st patrick's day Archives - fundinmentalfundinmental

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Chuck Barrett is the kind of author that is as interesting as his novels and he a Florida native, so that’s a big plus. I have read one of his books and now that these are on my radar…again…maybe I can get to them.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

“An intense, heart-pounding St. Patrick’s Day thriller!”

The truth can be a dangerous thing.

Terrorism, duty, and personal safety collide when Jake Pendleton, an investigator for the NTSB, is called to investigate an aircraft accident in Savannah, Georgia during the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The accident, which at first appears to be quite run-of-the-mill, turns out to be anything but. Since Jake is not willing to pretend there are no suspicious circumstances and more than the usual share of rather unlikely “coincidences,” he sets off a veritable avalanche of secrets, violence and treachery. Aided by an unlikely partner, Gregg Kaplan, the air traffic controller who was the last person in contact with the airplane that crashed, Jake sets out to untangle the webs of deceit and to find a vicious killer.

Nothing is as it seems, nobody is who you thought them to be.
Nothing is sacred.
Nobody is safe.

Goodreads ratings: 3.73 · 688 ratings · 72 reviews

I am so excited to have the first two books in the Jake Pendleton series by Chuck Barrett. I added this to Goodreads on 10.6.12 but I didn’t pick it up from Amazon until 6.23.14. I’m so glad I haven’t read book one yet, The Toymaker, see below. Now I can read them in order and I feel they are going to be some good ones. What can of thrillers float your boat?

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Former NTSB Investigator Jake Pendleton faces a dilemma as the line blurs between right and wrong. After his judgment comes into question, Jake is entrusted to his new mentor, an eccentric old man who sees beyond Jake’s flaws. A man who makes ‘toys for spies.’ A man known as The Toymaker. Jake’s first assignment reunites him with Gregg Kaplan in a daredevil mission to rescue a fellow agent held captive in Yemen. He risks his life to stop the first attack of an al Qaeda mastermind. But now, with no one to trust but himself, can Jake stop the terrorist from destroying what is most precious to the free world? Unfortunately, more trouble comes his way as a killer from his past threatens something more important to Jake than his own life, leaving him to make the hardest decision any man ever has to make- Who to sacrifice. In the same suspenseful style as his award winning thriller, The Savannah Project, Chuck Barrett’s The Toymaker is guaranteed to engulf the reader in another spine-tingling tale of international intrigue.

Goodreads ratings: 3.91 · 551 ratings · 60 reviews

No doubt in my mind that I added The Toymaker to my reading list because of the cover! I added it on 10.6.12, but for some reason I actually got it from Amazon on 6.20.12. Who knows why it’s different. I didn’t keep very good records for years and just recently tried to add all books owned, kindle and physical, through blogging. I have a lot more on the shelves before I even joined Goodreads. Any who…back to business.

MY CHUCK BARRETT REVIEWS

Blown

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Mr Wonderful and I were off on our 2016 St Patty’s Road Trip, heading to New Orleans and Louisiana, for the St Patty’s Parade in Metarie.

This time, I was on my toes and as we passed the lot for movie props, I was able to get a few shots out the car window. It’s not every day I see a UFO and the odd assortment of vehicles, from buses to police cars.

We lived in Mobile, Alabama, back in the 90’s and Mr Wonderful belonged to a Mardi Gras association, the Pharoahs. We would jump on a bus and a bunch of us would head to New Orleans for the St Patty’s Parade, so we are familiar with the event. But it is New Orleans, so you never know what you might come across…

It starts out with walking groups. This parade is different from all the Mardi Gras parades. They allow you to walk in the street and approach the guys with flowers and beads, trading a smooch for a trinket…

The day was gorgeous, blue skies, lots of sunshine, floats and beads. The St Patty’s parade also differs from Mardi Gras parades by the stuff they toss. It’s not just beads and toys, but vegetables, everything you need for an Irish stew except for the meat. They toss heads of cabbage, onions, carrots and lemons. Ya gotta keep your eyes peeled because they can take you out.

The parade goes on for hours and after five of them, we were ready to move on, so it was off to Biloxi. We did some sight seeing, heading to the Pass Christian area, driving the coastline. It was windy and the sand drifted and piled up like the snow up north. The Gulf Coast area has still not completely recovered from Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Katrina and I myself doubt if some of the people will ever come back. Me…I just cannot stay away.

I mean…look at that view. Even on a bad day, the sun shines through the clouds. Good food, good views and good company. So, if you are ever in the area, stop by for a cocktail at the beach. You won’t regret it.