Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am excited to welcome Riley Adams back to Escape With Dollycas!
The Reading Life—During Busy Times and Slower Ones
By Riley Adams (Elizabeth S. Craig)
I feel like I could chart the busiest, most-active times of my life by tracking my reading habits.
When I was a kid, I had all the time in the world. I loved reading. I’d eat up whole series—all the Nancy Drews, all the Trixie Beldens—then reread them while I discovered new series. I’d read after school, after homework, at bedtime…after bedtime. I’d check out four or five books at a time from the library and read them back to back…then beg for a ride to the library again. It was wonderful to have the luxury of time back then!
As a young married woman in my 20s, I also had a surprisingly large amount of time to read (I wasn’t in the habit of bringing work home with me.) But I wasn’t sure what I wanted to read. I figured I needed to find some new mystery writers to enjoy. Once I’d discovered Ruth Rendell and Elizabeth George, I was set for a while. I spent many hours with my nose in a book.
In my late 20s and 30s, I had babies. Ack! My time for reading became sporadic at best…and I had an additional problem. I’d be so exhausted from the children that I’d fall asleep shortly after I started reading. If there were too many characters, I’d get confused or lose track of who was who. And, if the chapters were too long, I’d lose my place. When I discovered M.C. Beaton’s series, I felt like I’d made a major find. The books had recurring characters, short chapters, a strong protagonist, and a recognizable and reliable story pattern to follow. I was so relieved!
These were enjoyable books that I could easily follow. I gobbled up her books as fast as I could…particularly the Hamish Macbeths.
Now my schedule is so full that I’m using technology to help me make time for reading. My time is spent writing as much as reading, but I really guard my reading time…I need it. I use the Kindle app on my phone so that anytime I find a pocket of free time, I can open up my book—which opens right at the spot where I left off.
Have y’all noticed patterns to your reading habits over the years? Are they tied into your free time as much as mine are?
Thanks to Dollycas for hosting me today!
~Riley
Thank you Riley for stopping by and writing the stories we love!!
About Riley Adams
Riley’s latest book is Rubbed Out: book four of the Memphis Barbeque mysteries. Her next book, Quilt Trip: A Southern Quilting Mystery (written as Elizabeth Craig) releases December 2013. Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series for Penguin/Berkley (as Riley Adams), the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin/NAL, and the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. She blogs at Mystery Writing is Murder which was named by Writer’s Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers for 2010-2013. Find out more about her books on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com .
Rubbed Out
(A Memphis BBQ Mystery)
4th in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (July 2, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425259993
E-Book File Size: 523 KB
ASIN: B009NY2KZM
Even Lulu Taylor—proprietress of Aunt Pat’s Barbeque Restaurant in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee—needs to get out of the kitchen now and then. But at the Rock and Ribs festival, she finds more than a taste of trouble…
There’s trouble in Tennessee when a buffoon named Reuben Shaw stirs up more the Barbecue Sauce and rubs nearly everyone at the Rock and Ribs Festival the wrong way. Lulu’s best friend, Cherry, tangled with him as soon as she realized his booth was next to the Graces booth. But no one was more surprised than her to find him dead with a butcher knife in his chest just a few hours later. While the police start grilling suspects including Cherry, Lulu sets off on her own investigation to make sure her friend is spared from ending up behind bars.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I was so excited to see this book come out. It has been way too long since our last visit to Aunt Pat’s to visit some of my favorite people. The characters continue to bring the humor to the story. Their little quips never fail to crack me up. From Lulu and officer Pink Rogers to Cherry, Ben, Sara, Monty and on to younger generation these characters are so real and true, they just jump off the page and into your heart.
I really enjoyed the interactions between the generations. Derrick is starting to get comfortable in his new home. He and his new friend Finn have some real heartwarming moments with Lulu and Morty. Finn even helps get Lulu on the right track with her investigation. This was a tough one to solve too!
I hope Riley Adams doesn’t wait too long for the next installment. I am already ready for another huge plate of ribs and another visit to Aunt Pats!!
This is a perfect summer read, so fire up your grill, pour a glass of your favorite beverage, kick back and relax and enjoy this wonderful cozy mystery. There are even some fabulous recipes in the back of the book for you to try.
Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?
Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
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Contest Will End August 7, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
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and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.