JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING MARTA'S MEANDERINGS ON HER 100TH POST!!!

Congratulations Marta! It's time for a celebration!

Check out Marta's blog for a fantastic giveaway to celebrate her 100th post! You can find it here at http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/2009/03/in-celebration-of-my-100th-post-ive-got.html

New Orleans Requiem by D. J. Donaldson

I loved the New Orleans memories this book brought back. Almost everywhere the characters went, I could envision. That being said, I didn't ever see any murders while I was there and one can only be thankful for that! This was a very well-written murder mystery and I'm sorry to say that it is now out of print. I'll be keeping an eye out for more of D.J.Donaldson's work. In checking his website, I found that this particular series of books are all out of print. I find that sad as I enjoyed it so much.

The book is part of a series of Andy Broussard/Kit Franklin mysteries. In this one, a serial murder appears in New Orleans at the same time as a convention of forensic specialists. Kit and Andy work with the local law enforcement, and a couple of their forensic friends to solve the murder.

I recommend this book and wish everyone interested in reading it luck in your search. Meanwhile I'm starting my search for others in the series!

Louis Armstrong by Mike Pinfold

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19out_louis-armstrongsaints_music

If you've never heard him, you don't know what you're missing. His voice was one of a kind. His skill with his horn again one of a kind. There was no one like "Satchmo". His story is as inspiring as it is amazing. Louis Armstrong was one of the greats!

This book is a comprehensive story of his life and career. Well worth reading. His music is well worth listening to. I hope you've taken a few minutes and clicked on the above link for one of his more familiar songs.

Louis Armstrong by Mike Pinfold

Love and Other Natural Disasters by Holly Shumas

What is worse, a physical affair? Or an emotional affair? What is more forgiveable? Love and Other Natural Disasters is an exploration of how one couple gets through an emotional affair. Holly Shumas is a licensed marriage and family therapist who explores this idea in her second novel. Eve is close to giving birth to her second child, and reflecting on the wonderful life she has with her husband Jonathan, when she discovers he is involved, emotionally, with another woman. How she reacts to this knowledge, and how she struggles to make sense of it is only half the story. Her hurt is palpable and yet at the same time I felt some of her reactions were extreme. But then again, how do we know how we would react given the same situation. How would you feel and what would you do if you found that your husband had an emotionally intimate relationship with another woman. That he was more able to discuss and share things with her than you. And even more hurtful is that he kept it secret. Jon's affair is mostly conducted through email and that makes the secretiveness easy without any outright lies. As such, he doesn't see this extra-marital relationship as wrong as there is no physical relationship. It is a sign of the times that people can meet and become emotionally involved online, without even meeting in person. Could this difference of thought and perspective be attributed in part to how men and women are emotionally wired? An interesting story that gives much to think about. A well-written book and I recommend it.

Bark up the Right Tree by Jessie & Ruth Tschudin

This one is for all the animal lover's out there. If you love dogs, and your heart goes out to all those in need of forever homes, then this is one book you should definitely read! Jessie (the dog) is a mature black labrador retriever, abandoned by her family, who found a new home with Ruth Tschudin who had a vision that grew from a dog pulling a child in a wagon, to "a place where adoptive families and abandoned animals could love and support each other." This is Jessie's story, told through Jessie's eyes, but with Ruth's assistance, because we all know it's kind of difficult for a dog to type! This story is heart-breaking, and heart-warming. Be prepared for tears and joy! And visit Jessie's website at http://www.barkuptherighttree.com/index.php

Eagle Brand Classic Recipes

Who doesn't need another handy little recipe book of way to yummy recipes! this is just such a book. The cover along makes you hungry. This one comes in handy for all those special occasions when you need to take something along for a potluck, or when company's coming and you want to serve something special. I like that some of the recipes are make-ahead-able and freeze-able. Once again, far to many choices but one need never again wonder what to do with that can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk!