#The Sunday Post - Last of Sunday of March is Here- Let's Make it Count!

 

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

How was your week?  I hope it was nice and low stress. I hope some of you got vaccinated or made your vaccination appointments. I am now eligible in my state and so the hunt is on- so far no dice! This upcoming week I have a routine surveillance CT scan. I would like to get the vaccine once that is done because the vaccine ramps up your immune system and that can make a CT scan look funky and I don't want any funkiness on my scan. I want boring unremarkable pictures of my insides.

I spend some time this week laying out my reading and reviewing plan for April.  Along with April Showers I'll be reading and sharing some good-looking books! 

Release Date 4/6/2021

Historical Romance - obviously! Out March 29, 2021

The second book in the Booklover's B&B Mysteries.  Out June 8, 2021

Plus a bunch more!  

In April I am planning to start spring cleaning my Goodreads shelves. Do you plan to engage in some cathartic spring cleaning this year? 

Who Has Times for Affairs and Politics? Apparently The Women of the Regency! Me on the Other Hand, I like to Cook!

 

I guess when you have servants and are part of the aristocracy you have the time for love affairs!  See what happens in a world without the internet. LOL.  

I read this book because it was a March Book Club selection. I don't read much non-fiction. I usually get m non-fiction from podcasts. I listened to the audio version of this book and because of that some of the Heroines blurred together because there are many similar names and titles and I don't have a background in any monarchy, let alone Merry Old England.   Listening to the book right after Oprah's interview with Princess Megan and Prince Harry, I will say that this book didn't make me think more kindly about the British Monarchy.  Woo Boy, the monarchy has been bad for women for centuries! 

The more I listened to the stories of these women, the more I thought, my how things haven't changed for women.  More technology, but still so much misogyny. 

 

It was interesting to learn more about the historical  Ton and how the debutant seasons were done and I appreciated knowing it was the women who were the gatekeepers of the balls and events. I think knowing the reality of the Regency Era makes me more inclined to read romance and mystery set in the time period. 

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

Not having servants, not only don't I have time for torrid love affairs (LOL)I also spend a good amount of my time cooking.  As I mentioned before, sometimes I will get a couple of Blue Apron meals.  This is the latest meal I made and it was the first time I got a vegetarian meal from BA. The recipe was simple and it is a meal I could definitely make myself cheaply. 

Basically, you need 8 tortillas and you cut them in 1/2. Then you cut up 8oz of mushrooms, 2 Chayote Squash, chopped some cloves of garlic, rinse and drain a can of black beans or other beans of your choice. 

Preheat the over to 425F. 

Next, In a bowl, you mix a can of crushed tomatoes and a chili sauce (hotness to your taste) and set that aside.  

Now to the stove, take a pan put some oil in it, cook the garlic till it starts smelling great, then add the mushrooms and cook for a few min, then add the squash and cook together for a good 5 minutes then add about a tablespoon of chili seasoning or taco seasoning or a pepper blend for flavor and heat if you want it spicy!  Lastly, add the beans plus a little water. Season to taste with salt and pepper.  

Then take a 9x13 baking pan and spread some of the tomato/chili sauce blend on the bottom. Layer 1/2 the tortilla halves. Then layer on 1/2 of the vegetable blend. Oh, I forgot to say at the top, you are going to need a cup of shredded cheese (cheddar/Monterey jack or cotija cheese, etc) put a layer of cheese on top of the vegetable mix. Repeat and then bake it in a 425 oven for around 20 minutes. 

Lastly, as always I have some referral emails for a few Blue Apron meals, if you've not tried Blue Apron and would like to try for free, just let me know your email and I'll send you a link for a free box! 

#ASeriesInAMonth Two Novellas and An Update on Future Avocado Toast!

 

Reluctant Royals Novella Book  2.5

When I read romance series, I don't check to see what side characters in the first book get to star in future books.  I like to be pleasantly surprised, and honestly, I didn't think Likotsi would get a book because she's a lesbian, and well, most mainstream romance is man/woman. So I was very happy to see this novella and have the chance to read about the romance Likotsi was having during her time in New York while Thabiso was pretending to be Jamal. This story is told in two timelines so you get the original romance when Likotsi first meets Fabiola and then the second timeline when they happen to meet up months after Fabiola broke things off with Likotsi. If you like a second-chance romance, you'll love this.  It's a modern fairy tale in which Likotsi is the kind and generous prince to Fabiola's fairly jaded princess.  

4 Stars! 

I listened to the audiobook and as I have said before Karen Chilton is an amazing reader. One of the best. 

Reluctant Royals Novella Book 2.6

Honestly, my only complaint about the story of Reggie and Gus is, I want more!  I definitely would have enjoyed a full novel of them falling in love. The majority of mainstream romance stories take place with attractive thin women with decent-sized boobs that are typically athletic or clumsy.  The men are brawny but smart. Also typically if you have an interracial couple one half of the couple is white.  I appreciated that Alyssa Cole gives us a different story.  Reggie is a smart confident Black woman who uses a wheelchair and runs a super-inclusive website for people who love 'geek' culture.  Gus is Vietnamese and is not neurotypical.  

This novella is nestled in the Reluctant Royals timeline taking place while Portia is an apprentice for Tavis in Duke By Default. As someone who watches live streams and uses apps to fall asleep, I related to Reggie using a soothing voice on a stream to fall asleep.  I know I'm not alone in this given how many ASMR videos there are online. 

One of the characteristics of Alyssa Cole's writing that I appreciate is how she talks about social/environmental issues in an organic way:

“Most of her daily grind took place at home, where her office was tailored to her needs and she didn’t have to worry about accessibility, or spilling iced coffee on her laptop because straws were easier to ban than the plastics that actually destroyed the environment”
― Alyssa Cole, Can't Escape Love

5 starts to Can't Escape Love from Alyssa Cole 

I listened to these books via Audible and Chirp for the #SeriesinaMonth Challenge and for the #2021AudiobooksChallenge. 

Future Avocado Toast Update: 

After several weeks and some pep talks from me, this pit remained a pit.  I decided it was time to let it go to the compost bin.  If an avocado tree sprouts in my compost, I'll let you know! 

Now for an update on my second pit. I thought by this time I would be able to tell if it is spreading new roots, but I can't tell yet. Stay tuned and maybe next week we will be able to tell!

#NetGalley Coming soon! #AHexForDanger and Have You Ever Tried To Make DIY Coasters?

 A Hex for Danger is the second book in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series by Esme Addison. The first book in the series is A Spell for Trouble. You can definitely read this book and enjoy it without having read the first book--but if you like to read Cozy Mysteries, why not read both, right? 

The book takes place in the small Coastal town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina.  Personally, Coastal Cozy Mysteries are one of my favorite types of mysteries.  Something about a beachy small town on the edge of a continent--so cozy! My perception may be colored by the fact that I live in the landlocked Midwest so any coast seems romantic and magical. And this is most certainly a magical series. Alex is a descendent of the Mermaid of Warsaw and is learning the extent of her magical abilities while living with her aunt and cousin.

This book is a thriller of a cozy.  The action-adventure is fast-paced and Alex is not afraid to ask too many questions while she is sleuthing. Unlike a traditional cozy, this book has corporate espionage and scheming governments.  I enjoyed how Esme Addison has woven science and mythology together in her books and extended the environment of the small-town cozy.   Best of all, at one point near the end, I thought the story was wrapped up with a pretty standard cozy murder motivation; but, that was not the end of the story,  more twists and turns were ahead!

On the romance end, I don't know if I'm supposed to be rooting for Jack or Dylan to wind up with Alex. This subplot alone is enough to ensure I'm going to preorder book number three! As someone whose favorite genres are cozy mysteries, romance, and contemporary fantasy, I've found the Enchanted Bay Mystery series very fun read! 

A Hex for Danger will be out July 13, 2021, you can add it to your to-read shelf on  Goodreads here. I received a digital ARC of the book from Net Galley, and all my opinions are my own. 

4 Stars for A Hex For Danger !!!!

This month my local library had a craft kit for pressed flower coasters.  Now, this seems like an easy-peasy craft.  Just put some flowers on a round piece of glass, place another piece of glass on top and wrap a piece of copper tape around the side to secure it. Ha! I had a dickens of a time trying to get the very delicate copper tape around each coaster. This is a craft I would not think to have tried if not for the library, so even though the copper tape doesn't look as nice as I had hope, I still like the coasters. 

#TheSundayPost #ShamrockShuffle Who's Ready for Spring?

 

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

Books I'll be posting about this week:

Spring has Sprung!  Happy Spring! This weekend was the virtual running of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle.   Usually the shuffle is the unofficial start of the running season in Chicago and involved about 40,000 runners in green stomping through the streets of downtown Chicago. It's an 8K so just under 5 miles long and usually, the crowd really gets you running.  

This year it was virtual.  On the plus side, this meant I could sleep in and not have to downtown to run by 8:00AM. This also meant I could walk straight from the finish line back into my house and take a shower; unlike the time a few years ago where I was changing very carefully in a Port-A-Potty and a guy opened the door (which I had apparently not fully locked) while I was putting on my shirt --causing me to accidentally flash him! 

The weather was in the low 50s, with sunny skies and just a little breeze from the South.  A perfect day for running!  I hope this is a harbinger of a wonderful spring.  We all deserve it! 

How was your first day of Spring? Share Below!

Me right before I went out to run 

Epsom & Pink Himalayan Salt w/ Essential Oils for my post-run relaxation! (A DIY craft from my local library!) 

On the Cusp of Springtime, Book 4 of the #PsyChangeling #ReadAlong Mine To Possess!

 You know how sometimes you look at a word and you are certain you must be spelling it wrong?  That's how I feel about 'possess'  for Pete's sake, it has 4 s's!  I am sure I have spelled in wrong many times over the years.  This is one time that I'm not going to complain about autocorrect.  Especially as I write this review.  

Mine to Possess is the fourth book in Nalini Singh's PsyChangeling series. You can join our read-along here     We aren't just reading the books, we have virtual book discussions and you can enter giveaways as well!

This book features Clay who is a wear-panther and Tally who is a human. This is the first book in the series that has a notable human character. 

Clay like some of the other members of Dark River is very close to his animal instincts and what I found unique about this story was that Clay is not just portrayed as a guy with an edge. Clay is in a very dark place and he is close to losing his humanity and becoming an animal full-time.   It took me a while to get drawn into this book because there is some graphic violence and horrifying treatment of children--which sadly happens all over the world, nevertheless it was hard to read. Tally was abused by a monster of a foster parent and Clay's mother was unstable. 

I enjoyed their journey to connect to each other as adults and the slow building of trust between them. One of the themes in this series is how the lies we tell ourselves cut us off from the love and family we deserve. 

This book has very little Snow Dancer content so, all cats no wolves. But we do have a few scenes with Judd who is a favorite character of mine.  The quote above is something he says in the book. 

The Psy-Net and The Psy-Council are becoming more unraveled with each book and I am here for that!  I was really excited to read the final pages of Mine to Possess and see that one of the side characters I thought will play a pivotal role moving forward is now in place! 

May I be one of the first to wish you a Happy Spring!  It's here!  Soon enough there will be flowers blooming and trees blossoming! 

Here is a picture from last March, this is a regular deer, not a changeling deer. 

This Weeks #SeriesinaMonth Challenge Post! A Duke By Default #romance

A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole is the second book in her Reluctant Royals series, this time around I was able to borrow an e-book version from my local public library to read. 

This book is the story of Portia, Naledi's best friend in book one.  I was so excited that she was getting her own book!  Portia's story hits home for many readers. Portia has spent her life feeling she was the bad twin. She's been told she is flighty, lazy, unable to commit, unable to finish anything, and worst of all selfish. The self-loathing she has felt for years, especially when compared negatively by her parents to her twin sister Reggie, has led to self-destructive behaviors on her part, especially drinking.  

She is on the cusp of 30 and has decided it's time for a new Portia. This Portia gets an apprenticeship at an Armory in Scotland. New Portia is abstaining from men and booze. Avoiding alcohol proves much easier than avoid men altogether when she meets Tavis McKenzie, her very handsome gruff Scottish Master Swordsman. 

Watching Portia discovering that her behaviors were rooted in undiagnosed ADHD and seeing how she learned coping mechanisms and slowly began to believe in herself was as enjoyable as the slow burn of the romance. You can't have a HEA before you love yourself. 

Alyssa Cole offers another contemporary romance that has heat, deals with social issues, and solid humor. The series doesn't have to be read in order, but I have to say that reading in order is enhancing my enjoyment of the books. 

4 stars to A Duke By Default! 

Quote from the Book:

“Excuse me?”
The librarian looked up again.
“I need help now. I need to print this article and . . . do you have any books about dukes?”
The librarian’s eyes went wide and she rubbed her hands together with glee. “We have a fantastic romance section,” she said. “Do you need recommendations? How do you like your dukes? Grumpy? Tortured? Alpha, beta, or alpha in the streets, beta in the sheets?”
“Actually, I meant nonfiction,” Portia said glumly.
The librarian sighed. “Aye. Just a warning, love—the non-fic dukes are not nearly as fun.” 

Avocado Pit Update- 

Here we have my original pit, as you can see, not much is happening.

I am coming to the conclusion that my first attempt at growing an avocado tree isn't going well. I decided to try another pit and see if that one might grow.  I think that it is starting to grow roots, but it's too soon to tell. We should know by next week for sure, fingers crossed!

Next Wednesday I will be reviewing the two novellas in the series. Once Ghosted, Twice Shy and Can't Escape Love! 

So Excited for the Second Book in This Series! Bowling Blunder review today!

 Not too long ago I shared a debut Cozy Mystery by Stella Bixby, my review Downward Death is here, a new series with paranormal elements featuring Ellie and her pet pig Penelope. Now I am happy to share that book two in this fun series is out tomorrow March 16th!  Here is a link to add Bowling Blunder to your Goodreads shelf. 

I was able to read an ARC of the book last week and I'm happy to share my opinions, which as per usual are all mine! 

This book is on the shorter side, so it's great for a nice weekend read. There are quite a few female characters so you might want to read this when you have time to focus on it over a day or two instead of reading it in snatches of free time here and there over a long period of time. 

One of the reasons I find this series so entertaining is that we the reader are learning about Ellie's magic alongside her and it's so fun to see what happens next! It's a delightful tension in the story.  Also, the themes of Ellie's search for belonging and acceptance continue in this book and you just have to root for her to flourish in this small Iowa town.  I enjoyed how the town is now turning to her to solve crimes even as she says she doesn't have the right skill set, looks like the town knows her better than she knows herself! 

As a runner, I was both amused and horrified by the Trot and Tater race.  I could NOT eat a bucket of mashed potatoes at the finish line of a race.  

The ending of Bowling Blunder is super sweet and I'm excited to read what happens in book three. I'm definitely hoping for more scenes with Ellie and the mystery motorcycle man!

4.5 stars! 

Dinner talk, I had a bag of Vigo rice in the cabinet and I wanted to use it to make a skillet dinner. This is what I came up with:

First I sauteed about 12 oz. of medium deveined, shelled shrimp in a little oil. The shrimp were seasoned with chili lime seasoning I had and once the shrimp were cooked then I took the shrimp out of the iron skillet and then I cooked one chopped poblano pepper, chopped shallot, chopped yellow onion, and chopped celery in a little red pepper oil.  After a couple of minutes, I added the bag of Vigo Yellow Rice and two cups of water. Once the water boiled, I turned it down, covered the skillet, and let it simmer until the rice was cooked. Then I turned it off and threw the shrimp into the skillet and gave it a mix and then wah-la dinner was done. 

The Hubs said it was very good and spicy.  That was my goal! Mission Accomplished!

#TheSundayPost Goal This Week: Mason Bee Open House

 

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

Happy Daylight Savings Time to everyone who lost an hour!  On the plus side it will be daylight longer today!  We here in Chicagoland had glorious weather on Saturday but it has now taken a turn for the worse --but still not too bad. I mean we have had some very wintery Marches around these parts.  Once it warms up later this week, I've tasked the Hubs with hanging up our new Mason Bee House!  

Keep your fingers crossed that there are some Mason bees in our area looking for new digs. Mason bees are excellent pollinators so it would be great to have some nearby that can pollinate my garden plants this year.  Over the last few years, I've had bad luck getting my pepper plants pollinated! 

How was your week?  The most interesting thing I did was canvassing for a couple local candidates.  An election for many local offices- ie Township Clerk, Mayor, School Board, etc. is coming up on April 6th so there is less than a month to go. I'm glad I am able to volunteer to help candidates I support and it's a great way to get those steps in! 

Did you do anything interesting this week? 

You can see my reviews from last week here: 

The Disappearance of Emily

First in my #seriesinamonth - A Princess in Theory

Fairy Godmothers, Inc.

(exciting news- I've scored the NetGalley ARC of book 2 in the Fairy Godmothers, Inc. series! 

Upcoming this week I'll be sharing my thoughts on these books:

Thanks for stopping by! 

#BookBirthday "The Disappearance of Emily" is Out Today!

The weather was so nice Monday I took my houseplants on a field trip! I'm looking forward to when they can be outside everyday. Some will go out for the whole summer and a few will be staying inside. Knock on wood, I'm happy that they made it through the winter! I've not always had much of a green thumb.

Now for A Magical Cozy Review!

First of all, the cat on the cover cracks me up!  Those eyes!  This is the second book in Elizabeth Pantley's Destiny Falls Cozy Mystery Series.  The first book is Falling into Magic 

The Disappearance of Emily takes place about two weeks after the first book and in it, Hayden meets a mysterious Ferry Captain who needs to speak with her in private regarding a matter of life and death Cozy Fans, what do you think is going to happen to the Ferry Captain before they speak to Hayden?  Nothing good!  

In addition to the Ferry Captain Mystery, Hayden still has not figured out how to go back to Seattle, or how to explain that she fell through the looking glass and now is in a magical land. She is still discovering the wonders of the Caldwell Mansion and trying to learn about Destiny Falls and the Islands around it. 

Continuing from the first book we see Hayden's ancestral home is as much a character in this series as her brother Axel. The descriptions of its ever-changing architecture and decor are pure coziness. 

You can tell that Elizabeth Pantley is having the best time writing the magical world of Destiny Falls as she describes the vibrant flora and fauna on the Island, the scrumptious meals shared at family dinners, and the wild wardrobe of Cleobella.  But wait there's also the magical library, and a scorned witch hiding in the woods outside the town...

Hayden takes on a new job as the reporter and editor of the town newspaper which allows for her and her estranged up until now, to bond.  There is a little romance blossoming as well and I look forward to seeing what happens next in this light, fanciful, super cozy!  It is out today so you can pick up a copy for yourself. It's included in a kindle unlimited subscription. 

I received an ARC of this book, as always the opinions are mine! 

#SeriesinaMonthChallenge A Princess in Theory and An Avocado Tree (in theory)

The hubs and my dear daughter eat avocados all the time, so I thought, why not try to grow a tree from one of the pits that usually goes into the compost bin.  Hope springs eternal as they say.

Here is a link to the handy Good Housekeeping Article on how you can grow an avocado tree from a pit. 

I have a planter all ready to pot an avocado tree provided that my pit decided to make roots. 

I'll keep you all updated on the pit situation moving forward, you shall be the first to know if we get growth!

And now on to the first book in my #SeriesInAMonthChallenge!  A Princess, in Theory,  the first book in the Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole. I was able to borrow the audiobook from my library so I listened to the book at 1.5 speed via the Libby App. 

The audiobook is read by Karen Chilton who is incredibly good.  She gives each character their own voices with just the right accents.  If you are deciding between reading the book and listening to the audio, in this case, do yourself a favor and listen to this book.  

Reading this book, I'm amazing at how Alyssa Cole is so skilled at taking the tropes of fairy tales and regency romance and updating it so that it is grounded in the 21st century.  This book starts off with Naledi Smith getting emails she thinks are spam telling her she is supposed to marry an African Prince!  It's like someone said to Alyssa Cole, I bet you couldn't write a story based on an email scam and she said, watch me! 

In this story, we have Naledi Smith who was raised in the foster care system and doesn't know her roots. She is studying epidemiology as a graduate student.  Along comes Prince Thabiso who plans to swoop in and tell Naledi he is her Prince, and that they have been betrothed since they were practically babies. But then there is a misunderstanding and now the Prince is some guy named Jamal who is a server.  Sparks begin to fly, Prince Thabiso has to keep up his pretense and we know the stage is set for a great romance with comical elements and smart, smart people. 

It's so delightful and I am glad that I decided to read this series in a month!  Alyssa Cole writes intelligent,  environmentally-responsible characters who fall into steamy romances and she doesn't forget to add some humor along the way.  Go ahead and read this one and next week I'll be reviewing A Duke By Default the second book in the series featuring Naledi's BFF!

4.5 Stars to A Princess in Theory! 

Public Libraries are The Best! and Fairy Godmothers, Inc. #BookReview

 

Not only was I able to borrow Fairy Godmothers, Inc. by interlibrary loan, I also won a Fitbit!  You see, my local library has reading challenges for kids and adults in the summer and in the winter. This winter I decided to put all my virtual tickets in the Fitbit drawing and I won! Not only that but during the pandemic, our library has also been putting together activity and craft kits for kids and adults. This month the craft kit included everything to make some nice sugar and salt scrubs and beeswax lip balm! 

The moral of the story, take advantage of your local library, it really pays off!

Now on to my review of this new book by Saranna DeWylde, Fairy Goodmothers, Inc.  This is the first book in a new series, it came out in December 2020 and the second book titled Men Are Frogsm is slated to be out this summer.  So read this book now, and then this summer you'll be ready for a trip back to Ever After, Missouri. 

Lucky Fujiki believes she is the opposite of her name. In fact throughout her life so far, she's even been able to share her disastrous luck with people by giving them unlucky hugs. She's lived with the limiting belief that she is under a curse for her entire adult life.  Ransom Payne has loved Lucky for years and years, but whenever they get together---bad stuff happens! We are talking feral pigs, tornadoes, etc. 

How is Saranna DeWylde going to get Lucky and Ransom to a HEA?  This is a romance after all!  The how of the HEA is a wild ride because Ever After, MO is populated by all the fairy tale characters you thought were fiction.  Little Red Riding Hood is there, the 7 Dwarfs, tailor mice, Prince Charming, and of course the Fairy Godmothers!  Setting a romance series in a fairy tale town in the middle of America is clever and the more familiar you are with the fairy tales of your youth the more references and Easter Eggs you will find in this book. 

I think my jam in romance stories is when the protagonist has to learn to love themselves as they are and stop waiting for their prince (or princess) to come. That's what makes this story extra special.  Lucky could take advantage of the three wishes her Fairy Godmothers offer her, but if she were to do that, will her luck ever change?  

"For a single, selfish moment, she wondered when it was going to be her turn. When someone would save her, but maybe that was the lesson all along. She had to learn how to save herself."

Or Maybe there was no lesson at all. Maybe this was just how things were." (page 221) 

For me, this quote summaries Lucky's journey, does she need to let go of hoping to be saved and learn to save herself, or maybe she just needs to let go and just be?  Wanting to find out the answer lead me to read this book in two days! 

Fairy Godmothers, Inc is packed with loads of humor, and all the delights of Fairy Tales, chocolate, and love!

5 Stars! I recommend you add Fairy Godmothers, Inc. to your TBR pile ASAP! 

The Dollar Tree has little figurines for making fairy gardens so I picked up a gnome for my thyme!  I think I will make a little fairy garden on our porch in one of my larger pots once it's warm enough for flowers and plants outdoors again! 

The Sunday Post! Marching into March!

 

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

How was your week? The weather here was very nice for early March and finally, the sidewalks are about 96% free of snow!  Even better, we are supposed to have highs in the 60s Monday - Wednesday. I will have my windows wide open to let in that fresh air! It will also be a great time to grill out for the first time in 2021. 

In case you missed it- this week
 I wrote about Magic for Liars,

Join the COYER Seasons Spring Challenge

and wrote about an obscure local holiday and a Cozy Series by Elizabeth Pantley

Upcoming this week I will be sharing reviews of: 

A Princess in Theory

Fairy Godmothers, Inc.

The Disappearance of Emily

As I've mentioned before I like seasonal decor and now that it is March, I have updated my coffee station for early spring:

Speaking of coffee, I am taking a MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) class this month and our current homework is to practice the techniques daily. Today I tried a coffee mindfulness meditation! 

I hope you have a great week planned!  What's going on in your neck of the woods? 

#FriYay! #2021AudioBookChallenge Magic For Liars

 This year I'm participating in the Caffeinated Reader's Audiobook Challenge.   Today's review is an audiobook that I picked up from the Chirp website, it was less than $5.00 USD!  Such a deal, plus if you want to use my referral link you can get 20% off your first order. 

The reason I purchased this book was because I enjoy the reader XE Sands.  Her voice is perfectly suited for telling the tales of world-weary PIs and this book's protagonist is a jaded PI who has spent years investigating fraudsters and cheaters.  Now she's been asked to investigate the murder of a teacher at a school for Mages.   To complicate things, her estranged sister is a teacher at the school.  

Ivy and her sister Tabitha have been avoiding each other for decades. The book is told from Ivy's point of view, so we know she has a deep longing to reconcile with her sister.  Conversely, she is also incredibly angry with her sister over their mother's death.  Their mother died of cancer when they were teenagers.  Trigger warning here, cancer plays a prominent role in Ivy's past and throughout this book. It did not bother me, but if I had started listening to this book during treatment for cancer last year, I probably would have put the book back down (or in this case deleted it off my phone).

What I enjoyed in this book is how magic is a presence that both helps and hinders the investigation. Ivy doesn't have any magical ability and this lack of magic gives her a giant chip on her shoulder, which is an important trait in good PI--a strong sense of lack. 

In my mystery reading, my favorite murder motives are greed, hubris, or unintended consequences, I find these motives always beat boring old jealousy.  In Magic for Liars Sarah Gailey gives us a wide-ranging group of potential suspects with solid motives and not great alibis.  In the end, the murder is solved and Ivy our protagonist, has made in-roads into accepting the possibility that maybe she is enough as she is and worthy of someone's affection. 

The book finishes with Ivy ready to make an emotional leap, but we do not see what happens as a result of her leap of faith. I don't need to know how things turn out because the point is that she's decided to change her script. 

If you like PI mysteries or Contemporary Fantasy- I say give this a read or a listen.  4.5 stars!

This book is a stand-alone book, it's not part of a series! 

Repurposing A Wine Bottle and #COYER Spring Challenge! Join us!

 The other day my other half picked himself up a bottle of wine from Walgreens and I thought to myself, that is a good-looking wine label.  So once the wine was gone.  I repurposed the wine bottle and added it to my bookshelf. I am tempted to find books to put on the shelf that goes with the Firefly theme. 

In case you are wondering what I did, I just took a string of LED lights I got from Aldi over the holidays and stuck the little lights into the wine bottle to get the effect of having fireflies in a mason jar, and then I used some velcro to attach the battery pack on the back of the bottle. Easy peasy, that is the extent of my DIY skills. 

As you may recall this year I am joining reading challenges.  To the right of this post,  you can see the Read a Series in a Month Challenge button which you can click to join!  My post on that challenge is here:  Two Challenges To Talk About.

I am also participating in the COYERS Seasons Challenge, which means it's time for my COYER Spring Challenge post!  You can read all the details and join me in the challenge here.   I'm really excited for this part of the challenge because now that physical books are included it gives me an incentive to read the books I got for Christmas and some books I won in contests. 

In addition to the gentle nudge to read books that I already own,  COYERS offers community! I love being part of the group.  It's nice to read with others, and have a chance to talk about books outside of a traditional book club. 

I hope the beginning of March is going well, the anniversary of when the pandemic began to affect most of our lives is just about here. I hope you are in a good place and soon to be vaccinated or already vaccinated! 

Happy Pulaski Day! A Holiday Only Celebrated in Illinois! #BookReview

 Some local government offices and some schools are closed today in honor of Casimir Pulaski who according to Wikipedia: "is praised for his contributions to the U.S. military in the American Revolution and known as "the father of the American cavalry".

And now on to today's book review!  

Today's book is the first book in a new Cozy Series by Elizabeth Pantley (well know non-fiction writer of the No-Cry Sleep solution). This is her first foray into writing cozies and she jumped right in with Falling into Magic a paranormal cozy.  In this book, we meet Hayden who is in her mid-20s, single with her own business.  

When we are introduced to Hayden, we learn that she has been unlucky in love, and has never known her parents as they disappeared when she was a newborn.  That seems odd, right?  

Also, she is certain that sometimes she sees a boy and later,  a man in the mirrors behind her, but it's not a scary situation. She calls this specter her 'guardian angel' --Not to mention at her grandmas' salon a strange man comes in and steals all the garbage?  

Then Hayden falls into a hole and the next thing you know she can communicate telepathically with her cat! This is a fun light, cozy read, easy on the budget, and just a fun escape.  The second book in the series, The Disappearance of Emily is available on Amazon starting March 12, 2021, so now is a perfect time to read book one and then pre-order book two!