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, Supplemental
Blog book giveaway:
To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there.
The Reliance (Legacy of the King’s Pirates book 2) by M.L. Tyndall
Scimitar’s Edge by Marvin Olasky
Bonus giveaway: The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Coffee Geeks Unite!
I discovered my husband isn’t the only coffee lover who’s so uptight—er, exact about his coffee.
When in Grand Rapids, I discussed the espresso machine Captain Caffeine bought when I got my contract.
(What espresso machine, you ask? Well, my husband let me quit my biotech research position to try writing full-time for six months, and if I got a contract, then I promised him anything.
Yup, anything.
He loves his lattes and wanted a new espresso maker. I was picturing a $20 Krups machine. (Okay, maybe not $20, maybe like $50.)
Nope—he got this all-stainless steel contraption from Italy and a monster of a coffee grinder.)
Back to Grand Rapids—after describing said metal kitchen counter decorations, VP Mark Bolinder said he liked Captain Caffeine already. Well, guess what he’s getting in a week as soon as my husband roasts it?
(Yes, Captain Caffeine roasts his own coffee and can tell the difference between a week-old roast and a two-week-old roast. Scary, I tell you.)
My husband is working on what’s called latte art—baristas will form shapes in your latte with the foamed milk (and there’s apparently a very exact science to get micro-bubbles and not macro-bubbles that involves temperature and fat content, etc.—yeah, makes my head spin, too).
He’s finally making recognizable shapes. Hence the celebration:
What do you think? He’s currently working on making a flower.
Blog book giveaway:
To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there.
The Reliance (Legacy of the King’s Pirates book 2) by M.L. Tyndall
Scimitar’s Edge by Marvin Olasky
Bonus giveaway: The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
Coffee Geeks Unite!
I discovered my husband isn’t the only coffee lover who’s so uptight—er, exact about his coffee.
When in Grand Rapids, I discussed the espresso machine Captain Caffeine bought when I got my contract.
(What espresso machine, you ask? Well, my husband let me quit my biotech research position to try writing full-time for six months, and if I got a contract, then I promised him anything.
Yup, anything.
He loves his lattes and wanted a new espresso maker. I was picturing a $20 Krups machine. (Okay, maybe not $20, maybe like $50.)
Nope—he got this all-stainless steel contraption from Italy and a monster of a coffee grinder.)
Back to Grand Rapids—after describing said metal kitchen counter decorations, VP Mark Bolinder said he liked Captain Caffeine already. Well, guess what he’s getting in a week as soon as my husband roasts it?
(Yes, Captain Caffeine roasts his own coffee and can tell the difference between a week-old roast and a two-week-old roast. Scary, I tell you.)
My husband is working on what’s called latte art—baristas will form shapes in your latte with the foamed milk (and there’s apparently a very exact science to get micro-bubbles and not macro-bubbles that involves temperature and fat content, etc.—yeah, makes my head spin, too).
He’s finally making recognizable shapes. Hence the celebration:
What do you think? He’s currently working on making a flower.
Comments
Ouch! My head's hurting from all the spinning! lol.
I'm seeing an apple, and if that's right then it's a really good apple. If it's not supposed to be an apple...uh...well...my vision's not so good.
Honestly though, that's cool.
Can't wait to see the flower.
P.S. I have to admit I'm almost -- almost -- as much of a coffee freak as Captain Caffeine.
Yes, it's supposed to be an apple. Isn't that impressive?
I also might be more impressed because previous attempts looked like a big white butt.
Camy