The Quick and the Thread ~ Amanda Lee

Sentence summary: The morning after her open house, Marcy discovers the previous store tenant dead in her storeroom.

My review: The Quick and the Thread is the first book of An Embroidery Mystery series. Marcy Singer leaves San Francisco for Tallulah Falls, Oregon to pursue her dream of owning her own embroidery shop The Seven Year-Stitch. Her best friend and former college roommate, Sadie and her husband Blake, also reside there. The couple owns MacKenzies' Mochas, which is conveniently located next door to Marcy's shop.

The night of her open house, former tenant Tim Enright crashes the party and is determined to speak with Marcy privately. Turned off by his odd behavior (and assumption he's intoxicated), Marcy keeps herself at arm's length. Later after everyone has left for the evening, Marcy, Sadie, Blake and Todd (the man that Sadie is trying to fix her up with) are cleaning up when they hear a strange noise in the back. Blake and Todd make light of it and joke that it's only a bear. The next morning Marcy discovers Enright's body.

Before his death, Enright scratches a message on the wall that's a clue to his murder. Marcy is suddenly being looked at as a suspect and decides she needs learn the meaning behind the message to clear her name. She begins speaking to the local residents and as a result another person is killed.

Characters: Marcy represents a good amateur sleuth. She's very likable and doesn't come across as gullible or simpleminded. At times I did think she disclosed too much information to random people, but in the end she realized her mistake.

Sadie is Marcy's best friend, yet she was pushy and quick to judge Marcy. I never really warmed up to her. Blake and Todd were often present with the two women and I thought they made a good foursome. It was hard to tell exactly how Marcy felt about Todd. Especially with Detective Ted Nash in the picture. Perhaps a love triangle will evolve in later books? Needless to say, the hint of romance did not detour away from the murder investigation.

Marcy offers stitching classes to the residents and it's through these classes that the reader is introduced to the secondary characters. Last of all, there's Angus, Marcy's Irish wolfhound.

Lasting impression: The Quick and the Thread is a solid start to what I hope will be a long lasting series. Book two, Stitch Me Deadly, will be released in February 2011.

Reason for reading: I’m always looking for a new cozy mystery series.

Recommend?: Yes. Fans of cozy mysteries will welcome this series to the genre.

About the author: Amanda Lee is a pseudonym for author Gayle Trent, who writes the Daphne Martin series.

My rating: 3.5/5

Book details:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: An Embroidery Mystery #1
Pub. Date: August 3, 2010
Pages: 313
Source: Library

Private - James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Mini-Review
Jack Morgan inherits Private Investigations after his father dies. Private Investigations is an agency that specializes in solving crimes that baffle the police. Jack is strictly professional and has an unlimited source of connections to get the job done.

His best friend’s wife has been murdered. Teen age girls are being killed. The NFL is trying to keep a gambling scandal from going public. Not only is Jack dealing with these cases, he’s also fighting his personal demons. And his twin brother is back into his life.

Private is a quick read. Jack is a likable protagonist and his employees round out the thriller as secondary characters. Patterson fans will like this first installment of his new series. Private, London is due out next year.

Book details:
Series: Private #1
ISBN-13: 978-0316096157
Pages: 400
Release Date: June 28, 2010
Genre: Mystery/Suspense (Series)
Source: Library

Free to a Good Home - Eve Marie Mont

Noelle Ryan is at a crossroads in her life. Should she remain stuck where she is or try to push forward even though she doesn't know what is to come? Noelle is recently divorced from Jay. During their marriage, she learns she's unable to conceive. It's about this time Jay discloses he's gay. He married Noelle for stability, however he cannot deny who he really is. Noelle is devastated by this, but somehow she remains close friends with Jay.

When Jay comes back to town to ask Noelle to take care of his mother, Margaret, by giving her daily injections (Margaret has MS), Noelle is stunned. Margaret didn't care for Noelle when she was married to her son, so imagine how she'll be now.

It's about this time that Noelle meets Jasper. During their first meeting, Noelle quickly makes assumptions about Jasper (which she later finds out are wrong) and her wall immediately goes up. Jasper is so obviously into her, that it frightens Noelle. As their friendship develops, Noelle is forced to make decisions she has feared for awhile. Can she let go of past hurts and disappointments and allow happiness to find its way to her?

Free to a Good Home is a wonderful book about finding one's way to love again after feeling broken and bruised for so long. At first glance, it's easy to judge Noelle and write her off as being weak and insecure. Mont does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged with Noelle, that you want her to keep moving forward and be vulnerable with Jasper, even though it's absolutely terrifying for her to do so. Through Noelle's relationship with Jasper, Mont shows how difficult, but yet necessary, it is to enter into a new relationship and allow someone into your personal space.

Noelle's relationship with Margaret changes as Noelle grows patient with the physical and medical changes that Margaret is facing. Margaret, in turn, encourages Noelle to find life after the divorce from her son. After all Jay has moved on, and she wants Noelle to do so as well. Noelle begins to lean on Margaret, which in turns helps her to be with Jasper.

What brings comfort and peace to Noelle is Zeke, her Great Dane. Noelle feels so much love for her dog and the other animals at the shelter where she works. At times I wanted her feel this intensely for Jasper.

Free to a Good Home is a great read about healing, growth and finding the courage to love again. It's one I highly recommend!

Book details:
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-23478-5
Pages: 292
Release Date: July 6, 2010
Genre: Women's Fiction
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Library

Read-a-Thon Mini Reviews

Here are three books I read during the Read-a-Thon:

Title: Best Friends and Drama Queens
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #3
ISBN: 978-0-545-040444-0

Allie Finkle loves her new school, new friends and most of all her fourth grade teacher Mrs.Hunter. (Mrs. Hunter even told Allie's grandmother that she's a joy to have in class!) So after winter break, Allie is really excited to return to school. Her excitement builds when she learns a new girl from Canada will be in her class. To assist the new student with adjusting to a new school, Miss Hunter asks Allie to give up her desk, which is next to her best friend Erica, for a desk that's in the back of the room where the "bad" boys sit. Not wanting to say no, Allie reluctantly agrees.

Unfortunately for Allie the new girl, Cheyenne O'Malley thinks she's immature for playing the pretend game of Queens. Instead Cheyenne wants to chase after the boys so she can kiss them. Cheyenne also wants every boy and every girl to "go together", which Allie and her friends aren't sure where they are to "go" to.

Allie knows she's not ready to be as "mature" as Cheyenne. After all she's in the fourth grade and doesn't want a boyfriend. There's plenty of time for that. Will Allie risk standing up to Cheyenne even if it means losing her friends?


Title: Stage Fright
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #4
ISBN: 978-0-545-04045-7

Allie Finkle and her fourth grade class are putting on play for the school's open house. Everyone is really excited to audition and several students want to be the lead. Including Allie's BFF Sophie and Cheyenne, a mean girl in Allie's class.

After reading through the play, Allie decides she wants to try out for the Princess too and asks her Uncle Jay for help. Allie isn't sure how Sophie will react when she finds out Allie is auditioning too, but Allie doesn't allow this to hold her back.

Things take an interesting turn when Mrs. Hunter, Allie's fourth grade teacher, announces the parts. Sometimes stardom can quickly go to one's head... even a fourth grader's!


Title: Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out
Author: Meg Cabot
Series: Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #5
ISBN: 978-0-545-04047-1

Erica's sister, Missy, is competing in the Twilacular. Allie is so excited that Erica has asked Allie and their closest friends to attend the competition. Unfortunately Allie's mom made plans for Allie to attend a birthday party on the same day.

Brittany Hauser, a frenemy from Allie's former school, is having a big birthday celebration. Her parents are renting a BMW SUV limo to take them into the city to go to Glitterati (the IT store), dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and a night in an expensive hotel. Despite her strong dislike for Brittany (you shouldn't hate anyone - it's a rule), Allie wants to go to check out Glitterati to see what everyone is raving about. How can she go after she told Erica she would attend Missy's competition? Allie exaggerates why she has to go and soon it spins out of control.

Allie quickly learns that sometimes the most expensive and exciting thing isn't always as great as it may seem.

Read-a-Thon Wrap-up

My eyes can barely focus, books are piled high on my desk and my couch is covered with pillows, blankets, my laptop and iPod. Which could only mean one thing: READ-A-THON.

Spending the day yesterday reading was exactly what I needed. October is off to a great start, so hopefully I can get my momentum going. Today will be filled with chores, napping and review writing.

Read-a-thon Stats:

Time spent reading: 13 hours, 30 minutes
Pages read: 1,010
Books completed: 6

1. Free to a Good Home - Eve Marie Mont
2. High School Musical Mystery Part 2: The Lost Verse - Stefan Petrucha & Sarah Kinney
3. Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #3) - Meg Cabot
4. Stage Fright (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #4) - Meg Cabot
5. Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #5) - Meg Cabot
6. Vanished (Private #12) - Kate Brian

Read-a-Thon Update #4

I'm at the home stretch... well for me anyway. I wanted to make to it 2am and that's in 2 hours. My eyes are getting very heavy. The good news is I reached my goal of reading 5 books! YAY!

My progress so far:

Hours: 8pm - 12am

Time spent reading: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Pages read: 223
Books completed: 1
Time spent blogging / Tweeting: 90 minutes
Mini-Challenges completed: 1
Currently reading: Vanished - Kate Brian

Books read:

1. Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #5) - Meg Cabot
   

_____________________________
Total time spent reading: 10 hours, 45 minutes
Total pages read: 888
Total books read: 5

1. Free to a Good Home - Eve Marie Mont
2. High School Musical Mystery Part 2: The Lost Verse - Stefan Petrucha & Sarah Kinney
3. Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #3) - Meg Cabot
4. Stage Fright (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #4) - Meg Cabot
5. Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #5) - Meg Cabot
   

Mini-Challenge: Mid-Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?
Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls #5: Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out - Meg Cabot

2. How many books have you read so far?
4

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Not sure if I will get to it, but probably The Postcard Killers by James Patterson & Liza Marklund. I'm also looking forward to reading Thin Rich Pretty by Beth Harbison. I think this will be my next read. I've wanted to read a book by this author for awhile now.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?
No. I originally had a hair appointment, but my stylist went out of town. The appointment was changed late last month.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Not really. My cats demanded my attention and wanted treats and their toys. But for the most part they have been curled up beside me all day.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
My schedule. Reading for 45 minutes and then taking a break for 15 minutes is working out quite well. Not reading heavy books or books longer than 300 pages is making it easier. As I mentioned earlier, this may change for book #6. I'm thinking I want to do something different.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
No. I think it's running very smoothly.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?
Set more iCal reminders! This week was very long at work and basically everything I had to do went out the window. I didn't think about the Read-a-Thon until Friday evening. I think setting more reminders will help me if I'm in this same situation next year. That way I can remember to plan my meals, snacks and book selection, blog template, etc in a timely fashion.

9. Are you getting tired yet?
Yes! But not as tired as I was around 6pm. I think if I nap, I may never get back up. I'm going to try to hang in there for awhile longer and then go to bed for the night. My goal is to make it until 2am.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?
Reading children's fiction books help as well as young adult. Trying reading books that are short and light. Have fun and know your limits. It's not a race to the finish line. Read and have a good time!

Read-a-Thon Update #3

I'm realizing reading for 45 minutes and taking a break for 15 minutes is working out well for me. Reading middle school level books is best. Reading a book for a short period of time is helpful (not to mention a book with less than 230 pages doesn't seem as daunting). However, I am thinking about changing it up a bit and reading a chick lit book or cozy mystery for book #6.

Anyway here's my latest update:

Hours: 5pm - 8pm

Time spent reading: 3 hours
Pages read: 264
Books completed: 1
Time spent blogging / Tweeting: 60 minutes
Mini-Challenges completed: 0
Currently reading: Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out - Meg Cabot

Books read:

1. Stage Fright (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #4) - Meg Cabot
   

_____________________________
Total time spent reading: 8 hours, 15 minutes
Total pages read: 665
Total books read: 4

1. Free to a Good Home - Eve Marie Mont
2. High School Musical Mystery Part 2: The Lost Verse - Stefan Petrucha & Sarah Kinney
3. Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #3) - Meg Cabot
4. Stage Fright (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #4) - Meg Cabot
   

Read-a-Thon Update #2

I'm pretty happy with my reading so far. I took a break at 1pm to run. It's so gorgeous outside, with a slight breeze. Perfect running weather. I was just thrilled I didn't have to run on the treadmill.

Anyway here's my latest update:

Hours: 12pm - 4pm

Time spent reading: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Pages read: 188
Books completed: 1
Time spent blogging: 15 minutes
Mini-Challenges completed: 0
Currently reading: Stage Fright - Meg Cabot

Books read:

1. Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #3) - Meg Cabot
   

_____________________________
Total time spent reading: 5 hours, 15 minutes
Total pages read: 401
Total books read: 3

1. Free to a Good Home - Eve Marie Mont
2. High School Musical Mystery Part 2: The Lost Verse - Stefan Petrucha & Sarah Kinney
3. Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle Rules for Girls #3) - Meg Cabot
   

Read-a-Thon Update #1

Well, the first four hours of the Read-a-Thon are over. Granted, hour 1 didn't go quite as planned, but I managed to roll with it. By hour 2, my attention was solely on reading.

Here's my progress so far:

Hours: 8am-12pm

Time spent reading: 3 hours
Pages read: 213
Books completed: 2
Time spent blogging: 15 minutes
Mini-Challenges completed: 0
Currently reading: Best Friends and Drama Queens - Meg Cabot

Books read:

1. Free to a Good Home - Eve Marie Mont
2. High School Musical Mystery Part 2: The Lost Verse - Stefan Petrucha & Sarah Kinney
   

_____________________________
Total time spent reading: 3 hours
Total pages read: 213
Total books read: 2

1. Free to a Good Home - Eve Marie Mont
2. High School Musical Mystery Part 2: The Lost Verse - Stefan Petrucha & Sarah Kinney
   

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon

In less than two hours, Dewey's Read-a-Thon will start. I've been looking forward to this all week. I've had such a long work week, that I barely read at all. Long work days and early nights in bed really do not allow for much reading time. But... all that will change today. AND. I. CANNOT. WAIT!

I'm still tweaking my book selection. More than likely I'll be adding and removing books as the day goes on depending on my mood. I do know I want to finish my current read Free to a Good Home by Eve Marie Mont. It's a fantastic book, however uncontrollable events have pulled my attention away from the story. I have about 100 pages left and I am anxious to see if Noelle will get her happy ending (one I think she soooo deserves).

I know I'll read the latest Nancy Drew graphic novel and probably an Allie Finkle Rules for Girls book - which is a cute series, by the way. I have several cozy mysteries, young adult and fiction books to choose from:

• Thin Rich Pretty - Beth Harbison
• The Postcard Killers - James Patterson & Liza Marklund
• Vanished - Kate Brian
• Diva Las Vegas - Eileen Davidson
• Sleeping with Anemone - Kate Collins
• The Quick and the Thread - Amanda Lee

And let's not forget those 15 or more library books I have checked out!

Well, the clock is ticking and that means soon I can start reading. Just need to complete some last minute chores and then it's me, my book and the couch!

Best wishes for a great read-a-thon everyone!

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Title: The Love Goddess' Cooking School
Author: Melissa Senate
Release Date: October 26

Camilla's Cucinotta:
Italian Cooking Classes
Fresh take-home pastas and sauces daily
Benvenuti (Welcome!)

Holly Maguire's grandmother was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can't make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that's why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla's Cucinotta, she's determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother's legacy.

But Holly's four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla's chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter's heart. Juliet, Holly's childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can't find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend.

As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla's essential ingredients of wishes and memories into every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed–and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness. (From the author's website)