Books Can Not Be Cancelled (Kyra Davis Keeps em Coming)

 I was talking with a friend last week, and somehow we started talking about 2012 television shows that were cancelled. I was sad to hear that GCB (abc) Prime Suspect (abc) and Alcatraz (fox) were cancelled. I am not surprised about GCB it was a very funny show with a lot of potential to get better, but it never stood a chance that that unmemorable title. Though I was surprised Prime Suspect and Alcatraz are off the air.

I am always bit sad when shows I enjoy get cancelled, (Arrested Development, Wonderfalls anyone) I suppose I could write letters to the network, but it is not that serious. Though it's a shame when good shows get pulled off the air.

A few days after that conversation  I started reading Vanity, Vengeance, & A Weekend in Vega$ by Kyra Davis. This is the sixth book in the Sophie Katz series and the first one that the author self published. I love me some Sophie Katz (and her friends)  . And I gotta love an author that can work references of Alice Walker, Ayn Rand, David Sedaris and Emily Bronte.


''What part of the mafia do you think Fawn objected to? She's in jail for attempted murder so obviously it wasn't the violence." Maybe she didn't like working with other people?" " Yeah," Dena replied, "maybe she just didn't like the corporate culture. She's an individualist. Like Ayn Rand with a Quentin Tarantino edge."

Sophie Katz is a bestselling mystery author/ accidental sleuth. Somehow she is always stumbling across dead bodies. Her Russian boyfriend Anatoly could give Ranger from the Stephanie Plum series a run for his money. Both characters have that dangerous/mysterious sexy vibe. Halfway into Vanity, Vengeance, & A Weekend in Vega$, I could not help but be thankful that books can not be cancelled.

If  an author can't come to a contract agreement with their publisher, they can always submit their work to another house or self-publish. Of course the latter option is not easy and the financial gain is probably small. Yet some authors go this route, I am very happy Kyra Davis is one of them and that the Sophie Katz series could not be cancelled.

I don't normally do disclaimers, however since this is boarding on fan gushing beyond what is decent I will do one now.  I purchased Vanity, Vengeance & A Weekend in Vega$, and it was money well spent.

Book Pairings For Mother's Day (May 13th)

 Mother's Day is on this Sunday on May 13th.   I thought it would be fun to put together a few book pairings that would make great gifts. I wish I could say this was my idea but remembered Mother Readers annual holiday post Ways to Give a Book and was inspired.  

Carleen Brice's Orange Mint & Honey with a Nina Simone CD. The main character Shay Dixon is always asking herself what would Nina Simone do.

Kyung-sook Shin's Please Look After Mom with a hand written thank you note.  After the mother goes missing the family realizes how much she did for them but they never took the time to thank her.  I can't take credit for the thank note, which is a perfect pairing for Shin's novel. That's all Vasilly

Thirty Umrigar's The World We Found with tea/new mug.   Mothers who enjoy  tea while reading will love the taste of a  new flavor has they devour this wonderful novel.  Never underestimate the joy a new mug can bring, especially one that has been personally selected, and not simply picked up.    

Alice Randall's  Ada's Rules with a spa certificate. Ada' Howard is rediscovering herself at 50, a perfect read to enjoy while getting pampered.  

Kathy Cano-Murillo's  Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing with sewing lessons or certificate to their craft store of choice. 

Ernessa Carter's 32 Candles with 16 candles DVD, The main character Davie Jones loves the classic John Hughes movie and dreams of her own Molly Ringwald ending.

Cristina Garcia's The Lady Matador's Hotel with an outfit or one piece of clothing that screams sexy and strong  

Jacqueline E. Luckett's Passing Love with a French CD, the Putumayo collections are always nice.  As a bonus include a nice bottle of French wine. 

Caronlina De Robertis's Perla with The Secret in Their Eyes DVD,  Argentinean history connects this pairing.  The movie won the academy award for best foreign film in 2009. 

Ada's Rules - Alice Randall

Ada's Rules: A Sexy Skinny Novel by Alice Randall
Ada Howard is the wife of the preacher and has a lot of responsibilities.  She hasn't been making time for herself recently.  After Ada hears that her 25 yr college reunion is coming up she decides to lose weight to impress an old boyfriend.  Ada outlines her journey and new ways of living healthy in each chapter.  This was an excellent read.  The author manages to keep it light and fun as Ada rediscovers herself and her body. 

Author Pearl Cleage's blurb says it best " Ada's Rules might be a diet book disguised as a novel, and it might be a novel disguised as a diet book, but I guarantee it will make you laugh and make you think, while it nudges you oh so gently in the direction of a brand new way to think about and celebrate your body"

Beyond the laughter, Randall has created a very realistic character in Ada Howard with valid concerns that readers will easily cheer for as she tries to for something better at 50.   This would make an excellent Mother's Day gift. 

Read the first three chapters via the publishers site
Starred Publishers Weekly review