An All Around Solidly Good Read! #TheConductors By Nicole Glover

 

I don't know exactly how this book is categorized, but to me, it was a magical, historical cozy. This book takes place in a post-Civil War era where Black people are finally free to live and to use their magic. During the Civil War Hetty and Benjy were conductors on the underground railroad.  These days they live in Philadelphia where Hetty is a seamstress and Benjy is a blacksmith. 

They also solve crimes the white establishment can't be bothered to try and solve. That's where the murder mystery comes in--plus they practice sigil magic.  Hetty is still searching for her sister who was captured during their escape from a plantation. Benjy and Hetty are married by it's a marriage of convenience, not love. 

In the first book in this new series we are introduced to an interesting and quirky cast of characters, we learn what motivates Hetty and Benjy and what they are up against. The book is told from Hetty's point of view, I liked her voice and her opinions. She is a quintessential amateur sleuth and she has a little magic so I don't get too upset when she puts herself in a tight spot. 

If you like magical cozies, or historical cozies, I really think you should check this book out, it's longer than a standard cozy and it's described as fantasy fiction---but I know a new kind of cozy when I read one and this is a wonderful one! 

4 Stars for The Conductors by Nicole Glover.  Add it to your TBR!  

#COYER SEASONS SUMMER POST! And Tango Trouble Review!!

 

The latest installment of the Magical Mane Mystery Series is out tomorrow! I love visiting Cliff Haven, Iowa.  Stella Bixby's has really hit the magical cozy sweet spot, She has Ellie who is still learning the extent of her magical abilities, but and this is key, it is her own sleuthing that solves the mystery. Ellie also has one of the best cozy companions out there, her potbellied pig named Penelope. I mean how cute is that! 

This series is a wonderful fun escape. You the reader get to enjoy the flight of fancy that the magic brings to the mystery, Ellie being like a young, yogi Jessica Fletcher, plus the mysteries are good puzzles to solve.  Stella Bixby gives character depth to the town's people and we have the ongoing mystery of Ellie's family. 

These days when someone mentions Iowa, I think of the Magical Mane Mystery series.  That just shows how this series will stick with you!  

What this story is about...

"In the dead of winter, when the town of Cliff Haven seems practically frozen . . . 

. . . Tango classes may be the key to heating things up. 

It's been months since the mishap at the theater, and Ellie is still reeling. 

Between exercising her magic and coming to terms with another family member disappearing from her life, Ellie wants nothing more than things to get back to normal. 

Whatever that is. 

When she comes across a body and a man standing over it holding a knife, the case looks pretty open and shut. 

Until it doesn't. 

With so many suspects, will Ellie be able to solve the crime? Or will a murderer go free? 

Join Ellie, Penelope, Xander, and the whole Cliff Haven gang in the fourth book of the Magical Mane Mystery series."

4 bright stars to Tango Trouble by Stella Bixby! 

You can click here to check out this book as well as the series- 

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are mine.

It’s time to celebrate Summer!

"Reminder on how it works….

COYER – Clean Out Your E-Reads – was initially about reading free (or nearly free) e-books and writing reviews for them. We’re going back to that as the basis, with some seasonal twists.

At the end of each season, reviews entered in the review linky will be eligible for a $5 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. On the last Thursday of each season (except December, where we’ll finish out the year), Michelle will randomly select and announce the winner for the season and share the sign-up for the next season (including a reminder of the rules). This means that all reviews for the season must be in the linky by 12 noon EST on the last Wednesday of the month. Any reviews entered after 12 noon EST will go towards the next season. But keep following the current rules for the remainder of the month.

Each season brings a new challenge so if you didn’t participate in Winter but want to Join Spring you are welcome to do that. You do not have to participate in all seasons, you can pick and choose which seasons you want to join."

CLICK HERE TO JOIN US! 

 

 

#TheSundayPost Fireworks and Books and Lots of Walking The Dog

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Today is the 4th of July, we are just going to be hanging around the house.  Well, when I say we, I actually just mean me, and the dog. For all, I know each of the kids as well as the husband have their own plans.  My plan is to read and write and walk the dog. Bowie has too much energy so I've been tasked with making sure he gets a good solid two hours of walking a day. So I've been walking him in the morning, and in the afternoon and after dinner.  Let me tell you Bowie, is a big fan of stopping to smell the roses. I'm trying to learn from him to savor the moment. 

Grapevine as seen on one of our walks. 

I'm listening to this audiobook, it has magic and mystery! 

This one was published in 2004!  

The latest installment of the Magical Mane Mystery Series is out on Tuesday!

How was your week?  Did you celebrate the 4th of July in your neck of the woods? In any case, did you do anything fun or interesting? 

 

 

A Lovely Book for Summertime: Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe

The first two-thirds of June were hot and dry. Then the rain came down, and down and down.  My garden is going to eclipse our scarecrow! 

I listened to the audio version of this book which is read by Lin-Manuel Miranda, he does a wonderful job.  He has amazing source material to work with; this book is so lovely. It's beautifully written. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a rare book that I enjoyed so much that after having listened to it, I'm going to go by a physical copy so I can read it and keep it and read it again. 

If you haven't read it already, go get it. It's a story of boys and summer and life and families.  It's clear early on why it has won many awards. Even if you don't usually read YA, if you love books, give it a read. 

“Summer was here again. Summer, summer, summer. I loved and hated summers. Summers had a logic all their own and they always brought something out in me. Summer was supposed to be about freedom and youth and no school and possibilities and adventure and exploration. Summer was a book of hope. That's why I loved and hated summers. Because they made me want to believe.”
― Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

 

Toast! Sans Avocado and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Willams- Sonoma sends emails with amazing recipes. Sometimes I just drool over them and sometimes I give their recipe a go.  Recently, they send this recipe- Tomato, Feta, and Herb Toast.  Making this recipe I learned that feta is kinda pricey and that after you defrost the puff pastry, you roll it some. This is why I tell myself, don't just look at the ingredients and start chopping, read the whole recipe first. I didn't have fresh oregano on hand, so I used more thyme. Thyme is my favorite herb. We have lemon thyme in our garden this year and this recipe was extra good with that hint of lemon. 

Next go round with this recipe I am going to let it cook for a couple of minutes longer, use tomatoes from my garden, and maybe switch out the feta for another cheese. You need one sheet of puff pastry for this recipe and puff pastry comes in a two-pack, once the tomatoes in my garden ripen, I'll be ready for a take two of this easy light meal. 

Late Monday night, or really Tuesday morning, I finished blazing through the book The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.  I raced through it because I received a 'jump the line' digital copy from the Libby library app, I only got to borrow the book for seven days and I forgot that I had the copy for the first few days of the seven days.  Life on a deadline is an integral part of the book, so having to read it in less than three days was very fitting. 

This is an award-winning fantasy book. If you don't normally read much fantasy, you might want to give this book a try because the story spans 300 years and includes the historical events of those times. Because I was crunched for time, I skimmed some of the pages.  The writing and the descriptions are lovely and the story is compelling. I needed to know things and I was prepared to be heartbroken at the end.

However, I was not heartbroken, I think the ending was satisfying and not tragic. My key takeaway is how no matter how long you live or what your life looks like, every day, every single day is an opportunity to be delighted.  And I think that is exactly right. 

Four and 1/2 stars to this book! I am going to make it a point to read some of V.E. Schwab's past books, I've heard good things! 

This Never Happens!

 Recently The Husband suggested we get Apple+ TV. My response was lukewarm. I didn't want to pay for another streaming service, but it turns out Apple+TV is only $4.99 a month, we decided to give it a try. One of the first things we watched, also The Husband's pick, was Greyhound. 

Greyhound stars Tom Hanks who is an untested navy captain who is tasked with being the commander of a destroyer who is leading and protecting a convoy of ships over a stretch of the Atlantic in early 1942.  He's a devout Lutheran who is shepherding the ships, many of which are slow cargo ships, and as the commander he has to try and keep the convoy (the sheep) together and safe from U-boats (the wolves).

The story takes place during 50 nail-biting hours where the convoy is most at risk because they were without air cover. The book is fiction, but is based on the realities of actual convoys. The film does an excellent job of showing how communications were done from ship to ship, the constant fear of u-boats, and how important each shipmate was to the overall ability of the destroyer to stay afloat. 

Because I enjoyed the movie, I wanted to read the book so that I could better understand some of the intricacies of why Commander Krause (Tom Hanks' character) made the decisions that he did.  Since I don't know much at all about boating and even less about naval troop movements during World War 2, having seen the movie before listening to the audiobook helped me to better grasp the story. 

Usually, I like books better than the films based on books; but in this case, I liked both equally!

Over the last week or so, we have had a ton, I mean a ton, of rain, so I may need to learn more about boating ASAP! 

 

#TheSundayPost Wrapping Up June & Kicking Off July!

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

This past week I did some things.  First of all, I virtually attended the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Virtual Cancer Policy & Advocacy Team Symposium.  It was a ton of information and great ideas for how I can advocate. Secondly, I signed up to use follow.me so people can subscribe to my blog via email. This was a whole thing because the service that I had been using for years, Feedburner, was ending at the end of June, so I waited as long as I could before I tried to figure out how to change to a different service. I also did a writing workshop with Gilda's Club  and Youngest Child had a birthday party so there was cleaning, dog rangling, and lots of teens singing along to Hary Styles. A busy, boisterous time this week--got to love that! 

Marathon training is continuing and with that, I have three audiobooks I'm currently listening to and will be reviewing over the next couple of weeks:

How was your week?  Did you do anything fun or interesting? 

 

 

"Coffee is Serious Business!" A New Cozy Series from Emmeline Duncan!

 This cozy was so fun! A fresh new entry into cozy mystery land, Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan takes place in Portland, Oregon which right off the bat is a fresh location for a cozy series.

What I loved about this book:

*Coffee Talk! I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of how various popular coffee drinks are made.  Good coffee is a science and an art.

* Emmeline Duncan did a great job writing dialogue that sounded like people actually talk.

* Our amateur slueth Sage acted and sounded like an actual 27-year-old.

I also enjoyed that Sage because of her unusual upbringing, is good at reading people, it's like a little superpower that will help her solve murders in all the Ground Rules Mystery books to come.  In cozy mysteries, you have to suspend a little disbelief because often the potential suspects the sleuth speaks with share more information than would likely happen in real life.  In Fresh Brewed Murder,  Emmeline Duncan addresses this dilemma by having an amateur slueth who was taught from an early age how to act and she uses those skills to get people to confide in her early and often. So Clever! It puts me in mind of one of my favorite P.I's Veronica Mars. 

All in all this book is a solid 4, very enjoyable and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.  I would like to know Sage's thoughts on PSL's so I'm hoping the next book takes place in the fall. 

The Tourist Is Toast! Low Cost, Quick Paranormal Cozy!

 

I enjoyed The Tourist is Toast by Carly Winter. Bernie is a new BnB owner in  Sedona, Arizona. She has inherited the house from her grandmother Ruby.  Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Bernie has inherited the house and her grandma Ruby as Ruby is now a ghost! I enjoy the setting of this series as Sedona is a great place to have a BnB, we get to read about the natural beauty and solve murder mysteries! 

It's fun to spend time with Bernie and her colorful grandma, I like how Ruby and Bernie are now helping solve crimes with Adam, a local police officer.  Bernie and Ruby are like a twist on The Odd Couple (or Laverne & Shirley) and their natures really compliment each other. I thought this was a good mystery, In this installment, I quite liked that there were a small number of suspects and each of them had a motive. The pace of the book keeps the story moving, making for an engaging fun read. I would recommend this to anyone who loves reading cozies, especially if you like paranormal cozies. 

  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and have posted honest reviews in exchange. 

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This week in marathon training it's a cut-back week so my long run only needs to be 5 miles, wahoo! Also, we are enjoying some cooler temps, which is wonderful because running when the feel like the temperature is in the 90s is TOUGH! 

I've been busy trying to write run this month and I have not been trying any new recipes lately. Next week I am getting a Blue Apron box and it will have some fancy craft burgers we can make for the fourth of July. I could eat burgers every day, well more burgers one day, tacos the next day, and pizza the day after that and repeat! 

Happy Wednesday! 

 

Summer Solstice 2021! A 90s esque Chick Lit Rom Com May Be Just What You Need!

 This past week I listened to the audiobook version of People We Meet On Vacation.  If you are familiar with romance shorthand this could be described as a long-time friends-to-lovers tale. If you're fan of movies, this could be described as When Harry Met Sally on vacation. This book was a book club selection, if it hadn't been I probably would not have read it, just because I have so many other books I want to read on my TBR pile and I've been really loving diverse romance reads lately.

This book is told all from Poppy's POV.  Poppy is a fun-loving extrovert and Alex is a teacher who is much more reserved.  It seems very obvious that they are crazy about each other for years and years, and yet, they aren't a couple. Each year the pair go on vacation and this book is told in two timelines.  There is "this summer" and there is twelve summers ago, eleven summers ago, etc, etc. 

Overall it is a good read.  Poppy and Alex are very quippy and seem like nice people. I didn't think there was too much drama and the main reason I kept reading was that I wanted to know why Poppy and Alex had a falling out. I found the reason for the falling out was a little bit of a letdown for me. 

If you are looking for a book to read that is easygoing, something you can pick up and put back down as you need because you are on a summer vacation, this could be the read for you!

3.0 stars to People We Meet on Vacation! 

My library is having its summer reading program and for every book, I'm reading I get an entry to win a variety of prizes.  One prize is a $50 gift card for a local taco and tequila joint.  I'm thinking all the adult patrons will be trying to win this prize along with me!  I better get some more books read!