Yvonne-.-
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house during the last week.
Be warned that Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!
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Although I have only received a single new book again this week, I am delighted to say that it is another author request, so that more than makes up for the lack in quantity.
It also means that so far this year, I have been able to keep on top of my aim, not to add any more books to my TBR pile, as all of the review requests to date have been delivered electronically. The bad news is that I have such a steady stream of author requests coming in, that my TBR pile just isn’t getting looked at, or reduced in any way! … C’est La Vie!
After my recent review of ‘A Dangerous Harbor’, I have once again been fortunate enough to have received a second gift book, by its author Rebecca (AKA R.P.) Dahlke.
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‘A DEAD RED HEART’ by R.P. DAHLKE
Lalla Bains, ex-model and Ag pilot has plenty to keep her busy during another long hot summer in the San Joaquin Valley of California. But when a homeless Gulf War veteran litters her vintage red caddy with paper snowflakes Lalla figures it’s time for a showdown. Unfortunately, someone else has the same idea leaving Lalla with a dying man at her feet and only his strange last words, “The more there is, the less you see,” as the only clue to his killer.
No one wants her involved in the investigation; certainly not the creepy detective who slithers across her path every chance he gets, and not the local newspaper reporter whose annoying high-jinks cause her to want to set fire to the last three hairs on his head, nor Lalla’s love interest, Sheriff Caleb Stone, who can only wish he could reign in Lalla’s enthusiasm for sleuthing where she’s not welcome.
Ultimately, the question, What would you do if the love of your life lost their chance at a heart transplant to a convicted felon? brings Lalla to the answer of the killer as well as the dubious responsibility of proving it before the killer strikes again.
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This romantic/mystery/humour book, was gifted as a request for me to read and leave my comments about, by it’s author R.P. Dahlke and as such was free of charge.
This will in no way influence any comments I may express about the book, in any blog article I may post. Any thoughts or comments will be my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article.
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This sounds like a good one. Actually I think I have this on my wish list. Have a great week, Yvonne, and happy reading!
Hi Kaye,
If you like cozy mysteries, then you are sure to like this series of 2, soon to be 3 books.
I have previously read and reviewed the authors only stand alone novel ‘A Dangerous Harbor’ and found that very enjoyable and entertaining, although I think that I may have expected a little too much from the plot.
Cozy mystery writing techniques and storylines, seem to be a world apart if you compare US and UK authors. I am slowly getting used to the US style of story and I am starting to enjoy them much more.
Thanks for visiting Fiction Books today and I hope that you have a good week.
This is a new to me author. I can’t wait to see what you think of it.
Hi Beth,
Rebecca Dahlke has had 3 novels published to date, one stand-alone story and a series of 2 books featuring her character Lalla Bains, with a 3rd book in the series well under way, as we speak.
I must admit that when I read her stand alone story ‘A Dangerous Harbor’, although I enjoyed it, I was exepecting more of a serious police investigative story. However now that Rebecca has put me straight on her style of writing, I am all geared up to read and enjoy ‘A Dead Red Heart’, for what it is.
In Rebecca’s own words:
“I write light weight mysteries with some humor and romance, and if reader/reviewers can honestly say that they were entertained, then I’m happy.”
Thank you for stopping by today, I appreciate your comment and I hope that you have a great week.
This book sounds good, enjoy!
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/01/mailbox-monday_30.html
Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks for stopping by, your comments, as always, are much appreciated.
I am looking forward to a fun, easy to read mystery, with the usual smattering of romantic entanglement.
Lalla Bains sounds like quite a feisty character, so I am sure that nothing will run true to plan and there will be plenty of thrills and spills along the way.
Just the book for a cold winters day, to lift the spirits.
Enjoy your new book!
Hi Alyce,
Thanks for stopping by and for hosting ‘Mailbox Monday’ in January.
I always love your ‘Sunday Salon’ and ‘Saturday Snapshot’ posts and I shall be following both with interest.
I’ll be sure to watch for your thoughts on this book, Yvonne!
Hi Mary,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your comments.
‘Cozy’ mysteries are not a genre that I read on too regular a basis and I am still getting to know the different styles of writing and approaches taken to the plot by your US authors, as opposed to those of our own UK authors, and believe me, there are quite a few.
Having got a little ‘caught out’ by Rebecca’s book ‘A Dangerous Harbor’, I shall be sure not to make the same mistake again and I am really looking forward to reading this one.
This sounds intense, happy reading 🙂
Hi Naida,
The synopsis does sound as though Lalla’s life is pretty full on, doesn’t it?, although it appears that most of the mayhem is of her own making, with the complicated professional and personal life she has and the way in which they keep overlapping to cause chaos.
Thanks for visiting Fiction Books and enjoy the rest of your week.
This author is new to me as well. I hope you really enjoy it.
Hi Jennifer,
It is very seldom that fellow bloggers seem to highlight authors that are known to me, however I suppose that is hardly a surprise given the large geographic spread of the many bloggers and the vast amount of authors both new and established, that are easily able to publish in so many different places.
I have quite eclectic reading tastes, with the exception of science fiction, so coming across a new to me author, is always a strong possibility. That’s the beauty of blogging, there are so many great recommendations to be found, that I will certainly never be short of a good book.
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week.
Just stopping by to say hi Yvonne! The book sounds really good.
Hi Peggy,
Yes, this does sound like a fun, easy going read to curl up with on a cold winter’s night and I am looking forward to reading it.
I just recently read and reviewed one of Rebecca Dahlke’s other books ‘A Dangerous Harbor’, which was also very good, although that was a stand alone novel and ‘A Dead Red Heart’ is part of a series of stories, featuring Lalla Bains.
Thanks for stopping by, I can’t believe that the weekend is almost upon us again and we have already gone into February!
That should be a good book to read around Valentine’s Day! lol
Hi Kathy,
You jest! I have just finished my current book and the next on my author’s reading list, is this book. Given that I have seriously little time in which to read this week, it is odds on that I shall still be working my way through ‘A Dead Red Heart’ come Valentine’s Day.
It sounds as though the character of Lalla Bains (don’t you just love the name), leads just about as hectic a life as myself right now, although I am hoping with not quite the same challenges!
Thanks for stopping by and have a good week.
I enjoyed this the second book in the Lalla Bains Series as much if not more than the first “A Dead Red Cadillac”. I wonder if Lalla will ever get married to her friend from elementary school, Caleb. I guess I’ll just have to keep on reading the series as they come out.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for stopping by, it is always good to ‘meet’ new people.
I have never actually read the first book in the Lalla Bains series, although there was enough background information in ‘A Dead Red Heart’ for me to work out roughly where all the characters fitted in and how we arrived were we did in the storyline.
I have been chatting with Rebecca Dahlke and she hopes to have review copies of the third book in the series ‘A Dead Red Oleander’, available around about April time.
There are a few ‘spoilers’ about the relationship between Lalla and Caleb, in an excerpt from the book, over on Rebecca’s website:
http://rpdahlke.com/a-dead-red-oleander/
I also read and enjoyed Rebecca’s stand alone novel ‘A Dangerous Harbor’, which features the character of detective Katrina Hunter, so I wonder if there is scope for this to be developed into a series of books as well?
Hope that you are having a good week.