Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was in the mood for a cozy mystery and I found this gem:

"When Houston reporter Lucy Resnick cashes in her retirement to buy her grandmother’s farm in Buttercup, Texas, she’s looking forward to a simple life as a homesteader. But Lucy has barely finished putting up her first batch of Killer Dewberry Jam when an oil exploration truck rolls up to the farm and announces plans to replace her broccoli patch with an oil derrick. Two days later, Nettie Kocurek, the woman who ordered the drilling, turns up dead at the Founders’ Day Festival with a bratwurst skewer through her heart and one of Lucy’s jam jars beside her…and the sheriff fingers Lucy as the prime suspect."

But is Lucy's home just to good to be true???

It was very enjoyable and a quick read, and I would read more of her books.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

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The Whale Chaser: A Novel by Tony Ardizzone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book as the premise is remarkable, but I just couldn't get into it. I thought the protagonist was a lout and trying to make amends at the end just didn't send me over the edge.

But it also could be I was a child of the 60s also but didn't go in the same direction as the author. Therefore, my interest wasn't there.

It was well written, though, and very readable.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher was letting me read this book.

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A Decade of French Fashion, 1929-1938: From the Depression to the Brink of War by Mary Carolyn Waldrep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars











Spent a glorious afternoon reading and gazing at all the lovely pictures of fashion. I was on my chaise lounge wearing a pink ensemble while eating grapes. Not true, but that's what I felt like going through the history of the fashions from 1929 to 1938.


The flapper look to the long sleekness of the post-depression look.


The glamour of the Hollywood look of oh so long ago.



Recommend highly.



My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

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Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA by Richard Hill (www.dna-testing-adviser.com)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Now I Know Why I am Addicted to Genealogy.



Genealogy is one of my favorite hobbies. Others have reviewed this book, and even though they said they liked genealogy they thought it was boring. Not to me. I read with great interest each clue, each tidbit that helped the author find his parents -- and he started before the advent of the Internet.


I applaud him on his endeavors and I applaud him on a great book.



There was one discrepancy, though. He said the Social Security Death Index was maintained by those who only sent in information on the death. This is not true. It is put out by the Social Security Administration.



My thanks to the author, Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book.

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I am little behind on my reading but:




Judy: A Dog In A Million by Damien Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How in the World did this Dog Live?

What a great story about a dog, Judy. It started out slow but built up to one after another conflict in the World War II Pacific.



There were two quotes in the book I especially liked about Judy.



The men would chant to keep their spirits up:



They would stagger to their work place.
Though they really ought to die,
and would in their beards,
If that bitch can, so can I...



Judy, the mascot of World War II -- saving lives while still loving her humans.

At the end of her life, a plaque was put up:

In memory of Judy DM Canine VC
Breed English Pointer
Born Shanghai February 1936,died February 1950
Wounded February 14, 1942
Bombed and sunk HMS Grasshopper
Lingga Archipelago February 14, 1942.
Torpedoes SS Van Waerwijck
Malacca Straits June 26, 1943.
Japanese Prisoner of War March 1942-August 1945.
China Ceylon Java England Egypt Burma
Singapore Malaya Sumtra E. Africa
They Also Served.

I recommend this unique dog and the book to all. My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the privilege of reading this book.

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