Miss Fortune - Sara Mills (and Giveaway!)

A while back I won a fun mystery book from one of my favorite blogs, Favorte PASTimes. Miss Fortune by Sara Mills is the first in a series based on Allie Fortune, private detective. I have to say that I've always loved this genre of detective stories. You know, the Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett kind of stuff. This is like that, only instead of Bogie being the detective, you've got Bacall.


The novel takes place in New York City a couple of years after World War II. Just like all the books in this type of genre, there is a knock at the door, a shaken client, and a case to solve. But what I liked about this series is that I really fell for Allie Fortune. She wasn't a P.I. Princess, even though that was her nickname. Instead, her character is level headed and quite human.


The reason why I'm going to keep reading this series is that Allie has her own personal mystery to solve. I don't want to tell you any spoilers but there is an interesting little love triangle and a couple of mysterious disappearances which are going to make me pick up the next novel, Miss Match.


Judging by this first book, the series isn't a gritty, dirty detective series that, say, Alan Furst may write, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Have any of you all read this series?


Which brings me to.......a GIVEAWAY!

I found a paperback copy at the New York Public Library's sale shelf so I'd love it if someone read this book and told me how they liked it.

The contest is open through May 10th. Please leave me a comment with a way to contact you if you win AND tell me if/how/and why you are a fan of this type of detective genre. For instance, my favorite Bogie/Bacall movie is The Big Sleep. Actually it's tied with Dark Passage.

Also Reviewed by:

Favorite PASTimes and Author Interview: Part One and Part Two

Born to Read

Hello all!

Well, I am on the last leg of our trip and should be back in Kentucky the first of May. We are enjoying visiting with my husband's family in Texas and letting the puppies swim in the nearby lake.

Speaking of families, my lovely aunt sent me this photo of me and my older brother. I thought I'd share since it looks like I've always loved reading. Do you all have fond memories of reading when you were a child?

From the Road...

Hello all!

I'm just popping in to say hello from the road. My husband and I have driven from Kentucky to Texas. Our goal: to see some beautiful National Parks, take pictures, relax, and camp. So far we've been to Guadalupe N.P., Carlsbad Cavern N.P., Big Bend N.P. and are heading out to see a band play at a Texas dance hall.

We've been listening to some fun books on CD while we drive. We finished a funny detective story by Jasper Fforde called The Big Over Easy.We're currently listening to The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss.
Sporadically I'm reading the new Brunonia Barry novel The Map of True Places. I just love her writing.Here's my husband and I in Carlsbad Cavern which is in southern New Mexico. A very cool place if you've never been. And no...I did not see any bats. Phew.


I should be back and close to regular scheduled postings in May. Thank you to all my loyal readers for sticking around while I've been M.I.A.!

Hello from Kentucky - And a Winner!

Hello everyone!

Sorry I've been a bit lax in my posts lately. Right now I am sitting on a friend's porch in the sun, cows are next door mooing away, dogs are on long leashes staring at the cows, and I'm enjoying a nice cup of coffee. Quite different from the New York City life.

After doing a bit of searching, it looks like we found a place to rent for a while and will be moving in May 1st. I can't wait to show you all photos of our new place. Hint: There is a fireplace and a tree growing in the middle of the porch. Too cool.

What am I reading? It's been slow but steady and I'm loving this book called The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno. It takes place in New York City in Barnum's (yep, the circus Barnum) Museum. Bartholomew is "the world's skinniest man" and his friends are all other other interesting characters living and working in the museum. It comes out this summer.
But my main news is to finally tell you all (or ya'll) the winner of the book Raven Stole the Moon by Garth Stein.

Without further ado, the winner is:

Margie

Congratulations!! I'll send you an email right now for your snail mail address.

Thanks everyone for entering! I have a couple more giveaways lined up and will be posting some fun Kentucky pictures (including one of Charlie Dog barking at the cows).