Book Review: The Kind Worth Killing

Some people are the kind worth killing ... that's the conclusion beautiful Lily has come to over the course of her life. Enter the extremely wealthy yet devastated Ted, who is on the same delayed night flight from London to Boston and has just recently discovered his wife is cheating on him. Lily and Ted meet in the airport bar before the flight, continue their conversation on the plane and enter into a dark partnership to kill his wife.

Who meets a random stranger on a plane and trusts them enough to truly consider committing such a  serious crime together? It's an intriguing start, and that's just the beginning of this intricate, psychological thriller, The Kind Worth Killing, by Peter Swanson. It's a story full of unreliable narrators, clever surprises and dark betrayals.

Just when you think you know where the plot is going with this story, it throws some twists and turns and takes you in a new direction. It was one of those books I stayed up reading way past bedtime. I wanted to know who lived and who died ... and who got away with it.

You should read this book if you're plotting to kill someone ... or if you relish reading about sociopaths and coldhearted killers. Would your sense of justice lead you to kill someone who betrayed you?

I bought this book from Amazon for my Kindle. No free books or advanced reader copies for this one. It just looked too good to pass up!

Book Review: Day Shift by Charlaine Harris

Charlaine Harris, author of the best-selling Sookie Stackhouse series that the HBO True Blood show was based on, is about to publish the second book in a fresh new series.

Day Shift is set in small town Midnight, Texas, the cast in this murder mystery is a fascinating menagerie of unique characters who aren't what they seem. Half the fun of reading this book is trying to figure out who or what these characters are, and why they live in tiny Midnight.

There are three plot lines in this story, and they are all intriguing. Manfred, the legit physic who runs a not-so-authentic psychic hotline, has a wealthy client die in such a manner than he's a suspect. The run-down, abandoned old hotel has suddenly been refurbished, and strange new visitors enter the picture. And, reclusive ole Rev has a surprising young guest who has a compelling effect on all the residents.

My absolutely favorite genre to read is mystery, with fantasy following a close second, so any time these two are combined, I'm willing to dive right in. And this book didn't disappoint. The plot mysteries were solid, the characters more than two-dimensional and we learned more about the curious and secretive beings in Midnight.

Some books in a series are fine as a stand-alone, and this one is not bad on it's own ... but it's definitely a lot less confusing and more exciting if you start with the first book in the series, Midnight Crossroad.

I received an advance copy of this book to read through NetGally, a free site where you can discover, read and review new books before they are published. Day Shift is due out in bookstores on May 5, 2015. 

Painting with a Twist

Last night, I went to Painting with a Twist.

As an apartment complex sponsored event, I didn't have to pay the full price, and it was an opportunity to check out something I'd want to try for a while.

At Painting with a Twist, you can paint with no artistic talent necessary! It's BYOB, so you bring your favorite beverage and snacks ... and it's all about getting creative and having fun. I LOVED it!

The instructor walks you through painting ...
the entire class is painting the same thing ...
although, of course, everyone's turns out different.


You start with a blank canvas. Here's mine:







Then the lady instructed us on how to start working on our background: Paint met canvas.










Ta da! The background is complete.





I know it looks like a 4-yr-old did it. It was still FUN.






And here you have it, the completed product!






(I won't quit my day job any time soon, let me tell you) but I had so much fun!!

 I plan to do it again soon ... and take my boys.
Or my grandmother.

Have you ever done a painting class like this?




 

The Epic Battle of the Orange Sweatshirt

Sunday's Epic Battle with Remy was ...
over a sweatshirt.

Which I insisted he bring to his 1 1/2 hour outdoor batting practice in 40 degree weather.

I rushed home from work to attend his school Open House.
Then we rushed home to change clothes
and leave for his batting practice.

We loaded into the car and took off.
One block later, I realized he was in a t-shirt and shorts.
And it was COLD.
So, I turned around and went back home,
and made him run inside to get a sweatshirt.

He freaked out.
He didn't NEED the sweatshirt.
He didn't want to be late.
He hated me.
I was the worst mom ever. 

He ended up wearing it the entire practice.


Why does he fight me?
When I'm so clearly right?


After the practice, I got him to admit he was wrong.
and that I was right.
that he was GLAD he had his sweatshirt. 

Call me ridiculous, but I savored that moment
That moment of pure motherhood bliss. 



 

Master Social Media Certification Scholarship Contest for U.S. Military Veterans

I'm so excited to be a part of something special for the men and women 

who have given so much for our country.

The company I work for, Splash Media, is giving away social media training 

to active and retired U.S. Military.

We're giving 50 scholarships to military veterans who want a career or training in social media.

 50 Scholarships!!

Our Master Social Media Certification is an 100% online, self-paced program offered through our accredited social media university, Splash Media U. 

Graduates of this program will become experts in content marketing, blog marketing, community building, and search engine optimized social media across the various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Blogging.

So, whether your wanting to learn more about social media marketing ... or wanting to embrace a career in social media, the Master Social Media Certification is the route to take.

 Go to the Splash U Scholarship Contest and check out the details.

You can nominate yourself or someone else 

(but the nominee must be an active or retired military vet or spouse.)

Good luck!

And if you're interested in writing a blog post about this contest, contact me 

and we can work out an extra scholarship 

to give away on your blog too!

 

BlogHer Book Review: Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster

Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster was a wild book.


I didn't like it at first, but I was determined to finish it.
The character was unlikeable.
The tone was irritating.
I didn't think I was going to be able to keep reading ...
and then, after a while,
it grew on me,
as did the character.


The main character, Lissy Ryder, was a mean girl in high school,
popular, bitchy and completely self-centered.

And as she attends her 20th high school reunion,
we see she's still much the same,
but things start changing
and she's sent back in time to redo high school.


I'm intrigued by the thought of re-doing high school.
I enjoyed high school, it wasn't a bad time for me.
But, I definitely have things I wished I done different.

 I was too wrapped up in a guy (who I later married).
I wish I'd spent more time hanging with girlfriends and exploring life.

 But, I'd be terrified to change things
because I wouldn't want to lose the two most important things in my life currently, my boys.

This book was an interesting read,
and it makes you ponder your own high school years, that's for sure.


 Check out our BlogHer book club discussion.

And follow Jen Lancaster on Twitter!



This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

BlogHer Book Review: Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner

 

Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner was an exciting read.

It's a book I would have read,
even if it wasn't sent to me for a book review.

I love mysteries.
Ever since Nancy Drew,
I've been a HUGE fan of reading fiction and looking for clues, trying to solve the mystery.

This story lived up to my expectations.

 In this pyschological thriller, a family is kidnapped for unknown reasons.
No ransom or reason is left for the cops.
The family is held in a remote, bizarre location with brutality and confusing actions.
As the reader, we go back and forth between the family and the cops,
and both perspectives add to the big picture ...
but the mystery isn't clear until the end.

Lisa Gardner is an excellent thriller writer, and this was one of those books that was hard to put down.


This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.