Spring Break Behavior We Should Incorporate In Everyday Life

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Jeff

By Regina Gosney

Spring Break is that time of the year no one is exempt to looking forward to. Even if you’re a full-time employee and aren’t given a week off to take shots and work on your tan, it’s still a magical time of the year that we can all appreciate. Perhaps there’s hot college guys that come to vacation in your town, your friends from out of town come to visit, or maybe you look forward to the new happy hour specials and bikini sales. There’s so much to love about Spring Break, we’ve asked ourselves, why shouldn’t Spring Break last forever? To promote the “Spring Break forever” ideology, we’ve come up with a list of Spring Break Behavior we should incorporate in everyday life.

YOLO
Don’t roll your eyes at this one, hear me out. I understand how many annoying frat boys you’ve seen with a neon YOLO tank on out on the beach, but it’s actually a great mantra when applied to life correctly. No, it doesn’t mean take 10 shots and do the keg stand, because YOLO; it’s about doing the things you’ve always wanted to, but have put off for whatever reason. Ask the hot guy out at the bar, travel to Belize, take a scuba dive tour, because YOLO. That’s what it’s about.

Being Health Conscious
The month before Spring Break is kind of like the month after New Year’s–the population at the gym triples. Suddenly, everyone is hitting the gym trying to make something happen that probably won’t in that short amount of time. Instead of all this nonsense, we should have a consistent workout routine in our everyday life.

Having A Carefree Attitude
When we’re on Spring Break, there are minimal concerns. Perhaps the only time we spend worrying is if we’re getting tan lines or what margarita we’re going to order at the Cantina. Why shouldn’t we worry less in everyday life?

Saying Yes To Social Outings
A lot of the Spring Break mentality is all about going out and being around people. Even the most introverted people seem to come out to play. Why wait for Spring Break to be social and go out to dinner with a group of friends?

Applying Sunscreen
How many older ladies have you met that tell you their one concern in life was not wearing enough sunscreen? When we’re out on the beach, it’s obvious, but everyday activities like going to the farmer’s market or taking a morning jog should yield the same response.

Making Your Time Count
When you’re only given a week off, you’re going to make sure you take advantage of every second off you’re given. This mentality should translate as much as possible to our everyday lives. Just like Spring Break, our lives are only allotted so much time.

Staying Hydrated
Experts say you should be drinking half your body weight, in ounces of water each day (140 lbs = 70 oz of water). We’re reminded of this when we’re out in the sun or drinking alcohol, but we really ought to be more intentional with our water consumption in everyday life.

Awareness Of Your Surroundings
Going out to a new city requires a heightened sense of awareness of your surroundings. You go out to the bar at night and are required to know your way back to your hotel, know which floor to take the elevator to, and know which door your room key opens. How many times, in everyday life, do we go out, get a few drinks, and realize we have no idea what street we’re parked on, or even which direction is home?

Source: Never Liked It Anyway

Culinary Mysteries Make Murder Appetizing

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Jeff

By Katherine Sharma

The culinary mystery has become a popular subgenre, pleasing both crime-solving and foodie fans. Most of these nestle in the “cozy” mystery category, sport cute titles, include recipes, and form fictional series. Here’s a quick taste (pun intended) of popular foodie mysteries:

Ellery Adams writes the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series, so begin with her debut Pies and Prejudice, in which heroine Ella Mae returns to her Georgia hometown to open a bakery shop and becomes entangled in the murder of her childhood enemy’s fiance, with Ella Mae’s rolling pin as the murder weapon.

Jessica Beck offers more calories with her Donut Shop Mystery series; sample Glazed Murder in which the heroine proprietor of a donut shop tracks the killer of a customer. More baked goods come with Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen Mysteries; for example, Blueberry Muffin Murder has Hannah, owner of the Cookie Jar eat-in bakery, investigating the death of a cookbook author and cable TV star.

Diane Mott Davidson pens the popular Goldy Bear Mystery series featuring caterer Goldy Schultz; in The Whole Enchilada, Goldy digs into the presumed overdose death of a friend and uncovers murder. It’s not all baked goods and coffee; sometimes it’s baked goods and tea.

Laura Childs writes the Tea Shop Mystery series with entries like Death by Darjeeling, in which South Carolina tea shop owner Theodosia Browning seeks to solve a murder and salvage her reputation after a male guest is poisoned by her tea at a catered garden party. If you’re not full and want to keep grazing culinary mysteries, get a more exhaustive list at http://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/where-to-start-with-culinary-cozy-mystery-series.html

ABOUT KATHERINE SHARMA

Katherine Sharma’s family roots are in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. But after her early childhood in Texas, she has moved around the country and lived in seven other states, from Virginia to Hawaii. She currently resides in California with her husband and three children. She has also traveled extensively in Europe, Africa and Asia, and makes regular visits to family in India. After receiving her bachelor’s degree. in economics and her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Michigan, Katherine worked as a newspaper and magazine writer and editor for more than 15 years. She then shifted into management and marketing roles for firms in industries ranging from outdoor recreation to insurance to direct marketing. Although Katherine still works as a marketing consultant, she is now focused on creative writing.

Visit Katerine’s Website or Sign up For Her Blog

Can You Find True Love In an Arranged Marriage? Ask Ravi Patel

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Jeff

By Lindsay Piper Shaw

In 2009, Ravi Patel accompanied his family to their native home of India for a month-long trip. Unbeknownst to his parents, Patel had been dating an American woman for two years, and feeling conflicted that she was not Indian, he broke off the relationship. The breakup came just on the heels of this pre-planned family jaunt, which was conveniently timed during India’s wedding season.

Patel’s parents were hopeful that their almost 30-year-old son, who to their knowledge had never been in a serious relationship, would finally allow them to arrange him to be married. His sister, Geeta, an accomplished filmmaker, picked up her camera to document the trip and the quest to find her brother a wife in a film called Meet the Patels, which premiered in 2015.

Patel’s parents and all of their family members and peers had been coupled through arrangements. Patel’s mother said that before they wed, she only spoke to her husband-to-be for 10 minutes, but she claims he made her laugh like crazy when the moment they met. After they wed, the groom moved his new bride to America, where they had two children, Ravi and Geeta, and by all accounts a loving and successful marriage. Their courtship had been minimal, but they spent the following years getting to know each other and developed a deep, mutual love — a love that both their children admired.

Determined to provide the same marital bliss for their eldest child, Patel’s parents jumped at the chance to find a partner for their son.

Patel, heartbroken, was open to examining any option to find love, including his family’s cultural practice of arranged marriage. His parents went to work distributing Patel’s “biodata,” a one sheet personal resume that acted as a physical dating profile. Patel’s biodata was given to family members and strangers to distribute, all while Patel’s parents were sifting through hundreds of eligible women’s biodata sheets. They spoke to other members of their community, setting up dates for their son, hoping he would find finally settle down.

Patel dove head first into the cultural traditions to find a partner, all the while comparing the new women in his life to his old flame. The search for a suitable wife proved to be difficult and extended well beyond the Indian wedding season. While back in America, the quest continued through biodata sheets, dating websites, and even a convention designed to find an Indian partner. After two and half years, Patel had gone on countless arranged dates and had traveled across the U.S. to meet potential partners.

Finally, he realized, he had found The One.

The movie seeks to challenge Western views of arranged marriages and how different cultures determine a suitable partner. Meet the Patels shows the struggle between old and new ideals, and the age-old question of whether or not we’ll ever find true love.

You can find out who is The One in Meet the Patels, streaming on Netflix.

Lindsay Piper Shaw is a Millennial searching for the adult equivalent of a participation trophy. She loves podcasts, excel spreadsheets, and wearing double denim. She spends most of her spare time searching for a parking spot near her apartment.

True Love Returns In My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Jeff

Fourteen long years ago, Greek Canadian actress Nia Vardalos had a surprise hit with a sweet and harmless comedy. My Big Fat Greek Wedding plundered Ms Vardalos’ ethnic heritage for broad and affectionate stereotypes, and co-starred John Corbett as an Anglo-Saxon suitor who gets a nasty shock when he meets his fiancée’s loud and histrionic family. With the support of producers Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson (who helped make Vardolas’ one-woman show into a feature film), the film defied expectations and became one of the highest-grossing comedies of all time. Made for a song, it earned more than $350 million, but a subsequent TV show flogged the idea to death and that, it seemed, was that.

However, the spirit of the Greeks is resilient. Vardalos returns as the star and the writer of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Her character Toula has been happily married to Ian (Corbett) for nearly two decades. Their daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris) is close to going to college and for much of the film, she’s torn between studying at Northwestern near where the family lives in Chicago and moving to New York City to become a student at New York University. Like the original film, the plot’s twists and turns are seldom surprising but it’s the cast and the characters here who keep the story entertaining. Most of the characters aren’t new (other than Paris– who briefly appeared as a child in the original– there are few new characters to speak of) but there’s a comfort and a wacky sense of fun that appears whenever this cast comes together.

While the reviews for this sequel have been a bit mixed, there is of course a sweet humor and charm that is meant for everyone to enjoy. Why did it take 14 years to follow up the top-grossing romantic comedy of all time? “That completely my fault,” says Vardalos. In fact, the reason behind the delay is intensely personal. At the end of the first movie, Vardalos had written that her character had become a mother. But her real lifed did not stay on script. She and her real life husband had tried for years to have a child of their own, but to no avail. She couldn’t bring herself to write a film in which she was a mother. “I wouldn’t know the emotions of what to write. I just said, I can’t do it.”

But Vardalos never gave up hope of becoming a mother. In 2008, after more than nine years of struggling to become parents, Vardalos and her husband were told they’d been matched up with a beautiful 3 year old girl. “The road to my becoming a mother was long and sad,” says Vardalos. “But now that I am one, I am so grateful. I can’t imagine my life without her.”

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is now playing in theaters nationwide. Watch the trailer here:

Recipes for Love: The Train In Spain

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Jeff

The following excerpt and recipes are reprinted from The Hungry Love Cookbook: 30 Steamy, Scintillating Stories; 100 Titillating, Mouthwatering Recipes by Cindy Silvert.

He caught her eye in the ticket line. After two glorious weeks in Spain, she had thought she was immune to drop-dead gorgeous. Apparently not. Heather had brushed up on her Spanish for just such an occasion, but her knees turned to goo, her tongue went AWOL, and all she could remember was the Dora the Explorer jingle, which she decided to keep to herself. The best she could do was to oh-so-casually flash her seat number as she passed him by. Was it too obvious? Did he even notice? She boarded the train, settled into an empty car, and tried to breathe.

Not a minute later, Santiago stepped in. He pulled down the shades bearing that cocky European prepare-for-pleasure smile. She smiled right back at him, fully prepared for every sinful minute of it, her wild European adventure about to begin.

It’s now or never, she thought.

Heather’s mother had warned her about the men and the trains and traveling alone, but she was more than eager to experience the country and the natives. Right now. Heather could practically feel his hot tan skin, his full lips on hers.

The crisp sound of a zipper jolted her back to reality. Heather gasped at his audacity and could hardly wait to tell her friends, until she realized it was only his backpack. Quickly regaining her composure, she watched as he unloaded a cornucopia of delicacies, care of his mother.

The first thing she tasted was the Smoked Salmon Corkscrews with Black Olives, Dates, Basil, and Gruyere. Those tiny explosions of flavor would be a party-starting sensation back home, of this she was sure. The bold hues of his Wild Rice reminded her of the Miros she had hoped to see in Barcelona were it not for the hangover that rendered bright lights, crowds, and anything remotely cultural too much to bear. Its less-colorful foil, a Celery Root Salad packed such an unexpected punch that she swore off boring old Waldorf for eternity. He then pulled out a platter from who knows where, of Shiitake Croquettes—still warm and crispy! He fed her slowly, and she devoured every bite of it. Santiago looked pleased but not surprised. This was hardly his first rodeo.

The train came to an abrupt halt as he was unwrapping a small package. He whispered something into her ear as the train’s momentum pressed her into his arms all too briefly. Within seconds, he grabbed his bag and bolted out the door. What did he say? What did it mean? Heather felt empty, robbed of something that was never really hers until she noticed the basket he had left behind. Señor Sexy was gone for good, but Nonni’s Cranberry Nut Biscotti weren’t.

Two stops later, a fellow American took over where Santiago had left off. Heather and John downed her leftover biscotti with his cheap Sangria. They kept the blinds down as their eager bodies did what they had traveled all the way to Europe to do, majestic Pyrenees be damned. Heather and John traveled together until their money ran out and it was time to trade in their secret summer identities for grad school and such. On anniversaries, they would take a road trip with a tin of biscotti and a bottle of Sangria in tow. The cookies were never as good as the ones he had in Spain, but Heather was, so John let it slide.

Create your own delicious journey with the recipes from John and Heather’s story:

Smoked Salmon Corkscrews with Black Olives, Dates, Basil, and Gruyere
Wild Rice
Celery Root Salad
Shiitake Croquettes
Cranberry Nut Biscotti

SMOKED SALMON CORKSCREWS WITH BLACK OLIVES, DATES, BASIL, AND GRUYERE

WHAT YOU NEED:

15 rosemary sprigs
4 oz Gruyere or Swiss cheese
6 oz smoked salmon
20 cured black olives, pitted
20 fresh basil leaves
5 Medjool dates
20 toothpicks
1 lemon
2 Tbs. small capers

WHAT YOU DO:

Break the rosemary sprigs into sections 3″ to 4″ long.
Slice the Gruyere into thin, long pieces.
Place a slice of salmon on top of each slice of cheese.
Place 1 olive, 1 basil leaf, and 1 thin slice of date together at the edge of the slice of salmon and cheese.
Wrap up the cheese and use a short rosemary sprig or toothpick to hold it together.
Squeeze lemon juice on top, and decorate serving plate with capers.

WILD RICE

WHAT YOU NEED:
2 cupswild rice
1 cup Shiitake mushrooms
2 Tbs. olive oil
3 scallions or 10 chives
⅓ cupKalamata olives, pitted and sliced
½ cup black beans, large or small
2 Tbs. chia seeds
2 Tbs. toasted sunflower seeds
4 Tbs. tahini
½ lemon, juice of
1 pinch cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper

WHAT YOU DO:

Cook the rice according to instructions.
Slice and sauté the mushrooms in oil on medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
Slice the scallions and add to the mushrooms for 2 minutes.
Once the rice cools, toss in all the ingredients.
Great hot or cold.

CELERY ROOT SALAD

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 celery root, about 2 cups shredded
4 Tbs. mayo or 2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. honey or agave nectar
¼ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. ginger powder
Salt and Pepper

¼ cup walnuts or pecans

WHAT YOU DO:

Grate the celery root by hand or in a food processor.
Mix in the remaining ingredients except for the nuts.
Allow salad to marinate 30 minutes or more.
Toast the nuts in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes until fragrant.
Mix in the nuts before serving.

Batman Vs. Superman: Who’s Hotter? Who Cares!

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Jeff

Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits the theaters this weekend and we’re so excited to stare at those tight costumes. But let’s be honest, we all have a favorite.

On one hand we have Mr. All American. The Man of Steel (can’t beat that name) with his rippling biceps and luscious black curly hair. He has superhuman strength, speed, stamina and can fly anywhere our little hearts desire. There’s a reason Lois Lane has always stuck around, she can’t get enough of this buff boy scout.

On the flip side, we’ve got the Dark Knight. The brooding, closed-off bad boy who is into his gadgets and beating up on criminals. His dark past is like a tightly wrapped onion waiting for the right girl to peel off layers. He’s incredibly brilliant and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, is one of the richest playboys in the country. That could be nice right?

Henry Cavill reprises his role as Superman in this new movie and Ben Affleck takes over the caped crusader franchise. Maybe we should look back at the history of these two characters to help us truly make up our mind.

Superman!

George Reeves

Superman first appeared in an issue of Action Comics in 1938 and subsequently appeared in various radio serials, newspaper strips, television programs, films, and video games. He was first portrayed on television by actor George Reeves in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman.

Christopher Reeve

In 1978, Christopher Reeve re-invented the character as a more contemporary male image in the Richard Donner film, Superman. He would go on to make 3 more films as the visitor from Krypton.

Dean Cain

Tom Welling

Dean Cain and Tom Welling both took shots at playing Superman on the small screen in, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) and Smallville (2001), respectively.

A complete unknown, Brandon Routh, donned the red cape for Superman Returns (2006), the first Superman movie since Superman IV: A Quest for Peace (1987). Reviews were mixed, but he filled the costume out nicely.

Henry Cavill

And last but certainly not least, we come to Man of Steel (2013), starring British heartthrob Henry Cavill. He definitely looks the part and he’s the first actor since Reeve to get a follow up film. The history of Superman certainly looks pretty strong. Now, to the Batcave we go!

Batman!

Lewis Wilson

Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. The first adaptation of Batman was as a daily newspaper comic strip which premiered on October 25, 1943. That same year the character was adapted in the 15-part serial Batman, with Lewis Wilson becoming the first actor to portray Batman on screen.

Robert Lowery

A second movie serial, Batman and Robin, followed in 1949, with Robert Lowery taking over the role of Batman. The exposure provided by these adaptations during the 1940s “helped make [Batman] a household name for millions who never bought a comic book”.

Adam West

Of course, the lure of Batman really took hold when Adam West ran around in the tight grey spandex pants on the television series, Batman (1966). The show ran for 3 seasons and was a campy delight.

Michael Keaton

Val Kilmer

George Clooney

In 1989, Warner Bros. released the live-action feature film Batman; directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as the title character. This set the tone for a new, darker, serious side of the character. Keaton reprised his role for Batman Returns (1992), but was replaced by Val Kilmer for the third film in the series, Batman Forever (1995). The fourth and final film of the 90’s batman era was the hugely campy and disappointing Batman & Robin (1997). The only good thing about it was getting to stare at George Clooney’s mouth.

Christian Bale

Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale teamed up and rebooted the franchise in 2005 by making Batman Begins. The film was incredible and Bale was about a good a Batman as there has ever been. He filmed two more in the series, The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Ben Affleck

He passed his famous tights along to Ben Affleck, who does his best to keep the dark tone of the series in tact.

So there it is. The history of both characters and we still can’t make up our minds. What about you guys? Who do you think is the sexier super hero? In the end, does it really matter? We’re all winners when it comes to these two. Vote below!

Tasty Recipes of Love and Steamy Stories

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Jeff

What are you hungry for? The Hungry Love Cookbook: 30 Steamy, Scintillating Stories; 100 Titillating, Mouthwatering Recipes by Cindy Silvert is a collection of romantic parody vignettes interwoven with luscious recipes that are easy to follow and require the least amount of work for the maximum flavor. The amorous escapades contained within will whet your appetite for more than just food. The Hungry Love Cookbook will supercharge your love life with irresistible, aphrodisiac-laden menus and infuse your cooking experience with romance, intrigue, and a giggle.

Cindy Silvert is a food columnist, humor writer, and self-taught cook whose sharp wit, refreshing candor, and inspired food creations has landed her appearances on TV, radio, and film and in print. Cindy’s no-nonsense approach to cooking has earned her wide accolades and kitchen kudos from well-regarded professional chefs, hard-core foodies and the pickiest of eaters. The Hungry Love Cookbook is her first book.

TruLoveStories.com asked Cindy to tell us more about herself and her new cookbook. She kindly consented:

TLS: Tell us a little about The Hungry Love Cookbook?

Hungry Love is a totally fresh concept and a super fun read. It combines romantic stories with delicious, amazingly simple recipes. If it’s romance you’re looking for, you’ve got 30 stories for the price of one. Whether or not you’re much of a cook, you’ll love this book because you can try the mouth-watering recipes or just skip to the next escapade. The hilarious vignettes just might inspire you to try your hand at something new both in and out of the kitchen.

TLS: How did you come up with the idea?

I’ve written humor pieces and have always made up my own recipes. I thought if I combined the two, I could make the kitchen a lot less scary and way more fun.

TLS: If you could write a warning label for yourself as a person or an author, what would it be?

Unpredictable!

TLS: What do you think your fans will like most about your cookbook?

How funny and fresh the stories are and how easy and awesome the recipes are.

TLS: What are the 5 top aphrodisiacs you would recommend?

Chocolate, Chili Pepper, Figs, Red Wine, Avocado

TLS: What is it about cooking and writing that you enjoy so much?

The stories write themselves when I get out of the way–so that’s a freebie. And it’s cool to see how many different directions a story can take. Regarding cooking, I particularly like the challenge of making do with whatever ingredients I happen to have on hand. I also like to come up with new combinations and dare others to give it a try.

TLS: On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being too hot to touch), how steamy is The Hungry Love Cookbook?

Hard to say. At its steamiest, it’s old world almost-PG13. Hungry Love is not at all explicit. It merely alludes to action and lets your imagination have all the fun. I guess I would give it a 1.5.

TLS: Do you believe the way to a man’s or woman’s heart is through his/her stomach?

It sure can be–with the right meal. Or even a really bad one. I’ll never forget the first meal my husband made for me. He thought he was Bobby Flay: It took him all day. He enlisted the help of all our friends. He was proud as a peacock, and it was barely edible. All in all, it made me melt.

TLS: Do you believe that people can find a “forever” true love?

Yes. But you can lose it just as fast if you don’t work at it.

TLS: What is your favorite steamy story in your book?

It’s a tie between “Tantric Tropics” and “Mushroom Mystique.” They’re both ridiculous and take you far, far away.

TLS: What is your favorite recipe in your cookbook? And why?

Wild Rice on page 18 because it’s healthy and full bodied, chewy (rice, mushrooms, beans & olives) yet crunchy (toasted sunflower seeds & chia seeds). It incorporates whole grain (rice), protein (beans), calcium (tahini), shitake mushrooms (gotta love ‘em), and it’s fresh and citrusy (lemon), crunchy (seeds). It’s a meal in itself or a killer side dish. Also, it contains so many goodies that if you’re missing some, no one will ever know!

TLS: Can you give us 3 tips for creating a romantic meal?

1. Ambiance: music, dimmed light, a bottle of bubbly or other favorite booze

2. Luscious textures: mango, avocado, creamy cheese, warm melted stuff

3. The Surprise Factor: a picnic in January, fondue in July. Dress and cook in theme such as: a Spanish meal, a French meal, *See any of the chapters in my book for inspiration!

TLS: What do you want your fans to know about you?

I don’t like wordy recipes or unnecessary steps. I can be a very lazy cook, so The Hungry Love Cookbook is all about bare-bones cooking. The recipes literally contain only:

“What you need” and “What you do.”

There’s no preamble about my great aunt Sally’s step-sister’s cousin, and the process is simplified. There’s only one intentionally complicated multi-phase recipe in the whole book, which is in the story for humor’s sake –to contrast with the limited diet one would have on a desert island. It’s Tantric Tropical: Brown Butter Pecan Fleur with Crème Anglais, Exotic Fruit Confit, and Brie, on pages 27 & 28.

Next week Cindy shares some of her recipes along with one of her steamy stories. Yummy!

Sci Fi Meets Mystery: Detecting in Future Time

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Jeff

By Katherine Sharma

In previous posts, I focused on mysteries set in past historical eras, but some mysteries leap into the future, and this marriage of science fiction with mystery has attracted best-selling authors and awards.

Start with sci-fi titan Isaac Asimov, who wrote Caves of Steel back in 1953 to prove to his doubting editor that mystery and science fiction were not incompatible genres. The result: On an overpopulated future Earth, a New York City police detective, who dislikes his arrogant Spacer superiors and their robotic companions, is sent to the Outer Worlds to track down the killer of a Spacer, aided by a robot partner made in the likeness of the murder victim.

The Andromeda Strain, by best-selling Michael Crichton, is a techno-thriller rather than a who-done-it, but it’s a great puzzle pitting a hero bacteriologist and his flawed team in a race to decipher clues and stop a murderous alien “biological agent” released by the crash of a military satellite before they are destroyed by a quarantining nuclear blast.

Meanwhile, Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policeman’s Union is set in a “temporary” Jewish settlement in Sitka, formed after Israel’s imagined collapse in 1948 and now about to revert to Alaskan control, where homicide detective Meyer Landsman investigates the murder of his neighbor, a former chess prodigy, and runs afoul of old forces of faith and evil.

The City & The City, by China Mieville, is a police procedural involving a psychic journey across borders as two detectives in neighbor cities, one in the decaying city of Beszel and one in the vibrant city of Ul Qoma, are drawn by a woman’s murder into an underworld of nationalists intent on destroying the rival city and unificationists seeking to combine them.

Finally, Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man won a Hugo back in 1953 yet seems strangely apropos today: In the year 2301, guns are only museum pieces, and benign telepaths sweep the minds of the populace to detect crimes before they happen, so murder is virtually impossible–until Ben Reich, a psychopathic business magnate, devises a scheme to eliminate the competition and destroy the social order.

There are just too many options to note here, so check out http://best-sci-fi-books.com/23-best-science-fiction-mystery-books/

ABOUT KATHERINE SHARMA

Visit Katerine’s Website or Sign up For Her Blog

3 Beautiful Love Poems For All Your Romantic Moods

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Jeff

From the archives of True Love Magazine, here are some beautiful poems that were submitted by readers.

Was It Real To You?

When you close your eyes to
sleep tonight,
Will you think of me?
Or will your arms reach out
to pull her close,
And your thoughts just let me be?

Will I just be a memory
Of a night from long ago?
A love affair you carried out
When your spirits were feeling low?

Were the words you spoke
Words that you meant–
Or words you already
Choose to forget?

–Deborah Harper

Good Mornings

Those early mornings when I wake,
And see you lying there;
My heart is filled with gladness,
As I gently stroke your hair.

I like to be beside you,
And kiss you till you wake;
Wrap my love around you,
While I wait for dawn to break.

Then happily I trace your lips–
It helps me pass the time–
Until you slowly come to life,
And once again, you’re mine.

–Pat Poehler

Why You Love This Man

How do you not love a man
Who has given you everything in life?

The inspiration to do and be
All that you are capable of.

The friendship to share and enjoy
The wonders of life.

The support to hold you afloat
When life seems to pull you down.

The compliments that make you feel
You are the most beautiful woman.

The love that makes you glow
Like you swallowed the stars.

Why do you love this man?
Because you cannot help it.

–Betty Hunter

Victorian Mysteries Debut Modern Crime-Solving

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Jeff

By Katherine Sharma

Looking to escape back in time with your next mystery? England’s Victorian era is a favorite setting because it can combine old-fashioned moral certitudes with relatively modern crime-solving thanks to the era’s policing and forensic science advances. Indeed, the Victorian period ushered in the first true detective fiction, such as Charles Dickens’ Bleak House, Wilkie Collins’ The Woman in White, Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes tales, and Edgar Allan Poe’s three seminal detective stories (The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Mystery of Marie Roget and The Purloined Letter).

If you want to sample other British Victorian mystery masters, try Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, unique for its contemporary portrait of a daring, ruthless woman. Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu was famed for his Victorian Gothic mysteries, and a good example is Uncle Silas about a sinister uncle threatening a plucky heroine.

But many modern writers are carrying on the Victorian mystery tradition–sometimes borrowing from the masters. For example, a series by Laurie R. King pairs an aging Sherlock Holmes with clever teen Mary Russell, starting with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. Lynn Shepherd’s The Solitary House has two Charles Maddoxes, a private detective and his “thief taker”great uncle, solving a mystery involving the cast of Dickens’ Bleak House. Meanwhile, The Asylum by John Harwood is inspired by Wilkie’s structure and atmosphere as a young woman awakens in an asylum under a name she denies and repudiated by relatives.

Among the modern Victorian-era mystery series are those penned by Anne Perry, with The Cater Street Hangman as the first entry of her popular Thomas Pitt London mysteries. While “Victorian” connotes England, the same time period has inspired great mysteries set in the U.S. One of the best is Caleb Carr’s The Alienist about 1896 child mutilation murders in New York, with an investigative team made up of a New York Times crime reporter, his “alienist” (psychologist) friend, and then NYC Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt. Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mystery series also is set in Victorian-era New York but is notable for its female sleuth, midwife Sarah Brandt, first introduced in Murder on Astor Place.

For more Victorian mystery ideas: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/56604-victorian-crimes-mysteries-2013.html

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