Review of, Underbelly, by Karen Crawford

I’m typing this at dawn, when the sun is but a freshly cracked egg peaking above the tree line. Those golden rays are steadily reaching into the shadows hiding among the oaks, maples, and junipers, sweeping away the darkness and mystery of the night.  

Mystery is such a tantalizing facet of life, making it more terrifying and delicious at the same time. This brings me to my latest read. A mystery/thriller by Karen Crawford.

The Gist:

A popular Las Vegas hotel and casino is undergoing a billion-dollar renovation, and a killer is operating in the construction zone. The Square is open for guests, but they are unaware that a predator is lurking below the facade of luxury. One woman’s death will draw attention to the murders and spark an investigation. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department retired detective Taryn Winter, her former partner, Daniel Brady and FBI Special Agent Jenae Shannon are on the trail, risking everything to bring a killer to justice. But their opponent has become obsessed with one of them and is on the hunt. Will they find the killer first or be the next victims?

My Thoughts:

Karen Crawford’s experience working in the Criminal Justice System shines through in this gripping murder mystery. Though the twisty, well-orchestrated plot held me captive, it was the main protagonist that left a positive lasting impression.

Retired Detective Taryn Winter is pulled back into the seedy undercurrent of Las Vegas when her former partner, Detective Daniel Brady, finds himself up against a killer targeting the oppressed. Her strength, skills, and confidence have propelled her to success and enabled her to withstand the rigors of the job for many years. While these are admirable traits, what I applaud most is her refreshing vulnerability and reliance on others.

Taryn isn’t just another carbon copy, buck stops here, gunslinger. She doesn’t blaze through life and death crises with the unflappable demeanor that can cause eye spasms from constant rolling. Those characters have their place, but realism is so appealing. And neither is she a reclusive alcoholic basement dweller, whose diet consists of take-out and canned pasta.

Taryn wrestles with the trauma that comes with the territory, but draws resilience from the unwavering support of her husband and a got your back bond with Daniel.

Taryn’s compassion for the downtrodden has given her great allies on the streets. She’s considered a good cop, winning their trust.  

I recommend this book to those who enjoy a more human take on the world of law enforcement.

Meet Karen:

Karen worked as a probation officer and supervisor for 20 years. During her career, she spent countless hours with criminal offenders, delving into the details that make them tick and gaining insight about human behavior. Her passion and drive for helping people and promoting best practices in criminal justice earned her numerous awards during her tenure, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Karen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, with a Minor in Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Justice Management. She has always championed those who serve, and those who are served, in the criminal justice system. Now, she lets her imagination run wild, writing about the other side of the law. Karen lives in Arizona with her husband, dog and cat. 

Chickens, Coops, and Sweet Chili Lime Poetry

I’m guessing that since you’ve seen the cover photo and the title, the element of surprise about the content of this post has been somewhat dampened. Yes, this is a pic of the newest members of our chicken family. A pair of Barred Rock hens.

It seems ‘chicken math’ is a thing! According to local lore, our four birds will soon turn into twenty-two. Hmmm . . . two plus two equals twenty-two. Makes sense? Just how this miraculous arithmetic works, when no rooster is present, is beyond my pinheaded comprehension. Perhaps they duplicate and divide, like cells in the body.

The photo shows them in their briefly temporary smaller coop. We just got them yesterday and my daughter has yet to name them. But to her credit, they are beautiful birds and do look a tad bit alike.

We plan to move them into the coop below, ASAP. What’s not shown here is the exceptionally large run now attached to it. Plenty of room to ‘chicken’ in the great outdoors. We have to be careful out here because of the high rate of predators.

That’s it for the fowl news. Here’s a little attempt at poetry. It’s in the style of a Triolet. Anyone who’s ever had to deal with the frustration of watching their favorite snack get stuck in a vending machine will appreciate this, and hopefully get a chuckle, too. 🙂

My tummy grumbles, my eyes shed water,

 Sweet chili lime chips crumpled against the glass

Nose pressed to the pane, I beg the fraudster

My tummy grumbles, my eyes shed water

I jab the button, my mouth starts to bluster

Penniless wit is offered by all who pass  

My tummy grumbles, my eyes shed water,

Sweet chili lime chips crumpled against the glass  

 

Review of, The Girl From Huizen, by Paulette Mahurin

Both of my parents are first generation immigrants from the Netherlands. They moved to Canada as small children with their families just after WWII. I grew up in a community of Dutch Immigrants, most, if not all, the older adults had been through the war. For the most part, no one spoke about it, at least not to me, and I never asked. I think that even as a child I sensed the topic was too painful.

My Grandfather passed before I was born, and my Grandmother lived in the front section of our large farmhouse. Whenever a thunderstorm rolled in, she would stay in our half until it was over. Those storms frightened her so bad. My Mom always said that it was due to the severity of the storms in the Netherlands, and I never openly questioned her on that. However, I sometimes wonder if those thunderclaps sounded a bit too close to the booms of dropping bombs.

My Dad once told me that his family used to hide Jews on their farm. One day, they got word that German soldiers were making the rounds and would be at their place soon. I’ve never learned anymore details about the story, other than what’s written here. He would have been just a toddler, so I’m sure that this information was handed down from my Grandparents or one of his older siblings. It’s unclear as to how many guests, or the exact scenario that led to the decision to use the following means to keep them safe.

So, here goes. Before the Germans arrived, they hid the guests inside large haystacks. They must have been very large stacks indeed, because the German soldiers jabbed their bayonets into them. Thankfully, the blades never reached anyone hiding inside. No doubt, the family must have breathed a collective sigh when the soldiers moved off. If the Jews had been found, everyone would have been shot on sight.

As I got older, my fascination with this era grew. After all, it’s a large piece of my family history that’s been forever blackened out.  

When I heard about this book, I knew that it was going to reach the top of my TBR in short order.  

What Amazon Says:

The German occupation of the Netherlands brings with it food shortages, harsh treatment for resistants and deportation of Jews. The changes dramatically affect Rosamond Jansen’s life on her family’s farm on the outskirts of Huizen. When she finds herself under constant surveillance and oppressive treatment in her government typist job and the Nazis deport her best friend, her resentment turns to fear and a deepening hatred. Verbal cruelty, belittlement and emotional turmoil take their toll on her until a man arrives at the farm who, along with her uncle from Amsterdam, enlist her father into resistance work. When her father does not return home, Rosamond, too, is drawn into resistance activity. As more people disappear from her life, her involvement goes deeper, bringing her to a villa in Huizen where a woman named Madelief has a secret. As Rosamond becomes close to Madelief and the secret is revealed, her life starts to unravel.

Based on actual events at the villa, The Girl from Huizen tells the story of how Rosamond, working with Madelief, dared to defy the SS and their collaborators. But this is no ordinary Resistance versus Nazi story, rather it is a story of a shocking and unexpected unfolding where flames of tension ignite the page, as loss and grief consume and drive the girl from Huizen. It is a powerful story about the trusting friendship between two women. Ultimately The Girl from Huizen is a homage to the brave resistance members who risked everything to fight against Nazi oppression. Their efforts saved thousands upon thousands of lives.

My Thoughts:

The courage and selfless sacrifices of many of those who lived in occupied Netherlands is adroitly portrayed in this page-turner. Rosamond Jansen is a typical teenager who’s forced to grow up way too fast after Hitler’s armies roll into her home country. An ordinary girl facing extraordinary circumstances.

This book is exemplary in recreating flesh and bone history. The “go it alone” superheroes are in absentia. Everyone must work together, doing their part; motivated by both personal justifications and collective goals.

Rosamond tires of eating potatoes everyday and hates the invaders. She squares off against sheer terror, the desire for revenge, and the person in the mirror. She turns bitterness into action that saves many, while clinging to the hope of someday.

This is a refreshing tribute to the helpers in our world. A reminder that no matter what, there are always those who are willing to put everything on the line and stand up to tyranny.

Kudos to Paulette for her flawless delivery.

I highly recommend this book for those who wish to find the roses among the ruins.      

Meet Paulette and check out her books: (Please note that the link option is being glitchy. Her books are available on Amazon.)

Paulette Mahurin is an award winning international best selling literary fiction and historical fiction novelist. She lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Science.

Life’s simple pleasures

Happy Friday to all! Right now, I’m looking out my window and admiring the beauty that’s lit by another sunny morning. It’s just another example of life’s small pleasures that we may often take for granted.

Despite recent world events, there’s still plenty of good out there. Yes, there are those larger ticket items; family and friends, health, fun vacations, good food, and personal freedoms. But what about the little things? Here’s a list of the small things, in no particular order, that I’m personally grateful for. Things which may seem insignificant on their own but add up to a big morale boost. They’re everywhere, if you pay attention.

1. The swish of the wind as it passes through the needles of an evergreen.
2. The courteous driver who stops to let you turn.
3. The smell of clean laundry-even better when dried on a clothesline outside.
4. The call of a loon at sunset.
5. The crackle and warmth of a campfire.
6. Fixing that obnoxious squeaking door.
7. The feel of a cool breeze kissing away the sweat after a hard day’s work.
8. A smile.
9. A belly-laugh.
10. The first sip of fresh coffee.
11. Good and full days that make you forget time exists.
12. The scar(s) that are fodder for excellent stories.
13. Sunrises/sunsets.
14. The funny antics and quirks of pets.
15. Rainbows.
16. Rainstorms when you’re safely tucked in bed.
17. Conquering procrastination and just “gettin’ it done.”
18. Arriving safely at a destination.
19. Impromptu adventures that provide a lifetime of great memories.
20. The completion of every chapter that draws a WIP (work in progress) towards, “The End.”

Do any of these resonate with you? Please feel free to share your comments. Have a wonderful day!

Review Of Liquid Deceptions, by Colleen Hofstadter Hlavac

We’ve finally reached the first weekend of summer! Bring on the long days, BBQ, and beach days! This past Thursday was a special day for us, my youngest graduated from Grade 8 with Honors! While I’m proud of her accomplishment, a bit of nostalgia tightens my throat. But alas, you can no more put a stopper in time than you can bottle a Cruise Ship and cork the top. Just a second, I need to wipe my eyes. 🙂

Okay, onwards to today’s review.

Some Background:

His hunger to kill again has reached a boiling point. The list of potential victims is ever growing. The residents of South Lake Tahoe are being tormented by him. The “Water Bearer” killer is cold, calculated and insatiable. Will the green homicide detective, Cosette DuPont, be able to stop him before he kills more innocent people? Fasten your seatbelt for the unexpected twists and turns of Colleen Hofstadter Hlavac’s gripping novel.

Just My Opinion:

The plot incorporates a few classic detective story traits. Cossette pursues a career in law enforcement as the result of a personal tragedy; former victim engages villain in a perilous chess match.

Yet, it was so refreshing to discover that Cossette wasn’t the stereotypical workaholic, sleep in your clothes, office dwelling hermit, who considers takeout the ONLY food source and alcohol to be the answer for everything. This woman had a life!

Oh, but don’t mistake her balanced life for incompetence, indolence, or indifference. Not by a long shot! She’s a strong female protagonist, who relies on her team to help cage a blood thirsty monster. And just who is that monster? I ran out of fingers to point while trying to sum that up.  

Crafted in a vividly descriptive style that makes visualization effortless, there’s a variety of positive, non-distracting asides, that enrich and pull this tale off those pages.

I greatly appreciated the lack of gore and overly graphic descriptions.  

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a head scratching, chin rubbing mystery with plausible characters.

Allow me to introduce Colleen:

Colleen Hofstadter Hlavac was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She spent many childhood summers visiting her relatives in Switzerland. She completed her undergraduate degree at U.C. Berkeley. After graduation, Colleen felt it was time for some adventure. She became a flight attendant for United Airlines and worked for the company for eleven years both as a flight attendant and eventually as an Inflight Supervisor. While flying, she was able to complete graduate degrees in both Counseling and Human Behavior. She continues to reside in the Bay Area with her husband and their four children. When Colleen isn’t spending time with family and friends or writing, you can often find her with her beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback, Trixie, and her mischievous, yet lovable, orange cat, Romeo. The Stalker in the Desert is Colleen’s first mystery novel.

Connect with Collen and grab your copy!