Really Random Tuesday #60: Fleeting Memory Winner and Amaryllis Revisited

Seems I am a rhyming fool today!  

This Really Random Tuesday post is short and sweet.  Please help me congratulate petite.

Petite has won my giveaway for a mystery caper book, Fleeting Memory, the first book in the Enescu Fleet series by Sherban Young. Congratulations, petite!  My other readers might be interested in the assortment of book giveaways listed on the right side of my blog.

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Many Tuesdays ago, I posted a picture of an amaryllis that wasn't really an amaryllis.  It was a hippeastrum, apparently, according to my favorite online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.  Now here's a photo of my new "amaryllis" plant in bloom.  I'm not certain that this is an actual amaryllis either, even though it was labelled as an amaryllis in the floral department of Major Market (a very nice supermarket in town).  Amaryllis is amaryllis is amaryllis--or maybe not. 

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Appearing on random Tuesdays, Really Random Tuesday is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related things you can think of.  I often announce my book giveaway winners in these posts.  If you have miscellaneous book news to gather up and are inspired by this idea, "grab" the button for use on your own blog, and add your link to the "master" Mister Linky on the Really Random Tuesday page. 

As always, your comments are appreciated. :)

Fleeting Memory: Review and Giveaway

My mother was an avid reader of mysteries, and I'd often wish I could emulate her in this regard.  I think she would have written an incredible mystery novel herself, had she ever attempted to write one.  (If there's a community of mystery writers in the great beyond, my mom may be at a book signing table right now.)  Although I long to be more acquainted with the work of Agatha Christie and other mystery writers, I must admit that I've not read many mysteries myself, although I loved the Encyclopedia Brown series as a child, and adore The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, more recently.  After encountering the term 'cozy mystery' on many book blogs, I became interested in this genre.  I envisioned myself reading them, "cozily" wrapped in my Snuggie on a cool evening, hot mug of tea at my side (a bit clichéd, perhaps, but still a pleasant image for me).  For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, cozy mysteries or "cozies", according to one of my favorite online "dictionaries", Wikipedia, are a sub-genre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated in a humorous way.

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Talk about an identity crisis!  Published in 2011, Fleeting Memory, the first book in the Enescu Fleet series by Sherban Young, is the story of a young man who loses his memory.  I've just finished reading this book, which is a cozy mystery or a "mystery caper".  The protagonist in this story has a major problem.  He doesn't know who he is, or even remember what his name is.  All he knows is that he has a penchant for mysterious blondes, and that he thinks he's seen a dead body at the rustic cabin where he's staying.  He's not sure what's going on, but he keeps hoping to run into the blond girl with the stirring green eyes again, who also appears to be lost in the woods (literally).  Luckily, the young man encounters a helpful older man with twinkling blue eyes, Enescu Fleet, who just happens to be a retired detective.

The definition of cozy mystery fits this book perfectly.  Although fighting and dead bodies appear in Fleeting Memory, the book is filled with much humor and is quite clever, and I relished the antics and the author's witty words.

"Careful not to add my fingerprints to the evidence--I wasn't a complete moron--I poked the glasses into place with my trusty pen and slid the scarf down.  His face was mustached, ruddy in complexion and quite rough, like burgundy sandpaper.  I liked mine better.  I didn't recognize him (no shocker there) and for a minute I sat back on my heels, wondering who could have killed him and why.  He seemed like a decent type, for a corpse."
~Fleeting Memory, Sherban Young

Toward the end of Fleeting Memory, the word 'eponymous' is used, which seems to be a good adjective to keep in mind while reading this book.  Names and identity are important in this story, starting with the title, Fleeting Memory, which refers to both the main character's actual memory loss and to the name of the detective, Enescu Fleet.  I won't reveal more here, but there are numerous "little name things" and clues to note, scattered throughout the book.  For as long as I can remember (pun intended), I've been a "name person"; I notice names, so this aspect of the book resonated with me.

Instead of reading this book inside, wearing my silly Snuggie, I read much of the book outside, soaking up a bit of winter sun (don't hate me because I live in Southern California).  It was quite enjoyable to pass the time in this way.  Like the main character in the story, at times I didn't really know what was going on, or what was going to happen next, and there are numerous twists and turns which made the book even more amusing.  I loved the main characters in this mystery and want to spend more time with them--especially now that I know their names and identities. The next book in the series is Fleeting Glance, which I look forward to reading.  Hopefully, as is always the case when I do read mysteries, I'll hone my own detective skills a bit in the process.

Special thanks to author Sherban Young, who sent me complimentary copies of Fleeting Memory and Fleeting Glance--and many matching bookmarks.  He also gave me an extra copy of Fleeting Memory, to give away to one lucky reader (U.S./Canada only).
  

• To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment.
• For another chance at winning, become a follower of this blog, or let me know that you're already a follower.
• For an additional chance, post about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.
• For one extra chance, name a cozy mystery you've enjoyed reading.

Enter by 5 PM PST on Monday, February 11.  One winner will be selected randomly and announced on Tuesday, February 12.  Good luck!

Mailbox Monday: The Christmas Eve Edition

Happy holidays to all of my wonderful readers!  Whichever holidays you celebrate, I hope this time of togetherness with family and friends includes ample warmth and joy--and some quiet, reflective moments with a book or two. 

Last week, I didn't receive a lot of books in the mail, but I did get a hefty parcel from author Sherban Young.  The package included Fleeting Glance and two copies of Fleeting Memory (one to read and one to give away to a reader), and some fun bookmarks. The covers on these might make you think they're graphic novels but they're in fact "MysteryCaper" books, lighthearted, humorous mysteries.  I've already started to read the first one, Fleeting Memory (I'm enjoying it so far).  After the holiday busy-ness subsides, I'm looking forward to spending solid quality time with these books.  I've been wanting to read more "cozies" and these should fit the bill.

Mailbox Monday is the ideal way to "show off" our new books.  Created by Marcia, who has established various book blogs as well as the Mailbox Monday blog, this meme has been "on tour" for the past couple of years; I'm happily hosting this month!  What new books appeared in your mailbox recently?  Or perhaps you've gotten some new books for Christmas (or another holiday).  Please leave a comment after linking.  Thank you!

Mailbox Monday: On the Way

Zero, zip, zilch!  Next time, I'll request expedited shipping. This past week, I didn't get any books in the mail--my mailbox was devoid of books.  Good grief!

Don't feel too sorry for me though, because I'm expecting a few books in the mail soon that I think will be extraordinary, including Beneath Cold Seas: The Underwater Wilderness of the Pacific Northwest by photographer David Hall, Fleeting Memory, the first mystery in the Enescu Fleet series by Sherban Young, and a book I couldn't resist ordering earlier today after seeing it on Bellezza's blog, Dolce Bellezza, Christmas Stories (Everyman's Library) by a variety of writers, edited by Diana Secker Tesdell.



Created by Marcia, who has established various book blogs and also publishes the Mailbox Monday blog, I'm hosting this magical meme for the month of December (even when my own mailbox is empty).  Mailbox Monday is a friendly way to share the new books we've acquired.  What new books appeared in your mailbox recently, or on your shelves by some other means?  Please leave a comment after linking.  Thank you!