The Search by Nora Roberts

To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life — a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescue. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare.  Several years ago, she was the only survivor of a serial killer — a madman who stalked and abducted young women, strangled them, and left them buried with a red scarf on their bodies. As authorities were closing in on the Red Scarf Killer, he shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.  On Orcas Island, Fiona has found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. Yet all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help.

This story combines several things I love - thrillers, romance and dogs - but I have to agree with the Publisher's Weekly review:  The serial killer plot is very familiar and without much to distinguish it, but the romance is finely done.  Not that the thriller portion is bad, but even from the jacket synopsis above, most anyone can guess that the serial killer will come back to search for the one that got away, so no great surprise there. The blood and gore level is kept reasonably low, although there were a couple sections written from the killer's perspective that I chose to skim.

Romance stories tend to be formulaic by necessity, because if they didn't get together and live happily ever after it wouldn't be very romantic, would it?  However, Fiona and Simon's relationship is slightly atypical.  Their personalities don't mesh and it's fun to watch them try to fit their lives together.  I am partial to stories written with as much or more attention paid to dialog as action, and this book delivers witty, thoughtful conversations. Even though you assume Fiona and Simon will end up together, the path isn't what you would expect and they come across as more realistic than most.

The part I liked the most was the dogs.  We are dog lovers - especially big dogs.  This story is full of helpful training tips that I'm trying to use on our two misbehaving canines (and Fiona assures us that you actually CAN teach an old dog new tricks).  The relationship between Fiona and her three dogs, Newman, Bogart, and Peck - named after famous leading men - is charming.  Anyone who has ever owned a dog/friend will understand the connection that is almost psychic.  Our Husky-mix senses when I am ill and will lay on my feet to keep them warm - something she would never do any other time.  They are instinctively protective and, at the same time, instinctively loving.  A Springer Spaniel we had when the children were young allowed babies to learn to stand by hanging onto her floppy years and pulling themselves up.  She endured without complaint or nip.  Fiona's dogs are far better trained than mine have any hopes of being, but their relationship is almost a romance of it's own - loving, loyal, vigilant, sympathetic - and will appeal to any dog lover.   

By mid-way through this story, I was sure I could predict the ending, unfortunately I was wrong.  I think my plot would have been more suspenseful, as I felt Ms. Roberts' ending was a little mild for the long buildup (480+ pages), but there's probably a reason she's a bestselling author and I'm not.  Altogether a pleasing read.  I would recommend this for fans of romance, fans of mild thrillers and definitely for fans of Man's Best Friend.

Dangerous by Diana Palmer & A Pet Peeve

Tall, lean and headstrong, FBI agent Kilraven lives by his own rules. And one of those rules includes keeping his hands off Jacobsville's resident sweetheart, Winnie Sinclair, no matter the temptation. Shy and innocent, Winnie couldn't handle a man like him—a merciless man with a haunted past. And this small town may hold not only the woman he fights to resist, but the answers to a cold case that is very personal to Kilraven….

It only takes the first few lines of the jacket synopsis to tell you that this is standard Harlequin fare - not that that's a bad thing.  I enjoyed the story, predictable as it may have been, but there were a few spots where I had trouble.  First off, it quickly became obvious that this book is built on characters previously introduced, although I'm not sure when/where.  There was so much background information thrown in randomly and characters who I was expected to recognize that it was a bit disconcerting.  I was still able to follow the plot without access to all that info, but it left me feeling a bit out of the loop.

My second trouble spot was the naivete of the characters.  I seriously appreciate characters with morals and an author who refuses to write about pre-marital sex flippantly or as though it is standard practice.  However, I found Winnie to be innocent to the point of impossibility, so it was hard to swallow that she could be a seasoned 911 dispatcher or would jump head-long into a murder investigation and false marriage.  Even though Killraven is described as "merciless" he was anything but.  Perhaps he was willing to bend some rules to catch a killer, but certainly not to the point of being cut-throat, as the synopsis suggests.

My final rough spot applies not only to this book but, more and more frequently, to all new releases:  The use of Spell Check rather than human proofreading.  I realize running a quick computer check is much more cost efficient than paying someone to actually read the manuscript, but computers only look for words that are in their programmed vocabulary.  They can't tell the difference between "then" and "than" for instance, but it makes considerable difference in the meaning of the sentence, as does a misplaced comma.  Yes, I was able to understand what Ms. Palmer meant, but for some reason it annoys me coming from an established publisher.

After all those bumps in the road, you would probably guess that I didn't care for the trip, but you would be wrong.  In spite of all that, it was still an enjoyable, relaxing read.

Gourmet Meals in Crappy Little Kitchens by Jennifer Schaertl

The minute I spied the title of this book in a library catalog, I had to have it.  While I may be far from a gourmet, I love to cook/bake and I have one of the world's top ten crappiest little kitchens.  Imagine a box approximately 8'x10' with a tacky lowered ceiling and glaring flourescent lighting.  Now add the usual kitchen appliances - stove, dishwasher, fridge and sink - plus a few cabinets, one measly window and three doors (to dining room, to back porch, to basement).  What is left in the center is a 4x6 space with three spans of countertop - 18" to the left of the sink for dirty dishes, 18" to the right of the sink for coffee pot and cappacino machine, and the granddaddy of them all - 42" of wide open space which is not only home to my gorgeous purple mixer, a bowl of whatever fruit is waiting to ripen and any leftover baked goods that might be hanging around, but also operates as my work space for chopping, measuring, mixing, rolling, cutting, and any other chores required to prepare a meal.  While the cabinets and tile floor are relatively new, the appliances are younger than our children, and I've tried to add some personality with cute curtains and knick-knacks, it still adds up to one Crappy Little Kitchen.

Ms. Schaertl contends that "Crappy Little Kitchens rock, and if you give your Crappy Little Kitchen (CLK for short) half a chance, you'll be in complete agreement."  And sincer her first kitchen was a teeny sink, stove and motel-room-size fridge lined up against a wall, maybe she knows of whence she speaks.  "Whatever your kitchen situation - whether you have a miniscule space, ancient appliances, or a dismal appearance (or all three!) - you can still work wonders and create gourmet meals."  What follows these opening lines of encouragement are instructional sections on cooking in a CLK:  CLK Basics - "the must-haves (of pans and utensils) that will give you the most bang for your buck", and the best storage ideas; CLK Saboteurs - "unnecessary items stashed in every nook and cranny of your cramped space"; The CLK Pantry - hints for shopping and storing the necessary staples in the right quantities. 

And then, of course, are the recipes - easy to follow instructions, colorful photographs, and quirky names intermixed with handy tips and ideas.  I can't wait to try Great Guacamole, Batman!, BYOM (Bring Your Own Margarita) Mushroom Tamales, or Sweet Cheese Cranberry Purses, among many others.  You'll become an instant gourmet, even if you don't have a Crappy Little Kitchen.

Night of the Living Deed by E. J. Copperman

Newly divorced Alison Kerby wants a second chance for herself and her nine-year-old daughter. She's returned to her hometown on the Jersey Shore to transform a Victorian fixer-upper into a charming-and profitable-guest house. One small problem: the house is haunted, and the two ghosts insist Alison must find out who killed them. (from book cover)

In keeping with our recent harvest theme, this cozy mystery is "out-standing in it's field".  Ok, I know, bad pun!  But, it truly is a step above the average formulaic cozy.  The ghosts, in this case, have only been deceased for two years so the murder the heroine is trying to solve is relatively recent - a fun twist on the usual historic angle.  Also, these ghosts are a hoot!  Still adjusting to their deceased status and the physical restrictions this implies, they sometimes aid in the investigation and sometimes hamper it.

More importantly, to me anyway, Ms. Copperman avoids my pet peeve of many mystery authors (Regular followers of our blog may skip to the next paragraph and avoid a repeat of my ranting.) which is the assumption that the reader is stupid, or at least a bit on the slow side, and can't follow the clues for themselves.  I become impatient when the author stops the progress of the story to point out all the clues and theories I may not have been smart enough to recognize on my own, and I tend to skim rather than read.  This story kept the action moving forward while still giving me all the necessary clues to solve the case.  If I missed one along the way, the ending just came as more of a surprise and allowed me that head slapping moment of "Oh, I should have thought of that." 

Besides the ghosts, the supporting cast - mother, daughter, best friend, best friend's husband - are all comical and interesting enough to make me want to come back for the next installment of the Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries.  I sure hope Ms. Copperman writes fast.

Harvest Wrap Up

The majority of the wheat is out of the field, the pace is slowing a bit and everyone is beyond ready for a day off.  In that spirit, I'm wrapping up my harvest posts with a few random pictures.  Hope you enjoyed your glimpse into my life as "the elevator guy's wife".  If you have any questions, just ask - here or on twitter (@mrschupa) - and we'll do our best to answer.  We now return you to our regularly scheduled book blog...

Custom Cutting Crews: Cultural Diversity on a Combine

Like elephants in a circus parade, lines of cumbersome tractor/trailer rigs hauling farm equipment make their way from deep in the heart of Texas, across the plains and into Canada, harvesting the wheat fields as they go.    These caravans set out to the southernmost fields in late spring and work their way north - following the summer heat as it tracks northward and ripens the wheat - and return back home in the fall. 

These modern nomads travel with their own living quarters, so RV parks and lots that usually sit empty become villages for a few weeks, then everything returns to it's place on the trucks and the caravan heads to the next stop to repeat the entire process.  Farmers will re-hire the same crew each year, if they're good at what they do, so some of the wanderers are familiar faces each summer.

Not all farmers hire crews to cut their wheat.  The ones who do say it is because hiring it done is more cost efficient than purchasing and maintaining combines and trucks and hiring help to run them.  Custom  crews can definitely be more time efficient, putting three, four or more combines into a field at once, and since time is of the essence when you're battling Mother Nature, this can be a huge benefit. If you  asked those who cut their own crop, they would likely tell you that custom cutters are too expensive and they can do it more reasonably on their own.  Only a few will admit that, regardless of cost, they just enjoy the hands-on experience of harvest.

The most interesting part of the crews that come to town are the people themselves.  This is five months of hard work and long hours, but the pay is good, so it's an attractive summer job, especially for young men.  Crews in our area this year started from Canada, Missouri, Oklahoma, Minnesota and a variety of other places, and an international group is not uncommon.  We met folks from all over Canada, the Netherlands, and South Africa.  When asked why they sign up for this job, most gave two answers:  1. to see the United States, and 2. for the money.  At today's exchange rate, each American dollar earned equals 7.74 African Rand, so these men can possibly earn as much or more in five months on an American harvest crew as they would in a year at home.  For some, a work visa for the harvest season is the first step in an anticipated permanent move to the States. 

Pictured here is our daughter and Koos, a harvester from South Africa.  Working at the elevator, Dave and the kids saw these men on a daily basis, and they sometimes hung out after work hours, trading stories about their cultures and generally having a good time. As a result, our kids have a little wider view of the world, and are fluent in Afrikaans swear words.

Elevator Operation 101: Ground Piles

Todays lesson in operating an elevator is about piling grain on the ground.  Even with three facilities with a combined storage capacity of 3.9 million bushels, there will be more wheat produced in the county than the elevators can hold, so the only option (other than turning away business) is to dump it on the ground. This is obviously not an ideal storage plan, as rain and heat will eventually cause spoilage, but for the short term it keeps the grain coming in. 

Grain piles are created by large augers powered by the PTO (power take-off) on a tractor.  If you've never seen a grain auger, picture the threaded portion of a screw - but much larger - inside a metal tube. When the threads turn, they push the grain through the tube and out the other end.

The trucks empty into a portable hopper - either a "swing-away hopper" (like the red one in the picture) rolled under the truck or a "portable pit" (blue) which has ramps that allow the truck to drive across it.  The hopper feeds the grain into a large auger which lifts it up and drops it onto a pile. 

You start with a small pile and end with a h-u-g-e pile like this:

Because it takes longer to empty a truck into an auger than into the elevator, Dave has piles going in five different locations to try to keep traffic moving.  Naturally this calls for five tractors, five portable pits and five augers - which means fifteen times the breakdowns and repairs.  It certainly keeps everyone moving to keep all that equipment running during sixteen hour days. 

When harvest is complete and the grain is sold, the process will be reversed, all the wheat will be picked up, loaded into trucks or trains and shipped.  But that's a lesson for another day.