Stacking the Shelves - 5.16.15

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

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For Review:

I Take You
by Eliza Kennedy
-Chick-lit
courtesy of Blogging for Books
Amazon | Goodreads -signup to win this, exp May 18

Heat of the Moment
(Moment of Truth #1)
by Lauren Barnholdt
-Romance, YA
courtesy of Epic Reads
Thanks !
Amazon | Goodreads

The Fill-In Boyfriend
by Kasie West
-Romance, YA
courtesy of Epic Reads
Thanks !
Amazon | Goodreads

The Grown Ups
by Robin Antalek
-YA
courtesy of BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 2015
Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads
Dreaming about getting soon: because MAY is Zombie Awareness Month!

The Making of Zombie Wars: A Novel
by Aleksandar Hemon
-literary fiction
just released: May 5, 2015
Amazon | Goodreads
The seriously, seriously funny roller-coaster ride of sex and violence that Aleksandar Hemon has long promised

Script idea #142: Aliens undercover as cabbies abduct the fiancée of the main character, who has to find a way to a remote planet to save her. Title: Love Trek.

Script idea #185: Teenager discovers his girlfriend's beloved grandfather was a guard in a Nazi death camp. The boy's grandparents are survivors, but he's tantalizingly close to achieving deflowerment, so when a Nazi hunter arrives in town in pursuit of Grandpa, he has to distract him long enough to get laid. A riotous Holocaust comedy. Title: The Righteous Love.

Script idea #196: Rock star high out of his mind freaks out during a show, runs offstage, and is lost in streets crowded with his hallucinations. The teenage fan who finds him keeps the rock star for himself for the night. Mishaps and adventures follow. This one could be a musical: Singin' in the Brain.

Josh Levin is an aspiring screenwriter teaching ESL classes in Chicago. His laptop is full of ideas, but the only one to really take root is Zombie Wars. When Josh comes home to discover his landlord, an unhinged army vet, rifling through his dirty laundry, he decides to move in with his girlfriend, Kimmy. It's domestic bliss for a moment, but Josh becomes entangled with a student, a Bosnian woman named Ana, whose husband is jealous and violent. Disaster ensues, and as Josh's choices move from silly to profoundly absurd, The Making of Zombie Wars takes on real consequence.

AND binge watching:

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
tv series, season two
-1920s, mystery
Amazon | imdb
Our lady sleuth sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of late 1920's Melbourne, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger sharp wit.

=====> based on Phyrne Fisher book series by Kerry Greenwood

Interesting Book Blogger articles:

10 Problems of Being An Adult Reading YA by Paper Fury


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* some of these may be offered as giveaways within the next two months

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways offers

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

Cocaine Blues
A Phryne Fisher Mystery - book 1
by Kerry Greenwood

Visit Kerry:
Book Excerpt
Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Shelfari

Published: 2007
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Historical, Mystery, 1920s
Paperback: 175 pages
Rating: 4

Amazon | BarnesNoble

This is where it all started! The first classic Phryne Fisher mystery, featuring our delectable heroine, cocaine, communism and adventure. Phryne leaves the tedium of English high society for Melbourne, Australia, and never looks back.

The London season is in full fling at the end of the 1920s, but the Honorable Phryne Fisher--she of the green-grey eyes, diamant garters and outfits that should not be sprung suddenly on those of nervous dispositions--is rapidly tiring of the tedium of arranging flowers, making polite conversations with retired colonels, and dancing with weak-chinned men. Instead, Phryne decides it might be rather amusing to try her hand at being a lady detective in Melbourne, Australia.

Almost immediately from the time she books into the Windsor Hotel, Phryne is embroiled in mystery: poisoned wives, cocaine smuggling rings, corrupt cops and communism--not to mention erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse--until her adventure reaches its steamy end in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.

Series:
Cocaine Blues (1989) aka Death by Misadventure
Flying Too High (1990)
Murder on the Ballarat Train (1991)
Death at Victoria Dock (1992)
The Green Mill Murder (1993)
Blood And Circuses (1994)
Ruddy Gore (1995)
Urn Burial (1996)
Raisins and Almonds (1997)
Death Before Wicket (1999)
Away With the Fairies (2001)
Murder in Montparnasse (2002)
The Castlemaine Murders (2003)
Queen of the Flowers (2004)
Death By Water (2005)
Murder in the Dark (2006)
Murder on a Midsummer Night (2008)
Dead Man's Chest (2010)
Unnatural Habits (2012)

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): determined sheila
Slight difference with the portrayal of this Phryne character versus the tv version. The book version is still very likable but a touch more serious.

I like that Phyrne is a single older female detective who is sexy, smart and sassy (for the 1920s time period). Other strong female characters are introduced that make this an appealing mystery series who gravitate towards women's fiction.

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* story is part of Introducing the Honorable Phryne Fisher: The First Three Phryrne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood courtesy of publisher

* part of past event: Flappers at Floyd's

Stacking the Shelves - 6.2.13

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details). Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Note: most of these will be offered as giveaways within the next two months

~*~
Bought:

Celebrating Pride and Prejudice:
200 Years of Jane Austen's Masterpiece
by Susannah Fullerton

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey
by Wendy Wax
getting reading for TEA at Downton Abbey, July 20-24
Free from Kindle: beware some free offers are limited - get yours now

The Five Kisses
(Pride Meets Prejudice Regency Romance #1)
by Karla Darcy
For Blog Tour:

The Repeat Year
by Andrea Lochen
courtesy of BookSparksPR
Thanks Erin!
my review
If you are interested in this and would like to have my review copy, let me know in comments by June 9. I will do a random drawing.

Girl Unmoored
by Jennifer Gooch Hummer
courtesy of BookSparksPR
Thanks Erin!

The Promise of Provence:
A Novel
by Patricia Sands
courtesy of France Book Tours
Thanks Emma!
For Review:

The Other Typist
by Suzanne Rindell
courtesy of publisher
Thanks Lydia!
signup to win this here

Of Fidelity and Faith
by Evan Ostryzniuk
courtesy of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Thanks Amy!

Introducing the Honorable Phryne Fisher:
The First Three Phryrne Fisher Mysteries
-Cocaine Blues
-Flying Too High
-Murder on the Ballarat Train
by Kerry Greenwood
courtesy of publisher
Thanks Angie!

A Question of Death
An illustrated Phyrne Fisher Treasury
by Kerry Greenwood
courtesy of publisher
Thanks Angie!

Unnatural Habits:
book 19 - Phryne Fisher Mystery series
by Kerry Greenwood
courtesy of publisher
Thanks Angie!
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* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways to you

Flapper at the party: Phyrne

The Honourable Phryne Fisher (often referred to as "Miss Fisher") is the main character in Australian author Kerry Greenwood's series of Phryne Fisher detective novels. Phryne (pronounced fry-nee) is a wealthy aristocrat who lives in St Kilda, Melbourne in 1928.

She is a 28-year-old detective who, with the assistance of her maid Dot and Bert and Cec (who are wharfies, taxi drivers and red raggers), solves all manner of crimes.

Phryne is no ordinary aristocrat, as she can fly a plane, drives her own car (a Hispano-Suiza) and sometimes wears trousers.

However, while displaying bohemian panache, she manages also to maintain style and class. -per wikipedia

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READ about her exploits...

Phyrne is in part of a cozy mystery series (up to book 19) set during the 1920s in Melbourne, Australia.

Death at Victoria Dock
A Phryne Fisher Mystery - book 4
by Kerry Greenwood
The devastating Phryne Fisher is under fire again in her fourth mystery.

A very young man with muddied hair, a pierced ear and a blue tattoo lies cradled in Phryne's arms. But sadly it's not another scene of glorious seduction - this time it's death.

The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher, beautifully dressed in loose trousers, a cream silk shirt and a red-fox fur has just had her windscreen shot out inches in front of her divine nose. But worse is the fate of the pale young man lying on the road, his body hit by bullets, who draws his final blood-filled breath with Phryne at his side.

Outraged by this brutal slaughter, Phryne promises to find out who is responsible. But Phryne doesn't yet know how deeply into the mire she'll have to go - bank robbery, tattoo parlours, pubs, spiritualist halls and the Anarchists.

Along this path, Phryne meets Peter, a battle-scarred, sexy Slav, who offers much more to her than just information. But all thoughts of these delights flee from Phryne's mind when her beloved maid, Dot, disappears. There's nothing Phryne won't do to get her back safely.

Quote-to-note:
Pretty boy. You know how I feel about pretty boys. There are not enough of them in the world as it is. We can't have people wantonly removing them.
- track 6, audio version

My two-bits:
I discovered this book through my local library by chance while preparing for the Flappers at Floyd's event which is why I did not start with the first book in the series. Based on this book, I became hooked!

The time period and setting descriptions really set the tone and mood well.

Phyrne has a fun yet serious detective style. As her personal backstory develops it keeps you wondering more and more about this amazing woman.

Now, I want to go back to book one to catch up before I continue forward to the most current book in the series.

side note: must also say that part of the appeal for this series is the cover art by artist, Beth Norling - gorgeous!

AND check out ALL the covers here

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Cocaine Blues
A Phryne Fisher Mystery - first book in series, book 1
by Kerry Greenwood
The first of Phryne's adventures from Australia's most elegant and irrepressible sleuth.

The London season is in full fling at the end of the 1920s, but the Honourable Phryne Fisher - she of the green-grey eyes, diamant garters and outfits that should not be sprung suddenly on those of nervous dispositions - is rapidly tiring of the tedium of arranging flowers, making polite conversations with retired colonels, and dancing with weak-chinned men. Instead, Phryne decides it might be rather amusing to try her hand at being a lady detective in Melbourne, Australia.

Almost immediately from the time she books into the Windsor Hotel, Phryne is embroiled in mystery: poisoned wives, cocaine smuggling rings, corrupt cops and communism - not to mention erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse - until her adventure reaches its steamy end in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.

~*~

Unnatural Habits:
A Phryne Fisher Mystery - most current, book 19
by Kerry Greenwood
1929: Girls are going missing in Melbourne. Little, pretty golden-haired girls. And not just pretty. Three of them are pregnant, poor girls from the harsh confines of the Magdalene Laundry. People are getting nervous.

Polly Kettle, a pushy, self-important Girl Reporter with ambition and no sense of self preservation, decides to investigate - and promptly goes missing herself.

It's time for Phryne and Dot to put a stop to this and find Polly Kettle before something quite irreparable happens to all of them. It's all piracy and dark cellars, convents and plots, murder and mystery .... and Phryne finally finds out if it's true that blondes have more fun.

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WATCH her in action...

PeekInside:



Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012)
Season One - promo trailer
Producer: Fiona Eagger
Producer/Writer: Deb Cox
Starring:
Essie Davis as Phryne Fisher
Nathan Page as Detective John 'Jack' Robinson

After many years abroad, Phryne returns to Melbourne, in part to start a new life in her home town, but to also ensure that Murdoch Foyle (Nicholas Bell), the man thought to be responsible for her younger sister’s mysterious disappearance, never gets out of jail. But before her very proper Aunt Prudence (Miriam Margolyes), a well-known society matriarch, can drag Phryne off to attend her first soiree, Phryne finds herself embroiled in a murder.

She befriends the most unlikely of murder suspects – an innocent Catholic girl, Dot Williams (Ashleigh Cummings). Phryne takes Dot under her wing, employing her as a maid. Over time, Dot becomes one of Phryne’s closest companions; with Dot’s natural intelligence in all things domestic and catholic she is often an unexpected asset in Phryne’s murder investigations. From illegal abortions to union disputes, exploited workers and missing girls, Phryne finds justice for those who can’t help themselves.

As she delves deeper into the murky world of murder, Phryne crosses paths with the local constabulary, befriending the handsome Detective Inspector Jack Robinson (Nathan Page). Despite being married, Jack finds himself drawn to Phryne’s vibrant personality and seeks to ensure that she is kept out of harm’s way as they endeavour to solve the cases.

They come to rely on each other, Jack for the information he gets through diligent police procedures, and Phryne for the information she obtains using her charms and daring. When Jack won’t give Phryne the information she needs, she can easily manipulate Jack’s trusting deputy, Constable Hugh Collins (Hugo Johnstone-Burt), to keep her informed even if he is not aware he is doing so. Leaving a trail of admirers in her wake, our heroine makes sure she enjoys every moment of her lucky life and along the way she unlocks the truth of her own dark history.

The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher began life in 1989 as the daring lady detective protagonist of a series of 18 crime books written by Australian author, Kerry Greenwood. With an acquired taste for the best, but impeccable working-class origins, Phryne was an instant success with readers and still shows no sign of hanging up her pearl-handled pistol or giving up her ‘adventurous’ love-life for just one man.
- per ABC tv

My two-bits:
I am currently watching this DVD series along with the House of Eliott and loving it as well!

Phyrne's story being made for tv is slightly altered than the book series per usual creative and production reasons. But it still is as engaging and fun to watch. The cast is perfect.

Phyrne is one fashionable detective with lots of sass and pizzaz!

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* image source: for Flapper Phryne

_.oO0- Flappers at Floyd's schedule -0Oo._