The Crooked Staircase (Jane Hawk, #3)

The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I am not sure why Sanjay and his sister, Tanuja Shukla were added to the book, their characters did nothing to advance the plot and it was very annoying to have their story interrupt the action with Jane.

Jane invades Simon Yegg's home in a plan to get to his half brother Booth Hendrickson. But Simon manages to warn Booth by sending a white limousine instead of a black one and Booth escapes from Gilberto ( a friend of Jane's who owns a funeral home). Forced to improvise they recapture Booth and Jane implants him with nanotechnology she took from the Shennecks. (The Silent Corner (Jane Hawk #1) ) Jane learns that his Mother Annabel is one of the founders of the Arcadians, how she abused him as a child and the secrets of "The Crooked Staircase". She gets Booth to take her to The Crooked Staircase and she uses it to get the goods on Annabel, but has to flee when Annabel takes control of Booth. She leaves Booth dead in the caves, but her triumph turns to dust when she learns that the couple (Gavin and Jessie) who were caring for her son, Travis have been killed.

When Gavin and Jessie fail to return Travis turns to Cornell Jasperson (Gavin's cousin) for help but Dubose and Jergen have already found the blue house, will they get to Travis before Jane does? And what role will Jasperson with his eccentric ways play?



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Death Doesn't Bargain (Deadman's Cross, #2)

Death Doesn't Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OK, I do tend to feel l like I fell into the middle of the story and have to sort things out. For one thing this happens in the past (so it gets kinda confusing, I have to keep reminding myself that Nick isn't the Malachi in this book in fact he hasn't even been born).

Thorn retrieves Kalder from Vine, but they are forced to leave Kalder's younger brother Muerig behind. Upon his return Kalder and Cameron get closer a lot closer. And to everyone's surprise and Thorne and Bane's dismay Vine sends Muerig to the ship. Thorne and Bane suspect that Vine fixed it where both Cameron and Muerig can't stay in the world and that Kalder will be forced to choose between the two. Then the Malachi comes after them and to save everyone he has to take them to his home under the sea (Wyneria). Seems "Prince" Kalder has been holding out on everyone his Father was the King of Wyneria. Of course it turns out that Devyl Bane was holding out on him too. Devyl was friends with Kalder's Father and knows that Melusine is his biological Mother and that Melusine loved him a great deal and didn't want to leave him, but was forced too. And that Kalder was suppose to inherit the Kingdom at his Father's death, which is the real reason Bron (his Step-Mother) killed him.

In the midst of sorting all this out Muerig betrays them and summons the Malachi (Adrian) they are caught between two armies and losing badly until Kalder using his powers to transport them to Savitar's Island. Much to Savitar's displeasure. We get treated to barbs between Savitar, Thorne and Acheron until the Malachi and Vine shows up again. The Malachi siphons off Kalder's powers, leaving him human and kidnaps Mara (who is pregnant) and Valynda.

Melusine shows up and returns Kalder's powers and leaves three rings and the deed to The Black Swan Tavern with Kalder and Cameron and predicts a bright future for her grandson. Kalder and Cameron agree to go with the crew to rescue Mara and Valynda.

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Remodeling Laundry Room/Pantry and Kitchen Cabinets

 I always check out the colors of the year, and this years colors are stunning. For those of you who don't I highly recommend doing so because it will give you some idea about what colors you will find in accessories. And if you don't like the color choices you can always disregard them. Valspar actually picked 12 colors to inspire us. In the Laundry Room I used Glass Slippers.

It's a Nourishing Dusty Lilac "

This dusted-gray lilac brings a calm, quiet, almost-spiritual strength to light colors … and softens moodier darks.- Sue Kim, Valspar Color Strategist

I paired it with Urban Sunrise trim and Flood Tide for the inside of the pantry. And while the Glass Slippers looks pink in this picture the picture below is more true to the color. Flood Tide is a Comforting Soft Teal,  "Nostalgic, versatile blue-green is both warm and cool, making it an easy companion to a range of other colors." according to- Sue Kim, Valspar Color Strategist. It's a shade lighter than the Color of the year Sky Space.The Urban Sunrise on the other hand is a shade darker than the Tempered Gray Color of the Year.

We haven't got the door trim or the door painted yet, I plan to paint the door Flood Tide and trim it with the Urban Sunrise.

The kitchen looks strange with nothing in it..

I painted it Emerald Ice another Color of the Year. This Calming Icy Green is a neutral so it will work with any color. This cool, refreshing neutral wavers between blue and green and has a touch of gray for easy versatility.- Sue Kim, Valspar Color Strategist

Boy was I happy when these guys showed up. My kitchen cabinets were designed, built and installed by Mercier's Cabinet and Woodworking, Inc. and they did an excellent job the cabinets are just beautiful and the detailing is exquisite.

This is my refrigerator cabinet it was a challenge to get in as it goes all the way to the ceiling and my ceiling dips in places.

 My shelves that frame the kitchen window. I just love them.

 Don't they look nice. Having a small kitchen I wanted to be able to add a few personal touches so it wasn't just cabinets and appliances.

Boy was I happy when this guy showed up. Kevin Wade from W.E. Wade Tile Company , he is doing my Granite and is busy making the template. For those who have never dealt with Granite before First you pick out your slab, then when you get your cabinets in they come out and make a template, then they go back to their shop and start cutting and polishing the Granite. When they finish they come install your countertop or whatever you are getting.I was lucky he was available to come out the same day they installed my cabinets.

 I was worried the microwave cabinet would make my kitchen look smaller but it actually makes it look larger. And I love the Furniture Bottoms, they are great for small spaces as they open the floor up and give the illusion of a bigger room.

 The wood looks really nice with the Emerald Ice, it's a Whitewashed Cypress.

 I love the trim around the top and bottom.

 And look the SIDES are finished and detailed nicely. It looks so nice especially when viewing it from the Dining room. We also brought these cabinets out a little further so no wasted space and I will have more countertop space.

 I love the streaks of gray in the cabinets, it looks REALLY GOOD with the tile.

 And the stainless steel appliances. We have the refrigerator in.

 And yes, I am breaking a rule here. They say not to use light colors with stainless steel, but when you have a really small space you need the light. I am pretty much blending light and dark together for an up to date, but breezy look. It works because the space is so small.

I will tell you about the appliances in a later post. So far the only thing I have in is the refrigerator. ~Alasandra

The Monkey's Raincoat (Elvis Cole, #1)

The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Ellen Lang's husband disappears with their son Perry, Ellen hires Elvis to track him down at the urging of her friend Janet. But it soon becomes apparent to Elvis that this isn't a parental kidnapping when Ellen is kidnapped.

Mort (Ellen's husband) is suspected of stealing drugs from Domingo Garcia Duran, and Duran will do whatever it takes to get them back. When Detective Poitras is forced to back off by his superiors Cole and Pike will go alone to rescue the boy

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Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan, #23)

Shattered Mirror by Iris Johansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A new character is introduced into the "Eve Duncan family" Darcy is exuberant, bouncy and resourceful and is Cara's roommate. When Cara is attacked at college Darcy finds her and gets help from Jock, later when Cara goes to visit Eve Darcy tags along and to everyone's dismay the skull Eve is currently working on looks just like Darcy. Darcy reveals she has a special needs twin who is supposed to be at a top notch facility. A little sleuthing reveals that Darcy's Mother turned Sylvie over to Norwalk to settle her current husbands gambling debt. At first everyone thinks Darcy is the target, but later revelations reveal that Eve and Kaskov are the ones Norwalk wants to punish. Eve because she refused to reconstruct Norwalk's twin and Kaskov because one of his men killed Norwalk's twin when he tried to kill Cara.

Everyone is on high alert and has police protection but after a soccer game the ice cream parlor the coach took the kids (including Michael) too explodes while Eve and Joe wait for Michael outside. Due to her connection with Michael Eve believes he is still alive against all odds, and is proved right when Norwalk calls. Everyone heads to New Orleans to stay with Kaskov while they hunt for Michael in the Louisiana bayous. One of Kaskov's men kidnaps Cara and takes her to Norwalk upping the odds.

A daring rescue is mounted revealing the lengths Eve and her family will go to, to protect their own.

Cara has grown up and announces to Jock that she plans to take their friendship to the next level.

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Accidental Heroes

Accidental Heroes by Danielle Steel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Helen is recovering from her husband's tragic beheading when the plane she is piloting is hijacked by her copilot who has a beef with the airline. Thanks to the intervention of a TSA agent who spots a "questionable" postcard the copilot left in a tray and Homeland Security Helen is warned in time to make a difference. Her skills are put to the test as she flies under the Golden Gate Bridge and lands on the water allowing her passengers to escape.

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Remodeling Continues

 I get the fun part of the remodeling. I got to go pick out the Granite. My choice was Volga Blue. The pictures don't really do it justice as the Granite was outside and reflecting the grass and er everything else.

 Anyway this is my slab. They stuck a SOLD sticker on it as I was pulling out of the parking lot.

 This is a small piece of the Volga Blue with my tile.

 Bo gets the hard part of remodeling. He has been hard at work doing the wiring and building a wall.

 The corner he closed in is where the microwave cabinet is going to be. Due to my PMR I decided against having the microwave over the cooktop. It's going to be at counter height so it will be easy for me to reach and I got a Microwave/Convection Oven Combination so I will finally have the Double Oven I always wanted.

 I wanted to still have openings to the Family Room

 But we decided on having a backsplash  for the cooktop. So Bo built a wall there too. This works well as I can still see out the Kitchen Window from the Family Room.

 At some point I realized I was going to be losing the plug in on the wall where the microwave cabinet is so I asked for one on my backsplash.  Thanks a million Bo, because I have a feeling I am going to really appreciate this.

~Alasandra

Twenty-One Days (Daniel Pitt, #1)

Twenty-One Days by Anne Perry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to admit I fine Daniel rather annoying, he seems to be a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Rathbone, and we hear constantly how brilliant he is. Really wish if she had decided to start a new series she had come up with a new character completely unrelated to the Pitts. Kitteridge would have made a great main character and then the other "new" characters would make more sense.

The book begins with Daniel defending Roman Blackwell for murder. Blackwell is obviously going to play a large role in the Daniel Pitt series along with his Mother Mercy, but they really don't make any sense. Blackwell is supposed to have been at Bow Street at the same time Thomas Pitt was, which would make him around the same age. His "irregular" conduct had Pitt suggesting he leave the police and start his own PI business. Supposedly they were friends (sounds a bit out of character for straight arrow Thomas Pitt) and when he is arrested for murder Thomas ask his son (fresh out of law school) to defend him. Against all odds Daniel wins the case. Roman's Mom, Mercy is grateful Daniel saved her son and in return offers to help him in any way she can. And her assistance will soon prove invaluable, but WHY DID DANIEL NEED IT??? Why wouldn't he have asked his Mother (Charlotte Pitt) or his Aunt Emily. And how is Mercy connected to society enough to be able to help?

Daniel is sent by his boss Marcus fford Croft (I find the ff annoying) to assist Toby Kitteridge who is defending the famous biographer Graves against the charge he murdered his wife Ebony and disfigured her face so badly she is unrecognizable. Unfortunately Graves is found guilty and they have 21 days to find a reason to appeal the verdict before Graves is hanged. Graves hints to Daniel that Special Branch if framing him as he is in the process of writing a book about Victor Narraway and Vespasia that is less than flattering and could harm Thomas Pitt. We learn at this point that Narraway and Vespasia have been dead for some years. I have to admit I was crushed to learn they were dead and ANNOYED that we weren't given any details. We also learn that Jemma is married with children living in New York. No Explanation given for how she meet and married an American. Again ANNOYED.

Daniel tells his Father about the biography, but Thomas really doesn't do anything. Daniel goes to Graves' home and talks with his staff and children, daughter Sarah (who Kitteridge has a thing for) and crippled son Arthur. He finds the manuscript (which he gets Roman and Mercy to help him go through to find names of people who will not want to see it published and have the power to stop it). Miriam fford Croft (Marcus' daughter) just happens to be a scientist (no degree because she is a woman) they get permission to exhume Ebony's body and Miriam soon concludes that it isn't Ebony in the grave. Miriam and Daniel confront Sarah and she admits her Mother is still alive and takes them to her. (Several references are made by various people that Miriam is almost old enough to be Daniel's Mother, but it does look like Perry is setting them up for a romance).

After that the case is quickly solved. Perry seems to be on a streak of having bigamy play a role in the last Monk book and then in this one. Turns out Graves was married to Winifred and never divorced her, she found out he just inherited a title and land and she came to claim her place. she confronted Ebony and was accidentally killed. Seeing a way to escape from an abusive husband she disfigured Winifred's face and pretended to be dead.




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