Recently finished reading Rage by Linda Castillo. (#17 in her Kate Burkholder series):
I love this series! Kate Burkholder grew up Amish, left the faith when she was 18, and is now the Chief of Police in Painter's Mill, Ohio...the town where she grew up. She straddles both the English and the Amish worlds as she tracks down murderers and solves crimes. Her husband, John Tomasetti, works with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. They make a great team, and this is another excellent mystery in this always suspenseful, well-written series. (Though I do agree with Rachel@Waves of Fiction, Kate really does need to learn to wait for backup!)
Went to see the movie SKETCH on my birthday and thought it was very creative and fun, and surprisingly suspenseful.
My glad things from August:
- A Rufous hummingbird hung out in my backyard all August--I guess my yard is a stop on its fall migration. Rufous hummers are so colorful...and so territorial! The one in my yard kept chasing away the Black-chinned hummingbirds from the feeders, even though there was plenty of food for all.
- Bought a new computer so I could upgrade to Windows 11, and managed to get it up and running without any huge problems. (A decided feat for non-techie me.)
- My sister and I have been revising our KindleVella story, Ghosts of Grayhaven. (Some of you might remember reading it.) Since KindleVella is now defunct, we're going to release it on Kindle this fall.
- Bought some books for my birthday. Now I just have to find room for them on my shelves. Funnily enough, it's not a problem I mind having.
- Project Runway, one of my favorite reality TV shows, is back. While I don't love all the overly dramatic personalities, I do love seeing the fashion they create.
- My African violet is blooming again!
- And I heard a Western Screech Owl outside my window last night and again this morning. Any day with owls in it is a good day!
Very happy Lark that you and your sister will be releasing Ghosts of Grayhaven on kindle in the fall. Any thoughts about also releasing your Christmas story on kindle which I also really liked.
ReplyDeleteWe are planning on revising our Christmas story next and then hopefully releasing it on Kindle this Christmas. Fingers crossed.
DeleteI read "Sworn to Silence," the first in the Burkholder series, many years ago and was so revolted by the graphic descriptions of the rapes, tortures and murders of young women that I never picked up another of her books. I don't think I'll start now. On a happier note, I'm hoping to get a visit from a Rufous this fall and I sometimes go out in my backyard at night to listen for owls; I haven't heard a Screech Owl lately but hope lives on.
ReplyDeleteSome of Castillo's mysteries do get a little dark. And I hope you get lots of Rufous hummingbirds coming your way. :D
DeleteThose are all good things to be glad about.
ReplyDeleteI try to look for the positives...though sometimes all I can focus on are the negatives in life. It's something I'm trying to change about myself, but it's a work in progress.
DeleteI love hearing owls!
ReplyDeleteOwls are awesome!
DeleteHope you had a lovely birthday! Buying books as a birthday treat for yourself sounds perfect :)
ReplyDeleteThey're one of my favorite things. :D
DeleteI'm excited that y'all are releasing Ghosts of Grayhaven on Kindle. I really enjoyed it when I read it in Vella. I've been curious about Sketch, so I'm glad to hear it was fun. :D
ReplyDeleteI thought Sketch was very cute! And I so appreciate that you read Ghosts of Grayhaven when we first put it out. Thank you. :D
DeleteHaha! Yes, Kate does need to learn to wait for backup! I still enjoy the series even so. I like reading about the Amish culture. I'd love to visit one of their stores someday. Hummingbirds are so fierce and territorial! I had a bunch of them come through our yard when I lived in Southern California because we had honeysuckle growing out of control on our hillside. I planted the same vine up here this summer because I see them around but it doesn't seem like they get much from my flowers up here. Not sure. Happy birthday, Lark! Yes, trying to squeeze in books on your bookshelf is a happy problem! :)
ReplyDeleteI love Castillo's Kate Burkholder series! Every mystery has been so good. I don't have honeysuckle in my yard, but I do have a trumpet creeper. And I put out a couple of hummingbird feeders each spring and summer to draw more hummingbirds in. :D
DeleteHappy Birthday Lark! I love owls and it must be really cool to hear out your window. A good omen too. I think I'd always call for backup -- being a chicken.
ReplyDeleteSmart people call for backup! ;D
DeleteRage sounds good, and now I'm curious about the Amish elements. Very cool that you have an owl nearby! I don't think I've ever seen one.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing it in the early morning hours, but haven't spotted it yet. I have seen other Screech owls where I live though. Which is very cool. :D
DeleteI love the quote at the bottom of your post my friend. I agree with that. We must appreciate, respect and grateful for what we already have whatever it takes
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend
Thank you!
DeleteI love the Kate Burkholder series too and enjoyed this new book for sure. I agree that Kate does need to try to wait for backup - ha! Happy belated birthday! Hope you are doing well. I love the quote too.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Kate is such a great character, but you'd think she would have learned by now to wait 5-10 minutes for backup to arrive. ;D
DeleteThat sounds like an interesting premise for a book. I don't think I've read a book where someone used to be Amish and now has a job like that one. I think I would like this.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a good series! I love the Amish community setting.
DeleteHappy belated birthday, but sounds like it was a good one :) Inquiring minds want to know what books you have added to your shelves ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, I bought Romancing the Grump, Absolutely Not in Love, and Loyally Luke, the Ravenwood Trilogy by Morgan L. Busse, two of Kelley Armstrong's Rockton series, and a couple other favorite romances. Probably bought too many but I was in one of those' I don't care I must buy some books' kind of mood. ;D
DeleteHappy Belated Birthday. Glad to know you were able to treat yourself to some books on your special day.
ReplyDeleteIt's my favorite gift. :D
DeleteAny day with hummingbirds or owls in it is a good day indeed!
ReplyDelete:D I totally agree.
DeleteHappy birthday, Lark! Sounds like such a wonderful start to the month :) Wishing you the very best my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nadia! :D
DeleteGlad to see you were able to finally read Rage! It was my first in the series, and I'm eager to read more.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a family of hummingbirds nesting in one of our shrubs all summer. It's been great to watch them. I'll be sad when they migrate away.
I love having hummingbirds around. They're so fun to watch. And I hope you get a chance to check out some of Castillo's other Kate Burkholder mysteries! They're worth it.
DeleteHappy birthday Lark! I think the answer is you just need more bookcases. That series is on my TBR so I'm glad to see you enjoy it though the lack of patience to wait for backup can be maddening.
ReplyDeleteKate may make mistakes, but she's a great character and one of my favs. And I do need another bookcase. Maybe that's what I'll buy myself for Christmas. :D
DeleteHappy Belated birthday! I know a lot of people love the Castillo books so maybe I should give them a go some day. Congrats on the new computer set up and I will have to check out your Kindle book when it comes out!
ReplyDeleteBeing visited by a Rufous hummingbird is a definitely special and noteworthy. I miss hearing owls at night--our dog gets freaked out by night noises, so I have to close all the windows in order to sleep at night. Hearing a screech owl is very cool.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried to grow African violets, but I love the deep colors. Congrats on getting yours to bloom. Well done!
I was really close to going to see Hamilton in the theater on my birthday but I think my daughter wouldn't have appreciated me seeing it without her. I am glad you enjoyed Sketch!
ReplyDeleteI love watching the birds from my window while I work. I hope the new computer is working out well for you!
I hope you have a good September, Lark!