Literary Friday: Heat Wave

Synopsis according to GoodReads:

"A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light.

Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City's top homicide squads. She's hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York's Finest. PulitzerPrize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren't her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat."

I like Castle, the TV show. And I like meta concepts. So I figured this murder mystery, penned by the fictional character Richard Castle, mentioned repeatedly in the TV show, would be gritty, witty, and original. 

Unfortunately, this was exactly like an episode of Castle the TV show, straight out of the script locker. It isn't a bad story, if it were a stand-alone book. But it was a disappointment given that I was expecting a unique story, a great mystery, and something that isn't a cutesy re-hashing of a TV show.

If you cannot get enough of the TV show, and want to read a version of the episode, this is the book for you.

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

Fat Joe Lays Down the Law

Hello humans.

Given how much Not-Dad is on this laptop while Dad is at work, I figured I ought to spell out some things plainly for her. In black and white, as it were.

1) No. More. Turkey. 

You haven't gotten the hint yet, so

apparently I must say it in text.

Feed me tuna, shrimp, lobster, chicken,

beef, liver, cheese, or what-have-you.

But no more turkey, or you'll find a stinky

surprise in your shoe.

2) Your singing sucks. Stop it.

I know you're auditioning because you

have one of those uniquely human desires

to do something other than nap in a 

sunbeam and eat.

But do us a favor and spare my eardrums.

I tried demonstrating for you the 

proper way to sing, the last time

you practiced; You missed some notes 

*and* no female cats came to rub against you. 

Clearly, you're doing it wrong.

3) I take a selfie better than you do.

Watch and learn, cub, watch and learn.

Mine:

Yours:

Note how mine is cute, with a slight smirk, and 

an air of mystery that even Dad's photo bomb 

can't ruin? 

Whereas yours shows off your newly reddish 

hair and looks....well....human.

Just give up and be a cat.

It's really the best thing.

P.S. This really hurt, especially when is became an abscess. I can't believe you didn't understand me, but thanks for finally taking me to the vet so it could heal. I'm pretty sure he said tuna helps.

Tree Hut for dry skin

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tree Hut. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have dry skin. Pretty bad dry skin, actually, that's getting crepe-thin as I age. My feet bear the worst of it, and even though I moisturize them regularly, it's difficult to find a great moisturizer for them. Enter Tree Hut foot cream, with Shea butter, Argan Oil (which promotes vitamin E, for anti-aging), and Rose Hip Oil (which also has anti-aging properties). It's paraben-free, not tested on animals, and made in the USA.

Tree Hut foot scrub and Tree Hut hand cream contains peppermint, which I am excited to try. I like that they don't test on animals, and contain botanical oils. Moisturizing is definitely part of my #NaturalBeauty style. The benefits of moisturizing are huge- fewer wrinkles, softer and more supple skin, faster recovery from scrapes and scratches, greater elasticity, and it the moisture barrier is protected, which helps your overall health. And let's not forget it's more fun to play footsie with soft, moisturized feet!

Keep your youthful, healthy glow by moisturizing often, especially your feet, hands, and elbows. For added moisture, use a gentle exfoliating scrub, like Tree Hut's foot scrub, which uses real sugar to slough off dead and dull skin. Unlike other scrubs, theirs uses shea butter and pepperment oil to moisturize, like a double whammy that won't make your tube an oil slick after using.

If you're interested in Tree Hut, be sure to like Tree Hut on Facebook and/or follow Tree Hut on Twitter. You can buy Tree Hut products at Walmarts across the nation, too!

What about you? What Tree Hut products would you want to try?

Tasty, Healthy, Cheap Foods Part 4

We all want to eat more healthy, spend less money, and still enjoy our experience of food. And for as much as I see "eat this, not that" stuff out there, key gaps are occurring in the "tasty, healthy, AND cheap" department. So I'm rectifying that right here, right now*.

Instead of:

('regular' cured bacon)

Try:

(uncured or dry-cured bacon)

Because it's:

• Healthier (unlike wet-cured bacon, it doesn't have added sodium nitrite, the preservative that contributes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, or added MSG- in fact, it's free of unnatural and added preservatives altogether)
• Tastier (you get more of the meaty flavor, less of the salt)
• Has a better meat-to-fat marbling ratio
• Is generally thicker-cut, meaning you get more meat-bang for your buck

*All statements are based on my own experience buying, cooking, and eating these things.