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FALLING INTO PLACE by Hattie Kauffman

May 19, 2014

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A Memoir of Overcoming

Ms. Kaufmman became an Emmy award winning television news correspondent in spite of being the daughter of alcoholic American Indian parents.

Her first major success came in Seattle because of the illness of both the morning news anchor and morning news reporter. As the only one left standing, Kauffman was given the opportunity to anchor the morning news and made the most of it.

Kauffman’s success had its price – 2 divorces and episodes of depression and remorse.

Ms. Kauffman’s story is quite powerful. Unfortunately, her tendency to switch back and forth in time, telling the story and then providing the backfill, makes for a difficult read. If you a fan, its good reading; if not, you might want to give it a pass.

05/14 Jack Quick

FALLING INTO PLACE by Hattie Kauffman. Baker Books (September 15, 2013). ISBN 978-0801015380. 240p.

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THE SCANDAL IN KISSING AN HEIR by Sophie Barnes

May 18, 2014

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At the Kingsborough Ball (Book 2)

This is the second book in the Kingsborough Ball trilogy. The series is founded “at the Kingsborough Ball,”a lavish event at the heart of the first book in the series, The Trouble with Being a Duke, and this book begins at the same event. These books do not have to be read in order.

Lady Rebecca has been orphaned, and her aunt and uncle take her in. She is of marriageable age and their goal appears to be to marry her off to the highest bidder. She feigns madness for a couple of years to avoid this end but time runs out.

Unfortunately, the two highest bidders are both fifty years older than she is. Barnes seems to like the “trophy wife” theme, but in this case the trophy wife to be has no intention of living that life. Instead, she sneaks into the Kingsborough Ball, and meets Daniel Neville.

Neville is a notorious rake and heir to the Marquis of Wolvington. He is also orphaned and his aunt and uncle have threatened to cut him off financially unless he mends his ways and finds a bride by the end of the month. Off to the ball he goes, where he is ostracized by all the good girls looking for a husband.

Then he spots this gorgeous woman in a scandalous scarlet dress. There is a mutual attraction and need, and Daniel pursues Lady Rebecca, but finds he can’t outbid her other suitors. Things take an even more scandalous turn and then they have to live with the consequences.

There is the requisite happy ending, of course. But there are also lots of obstacles along the way and some explicit sex. It is a very fast paced story and Barnes really knows how to draw the reader in – I read it in one sitting.

I am looking forward to the last book in the series, The Danger in Tempting an Earl. The teaser of a first chapter of that book is in the back of this one.

NOTE: As of this writing, Kindle version available for $.99!

5/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SCANDAL IN KISSING AN HEIR by Sophie Barnes. Avon (December 31, 2013). ISBN 978-0062245175. 384p.

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THE SACRIFICE by Peg Brantley

May 17, 2014

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Another great read from Ms Brantley. Although it begins in Colorado which Ms. Brantley calls home, most of the action takes place in and around New Orleans, or as we say Naw’lins.

Mex Anderson was an honest Mexican cop. The drug cartel punished him by killing his pregnant wife and two children. Now a high ranking member of the cartel has come to Mex with a proposition – find the leader’s missing daughter and he will give Mex the name of the man who ordered the murder of Mex’s family. The leader’s son applies additional pressure to Mex by kidnapping Mex’s sister to be returned only if his sister is returned alive.

Suspense builds until near the end when it all comes together, but wait, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet, so keep on reading. You won’t be disappointed.

05/14 Jack Quick

THE SACRIFICE by Peg Brantley. Bark Publishing, LLC (October 25, 2013). ISBN 978-0985363857. 298p.

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THE SON by Jo Nesbo

May 16, 2014

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Nesbo is a Norwegian author who has made his mark in English speaking countries with translations of a series of novels about Harry Hole, who is a detective operating in Norway. The Son is a stand alone novel and an excellent addition to his previous books.

Sonny Loftus has been in prison for 12 years for crimes that he has not committed. He is compensated by an easy incarceration and all the heroin he can consume to insure that he take the blame for those crimes. He is popular with the other prisoners due to his ability to calm them down and soothe them.

Sonny became an addict when his father, a police officer, committed suicide and he agreed to serve time in jail. But when Sonny learns a long held secret about his father, he executes a brilliant escape from prison and begins to hunt the people that caused his father’s suicide. Among these are two men; one known as the “Twin” and the other the “Mole,” who figure prominently in the crime scene in Oslo.

In the course of his investigation, Sonny meets a young woman who is head of a home for the indigent and falls in love with her. She reciprocates when she meets him while he is staying at the home. He also successfully kicks the heroin habit and becomes fixated with living a normal life with Martha, the young lady he met.

Police methods, investigations and good and evil people are similar to these types all over the world and the events of Sonny’s quests, while set in Oslo, are very much like those of a novel set anywhere else in the world. Characterizations are well done and readers will empathize with Sonny and his decisions to take vengeance on various people, as well as his finding both the “Twin” and the “Mole”.

Well done and engrossing book.

5/14 Paul Lane

THE SON by Jo Nesbo. Knopf (May 13, 2014). ISBN 978-0385351379. 416p.

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HOT PURSUIT by Roderick Thorp

May 15, 2014

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Thorp, the author of Nothing Lasts Forever, which was made into the movie “Die Hard” gives us a short novel filled with excitement and the fast moving action of that book.

Sam Merrill, a young Coast Guard Lt Commander comes upon a yacht filled with a fortune in gold, money, and contraband and becomes a national hero for his find. As a reward for the discovery the US government sends him and his wife Amy on an all expense paid trip to the Bahamas. Enjoying themselves and their 15 minutes of fame, Sam and Amy become turned on their heads when out of the blue, they are attacked by terrorists who succeed in kidnapping Amy. From a dream situation Sam finds himself in the nightmare of finding and rescuing his wife.

The reasons for the attack on them while on vacation become apparent when his search takes him to Cartagena Columbia and into the lair of an international drug ring. Action follows action as the reader is catapulted into the nightmare with the Merrills and caught up in a rapidly moving stay up all night book with back and forth action and reaction between all sides.

A definite must read and one which again stamps Thorp as a writer to welcome again and again as his books come out.

5/14 Paul Lane

HOT PURSUIT by Roderick Thorp. Premier Digital Publishing (May 13, 2014). ISBN 978-1624671869. 250p.

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BONE DUST WHITE by Karin Salvalaggio

May 14, 2014

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Rural Montana’s frozen tundra is the setting for this literary mystery debut. Eighteen-year-old Grace is home alone after recuperating from a heart transplant when she sees a man stab a woman on the fringes of the property behind her home, then take off.

Despite the cold, she runs out the back door to try and help. She is shocked to find the victim is the mother who abandoned her eleven years earlier, but she is too late to help. Detective Macy Greeley is assigned the case as she’s been tracking the victim in connection with a sex slavery ring. But Collier, Montana is a small town full of evil secrets and no one is talking, least of all Grace.

Greeley becomes convinced that Grace knows a lot more than she’s telling, but she has to ferret out the information herself while dealing with a pregnancy that’s the result of a liaison with her married boss. The icy winter itself becomes almost another character in this dark, brooding whodunit filled with sharp twists and idiosyncratic characters. This debut should appeal to fans of C.J. Box and Nevada Barr.

2/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BONE DUST WHITE by Karin Salvalaggio. Minotaur Books (May 13, 2014). ISBN 978-1250046185. 304p.

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EXTRA VIRGIN by Gabriele Corcos & Debi Mazar

May 12, 2014

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Recipes & Love from Our Tuscan Kitchen

This is a cookbook based on the Cooking Channel TV show, Extra Virgin, starring actress Debi Mazar (Entourage, Goodfellas, etc.) and her Italian husband, Gabriele Corcos. The show is about their life with their 2 young daughters and centers around food. I enjoy the show, they are very likeable, the kids are cute, and the food always looks good. And now they have a cookbook.

Gabriele is from Tuscany, and the family has traveled to Tuscany on their series, so the food reflects that heritage. Also included are comments from the pair, lots of pictures of the food and the family and of course, some really great recipes.

There is an entire chapter on risotto that begins with a page of instructions and tips, followed by a simple recipe for vegetable stock, which Gabriele prefers to chicken stock in making risotto. I also like his tip to save the rinds of Parmigiano-Reggiano, which he uses in preparing the risotto. He also prefers Carnaroli to Arborio rice. There are ingredients throughout the book that may be difficult to obtain outside of Italy or maybe New York City, although substitutes are usually given.

I also like that he takes familiar American food and re-interprets it to his native Tuscany. The Super Tuscan Burger is a good example, with Pecorino, provolone and avocado. He also does it with Fish Tacos by using semolina in the batter for the fish.

There’s another short chapter on pizza, with some unusual toppings like beef carpacio and a breakfast pizza with eggs and pancetta. The paninis are terrific, especially the Speck, Pecorino & Grilled Eggplant Sandwich and the Prosciutto & Taleggio Sandwich with Fig Preserves – one bite and you’ll never eat ham & cheese again.

There are pasta recipes, of course, and some basic Italian sauces like Bolognese and Besciamella, which are used to create a traditional Lasagne Alla Bolonese, which is nothing like your typical heavy American lasagna laden with ricotta and mozzarella. Four-Cheese Penne is an Italian mac & cheese, but the addition of some stinky cheeses like Gorgonzola and Taleggio really give it great flavor. Pasta Alla Gricia is penne or spaghetti with guanciale, pig jowl, which is usually available at Italian markets.

Soups include the ubiquitous minestrone, Tuscan Bread and Tomato Soup, Lobster and Cannellini Bean Soup, an unusual, super healthy Cold Vegetable Soup with Mint and several more. There are meat and fish dishes too, like Florentine Osso Buco, Beef Stew with Polenta, Drunken Tuna (with red wine) and Livorno-Style Mixed Fish Stew.

Desserts look pretty good, there are mostly fruit based deserts and really nothing too chocolaty. I’m especially intrigued by the Chestnut Flour Cake and the Florentine Orange Cake. There is a gelato, Olive Oil Gelato with Cherry Compote, and a sorbet, a Coffee Granita and of course, Tiramisu.

All in all, this is a lovely cookbook. I especially enjoy Debi & Gabriele’s voices throughout. Italian food aficionados will really appreciate this taste of Tuscany.

5/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

EXTRA VIRGIN by Gabriele Corcos & Debi Mazar. Clarkson Potter (May 6, 2014). ISBN 978-0385346054. 272p.

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THE THREE EMPERORS by William Dietrich

May 11, 2014

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An Ethan Gage Adventure

Dietrich continues his series of novels about the adventures of Ethan Gage traveling the world and encountering the French emperor Napoleon at various periods of the great man’s military feats.

After a quick witted escape from death at the naval battle of Trafalgar, Gage sets out to find and rescue his wife Astiza and son Harry, who have fled to avoid capture and fallen into the hands of a ruthless mystic. The mystic lusts after Astiza and to keep him away from his mother, Harry manages to disfigure him by hurling acid at his face.

The pair escape retribution by indicating that Astiza, through her skills in alchemy, will be able to turn base material into gold, and help the mystic find a fabled automaton rumored to be able to tell the future. Astiza manages to keep her unwanted suitor at bay by her experiments, promising to comply with his demands until Ethan finally reaches her and his son.

En route to find his family, Ethan is drafted into the French army and is forced to take part in the battle of Austerlitz, thought to be Napoleon’s greatest victory. He survives the fighting and manages to flee the army with the help of a Jewish soldier and continues on the journey looking for Astiza.

Dietrich delves into the metaphysics of the period when describing the search for a grave containing the automaton as well as the body of the man that created it. It is a departure for the author but well done in terms of making the story better and could have been accomplished by the skills of the period if the imagination was available. It is certain that Dietrich will continue with the characters created in this series, and there are many possibilities still open for their adventures. The research into the early 1800s, Napoleon’s time frame of action, is evident and while literary license is used in many aspects of the novels, the main events are well delineated for the reader.

5/14 Paul Lane

THE THREE EMPERORS by William Dietrich. Harper (May 6, 2014). ISBN 978-0062194107. 384p.

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ARCLIGHT by Josin L. McQuein

May 10, 2014

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In Marina’s world there is the dark, the gray, and the Arclight. The Arclight means life to those who are left. Those who are still human. For the Fade, those who populate the dark, light means death and this is what keeps Marina and the rest safe. But one day the Fade find a way inside the Arclight. Now the life humankind has built for itself is at stake and it’s up to Marina, the only person who’s survived life beyond the light, to help save everyone.

I was quite stunned by Arclight. This wasn’t a book I’d heard much about when it was released last year – possibly because the premise is unique enough that no one would want to give away too much. And it is quite different. The reader is thrown into Marina’s world from page one without much explanation at all. I’ll admit I was more than a little confused but stuck it out to see what would be revealed in the pages to come, and I’m so glad that I did.

McQuein’s futuristic setting is one in which technology has overtaken everything. And while those in the Arclight are knowledgeable about things like the scientific achievements that surround them, the truth about their world is kept somewhat secret by those in charge.

5/14 Becky Lejeune

ARCLIGHT by Josin L. McQuein. Greenwillow Books; Reprint edition (March 25, 2014). ISBN 978-0062130150. 432p.

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DELICIOUS! by Ruth Reichl

May 9, 2014

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Ruth Reichl is well known for her memoirs, including my favorite, Garlic & Sapphires, about her stint as the New York Times restaurant critic. She is also well known for her stewardship at Gourmet magazine before its demise, and her occasional appearances on TV shows like Top Chef. This is her first novel, and it’s a really fun read.

Billie Breslin quits college in her senior year to apply for a job as assistant to the editor at a famous food magazine, Delicious. At her interview she is asked to cook, which freaks her out a bit but she rolls up her sleeves and makes gingerbread. Billie concocted the recipe when she was ten years old after her mother died, taking the recipe with her. The gingerbread cinches her the job, and she moves from California to New York City.

On her first day she is sent out with Sal on an errand. Sal owns Fontinari’s, a famous Manhattan cheese shop and deli, and he gives her a foodie tour of the city. Turns out Billie has a gift, a palate that can easily pick out even the most unusual flavors. Sal keeps her out so long she fears she will be fired her first day, but she can’t bring herself to leave him and his fascinating tour.

Billie keeps her job, at least for a while, making friends with the staff along the way including Sammy, the tweed wearing, multi-syllabic vocabulary spouting travel writer. She writes letters home to her older sister Genie, whom she idolizes. Billie has always felt second rate compared to her beautiful, talented, smart sister and fails to recognize her own gifts.

When Delicious is suddenly shut down, à la Gourmet magazine, all her new friends find themselves out of work, but Billie is asked to stay on to handle the “Delicious Guarantee”, basically a customer service nightmare of a job. But she has bills to pay so she says yes, rattling around in the big empty mansion that once housed the magazine.

Sammy shows her the previously verboten library, which had been locked for years. They find a secret room hidden behind a bookcase, which hides shelves of handwritten letters dating back to World War II. She is entranced with Lulu, a 12 year old girl who has a correspondence with famed chef James Beard, a one time employee of the magazine.

Tracking down Lulu’s letters becomes Billie’s preoccupation, and the meticulous research that Reichl did shines here, especially in light of the treatment of the Italian Americans (and Italians) during the war. This aspect of the book reminded me of Killer Smile by Lisa Scottoline, which also touched on this topic in a very personal way.

Billie also has a love interest, eventually – a regular customer at Fontinari’s, where Billie works on weekends. Dubbed “Mr. Complainer,” the mystery man keeps popping up throughout, adding another layer of interest.

I have carefully resisted all the food metaphors that would be so easy to employ here, but I have to say that this is a very sweet book, and an entertaining, fast read – a wonderful way to kick off summer reading.

5/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DELICIOUS! by Ruth Reichl. Random House (May 6, 2014). ISBN 978-1400069620. 400p.

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