"All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality -- the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape."
--Author Christopher Benson

WE HAVE MOVED!!!! PLEASE COME TO THE NEW ESCAPE WITH DOLLYCAS INTO A NEW BOOK!!!!!

YOU WILL LOVE THE NEW BLOG!!!

Friday, September 30, 2011

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes 
A Penguin Original
Published by The Penguin Group
Available Now!!


Sherlock Holmes, the world's best-known and most-loved fictional detective, is more popular today than ever. This collection presents many of the most familiar cases Holmes and his assistant, Dr. Watson, ever solve, including "Silver Blaze," "The Greek Interpreter," and "The Musgrave Ritual." As Holmes's fame grows, it brings him notoriety that piques the ire of London's criminal underworld, who begin to scheme against him. It is in "The Final Problem" that Dr. Watson relates the grisly, fatal, and shocking tale of how Holmes finally meets his match, encountering the diabolical Professor Moriarty in a terrible struggle at Reichenbach Falls. 

I have to start out by telling you that when I was asked to review this book, it took me only seconds to respond.  My husband and I are huge Sherlock Holmes fans. 
Exhibit #1 Our Cats

Back in the days when there were just 4 television selections, ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS, chances were pretty good that late nights on Fridays or Saturdays there would be a Sherlock Holmes movie on at least one of the channels.  My favorite Holmes was Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce was my favorite Dr. Watson.  But today with the Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey, Jr. and its sequel coming out in December there is a whole new audience for the Arthur Conan Doyle character. If you are a fan of the television show House you would also notice many similarities between Sherlock Holmes and Gregory House.  In fact many episodes contain actual Holmes references. For example in the season two finale, House is shot by a crazed gunman credited as "Moriarty," the name of Holmes's nemesis. Today I just found this article that says CBS is working on a modern day Sherlock Holmes story. BBC already has out their own contemporary series. There are even cartoons based on the characters and books written about Holmes for all grade levels.

I guess what I am trying to say are these stories are timeless and can be read again and again at any time in your life. 

Be sure to go see the new movie in December.  I am not sure I like explosions and shooting but that's what is in all suspense movies these days.


I am more a fan of the Holmes in this book who uses his deductive skills, perceptions and sharp observations to solve the cases. This is a fantastic book for the older fans like me and a great way to introduce new fans on how Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson started out.  The first story was published in 1887 and the character of Sherlock Holmes is still relevant today.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has truly created characters that are timeless and who I "deduce" will be with us in one form or another forever and ever.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Penguin Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Here is just a small sampling of books and DVDs available
Featuring Sherlock Holmes
Click on the picture to go to Amazon.com to order yours today.

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY!!!



Welcome to
Feel Good Friday!!!


What made me FEEL GOOthis week?


Well if you are from Wisconsin you can't help 
FEELING GOOD this week!


The Milwaukee Brewers have won their first division championship since 1982.



plus
The Green Bay Packers Beat da Bears 27-17!!
and 
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers in named 
NFC Player of the Month!
plus
Badger Football is on fire
beating South Dakota last Saturday 59-10,
and Madison is filling up for tomorrow's game
against Nebraska!!!
and
My favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver
Matt Kenseth is up to 6th place in 
The Chase with 8 races to go.
Please keep his wife Katie in your prayers,
she was practicing for a charity race when her car hit the wall 
and she has a broken scapula and bumps and bruises.



Now tell me
What made you Feel Good this week?
I hope you will take a moment to share!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sleight of Paw Giveaway Winners!!!!

to
Nora-Adrienne D. (New York)
and
Peggy A. (Pennsylvania)

You have each won a copy of 

Thank you to everyone that entered!!!
Winners chosen by Random.org

Stay Tuned For More
Book Reviews, Recommendation,
Random Thoughts & Giveaways!!
Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

India Black and the Widow of Windsor by Carol K. Carr (With Giveaway!)

Cover Illustration
by Alan Ayers
Cover Design
by Rita Frangie
India Black and the Widow of Windsor
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
A Madam of Espionage Mystery
Second book in the series.
Available October 4, 2011


India Black is back and on a new mission with her friend French in Scotland.

Queen Victoria attended a séance where she is contacted by her dearly departed husband, Prince Albert, where he insists she break tradition and spend the Christmas holiday at Balmoral, their Scottish castle. The Prime Minister believes that Scottish nationalists are planing to assassinate the Queen and calls on his friend and British spy, French, who invites India to join him undercover at the castle.  French poses as one of the guests, while India's assignment is to be the maid to the eccentric Dowanger Marchioness of Tullibardine. 

It doesn't take long for India to realize the Prime Minister was exactly right in his assessment of the situation.  For the next few days India and French will be running themselves ragged to find the Queen's enemies and assure her safety.
My Thoughts
Like the first book in this series, India Black, I loved this story.  I adore where the author took this character on this adventure. Balmoral is a fascinating setting and I don't know how true the author's descriptions are of the castle, but I felt like I was right there sneaking through the hallways with India.

The story also contains a wonderful mystery with plenty of twists but what really captured by heart in this story was the humor.  India has a quick wit and keen intelligence and while not at all happy with her job in this adventure she continues to entertain us with her observations and quips. The Lady India serves sets up several instances that had me laughing out loud.

Carol K. Carr is an amazing storyteller.  I love her writing style. In her case, her words are worth a thousand beautiful pictures.  I have absolutely no problem "escaping" far into her books and don't want to leave after the last words are read.  I want to follow India on her next adventure.  Please Carol don't make me want too long for my next trip abroad.

To find out more about this wonderful author be sure to visit her Web Page.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent






Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 


I am really excited about this one!!
Thanks to the wonderful people at Berkley Prime Crime
I have 2, Yes 2 copies of this fabulous book to giveaway!!!
U.S. & Canadian Residents Only
You do not need to be a follower 
of Dollycas's Thoughts to enter but 
Followers will receive 5 Bonus Entries!!!
If you publicize this giveaway, you will receive
an additional 5 Bonus Entries for each link you provide.
Winners will be chosen using Random.org
Contest will end on October 14 at 11:59 p.m. CST

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

COZY WEDNESDAY - With Author Kylie Logan(Giveaway too!!)

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday.  I was blown away when I received the guest post from today's guest.  The author information is curiously missing from today's featured book so I knew it was probably an author I knew using a pseudonym.  The question was who was it? You will find out below! 

Button Holed (Button Box Mystery) is the first installment of a brand new series and I loved it!!! My full review will follow Kylie's Guest Post.  Please help me give a warm welcome to Kylie Logan!

Welcome Kylie!! 

Thank you so much for the invitation to blog on your site.


Not everyone is lucky enough to not only have more than one personality, but to be able to celebrate it. As Casey Daniels, I write the Pepper Martin mystery series about a cemetery worker who investigates for the ghosts in her cemetery. The seventh book in that series, "A Hard Day’s Fright" came out in April and book #8, "Wild, Wild Death," will hit shelves on January 3.

But I’ve got a new alter-ego, and she’s just recently made her first official appearance.

She’s Kylie Logan, author of the Button Box mystery series. Book #1, "Button Holed," hit store and virtual shelves early this month.
Cover Illustration
by Jennifer Taylor
Cover Design
by Annette Fiore Defex

It’s been an interesting road to publication for Kylie and it all started, quite simply, because I like buttons. As Josie Giancola, the heroine of the new series comments, buttons are little bits of history, and tiny works of art. They say something about a person’s style, and that person’s social class. Many antique buttons display incredible workmanship, dazzling jewels and even say something about a wearer’s love life; back in the nineteenth century, it was fashionable for a young lady to have a photograph of her beau put on her coat buttons!

Still, I never thought about actually writing a mystery series about buttons until a couple years ago when I visited Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’d just finished lunch at a charming coffee shop and I was alone on the front porch, sipping coffee and knitting, when a couple sat down at the table next to me. There are a couple operative words in that last sentence, namely, alone and next to. You see, they decided to pick that very moment to break up.

I listened to it for ten minutes or so and honestly, I expected them to apologize. After all, there was no doubt I could hear everything they were saying. They didn’t. Instead, they went on and on and I’d had enough. I gathered up my knitting and went next door to an antique shop.

What I didn’t know until I opened the door was that it was an antique shop that specialized in buttons.

Thousands and thousands of buttons.

I was in heaven, and the nice lady who owned the place was only too happy to tell me stories and answer my questions.

It was that encounter that gave me the idea for the Button Box mysteries. Josie owns an antique button shop, too, though hers is in a Chicago brownstone. It’s there that she meets a famous actress who’s come to Josie for the buttons she’ll put on her wedding gown when she marries a European prince. And it’s that actress who is murdered in the shop. When Josie’s cleaning up, she finds an unusual button–one she knows didn’t come from her collection.

As for those multiple personalities of mine . . . readers who enjoy the Pepper Martin mysteries can expect much the same light and airy reading experience and the same sort of humor and intricate plotting. However, there are no paranormal elements in Kylie’s books as there are in Casey’s.

Because Kylie is a new person, she has her own, new blog. You can find her at:

Email her at:

or friend her on Facebook.


~Kylie

Thank you so much for being here today.  You are always welcome to come back no matter what alias you are using.  Kylie also shared with me that she also writes as Miranda Bliss, author of the Cooking Class Mysteries, another of my favorites.  She has other nom de plumes as well but I won't give out all her secrets here today. J

A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
A Brand New Series
Josie Giancola is known as a button expert for all kinds of buttons and has even worked in Hollywood.  Today she is opening  her new button shop, The Button Box, set up in a Chicago brownstone. She also has an appointment with a well known Hollywood starlet who wants to find the perfect buttons for her perfect wedding dress.  Josie arrives extra early on her opening day to make sure everything is ready for her appointment only to find that her store has been broken into and ransacked.  There are buttons everywhere.  Buttons she had spent many days sorting and categorizing and displaying with flawless precision.

Things don't get any better when the next day the starlet is found dead right in the middle of The Button Box.  The homicide detective seems to be looking for clues in all the wrong places and the murderer has now set his sights on Josie.   She has no choice but to follow the clues she has and get this murderer all buttoned up before she finds herself "Button Holed"!

My Thoughts
This story could not have been more perfect.  Wonderful characters, a delightful complex plot, and thoroughly engaging humor.

I fell for Josie on the very first page. I come from a family of seamstresses and they all had button bowls and boxes. As a child I spent hours sorting, stacking and separating my favorites.  I have my own button box around here somewhere from my sewing days and I know there are some buttons in there from my ancestors as well. Button Holed (Button Box Mystery) and The Button Box brought back some wonderful memories. Thankfully none of my memories include a dead starlet.

There is also a very interesting thread throughout the story about some very special buttons that I really enjoyed.  

I was truly entertained from the first page to the last!  I am patiently waiting for Kill Button, the next book in The Button Box Mystery Series coming soon, but never soon enough!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 


NOW ARE YOU READY FOR A GIVEAWAY!!
Thanks to Berkley Prime Crime 
I have 2 copies to share!!
U.S. and Canadian Residents Only
Followers will receive
2 Bonus Entries
Leave a comment for Kylie and
receive 5 Bonus Entries
Publicize this giveaway and
receive 5 More Bonus Entries
Contest will end October12 at 11:59 p.m. CST
Good Luck!!


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

CHILDREN OF PARANOIA by Trevor Shane

Children of Paranoia
DUTTON
Publish by Penguin Group
Available Now!


All wars have rules!
1. No killing innocent bystanders.
2. No killing anyone under the age of eighteen.
3. Have a child before you are eighteen, the child must be turned over to the other side.
BREAK THE RULES YOU BECOME THE TARGET!


Children are indoctrinated at the age of 16 and begin their war training. On their eighteenth birthday they become the hunters and the hunted in the war of "us" vs. "them". 

The war has gone on for generations, fought all over the world, with two distinct sides "good" and "evil".  The terms vary based on which side you are on. Reasons for the war change depending on who you ask. Every killing is done in way to look random or like an accident right out in the field of innocents. Plus the "us" and the "them" are not even clearly identified by those fighting the war. There is one rule everyone knows, Paranoia will keep you alive.


My Thoughts 
When I finished this book, I said "Wow" and then sat back to contemplate the story I had just read.  The news is filled daily with crime, scandal, and war.  Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, gang wars, drug wars, political wars, but to think a war like the one described in this book never entered my mind.   Many wars are entered into without exit strategies or based on unclear information but the fact that this war has divided two factions without even a clear inkling WHY? scares me more than any of the other wars.

This book takes us with Joe on his journey in this war.  It is definitely an intense suspense thriller that at times will have you on the edge of your seat, but it is so much more than that. Children of Paranoia is a book that will make you stop and think.


What really knocked me for a loop is that this is Trevor Shane's first novel.  He has created the character of Joe with so many layers, it is almost like peeling an onion and there is still more.  He also surrounds Joe with other wonderful characters that the reader becomes invested in with a few short sentences.  Joe's mother is just one of those characters, her actions were both shocking and understandable. 


This story is heart stopping one moment and tear jerking in another.  Shane has created a masterpiece you will pick up and not put down until the final word and then you will say "Wow" and sit back contemplate this story and then want to tell your friends all about it.  Just like I did!!
Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Dutton, a division of The Penguin Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Monday, September 26, 2011

It's Monday!! What Are You Reading??

 This great meme is hosted by Sheila at
It's a great way to start the week and
find out what other bloggers are reading.
My To-Be-Read pile has grown to an
unbelievable number thanks to this meme.

You never know how much you use 
something until until it is gone.
Blogger and Amazon are having issues and those of us who use Blogger for our blogs are being punished. We have had the luxury of a gadget that with just a point and click we could add Amazon links to our posts.  Since September 15 this gadget has been turned off and links must be created on the Amazon site and copied and pasted.  Yes, I was spoiled, but these created links don't always format as easily as the ones made with the gadget, plus it just takes more time.  Amazon has answered our questions/complaints and has stated they are willing to work with Blogger.  We have seen no response from Blogger/Google at all.  Plus there are many bugs in other Google products, as well, that have been "updated", like Google Docs that are not being dealt with. 

Out of my frustration and upon learning that this has gotten Blogger's attention in the past I have created a Facebook page addressing the Amazon issue.  If you use Blogger and are missing the Amazon Gadget as much as I am, please go to Facebook and "like" this page and leave comments. 

FINISHED

 
by Arthur Conan Doyle
Release Date: September 28, 2011
With cats named Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and Professor Moriarty how could I turn this book when it was offered to me for review.
Review Coming Soon!!

 
by Carol K. Carr
Release Date October 4, 2011
Review Coming Soon!

 
by Trevor Shane
Review will be posted tomorrow!!


CURRENTLY READING
 

ON DECK

 
Laurel's Tour Stops Here October 6, 2011.

Release Date: October 4, 2011
Linda will be here on October 5 to 
celebrate Cozy Wednesday!

After that things are a little up in the air 
as I am waiting for some books to arrive.

Please stop back on Wednesday!

Button Holed (Button Box Mystery)
by Kylie Logan
Kylie will be here
for Cozy Wednesday!
I loved this book!!


Don't miss the giveaways in the left sidebar!



HAPPY READING EVERYONE!!!!
Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

MONDAY MUSIC MOVES ME!!!!

Photobucket

This is  a fun meme conducted by Xmas Dolly, co-conductors Stacy from Stacy Uncorked Lorie fromThe Shewbridges of CelebrationCallie at Jamerican Spice and Larry from Cakeblast.  Everyone has made me feel so welcome. This meme is so much fun and so easy!!!  Just go to one of the links above for the details and enjoy the music.

It's A Freebie Week!!!
On September 17, my high school class got together to celebrate our 50th birthdays!
This song even had me dancing!!



More songs from 1979








A GREAT WAY TO START A MONDAY!!!
MAKE YOUR OWN POST AND LINK UP
EVERYONE FOLLOWS BACK!!!

Friday, September 23, 2011

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY!!!



Welcome to
Feel Good Friday!!!


Erika had found that a lot of her bloggy friends reading posts about being positive, so she thought she might try her very own meme. She just wanted everyone to feel good and have some happy thoughts as you begin the weekend.  Go over to her blog for the details.


"The Girl" is busy constructing a new website so for the time being this feature is being hosted by lia sophia tomgirl.  She has a great blog, be sure to check it out!

What made me FEEL GOOthis week?
Last Saturday night I attended the 50th Birthday Bash for my high school graduating class.  You may remember from last week's post I was really nervous about going. Well I went and I had a blast!!! My anxiety melted away as soon as I saw my friends.
There was a really good turnout!
That's me front row on the left.
This definitely describes all of us!!!

Great Time Catching Up With Friends
There was a DJ with Karaoke and Tommy sure could sing!!!
My Favorite Photo Of The Night!!
Kevin was always the life of the party and he hasn't changed a bit,
I think he caught Colleen a little off guard!!



   


A Couple of Crashers from 1978,
but it was a great joy to see them too!!

Gigi and Elisa Planned This Wonderful Party

There is no picture of my best moment of the night.  My girlfriends were all on the dance floor and I was very happy sitting on the sidelines when a friend came over and grabbed my hands and started dancing with me.  My wheelchair didn't faze him one bit.  I had a blast and probably haven't have that much exercise or fun in years. For those few minutes I forgot about my disability and felt like my old self again. He doesn't follow my blog and is not on Facebook so he will probably not even know the effect those few minutes had on me until maybe we see each other again at the next reunion.  

Thank you Gigi and Elisa for a wonderful idea!!! 
It was a night I will never forget!!


We plan to get together again in three years for another reunion.  It shocks me to think it will be 35 years since our high school graduation.  Hopefully we will get an even bigger turnout.  I can hardly wait!!!


Now tell me
What made you Feel Good this week?
I hope you will take a moment to share!