Looking To Start Reading Cozy Mystery? Here's A Great Place To Start!

 

This book was published in the early 00s, so you may have heard of it.  The book is actually written by a husband and wife team and I think that enhanced my reading of the book. This book is a lot of fun, it's a little more racy than a typical cozy, so that might be a little off putting for those who don't like any discussion of anything remotely sexual, that being said this is PG. 

The Ghost in this tale is a hard-boiled detective named Jack Shepard.  I loved his voice and all the 1930/1940s noir lingo. Fun stuff!  Being a reader who prefers my cozy sleuths to be assertive, I was very glad that as this story progressed Penelope found her voice.  I look forward to seeing what happens next in this small Rhode Island town. 

This book was a hit for me based on the back and forth with the noir era and present day as well as the overarching cold case which I am hoping will be solved in books further along in the series. The Ghost and Mrs. McClure has a nice base of small town characters who are quirky and have secrets of their own. I will be continuing on in this series to find out:

1. Who killed Jack Shepard?

2. Will Pen continue to have trouble with her In-Laws?

3. Will Fiona's Gossiping get her in trouble? 

Lastly, I do want to know will Mrs. McClure find a second chance at love, and will she be awake when that happens? 

4.5 stars for this delightful read! 

You've Got Mail--but with lovable Teens!

His family's small bookstore chain is flourishing, Her family's bookstore is closing at the end of August. Both stores are on the same block. I don't recall how this book ended up on my library hold list, but since I was notified that my hold was available, it's clear at some point I heard about this book and added it to my holds!

I started reading it and for the first few pages, I was not particularly intrigued.  I gave it a few more pages and I found myself getting more and more drawn into Madeline's world.  This YA romance is an enemies-to-lovers tale and is a retelling of the movie You've Got Mail (starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks). The main characters are just out of high school and so this book is about endings and beginnings, worries and hopes for what the future will bring. 

Madeline has body-esteem issues, and in other books I would have been turned off. However in this book, she is only 17 so it's more understandable.  Plus and most importantly, you see her working on reframing her negative thoughts, and this to me seemed very authentic.  The writing style and Madeline's interior dialogue were just the right amounts of funny, self-deprecating, and sweet. 

 4 stars for a delightful summer before college tale! 

 

#TheSundayPost -- It's Sunday Already?

 

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

Hello!  How was your week?  For me, this was a week that flew by, except for the part when I was doing my 9-mile long run, that part of my Saturday went by very slowly. But I finished the whole 9 miles, hooray for me!  Next week double digits! I also made the decision to start selling Tastefully Simple again, I really loved my days talking about and selling food and I'm excited to do it again!  

I didn't get as much reading done as I was planning on reading, but that was due to watching a couple of very entertaining TV shows on Netflix. The first show we watched has two seasons but we accidentally watched season two before season one. It's called The Mire  97 it's a Polish show and it's about a murder in a small town.  Super entertaining.  And then I wanted to watch something without subtitles, but nothing caught my eye until I saw a preview of Biohackers  This is a German show, it's a thriller about shady scientific research and illegal gene manipulation, the main characters are compelling and I feel like I know enough German to occasionally follow a line or two of dialogue.  I recommend both shows. 

Reading for this week, my hold on Last Chance Books was available, so I'm reading that this week as well as Floor Time by Liz Crowe and The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Cleo Coyle.

When It Comes to Thrillers,

 Today I have a review of a physical book that was published 20 years ago.  Sometimes it's hard to believe 2001 was two full decades ago.  The book is called The Third Victim and it is by Lisa Gardner who has been writing for almost 30 years.  If you click on her name, that will take you to her website.  The Third Victim is part of a series, but you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this thriller. 

Major CW- The book is about a school shooting. 

When it comes to thrillers, I have reached the conclusion that I don't need the main character to be likeable or even realistic, I'll still read the book because I am invested in the ticking time clock of disaster looming.  In this book, the main female character, Raine, honestly didn't feel like a real person, she was more like an amalgam of 'strong' female cop tropes. And the villain was pretty ridiculous.  But the book was easy to pick up and put down, not a lot of characters to remember or get invested in, so it's a book you can keep in your car and read when you are waiting at an appointment, picking someone up, on lunch break, etc. 

My star rating of this book is 3 stars.  If I had to describe it in one word, I would say, it's fine. 

**********************************************************************

This weekend is our city's fest.  As part of the fest, they have bingo.  I have never bingo'd at the fest,but I'm planning to drag the husband there for bingo under the tent. This is a great year to do things I've never done before--maybe I'll win big!  I'll be sure to let you know how it goes! 

Have a great weekend! 

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!