Author: Bubble Bubble Books and Trouble

The Swamp Whisperer by Sylvia Dickey Smith

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies2 Comments

I need another book like a hole in the head, but sometimes I can’t resist a good story in a spooky rural setting with ghosts, feisty female characters and a good old-fashioned whodunit. That’s why I love Sylvia Dickey Smith’s Sidra Smart mysteries. She may not be a household name like Heather Graham or Nora Roberts, but this talented Texan writes like a pro – and I’m just so glad I stumbled upon her books that fateful day at the Texas Book Festival!

I have a theory for why the big publishing houses haven’t signed her on. You see, just like show biz, publishers have to appeal to the masses, and that means gorgeous long-legged protagonists, formulaic plotlines and contrived love triangles. Sure these bestselling authors occasionally include a senior citizen, but the old folks are typically the token “zany granny.”

Never one to follow the lead, Dickey Smith’s books are a welcome departure from the norm.   Boo Murphy, the leading lady in “Swamp Whisperer,” is by far one of the most unique protagonists I’ve come across in crime fiction. She’s cranky, obstinate, and full of piss and vinegar! She’s completely insufferable, but when you peel back the layers, it’s hard not to find a soft spot in your heart for this overgrown tomboy.

The mystery begins when Boo paddles out into the alligator-infested bayou and finds an Atakapa-Ishak brushwood hut. Considering that the Native American tribe of alleged cannibals disappeared from the Texas and Louisiana coastal regions centuries ago, it’s downright impossible for a hut to still remain standing.

All is not well, the cold rain whispered. Boo looked around, expecting to see a ghostly figure floating across the swamp, but no one was there.  This time she knew she hadn’t been imagining things – of that she was most convinced.

To prove she’s not going senile, she grabs her prissy cousin Sasha and heads back out into the murky water in search of the hut. After a boating mishap, they seek refuge in a spooky cabin, where they stumble upon a ghostly apparition and find a frightened woman trapped underneath a dead body.

After a thorough interrogation, the woman reveals that she’s a part of a covert anthropological project. Under the guise of research, an egotistical professor and a group of scholars are recreating the site of an Atakapa-Ishak village. Is this legitimate scientific research, or a self-serving treasure hunt? Good thing Boo was able to pocket that mysterious map from the dead man’s cabin.

Things get complicated when Boo’s beloved hound and cousin go missing. Someone knows she has the map – and Boo needs to piece together the clues to rescue her loved ones and save the sacred silver mine from desecration. With some help from an ethereal spirit within the swamp, she finds the strength and courage to track down the killer…and learns a bit about herself in the process.

The wind’s embrace seeped into her pores and stirred her insides. She sucked in a deep breath, allowing the dampness to fill her lungs with every particle of oxygen available to her. She held that breath as long as she could, hating to let it go, for never before had she felt so strongly that she and the swamp were one entity with one purpose – but what that purpose was, she hadn’t a clue.

Listen, the wind warned. The swamp is at risk, can’t you tell?

I’ll stop right here before I give too much away. If you’re into atmospheric whodunits, I implore you to read this book! What I really love about this author is her knack for character development. Through Boo’s grumbling self-dialogue, readers can feel her strong bond with nature and emphasize with her resistance to love and be loved. Oh how I love Boo! We don’t get many heroines like this one in crime fiction – or any other genre for that matter – but we should. Though this is a Sidra Smart mystery, this is really Boo’s time to shine. But don’t fret; the book sporadically touches on Sidra’s misadventures as she road trips with her eccentric aunt to Santa Fe for a wedding. I won’t give too much away, but I will tell you there’s ghosts involved!

If you’ve never read a Sylvia Dickey Smith book, this one will draw you into the fold. Her love of Southeast Texas comes through in her luscious descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells of the swamp. At times I began to wonder if perhaps she might be a swamp whisperer herself!

If you’d like to meet this fabulous author, she’ll be at the Texas Book Festival, which is happening this month. I can’t wait!!!

A Q&A with Jane Heller

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies6 Comments

With more than a dozen books under her belt, Jane Heller has gained a steady following of chick lit fans around the world. If you love fun and frothy “girl in the city” novels filled with quirky protagonists, rollicking misadventures, romance and humor, give one of her books a test drive. Since I’m no stranger to sibling rivalry, I’m especially intrigued by “Sis Boom Bah,” a saucy little whodunit filled with romance, murder and sisterly bonding. Stay tuned for the review!

Please join me in welcoming Jane Heller to Chick Lit Café. She was kind enough to take the time to answer my questions about her obsession with the Yankees, pending Hollywood productions, and her upcoming nonfiction memoir “You’d Better Not Die or I’ll Kill You: A Caregiver’s Survival Guide to Keeping You in Good Health and Spirits” (November 2012).

No matter how crazy the situations or characters, readers can relate to them. How do you approach writing your characters?

I try to put myself in the character’s shoes and imagine what I would do in that situation. And then I layer onto that: What would this particular character do in that situation? So while the situations may involve elements of fantasy (“Infernal Affairs,” “The Secret Ingredient”) or family rivalries (“Sis Boom Bah,” “Lucky Stars”) or even murder (“Name Dropping,” “Clean Sweep,” “The Club”), which I’ve never dealt with, thank God, the tone is grounded in reality because the character comes from my own perspective, my own voice. Friends say that reading the novels is like talking to me on the phone!

If any of your books could be adapted into a movie, which one would you choose?

I’d choose all of them! Actually, I’ve had nine of the books optioned for film and television and each time we make a deal, I say to my husband, “This is it. It’s finally happening.” And then the movie doesn’t get produced. One of the novels, “An Ex to Grind,” is in active development now at Fox with Cameron Diaz and Benecio Del Toro attached to play Melanie and Dan, the two main characters. The studio hired the screenwriter of “The Break-Up” and “The Hangover” to write the script and he did a few drafts. But now they’re looking for another writer, which is typical of the development process. I thought we were very close to having a movie of “Lucky Stars.” It’s a mother-daughter comedy and the option was renewed several times, but then nothing. And when Julia Roberts optioned “Sis Boom Bah” for her production company, I was sure I’d be walking the red carpet. Haha. Didn’t happen. I live in hope.

How did writing “You’d Better Not Die or I’ll Kill You” help you cope with your husband’s illness?

Writing the book isn’t so much about helping me cope as much as it is trying to help others cope if they’re caring for a child, spouse or parent with a chronic or critical illness. My husband Michael has been sick, on and off, for the 20 years of our marriage and it hasn’t always been easy. I want the book to be the cheerful, upbeat companion I wish I’d had during those 20 years. So many of the 65 million caregivers in this country are women and I’ve been talking to women through my novels for a long time. I thought this book would be an extension of that conversation. I will always have the goal in my books, fiction or nonfiction, to lift people up with a laugh or a smile. Life is tough. If we can’t laugh, no matter how grim the situation, we’re in trouble.

Why is humor an important tool for you?

My father died when I was six and my mom remarried when I was nine. Suddenly, my older sister and I were in this big, blended family of six kids, and there was a lot of tension at times. I can remember sitting around the dinner table, wishing we were more like “The Brady Bunch,” but inevitably someone would get angry and storm off. I tried to cut the tension by telling jokes at the table. I’d do imitations of the teachers, the mailman, our family doctor, you name it. Being funny has always been my way of saying, “Hey, we need to laugh or we’ll go nuts.”

Let’s talk about “Confessions of a She-Fan.” Was it a risk to write a chick lit novel centered around baseball? And would you recommend this book to girly girls like me who aren’t into sports?

“Confessions of a She-Fan” isn’t a novel – it’s nonfiction – but I hope it reads like chick lit. That was my intention. I wanted to write about a female who happens to love a baseball team almost as much as she loves her husband. It evolved from a piece I wrote in the New York Times in which I announced (as a joke) that I was suing the Yankees for divorce on the grounds of mental cruelty because they were playing so poorly. That piece became the #1 emailed story in the Times the week it ran. I think it struck a chord because it cast a love for a sports team as a romantic love and people identified with that. Would you like it if you’re not into sports? Probably not. But I hope you’ll recommend it to girly girls like me who are into sports!

What’s the best piece of advice you could give an aspiring novelist?

To just sit down and write. I know that sounds sappy and cliché-ish, but it’s true. So many aspiring novelists tell me they want to write but don’t know what to do to get an agent or publisher. I tell them to forget about what will happen after they write. Don’t project into the future. Stay in the moment. Sit down and start with a sentence, then another. Then try a page, then a whole chapter. Before you know it, you’ll have 300 pages and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment. Some aspiring novelists say they don’t have time to write. To them I tell the story of a woman with whom I was on a panel a few years ago. She’d written her first novel and it was getting great reviews. She was a single mother of 10 kids, following the very sudden death of her husband, plus she had a full-time job at a newspaper. If she could find time to write a novel, so can anybody.

You are a prolific writer! How do you keep the momentum going?

My problem isn’t coming up with ideas for novels. It’s which idea to settle on for the long haul. Too often I start a book, only to realize the story is fizzling because it doesn’t have enough energy propelling it forward. So I try to pick what-if scenarios that interest me and that I’m sure others will relate to – from sibling rivalry to losing all your money to feeling stuck in a sinking romantic relationship. I’m also a voracious reader of magazines and blogs to get a sense of what women are talking about. And I listen to what my friends are talking about. Are they having issues with their husbands? Their kids? What’s on their minds? I zero in on a situation that feels right to me and off I go.

Can you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on now?

I’m working on a novel about a woman who has lost her job and her man and is trying everything to stay afloat – I mean everything. She finally lands a new job, only it turns out to be anything but what she expected. I can’t say any more, but I hope it’ll go smoothly so we can talk about it next time!

Want to know more about this talented author? Go here to peruse her books and visit her blog.

My Book Boyfriend # 7: Declan McCarthy

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies6 Comments


I just finished this fun little cozy filled with sugary pastries, adorable animals, witchcraft and murder. Pretty much all of my most favorite things wrapped up in a pink paperback. On top of all of that, the author included two swoon-worthy love interests: a sweet and protective fireman, and a potentially dangerous investigative journalist. Though the journalist is super sexy with his ponytail and mischievous grin, I’m rooting for the gentlemanly boy-next-door. Bad boys are fun, but the good guys will always be there to hold your hair after throwing back one too many at an obligatory holiday party.  Trust me, I speak from experience!

Without further ado, I bring you Declan McCarthy from Brownies and Broomsticks. With his dimples and sparkling blue eyes, I kept picturing young Dean Cain (circa Lois & Clark) as the charmingly sweet Declan.

Description: Smoking-hot fireman with big biceps, dimples and curly dark hair.

Here’s some scintillating snippets to send your heart all aflutter:

Dark curls cut short enough to adhere to the fire service regulations softened the edges of his broad, chiseled face. For a brief moment, his blue eyes cut my way and I was startled by how bright they were. The realization that I had never seen him outside my bakery slid into my consciousness as his lips turned up an infinitesimal amount. And darn if that didn’t show off the dimple in his cheek.

Here’s a young, shirtless Dean Cain. You’re welcome.

“Declan McCarthy, displaced Irishman, at your service, lassie.”

He stroked my cheek with his thumb. Before I knew it, his lips were on mine. His kiss was quick, casual and undemanding. Warm and comforting. Nice. My body pressed against him for a moment before I gathered my wits and stepped back.  

This is a fun little meme created by Missie over at the Unread Reader. Hop on over to her blog to see what it’s all about.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

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Confession – dystopian fiction isn’t really my thing, but how could I pass up a $5 bestseller on Audible? I’ve read so many stellar reviews about Delirium, so I figured it would be quality entertainment. Let me tell ya, if you’re an audiobook fan – check this one out! The narrator is absolutely fantastic!!! Through her dramatic narration, I really felt Lena’s anguish as she struggled to not fall victim to the dreaded love virus.

That’s right, love is considered to be a nasty disease in Lauren Oliver’s highly disturbing dystopian society. So to avoid infection, everyone must undergo a government-mandated lobotomy (aka “the procedure). After ridding themselves of the deliria, they go off to marry their government-assigned spouse and live out the rest of their loveless lives in suburbia.

In a sense, this is a new spin on the zombie apocalypse genre. Though they’re not shambling decomposing corpses, these people are left to wander the earth as vacant shells. Without the ability to love, they’re basically brainwashed and stripped of their souls. Come to think of it, it would be very much like living in a world of young Republicans. That, my friends, is a scary thought!

The townsfolk of Portland, Maine aren’t frightened. In fact, they’re looking forward to “the procedure” because life without love will be so much easier…or so the government says. For Lena Holloway, the operation couldn’t come soon enough. After her mother’s mysterious suicide, her ability to love is more like a form of torture. But after “the procedure” she can just go through the motions like her robotic aunt. After her 18th birthday, all the hurt, pain and sleepless nights will disappear forever. She’ll be under the government’s protection and everything will be hunky-dory.

But when Lena’s best friend begins to rebel against the government’s brainwashing regime, her comforting thoughts about “the procedure” begin to wane. What’s so wrong with listening to rock music and dancing with boys? Is love really catastrophic to a utopian society?

Things get even more confusing when she meets Alex, a mysterious young hospital security guard who sends her heart all aflutter. But it’s OK because the triangular scar on his neck proves that he’s “cured.” There’s no way she’ll contract the love virus…right?

As their relationship intensifies, Lena’s sheltered life begins to crumble. Her days as a normal teenage girl are numbered. And in a matter of days, her rainbow swirl of emotions will morph into a permanent state of gray. Should she go the safe route and adhere to the government’s rules? Or should she go with her gut and run away to the wilds, where the infected rebels (aka “the invalids”) live like animals? You’re going to have to read the book to find out!

Needless to say, the audiobook was definitely worth the five bucks. Though Delirium is classified as young adult, it’s much more existential than a lot of the books you’ll find on the contemporary fiction shelves. Looking back at a conversation I had with a Texas literature expert, I remember him saying there are a lot of books that have nothing happening on the page. Sure, there’s dialogue and action going on, but the energy just isn’t there. The great books – the ones that transport us to another reality– bring the story to life on every page. That’s what’s going on in Delirium. Lauren Oliver has clearly mastered the craft of writing – and I can’t wait to read what will happen next in Lena’s journey!

Short & Sweet Sundays: Misfortune Cookie by Michele Gorman

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In honor of Sunday – a day I reserve for reading and lollygagging – I bring you a short and sweet book review! 

The gist (from the publisher): Would you move 6,000 miles to be with the love of your life? Hannah did. Unfortunately her plan isn’t going terribly well. What was supposed to be a move to Hong Kong to start a wonderful new life with Sam is turning into a move to Hong Kong to spend occasional weekends with Sam, when he can get away from an unanticipated work assignment on the opposite side of the South China Sea. Still, she’s optimistic, if woefully unprepared for the intricacies of Hong Kong. Stumbling through the alien city, which she loves, she starts to build a life for herself. Things definitely look up when she finds a great boss to work for, and her best friend Stacy moves to the city too. But alarm bells ring as Sam seems to be getting a bit too cozy with his boss. And when things start going wrong at work, Hannah can’t help but wonder if she’s made the biggest mistake of her life.

Why it’s unique: It’s set in Hong Kong! Though I have zero interest in traveling to a Asia, it’s fun partaking in Hannah’s many culture-shock experiences. Come to think of it, setting a story in a foreign land can be a bit of a risk. If readers aren’t traveling vicariously through the author’s prose, they’re going to feel let down. Well, Michele certainly didn’t fall short in this department! Here’s a little taste of her whimsical descriptions of Hong Kong’s exotic cityscape:

Hundreds of skyscrapers pulse and glow in the lilac twilight, their stairwell lights running up them like excavated dinosaurs’ spines. The dark pool of the harbor beyond the building reflects back at us, deceptively calm. And Kowloon blankets the far shore, stretching into the distance. I don’t’ think I’ll ever get used to these views, or take them for granted. I hope not.

What surprised me: Despite the fact that Hannah moved across oceans to follow a man, the book has some surprising girl power moments. Just when I thought I made up my mind about the flighty protagonist, she’d totally redeem herself by doing something ballsy. I won’t give too much away, but I will say that I was very pleased with her decisions. You go girl!

What irked me:  Hannah is frustrating. She’s a little too ditzy in a wide-eyed, bumbling Bridget Jones kind of way. She’s the kind of girl who agonizes incessantly about her boyfriend when she should be enjoying a night out with the girls. I was especially put off when she left her BFF all alone on her first night in Hong Kong so she could squeeze in another date with her boyfriend. Lame!

Will I read another book by this author? Well after that puzzling ending, I kind of have to! Seems like Hannah’s journey of self-discovery has only begun – and I can’t wait to see where she’ll end up next! The author sure knows how to leave her readers guessing.

This book is best paired with: A silky kimono robe and a frilly pink cosmo.

Overall: This is a fun, fast read that is sure to entertain fans of Sophie Kinsella (Shopaholic series) and Helen Fielding (Bridget Jone’s Diary). Hannah’s hilarious inner dialogue and many awkward moments had me giggling throughout the book. If you’re looking for something light and amusing, check this one out.

Hostile Makeover Book & Lifetime Movie Review

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies5 Comments

Washington DC has its share of problems – corrupt politicians, astronomical living expenses, congested roadways to name a few. On top of all that, it’s the town fashion forgot. It’s a place where helmet-haired women in boxy power suits run rampant. Men in noose-tight neckties and high-water trousers roam the streets. Heck – the whole town is a What Not to Wear Fest!

Thankfully, Lacey Smithsonian, a crime reporter-turned fashion columnist, is on the beat. Okay now don’t roll your eyes just yet! This isn’t your typical trash-talking E Entertainment commentator. As a matter of fact, she’s not even into labels (ick!) and couture fashion. Heck, she doesn’t even want to write a fashion column, but it was the only reporting gig she could get after moving from Colorado to DC. With a nose for hard news, she manages to find her way on the front page. You see, the fashion industry is cutthroat – literally!

In the third  installment of Ellen Byerrum’s fun and frothy Crime of Fashion series, Lacey must solve the murder of Amanda Manville, a former “ugly duckling” turned supermodel beauty. Thanks to a highly disturbing makeover TV show, she got the full works in plastic surgery, hair extensions and cosmetic dentistry.

Now a stark-raving diva from hell (picture Shannon Doherty meets Janice Dickenson), she’s got more enemies than Naomi Campbell. Since she kicked her sweet, homely boyfriend to the curb and jumped in bed with her hotshot plastic surgeon, she’s been scratched off of a lot of Christmas card lists. Plus she’s taking credit for her sister’s Snazzy Jane fashion designs, so not cool! Soon enough, she starts receiving notes about her impending death from a crazed fan. Sure, death threats seem to come with the territory of celebrity stardom, but these foreboding notes seem to have a personal touch.

Aware of Lacey’s reputation for solving crimes with fashion clues, Amanda demands her to ferret out the murderous fiend before it’s too late. Lacey begrudgingly looks into the case and finds a slew of possible suspects. Could it be the jealous sister, who’s having some trouble adjusting to Amanda’s stardom and her own fading looks? Or is it the stalker who’s determined to defame the girl who broke his best friend’s heart? What the heck happened to the ex-boyfriend anyway? Was Amanda involved in his disappearance? You’ll have to read the book to find out! You could also watch the movie, but there’s way too many holes in the mystery, so I recommend reading the book first.

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy the Lifetime movie adaptations of the Crime of Fashion books. Yes, a lot of loose ends are left untied, and a bunch of quirky characters are left out of the mix. But I must say, Lifetime did a fine job with the cast. Here’s my little rundown of where Lifetime went right, and where they missed the mark.


The Cast

I don’t think they could’ve picked a better actress to play Lacey Smithsonian. Maggie Lawson fits the profile: Smart, sassy, guarded and ambitious.  She plays a believable investigative reporter, and her chemistry with Vic is great.

Speaking of Vic – wow! This actor really hit the mark. He’s the textbook definition of a tall, dark and handsome love interest. Plus he’s got some decent acting chops to boot!

The actress who plays Lacey’s mom is also a winner. She’s funny, sassy and little more stylish than her book counterpart. Despite its short length, the movie does a good job capturing her disapproval of Lacey’s DC lifestyle and fanatical obsession with feng shui. Her incessant nagging frustrates Lacey to no end, yet they still have some sweet mother-daughter moments.

As for the sister, I was picturing a blonde cheerleader type, not a gangly brunette. I’m not sure why they had to change up the sister in the series, but overall the actress does a good job portraying a sheltered ditz.

Tony Trujillo, Eye Street crime reporter and Lacey’s friendly rival, is way different in the TV series. I pictured more of an urban cowboy type, but Lifetime turned him into more of a metrosexual pretty boy. But you know what – I kind of like what they did with this smart ass character. He’s super cute and his quips are hilarious. Wouldn’t it be fun if his flirtations  with Lacey blossomed into something more?!?

Another TV character I really enjoy is Felicity Pickles, Eye Street Observer food editor, resident cookie baker, and copy-editing bitch from hell. In the book she’s a mousey, stringy haired frump. But in the series, she’s much more fashion forward with her Marilyn Monroe hairdo and red-hot stilettos. I wish they included her nerdy love interest, Harlan Weidmeyer. Known as the office jinx, he seems to be the cause of fluke accidents. It would have been fun to see how things developed between the accident-prone reporter and the office witch on the small screen.


The Besties

Here’s where the movie went right! I love how Lacey and her two best gal pals are one big happy family. In the books, however, Brooke (a pragmatic lawyer)  and Stella (a leather-clad hairstylist) aren’t fans of each other, so Lacey typically hangs out with them separately. But in the movies, I really enjoy their Ya Ya Sisterhood moments, like when they come to Lacey’s rescue after an attack, or when they just hang out and do silly girly girl stuff.


The Fashions

Lacey loves all things vintage. She drives a classic Z, wears 1940s frocks and loves old movies. On TV, she seems to wear more of a mix of vintage and contemporary styles. I’m not sure why they didn’t go all out with World War II era ensembles, but she looked cute nonetheless. What’s really missing is Aunt Mimi’s trunk! It’s really a shame they didn’t include this integral piece of the story. Filled with sewing patterns, old dresses and memorabilia, the trunk gives Lacey a sense of peace and calm during times of crisis. I’m hoping that at some point, Aunt Mimi will join Lacey as a ghostly sidekick!

OK Lifetime fans, what do you think? Did the movies do the books justice? Post a comment and share your thoughts! For more about the author, who just so happens to be a fashionable DC journalist, check out her Q&A.

Short & Sweet Sundays: Trouble in Mudbug by Jana Deleon

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In honor of Sunday – a day I reserve for reading and lollygagging – I bring you a short and sweet book review! 

The gist (from the publisher): Scientist Maryse Robicheaux thought that a lot of her problems had gone away with her mother-in-law’s death. The woman was rude, pushy, manipulative and used her considerable wealth to run herd over the entire town of Mudbug, Louisiana.

Unfortunately, death doesn’t slow down Helena one bit.

DEA Agent Luc LeJeune is wondering what his undercover assignment investigating the sexy scientist has gotten him into – especially as it seems someone wants her dead. Keeping his secrets while protecting Maryse proves to be easier than fighting his attraction for the brainy beauty.

Why I picked this book up: I love cozy mysteries, especially if they’re set in the South. Throw in a ghost, a psychic best friend and a smoking-hot mysterious man, and I’m sold! Plus the hot pink pickup truck on the cover really caught my eye.

What I liked: The quirky main character and her wise-cracking ghostly sidekick really stole the show. Maryse has a deep connection to her friends, her town and the Louisiana bayou. She’s also a science wiz and a hermit, which really sets her apart from most chick lit protagonists. What I really love about Maryse is her selfless passion for finding a cure for cancer. Sometimes I read books involving self-centered protagonists who are a little too wrapped up in their own melodrama. If the leading protagonist rubs me the wrong way, the book is going straight to the used bookstore bin. After the last dud I attempted to read, which I won’t even bother reviewing, this book was a breath of fresh air.

What irked me: The mystery is just a tad bit on the light side. It doesn’t take a Miss Marple to figure out whodunit early on in the story. But the well-developed characters, laugh-out-loud quips and smoking-hot sex scenes offset the soft mystery plot. If you’re looking for a fun, fast read, pick this one up.

The romance: Luc LeJeune is H-O-T! And wowza, I’ve got to hand it to the author, she sure knows how to write a scorching baby-making scene. Holy smokes – I was not expecting such a cute little cozy mystery to make me blush.  

Will I read another book by this author? Heck yes! She really left me hanging in the last chapter. I need to find out how Maryse’s psychic best friend, Sabine LaVeche, is going to overcome her medical crisis. She needs to find a blood relative – and fast! I’m also looking forward to more zany antics by Maryse’s ghostly mother-in-law. That prissy little old lady really cracks me up!  

If you like this book, you’ll also enjoy titles by: Carolyn Haines, Carolyn Hart, Casey Daniels and Victoria Laurie.

Jessica’s Cranky Corner (No. 2) Don’t Call Me Ma’am!

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies16 Comments
Is this the face of a “ma’am”? I think not.

It happened again today. I was tremendously insulted by a perky little Starbucks barista. No, she didn’t roll her eyes in impatience, make a rude comment behind my back, or poke fun at my obnoxiously pink outfit. She did something far worse. She called me “ma’am.”  

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a very tolerant person. When they screw up my drink order or take a long time ringing up the high-maintenance customer ahead of me, I just roll with it. Heck – sometimes I even give them a sympathetic smile. Working in retail sucks, and I know from experience that these people – no matter how robotic or surly they may seem – need a big hug at the end of the day. But one thing they should never EVER do is call someone without a full head of gray hair “ma’am.”

Why do they do it? Out of respect for their elders? Well guess what people, I’m not a granny! A lady never reveals her true age, so let’s just say that I’m squeezed between the Kate Hudson-Reese Witherspoon age brackets. Do they look like ma’ams to you? I don’t think so.

I’m still a youngin’ dammit!  I can still squeeze my tush into a pair of jeans from the juniors section! I boogie to Lady Gaga! I say things like “LOL,” “TTYL,” and “ROTFL!” Wait…those techy acronyms are still hip, right? Do young people still even say “hip” anymore? Great – now I’m starting to doubt my cool factor!

But I digress…my point is that the word “ma’am” should be boycotted from the robotic customer service scripts that retail grunts must adhere to. This is an important rule that should be enforced in new employee handbooks. I tried to educate a checkout boy at my local grocery store, but to no avail. After he asked, “Did you find everything OK today ma’am?” I told him very politely that he shouldn’t ever call a woman under the age of 60 “ma’am.” I thought I got through to him until he muttered, “Do you need any help carrying these bags out to your car ma’am? UGH! That’s when I realized there’s no hope. Clearly, the word is so deeply embedded in their brains, so I might as well get used to it.

We’re about the same age. Does she look like a “ma’am”? No!

So as I’m sinking into the “acceptance stage” of my grief, I take pleasure in knowing that what goes around comes around. One day, they too will be called “ma’am.” I hope they walk away with their heads down low. I hope the dreaded word causes them to wince in agony. I hope they spend gobs of money on “age-defying” makeup at the MAC counter (cue evil laughter).

Wow – I’m really getting heated about this. Maybe I’m just feeling ultra-sensitive because I turned another year older today. I’m not totally freaking out about my declining youth. Old people have fun too. I have lots to look forward to – like Bingo nights, RV adventures and senior specials! I’m not in denial…really. Since today’s my b-day, I’m going to treat myself to this fun little book by Linda Franklin, “Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am.” Misery loves company, right?

What do y’all think? Is “ma’am” an inexcusable insult? Post a comment and partake in my cranky rant!

Bonefire of the Vanities by Carolyn Haines

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies1 Comment

 In this 12th installment of Carolyn Haines’ Bones series,  Sarah Booth Delaney slips on her high-heeled gumshoes yet again to investigate a possible scam involving a porn-star-turned ghost whisperer and a “psychic healing” resort. Promising reunions with dead loved ones and opportunities to “invest” in good causes, the shady psychic preys upon emotionally fragile rich people. And their new billionaire client, Marjorie Littlefield, certainly fits the profile.

Shattered after her daughter’s “accidental” drowning, she’s desperate to get some answers. Considering her fragile state, the psychics have ample opportunity to throw her off the deep end. And to make matters worse, she plans on leaving all her riches to her scrappy cat, Pluto.  Sounds pretty cold, right? Well considering her only son is the No. 1 suspect in his sister’s death, he’s pretty much on his own.

 Now on to the tricky part. How can a girl detective probe into the case if she can’t get inside the high-security estate?  Nestled in the backwoods of the Mississippi Delta, the sprawling resort is surrounded by an army of security guards and burglar-proof fences. With no other option but to pose as a member of the staff, she and her fellow PI, Tinkie, grab some brooms and masquerade as maids. In between laundry duty and window washing, the two sassy sleuths snoop around the spooky halls of Heart’s Desire and unearth some rather some rather unsettling clues. Are the disembodied voices a part of the scam? Or are supernatural forces at work? As the body count rises, Sarah Booth and Tinkie must stop at nothing to ferret out the killer and put an end to the charade.  

What I liked most: The creepy atmosphere. Confession – there are some parts in this book that really raised the little hairs on the back of my neck. I didn’t expect Carolyn Haines to creep me out with one of her cozy little Bones mysteries, but she never ceases to surprise me! Some of the happenings in the psychic reading room, located in the bellows of the resort, were really spooky. This particular scene gave me some serious goosebumps:

A soft moaning emanated from the end of the hallway. My mind leaped instantly to the classics of horror written by Edgar Allan Poe. This was a moment the melancholy master would employ to great effect. Corpse in the wall, living person in a coffin, pendulum. Black cat!

Favorite secondary character:  This mystery series is packed with a slew of colorful characters – from a sassy transgender reporter to a local resident psychic to a Southern belle best friend. But of all the eclectic characters, Jitty is my fave. The resident ghost of Sarah Booth’s beloved Dahlia house, Jitty has a way of making surprise appearances in unexpected places.  I especially love her outlandish disguises – and in this book she dresses up as two of my favorite detectives: Jessica Fletcher and Nancy Drew!

The romance: Yes, the romantic tension between Sarah Booth and her actor fiancé Graf Milieu, is pretty hot, but I still hope in my heart of hearts that she gets back together with Cole. They’re destined to be together, but whenever they find a happy place a stupid wrench gets thrown in the works. In Cole’s case, the wrench is his psychotic, control freak ex-wife. But being the Southern gentleman that he is, Cole must always save the perpetual damsel in distress whenever she has a meltdown. Ugh!  That kind of thing can really wear on a girl, so I don’t blame Sarah Booth for calling it quits. But hopefully someday, they’ll find their way back into each other’s arms!

This book is best paired with: A super-sweet glass of iced tea and a Rosanne Cash playlist.

Overall: As I expected, Carolyn Haines delivers a tightly-plotted mystery filled with rollicking adventures, loveable characters, four-legged sidekicks and surprise twists! I’m really good at pinpointing the killer, but this author always gets me at the end! Of all the cozy mystery series out there, this is my absolute favorite. That says a lot because I read a TON of mysteries! The author’s love of the Mississippi Delta clearly comes through in her writing. Through her lyrical prose, I can smell the earthy scent of red dirt, see the sun sparkling through the moss-covered trees, and hear the humming of cicadas on a hot summer’s day. Oh how I love Southern fiction! Want to know more about this fabulous author? Check out her Q&A!

Short & Sweet Sundays: Monarch Beach by Anita Hughes

On By Bubble Bubble Books and TroubleIn Cozies2 Comments

In honor of Sunday – a day I reserve for reading and lollygagging – I bring you a short and sweet book review! 

The gist: Amanda Blick leads a charmed life. She’s got a gorgeous French chef husband, a perfect little house in a high-class neighborhood, and a cute little rosy- cheeked boy.  But underneath the glossy surface, trouble is a’ brewing. Her husband seems to be working more late nights at the restaurant, and the female kitchen help can’t seem to look her in the eyes. Hmm….something smells fishy around here and I don’t’ think it’s the catch of the day!

It all comes to a head when she finds her husband and his sous chef in a rather…shall we say compromising position in the kitchen. Rather than sticking around to let him weasel his way back into her heart, she takes her rich mom up on her offer to spend the summer at the deliciously decadent St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort.

Distraught over her husband’s betrayal, not even the plentiful umbrella drinks and cute cabana boys can put her mind at ease. That is until she bumps into Edward Jonas, a restaurateur with kind eyes and a sexy smile. Although her instincts tell her to steer clear of handsome culinary artists, there’s something about this low key silver fox that sets her heart aflutter! Is it wise to take a chance on another man before signing the divorce papers? Why does she still lust after her philandering husband? And most importantly – why must she continue to put her life on hold in the name of love?  

Why I chose this book: It’s summertime, so what could be better than soaking up the rays on my hot-pink beach towel with a romantic beach read?  I really enjoyed living vicariously in the St. Regis presidential suite, drinking the fruity cocktails, digging my toes in the soft sand, and riding along the Pacific Coast Highway in a sweet Bentley!

What I liked most: The ending. I was preparing myself for a predictable conclusion, but the author threw a major curve ball. Amanda’s got another big journey ahead of her – and I’m hoping there’s going to be a sequel!

Why it’s unique:  Come to think of it, most of the books I read don’t involve obscenely rich protagonists. Mostly, they’re career girls, struggling journalists and amateur sleuths.  So this book was kind of a departure from the norm.  Some may say that it’s too vapid and decadent, but I say lighten up people!  I enjoyed reading about Amanda’s fairytale life with two glamorous parents in a posh San Francisco mansion. I certainly am not a “lifestyle of the rich and famous” kind of girl, but I do think it’s amusing to read about that world.  

What irked me: I needed more action. It seemed that fine dining and cocktail hours dominated Amanda’s summertime activities. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading about cozy restaurant scenes, but she needed to get out and have some fun! I want to immerse myself in the icy Pacific Ocean, ride with the dolphins, and zip over the waves in a jet ski! It’s a fabulous beach resort, so why not take advantage of all the amenities?  

This book is best paired with: A Bob Marley playlist, a pina colada and a comfy deck chair.

Would I read another book by this author? Most definitely! She certainly has a knack for character development and sharp dialogue.

If you like this book, you’ll also enjoy titles by: Jane Green, Kristin Hannah, Susan Mallory and Beatriz Williams.