Book Review: Smash Cut by Sandra Brown

Title: Smash Cut
Series: Standalone
Author: Sandra Brown
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Published: 08/11/2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre(s): Crime Thriller, Romantic Suspense

DESCRIPTION

From the queen of romantic suspense and bestselling author of Ricochet comes a thriller full of jarring cinematic twists in which a killer reenacts cinema’s goriest murders.

When millionaire Paul Wheeler is murdered, his family retains renowned lawyer Derek Mitchell to defend the victim’s nephew Creighton—although the police have not charged the young man with the crime. Wheeler’s mistress Julie Rutledge, who is also a suspect, believes that Creighton is the killer, despite his rock-solid alibi, and she’ll do almost anything in her quest to prove his guilt—even ruin Derek’s career. But as Derek learns of Creighton’s darker side, especially his bizarre fascination with movie murders, the more he comes to believe Julie is right. The clock ticks down to a shocking ending as Derek and Julie join forces to find the truth. Has Creighton begun re-enacting cinema’s goriest scenes and, if so, who will be his unwilling costars? They won’t know until the final Smash Cut.

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MY THOUGHTS 

I had to read quite a few chapters before I started to warm up to any of the characters in this book. Even then I had many reservations about Julie and Derek. Creighton just "creeped" me out. Period. I had my suspicions about Julie and Paul's relationship, but Sandra Brown timed things perfectly (as usual) with the reveal. I thought the ending could not have been better! As always, I'm looking forward to her next novel!

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Stop, Drop, and Roll (Video)

There was something very worthy of rolling in on our driveway on this particular day. I have no idea what she found so fascinating, but she returned to it again and again. I was thankful that it didn't stink and didn't stain. Whew!

Video taken with my mobile phone on 10/29/2009.

Music to My Ears

 

I hit the mother lode of music...seven albums plus my choice of songs from my husband's extensive Beatles collection!

• Civil Twilight - Civil Twilight (debut album, which is AWESOME!)
• Kings of Leon  - Because of the Times
• The Killers  - Hot Fuss (I know it's older, but I like it!)
• Train - Save Me, San Francisco (Their new album, which sounds really upbeat.)
• Muse - The Resistance
• Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
• Heart - The Essential Heart (This was my husband's idea, which I was ho-hum about until I was reminded how many Heart songs I liked!)
• The Beatles (My husband gave me his entire Beatles library to sort through. I'll add my favorite 30 or so to my iTunes Library.)

What say you?  What are you listening to these days?

A Little Lizzie Update

My sweet Lizzie was experiencing some urinary trouble last week which meant another vet visit on Wednesday. She's so timid when it comes to drinking water, that we just about stop everything we're doing when she's getting a drink as to not distract her. In addition to that, we always tell her she's a good girl while she's drinking. Nevertheless, this is the second urinary tract infection she's had in the last year.

She was prescribed Baytril (antibiotic) and dl-methionine (urinary acidifier) but in the mean time she started scratching. She got a case of the "itchies" last fall, as well. I gave her a bath this morning with a colloidal oatmeal shampoo and hope that alleviates her discomfort.  (Washing the offending pollens off with a hypo-allergenic shampoo usually does the trick.)  It is supposed to reach 70°F today, but our home is too cold for a soggy doggy. Right now she's shivering under a heavy cotton blanket next to me on the sofa. She's so pitiful! 

Overall, she's much less frightened than she used to be. She isn't even scared of the vacuum any more...yay!  She's really turning into a toy hound too. It doesn't take much to get her pouncing, pawing, flipping, and chewing on her toys. 

The vet was able to scrape some tartar build-up from her upper canine teeth with absolutely no trouble. He said the rest of her teeth were perfect (big relief). He also remarked upon her excellent attitude (she loves the attention she receives from the humans) and luxurious coat. 

Now, if I could keep her from gaining so much weight. She eats so little and NEVER gets any people food. She doesn't look much heavier, but she's gained another three pounds. I wish we had a fenced yard for her to play in. I know she would enjoy that even more than her walks, which are a highlight of her day.

Music to My Ears

 

 

Talk about good vibrations - the latest songs added to my iTunes Library:

• Amy Winehouse - Rehab
• Coldplay - The Scientist, Clocks, Lost!, Viva la Vida, Violet Hill, Speed of Sound
• Daughtry - No Surprise
• Placebo - Running Up That Hill
• Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

What say you?  What are you listening to these days?