increasingly close to home. If he doesn't solve it fast, his niece won't be the only family member he has to bury."

I loved this book. The characters were memorable and I would like to see them in another novel. The main character, Ash Rashid, is an American Muslim who works as a police detective. His religion is not a part of the plot but is merely used as a character description. His wife and colleagues had traits that were also interesting. The plot was intricate as there were many twists and turns before a surprise ending. I hope the author does a sequel because this was one great read.

2012 Cozy Mystery Challenge

This is the final reading challenge that I am signing up to participate in. I am joining the Cozy Mystery Challenge at the Super Sleuth level of participation. This means that I need to read a minimum of 10 - 12 books by the end of the year. Debbie's Book Bag is hosting the challenge. You need to sign-up for this challenge by February 4, 2012. It begins on January 1 and runs through December 31, 2012. Each participant must choose a level of participation. The levels are:

Level 1 Snooper: 1 to 3 Cozy Mysteries
Level 2 Gumshoe: 4 to 6 Cozy Mysteries
Level 3 Private-Eye: 7 to 9 Cozy Mysteries
Level 4 Super Sleuth: 10 to 12 Cozy Mysteries 

You do not have to have a blog to participate, but you must choose a place to post your reviews. Some options are Facebook, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Allowable formats are print, audio, e-book, Arc's, library books, books from your own collections. There will be six mini-giveaways through out the year and one grand-prize. Participants who meet the guidelines for their level of participation will be eligible to win the grand prize: A cozy mystery series of up to 5 books.

Foodies Read 2 Challenge

The Foodies Challenge from last year was one of my favorites so I will be participating again. I hope to review more than two, which is the number I reviewed in 2011. I have a 3rd cookbook that I read last year that is now ready to be reviewed. The need to make a few recipes slows down the normal book review process. Books that qualify for the challenge include cookbooks, food biographies or memoirs, non-fiction books focused around a specific food, wine, chef or restaurant as well as fictional stories in which food plays a major role.

The Rules:

1. Pick a level of level of participation. The levels are:

Short-Order Cook: 1 to 3 books

Pastry Chef: 4 to 8 books

Sous-Chef: 9 to 13 books

Chef de Cuisine: 14 to 18

Cordon-Bleu Chef: More than 19

2. Write a post about the challenge on your blog. If you don't have one you can sign up in the comments section of the challenge post.

3. After you have reviewed a book, post a link on the challenge page. There will be categories for cookbooks, memoirs/biographies, fiction, and nonfiction.

4. The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2012.

5. You don’t need a pre-selected list of books.

6. It’s okay to cross over with other challenges.

7. Any book format is allowed (print, audio, ebook).

I am selecting the Pastry Chef level of participation and will do my best to review 8 books. I hope there are some good chocolate cookbooks coming out in 2012. That will make things easier for me!

2012 Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge

I have to join this challenge again. It's my all time favorite and it runs all year long. This year there are 2 levels of participation. You can choose from reading 12 mystery & suspense novels or reading 24! That's a lot for 1 challenge but I am going for the 24. Books don't have to be selected ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them now you can change them. The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you are participating in. Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted. You do not have to write reviews of the books you read! You can choose from the many sub-genres of mystery and suspense. They are listed on the challenge post at http://www.bookchickcity.com/2011/12/sign-up-mystery-suspense-reading.html?m=1.