Off the Bookshelf: MY NAME IS MARKHAM and THE STEAM-PUMP JUMP and SHIPS AND STINGS AND WEDDING RINGS, by Jodi Taylor

 

Audible, Audiobooks

Narrated by Piers Wehner and Zara Ramm

The Chronicles of St. Mary's series

Three more shorts from the Chronicles of St. Mary's -- because it's time travel, when you get down to the bottom line.

Lots of fun!

First: My Name is Markham, in which Mr. Markham reports on an assignment in his own inimitable style, and unique opinion on time travel and historians and administrators and getting a really difficult assignment at Christmas, which he has to pull off between rehearsal for the Christmas party and participating. Poor Markham, so misunderstood, and always trying to save the day. In this case, he gets to dress up as yet another servant and investigate the legend of Alfred and whether or not he really burned the cakes. In this case, the historians might just be changing history by the "simple" act of observing. And then of course, getting in trouble with their boss when they return just in time to perform the Christmas play.

Then in the Steam-Pump Jump, Max is out of commission, seriously injured, and she has to rely on Markham to help her play matchmaker during a mission. Markham is at his commonsense snarky best as he carries out his assignment with much grumbling and exasperation, when the targeted lovebirds don't seem to be cooperating, technology fanatics are out of control, and political differences lead to more grumbling and sniping than Markham can handle.

Finishing up with Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings, Max, Markham and Peterson are on a rescue mission -- in this case, rescuing one of their own, who broke a cardinal rule and left a dangerous modern item behind in Ancient Egypt. They need to retrieve it before chaos ripples down through the centuries. Problem: it's hot, there are a lot of bugs, Max is uncomfortably pregnant, and just when victory is in their hands, disaster strikes.

And that's all I'm gonna tell you -- except that yes, as usual, all three stories are lovely, fun, snarky British humor that will keep you in your car or taking your walk long enough to finish the story and get to the final snark and grumble -- and grinning all the while. I'm addicted!

New release sample: RETURN OF THE LIVING PROOF

 

"Just some old beads." I shrugged and turned the key in the ignition.

"Would you mind?" She stopped just short of pressing her hand against the glass.

"Sorry, we're really running late. You can see it tomorrow when we come back."

"That would be great. You … you wouldn't happen to have any more of those beads, would you?" She chuckled, but the sound had lost its warmth and sounded brittle, and somehow chilly. "I collect beads. Especially unique old ones like those."

"I don't think so." I put the Jeep in reverse, and she finally got the hint and backed away. "See you tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow." Kerri bared her teeth in a thin smile and backed up to the sidewalk of the building. She stood there, watching us, holding onto that smile that made me think of sharks ready to go into a frenzy, until I had backed up and turned and drove out of the parking lot.

Pete watched her in the rearview mirror and didn't move, and maybe didn't even breathe, until we had put the Neighborlee Schools property between us and her.

"We are not going back, are we?" he muttered.

"Our folks didn't raise no dummies." 

I took the last possible street to turn left and head for Divine's. Something in me didn't want friendly little Miss Kerri to get the slightest hint of where I was going. If I could have, I would have taken the long way around, but gut instinct was insisting I had to get to Divine's and show that contract to Angela ASAP.

Upcoming release sample: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE

 

"Ken--" Jo choked, and pressed trembling hands to her face as it flushed cherry red.

"Say yes?"

Everyone cheered as Jo held out her hand, and he slipped the ring on her finger.

Maurice cheered with the rest of them, but it was an effort. The sound caught in his throat and he wilted a little inside. He retreated to the edge of the counter, to sit and kick his legs and watch the decorating party turn into an engagement party.

"Maurice." Lanie wheeled over and pivoted her chair so she could watch everyone else gathered around Jo and Ken. With all the noise of talk and laughter, it was a given no one could hear her talking to him. "Tell me something."

"Sure." He could barely tear his gaze away from Holly, who had her arm around Jo and nearly bounced up and down with excitement, chattering away.

"How serious are you about Holly?"

He thought about making a joke, but that defense no longer worked. He wilted a little more. "Serious enough to hurt."

"I think you're just what Holly needs."

"Hah! Five inches tall, invisible and impossible to hear, and we can only talk four times a year, if we're lucky. Yeah, she needs me like a..." He couldn't think of something miserable enough to compare himself to.

"Holly needs an enchanted prince, and you're pretty close. The question is if you'll stick around after you get your size and your magic back. I don't want you hurting her."

"Never!"

Lanie studied him solemnly for several long moments, then a slow smile graced her face. She nodded. "That's good enough for me. Let's see what we can do to get the two of you together."

"It's gonna take a miracle, that's all I can say. "

"Maurice..." Mischief lit her dark eyes. "It's Christmas. It's the season of miracles."

Off the Bookshelf: AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT and THE GREAT ST. MARY'S DAY OUT, by Jodi Taylor

 

Audible, Audiobooks

The Chronicles of St. Mary's series

Narrated by Zara Ramm

Two more "short" stories about the time-traveling historians of St. Mary's.

First is a totally new take on time travel -- when it involves a trip to Mars. The Time Police are on the verge of a coronary, as they get a verbal report and try to give a dressing-down to the director in their timeline, who includes our friends from the more familiar "first" St. Mary's group, including Dr. Maxwell, in a jaunt to Mars to witness the first Mars landing. And of course get involved and almost mess up -- or perhaps save the day -- when history doesn't seem to be going the way it should.

'Nuff said! (meaning you need to listen, not just let me tell you about it)

Then, the gang from St. Mary's is granted a holiday, when they get a chance to witness the very first performance of Hamlet, with Shakespeare playing the ghost of the murdered king. It's supposed to be just a fun day out, but of course, anything that can go wrong will and does .... and Mr. Markham, our unlikely Shakespearean fanatic, jumps in to save the day. Maybe ... Well, what are you going to do when the Bard is set on fire and then gets knocked loopy so he can't deliver his lines?

Listen to this one and find out!

Major fun. As usual.

New release sample: RETURN OF THE LIVING PROOF

 

"We've never had anything happen like that before. Totally inexcusable. I can assure you, we don't run our business like that." She tried to laugh, and brushed some hair out of her face, which had come loose from the immaculate, businesslike chignon.

"Well, I should warn you, since you're setting up business here." I paused to smile and try to read that flicker of something in her eyes. Something dark. Maybe anger? Or apprehension? "This is Neighborlee, the weirdness capital of the state, if not the country. Your realtor should have warned you that odd things happen on a regular basis. Maybe you can get out of the contract if you claim that vital information was withheld." I laughed, and she laughed with me. The sound was brittle and I swear there was an odd sensation of an echo, muffled almost the moment I heard it. "Sorry to take off like that, while you were running around. We really have to get to that appointment before we get in more trouble than we already are."

"Right. Right. So, you'll come back tomorrow? Any time is good. No need to make an appointment. Or you could come back after your appointment, this afternoon."

"Tomorrow is great." I nodded and looked pointedly at my door, to warn her, before I pulled it shut.

"See you tomorrow!" She gave me a chipper smile and backed up a couple steps until she was on the sidewalk in front of the door. Then she loosely wrapped her arms around herself and stood there, watching us, until I put the key in the ignition.

"Oh, wait -- could I see that?" She darted back across the crumbling blacktop, holding out her hand.

I was suddenly very glad the window was rolled up, even though the day was so humid.

"What is that? On your keychain." Her smile widened a little more, and honestly, with the weird vibrations I was getting, I wouldn't have been surprised if her teeth were pointed.

Upcoming release sample: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE

 

Maurice didn't visit Holly as often as he would have liked. At fall equinox, he had managed to spend three hours in the library, talking with her, and then he went to a movie with her, Meggie, Diane and Troy. Ever since then, Holly hadn't been as happy in her dreams. It hurt her that she couldn't remember him during the day.

Sometimes he thought about going away, leaving her dreams alone from now on, but he admitted he was too selfish to make that kind of sacrifice. He had no idea how much longer he could go on, showing up at equinox and solstice and Christmas Eve, tormenting himself with the hope that this time, when he looked into her eyes and she could see him, she would remember him from her dreams.

"Maurice." Angela stepped up behind the counter and lightly brushed a fingertip along the top of his folded wings.

"Huh? Oh." Maurice blushed, despite knowing only a few people could see him, sitting and moping on the bent leg of the dragon stand that held the Wishing Ball. "Sorry. Wishing time already?" He leaped up into the air and gained enough altitude for a good view as the members of the decorating party took their turns picking up an ornament and making their wishes.

When Jo stepped up to take her ornament, Ken offered her a slightly larger ball, crystal and gold instead of the dark, metallic rainbow swirls. Maurice saw the ball's seam and hinge. He turned a triple somersault in mid-air. Something was inside the ornament.

"It's about time, you big goof!" he crowed, and earned some soft laughter from Diane, Troy, and Lanie, who were close enough to hear him.

"You're breaking tradition," Jo said, laughing, as she took the ornament from Ken.

"This is a new tradition." He bent to kiss her softly and quickly on the lips. "Just open it, okay?" 

Jo blushed and opened the ornament. A diamond ring nestled among glittery silver and white cotton. Pale, her eyes went wide. She dropped the ornament and ring, but Ken caught them. He was on one knee in front of her.

At the Movies: SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

 

Marvel Studios does it again. Really, that's all you need to know.

Major fun movie. And do I need to point out how fun it is to see the trailers at the end of the movie, pointing at what's going to happen in future movies?

I'm not really "into" martial arts stuff. Maybe because my little brother is SO very much into Bruce Lee, and you can overdose on that stuff, know what I mean? But I'm glad my friend Barb asked if I wanted to see it. Practically a private showing.

Lots of grins, laughter, inside jokes, some silliness, and those tense moments where you're sitting forward in your seat and ready to grab the armrest. (Oh, dang, I folded up the armrest, there's nothing to hold onto!)

Shang-Chi -- known as Shaun by his friend, Katie (the voice of Sisu in Raya and the Last Dragon, and the thief girl in Jumanji: Next Level, who was a lot of fun "channeling" Danny Devito!) -- is basically living a dull life, getting by as a parking attendant and pretending to be a mild mannered, ordinary guy. Until he's attacked by a bunch of well-armed brutes on the bus on his way to work (fortunately, Katie is a great driver, because things get dicey!)  and he reveals he can out-Bruce Bruce. Why pick on him? They want the pendant his mother left him. Turns out it's half of a key to find the mystical land his mother came from. But there's a problem: namely, dear old Dad, who is several thousand years old, wearer and bearer of the Ten Rings, a retired warlord and world conqueror who temporarily gave up his conquest for domestic bliss ... until that bliss ended. How? Why? What does he want now with the pendant?

Nah .... ain't gonna tell you. Go watch the movie! Several times. You'll love it. Like I said, Marvel has done it again. I'm almost ready to forgive them for the downer ending to End Game. Almost.