Hi guys,

It's Jenn. (I'm not dead! Yay!) 

 Seeing as that it has been more than 2 years since my last post, I think we can safely say that this isn't a regular thing for me anymore. 

This blog was very fun for me to do, and kept me more sane while clunking my way through college courses and whatnot. 

I could give excuses all day long, or ramble on about the all the craziness that has gone on in that time, but....nah!  I would like to keep it positive. 

I was actually planning on deleting all the posts just like I did on my other one, but I have had a few people ask me to keep them up.  So...I'll do that for now. I may still delete in the future though.

Will I ever do book posts again? Most likely not, but who knows? (That was super helpful, huh?)

Read on people,
Read on,

Jenn <3 br="">

PS - I am toying with the idea of starting up my main blog again (Spake With Twang) again.  It will be more focused on product reviews, couponing, subscription boxes, and random stuff.  So, if you want to find me, that's probably where I'll be.  :)

Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (Molly Murphy Mysteries 7)

Tell Me, Pretty Maiden

(Rhys Bowen)

:Teaser:

Since returning from Ireland, Molly has had more cases than she can handle.  So, when she finally has a free afternoon, she is excited to be spending it with her long time beau, Daniel.  They go to the park for a romantic stroll through the freshly fallen snow.  Molly is having a wonderful time until she stumbles upon a young girl buried under the snow.   The girl is alive, but she remains in shock.  She doesn't talk or seem to understand anyone.  Molly takes it upon herself to find the girl's family and to find out what terrible thing could have happened to her.

:Short Thought:

This book is chock full of exciting cases, major character developments, and interesting new people and places.  It is truly a exciting ride from start to finish.  This is my new series' favorite!

:Expanded Thoughts:

(Very Minor Spoilers)

This is definitely the best in this series so far!  Tell Me, Pretty Maiden doesn't waste any time engaging us and continues to gain momentum until the fantastic finish.  There are four major cases/mysteries, and each are well developed and deliciously interesting.  I still can't believe that they were all in this one book. 

These cases take us to many wonderful new places, such as: backstage at a theatre, inside a college dormitory, and behind the gates of a sanitarium.  You are never really sure where the cases will lead you next.  Even a seasoned mystery reader will be delighted by the wonderful twists and turns incorporated.

Daniel and Molly's relationship strengthens tremendously in this book.  Thus, we are treated to many sweet moments between them throughout the novel.  They have always been close because of their deep feelings for one another, but their professional lives cause each other frustration for a variety of reasons.  Daniel has never liked Molly's choice of profession nor has he ever really respected her investigating skills.  Daniel's negative views have plagued Molly as the couple gets closer to the point of marriage. 

Daniel's view really begins to change when Molly offers him a temporary partnership to help with her many ongoing investigations.  (Daniel is out of jail, but he is still unemployed and not getting paid.)  While working together as equals, we see what a great team they truly make.  Daniel begins to acknowledge her investigating skills, and Molly sees that she can learn a few things from the former police captain. 

:Additional Notes:

Series Info:  Tell Me, Pretty Maiden is the seventh book in Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy Mysteries series. As of this post, the books available in this series, in order starting from the beginning, are:

• Murphy's Law
• Death of Riley
• For The Love of Mike
• In Like Flynn
• Oh Danny Boy
• In Dublin's Fair City
• Tell Me, Pretty Maiden
• In a Gilded Cage
• The Last Illusion
• Bless the Bride

Author's Sites:  Want to know more about the author?  Here is a list of Rhys Bowen's sites:

• Rhys Bowen's Official Site
• On Twitter @rhysbowen
• Rhys Bowen's Blog:  Rhys' Pieces
• Rhys Bowen's YouTube Channel

  :

In Dublin's Fair City (Molly Murphy Mysteries 6)

In Dublin's Fair City

(Rhys Bowen) 

:Teaser:

Daniel is now out of prison, but the police commissioner has refused to give him back his job.  Molly is happy that he is back, but she finds that his abundance of free time has made him unbearable to be around.  So, when she is hired by a high profile theatre impresario to locate someone in Ireland, she is relieved.  She jumps at the chance despite the potential dangers of entering the country she once fled.

:Short Thought:

The first few chapters in In Dublin's Fair City take place in New York, but the rest of the novel takes place in Ireland.  With the new setting come a new cast of characters, but it still has the same engaging magic that other books in this series have.

:Expanded Thoughts:

(No Spoilers)

Molly has been building a life in New York since fleeing from her native Ireland in the first novel.  So, it is easy to forget that Molly once lived another life.  The breadth of this book takes place in Ireland and provides tidbits about the life and people that she left behind.  By briefly returning to Ireland, it gives her a form of closure and reassures us that Molly's home is now truly in New York.    

This book concentrates on Molly.  It takes her away from her fabulous friends and her blue-eyed beau.  We get to see how living in America has changed her from the desperate, naive girl who left Ireland in Murphy's Law.  She reenters the country wearing a nice outfit, her head held high, and ready to investigate. 

Trouble and danger are never very far behind Molly, and they are particularly cunning and devious in this book.  She begins with one case--locating Tommy Burke's Irish relative.  As she begins to investigate the Burke family, the case takes on a life of its own.  Each new development was full of twists, unexpected turns, and great supporting characters.

I must admit that I read this book twice before I wrote this post.  (Thus the two week delay)  I didn't really like it the first time that I read it.  I was left quite frustrated, but I had totally different experience when I read it again.  I now love it, and I think that it is one of the strongest of the series.  It answered a lot of questions about Molly's past, and it had a special je ne sais quoi that was refreshing and unique to the series.

I have since figured out the reason why I didn't enjoy the book at first.  I was wearing Daniel and Molly "blinders," and this book concentrates on Molly.  I let that bias my opinion.

:Additional Notes:

Series Info:  In Dublin's Fair City is the sixth book in Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy Mysteries series. As of this post, the books available in this series, in order starting from the beginning, are:

• Murphy's Law
• Death of Riley
• For The Love of Mike
• In Like Flynn
• Oh Danny Boy
• In Dublin's Fair City
• Tell Me, Pretty Maiden
• In a Gilded Cage
• The Last Illusion
• Bless the Bride

Author's Sites:  Want to know more about the author?  Here is a list of Rhys Bowen's sites:

• Rhys Bowen's Official Site
• On Twitter @rhysbowen
• Rhys Bowen's Blog:  Rhys' Pieces
• Rhys Bowen's YouTube Channel

  :

Oh Danny Boy (Molly Murphy Mysteries 5)

Oh Danny Boy

(Rhys Bowen) 

:Teaser:

Since Molly’s return to the city, she has concentrated on avoiding Daniel Sullivan and moving on with her life.  She is successful until one of his constables shows up at her door and forces her to see him.  Naturally, she is livid until she finds out that he has actually been in jail for a bogus, yet serious crime.  Upon seeing his pitiful state, she agrees to find the person responsible in order to prove his innocence.  She focuses on Daniel’s active cases to find clues.  Had someone wanted him off an investigation?  As she proceeds,  Molly gets entangled in the search for a dangerous serial killer, The Ripper, who has already claimed several female victims.

:Short Thought:

This is a great addition to the series!  Molly faces some of her toughest challenges, both personally and professionally, as she fights a system that is against her.  Our wonderful heroine is still a enjoy to follow.  As for the supporting characters, there are wonderful returning characters woven throughout the story as well as a couple of new delights.  As for the mystery, it keeps twisting, turning, and building until the very end.  Loved it!

:Expanded Thoughts:

[No Spoilers]

In Oh Danny Boy, Molly is put through a mountain of tests.  Her investigative skills are pushed to the limit as well as her heart.   Molly is stretched so thin that she even allows Sid and Gus to do some of her detective work.  (It was to the sheer delight of the pair and the mild horror of Molly.)  Every break in her investigation brings about more questions and more possible connections.  A reader can't help but notice desperation slowly creeping into Ms. Murphy as her mind is ever haunted by the image of Daniel suffering in a cage.

Each of the previous novels treats the reader to a slice of the setting's culture.  As Molly's investigation progresses, she is constantly being led to Coney Island.  We are also given a glimpse into how the criminal system may have been from both sides.  We are “taken” into the Medical Examiner’s office, the prison, and the Public Defender's office.  We're also given a closer look into the system's devastating effect on an accused through Daniel and the ruin of his social support and career. 

On a brighter note, a big highlight of the novel was the introduction of a new character—Police Matron Sabella Goodwin.  Sabella Goodwin is actually based on a real woman.  (There is an author note at the end of the book that tells more about her.)  In the book, she acts as a role model and confidante.  Molly trusts her completely and tells her things that she wouldn't dream of revealing to anyone else.  She is also the first person since Paddy Riley from whom Molly can learn.  She finally has a female friend with whom she can relate on a professional level as well as a personal level.

Oh Danny Boy was a real treat!  I was a bit concerned before I started reading, because In Like Flynn was so great.  I thought that this one would pale in comparison.  I was wrong.  It had Molly back with the same magnetic and witty personality that makes everyone want to keep reading.

:Additional Notes:

Series Info:  Oh Danny Boy is the fifth book in Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy Mysteries series. As of this post, the books available in this series, in order starting from the beginning, are:

• Murphy's Law
• Death of Riley
• For The Love of Mike
• In Like Flynn
• Oh Danny Boy
• In Dublin's Fair City
• Tell Me, Pretty Maiden
• In a Gilded Cage
• The Last Illusion
• Bless the Bride

Author's Sites:  Want to know more about the author?  Here is a list of Rhys Bowen's sites:

• Rhys Bowen's Official Site
• On Twitter @rhysbowen
• Rhys Bowen's Blog:  Rhys' Pieces
• Rhys Bowen's YouTube Channel

  :

Think Before You Lend...

Image via Wikipedia

I apologize for the long stretch of book blog silence.  (It's been 5-6 weeks since I posted about In Like Flynn.) Gosh, the time does fly by quickly when the weather begins cooling down!

Don't worry, I am still continuing with posts for the rest of Rhys Bowen's Molly Murphy series.  I have all the the books through The Last Illusion.  (The next book, Bless the Bride, in the series isn't released until March 2011 in the US according to Amazon.)  I am dying to read more about Molly's adventures.

Truth is that I love sharing books that I adore with my peers.  Problem is that I lent out Oh Danny Boy, the 5th book in the series, to a friend who in turn lent it to a friend and so on and so forth.  I am very glad that they are as hooked on this series as I am, but I was getting twitchy wondering what happened to Molly after In Like Flynn.  So after putting my skills that I learned from watching Lieutenant Columbo to work, I finally got the book back today.

I should have the next book's post, Oh Danny Boy, up within the next 2-3 days.  (Writing is quick, but revision is forever especially with typo monster like me. haha)

In attempt to further get in your good graces again, here's the book trailer for The Last Illusion: 

If the movie isn't working, you can find it on YouTube here.

Oh,
And another thing,

Jenn :)

Oh and just one more thing:  I signed up for twitter yesterday.  You can follow me @spakewithtwang  for post updates and other blurbs.  (Nope, I don't really know what a blurb is, but I like saying it.)