キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain’s Log, Stardate 06.14.2006
Blog book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is A STITCH IN TIME by Allison Bottke.
My Monday book giveaway is RV THERE YET? by Diann Hunt.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for A STITCH IN TIME and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.
Meme: Julie Carobini (BRAT!) tagged me.
Accent: Hawaiian Pidgin English, but only when I’m talking to someone who also has an accent, like my parents. My husband can immediately tell when I’m talking to them on the phone.
Best personality trait: I will usually say exactly how I feel. If I’m too busy to talk to you, I’ll tell you. If I’m tired, I’ll tell you.
Chore I hate: Vacuuming, not because of the work, but because I hate the loud noises.
Dad's name: Thomas
Essential make-up/skin care products: Mary Kay Timewise 3-in-1 Cleaners—this stuff was MAGIC on my combination skin and acne.
Favorite perfume/cologne: Grapefruit
Gold or silver?: Gold—I hate the way silver tarnishes.
Hometown: Wahiawa, Hawaii
Interesting fact: I used to be in a Christian a capella group in college called Testimony.
Job title: Author!!!!!!!!!
Kids: ZERO
Living arrangements: Love our snug little house, which is easy to clean.
Mom's birthplace: Waialua, Hawaii? Haleiwa? I can’t remember which.
Number of apples eaten in the last week: Zippo. I’d like to say more, but I haven’t gone shopping in a week because I was sick.
Overnight hospital stays: ZERO, unless you count when I was born.
Phobias: I’m slightly agoraphobic. Not debilitating, but I need to psych myself up to leave the house on errands.
Question you ask yourself a lot: Where did the time go?
Religion: Christian
Siblings: one younger brother Chad
Time I wake up: I’d like to get up around 10 a.m. regularly, but lately it’s been more like noon. But before you recoil in horror, I stay up until 3 or 4 writing, since that’s my most creative time.
Unnatural hair color: I gave myself auburn highlights once, but I’d actually like to do a bright pink lock at my temple. I’m also trying to work up the courage to get a nose stud. Although I should probably ask my agent first if she thinks that’s a bad idea for my author image.
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: I pretty much eat all of them, although I’ve never had brussell sprouts. I don’t particularly care for cabbage.
Worst habit: Procrastination and overeating.
X-rays?: For a broken wrist and when I tore my ACL, to make sure nothing else was busted.
Yummy food I make: Chicken marsala, French onion soup, scones.
Zaniest trait: I think that every time I open my mouth something zany comes out. It’s a curse.
I tag: Cathy West, because I know she'll read my blog today.
TMI:
Diet: I exercised this morning—one workout show, about 20 minutes actual. However, I also roasted almonds today and ate TOO MANY. Well, at least they were high fiber and good fat. But fat nonetheless.
I also made scones, but with some substitutions—I substituted a cup of oatmeal for some of the flour, canola oil for the butter, and nonfat milk for 2/3 of the cream. They turned out pretty good! I’m rather pleased with myself.
Writing: Still working on the brainstorming phase of my new book. My wall is starting to fill up with post-it notes.
And now, it’s after midnight and my creative juices are starting to flow faster. I’m off to write!
Blog book giveaway:
My Thursday book giveaway is A STITCH IN TIME by Allison Bottke.
My Monday book giveaway is RV THERE YET? by Diann Hunt.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for A STITCH IN TIME and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.
Meme: Julie Carobini (BRAT!) tagged me.
Accent: Hawaiian Pidgin English, but only when I’m talking to someone who also has an accent, like my parents. My husband can immediately tell when I’m talking to them on the phone.
Best personality trait: I will usually say exactly how I feel. If I’m too busy to talk to you, I’ll tell you. If I’m tired, I’ll tell you.
Chore I hate: Vacuuming, not because of the work, but because I hate the loud noises.
Dad's name: Thomas
Essential make-up/skin care products: Mary Kay Timewise 3-in-1 Cleaners—this stuff was MAGIC on my combination skin and acne.
Favorite perfume/cologne: Grapefruit
Gold or silver?: Gold—I hate the way silver tarnishes.
Hometown: Wahiawa, Hawaii
Interesting fact: I used to be in a Christian a capella group in college called Testimony.
Job title: Author!!!!!!!!!
Kids: ZERO
Living arrangements: Love our snug little house, which is easy to clean.
Mom's birthplace: Waialua, Hawaii? Haleiwa? I can’t remember which.
Number of apples eaten in the last week: Zippo. I’d like to say more, but I haven’t gone shopping in a week because I was sick.
Overnight hospital stays: ZERO, unless you count when I was born.
Phobias: I’m slightly agoraphobic. Not debilitating, but I need to psych myself up to leave the house on errands.
Question you ask yourself a lot: Where did the time go?
Religion: Christian
Siblings: one younger brother Chad
Time I wake up: I’d like to get up around 10 a.m. regularly, but lately it’s been more like noon. But before you recoil in horror, I stay up until 3 or 4 writing, since that’s my most creative time.
Unnatural hair color: I gave myself auburn highlights once, but I’d actually like to do a bright pink lock at my temple. I’m also trying to work up the courage to get a nose stud. Although I should probably ask my agent first if she thinks that’s a bad idea for my author image.
Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: I pretty much eat all of them, although I’ve never had brussell sprouts. I don’t particularly care for cabbage.
Worst habit: Procrastination and overeating.
X-rays?: For a broken wrist and when I tore my ACL, to make sure nothing else was busted.
Yummy food I make: Chicken marsala, French onion soup, scones.
Zaniest trait: I think that every time I open my mouth something zany comes out. It’s a curse.
I tag: Cathy West, because I know she'll read my blog today.
TMI:
Diet: I exercised this morning—one workout show, about 20 minutes actual. However, I also roasted almonds today and ate TOO MANY. Well, at least they were high fiber and good fat. But fat nonetheless.
I also made scones, but with some substitutions—I substituted a cup of oatmeal for some of the flour, canola oil for the butter, and nonfat milk for 2/3 of the cream. They turned out pretty good! I’m rather pleased with myself.
Writing: Still working on the brainstorming phase of my new book. My wall is starting to fill up with post-it notes.
And now, it’s after midnight and my creative juices are starting to flow faster. I’m off to write!
Comments
We can be nose ring friends! I'm considering it too, but after my Family Life interview!!!
Margaret
ABC Response:
Never eaten brussel sprouts? You're missing out.
Pink Stripe? Yeah baby! I want a big blonde one like the chick in that one Judith Krantz novel. Nose Ring? Totally Biblical--Rebekah had a nose ring.
TMI:
I weighed today. Please don't try to console me--it's just bad. And if Stan says anything else about 'more to love' I'm going to break his Gonzo nose.
WRITING:
Who has time? All my spare time is spent with Denise Austin.
LOL Bet saying that job title really rocked didn't it??
awww I remember the days of waking up between 10 and noon... then I met Robin.... sigh.
oooh do the bright pink lock!!! that would totally rock!!!! Get the nose stud... I don't think it's bad for your image. I want a tattoo!!
never had brussell sprouts??? how is that possible??
okay, it's official I'm coming to see you and you're going to make me chicken marsala, french onion soup and scones, k?
LOL I had to read your zaniest trait a couple times before I got what you meant.. I kept reading it wrong.
yay you didn't tag me! LOL
hey, you think this comment could be any longer???
Brussel sprouts
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Deal with Canadians and save
www.ebay.ca
Maybe that's why I've always loved them. I also found the secret of why most people hate cooked spinach. Recently I got some frozen stuff. I thought I'd love it as much as I've always done. But yuck, it was totally "untasty" because it had just been cooked with water. I'm not sure how exactly my mother made it but I'm certain she put some milk in it as well as other savory stuff.