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 12.01.2006
I’m participating in the “One Thousand Gifts” list from Christian Women Online. Click on the picture to find out more about it.
351. The opportunity to do some neat blog marketing with my series characters
352. I got to see the fourth Harry Potter movie last night! It was rather well done storytelling.
353. Yesterday I got an ARC of Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith. From the first page it looks intriguing—the heroine is trying to prove her imprisoned husband is innocent, but things are looking grim, she’s starting to doubt, and her lawyer wants her to let him go.
354. I got my 50K words done for NaNoWriMo! Unfortunately, I still have another 30K to go before I finish the book.
355. Contact-D, which cured my sinus headache yesterday
356. When I can tell a book is going to be bad within the first chapter so I don’t have to waste my time reading a bad story. (Save me from Too Stupid To Live heroines!)
357. I will hopefully order my new laptop computer tonight! A MacBook Pro. Did I mention my current laptop computer is ELEVEN YEARS OLD???
358. When it’s cold, my dog is much less rambunctious and obnoxious because it’s just too cold for her to do more than curl up on her pillow and sleep
359. I’m so lucky to know such talented people in my life (outside of writing talent). Glynna Sirpless made beautiful curtains for her office and Ruth Logan Herne made a wedding cake that looks completely professional.
360. Mary Connealy is going to save me time this winter with 15 meals that you can make in 15 minutes (prep time). She posted them on her blog: http://www.mconnealy.blogspot.com/
361. I was able to get some writing done yesterday despite a very queasy stomach (remnant from my late/early night writing to finish my 50K words) and my very massive headache (I think it was a sinus headache b/c water, Advil, and tea didn’t make it go away).
362. Very yummy pecan pie from Costco that Dineen gave to us
363. My wines from Rodney Strong vineyard arrive today
364. Nichole Nordeman’s CD Brave, which has been inspiring me as I write this second book in the series. The whole album is good, but the first song is what my heroine is—Trish is a bit of a ditz, but she’s also fearless, a quality I wish I had.
365. The Blog Bible Study in Isaiah has really helped me to reorient my view of God, to be more in awe of him and stop taking him for granted.
366. I love going outside and smelling the tang of fireplaces burning along with the brisk bite of the cold air
367. I’m not sure why, but I love drinking wine out of the crystal wine glasses we got for our wedding (an extravagance I shouldn’t have indulged in, but I didn’t know any better then)
368. I love the Chicago Manual of Style online search tool. I can search for any keyword and it’ll give the exact section(s) that word is used, so I can look it up in my own edition.
369. I love Silhouette and Harlequin romances. Sweet, light, short. A nice quick relaxing read. I’m not sure what the new combined line is going to be like.
370. I’m going home to Hawaii at the end of February! My dad had extra airline miles he needed to use before they expired, so he got me a ticket. However, Captain Caffeine will remain at home since he can’t take off work.
371. My small copier machine makes things SO much easier for me when I need a quick copy. It’s perfect for small, only occasional jobs, but it’s also saved my butt several times.
372. My dog’s hair is so soft and fuzzy, but it’s also short so it doesn’t tangle.
373. I love how my office smells like eucalyptus and lavender.
374. Just looking at the Post-It notes on my walls makes me feel organized.
375. It’s so much fun coming up with quirky habits and likes/dislikes for my characters.
I’m participating in the “One Thousand Gifts” list from Christian Women Online. Click on the picture to find out more about it.
351. The opportunity to do some neat blog marketing with my series characters
352. I got to see the fourth Harry Potter movie last night! It was rather well done storytelling.
353. Yesterday I got an ARC of Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith. From the first page it looks intriguing—the heroine is trying to prove her imprisoned husband is innocent, but things are looking grim, she’s starting to doubt, and her lawyer wants her to let him go.
354. I got my 50K words done for NaNoWriMo! Unfortunately, I still have another 30K to go before I finish the book.
355. Contact-D, which cured my sinus headache yesterday
356. When I can tell a book is going to be bad within the first chapter so I don’t have to waste my time reading a bad story. (Save me from Too Stupid To Live heroines!)
357. I will hopefully order my new laptop computer tonight! A MacBook Pro. Did I mention my current laptop computer is ELEVEN YEARS OLD???
358. When it’s cold, my dog is much less rambunctious and obnoxious because it’s just too cold for her to do more than curl up on her pillow and sleep
359. I’m so lucky to know such talented people in my life (outside of writing talent). Glynna Sirpless made beautiful curtains for her office and Ruth Logan Herne made a wedding cake that looks completely professional.
360. Mary Connealy is going to save me time this winter with 15 meals that you can make in 15 minutes (prep time). She posted them on her blog: http://www.mconnealy.blogspot.com/
361. I was able to get some writing done yesterday despite a very queasy stomach (remnant from my late/early night writing to finish my 50K words) and my very massive headache (I think it was a sinus headache b/c water, Advil, and tea didn’t make it go away).
362. Very yummy pecan pie from Costco that Dineen gave to us
363. My wines from Rodney Strong vineyard arrive today
364. Nichole Nordeman’s CD Brave, which has been inspiring me as I write this second book in the series. The whole album is good, but the first song is what my heroine is—Trish is a bit of a ditz, but she’s also fearless, a quality I wish I had.
365. The Blog Bible Study in Isaiah has really helped me to reorient my view of God, to be more in awe of him and stop taking him for granted.
366. I love going outside and smelling the tang of fireplaces burning along with the brisk bite of the cold air
367. I’m not sure why, but I love drinking wine out of the crystal wine glasses we got for our wedding (an extravagance I shouldn’t have indulged in, but I didn’t know any better then)
368. I love the Chicago Manual of Style online search tool. I can search for any keyword and it’ll give the exact section(s) that word is used, so I can look it up in my own edition.
369. I love Silhouette and Harlequin romances. Sweet, light, short. A nice quick relaxing read. I’m not sure what the new combined line is going to be like.
370. I’m going home to Hawaii at the end of February! My dad had extra airline miles he needed to use before they expired, so he got me a ticket. However, Captain Caffeine will remain at home since he can’t take off work.
371. My small copier machine makes things SO much easier for me when I need a quick copy. It’s perfect for small, only occasional jobs, but it’s also saved my butt several times.
372. My dog’s hair is so soft and fuzzy, but it’s also short so it doesn’t tangle.
373. I love how my office smells like eucalyptus and lavender.
374. Just looking at the Post-It notes on my walls makes me feel organized.
375. It’s so much fun coming up with quirky habits and likes/dislikes for my characters.
Comments
Glad to see you got Tangerine. Hope you enjoy the rest of it just as much. Thanks for sharing too. I see a lot of cool "gifts" here. :)
MG
If you're up for it we'll go sailing in Kaneohe Bay. There's some awesome scenery and Dad's been saying he knows a place where turtles hang out if you feel like snorkeling. I keep saying I'm going to get back on the boat but I just haven't quite trusted my knee to do it yet. Guess it's time to get back on the horse, er boat? If you can do it after having surgery, there's no excuse for me. What do you say?