Sadly...

as I write this review the Ragamuffin Diva is closing her blog. Oh how miserable sad. I really enjoy Mair's writing. The first novel, as I said, was so fun to read. Never put it down hardly... and I am sure the second will be the same. I will long for more. But really if I had to choose... I would pick the gritty truth of Mair's blog to the fiction she writes, as good as it is.

Mair's spiritual struggles, her religious truths, her conversations with God and her readers was always thought provoking and sometimes heart breaking. But it was real. You knew her struggle... recognized it in yourself. It reflected the culture we live in. And now it is going away. The rawness, the grittiness, the challenge of it. I am truly sad. Because I will never know Mair through her books as richly as I know her through her blog and that is a shame. Not only for me, but for you too.

Mysterious package from Simon and Schuster

arrived 2 days ago. My first thought was, "Oh no... what did I order. I am suppose to be cutting back on spending." (haha) My inner Catholic was bursting out. I almost shoved the envelope under the car seat but then I came back to my senses. It was addressed to me but maybe it was Doc's. Should I call him? Nah, lets open it.

Guess what I found?

Two books written by Claudia Mair Burney. I know her more accurately as the Ragamuffin Diva. My sister in law Elysa introduced me to her blog. So there was a connection. I think I may have even commented on her some writing she shared on her blog. And here were these two books. Well, I love books. I love the pile of them by my bedside. Hours and hours of self discovery, learning and entertainment. And since my spending money is dwindling due to a new saving program in the family... I was thrilled to have 2 FREE books to read.

Claudia Mair Burney writes mystery novels with a bit of theology thrown in the mix. I have never read "religious" fiction before. Religious mystery novels are new to me too. I was ignorant of the whole genre til recently. Not sure what that means for an individual with a Masters from seminary but there it is.

Anyway, I started the first book, Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man the morning after it arrived. I finished it by bedtime. I read it at stop lights, between loads of laundry, in the pick up line at my son's school, at the drive through coffee place and in bed til Doc was asking me when the light was going out.

It was a fun read. I couldn't seem to put it down. The pace of the story kept you hooked. The dialogue kept you amused and the forensics kept you fascinated. The romance was fun and funny as well. All and all a satisfying read. And I am not all depressed cause i got another one of Mair's novels already started, Death, Deceit and Some Smooth Jazz.

I will be back with that review soon.

Mother's Day

When I was a child I had a favorite book about a little gray squirrel. Even though I had tried to keep it safe, over the years, somewhere long ago, it got lost to me. But I always remembered the story.

There was a little gray squirrel living high up in the tree tops. She had a lovely little open air house and she kept it very nice. One day a gang of hooligan red squirrels ransacked her house and drove her off. Not knowing what to do she took shelter in the attic of a house. There she found lots of cob webs and old toys. She settled down in an old doll house. She chased out the spiders and cleaned up the dust. She made friends with the red toy soldiers.

I told Doc of this book in passing one day as I was heading up the stairs and he was heading into his hobby room. I am not sure how it came up but it made me sad once again to realize that I would never see that book again. I could never remember its name.

On a related note, Doc had been mentioning how excited he was to give me my Mother's Day present and later how disappointed he was that it would not be here since it had to be special ordered. On and on he went at what a "perfect" Mother's Day present it was and how it pictured my using it on the day. I reassured him that it was not an issue for me. But it never ceased to be an issue for him.

This weekend we went away for an overnight trip to visit Doc's college friend, his wife and first child. (Did I mentioned how I long for another child?) We also had lunch with the Mac crew, Doc's sister and the seven "cousins". On the long drive home Doc and I were talking. I asked him to give me a hint of what this great present was that had yet to show up at our doorstep. Well... come to find out my wonderful husband actually tracked down this favorite childhood book. I was so happy. Thrilled really... and I hardly ever get thrilled.

The book is called Miss Suzy. It will arrive sooner or later. But just knowing the title and seeing the book's cover will hold me for quite a long time.

So I thank Doc from the bottom of my heart for thinking of me, knowing my heart and taking the time to find a lost childhood treasure for me. (XOXO)