Promise Not To Tell

I finished Jennifer McMahon's Promise Not To Tell last night.  It had all of my favorites, except naked grown men.  I love a secretive past along with a haunting of a child.  This was an easy read packed full of mysteries and secrets of little girls.  The past of school nurse Kate collides with another little girl when Kate is forced to return home after years away to care for her mother's declining health.  A little girl, Opal reminds Kate of a past she has tried to forget and leave behind.  Opal looks like a childhood friend of Kate that was murdered years before in the woods next to the hippie commune where Kate lived.

Kate's childhood friend was found dead in the woods, stripped of her clothing and of a tattoo that only Kate and the boy that gave the tattoo knew about.  The murder happened after a severe day of bulling the suspect.  Kids threw rocks at the little girl, called her names and tried to basically do anything to make her feel like crap.  The girl took it with a laugh and was not bothered until she found out that Kate had told her secret of the tattoo on her chest.  Feeling betrayed the little girl runs off as fast as she can.  Later she is found dead. The case is never solved and the killer still roams free.

Flash to current day at the hippie commune where Kate grew up. Kate's mother has Alzheimer mixed in with a little ghostly possession that Kate determines to be her long dead childhood friend that everyone made fun of.  Another little girl is found dead on the night of Kate's return. This forces Kate to confront the past she had ran away from long ago.  She revisits childhood friends in search of the truth as to what happened to her best friends years before.  She learns more about her friend than she ever knew, and slowly begins to learn about the new kid in her life, Opal.

Everything comes together smoothly for a read that is hard to put down.  Just when you think you know the answers, something else comes up.  Kate ends up being the hero along with the ghost of her dead friend.  I do not want to give too much away plus it is hard to fill in all the details when there are so many small things that add up in the ending.

The characters are all special in their own way.  They are very believable with their own pasts, flaws and personalities that shine through while reading.  Everything just fits each person and setting.  Seamless flow from past to present.  I can not wait to read another from McMahon.  Only question is should I go with Island of Lost Girls or maybe Dismantled?

Crappie Fishing

I took a break from reading and writing yesterday afternoon for a few hours to go in pursuit of the elusive crappie that have been evading me for a year in the pond.  The fish were added to the pond two winters ago and averaged around three inches long.  We caught every other fish that was stocked to check their growth.  We knew spawning was going very well since the banks were covered with tiny little fish.  They were so small and fast it was hard to identify the type of fish they were. 

This past week the temps have finally gotten high enough to get the fish moving around and feeding.  The catfish and bream can be seen easily while feeding in the afternoons.  The crappie however do not let you know that they are still there.  They will be the first fish to spawn in the pond this year.  I wanted to see their growth before this happened so I would not take them off of their spawning grounds.

I chose a white and green artificial minnow for the afternoon fishing.  Then waited and waited.  Finally, I got the first bite and knew right away that I had what I was looking for!  I pulled the little guy in for a close check up.  He looked like he had been eating well and had gained a few inches in length.  Soon it will be time for frogs to lay eggs along with all the bugs that are emerging.  Hopefully this will encourage more growth in the little fish species that hates me.  This little guy below is back in the pond with his friends probably to never be seen again.

New Author.. McMahon

I have found a few books from an author I have not read before.  I started Jennifer McMahon's Promise Not to Tell last night.  The reviews sounded great and I was in the mood for a few old locked up mysteries from the past.

So far it is a fast and easy read, but still I am only 70 pages into this 200 page work.  I like the pace and suspense that is building up from flopping back and forth between the past and current events.  It starts with a school nurse coming home after years away from her mother.  Her mother has Alzheimer's and is slowly getting worse.   A decision must be made on the future of her mother.  Should she stay home or go to assisted living?

The nurse, Kate, is also hiding things from her past about the murder of her best childhood friend.  However, no one knows that they were friends.  Kate will only admit to herself the friendship they had.  Just as Kate returns home, another murder happens similar to the one from her past.  Now the questions are being raised about the ghost of the first victim coming back for revenge.  Although, on the night of the most recent murder, Kate's mother was found wondering with dirt all over her.

I can not wait to see how this ends.  The children in this novel are constantly being bullied, so with everything adding to detail, it is hard to see how this will play out.  I love the strong characters, that all have their own personality shine through.  Back to reading for now.  This one is hard to put down.

Here Comes The Boom Review

My husband and I thought we would have another family movie night with the little monster since it is Spring Break and we have no other big plans this week.  Only thing planned is a lot of rest.  We all agreed on Here Comes The Boom.  I have loved Kevin James for years.  His acting is too fun to watch and his writing is even better.  How could you not like The King of Queens or Grown Ups?

The movie starts off with a burnt out teacher.  A few comments are made about the school system leading you to believe that is most of his problem for not caring any more.  I can relate to that having been in a classroom for years.  Every year there a new boundaries set for each grade level.  Expectations are high and continue to grow.  Then there are kids and parents with too much attitude.  Raising the bar is always great, but I do not see how some schools could fit in any more worksheets.   Well, that is a whole other topic.  Back to the break from reality with this movie.

James stays true to form, always being a big emotional softy.  While conning the music teaching into taking over bus duty for the day, he learns that the music teacher will be a father soon.  All is fine and great until a staff meeting announcing budget cuts.  Of course the cuts will come from mainly non-athletic extra-curriculum activities.  Mostly Music.  James stands up for the passionate music teacher, not wanting the guy to loose his job.  Henry Winkler is great as the over enthusiastic music man.

No solution is found, until a night of UFC watching.  Money is needed fast so the action in the octagon begins.  There are fights in the rain, in broken octagons, and other low key venues.  Each with their own downfall or obstacles to over come.  He enters a few fights, brings in some money and takes it to the school after each fight. Right before his big UFC fight with a payday that will fund the music enough to keep it going, he learns that the money had been stolen. This was the reason for the cuts in the first place due to lack of funds. 

James digs deep since he had found his passion for the kids again along the way.  He decides he can take the fight and win enough money for the music program to continue.  After a rough first few rounds in the octagon, he comes to the third round with his mind set on winning for the kids and his fellow teaching.  He reaches his goal and everyone is fine and happy.

There were a few other players along the way to build on the humor, drama and slightly strange romance.  Salma Hayek plays the school nurse attending to his medical needs after each fight and the long sought after romance that was finally obtained by James.  One student with a love for music, supports him all the way while he tries to keep her in school instead of working for her father's declining restaurant. 

Great cast, nice story and the happy ending everyone wants to see.  It had a few funny moments, but I laughed more during Ice Age.  It was a great, well rounded family movie for almost all ages.  My seven year old was not interested, but I have talked to a few that loved it. Plus, Diary of a Wimpy Kid had just come on.  My little monster could not turn that down.  If not for that, I think he would have liked this movie.

The Final Sookie Novel

The summer is getting closer and I do not have many books on my to read list.  There is nothing better than sitting under an umbrella with a great book.  I know there is a new Black Dagger Brotherhood out next month featuring Quinn and Blay.... Finally getting their stuff together.

Then the last Sookie Stackhouse.  I can not wait to get my hands on that one.  It is sort of bitter sweet.  How will I survive without Eric Northman????  Or Jason for a little extra entertainment. He is slightly spacey, but super cute.  You just really want to cuddle him like a puppy.  Now only if HBO will start the new season of True Blood with Eric kicking butt and taking over.  I did not like last season too much.  Seriously, who put Bill in charge over Eric?

 Alcide is rumored to make more appearances this season.  Which means more naked Joe Manganiello!  After a few True Blood shots and the amazing Magic Mike, how could you not want more of him? Maybe I am getting old, but really starting to like guys with some grey hair.  Well, it could just be him or his soothing voice.  No, who am I kidding?  I am getting old.

Hopefully this last one of the series will answer many questions.  Will Sookie ever get away from the supernatural and why would she want to when she has Eric? Who does not love a long dead viking that likes to drink blood?  I am not a big Bill fan. He is annoying.  He reminds me of an old guy, retired and logging his family tree online. He is a bit washed up and dry.  Every book needs a boring guy to kill off eventually, and for me Bill is the perfect target.  I would have left him in the sun a long after Eric busted him out to Sookie.

There should be loads packed into this 352 page release in May.  The last cover art is amazing and true to the series.  I have missed the tiger, so it is nice to see his tail on the cover, but no Eric.   Oh well, I guess I could handle a little more Alcide mixed in with some strong tigers running through a swamp.  We will wait and see what happens. 

What to read between now and May 7th? 

Kicking off Spring Break With Rise of The Guardians

Finally it is spring break!  The break is very welcome.  I finally get the chance to sleep in.  Well I had the chance since everyone is still asleep now, but by the rules of sleep, you always wake up early on the days you do not have to.  On a plus, the guys are still sleeping.  The dog is even out, so a little quiet time never hurt.

We kicked off spring break with some fishing, then bought Rise of the Guardians though Amazon.com. The little guy had already seen it with his first grade class.  (Made me slightly angry since parents could not go,not enough room.)  Needless to say I was excited to see this with him.  You only get a few years of the Easter Bunny, Santa, and the Tooth fairy before the little kids are corrupted by older children wanting to show off.

The cast was great.  I had a hard time excepting Hugh Jackman as the Easter Bunny, but then once we watched, I loved a wolverine-ish bunny!  DreamWorks hardly ever fails to deliver.  The animation was great throughout.  A true good vs bad story.  It could have been a little more funny, but not many can keep up with Sid from Ice Age. Jack Frost even ended up winning me over in the end.  He just sort of fell flat for me at first.  He was being selfish wanting the kids to actually see him while he was trying to find out who he was.  Once he found his memories in his tooth from childhood, he sort of came alive.  His past made him believe in himself while showing him why the Man in the Moon had chosen him for a Guardian for the children's memories of childhood.

The movie summed up team work pretty good.  It also added a little faith in the mix to show children the power of believing in something.  My child apparently did not get any of that out of the movie.  He now thinks the tooth fairy will leave feathers when she comes.  Yeah, this should be a fun obstacle after the next tooth falls out. He also believes that the Easter Bunny is not as cute as the ones in the store.  He said he kinda liked it though since he is tired of cute things.  Who knows what he will think of next.

We should have a fun day today, then the little monster is off the G-ma's so Mommy and Daddy can check out some UFC fighting! Love me some GSP and maybe I will get to finish a book some time today.  Well, he finally woke up, so there goes the quiet.  I should go start my motherly duties like feeding him or something.

Wreck-it Ralph Review

I love Disney movies, but was not too excited to see Wreck-it Ralph.  My son wanted to watch it so bad and it just happened to come out the week of his birthday.  We rented it through Amazon.com the night of his party.  I mean really, a movie based on video games?  That did nothing for me, but the kids wanted me to sit and watch.

I was kinda excited after I saw the world that was created inside the arcade games.  It was completely original.  A little deep for a few 7 year old kids, but had something for girls and boys.  There were big guys, mean guys and good guys for the boys.  The girls got all the pretty candy, little girls and a princess.  Oh and who can forget the racing that both loved since there was speed for the boys and cute little candy cars for the girls.

This poor guy Ralph is on a mission to get a gold medal so people from his game will not be afraid of him.  He wants to show them he can be a good guy.  He starts off breaking everything he touches until he meets this cute little girl that keeps getting bullied because she glitches in and out.  Ralph discovers that he is not the only one being secluded and pushed aside. So he starts a mission to help her win her medal by racing.  When he finds out that if she crosses the finish line that the game will reset, he goes into overdrive to help her out.

She teaches him to believe in himself while she knows who she is, but has a hard time getting to the finish line alone with so many obstacles (mean girls and the king) in the way.  Ralph steps in and breaks things that are blocking her path and pushes her harder to reach her goal. He returns to his game and is finally accepted within his community....uh game.  Makes you wonder what the Mario brothers are doing while the arcade is closed.