book

… the end of the world as we know it? In Chasing the Moon, A. Lee Martinez shows us just how funny things can be when the world is about to end. Diana finally finds the perfect apartment – reasonable rent, furnished in her style, even utilities are included.

… the new assistant gardener at the White House? In Flowerbed of State, by Dorothy St. James, you’ll meet Casey Calhoun, an organic gardener who’s only been at the White House a short time, but she’s already in trouble with the Secret Service. This is a fascinating behind-the-­scenes look at the how the White House grounds are kept up.

… the Dublin Murder Squad?  In the Woods,* the debut mystery novel from Tana French, follows the investigation of Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox as they try to solve a bizarre murder.  A nearby archaeological excavation team has discovered the body of a twelve-year-old girl on a stone altar, but where did she come from, and why was she murdered?  Was it a me

… the spicy trilogy that’s catching everyone’s attention? If you are looking for a good beach read this summer, then you will have to read E. L. James’s Fifty Shades Trilogy*. The main character, Christian Grey, is a rich, handsome millionaire that sweeps a pretty, smart, yet naive college girl off her feet in more ways than one.

… Maverick or The Rockford Files? Actor James Garner, with Jon Winokur, wrote The Garner Files, the long awaited biography on everyone’s favorite actor.

… the healing powers of a martini? Sarah Strohmeyer’s story is about a female relationship of Kindred Spirits. One friend is dying of cancer, and her friends gather around her to offer support.

… New York City’s infestation of demonic bedbugs? And now that I’ve freaked everyone out, I highly recommend Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters, which is horror fiction at its creepy-crawly best! The story follows Susan and Alex Wendt, who have just moved into a spacious (and cheap!) apartment in New York City.

… ways to spend smarter and save money? Clark Howard’s Living Large in Lean Times is a lot of common sense, with some new twists that you might not have thought of. This is a brand new, up-to­-the-minute book on the current recession we are going through. There are more than 250 ideas and lots web sites for further ideas to check out.

… the best friends who do everything together? In Amy Crouse Rosenthal and Scott Magoon’s Chopsticks, the title characters are best friends.

… the mystery shopper who is also a sleuth?  An Uplifting Murder is the sixth book in the series* by Elaine Viets.