Book Description
Jane Jeffry, suburban sleuth extraordinare, and her friend, Detective Mel VanDyne, have braved a blizzard to join her friend Shelley at a Colorado ski resort. In spite of having all their kids along, Jane and Shelley imagine a few mindless days of relaxation. But their hopes are dashed on their first attempt to ski when Jane careens into a snowman that hides a very real -- and every dead -- body.
The slopes are littered with suspects -- a convention of genealogists led by a political fruitcake who thinks she's going to put her hand-picked Tsar on the Russian throne, a mysterious crimson-clad skier who's always on the horizon, and ex-stockbroker who's hiding from his investors, and an irate tribe of Native Americans. Jane has to take a census of the suspects and make some grave assumptions about who was vacationing with malicious intent.
Customer Reviews:
Chicago Suburbs Rise To the Colorado Rockies. Creme Goes Sour (and makes tangy, multi-cultural soup)........2006-08-30
Mel's bad mood used for mild humor was a good reader (tow) "in" for me, especially when he admitted to wanting to keep his funk. Jane's contrast to Mel, from her chipper mode, was a pleasant change for "who's got the slump." Jane rambled along easily with her off-duty detective's gripes, as they maneuvered a snow-packed, Colorado mountain road en route to a resort of which Shelley's husband was considering purchase, with a group of investors.
The pair of murders in this icy plot were intriguingly entangled. The first downed body was set in a somewhat classic "stop the cameras" scene; the second provided a more unique "snow job" presentation. I'm not comfortable seeming to be so easy going about people killing people (Jane, as usual, uncovered both deaths). But, cozy mysteries are meant to be light, to relieve the digging efforts, with perfect shovels provided for poking around in the criminal mind, with the hope of unearthing enough "crime-stopper" clues to show How To detoxify motivations, and How To flat-line compulsions to carry on-and-on-and-through-to-the-bitter-end with revenge, greed, seething anger, and/or love un-attained. Have I missed anything?
Oh. Yeah:
-- "The RUSSIANS are COMING!" (To dinner? With a historic succession of Tsars?)
-- "INDIANS are beating Tom Tom's!" (WHO's in the modern-day stew! What burial grounds agenda?)
Regarding exposing the criminal mind, here is a quote from Jane:
>> "... If a murderer were really that clever, he'd have thought of a better way to solve his problem than to kill Mr. (xxx) -- and maybe Mrs. (xxx), too."
<<
Additional brief passages of that type of insight referencing criminal craniums have been genetically peppered (can't forget my genes) into this # 6 (See my Listmania and other reviews) in Jill Churchill's Jane Jeffry series.
As a Colorado native I was, of course, successfully baited by Jane's basing some of her Sherlock processes from an evaluation of what she described as a Colorado rugged-character-attitude (see the book for details), and her feelings of being seen as an outsider.
As I might describe Jane's thought process about that (this is not a quote from the novel; it's my paraphrase, and a bad one):
"What's this? I, an outsider? Moi?? How can this be? Here I am, just friendly-little-ole, saunter-around-comedienne, me (who also happens to be a great Mom, a world-syndicated, dancing-or-stumbling-comedically-around-kids, laid-back, but-perfected-by-flaw-acknowledgment, type of Mom). What can I say? I'm good. You'd better believe it! Or, I'll make you a bad guy in one of my books!"
(Jill Churchill, a.k.a. Janice Brooks, isn't the only author of mysteries in this series; Jane Jeffry is too, and in this one Jane provides her theory on the whereabouts and whereas's of THE IMAGINATION.)
The above paraphrase exposes part of what I enjoy about Jane, who she is, her approach to a life she loves, as a spunky suburban housewife.
Dealing with being an outsider, working around privacy issues, is handled tastefully and tellingly in this plot. I particularly liked the scene in which Jane and Shelley interrogated Tenny, the resort owner's niece, about a recent murder of a family member. At first the sleuthing pair felt awkward manipulating a personal conversation, especially at such an emotionally sensitive time, to obtain private information which felt to them to be none of their business.
You be the judge, of how Jane turns a "busy body" squeamishness into a win-for-all instead of a "free-for-all."
The high chill of the Colorado Rockies may be a climatic antithesis to the heavy heat of Australian Outback, but from some angles, those cultures could be seen as kindred geographic gestalts, at least in being playgrounds in which rugged individualism can flourish, if not in providing sanctuary for privacy issues. Crocodile Dundee would have approved of Jane and Shelley's style of nosiness into emotionally vulnerability areas, and he's one of my favorite characters from any culture-clash-comedy.
Yeah, I know, the culture clash in FROM HERE TO PATERNITY was not about Australia; it was about Chicago suburbs Vs. Colorado Rockies. But, I don't see many common denominators between those two geographic mecca's. Well, there is one, a viral aversion to anything phony. People in both places seem to grow titanium craniums for personality integrity:
"I am what I am."
Only difference is that Jane, as a "military brat," (as she describes herself) has honed a few effective social graces and sees her genuineness as appealing across cultural lines. Colorado mountain people (the rugged individualist, hermit types) rarely wonder how anyone perceives them. They just are. And they often want to be left alone in peace. Try prodding a bear in hibernation.
I was surprised to notice, when I had gotten well into the novel, that I was enjoying the change of environment (of course being a Rocky-Mountain-foothills native might have helped) from the suburban neighborhood with Jane and Shelley's next-door visits, each in their separate domains, though connecting nearly constantly. At the resort the sleuthing pair were sharing close, well-appointed quarters, along with Mel and all their kids (with Paul in the distant background as usual, but "there" ... somewhere ... rather than out-of-town).
Maybe I should add an aside here to clarify that, as has been the case throughout this Jill Churchill series, the adults carry the show, while the kids remain in the background adding a bit of fun warmth periodically. This is in contrast to Diane Mott Davidson's Goldilocks series, in which the teen-angst Vs a Mom being compelled to cater-to-everybody, has often been the prime plot, especially in the earlier books in that (culinary) crime novel series. This is not to criticize either focus of adults/kids in these two mystery series. Both styles have their unique values, issues-to-pursue, and reader appeals.
The skiing lessons and clues for studying family histories were a bonus in this one, and were successfully succinct. I believe I could use them to get going on either a search of my genetic trees, or a slip down the slopes. If I were so inclined. However, being dined in one eye and bereft in the other, I believe I'll pass the skis to the bunnies.
Linda Shelnutt
NOTE TO SHOPPERS (that loveable breed of folk glorified by Jane & Shelley in this mystery series):
-- Speaking of mountain grown, etc., Amazon now sells groceries, even the gourmet stuff including Quinoa (keenwah), an amazingly nutritious (and nutty delicious) grain which was originally grown only by the Inca Indians in high mountains of exotic countries outside the USA.
-- That Super-grain is currently being grown at White Mountain Farms in the San Juan range of the Colorado Rockies. I'm hoping the White Mountain Farms quinoa will be for sale here at some point.
-- The current vendors of Quinoa on Amazon are also impressive, and sell at very competitive prices. I'm ready to try the vender here which (unlike White Mountain farms) offers pre-washed Quinoa, so I don't have to rinse off the saponin coating (a natural insecticide which has developed around this grain over its eons of evolution).
-- Now (while I remain a semi-hermit on a mesa surrounded by the Colorado Rockies) I can buy QUINOA, SAFFRON Strands, JASMINE TEA, KONA COFFEE BEANS (learned about those through Cleo Coyle's coffeehouse series of mysteries, see my Listmania and reviews), LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL (learned about EO's through Dr. BJ Ferrell who recommends Young Living EO's, see my Listmania and reviews) ...
-- All in one cart through my laptop PC!!!
This is a great series........1998-10-14
I have read all the books in this series and I find them wonderfully amusing. It's a quick, light-hearted read that puts a smile on your face and not a scare in your pants. I love this series and can't wait for more, more, more.
Churchill again amuses with useful clues and painful puns........1996-08-09
Jane Jeffrey applies her well-honed motherwit in this
cheerful tale of multiple murder. While juggling her roles
as parent, sweetheart, best friend and out-of-control
bunny-skier, Jane finds time to discover two corpses,
become a suspect, and expose several crimes, and their
criminals while learning useful information about
genealogical research.
Customer Reviews:
Get hit by a car and find love........2003-02-11
Lisa hadn't planned to fall in love. If only she hadn't accepted an invitation to be Angus Hamilton's guest and found herself in a different world, seduced by glamour, a jet-set life-style...and Angus!
She'd become an accidental mistress-and now she was accidentally pregnant! But Angus was more interested in living it up than settling down. Yet suddenly he was delivering Lisa's baby-and loving every minute! Had fatherhood turned a dedicated playboy into perfect husband material?
Slightly different, main characters are interesting and plot moves along with a nice tension. Lisa isn't really seduced by the lifestyle as much as enjoying it while it lasts. Angus is a man looking for something he just might have found, by hitting it with his car!
Customer Reviews:
Can Brand convince Charlene to Love him again?!.......2007-04-30
Another Yummy Bravo Man!
Brand is one of the sons of the infamous Blake Bravo. He wants to be a *good* man and is trying very hard. He's an attorney is New Bethleham to be close to his mother, Chastity, and his brother, the doctor Brett (SSE #1777 Married in Haste).
Brand's high school sweetheart Charlene lives and owns Dixie's Diner in New Bethleham too but she hasn't talked to him for 10 years. They were 18 and 20 when Charlene's parents died in an auto accident leaving Charlene and her baby sister Cissy who was 9 with only an aunt, Irma, who thought she could raise Cissy better in San Diego. Poor Charlene wanted to keep Cissy and thought if Brand married her they could raise Cissy. Brand didn't think so and wouldn't marry her and left town. Charlene lost Cissy and hasn't forgiven him in all these years.
In fact the book opens with Charlene arriving at his door with Cissy's baby in tow and accuses him of being of being the father. Cissy had come to town a year earlier. She stayed with Charlene but wouldn't work at the diner but Brand gave her a job at his law office.
Brand decides after seeing her that morning he still loved Charlene and wanted a relationship with her. Charlene also knew she also had feelings but wasn't sure how to deal with them. We watch her go through all the emotions of having Mia, the baby, and her love for Brand.
Ms Rimmer has created a yummy hero and a sweet heroine who must work out their feelings from the parting so many years ago along with Cissy and her problems and Aunt Irma comes to town trying to make a life with Charlene and hopefully Cissy. Everyone has their flaws but we see that the characters are willing to overlook them in each other.
I read the story and wanted all to have a Happy Ever After and I knew they would! Great addition to the Bravo family stories.
Average customer rating:
- Thumbs Up!
- Hero worship turns into love
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His Baby (From Here To Paternity) (Harlequin Presents, No 1926)
Sharon Kendrick
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Harlequin Presents
| Series
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Kendrick, Sharon
| ( K )
| Authors, A-Z
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Regency
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0373119267 |
Customer Reviews:
Thumbs Up!.......2004-12-17
Daisy and Matt grew up together in the same house, however Matt moves away to go to college and make his way in the world and they don't see each other for a couple of years. In the time they were apart Matt has gotten married, had a child and lost his wife all in the space of two years. A lot has been happening with Daisy too. She is a grown and mature 18 year old and is stunningly beautiful. Matt is unaware that Daisy has been in love with him for years and when he comes home for Christmas with his baby daughter he is in for a surpise. Not only is he extremely attracted to Daisy he also is stunned by how beautiful she has grown. Daisy forces Matt to see her for what she is, thinking of wedding bells and Matt is thinking the exact opposite.
This book was really good, I really like it, the only thing that makes me pause is that I just don't like how young Daisy is. Eighteen and twenty-eight is a little bit too much for me. And the end is a bit abrupt and unreal , but it is a romance novel. But overall great book.
Hero worship turns into love.......1997-12-03
Eighteen year old Daisy Blair has always been in love with Matt Hamilton, who returns home to England with a baby daughter. Although the chemistry between them is intense, and it is obvious (to me at least) that Matt loves Daisy as she loves him, Matt pushes her away and lets her live her life first for two years before actually marrying her and declaring his love. What I especially liked about this story is how the man put his love interest's needs interests ahead of his.
Customer Reviews:
Finn's Twins by Anne McAllister (Harlequin Mills & Boon).......2006-05-17
First book in Anne McAllister's outstanding New York! New York! series ... all six books in this series are not to be missed. I recommend reading them in order, although each can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel as well. Make room on your keeper shelf for the entire series: Finn's Twins, Fletcher's Baby, Gibson's Girl, Rhys's Redemption, The Inconvenient Bride, and Nathan's Child.
GREAT LITTLE SKIT!.......2001-12-23
I like this little read out at the back of the book. ******
FROM HERE TO PATERNITY -- men who find their way to fatherhood by fair means, by foul, or even by default!
When it comes to the female sex, Finn MacCauley is an expert. Except, that is, when the females in question are his six-year-old nieces -- and identical twins. Finn just isn't equipped to be a father........
Izzy, on the other hand, is an ideal mother. If only she wasn't engaged to another man!
All Finn has to do is persuade Izzy that being temporary surrogate parents will be terrific fun [boy, was he in for a surprise.] Nearly as much fun as sharing Finn's glamorous life-style ... and his bed! ********
Izzy taught Finn about sharing love and [grin] not the pictures of his models with his little nieces. Pansy and Tansy, in turn, taught Finn the joys of family and did their darndest to convince Finn that he needed Izzy in his life.
She didn't really have to marry Sam, did she?
Don't forget to look for the follow up story of Sam in #1932 - Fletcher's Baby
PMS - premarital sex tainted the story but over all the characters interaction was great. Especially Pansy and Tansy!
Great beginning of this series!.......2001-04-22
If you can get your hands on a copy of this book, do so by all means. I laughed myself sick at the turmoil the twins and Izzy caused poor old Finn. He didn't have a clue.
Customer Reviews:
Storyline ...........2002-07-02
Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review, here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this book is for you: "Taylor Pryce could be described as a professional bachelor ... until he discovered little Justin. The nephew he never knew he had. Only, Justin belonged to someone else. Brooke Davenport. She'd adopted him in good faith, believing him to be an orphan baby. Taylor will do anything to gain custody -- even marry! He just needs to persuade Brooke that he's the ideal husband she didn't even know she wanted!" FROM HERE TO PATERNITY -- men who find their way to fatherhood by air means, by foul, or even by default!
Customer Reviews:
DOMINIC'S CHILD a good look at a romantic relationship........1999-11-08
In DOMINIC'S CHILD Dominic doesn't know that the woman he is about to marry has his child. He finds out that he has a son with a woman from a one night stand about a year ago.This was great I suggest you read the book if you like romantic stories. I don't want to give all the good details away. The book is a good look at what could happen with a one night stand. Dominic was surprised by the discovery of his one year old son that looks just like him. I give this book four stars. I told a lot about the book already. All the romantic stories are really good so why not see if this one is as good as the others. DOMINIC'S CHILD was the best one I read so far. So if you get the chance to check the book out take the time to read the whole thing. Cheack some of the others out also if you get the chance to. DOMINIC'S CHILD is an awesome book. The best part was when she walked down the asile with the baby in her arms. Thats the last detail I'm telling about the book. So I guess what I'm trying to say is read the book , you might like it as much as I did !
Book Description
Written in magic realism, this novel takes place at an iron age hillfort where an Irish American woman, on a visit to her mother's birthplace, experiences mysterious events. She meets two men and the three eventually go to Tir-na-nOg, the mytholigical Land of the Ever-young.
Customer Reviews:
Great read,but of limited use to the 99.95% of GM's.......1999-07-09
The problem with discussing the nigh silly and completely inpenterable land of tir na nog is mainly that.....why on earth is the Tir Tairngire information(which ,given it's close proximity to seattle makes it fairly likely to pop up in a number of plots and schemes) so sketchy and vague in comparison to the detailed(maps,THEY included MAPS,road maps,county maps,ley lines...yay!)near fully fleshed out Tir Na Nog? Factor in the the distant locale, impossiblility of 'visiting', and the fact that ireland is pretty much removed itself from world politics,and it's easy to see why this book isn't used that often. Tir Na Nog as a sourcebook will be of very limited use to the majority of stroytellers out there, but would certainly be mandatory for anyone playing in an Eire campaign.It's a book that makes most GM's go 'whoa...that's pretty cool' and then toss under the Germany and Lone Star Sourcebooks while playing.
It is a Very Good Synapsis of Elven Culture in Shadowrun.......1999-01-07
I found that the Rules and information Described in it Was Crucial to Properly Running a Elf In that political and volitile time.
Very informative review of the mysterious Elven land.......1998-03-08
The Scottish world of Tir Na nOg is explained in great detail in this place book. The book explains a new Paths system for Tir Na nOg magicians as well as new magical groups, and even a new type of magician! Tir Na nOg also has very detailed information about the culture of the shady world of the Elven Court.
Average customer rating:
- Oisin and Tir na nog - Book and Tape
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Oisin and Tir na nOg (Irish Legends)
Reg Keating
Manufacturer: Owl Records Ltd. (Tarantula Books)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Authors, A-Z | Books & Reading | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | British | Classics | Drama | Erotica | Essays | Foreign Language Fiction | General | Genre Fiction | History & Criticism | Large Print | Letters & Correspondence | Poetry | Short Stories | United States | Women's Fiction | World Literature
Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Action & Adventure | Children's Literature Guides | Classics by Age | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths | General | Humorous | Literary Criticism & Collections | Poetry | Popular Culture | Read-Aloud | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Short Story Collections
ASIN: 185534775X |
Customer Reviews:
Oisin and Tir na nog - Book and Tape.......2004-01-10
This is one of Reg Keating's Irish Legend Books that is best with the tape. The tapes were produced by Owl records. My kids love the stories and listen to the tapes with the books. The books are simple with a few pictures that are enough to conjure up images of dragons and magic. I only wish I could find the rest of the series (tapes and books) by Keating....
Average customer rating:
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Draganta Revealed (Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog)
Michael Teitelbaum
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 061321465X |
Book Description
Nothing is as it appears.
The Mystic Knights are on a quest for Draganta, who legend foretells will bring peace to Kells for one hundred lifetimes. Deirdre, Ivar, Angus, and Roham are desperate to find the great warrior. Without him, their kingdom will fall into the cruel hands of Evil Queen Maeve.
But where is Draganta? Who is he?
The Mystic Knights don't know where to being...how will they ever find the warrior they seek?
Only with your help, gracious reader! Wise choices will lead our heroes to the path of victory and loyalty. But beware'things are often not what they seem. And Draganta might not be who you expect...
Customer Reviews:
Part of a Legacy.......2000-01-23
First I want to state that the Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog was the best show ever made. The books are a great addition to the legacy, especially this one. It had action and adventure, but it's not violent or gruesome. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something new and original. For Kells!
Average customer rating:
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Taming of Pyre (Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog)
John Whitman
Manufacturer: Econo-Clad Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0613224698 |
Book Description
Time to fight fire...
The time has come for our heroes, Rohan, Angus, Ivar, and Deirde, to tame Pyre, the Fire Dragon of Dare. The four friends are confident that they won't have much trouble, thanks to their Mystic weapons and armor.
But when they come face-to-face with the ferocious dragon, the Mystic Knights make a terrifying discovery. Their weapons and armor have no effect on Pyre! Things look bleak for the Mystic Knights...
Only you can help them, mighty reader. Choose wisely, and the Mystic Knights will tame the Fire Dragon. But the slightest misstep could find the four warriors lost in a Pixie Field or locked in battle with the Evil Sentinels!
Average customer rating:
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Tir Na Nog
Tir Na Nog Cdbgo 53
Manufacturer: BGO RECORDS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
Subjects | Books | Arts & Photography | Biographies & Memoirs | Business & Investing | Calendars | Children's Books | Comics & Graphic Novels | Computers & Internet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Entertainment | Gay & Lesbian | Health, Mind & Body | History | Home & Garden | Law | Literature & Fiction | Medicine | Mystery & Thrillers | Nonfiction | Outdoors & Nature | Parenting & Families | Professional & Technical | Reference | Religion & Spirituality | Romance | Science | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Sports | Teens | Travel
General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 630709429X |
Average customer rating:
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Tir-na-Nog
Bryan Walters
Manufacturer: Aquila Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 090322643X |
Books:
- Germanicus Mosaic (Libertus Mystery Series)
- Grayson
- Hell Hath No Fury: A True Story of Wealth and Passion, Love and Envy, and a Woman Driven to the Ultimate Revenge (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- Hornblower and the "Hotspur" (Hornblower Series)
- Hornet's Nest
- If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow
- Imperfect Strangers
Books Index
Books Home
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- The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
- The Confederacy's Fighting Chaplain: Father John B. Bannon
Silence of the Hams (Jane Jeffry Mystery Series #7)
The Class Menagerie (Jane Jeffry Mystery Series #4)
A Quiche Before Dying (Jane Jeffry Mystery Series #3)
War and Peas (Jane Jeffry Mystery Series #8)
Fear of Frying (Jane Jeffry Mystery Series #9)
