Thursday (Not) Tea: Whiplash River by Lou Berney
The Book: Charles "Shake" Bouchon is determined to play it straight. He's served his time and has managed to leave the employ of the Armenian mob. Life on Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, couldn't be better. Sure it's tough to run a restaurant, but there's still plenty of time to enjoy a morning swim in the ocean and to take the boat into town to shop the fish market.
The day a man named Quinn narrowly misses getting killed in Shake's restaurant is the day Shake's life begins to spin out of control. Thanks to a complex case of misunderstandings, crossed signals, and half truths, Shake finds himself being chased by a host of bad guys and even a few good guys. Will he be able to stay alive long enough to win back his ex-girlfriend, Gina, and pull off a get-rich-quick scheme?
Lou Berney's Whiplash River takes us on a madcap chase around the globe as Shake hooks up with the questionable Quinn, tries to make up with the unforgiving Gina, and attempts to pull off an international con. Among the motley crew that's after him is a beautiful FBI agent, newlywed killers, a freelance hit man, a drug lord, and an antiques collector. In fact, who isn't trying to track down Shake?
Whiplash River is a terrific mix of fun and deadly, making it the perfect summer read. Take a copy to the pool and be prepared to read it all in one go. Look for my full review of the book and my great interview with Lou Berney on the SheKnows Book Lounge next week.
The (Not) Tea: It's been so horribly hot here in central PA that I've turned my back 
on tea and have reached for something that will help me better forget how much I hate the heat. This week I'm drinking ice cold Hornsby's Hard Cider. It's the only bottled cider I've been able to find in the United States that comes even close to the draft cider you can get in the UK and Europe. The alcohol content is relatively low and the taste is refreshing. A nice choice on a hot, hot summer afternoon or evening.
The Assessment: Now, I don't know Shake all that well, but I'm pretty sure there is no way he's drinking cider--even in a pub in London. He seems to me to be more a whiskey kind of guy, although I bet he'd be happy to put back a few beers while out in his boat on a sunny day. I'm not complaining though, because that means there's more cider for me.
What About You? Are you drinking anything interesting these days? And what are you reading this week?
Buy Whiplash River at an Indie, Powell's, Book Depository, or a bookstore near you. These links lead to affiliate programs.
Thursday Tea was the brainchild of Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog.
Published by William Morrow, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780062115287
Source: Review (see review policy)
Rating: B
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)
FTC: I buy all ciders myself, I am not a cider reviewer.
10 comments:
I have the book in my TBR pile...all I need is the pool!
I still like a hot cup of PG Tips after dinner .. its soothing.. and I just finished Storm Prey, #20 in the John Sandford series about Minneapolis cop Lucas Davenport. Reviews said it was so so .. but I thoroughly enjoyed it .. next up is Glen Duncan's The Last Werewolf I read a review in the NY Times some months ago and downloaded it .. I've just now got around to it so if you've read it, what did you think?
That book sounds like a fun summer read.
Lately I've been drinking iced tea with lemon, and gallons of it. LOL
Another addition to my TBR pile, and lacking a pool or any other type of recreational water, I'll read it on my back deck, in the lawn chair with a huge glass of iced beverage ( probably tea or Crystal Light). It's has been so unseasonalbly hot here!!!
Currently I'm reading Fall of Giants by Ken Follett and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, both seem to demand hot tea in a china cup, but I've been substituting ice tea with lots of ice.
I like the sound of the book, and think I agree that Shake would probably be a whiskey kind of guy. I have never tried hard cider, but think that it might have an interesting taste, so I will have to look into it, along with the book, of course! Great post today!
I've finished Wuthering Heights (yes, in this heat!) and now I'm reading Karin Slaughter's Criminal. I didn't care for Wuthering Heights, and I'm still not really sold on Criminal either at about halfway through. Maybe it's just the heat.
I have been curious about this book, so thank you for your thoughts. I look forward to your full review. It seems like the weather is hot all over. I am from New York, so I know that you don't expect it to be so hot in your area. I am living in AL now and I just know that each day in July and August are days to stay in. I drink just plain 'ole ice tea with a mint leaf on these dog days.
That cider sounds wonderful!
Whiplash River sounds like great fun! I'm trying all kinds of new beers these days. ;)
Looks like a fun read and I really like the cover!
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