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 07.14.2008
Here are the Christy winners! The finalists are all listed, as well.
CONTEMPORARY (Stand Alone)
Winner:
Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)
Finalists:
In High Places by Tom Morrisey (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)
CONTEMPORARY (Series, Sequels and Novellas)
Winner:
Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (Viking Penguin)
Finalists:
A Time to Mend by Sally John and Gary Smalley (Thomas Nelson)
What Lies Within by Karen Ball (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
HISTORICAL
Winner:
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Finalists:
Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
LITS (tie)
Winner:
Hallie's Heart by Shelly Beach (Kregel Publications)
Finalists:
Doesn't She Look Natural by Angela Hunt (Tyndale House Publishers)
Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)
ROMANCE
Winner:
Remembered by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Finalists:
Lightning and Lace by DiAnn Mills (Barbour Publishing)
Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney (Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster)
SUSPENSE
Winner:
The Cure by Athol Dickson (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Finalists:
My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Moody Publishers)
The Pawn by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
VISIONARY
Winner:
Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)
Finalists:
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress Publishing Group)
FIRST NOVEL
Winner:
The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Finalists:
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress Publishing Group)
YOUNG ADULT
Winner:
Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson (NavPress Publishing Group)
Finalists:
Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman (NavPress Publishing Group)
In Between by Jenny B. Jones (NavPress Publishing Group)
Camy here: I am rather embarrassed to confess I have not read many of these books, although several are on my TBR pile (including Demon by Tosca Lee and In Between by Jenny Jones).
In fact, I think the only ones I’ve read are Auralia’s Colors and The Restorer. Personally, I liked The Restorer better because Auralia’s Colors, while beautifully written, was a bit boring until about halfway through the book. Nothing really happened until then.
To remedy my Neanderthal-ish ignorance of these award winners, I think I will try to read these by the end of the year. Anyone else with me?
Anyone else read these books? What did you think?
Here are the Christy winners! The finalists are all listed, as well.
CONTEMPORARY (Stand Alone)
Winner:
Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson)
Finalists:
In High Places by Tom Morrisey (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)
CONTEMPORARY (Series, Sequels and Novellas)
Winner:
Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (Viking Penguin)
Finalists:
A Time to Mend by Sally John and Gary Smalley (Thomas Nelson)
What Lies Within by Karen Ball (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
HISTORICAL
Winner:
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Finalists:
Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
LITS (tie)
Winner:
Hallie's Heart by Shelly Beach (Kregel Publications)
Finalists:
Doesn't She Look Natural by Angela Hunt (Tyndale House Publishers)
Let Them Eat Cake by Sandra Byrd (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck (Avon Inspire, a division of HarperCollins Publishers)
ROMANCE
Winner:
Remembered by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Finalists:
Lightning and Lace by DiAnn Mills (Barbour Publishing)
Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney (Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster)
SUSPENSE
Winner:
The Cure by Athol Dickson (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Finalists:
My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay (Moody Publishers)
The Pawn by Steven James (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
VISIONARY
Winner:
Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)
Finalists:
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress Publishing Group)
FIRST NOVEL
Winner:
The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
Finalists:
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)
Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress Publishing Group)
YOUNG ADULT
Winner:
Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson (NavPress Publishing Group)
Finalists:
Maggie Come Lately by Michelle Buckman (NavPress Publishing Group)
In Between by Jenny B. Jones (NavPress Publishing Group)
Camy here: I am rather embarrassed to confess I have not read many of these books, although several are on my TBR pile (including Demon by Tosca Lee and In Between by Jenny Jones).
In fact, I think the only ones I’ve read are Auralia’s Colors and The Restorer. Personally, I liked The Restorer better because Auralia’s Colors, while beautifully written, was a bit boring until about halfway through the book. Nothing really happened until then.
To remedy my Neanderthal-ish ignorance of these award winners, I think I will try to read these by the end of the year. Anyone else with me?
Anyone else read these books? What did you think?
Comments
I know I was surprised to see how little of these books I had read also. I have read Quaker Summer and The Pawn. I did read Tamara Alexndra Revealed which comes before Remembered.
The Pawn was very good and scary. I was very impressed with it and he now has out the sequel.
I went through the list of winners Saturday and reviewed the previous years winners. I wrote authors names down I saw had won or been nominated over the last 3 years and know I definetly want to read them.
Charles Martin, and Athol Dickson, Lisa Samson have had their names on the list several times so my goal is to read at list theirs off the list. Come visit me at my blog page http://luv2read-luv2read.blogspot.com
It is a page I have just for fun and also use it for my bookclub I have started. SHellie
I actually didn't like the Restorer as much as everyone else.
I will say that I read The Restorer's Son recently for a contest and it was so well done! So now I'm going back to pick up book one (The Restorer) and Book 3.
I also read Lady of the Milkweed Manor and was blown away (so good.)I have the others in the historical category, so now I have time to catch up on those. Other than those, I am not sure I even want to read the rest.
I've found that now that I don't have to read everything (grin,) I just read the genres I like.
Now, if I became a judge for the Christys, that might change things. (Something I've always been interested in doing.ha)
I say--read what you want!