Festive Mayhem Book Blast Giveaway!

If you’re looking for a good mystery with a little holiday twist, look no further. Today I’m participating in the FESTIVE MAYHEM Book Blast featuring 10 talented authors with stories of mystery, crime, and suspense with a holiday flair. Read on for an excerpt from one of the short stories and my review. 

◊ Genre: MysteryAnthologies
◊ Publisher: Marla Bradeen (October 26,2020)
◊ eBooks
◊ File Size: 1232 KB
◊ Print Length: 159 Pages
◊ ASIN: BO8F3HLH67

 

Ten crime writers of color have teamed up to offer you the gift of escape this holiday season. From Christmas crime capers to Thanksgiving thrillers, historical hard-boiled to contemporary cozies, mystery fans of all genres will find something to love in this limited-time collection of exclusive, never-before-published seasonal short stories.

 

What you’ll find inside:
• “The New Year’s Hex” by Carolyn Marie Wilkins. Carrie McFarland finds her New Year’s plans derailed when a psychic vision pulls the 1920s African American amateur sleuth into someone’s evil scheme.
• “Pipe Dreams” by S.G. Wong. In this hard-boiled Crescent City short story, infatuation, and passion drive Minnie Chen straight into danger as she tries to best the City’s most glamorous private detective in a reimagined 1930s-era Chinese Los Angeles. (see the excerpt below)
• “A Christmas Tip” by Elizabeth Wilkerson. A surprise Christmas bonus becomes too tempting for Philadelphia nursing assistant Brianna Byers to resist—even if accepting requires some skillful skirting of the law.
• “The Stranger in the House” by Stella Oni. This London House Mystery prequel stars Elizabeth Ojo, a Nigerian housekeeper at a posh guest house, who finds her Christmas intersecting with that of a mysterious resident in trouble.
• “What Lies Inside” by Kia Dennis. A tormented university professor falls deeper and deeper into a destructive obsession in this harrowing tale of love and longing.
• “A Pub, Bed & Breakfast & A Dead Body” by Forest Issac Jones. A dark past becomes the deadly present when North Carolina police detective Ike Coates and his intrepid young partner are tasked with determining the cause of a suspicious death.
• “A Deadly First” by Delia C. Pitts. Thanksgiving takes a fatal turn when New York private eye SJ Rook finds himself thrust into his first murder case in this darkly atmospheric tale of noir.
• “The Holiday Murder Mélange” by Myra Jolivet. This Sarah Doucette Jean-Louis short story follows the Creole P.I. around the San Francisco Bay Area on her quest to figure out who killed a man outside of her office.
• “Those Holiday Blues” by Jennifer J. Chow. Jasmine, aka “Jazz,” can’t escape the tragic past when an old boyfriend asks to meet on the anniversary of his mother’s death.
• “Holiday Holdup” by Paige Sleuth. In this Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Short, Imogene Little gets tangled up in a Christmas Eve bank robbery orchestrated by none other than Santa Claus himself.

 

This anthology is only available for a short time, so grab it now before it’s gone. It would be criminal to miss it!

My Review:

These writers decided to come together and create this short story collection in spring at the start of the pandemic and I am so glad that they had the foresight to put this together.  All the mysteries are brand-new and holiday-themed, perfect to read here and there as nighttime starts earlier and earlier. The rating system of cozy, cold, or chilling was very handy and allowed me to choose stories to match my mood or enhance my mood.  I really appreciated that at the end of each story I could click on the author's website and see their other books and upcoming releases. 

Below you will find an excerpt from Pipe Dreams: A Crescent City Short Story by S.G. Wong. Pipe Dreams was one of my favorite stories in this because that strong 1930's noir setting is so distinct and such a departure from the mysteries I usually read. The story was compelling and I need to know more about Minnie.

I think this book is a perfect way to transition from the spooky season to the holiday season!

FESTIVE MAYHEM is available at the following sites:

AMAZON US   *   AMAZON UK   *   AMAZON CA   *

 AMAZON AU * BARNES & NOBLE  *  GOODREADS   *   KOBO *

APPLE BOOKS * GOOGLE PLAY * SMASHWORDS

 

About the Authors

 

FESTIVE MAYHEM features a collection of never-before-published short stories authored by 10 mystery, crime, and suspense writers of color: 

Carolyn Marie Wilkins: https://www.carolynwilkins.com/
S.G. Wong: https://sgwong.com/
Elizabeth Wilkerson: http://elizabethwilkerson.com/
Stella Oni: https://stellaonithewriter.com
Kia Dennis: http://www.kiadennis.com/ 
Forest Issac Jones: http://www.forestissacjones.com/
Delia C. Pitts: https://www.deliapitts.com/
Myra Jolivet: https://myrajolivet.com/
Jennifer J. Chow: http://jenniferjchow.com/
Paige Sleuth: http://www.marlabradeen.com/ps/

 

Be sure to enter the giveaway below. If the widget doesn’t work, just click HERE to enter. You can read more about this fascinating book by visiting the other stops on the Book Blast.

 

Thanks for stopping by today. Don’t you just love a good mystery with a holiday theme?

Here is an excerpt of one of the stories: Pipe Dreams: A Crescent City Short Story 

By S.G. Wong

AS SHE WATCHED LOLA Starke cross the floor of the mah-jongg parlour, Minnie supposed she oughta be grateful even if it was late and she was tired. This was research after all and Starke was the only gumshoe she knew personally, if only tangentially. Though Minnie was certain she couldn’t name a more unlikely looking shamus this end of the west coast. Hells, maybe even in the entire country. Weren’t private dicks supposed to be a seedy lot? Failed coppers unable to stay off the sauce? Big men with crooked noses and uncertain teeth, and the fluid scruples to match?

Minnie thought of her research project so far. She couldn’t dig up a single instance that contradicted these preconceptions—except for the striking woman in a column of dark green silk she was now watching from the corner of her eye. Gods, Starke sure knew how to wear a dress. It helped that the get-up in question likely cost more dough than Minnie made in a month, even with the generous salary she got working for her uncle. Must be nice to be a trust fund baby.

Pretending to wipe down a few final ashtrays behind the bar, Minnie watched as Starke bade Uncle Sammy a good night at the doors of his office and smoothly glided through the maze of tables toward the doors. Heads popped up in her wake like a gods-damned gopher convention. What was it about Starke, Minnie marvelled. Pretty girls were a dime a dozen in Crescent City and beautiful ones walked down every street. And yet.

Not a single person at the tables tonight could resist staring after her. Sure, Starke was tall. What gwai wasn’t, compared to most Chinese? It’s not like there weren’t plenty of foreigners in the City, though. They came when the Chinese staked their claim during the 1820s gold rush, and either clawed their own riches from the earth or died trying. A hundred years and change later, foreigners were still dazzled by the City’s gilded reputation. Tourists, business people, politicians, artists—they all flocked here to steal a little of the glamour the film studios made such good cabbage selling. What made Starke so damned special?

Minnie shook herself. Eyes on the prize, Chen. She had a shamus to tail.

Scurrying out the back and into the shadowed alleyway, she made for her motorized scooter, hidden behind a stack of wooden pallets near the door. Minnie slammed on her helmet, fiddled with the straps beneath her chin as she pushed the moto down the alley toward the front of the mah-jongg parlour. As she neared the street proper, she slowed until she could peek around the corner of the building.

Stop by the other blogs on this tour!  

Monday, Oct. 26 – Just Jemi – Review
Rockin’ Book Reviews – Feature
Nesie’s Place – Excerpt
Writer’s Gambit – Review & Feature

Tuesday, Oct. 27 – First of All – Review & Excerpt
CelticLady’s Reviews – Feature
Bookish Rantings – Excerpt

Wednesday, Oct. 28 – I Found This Great Book – Review & Excerpt
Book Reviews by Pat Garcia – Review
Thoughts in Progress – Excerpt
Author Deborah A. Bailey – Excerpt

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The Last Week of October is Already Here! Witches! Warlocks!

 Halloween is coming up this Saturday and then a week from today the time changes and we will be in the dark until March.  As you know by now, I am always in the mood to curl up with a good book, and what better time to read about witches and warlocks than now as the temps drop and the nights start before dinner is on the table.   Below is a review of a book I can say is one of the best new books this year. If you enjoy contemporary fantasy or paranormal books. You have to get this book because you are going to love it. 

White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finished this book a few days ago and I find myself thinking about the story at random moments like when I am washing the dishes. I'm thinking about how I was not surprised about one part of a major plot reveal because it was so very well foreshadowed so I knew something was up, but when the whole truth comes out, it's so much deeper and more impactful.

This book is in the top five of all books I have read this year. It's a great ride and I highly recommend it. David Slayton does such a beautiful job of giving us a cohesive world that spans several dimensions and in those worlds, David gives us just the right amount of fully drawn characters. I cannot wait to read what happens next.

One last thing, I really really like the love triangle. It's there, but it isn't overwhelmingly angsty.

View all my reviews

Are you decorated?  Here is a picture of my kitchen area coffee station all decked out for All Hallow's Eve! 

Happy Haunting! 

What's a Cook To Do When You Have Apples, Lots of Apples!

 I asked the hubs to get me 3 Honey Crisp Apples from the store and he brought home three bags of apples. One bag of Honey Crisp, one bag of Golden Delicious and one bag of Gala apples. 

Here is the Apple Crisp Recipe I tried

An old picture with some lovely fall foliage! 

Because I follow many Cozy Mystery writers on social media, I found this podcast All Things Cozy.  The Cozy lifestyle is my jam. In the most recent episode, I listened to one of the hosts talked about Yankee Candle called warm and cozy.  It's supposed to smell like a bonfire in the fall.  I had Kohl's cash, and I decided today was a good day to order that candle- so hopefully I'll get a notice from Kohl's and be able to pick that candle up and see if it lives up to its name! 

I double-checked my order and sadly, it seems that I am going to have to wait until next week to get my candle.  That's not cozy! 

I've been working on living my best Spooky Season life this week.  I've painted pumpkins and I made my scarecrow for the front porch. A week from Saturday is Halloween!  I hope you and yours have been enjoying some Autumnal Fun! 

It rained all night last night, so I'm waiting to put out my scarecrow until this weekend. It will be sheltered, but I want to avoid having a soggy wet blob on our front porch! 

13 days until Halloween! How are you celebrating the Season?

 Because I have the "I Heart Radio" on my phone, I got a notification today for what they call a 3-D podcast for Halloween. It's like Tales from the Crypt for your ears, lots of background sounds as you listen to a creepy story this is less than 30 minutes.  A great way to enjoy the spooky month of October while you are cooking, cleaning, or walking the dog. 

Yesterday afternoon I was making phone calls to voters and while no one could see me, I decided why not wear some Autumnal Aldi gear. How cute are these socks!  The green leggings are also from Aldi. I'm glad I embraced the legging lifestyle, I may never wear pants that button or zip again. 

One Dark and Stormy Knight: A Cozy Witch Mystery by Hermione Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you grew up reading tales of King Arthur and you love reading cozy mysteries, you've got to read this book!
This novella length book has a decent mystery and a nice cast of characters. Even though this is a paranormal, I would say there is one small plot point that is a bit hard to believe, but I decided to go with it and not let one small thing stop my general enjoyment of the book.

Hermione Moon has created a lovely town that you'll want to visit again and again!

View all my reviews

#FraterfestRAT Day One!

 It's here!  A great excuse to immerse myself in spooky season. Today I started listening to Mexican Gothic. Tonight I am going to finish reading One Dark and Stormy Knight  and today I also picked up a book I had a hold on at the library, I'm so glad that I get to read this for the Fraterfest Read a Thon:  Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas  Oh and also I'll be reading the new release - White Trash Warlock

Join me and read some spooky/cozy paranormal/YA paranormal/Halloween themed books! You can even win prizes! Click Here  So if the weather is gloomy, download a book or grab one from your local library and spend some time cozied up in a chair. --And let me know what you are reading!  I love book recommendations! 

Where Is The Great Pumpkin?

 Folks, I have checked the ABC schedule and there is not an airing of one of the best holiday specials in existence scheduled between now and 10/26 (which is the furthest date I could check on ABC Chicago Channel 7).

What the heck! In previous years we have gotten to enjoy It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" twice during October.  However, in 2020, a year when we could use at least two showings on good old over the air TV, it's not even on the schedule yet.  Hopefully, they will air it at least once the week of Halloween. 

You can purchase the DVD, provided you still own a device that plays DVDs. I personally like to watch it on live TV with commercial breaks.  You can pay to stream it as well.  Here is an article that says where you can find the special. 

It's just not Halloween without the Great Pumpkin! 

Before I go, here is a recipe for Harvest Pumpkin Dip, enjoy! 

What I'm Up To This Week -Halloween Talk!

 

My favorite kinds of ravioli are back at Aldi! Yum! If you haven't tried these yet, go get some.  Pumpkin and Sage as well as Butternut Squash.  Trader Joe's has an Autumn Alfredo which is great with these or you can just use a little melted or browned butter. Delicious for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Thus far October weather has been very kind to those of us in Illinois. I am hoping this trend continues as it makes running outside so enjoyable. Based on my personal experience, I think people are really throwing themselves into decorating for Halloween this year and I am here for it! 

One of my goals this week is to make a lifesized scarecrow for our front porch.  My delay is really just a matter of stuffing. I think I can use old clothes in lieu of hay or straw. If I hold out making the scarecrow until I go find and purchase hay, I'm not going to get it done. 

Middle son has procured a temp job working for a drugstore chain, fortunately, they take mask-wearing very seriously--as a store with a pharmacy should. Note to self, remind said child to get his flu shot ASAP. 

What am I reading right now?  I'm finishing Emerald Blaze today and then I will have to wait for Ilona Andrews to write the third book in this trilogy! 

Then for the upcoming week, I'm reading witchy books--starting with One Dark and Stormy Knight: A Cozy Witch Mystery 

#FraterfestRAT !

Great Idea To Celebrate Halloween - And A Book Recommendation!

If you have teens or tweens and are looking for a way to celebrate Halloween this year, I have an idea.  You make up a scavenger hunt list and then kids go in pairs and walk around and take pictures of the items on the list. Once they complete the list they make a photo collage of the items and show the picture to you and in turn, you give them a goodie bag prize.  

Other ideas for distanced Halloween fun, group watch a Halloween-themed movie, Zoom Halloween Costume Contest, or Just wear your costume for the next three-weeks w/a mask on everywhere you go!  Don't limit yourself to one day! This year is weird! 

As I mentioned a couple weeks back, one of the ways I'm celebrating Halloween this year is by participating in a read-a-thon.  Well, now the Fraterfest Read-a-Thon starts on Thursday!  Join me here !  You can even read the book below as part of the fun! 

Ghosts of Tsavo (Society for Paranormals, #1)
by 

Vered Ehsani (Goodreads Author)

Victoria Hamel's review

Oct 07, 2020  ·  edit

really liked it

 

A friend recommended this series to me, I got the first book from Amazon. I think the series is part of Kindle Unlimited. There are many cozy mysteries and romance books included with Kindle Unlimited and I think it's finally time to take the plunge and get the subscription!

The book is on the short side which is perfect for a cold and gloomy fall day. This book takes place in the late 1800s, but in a world where the paranormal is all around us but The Society keeps it from regular humans. The main character in this book, Mrs. Knight, is a very capable woman with a dry sense of humor so I found her to be very relatable-- however, she can see auras and can smell werewolves, and alas, I cannot.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the book for me I don't want to share because it would be spoilery. It was at the climax of the book and I was glad to see it.

This is a fun series at any time of year, but during the spooky season, treat yourself to this adventure!

Chauffeur Duty This Week!

 As the only person in our household who doesn't have gainful employment and/or is attending school as a full-time student, I'm on chauffeur and maid duty.  

I don't mind at all, soon enough I'll find another job and won't be able to be the full-time housewife I am at present. 

For this week I have driving to do every day except today to get people to school or work. I went through the kitchen cabinets and found ingredients to prep overnight oats that are appropriately flavored for fall.  

I will also add some almond milk to the ingredients below.  

I might also add in a few walnuts because I have an open bag of walnuts that need to be used up in the next month or so. 

I finished reading another book but I'm not putting a review here because I thought the book was okay. My review was three stars. Three stars on good reads means "I like it".  Now if you are looking for a book, I highly recommend Death Overdue! 

FIVE STARS!

Great first book in a series. I love the setting, both the town and the fact that there is a  haunted library! I enjoyed meeting Carrie Singelton our protagonist. I like that she has been in the world living life and then comes back 'home' She's relateable and has an interesting past. I really liked that overall Carrie didn't put herself in a bunch of dangerous situations where the murderer on the loose could try and kill her. She was more cautious than often the main characters are in a cozy and I appreciated that facet of the book. 

We are reading this book for the Cozy Mystery Book Club this month join us on youtube the last Tuesday of the month! You have plenty of time to read this one and join us! 

It's Here! Spooky Season is Here!

 Kicked off October with a fall salad that Tom said was very good.  Then I drove middle child to the train so he could go downtown for one class. I am definitely seeing some spooky decorations going up.  I hope everyone really gets into the Halloween decorating spirit this year. 

All the Halloween spirit helps me as I am working on my Halloween themed Cozy Mystery.  Will I ever get published?  Who knows I have decided just to write what I enjoy reading and go from there.

The recipe here included feta.  What I made is the salad without feta. I added more pepper, vinegar, and arugula than the recipe called for this time. Makes for a light meal or a side dish!  Also is tasty with a nice pumpkin beer.  This one has some really nice spices. The hubs did a make your own six-pack and this was one of the offerings at Binny's.  The beer is a really nice golden color.  I have little 8 oz mason jelly jars I like to use -- portion control! 

Spooky Season is Almost Upon Us! Who's Excited for October?

 

In the fall I enjoy reading/listening to spooky/light horror/paranormal books.  I used an audible credit to listen to this book and I listen to the book at 1.3 speed.  I enjoyed this reader and would listen to other books read by her. 

This book is YA and it has some of your classic YA tropes.  Alexis Henderson does a fine job creating a creepy atmosphere and throughout the book, I was not sure who was 'bad and who was 'good'. I liked that I was constantly questioning everyone's motives.  I could not even be sure  Immanuelle was a reliable narrator.   

This isn't the sort of horror that will give you nightmares or make you freak out about a bump in the night, it is the sort of horror that really puts one in the Halloween spirit.  Oh now if you do want to take to the next level, listen to it while you walk in the woods, at night.

Four Stars!

Here is a link to the book and my other reviews! 

And in decidedly not spooky Autumn fun, I found the perfect shower curtain to hang from now until December! It's from Bed, Bath and Beyond--I finally used one of the 50,000 coupons they send me in the mail. :-) 

Soups On! In Which I Try a New Soup Recipe!

 

Got a copy of the Women's Day, yes I have a couple magazine subscriptions.  I like to flip through an occasional magazine and to circle things, tear out pages, put post-it notes on pages to remember.  

This recipe is a potato corn chowder and the reason I decided to try it was because you make it in the slow cooker.

I added more corn, garlic, chorizo, and thyme than the recipe calls for and I skipped the half and half, but I did add some sour cream right before serving. It's a lot of chopping and then waiting while it cooks in the crockpot you can make it on low for like 6 hours or 3-4 on high.  I think if you made it on the stove it would take 40-60 minutes? I think that you could add 1/4 a cup of white wine if you wanted to do that. If you are Gluten Free just don't use the 2 tbsp of flour.  If you are vegan, skip the chorizo and veggie crumbles and use vegetable broth instead of chicken. 

It's officially Oktoberfest  Me and the hubs split this crowler --basically a quart of beer. So we each had a pint. Neither of us used the quart-sized stein that came with the beer.  It's just a heavy as you would think!  The hubs said this beer reminded him of Old Style. I said it reminded me of Heineken. In general, when we have a beer we don't' usually go with a lager. 

Prost! 

I Had No Idea Making Cheesecake Was So Hard!

FOUR STARS

Before reading this book, I thought making cheesecake was a piece of cake. Now I know that's is time and labor-intensive!  You have to cream ingredients by hand, you have to smash cookies to make a crust.  You have to let it cook and rest and cook and rest! So much work involved that I never appreciated. Now that I know what is involved, I'll just stick to baking cookies! 

I read this book for the September edition of the Cozy Mystery Book Club on YouTube. You can check out this great online cozy mystery book club here: https://youtu.be/NZoDjjRymbQ First of all the main characters in this book are - Jacobia /Ellie--- Oh I know a Blues Brothers reference when I hear one! Jake and Elwood! This book was not just a standard cozy mystery, it was a  cozy mystery thriller! The tension was high and the clock was ticking the whole time- how are they going to get all those cheesecakes made? Is the storm going to hit the town or pass it by? I think I might have been more invested in the cheesecake deadline than exactly who the killer was- The characters in the book and the coastal town of Eastport are so enjoyable that I would have read a whole book about the storm and the cheesecakes even if no one was found dead. This book was a nice escape, and if you are looking for a book to read during the 4th of July holiday, add this to your TBR pile and read it for the 4th (l

Link to my review on goodreads 

Fall is Here! How about some Fall Bucket List Ideas?

 Happy first day of fall! 

This tree is an overachiever.

What activities do you look forward to when fall arrives in all its burnt orange, yellow and red glory?  

I plan on making a scarecrow for the front porch, trying new soup recipes, raking leaves, having a bonfire or two, eating plenty of Honeycrisp apples, and watching It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! 

I'll also be voting! Click here if you need to register to vote! 

Now that I've started my list, I think I am going to literally make a list.  Stay tuned, I'll post a picture from my planner later this week. 

Need some Fall Bucket List Inspirations?  Here are some links to help you get in the fall spirit! 

Hallmark Channel's Fall Bucket List

Printable Bucket List

https://theeverygirl.com/fall-bucket-list-2020/

Family Fall Bucket List Ideas

Fall Activity Ideas from Readers Digest

Stay safe, stay healthy! Wear a Mask! 

xoxo

Watching Fall Cooking and A Nice Afternoon Mystery!

 The highs are in the low 70s with sweater weather at night and I am ready to try all the fall recipes--and at the same time, I'm not really in the mood to cook. What is a person to do?  

Watch fall-themed cooking shows!  Food Network has a streaming service and I had a deal for one free year of the service so here I am binging the best Food Network has to offer in Autumn programming. 

One episode of The Kitchen is start-to-finish recipes I would actually want to make.  The link is here for the video and below is the description of the episode: 

"The Kitchen celebrates Fall with the two stars of the season: squash and pumpkins! Katie Lee makes her sticky-sweet Grilled Pumpkin BBQ-Glazed Pork Chops and Sunny Anderson whips up her Quick Wild Rice and Sausage Stuffed Mini Butternut Squash. Jeff Mauro makes a creamy Cacio e Pepe e Zucca pasta, and Katie puts her spin on squash with Spaghetti Squash Crust Pizza. Baker Renato Poliafito brings some pumped up Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and Geoffrey Zakarian spices things up with his Maple Chai Spiced Pepitas."

I really need to stop watching TV on an empty stomach. I am hungry but I don't want to get up and go downstairs to cook! Ha!

Here is a review of a book I recently won in a giveway- 

FOUR STARS

I enjoyed this novella. The story made for a nice afternoon escape. I found the gothic nature of the murder interesting and I found the main character interesting as she was much more introverted than your typical cozy mystery protagonist. I have mixed feelings about her aunt. I hope that in future installments Viv makes a local friend and finds a way to be able to use her computer skills legally to help people since that seems to be something she excels at and likes to do.

The backdrop of a town immersed in the Victorian age, with all the tech and conveniences of modern 2000s life is interesting. I am looking forward to grabbing a PSL or a golden Tumeric latte and reading the next book in the series as it is themed for Fall!

This is a good read to have on your phone or tablet to read when you are waiting at an appointment or if you take public transportation to and from work.

You can see my goodreads reviews here

It's Official! I have hit my Goodreads.com 2020 Reading Challenge Goal- A Pefect Book to Peak On!

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When it comes to YA, I love character growth. This book delivers a wonderful story and Liz Lighty grows into to her own right before our eyes.

This was an interesting take on a prom centered story. I enjoyed experiencing the prom season with all the kids at Campbell. One of the things I liked about this book was the relationships between the characters when there were hurt feelings and miscommunications they weren't too drawn out. People said they were sorry, people apologized. I would say this book is appropriate for middle school readers as well.


Start to finish this is a very well-done book. It's easy to root for Liz and to hope for all the good things to happen to her. If Leah Johnson would want to write a follow-up book where we see Liz at college, I would pre-order it as soon as it was available.

I was very happy to learn this was Leah Johnson's first book, it's such a good debut and I look forward to reading many more stories from Leah Johson. When you read this book, it's so easy to envision the town, Liz's friends, and her family. You also feel joy. So much joy in this book. I hope that someday very soon LGBTQIA stories of High School life are commonplace and not an exception.

I also appreciated the spotlight on Sickle Cell Anemia, I had thought that there were more medical advances for those who have it and it seems there is a lot more research and treatment that needs to be funded.

I read this for a book club and am really excited to discuss the book with the group via Zoom. Can't wait to hear what others thought of the book!


View all my reviews

Who likes Spooky Books?

 One month from today I'm participating in...

What's that?  Just a fun on-line reading even where anyone can participate any book that has a bit of spookiness, from a witchy cozy mystery to classic Stephen King to Urban  Fantasy to Paranormal counts.  There will be little prizes and on-line camaraderie of the best kind as we read!  

Click here to join in the fun!

I'll share what books I read here with some posts and also you can follow me on goodreads.com here  I'm working on making a Fraterfest 2020 bookshelf so look for that!

Lest I forget, audiobooks, novellas, and graphic novels all count. Heck if you have kids, share the fun!  Have a challenge with your kids.  You read your favorite a witch falls in love with a vampire stories and they read Goosebumps! 

For safety sake we won't be having Halloween parties this year, so this readathon can be a good way to embrace that Halloween Spirit! 

Comment below if you are going to participate in the Challenge! I'd love to follow along with you! 

They Don't Tell You Having Cancer Never Ends

Since I finished active treatment six months ago, I have had three follow-up scans. This is what I mean when I say cancer never ends.  The first scan I had was to follow up on all the treatments; and was used to compare the new post-treatment me, to the scans I had before treatment.  Then the next scan (a PET scan) was to get more info on a couple changes found in the CT scan and then the most recent scan was to see if anything changed from the PET scan.

First and foremost, nothing changed!!! Nothing is more wonderful than hearing your scan was unremarkable! That means the initial couple of weird things found in scan 1 and seen on the PET scan were due to changes from radiation. I hear that many people have cancer treatment and go merrily on their way, no follow up scans necessary.  I, however, get extra close treatment because I'm BRCA-2. 

On the one hand, I'm grateful to have close follow up in that if anything showed up, then it would be smaller and able to be treated faster.  On the other hand, scans cause major anxiety for many cancer peeps, like me.  It's a very stressful time that brings back all the worries of when you first found out you had cancer and all the worry that this scan is going to say the cancer is back and spreading.  That's what no one tells you, once you have cancer, you can never go back to not having had cancer.  The only way you know that you have "beat" (and I do not like that term) cancer is if you die of another cause. Otherwise you just never know what the future holds for you.

The key is to figure out how to balance having very valid worries and living life.  That's one tough key.  Because of the COVID-19 virus, many people now know more about living with uncertainty.  So welcome to my world, it's a bummer to be here. Let's hope there is a great vaccine for COVID-19 soon and some amazing new treatments in the world of cancer that turn advanced cancer into a treatable disease that doesn't shorten lifespans.

Below is a review of a fun book.  Books are a great escape when life is filled with uncertainty. I like mysteries and romances because I know the killers will be brought to justice and the lovers will get their happily ever afters.  When life is uncertain, stories can give you certainty!

xoxo

The Diva Takes the Cake by Krista Davis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second installment in this series and both Sophie and I made a very silly mistake. My mistake was reading this book while hungry. Oh my goodness Krista Davis is masterful at writing about food preparation. I wanted to eat the book! And it doesn't end there, the book is also full of discussion on how to set a table for festive events.

Sophie's mistake, I'm not going to spoil that for you. Suffice it to say, she overlooks a really obvious clue--but that is understandable, she has a lot going on! I enjoyed the wedding backdrop for this story. I missed June and the Colonel--and Francie! I do not know why Humphrey is the way he is but I hope he finds what he is looking for!

This book just keeps me turning pages. Oh by the way I loved that in the advice columns Krista Davis includes links to actual websites. Too funny. My only complaint is that Sophie doesn't stand up for herself more when she is dealing with Natasha, her mom, or Hannah.

You can read this as a stand-alone, but book 1 "The Diva Runs Out of Thyme" is very enjoyable so add that to your TBR!


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Where Do I Go From Here?

What do you do when you get to the end of a book series, or TV series, or podcast series you love? Look for another one to love or reread?  I'm a look for another series to love. There are so many good stories out there, and only so much time. 

I'm a little sad today to say goodbye to Kate Daniels, she was funny and she was smart and she was really good with a sword! I'll miss spending time with her! If you are looking for a relatively long series with a great heroine, this is an excellent series to read.

Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very fitting end to a wonderful series. If you haven't read Iron and Magic already, read it before starting the finale in the Kate Daniels series. Once again I was amazed at how well Ilona Andrews balances snarky humor and drama.

I loved how this fantasy series is really about Kate finding family and being family for other people. The mythologies used in the stories are always fascinating and I would love spinoff books featuring Roman and his family.

One of the reasons I so enjoyed this series is that Kate and Curran build real, solid love. There is some drama and there are worries along the way but there aren't dramatic fights added as a device just to keep the couple apart so I keep reading. I think it's a testament to Ilona Andrew's world-building that we have a central couple and so much action, drama, and interesting side characters that we never get bored.

When I was reading and saw there were only 50 pages until the end of the story, I was very worried about the ending, I shared Kate's concerns, I didn't see how my favorite people could survive and how everything could be resolved in 50 pages. And yet, there was resolution and a very satisfying ending. So well done!


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Happy National Ampersand Day & A Book Review!

See what I did there?

Today Middle Child begins his college experience.  The first couple of weeks will be completely remote and since he is our family's IT person, I expect that he will manage the Zooms ( or whatever software they use), without issue.  His computer space is also the closest to the router giving him the least buffered of streams.

I hope you have a lovely #NationalAmpersandDay!  It's a great day for peanut butter & jelly, macaroni & cheese, or fun & games!

Here is my latest book review!

Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the penultimate book in this series, Ilona Andrews masterfully balances snark, marriage planning, and battle action. They also manage to rehabilitate a dead villain, not an easy task. All the fan-favorite side characters have a part in the installment and it doesn't seem forced when they show up.

I really enjoyed what they did with Christopher's story and it was great to see Roman- a dark priest planning the wedding. This book was just what I needed to read this weekend, it was very engaging, filled with characters I have grown to love and as always so empowering to read about Kate Daniels kicking evil ass!

Lucky for me, the 10th and last book in the series was available on the Libby app, so I've already got that downloaded from my library.


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Happy National Read A Book Day! Book Deals! Free! Almost Free!

Grab a book, or use an app on your phone or tablet, find a shady spot and enjoy some quality self-care!

If you have a Kindle or the Kindle App you can find some freebie book deals. You can also check out books electronically from your library!

Another great way to get books is to take a little time and enter the book giveaways on Goodreads

Here is a book that is free and looks like a fun fall read! 

Here is one set in the roaring 20s- only 99 cents for a limited time! 

And another book for 99 cents - more witches!


If you are looking to enjoy a cocktail with your quiet reading time today, you can click this link for over 20 apple-centric cocktails!  Cheers and welcome apple season!

Holiday Weekend is Here! Don't Forget...

Don't forget the reason we have this holiday!  A toast to the labor movement! I hope you have some nice work free plans for the weekend. I might go with the hubs to a local brewery to try their Oktoberfest beer.  It will depend on if we can go in the early afternoon and most importantly if the beer garden is very empty. If not maybe we can get a growler and enjoy a pint of Oktoberfest beer in our backyard.  I have my 2018 Oaktoberfest Boot ready for a refill. Prost!

I finished another really fun paranormal romance - below is my review! 

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a well-done paranormal romance! You can't read this and not love House Baylor, plus Linus Duncan is basically Ironman, how fun is that! I love the sizzling romance between Catalina and Alessandro and all the obstacles in their way, I have to keep reading just to see how they will overcome everything that is thrown at them.

Ilona Andrews is so skilled at writing action-paced dramas. They balance action scenes with romance in a way that never makes you want to skim the fight to get to the romantic banter.

Emerald Blaze just came out and I'm on the waiting list at my library to read the next installment of Catalina's story. I'm really looking forward to learning more about Alessandro's quest and I hope maybe Catalina's mom will go on a date with Sgt. Heart???


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