Maude Diamond is a struggling novelist who has never made the best seller list. She has recently lost her husband and has a serious case of writer's block. Her elderly mother-in-law moves in with her, followed by her daughter, reeling from a disastrous marriage. So life is looking pretty bleak with nothing to pique Maude's interest until--
Well, you'd never guess. A mysterious burglar is knocking over homes in the little town of Morning Shade, Arkansas--a burglar who never steals anything, but comes in to rearrange the furniture and redecorate. Who could it be? And why is he (or she) doing this?
It is a pretty far-fetched plot, to be sure, and it takes a while for author Copeland to hit her stride. I wasn't sure I could finish this book, but I'm glad I did. It gradually draws you in to the warm-hearted ambience of the little town and its quirky characters. The story takes off and I found myself enjoying it in spite of myself.
Bad Taste is not great literature. The plot is absurd, the dialogue is awkward, the characters are all too quirky and lovable. More serious, the author is not subtle about her Christian faith, and sometimes comes perilously close to preaching. Still, the book was fun and easy to read and I enjoyed it for what it is. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.
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A Case of Bad Taste (A Morning Shade Mystery #1) (Paperback)Product Description: Frustrated author M. K. Diamond is suffering from another bout of writer's block when the perfect plot unfolds in real life: a burglar in Morning Shade is breaking into homes and redecorating, of all things! If only Maude can keep her feisty mother-in-law, Stella, on the case before the trail grows cold and her manuscript freezes up again.
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This book is a delight to read and it develops a vital part of American urban history. Read it with Jon Teafords "Unheralded Triumph and you will understand American cities, and America, better.
I loved this book. There aren't many books of short stories you can't put down, but this is one. Some stories are funny, some are gross, some are sad, some are hopeful but all of them are compelling and a pleasure to read. Best collection I've read in a long time.![Good Morning, Killer [Paperback]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TDNTZJ9ZL._AA160_.jpg)
The story of the child abductor that Ana Grey, FBI agent is hunting with the assistance of the Santa Monica police department is riveting.Ana's relationship with one of the young victims adds dimension to Ana's character and engages the reader in the hunt and capture of the suspect.![Mornings Like This: Found Poems [Paperback]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HB0KZ0KXL._AA160_.jpg)
In the introductory author's note to "Mornings Like These: Found Poems," Annie Dillard states of the book, "Excepting only some titles and subtitles, I did not write a word of it." Basically the book consists of "bits of broken text" taken from other authors' prose books and rearranged on the page as poetry. Dillard's sources include "The American Boys Handy Book" (1892), an 1853 maritime conference report, a 1926 junior high school English text, van Gogh's letters, and more.![Good Morning, Chick [Paperback]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51P9T7V7VCL._AA160_.jpg)
How many times I read this book to my children! The very youngest child can understand the story line and appreciate the repetetive text (which you can edit easily for your own sanity, if necessary).We are introduced to the little chick, his mother, and his home. Danger enters the chick's world in the form of a black, hissing cat, but Mom shields the chick with her big brown wing, and clucks the cat out of the picture. The chick meets a big frog and even falls into the pond and gets wet -- which little children think is terrifically funny.The bright, colorful pictures appeal to the very young and are easy on the adult eye.It doesn't sound like much, but it ends up being a very rich, warm experience to share this book with a little one.My 13 year old saw it today, and went through it with a bg grin on his face; which is why I checked to see if it was still in print. Thankfully, you can enjoy it with children you love, too.![Morning by Morning and Evening by Evening: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional Based on the Holy Bible, English Standard Version [Paperback]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41c-TDJ3S4L._AA160_.jpg)
TruTone binding is excellent. Don't worry about the updated text...it's only minor and it's only to accommodate the switch from KJV to ESV. This is the best version of Morning and Evening I have come across.