Leftover Dead by Jimmie Ruth Evans

This is the fifth book in the Trailer Park Series.   Wanda Nell and her new hubby Jack have moved into her trailer.  He is looking for ideas for his next True Crime novel when he learns that a young girl was found dead on the school football field 31 years ago and after a week the case was shelved and never solved.  Sounds like a cover-up to Wanda Nell and Jack, and a great book idea so they begin to investigate.  The case takes many twists and turns and ends up answers can be found very close to home.

I have truly enjoyed this series, real characters, the kind you would find at any village diner, except for the murder and mayhem. A great cozy mystery.

IT'S MONDAY!! WHAT ARE YOU READING?

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This feature has been taken over by Sheila whose blog is "One Person's Journey Through a World of Books".  I have learned so much from J. Kaye that I'm sorry to see her leave this feature but I know Sheila will be a great host!!!

FINISHED LAST WEEK

• The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews 
• Serendipity by Louise Shaffer

CURRENTLY READING

• Leftover Dead by Jimmie Ruth Evans

ON DECK

• The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
• Blue Water by A. Manette Ansay 

NEW ADDITION:  Just received a new book to review:

• Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh

In Loving Memory of My Mom

Your Mother Is Always With You

Your mother is always with you...

She's the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of bleach in
your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your
brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside
your laughter. 

She's crystallized
in every tear drop...

She's the place you came from,
your first home.. 

She's the map you
follow with every step that you take.

She's your first love and your first heart
break....and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space...
Not even death....
will ever separate you
from your mother....

You carry her inside of you....

- Sherry Martin

She passed away one year ago today. She is always in my thoughts and never leaves my heart, but I miss her everyday. 

My First Giveaway!!! The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews

This is a hard cover edition of the book I just reviewed below.

Here's how to enter ~

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  Leave a comment here with your email address or PBS ID (I need to have a way to get in touch with you!)
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  Follow my blog (on lower right sidebar) ~ get an extra entry
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  Contest will end February 21st at midnight CST.  Winner will be announced Monday, February 22nd.

THE FIXER UPPER by Mary Kay Andrews

Dempsey Killibrew has worked as a lobbyist for a very short time when a political scandal breaks and she finds herself without a job, broke and homeless.  Her father comes up with the perfect solution, he has just inherited a house in Gurthrie, Georgia, that the lawyer assures him that with a TLC the house will sell for much more than it's current appraisal.  He convinces Dempsey to get out of Washington and head to Georgia to give the house a good cleaning and a little paint and he'd split the profits with her.

Well when Dempsey get to the small town and sees the house she knows it a much bigger job than she ever imagined,  plus she has inherited a 79 year old  "mean old lady" and her dog as part of the deal. She also realizes that small town life is much different from anything she has ever experienced.  Everyone knows everything about everybody. 

She rolls up her sleeves and gets to work trying to return the house to the beautiful home it once was only to have the FBI come calling trying to pin the whole Washington scandal on her.  We see a totally new Dempsey emerge as the story continues.

The was a very enjoyable story as are all of Mary Kay Andrews sagas.  It's the kind of story that even after the last page is read you want to know more, after the crisis is over what happens to all the characters.  You become so involved in the story, the family feels so real.

Check out Mary Kay Andrews website:http://www.marykayandrews.com/

Wacky Wednesday

I should really be posting a review of a book today, but this past week has been unusual to say the least.  My husband Jeff and I have been battling this cold that won't let go.  He finally went to Urgent Care on Monday for some meds.  I was feeling better on Monday, even went to my sons basketball game and except for one ear being plugged, I yelled and cheered them on to victory, then spent yesterday in bed, watching my favorite daytime drama "Days of our Lives" and then a bunch of mindless television, only read one chapter.

Sunday, my daughter took my grandson to Urgent Care because he woke up from his nap covered in a rash, it was diagnosed as hives.  The doctor said to give him Benedryl and use calamine lotion for the itching.  Now the Benedryl comes with a little cup, like this 2 year old is just going to take a shot of medicine.  We end up holding him down and forcing him to drink while he spits most of it out.  I ask you, all these drug companies spent millions of dollars trying to make the medicine taste like candy, why can't they make it look like candy too.  Imagine medicine packaged in little bits, that look like Skittles and the child get 3-5 bits depending on his age, or a sucker that is really medicine and as the child licks it, he gets the medicine he needs.  He is feeling better today, but the doctor said the rash could crop up for weeks, and he offered no answer as to what may have caused the rash to even occur.

Also this week, my 6' 4" little boy has been using my computer to research and do papers,  powerpoints and movies for 2 projects.  One is about the Wild Boar and other is about T. S. Eliot.  I hope he keeps everything separate, :).  Both are due tomorrow I believe, and I know he will do well because he really been "burning the midnight oil."

Another thing this week that is weighing on my mind is this fight between Amazon and Macmillian Publishing.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9150538/FAQ_Amazon_vs._Macmillan_The_iPad_wins_?taxonomyId=75&pageNumber=2  It has me worried about some of my favorite authors.  Authors that had books come out recently who had fans pre-order their books from Amazon.  Were these requests honored?  Who is this action really hurting, the publishers or the authors.  There are many places to buy books other than Amazon.  I use Amazon widgets on my blog, I not sure if any other company offers blogger utilities like Amazon, but if the book you want is not available on Amazon, just hustle right over to http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.  Support your favorite authors by shopping elsewhere.

On a lighter note I going to share a joke sent to me by my mother-in-law for this Super Bowl weekend.

A man goes to the Minnesota Vikings ticket office and inquires about purchasing super bowl tickets.

The ticket teller replies that there weren't any tickets for sale because the Vikings did not make it to the super bowl. 

The following day the same man goes to the Minnesota Vikings ticket office and inquires about purchasing Vikings super bowl tickets.

 
The ticket teller politely replies that there weren't any tickets for sale because the Vikings did not make it to the super bowl.

This goes on for an entire week. 

The man again goes to the Viking ticket office inquiring about super bowl tickets and the teller says none are for sale because the Vikings did not make it to the super bowl. 

Another week of this goes by and the man still is asking the ticket teller about Viking super bowl tickets. 

Finally the ticket teller in a loud voice says, "I'VE TOLD YOU FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS THERE WERE NOT ANY TICKETS AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE VIKINGS DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!" 

The man replied, "I know. I drive all the way from Green Bay just to hear you say that."

You know I LOVE MY PACKERS!!!

IT'S MONDAY!! WHAT ARE YOU READING?

This great idea is hosted by: 
http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

  FINISHED LAST WEEK

•  Spackled and Spooked by Jennie Bentley
• The Noticer by Andy Andrews
• High Anxiety by Charlotte Hughes
• Sister by A. Manette Ansay

 CURRENTLY READING

• The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews

ON DECK

• The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
• Serendipity by Louise Shaffer