Dirty Business Giveaway: The Big Dirt Nap and Dead Head by Rosemary Harris

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (February 17, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312369689
ISBN-13: 978-0312369682
2nd in A Dirty Business mystery series.

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (April 13, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312569947
ISBN-13: 978-0312569945
3rd in the series

Nominated for both the Agatha and the Anthony award, Rosemary Harris writes the Dirty Business cozy mystery series set in Connecticut.

The main character, Paula, a feisty, take charge kind of woman, owns her own landscaping business and somehow manages to get in the middle of crime scenes. Of course, she has to use her smarts to help solve the crime.

I think that's why I liked her so much. She's not some wishy-washy character. Rosemary does an excellent job of bringing Paula, her landscaping business  and the fun characters she hangs out with to life. I espcially liked the realism of owning a seasonal business as we see Paula deal with financial issues. Some cozy authors have characters that are so unrealistic, it takes away from the story but not so with this series. This one  will keep any cozy fan amused and delighted.

The two mysteries I read kept me glued to the pages as I read one book right after another. The pacing of the well constructed plot was excellent and I never guessed "whodunnit". Just the way I like it!

To read more about Rosemary, you can visit her web page. Check out her upcoming book, Slugfest, which is due out in April, which by the way sounds like a lot of fun.

Rosemary is being extremely generous in allowing me to give away three copies of her books: one copy of Pushing up Daisies, one copy of  The Big Dirt Nap and one copy of Dead Head.

Open to US only. Deadline to enter is January 9th at 5 PM est. Be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment.

Bonus Entries available:

+2 Being a follower of PPP - be sure to tell me how you follow and under what name whether you are a new follower or a long time follower. This can all be put in one box.
+2 Tweeting or posting about the contest - leave me a link please
Good Luck!

Disclosure: Review copies of books were provided by the author, Rosemary Harris at no charge to me for my honest opinion.

Challenges and year end wrap up

Well, this has been one heck of a year for sure.  Just when fall started, both The Big Guy and I were diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery. TBG got home from the hospital just last Tuesday and had a tough week from not just the surgery but the after affects of anesthesia and antibiotic.

 Needless to say, Christmas was a very subdued affair around here. The biggest, brightest spot was that by Saturday, TBG was just starting to feel like a human being again and one of our daughters and her two kids came to visit for dinner. They were just down here for a few days vacation. We were exhausted when they left but were so happy to see them.

One thing that has always been constant is my love of books and reading. As far as reading goes, I did manage to read 223 books totalling 75,205  pages this year.  Of course, there were a few duds in the list but also quite a few exciting and delightful books. Some of my favorites (in no particular order) included:

1. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
2. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
3. A Truth Worth Tellin by Toni Teepell
4. The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
5. The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
6. Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware
7. The Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer
8. The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose
9. How to Be An American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
10. The Gendarme by Mark Mustian

The one book I just could not get into was Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde. It was not the writing; it was the alternate reality style that just didn't appeal to me.

Challenges were signed up for in a realistic manner this year and all completed:

The Chunkster Challenge hosted by Wendy at Caribousmom was met with 6 books read with the original committment of 6.

The Cozy Mystery Challenge, hosted by Kris from Not enough Books was met with 27 books read with a 6 book committment. What can I say? I just love cozies!

My favorite challenge and one I really needed was the Reading From My Shelves Project, hosted by Diane from Bibliophile by the Sea. I committed  to read 24 books but I ended up reading 69.

The Typically British Challenge, hosted by Book chick City was a 6 book commitment but I managed to read 8 books.

Next year, which I can't believe is only 2 days away, I only joined 2 challenges:

The Mystery and Suspense Challenge 2011  hosted by  Book Chick City
and Reading From My Shelves Project 2011, once again hosted by Diane from Bibliophile by the Sea.

As long as life doesn't throw us any more curve balls, they should be a snap to

 complete with much reading enjoyment along the way.

I'd also like to take this time to thank each and every person who stopped by for a visit here at Pudgy Penguin Perusals. Your thoughts and comments were much appreciated especially in October when everything healthwise started falling apart here. I was truly touched by your well-wishes, prayers and positive thoughts. It meant so much to me; probably more than you could ever know.

Thank you again for a wonderful year in the blogisphere. I've really enjoyed all of your recommendations that expanded my reading, thoughts, creativity and posts that let me get to know you better. Here's hoping for a fantastic year ahead with good books to read and share, good health and happiness to all of you and yours.  

Wordless Wednesday - Scituate rocks

For more wordless Wednesday please visit here.

Before & after - Can you spot the theme?

Well, it's finally done! When we lived up north we had a large tree but since we retired to Florida, our tree has gotten smaller and smaller. We first put up a 5' tree and then went to a 4' one in a regular stand. Now we're down to this pre-lit 3' tree in a pot that we put at the front door. It has become my theme tree.  Here it is in all it's naked glory.   I added a few of my favorite ornaments and voila!

Blogger is driving me absolute bonkers with the format. I cannot get pics to go where I want them and cannot type in prose where I want it. Anybody have any suggestions on how to fix this?

2011 Reading From My Shelves Project

This is one of my favorite challenges. This year I pledged to read 24 books from my shelves and ended up reading 68. I was thrilled to see that Diane of  Bibliophile by the Sea  is once again hosting the challenge. If you would like to sign up here are the details :

• Challenge runs from January 1 - December 31, 2011.
• Read books from your own shelves, and then pass the books on to someone else: a friend, relative, the library, used book store, swap them, just as long as the book leaves your house once it has been read.
•  Decide on your goal (12 is the minimum - no maximum). Cross over books are allowed.
• Grab the button and do a post about the challenge.
• Keep a running list of the books you've read and passed on.
• Leave a comment with a link to your post and you are entered (no Mr. Linky). Have Fun and GOOD LUCK!

I am committing to 48 books. That's  twice last year's original goal of 24 but I hope to get more than that off the shelves and into a new home. As per last year, the majority of these will just be rated and not reviewed, maybe a little blurb that I liked/didn't like.

1. From Away by David Carkeet 1/11
2. McNally's Luck by Lawrence Sanders   1/11
3. The Richest Season by Maryann McFadden  1/11
4. Savannah by Eugenia Price 1/11
5. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison H. Bartlett  1/11
6. In Silence by Erica Spindler  1/11
7. Endless Night by Agatha Christie  1/11
8. Nemesis by Agatha Christie 1/11
9. The Cat in the Jeweled Jump Suit by Carole N. Douglas 1/11
10. Body Double by Tess Gerritsen 1/11
11. The Vendetta Defense by Lisa Scottlline 1/11
12. Exhaustive Inquiries by Betty Rowlands  1/11
13. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon  2/11
14. L.A. Justice by Christopher Darden  2/11
15. Sea Change by Jeremy Page 2/11
16. Brick Lane by Monica Ali  2/11
17. Beyond Recognition by Ridley Pearson  2/11
18. The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens  2/11
19. Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie  2/11
20. Season of Second Chances by Diane Meier 3/11
21. A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans  3/11
22. Stand the Storm by Breena Clark 3/11
23. An Absence so Great by Jane Kirkpatrick  3/11
24. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld  3/11
25. I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg 3/11
26. Keeping Counsel by R.A. Forster 3/11
27. Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton  3/11
28. In Harm's Way by Ridley Pearson  3/11
29. No Mardi Gras for the Dead by D.J. Donaldson 3/11
30. Suspicion of Guilt by Barbara Parker 04/11
31. How Sweet It Is by Sophie Gunn 04/11
32. Grave Concerns by Rebecca Tope 04/11
33. White Priory Murder by Carter Dickson 4/11
34. Split Second by Alex Kava 04/11
35. Just One Look by Harlan Coben 04/11
36. Going Wrong by Ruth Rendell 04/11
37. Hot Mahogany by Stuart Woods 4/11
38. Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley 05/11
39. The Linen Queen by Patricia Falvey 05/11
40. Run For Your Life by James Patterson 05/11
41. Capture the Night by Geralyn Dawson 05/11
42. Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani 5/11
43. The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen 06/11
44. The Heartbreakers by Susan Howitch 06/11
45. Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax 06/11
46. Corner of Love and Heartache by Curtiss Ann Matlock 06/11
47. The Orchid Memorandum by Tony Attanasio 06/11
48. The Blackheath Poisonings by Julian Symons 06/11
49. Murder, My Deer by Jacqueline Girdner 06/11
50. Missing Persons by Stephen White 06/11
51. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon 06/11
52. Nobody Lives Forever by Edna Buchanan 07/11
53. Now You Don't by Roma Greth 07/11
54. Roses are Red by James Patterson 07/11
55. The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans 08/11
56. Cul-de-Sac by David Martin 08/11
57. The Light in the Window by Jan Karon 08/11
58. Deadly Masquerade by Tracey Tillis 09/11
59. Willow by V.C. Andrews 09/11
60. The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly 09/11
61. The Attorney by Steve Martini 09/11
62. Twice Burned by Kit Craig 10/11
63. The Man Who Cast Two Shadows by Carol O'Connell 10/11
64. No Lesser Plea by Robert Tanenbaum 10/11
65. Button  Holed by Kylie Logan 10/11
66. Quick Step to Murder by Ella Barrick 10/11
67. Bitter Harvest by Sheila Connolly 11/11
68. First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde 11/11
69. When Christmas Comes by Debbie Macomber  11/11
70. Iron Lake by William Kent Kreuger

Mailbox Monday

Monday Mailbox, originating from Marcia at The Printed Page, is a weekly meme hosted in December by Lady Q at Let them read books. Anyone can play along. Just leave a link to your MM at the hosting blog and follow the links to other blogs to see what books are finding their way to mailboxes around the world.

Caveat: participation in MM can cause your tbr list to grow exponentially. *Penguin at mailbox, a copyrighted image, is used with permission from Club Penguin.*

This last week was a bonanza week for me.

 Monday: The Matchmaker of Kenmare by Frank Delaney and Vixen by Jillian Larkin showed up. Both are for review  and both were received from Random House. 

Tuesday: Beautiful Disaster by Laura Spinella, received from Penguin Group (yay, penguins!) and is a book for review.

Friday:

Sea Change by Jeremy Page, won at Tutu's Two Cents blog, arrived. Thanks again, Tina!

The 3 books by Debbie Macomber, When Christmas Comes, Call Me Mrs. Miracle and The Perfect Christmas  were a win from Karen at Bookin' with Bingo. Thanks again, Karen! 



To Have and to Kill by Mary Jane Clark is from LT for review.

I don't know what's with blogger and this "new (ish) formula. I can't get the book covers in a row like I could formally. I'm sick of playing around with it - sorry for the oddball looking post.

Mailbox Monday

 

Monday Mailbox, originating from Marcia at The Printed Page, is a weekly meme hosted in December by Lady Q at Let them read books. Anyone can play along. Just leave a link to your MM at the hosting blog and follow the links to other blogs to see what books are finding their way to mailboxes around the world.

Caveat: participation in MM can cause your tbr list to grow exponentially. *Penguin at mailbox, a copyrighted image, is used with permission from Club Penguin.*

Just two books showed up this week, both of which are for review.

Good Night Little Sea Otter by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Wish Williams  arrived Saturday courtesy of the publisher, Star Bright Books.  Is this not the cutest cover you've seen on a kid's book?

Elvis and the Memphis Mambo Murders by Peggy Webb came from LibraryThing.

From Goodreads: A lovable basset hound who-s convinced he-s the King reincarnated. A blonde bombshell mooning the lobby of the ritziest hotel in the South. And a murder witnessed by a parade of fame-hungry ducks? Something-s afoul, alright, and it-s definitely a case for the Southern Cousins-

Callie Valentine Jones and her cousin Lovie really have their work cut out for them this time. Callie-s mama Ruby Nell has gone and entered herself-and her hunk-a-geriatric-love dance partner-in a Memphis mambo contest, hoping to shake, rattle and roll her way to stardom. And if the past is any indication, she-ll need at least two chaperones.


But someone at the competition is determined to step on a lot of blue suede shoes. First, a serial monogamist in a bright pink gown does a fatal swan dive from the top of the hotel. Then Callie finds an overdressed diva floating in a famous fountain. Now there can be no question: A murderer is loose in Memphis, and he-s got a lot of killing to do.


With help from Jack, the mysteriously reappearing ex Callie just can-t get over and her delusional dog Elvis, Callie and Lovie are going to have to track down some answers before mayhem strikes again. And with Ruby Nell in the killer-s sights, they-ll need a little less conversation and a lot more action if they want their family waltzing home in one piece-

What exciting new books showed up in your mailbox this week? Anything really high in the anticipation factor?

Mystery and Suspense Challenge: 2011

It's that time of year again to consider what challenges to sign up for. Since mysteries are my first love, I decided to sign up for this one hosted by Book Chick City.  Here are a few more details.

To sign up you MUST make a post on your blog about participating in the challenge - you then use the URL of the post to sign up to the challenge by adding it to Mr Linky below. DO NOT just add your blog URL - this will be deleted. Also please be aware that unless you show you are joining the challenge with a participation post your ARC will not be sent.

You must add the button to your sidebar - make sure that it links back to this post so others can join the challenge if they wish. Easiest way to do this is to copy and paste the code displayed above!

To Claim ARC

Courtesy of publisher SIMON & SCHUSTER UK, ALL participants of this challenge will receive a free ARC of 'The Survivor' by Sean Slater to start you off on your challenge! Once you have made your participation post and signed up for the challenge, FILL OUT THIS FORM! This form will ask for your full name, postal address, post URL and your entry number from the participants list below (so I can verify), which I will then pass on to the publisher.

Other Details

Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011
Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews. There will be a monthly prize too courtesy of the lovely Simon & Schuster - you must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw.

Now, there are many different sub-genres of mystery and suspense - you can choose from the numerous sub-genres, from cosy mysteries such as Agatha Christie to the more hard-boiled kind like V I Warshawski by Sara Paretsky, or romantic suspense written by the likes of Linda Howard, forensic crime such as those written by Kathy Reichs and even paranormal/supernatural suspense such as Kelley Armstrong. I'm sure this challenge will have something for everyone! :)

To help you figure out and decide, I have updated a sub-genre list - to view this list go HERE.

1. Exhaustive Inquiries by Betty Rowlands 1/11
2. Endless Night by Agatha Christie  1/11
3. McNally's Luck by Lawrence Sanders 1/11
4. In Silence by Erica Spindler  1/11
5. Body Double by Tess Gerritson  1/11
6. The Cat in the Jewelled Jump Suit by Carole Nelson Douglas 1/11
7. Dead and Buried by Jean Hager 1/11
8. Stitch Me Deadly by Amanda Lee  1/11
9. Death on the Rocks by Eric Wright   1/11
10. The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny  1/11
11. Scones and Bones by Laura Childs  1/11
12. Nemesis by Agatha Christie 1/11
13. The Chocolate Cupid Killings by Joanne Fluke  1/11
14. The Vendetta Defense by Lisa Scottoline  1/11
15. From Away by David Carkeet 1/11
16. Dead and Buried by Jean Hager 1/11
17. Antiques to Die For by Jane K. Cleland 2/11
18. Town in a Lobster Stew by B.B. Haywood 2/11
19. L. A. Justice by Christopher Darden 2/11
20. Beyond Recognition by Ridley Pearson 2/11
21. Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie 2/11
22. Night of the Living Dandelion by Kate Collins 2/11
23. The Refuge by Sue Henry 2/11
24. Wormwood by Susan Wittig Albert 2/11
25. Fruit of all Evil by Paige Shelton 2/11
26. Busy Bodies by Joan Hess 3/11
27. Keeping Counsel by R.A. Forster 3/11
28. Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert 3/11
29. Zero Cool by John Lange 3/11
30. Urn Burial by Kerry Greenwood 3/11
31. Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton  3/11
32. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter  3/11
33. Berried to the Hilt by Karen MacInerney  3/11
34. In Harm's Way by Ridley Pearson 3/11
35. Sealed with a Kill by Lucy Lawrence 3/11
36. Mourning Gloria by Susan Wittig Albert 3/11
37. Murders on Elderberry Road by Sally Goldenbaum 3/11
38. No Mardi Gras for the Dead by D.J. Donaldson 3/11
39. Suspicion of Guilt by Barbara Parker 4/11
40. Grave Concerns by Rebecca Tope 4/11
41. Split Second by Alex Kava 04/11
42. Dead by Midnight by Carolyn Hart 04/11
43. Just One Look by Harlan Coben 04/11
44. Going Wrong by Ruth Rendell 04/11
45. The Wedding Shawl by Sally Goldenbaum 04/11
46. Pumped for Murder by Elaine Viets 04/11
47. Hot Mahogany  by Stuart Woods 04/11
48. Black Swan by Chris Knopf 04/11
49. Run for Your Life by James Patterson/Michael Ledwidge 05/11
50. Blood Trust by Eric Van Lustbader 5/11
51. A Pug's Tale by Alison Pace 5/11
52. Plum Pudding Murder by Joanne Fluke 5/11
53. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny 5/11
54. Lost and Fondue by Avery Aames 5/11
55. A Parfait Murder by Wendy Lyn Watson 05/11
56. The Worst Thing by Aaron Elkins 06/11
57. Unraveled by Maggie Sefton 06/11
58. The Orchid Memorandum by Tony Attanasio 06/11
59. Invisible by Lorena McCourtney 06/11
60. Live to Tell by Wendi Corsi Staub 06/11
61. Foul Play at the PTA by Laura Alden 06/11
62. The Blackheath Poisonings by Julian Symons 06/11
63. Murder, My Deer by Jacqueline Girdner 06/11
64. One Deadly Sister by Rod Hoisington 06/11
65. Missing Persons by Stephen White 06/11
66. Pie a la Murder by Melinda Wells 06/11
67. Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay 06/11
68. The Bake Sale Murder by Leslie Meier  07/11
69. Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon 07/11
70. Nobody Lives Forever by Edna Buchanan 07/11
71. Now You Don't by Roma Greth 07/11
72. Roses are Red by James Patterson 07/11
73. Worth Dying For by Lee Child 07/11
74. 61 Hours by Lee Child 07/11
75. You Only Die Twice by Edna Buchanan 07/11
76. A Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Townsend 07/11
77. A Sheetcake Named Desire by Jacklyn Brady 07/11
78. Murder by Mocha by Cleo Coyle 07/11
79. Hot Wire by Alex Kava 07/11
80. The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne 07/11
81. Unplugged by Lois Greiman 07/11
82. Death of a Trophy Wife by Laura Levine 08/11
83. Lye in Wait by Cricket Mcrae 08/11
84. Too Big to Miss by Sue Ann Jaffarian 08/11
85. Cul-de-Sac by David Martin 08/11
86. The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans 08/11
87. Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer 08/11
88. Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods 08/11
89. The Body in the Bonfire by Katherine Hall Page 08/11
90. Charmed to Death by Shirley Damsgaard 08/11
91. Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet 08/11
92. The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberley 08/11
93. The Perfect Suspect by Margaret Coel 08/11
94. Thread Reckoning by Amanda Lee 08/11
95. Mind over Murder by Alison Kingsley 08/11
96. Death in a Difficult Position by Diana Killian08/11
97. A Small Case of Murder by Laurie Carr 09/11
98. The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry 09/11
99. Scared Stiff by Annelise Ryan 09/11
100. The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry 09/11
101. Deadly Masquerade by Tracey Tillis 09/11
102. Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie 09/11
103. The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly 09/11
104. The Attorney by Steve Martini 09/11
105. X Dames by J.J. Henderson 09/11
106. Ghost in Trouble by Carolyn Hart 09/11
107. Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs 09/11
108. Twice Burned by Kit Craig 10/11
109. Elvis and the Dearly Departed by Peggy Webb 10/11
110. A Brisket, a Casket by Delia Rosen  10/11
111. The Drowning Man by Margaret Coel 10/11
112. Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay 10/11
113. The Man Who Cast Two Shadows by Carol O'Connell 10/11
114. Behold, Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer 10/11
115. Dakota by Martha Grimes 10/11
116. No Lesser Plea by Robert Tanenbaum 10/11
117. Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B. J. Daniels 10/11
118. The Deception at Lyme by Carrie Bebris 10/11
119. I Shall Not Want by Debbie Viguié 10/11
120. Killer Sweet Tooth by Gayle Trent 10/11
121. Cemetery Girl by David Bell 10/11
122. Bubba and the Dead Woman 10/11
123. Button Holed by Kylie Logan 10/11
124. The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer 10/11
125. Quick Step to Murder by Ella Barrick 10/11
126. Unrevealed by Laurel Dewey 10/11
127. Promissory Payback by Laurel Dewey 10/11
128. Why Shoot a Butler by Georgette Heyer 10/11
129. A Wee Christmas Homicide 10/11
130. To Catch a Leaf by Kate Collins 10/11
131. Chili Con Corpses by J.B. Stanley 11/11
132. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny 11/11
133. Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer 11/11
134. A Blunt Instrument by  Georgette Heyer 11/11
135. Bitter Harvest by Sheila Connolly 11/11
136. The Divine Circle of Ladies Tipping the Scales 11/11
137. Mrs. Jeffries and the Mistletoe Mix-up by Emily Brightwell 11/11
138. Orchestrated Murder by Rick Blechta 11/11
139. The Last Word by Ellery Adams 12/11
140. Buried Sins by Marta Perry 12/11
141. High Tide by Ann Summerville 12/11
142. Graceful Death by Ann Summerville 12/11
143. Sweet Masterpiece by Connie Shelton 12/11
144. Iron Lake by William Kent Kreuger 12/11
145. The Divine Circle of Ladies Painting the Town by Dolores Stewart Riccio 12/11