"Cold Magic"

"Cold Magic" by Kate Elliott is the first book in "The Spiritwalker Trilogy." I don't believe I've ever read anything by Elliott before and I have to admit I had some difficulty getting into this book at first. However, I persisted and enjoyed it and am intrigued enough to check out the next book in the series, "Cold Fire," just to discover what happens to the heroine(s) of this book. It's a fantasy that is a little hard for me to describe but it features two cousins, Cat and Bee, who grew up together in the same household and both are on the verge of coming of age. Neither is prepared for what the future holds for them but they both have "magical" gifts that should make the transition to adulthood - and the challenges it brings - easier. An interesting side note: This book was influenced by ideas from the author's children and she turned to them for suggestions while writing it. pazt

"Pie a la Murder"

"Pie a la Murder" is the 4th book, I believe, in Melinda Wells' Della Carmichael mysteries. They are light, fun reads that I enjoy so I always look forward to reading the next book in the series. This installment has Della, the star of a her own cable cooking show as well as the owner of a cooking school in Santa Monica, CA, in the middle of a charity fundraiser called "Operation Pie." As if that weren't enough to keep any woman busy, the love of her life, Nicholas, informs her he has an 18 year old daughter, Celeste, that he hasn't seen since she was an infant and now she's coming to live with him. She's been living with her mother in Europe but has acting ambitions so California seems the logical place for her to be. However, when a rather unsavory Hollywood photographer is murdered and it's learned he had some embarrassing pictures of Celeste, Nicholas is the prime suspect in his death. Della has to call in all her favors and use all her resources to prove Nicholas' innocence (or is he innocent?) while dealing with his daughter who doesn't seem inclined to accept Della as part of her father's life. Will Nicholas turn out to be the murderer or will their romance survive if he is indeed innocent? pazt

"The Pink Panther"

Although I loved Blake Edwards' version of "The Pink Panther," I was disappointed when I recently watched the new version with Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, and Beyonce Knowles. I so wanted to like it but it couldn't hold a candle to the earlier version plus I could understand very little of what the characters said when they were speaking with French accents. All in all very disappointing! pazt

"The Book of Lost Fragrances"

"The Book of Lost Fragrances" by M. J. Rose is a suspense novel set in the past and the present as well as in various world spots. Rose had to have done an incredible amount of research before even starting on this book and it is a well written tale about a brother and sister - heirs to a failing perfume business in Paris. Jac, the sister, lives in New York and is all for selling the company while her brother, Robbie, hopes to save the business. When Robbie disappears after a man is found dead in their Paris home, Jac returns to France and a life she left behind to join the search for her brother. As old memories surface and friends offer their support, she is caught up in more than an attempt to locate her brother. She finds herself in the midst of a plot that could cost her and those she holds dear their lives. In the meantime, there is another story line around the Dalai Lama and his heir and an interesting fact came out that I didn't know - In 2007 the Chinese government passed a law banning reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist monks which Tibet feels is specifically aimed at wiping out their identity and culture. Imagine legislating reincarnation!!!! pazt

"Desert Wives"

Betty Webb's "Desert Wives" is the second book in her Lena Jones mystery series. Private Detective Lena Jones finds herself under cover in a polygamous compound on the Arizona-Utah border. She's trying to save the lives of two women -- a mother and daughter -- one of whom is wanted for murder. The result is a harrowing adventure for her as well as an inside look at the seamier side of a polygamy compound and the corrupt officials who look the other way rather than assisting women in need. Webb has done it again -- weaving a great mystery using information drawn from research to create a believable but scary tale. She credits Kathleen Tracy's "The Secret Story of Polygamy" for background information and Tapestry Against Polygamy (www.polygamy.org) which is an organization founded by women who have escaped from the polygamist lifestyle. I love Webb's books and can hardly wait to read the next one! pazt

National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets

I've had the DVD, "National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets," on loan from the library for a few months now and it's time to return it. It (along with National Treasure 1) has become such a favorite of my husband's that I've decided we need our own copy of "Book of Secrets" to add to our DVD library along with the first movie. I believe it's going to be an excellent Father's Day gift for him and I'll have the benefit of watching it right along with him. This sequel is just as action packed and filled with humor (and a little romance) as the first one. The treasure Ben Gates is seeking takes us back to the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln. Watching these movies is like having a history lesson presented in a way that makes it fun to learn. Ben Gates is again played by Nicolas Cage with Jon Voight as his dad plus his girlfriend and sidekick also return along with Harvey Keitel. New on the scene is Helen Mirren as his mom. Ed Harris does a superb job of playing the "villain" in this second movie. Although the ending seems to set the stage for a third movie, I've heard a rumor that it's not going to happen -- much to my disappointment! If you haven't seen either of the National Treasure movies, I suggest you check them out if you like adventure/action movies. pazt

"The World's Fastest Indian"

A few months ago I heard one of my son-in-law's friends tell him about the movie, "The World's Fastest Indian," starring Anthony Hopkins and I decided I had to find and watch that movie. It's based on the true story of Burt Munro from Invercargill, New Zealand, and relates what can happen when one person is focused on a dream and believes he can achieve it. Burt Munro was a speed bike racer who had a highly modified Indian Scout motorcycle and his goal was to make it to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in the late 1950-60's to set a land speed record. The road there and the incredible friends he made along the way who helped him achieve his goal makes a truly inspirational movie. Burt was born in 1899 and died at age 78 in 1978. He set three world records in the nine times he raced at Bonneville and was 63 when he set the first one and 68 when he set the last one riding a 47 year old machine. He was also featured in a letter to the editor in the May 1957 issue of "Popular Mechanics" magazine. In 2006 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Despite the fact that the producer took some liberties with Munro's life story, the essence of his journey to setting a world record is there and it makes for a wonderful, inspirational movie. Check this one out! pazt