(Image from Barnes & Noble)

When Mia Hardy dies in a car accident, it almost destroys her college roommate, Fiona Claridge.  If it hadn't been for Fiona's impatience, the tragedy never would have happened.  Even now, 8 years later, she can't quite forgive herself for the part she played in her friend's death.  She's trying to move on, but it's difficult, maybe even impossible.  Fiona's busy with her job as an assistant English professor, the renovations on her 83-year-old fixer-upper, and ... not much else.  Still, she is moving forward.

Then, Fiona receives a sinister "gift" that tells her someone else can't forget the accident or her part in it.  She tries to laugh it off—it's probably just a ticked off student trying to get revenge for a poor grade—but when the threats continue, Fiona hardly knows what to do.  It doesn't help that travelling back to her hometown brings back memories of Mia and—even more disconcerting—of her old flame, Alan Taylor.  Alan's wife isn't thrilled to see her husband's old flame and neither are several other townspeople who still blame Fiona for Mia's death.    All the emotion stemming from these events leaves Fiona feeling weak, hopeless and scared.

As Fiona gets even more tangled with the people from her past, the threats against her get worse.  Are they really just pranks from an upset student or something much, much more dangerous?  Fiona must figure it out in order to save her sanity—and her life.

Rearview Mirror, an LDS murder mystery by Stephanie Black, just won a Whitney Award for best mystery written in 2011 by a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  So, apparently, I missed something because, for me, this book just bugged.  It's predictable; full of big, gaping plot holes; and features a heroine who is not just depressing, but helpless and annoying.  The writing never engaged me, the characters annoyed me, the dialogue sounded unnaturally stiff—so yeah, Rearview Mirror didn't do much for me.  Other people found it enjoyable, though, so this could just be another case of me being way too picky.  It's been known to happen (okay, it happens all the time).  All I know is that if I hadn't been required to finish this one in order to vote for the Whitney Award winners, I wouldn't have.

(Readalikes:  Hm, I can't think of anything right off the top of my head.  Can you?)

Grade:  C-

If this were a movie, it would be rated:  PG for violence



To the FTC, with love:  I received an e-ARC of Rearview Mirror from the generous folks at Covenant Communications via the Whitney Award Committee.  Thank you!   

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

(Note:  While this review will not contain spoilers for The Pharaoh's Daughter, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from Legend of the Jewel, the first book in the Isabelle Webb series.  As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

Former Pinkerton spy Isabelle Webb thought she was retiring from the adventurous life.  Not so.  After a harrowing adventure in India, she's now in Egypt, along with her 16-year-old ward, Sally Rhodes, and her boyfriend, 33-year-old blacksmith James Ashby.  Although Isabelle is anxious to save Sally from any further mishaps (one kidnapping is more than enough, thank you very much), she's intrigued when a woman from her past offers her the chance to join a real archaeological dig.  The opportunity is simply too intriguing to miss.

Isabelle is fascinated by the excavation site, a cave near Luxor that is rumored to be the tomb of a shamed pharaoh's daughter.  But strange things are happening—Isabelle's hearing sinister voices near her tent at night; Alice Bilbey's birthmark burns like fire; and locals keep giving the Americans dire warnings and protective charms.  The longer the group stays, the more danger they seem to be finding.  Is finding treasure, even if it is more magical jewels, worth the risk?  Is it worth their lives?  Isabelle and her friends will soon find out.

I loved N.C. Allen's Legend of the Jewel, so I knew I'd be delighted with The Pharaoh's Daughter as well.  And guess what?  I was.  There are so many things to like about this series—a tough, but vulnerable heroine; quick-paced plotting; fun, likable characters; mystery; even a little twist of the paranormal.  It's good, clean, well-written fun and, believe me, that's not an easy combination to find.  I never would have picked up this series if The Pharaoh's Daughter hadn't been nominated for a Whitney Award, but I'm so very glad I did.  N.C. Allen's found a very devoted fan in Yours Truly.

(Readalikes:  Legend of the Jewel by N.C. Allen; also reminds me of the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters)

Grade:  B+

If this were a movie, it would be rated:  PG

To the FTC, with love:  I bought The Pharaoh's Daughter at Deseret Book with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.

Wow, it's been ten days since I posted anything.  That might be a record for me.  In case you're wondering, I do have excuses.  Good ones, too.  Things like a 3-day writer's conference, a flooded upstairs, head lice, and a needy 3 year old.  See?  I told you they were good.  

I think a new Sunday Salon post is about the perfect way to dive back into regular blogging.  It's Saturday evening, but whatevs.  I'm flexible.  Here goes:

Outside my window:  The sun is going down, but it's still very, very warm outside.  I believe today's high was 100 degrees.  Boo hiss.  My girls did convince me to go swimming today.  It didn't last long as I very un-gracefully fell off a floatie and scraped up my foot.  As I was bleeding out, we saw a mongo spider.  Plus, the water was still pretty cold.  So, yeah.  

I am listening to:  The very annoying background music to a video game my son is playing.  Also, my kids arguing.  It's lovely.

I am reading:  Thanks to all the chaos going on in my life (see my good excuses listed above), plus the fact that I was so inspired after attending LDS Storymakers that I've been working on a novel of my own (not the one I've been taking to Boot Camp/Publication Primer for the last three years, but a BRAND NEW one) I haven't actually been reading much.  I am, however, just about done with Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver.  It's non-stop action, with not a lot of actual plot.  Entertaining, though. 

I am going to read:  Excellent question.  I don't know.  I'll decide when I finish Pandemonium.  

On the Blog:  Um, yeah ... did I mention I've got excuses?  Really, really good ones?

Around the Book Blogosphere:  I've barely had time to think about my own blog, let alone anyone else's.  Sorry.

I am thinking:  That once my house gets put back together (See Excellent Excuse #2: a flooded upstairs), it will look fabulous.

I am grateful for:  Mothers.  I've got a great one.  So does my husband.  Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.  Keep doing what you do because, frankly, you're awesome.

Around the house:  I mentioned the flooded upstairs.  Yeah.  I'm not sure what happened exactly (I was out of town), but the bathroom flooded causing $10,000 worth of damage.  After 4 days of heavy duty fans blowing 24/7, it's all dried up, so this week, we'll be having guys come to do drywall upstairs and in the garage, paint three bedrooms, and lay down new carpet.  It will look great when it's done.  I just want it to be done now.  I'm tired of living in a construction zone, you know?

In the kitchen:  The only thing that has happened in the kitchen this week is a pan of chicken enchiladas.  It's one of my standard meals—we all love it.  Other than that, we had some yummy sandwiches from Steve's Krazy Subs, Blizzards from DQ and I believe the kids had Panda Express while I was out of town.  Yeah.  We should probably eat real food sometime soon.

High of the Week: I've been on a creative high, writing like mad.  It's been fun.

Low of the Week:  Picking lice and nits out of my daughters' hair.  Not.  Fun.  

Family Matters:  Since the girls' bedrooms were both damaged in the flood, they've been bunking together in the guest room.  Neither of them are getting much sleep, but it's funny to hear them chatting together at night.  The boys went on a Father/Son campout on Friday/Saturday, so the girls and I had a sleepover in my room.  Good times.

The coming week:  Besides the aforementioned home repairs, I'll be cleaning, catching up on book reviews, and getting end-of-the-school-year stuff together.  My kids only have 9 days of school left.  Yikes! 

Words of Wisdom:  Don't sweat the small stuff.  I've really learned that this week.  A sense of humor goes a long way in times of chaos.  

Have a wonderful week, everybody!