Mouse in swim class.
This past weekend, my husband and I celebrated our sixteenth wedding anniversary. Anjin surprised me with dinner at a mystery dinner theater. Set in 1950's France, we were among the guests of a lavish birthday party, one in which the guest of honor was found murdered. This was not the first dinner theater experience, but it is my favorite so far. It made for a wonderful evening out. A rare treat in our household.
Poor Mouse didn't fare so well. She was sick most of the weekend. She seems to be on the mend now, just in time to start her second session of swimming lessons.
I have managed to fit in reading here and there. I spent some time in Larissa Ione's MoonBound world in Bound by Night, the first book in her new fantasy (vampire) series. I also polished off the final two books in the Fifth Avenue romance trilogy, Scandalize Me and Expose Me. And I read and loved The Last Policeman trilogy by Ben H. Winters. I am now reading The Hexed by Heather Graham, a mystery/romance novel set in Salem, Massachusetts. Yet another series book. I seem to be on a series reading roll of sorts right now.
What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?
Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where
participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a
book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.
The Hexed by Heather Graham has a cozy mystery sort of feel to it with paranormal (ghosts) and romance mixed in. Here's a sample from the opening:
Would you continue reading?"Help me, Rocky! Help Me!"
Craig Rockwell--Rocky to family and friends--was seventeen, a high school senior. It wasn't that he didn't like Melissa Wilson; he just wasn't interested the way she was interested.
He rolled over restlessly on the bed, her voice--frantic as always--pushed to the background as his half-sleeping mind returned to the thoughts that had occupied him earlier as he drifted over homework.
As far as beginnings go, this one did not grab me immediately, although it does set the stage well for the type of teenager Rocky was and what was to come in the story. I love that the female protagonist in the story is a children's book author who writes stories about a witch. Of course, she isn't introduced until a few pages later.
4th of July BBQ
© 2014, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Happy Anniversary, Wendy! The dinner at the mystery dinner theater sounds like loads of fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Mouse is feeling better.
Looking forward to your reviews, Wendy! :)
Melody - Thank you! We had a great time at the dinner theater. The show was great and the food was too. :-)
DeleteWe had a rough night last night, and so I'm not sure Mouse is feeling as good as she seemed to be doing before. :-( She says she's fine though, so I guess we will see.
Happy Anniversary!!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Thank you!
DeleteCongratulations to you both on your wedding anniversary.
ReplyDeleteReading the extract you share I'm not too certain that this is a read to hold my attention but then again you can rarely tell by a paragraph or two.
I'm just about to start reading The Frankenstein Diaries edited by the Rev. Hubert Venables.
Here's hoping Mouse is now fully recovered. Happy reading.
Tracy - Thank you! :-)
DeleteSometimes a book doesn't have a strong first paragraph, and I agree that this one isn't the strongest. I finished the book this morning and did enjoy it.
I hope you enjoy The Frankenstein Diaries. I had to look that one up because I wasn't familiar with it. It sounds interesting!
Happy anniversary! Sounds like you found a fantastic way to spend it! I've never been to a dinner theater but it always sounds like fun. I read The Cursed by Graham and enjoyed it so I'd keep reading it. I think I have The Hexed so I'll probably be picking that up soon! Glad Mouse is feeling better. How awful to be sick!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - Thank you! We had a nice time. We went to Chuck E. Cheese earlier in the day with our daughter so she wouldn't feel left out of the celebration. :-) That's always a hit with her.
DeleteI have a copy of The Cursed on my Kindle I bought the other day and am looking forward to reading it.
Mouse says she is feeling better, and she doesn't have a fever, but last night was a rough one just the same. Hopefully she'll be back to 100% soon. Thank you for the well wishes!
What fun! I've always wanted to attend a dinner theater. The pics of Mouse are, as usual, delightful! Hope she is feeling better by now.
ReplyDeleteThe Hexed caught my attention when you mentioned the author of a series about a witch.
Jenclair - It was fun! We all got to guess who the killer was before the big reveal. The performers shared some of the more funny responses with all of us after. There was another couple at our table who was also celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary. Mostly though, there were groups celebrating birthdays.
DeleteHappy Anniversary! Mouse is so cute.
ReplyDeleteBecca - Thank you! :-)
DeleteOh, sounds like a wonderful anniversary celebration! Thanks for sharing...and for the great photos.
ReplyDeleteThe book intrigues me, even though it's not my usual read.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Laurel-Rain - It was a nice surprise. :-) Thank you.
DeleteI finished The Hexed last night and enjoyed it.
I've seen this one and passed it by, but it does sound pretty interesting now that I've read your post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Kim - If you do decide to read it after all, I hope you will enjoy it. It was a fun read.
DeleteIf that's your swimming pool in the 4th of July pictures I'm incredibly jealous! And your mystery dinner sounds like a great way to spend an anniversary! I'm not directly grabbed by the beginning either, maybe because I'm wondering why you'd ignore a request for help, even if you disliked the person! I hope you enjoy the rest of this one :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy Intro
Juli @ Universe in Words
Juli - I wish it was my swimming pool! It is a friend's relative's pool actually. It's heated too! We watched the fireworks from their house; they had a perfect view of the city's show.
DeleteI'm thinking he wasn't taking her seriously in the beginning--that's the only way I can rationalize it--but I know what you mean. I wondered that too.
I don't think I'd read this book, I'm kind of tired of Paranormal right now. Happy anniversary, sounds like it was a good one. Kelley at the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDeleteKelley - I haven't reached my saturation level yet, but I know what you mean.
DeleteThank you for the anniversary wishes!
I'm not a cozy mystery person, but hope you enjoy it! Your little Mouse looks like she's doing great in swim class-my son is doing them right now as well!
ReplyDeleteSarah - Cozies are hit and miss with me, but I've enjoyed a few I've read, including this one.
DeleteMouse loves the water. I put her back in the level one class which she'd just finished because I didn't think she was ready to move on to level two yet. After seeing the kids in the level two class and what they are doing, I know I made the right choice. She may not master swimming on her own this summer, but at least she's learning some of the basics.
Happy anniversary to you and hubby. I would love to attend a murder mystery theater dinner, what fun! I don't know if I would read this book, but I have heard good buzz about it. I might check out the Last Policeman series you read.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week, and enjoy your reading.
Rita - The dinner theater was such fun. The performers interact with the audience some, which makes it even more of a great experience. I hope you get to go to one some time.
DeleteThe Last Policeman was really good. I'm reading the second book in the trilogy now.
Happy Anniversary! That dinner sounds fabulous - I hadn't heard of places like that. Will have to see if there's something like that near me.
ReplyDeleteAthira - Thank you! It was a good show. I'm glad we went. :-)
DeleteHappy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteI love Heather Graham's books and it's been a long time since I read one. This sounds really good.
Yvonne - I don't remember reading anything by her before other than a short story. I enjoyed The Hexed though so definitely will be reading more by her.
DeleteI've met Heather Graham a few times and she is very, very nice. Congratulations on your wedding anniversary--what a lovely celebration you had--perfect for a book lover.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog.
Catherine - How neat that you got to meet Heather Graham! I am glad to hear she's such a nice person.
DeleteAnd thank you for the anniversary wishes. It was definitely the right choice for a book lover--especially one who likes mysteries!
I'm sorry but the the intro didn't grab me. Fantasy is not my genre so I probably wouldn't keep going. I loved hearing your experience of the dinner theater mystery. It sounds like so much fun.
ReplyDeleteMargot - No need to apologize. :-) It's not a particularly wonderful intro.
DeleteThe one we went to before this one was several years ago--another mystery set in the past, back before televisions when radio was so popular. That had been a good show too. It was put on by a different group and we had to travel for that one, but it had been worth it.
I am on a series kick myself. Isn't it funny how we get in these reading moods? I am currently rereading a favorite zombie trilogy as I am just in the mood to read a favorite book :) Mouse is getting so big! I need to get my kiddos back in swimming lessons!
ReplyDeleteSamantha - I know that feeling! I am reading the second in Ben Winters' trilogy and am enjoying it. I hope to make more progress on it today.
DeleteKids grow so fast, don't they? Mouse is small for her age, and we often get comments at the pool about how small she is. People are surprised she's in the level one class instead of in the parent/child class--at least until they see her in action. She's really good at following instructions and communicates very well. This second session she's in now (still level 1--I she wasn't ready to promote) is filled with mostly older than her kids who are at or below her level. It seems a better fit than the last class in which the kids seemed slightly more advanced. I imagine it helps having her repeat the level too. She's still so young though. For us, it's about her having fun, getting used to the water and learning some of the basics. The actual swimming on her own will come later, when she's ready.
Happy Anniversary! The dinner theater sounds like tons of fun. I'm afraid that intro wouldn't grab me. Some books have that great start, and some just don't, but as long as the end is good that's what *really* counts. Hope it's good!
ReplyDeleteMegan - It was fun! I love stuff like that and wish we could do it more often.
DeleteYes, some books grab you immediately, but The Hexed, not so much. I did enjoy the book, at least. :-)
What a nice anniversary date - I love murder-mystery dinners. Hope mouse feels better.
ReplyDeleteAs for the intro, I'd read more before deciding. Hope you like it Wendy.
Diane - Mouse is feeling better, thankfully. Even when sick, she was full of energy and wouldn't slow down until absolutely necessary. I wish I could say the same even when I'm healthy!
DeleteHope you enjoy this one. And congratulations on 16 years. Here's Mine
ReplyDeletePaulita - Thank you!
DeleteHappy anniversary! I'm sorry to hear Mouse was sick last weekend. Something seems to be going around my area too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy The Hexed. It sounds like something I'd read (though I'll wait to see your review before I decide whether to add it to my TBR pile). Right now, I'm reading The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry.
A.M.B. - Thank you! These summer illnesses are no fun--not that illnesses are fun at any time, of course. I hope everyone in your house manages to stay healthy.
DeleteI hope you are enjoying The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. That one is on my wish list.
Happy Anniversary! I must check out these Ben Winters' books as they are much praised by all. thx.
ReplyDeleteSandra - Thank you! I'm enjoy the Ben Winters' trilogy quite a bit. I hope you will too if you read them.
DeleteHappy Anniversary. My husband and I celebrated our 34th saturday. I am behind on Heather's series.
ReplyDeleteNise' - Thanks! Congratulations to your husband and you on your anniversary as well! Thirty-four years is something to be proud of.
DeleteHappy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteLisa - Thank you!
DeleteYes, the opening didn't grab me either so by that I wouldn't continue, however I'm not one for DNF so I'd continue anyway.
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary; a fun evening for sure! Hope Mouse feels better soon. I'm reading Mockingjay and it's okay, but I'm not enjoying it as much as the others. As a book in itself it's good, though.
Charlie - I enjoyed the book overall so it was worth it. :-)
DeleteThank you for the anniversary wishes! Mouse is feeling much better, thanks. Mockingjay wasn't the strongest of the trilogy. I'm curious how the movie(s) will turn out.
Happy anniversary~ Jason and I did a mystery dinner last year and thought it was fun :)
ReplyDeleteStacy - Thank you! I love going to shows like that. So much fun. :-)
Delete