Downward Death - A New Cozy Mystery and I Try A New Recipe! #COYERCHALLENGE2021

As you can see here I overcooked the crescents by about 2 minutes. 

 Kraft food sends me recipes all the time and many of them involved crescent rolls which I think I could easily eat a whole batch by myself! They are so light and flaky!  Ham and Pineapple Crescent Rolls I followed the directions on this recipe. I will say if I were to make this in the future I would dice the ham and mix all the ingredients into one spread and spread that on the crescent rolls and then roll them up. Overall it was a good way to use up leftover crushed pineapple!

I received an ARC of Downward Death by Stella Bixby, below is my review and as always the opinions are mine!

Ellie Vanderwick is a bit of a loner. She was raised in foster homes and has lived off and on in her converted VW Bus since she was 17.  Her dream is to help people to be pain-free and more flexible through yoga.  This story begins with Ellie being bequeathed a farm in Iowa courtesy of the grandmother she never knew.  So far so good right?  Ellie will be the outsider coming to a new town. We've all read that before right?

But wait! Ellie has a secret, her hair is a mood ring.  Yes, it changes color and texture based on her mood and feelings.  I thought this was a unique and fun way to add a little magic to a fairly standard cozy.  She also has a pet pig as her cozy companion!  

At the beginning of the book, there is some major corn confusion that made me say out loud-- "Is anyone going to tell her?"  I don't know if I got it because I am a Midwesterner or if it's common knowledge.  (you'll have to read to know what I am talking about, I don't want to spoil you).

Within the first three chapters of this book, I was already invested in Ellie V's life. I wanted good things for her and her Penelope, and I was ready to fight a couple people in the town on her behalf and hug others.  Stella Bixby has done a wonderful job in this book of really pulling the reader into the story.  The mysteries of Ellie's hair, who her parents were, and how will Ellie support herself were enough to keep me turning the pages, even before the murder occurred. 

I read the second half of Downward Death in one sitting,  The mystery keeps you guessing and you aren't sure which of these characters is terrible enough to be a killer. As I have said before, I prefer it when a cozy mystery killer is just an awful person motivated by...well I better not say this killer's motivation- that might help you guess who done it! 

When the book ends, some of the mystery of Ellie's background is solved, but much of who she is is left as an overarching mystery for future books.  I really enjoyed this series and can't wait to read the next book. I am hoping that Ellie's mother is alive and well and will show up in a future book!  I also hope Katie & Earl's daughter features in a future story! 

Website for Cheap Audiobooks and A New #2021AudioBookChallenge Book Review!

 If you have an Audible Plus subscription this wonderful novella is included in your membership! Bonus!

I listen to this book to kick off my participation in the #2021AudiobookChallenge I've set a lofty goal for the year!  If you like to listen to books or want to start listening to books join the challenge, you don't need to use Audible. You can borrow audiobooks from your local public library and listen via an app on your phone (called Libby or Overdrive).  There is also a website called Chirp Books where you can buy books at a very reasonable cost.  I have a discount link here you can use to get $5.00 toward Chirp Books. Since they have options for $2.99, $3.99, etc. The $5 goes farther than you would think!

Below is my review, but before I leave you to that, a quick note on Monday 1/18/2021 I'll be participating in the MLK Giveaway Hop.  You can see a button for it on the right-hand side of this page. I am going to be giving away a copy of The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow to one lucky commenter. You'll be able to enter to win books by Black Authors on a bunch of other blogs as well. 

Here is my latest review!

The House on the Water by Margot Hunt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you enjoy Agatha Christie you’ll love this modern tale of a vacation gone wrong. It’s novella-length so you can listen to it over the course of a couple workouts or while cleaning the house. Margot Hunt gives everyone involved plausible motives and in the end, we are left to decide if the killer will get off or not. I think they won’t get away with it. What I loved about this story is that the killer thinks they have avoided becoming a cliche, when in fact by killing the victim, they have become a completely pathetic cliche. It's delightful! A very satisfying listen!



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Farewell Christmas Decorations and A quirky and enjoyable book #NetGalley #ConfessionsofaCuriousBooksellerANovel

 I don't know about you but this month seems to be trucking along.  It's helpful that so far we are enjoying mild winter temperature and even saw the sun a couple times over the last 10 days.  Over the weekend, I finished taking down our Christmas decorations and have transitioned to Winter and Valentine's Day.  We spend most of our time at home, and therefore I like to change our decor with the seasons.  

Here is a picture of my beloved coffee station updated for the remainder of winter.

In the picture frame is a Valentine's Day card the Hubs picked up a the local Dollar Tree.  I cut it up and added a red starburst decoration to a sliver frame I got on clearance at Michael's and Wah-La, festive Valentine's Day decor! 

I'm pleased with how things turned out.  The Hubs also brought home three planters so I can repot some plants from the 3-inch containers they have been stuck in since arriving at our house over the last few months. I hope I don't kill them- on is a mum that I got for my birthday and right now it's lived longer than any mum I've had in my possession! 

Below is my latest book review! 

Confessions of a Curious Bookseller by Elizabeth Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I began reading this book, I became hooked because I wanted to know if Fawn would break up with the fellow she was dating. Then I was wondering about the cosplay pen-pal relationship. Then I began to see the heaps and heaps of dishonesty in all of her correspondence. Her dramatic flair was amusing and kept me reading as she became shadier and shadier--and developed quite the habit of emailing while drunk (never a good idea!) I almost wrote her off as a 50-something antihero who was unwilling to change for the better.

A quote from an email from Fawn to her sister at the beginning of the book that I found was funny: "Can you believe it's been three months? Just last week, he took me out to dinner and paid for it himself! If this doesn't smell like commitment, then I don't know what does!"

What kept me going was: 1. I needed to know how the Mark Twain situation panned out and 2. the emails from Jane. I could see a glimmer of a better person lurking under all the dross* that was covering Fawn.

As a reader you really think you know where this is going to go in the beginning, it sounds as if there might be some sort of romance in that "The Shop Around The Corner" style, and it's not--at all--which is great.

If you get annoyed reading about Fawn during the first half of the book, please keep going, or you are going to miss something lovely.

*I chose to use the word dross to describe all the crap Fawn heaps on herself during this book because I'm confident she would enjoy that wording.

I got a copy of this book thru #Netgalley

#ConfessionsofaCuriousBooksellerANovel #NetGalley


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Sunday Already? #TheSundayPost : Week 2 of 2021!

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

I hope you had a nice week!  In running news, I got my Yaktrax so I can run in snow and ice and not fall. This should help ensure that the weather is nice and I won't need the fancy new running accessory!  I also survived my first doctor's appointment of the year. I'll likely write about that another day, the situational anxiety of going to see a Medical Oncologist--good times. 😟

This week I read books like it was my job - links to this weeks posts and reviews are here:

*Monday I took up the#COYER Challenge!

*Tuesday A Cozy Mystery Review

*Wednesday Recipe and Audio Book Review

*Friday #NationalBubbleBathDay and a Mystery/Romance

Coming up this week:

-Book review of Confessions of a Curious Shopkeeper by Elizabeth Green (COYER Seasons Challenge book) 

-AudioBook Review of an Audible Original and a Website for getting audiobook discounts & Winter Decor talk. 

-Book Review of Downward Death- A new cozy mystery with a Yoga theme!  -And a recipe I tried because I had leftover crushed pineapple. 

The time has come to take down our Christmas tree, and with a big hat tip to Leanne W. I took a picture of many of the ornaments from our tree before wrapping them up until late next November. 

A pile of memories! Some going back as far as 50 years!  

In Which I Embrace the Bath Lifestyle and #JaneinStPete #NetGalley- A Mystery/Romance!

Did you know today, January 8th, is #NationalBubbleBathDay?  If not, now you know!  

 

Sometime during November, I decided to take a bath every now and again. Once I had taken a bath or two, I realized  I needed a nice fuzzy robe, a quality bubble bath, a wrap for my hair, and a bath pillow.  Shortly thereafter, I made my Christmas list and asked for everything I needed to embrace the bath lifestyle. 

When Christmas day arrived, my wonderful family gave me a robe, a Bath and Body Works bubble bath, and a wrap for my hair.  I said to the Hubs, "Now I just need a bath pillow."  The Hubs then said, "Oh no, Honey, that won't do, I'm going to make you one right now."  Armed with duct tape and the can-do spirit, he recycled packing materials to make me a bath pillow for home and --in his words--a travel pillow I could take with me on trips.  "What Trips?" I asked and then we dissolved into a fit of laughter. 

Happy #NationalBubbleBathDay!  Knock off work early!  Go lock yourself in the bathroom and escape for a while! Embrace Escapism!

And speaking of traveling without going anywhere, below is my latest book review, a nice escape to St. Petersburg, FL. 

Jane in St. Pete by Cynthia Harrison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Recently, I was able to download a copy of Jane in St. Pete by Cynthia Harrison to read and review. The main character of the book, Jane, is a recently widowed fifty-five-year-old who has left Detriot and moved to a gated condo community in St. Pete, Florida. The book opens with Jane attending a coffee hour at her community center. We get a real sense of Jane right off the bat, based on her internal monologue and we get introduced to people around her via the coffee hour small talk. I thought this was a clever way to start off the book and give us a sense of who's who. Like me, Jane has given up dying her hair, a detail I really liked! Unlike me, she is quickly involved in a murder investigation.

I thought it was very clever of Cynthia Harrison to use Jane's background as an art history teacher as a reason for her to assist in the investigation. In addition to the murder, there may also be mobsters looking for someone in the community! Plus Jane has unresolved issues with the sudden death of her husband, issues with her adult daughter, and then there is the handsome detective. All of these situations are navigated and come to a very satisfying conclusion.

When the book was nearly half over, the narration moves from Jane to another character, I will say that threw me off as I was reading. The second point of view is used off and on for a few chapters and then we finish the book in Jane's head.

This is the sort of book that is a nice beach read, or to have on hand if you are a train commuter for work, or if you like to have a book to read during a lunch break or medical appointment. The book has a fairly small cast of characters to keep track of and most of the action occurs in just a few places, so it is easy to pick back up if you are reading it here and there.

#JaneinStPete #NetGalley

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Thankfully This Recipe Was Easy and The Hubs liked it! Plus a #COYER Challenge and #2021AudioBookChallenge

How's your 2021 going so far? Around here we have had some seasonally appropriate weather that has made it difficult for me to go for a daily run. I don't have a treadmill, I really don't like running inside. Running on a treadmill is a surefire way to watch time slow to a crawl. I'd much rather layer up and run outside.  However, ice and snow equal me falling down and I don't want to find out how well the Prolia shot I had to take works.  Yes Osteopenia as a result of cancer treatment stinks, but I don't see the point in complaining, I'm just glad I don't currently have cancer.   The fix to my running in the snow and ice is to get Yaktrax , it's like putting chains on tires for winter driving. Last winter I feel like four times and almost fell more times than I can count so instead a repeat of last year where I courted breaking a bone. This year I'm going to start right off being smarter about my running. 

How about you?  Are you getting the year off to a smart start?  If you would like a hearty flavorful, cassoulet that is easy to put together, try this one! 

Substitutions that I made were- I used ground turkey instead of ground pork, I used a can of garbanzo beans instead of the second can of Great Northern Beans because I only had one can of Great Northern.

My finished picture doesn't look as pretty as I would have liked, but the meal was delicious. Here is the link to the recipe from Real Simple Magazine- One Pot Sausage, Pork, and Beans Recipe

Sometimes I listen to audiobooks while I am cooking and recently I listen to the audio version of a graphic novel. Yes, I know this sounds like an oxymoron.  I have to say the audiobook had a full cast of actors and they gave it there all so that I could 'see' the book unfolding.  Below is my review-

 

The Pretenders by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I bought the audio version of this graphic novel because it was on sale in an email I received at some point last year. Then I got distracted and didn't listen to it for a good six months. Today, I finally decided to give it a listen. I didn't realize that the audiobook I purchased was a graphic novel until after I finished listening to the story!

The audio of this book has a full cast of actors and the story really comes to life. I also didn't realize I had purchased book 1 of a trilogy, and now that I know it's a trilogy, I'm going to have to get the other two books, which are not on sale- HA! To be fair, this is a nice stand-alone story and you aren't left on the precipice of a cliffhanger.

The book starts off with an MC who wakes up in a cemetery with no memory. All she knows is that the reason she is in the cemetery is someone tried to kill her. What a great story hook! How can you not read this? I imagine it is a great looking graphic novel, the audio does not disappoint!

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First Book Read in 2021! #SconesandScofflaws #NetGalley

 One book down, 99 to go!  Oh, the places I will go in 2021--while being in the comfort of my own home! 

As I mentioned last week, I have activated my NetGalley account, and that allows me to read and review books from various publishers- in all my favorite genres. 

My first pick was a new Cozy Mystery.  This book takes place in Cape May, NJ--which is a real town and is now officially added to TBV (To Be Visited) list! 

This book is available on Kindle and in Paperback from Blue Eagle Press.  If you read it--let me know- tag me in your review or comment below with your feedback! 

Scones and Scofflaws by Jane Gorman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I requested this book from #Netgalley because I like the name. What can I say, I enjoy alliteration!
My impression of this book was that it focuses more on the mystery than on the cozy town itself. We do hear about the beach and meet some townfolk, but we stick with Anna who is focused on finding whodunit and why.

I thought that the method of murder was clever and unique. I appreciated how the clues connected to Anna's life experiences and to her dealings with the town, in other words, scenes were not wasted, everything meant something.

I didn't figure out who the killer was before Anna; but, that person was my #1 suspect so I was glad I was right! I appreciated that Jane Gorman chose to have a villain who was just a terrible person and didn't rely on saying the killer was 'crazy'. Additionally, Ms. Groman doesn't rely on killing additional people to raise the stakes for our sleuth, which makes it a more plausible story overall.

This is a plot-driven book and at times I felt like I would like to get to know Anna better, I hope that in the next book there might be more time to get to know her via maybe some light comedy scenes with her and Sammy or Luke.

Throughout the book, Anna reminds herself that she isn't a damsel in distress which is nice to read. I enjoyed reading about her background in anthropology. I am left wondering about her cousin Eoin (a modern-day Harriet the Spy). I'd like to know more about how Eoin came to be with her for months, I hope we find out more about that in the next book.

Overall this book is a solid mystery that comes together nicely. The title of the book comes into play in the actual story which is a nice bonus!

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Clean Out Your E- Reader #COYER Seasons Challenge 2021

 

Over the past year, I have added many, many free ebooks or ebooks that cost under $5 to my kindle. I don't even actually know how many books I have sitting in my virtual TBR pile.  How fortunate for me and my teetering pile of books that I learned about the COYER Book Community and the challenges. Now I have peers to read with and reading goals. This is my idea of fun! This also means that I will get around to reading some of the lovely books that have been waiting for me for months and months.  

If you would like to join me you can learn more and join here

When you see me use the hashtag #COYER this winter you'll know I'm cleaning out one of the books on my e-reader! 

The first book I am reading for the challenge is Confessions of a Curious Bookseller.  So far I can tell you that the main character is super quirky!  

Hope you are having a great day and are able to take some time to do what you love!

The First Sunday of 2021 is Here!

I am kicking off the new year by participating in The Sunday Post:  

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

To recap, I have a lovely pile of new books to start my new year-

Look at that literary goodness! 

The first book I will be reading is Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing.  It's a Cozy Mystery that takes place at a winery in Colorado.  This book is the January reading selection for The Cozy Mystery Book Club and there will be a live stream discussion of the book on the last Tuesday of January at 7pm EST. 

Because one book club is not enough, I will also be reading The Midnight Library I am trying to decide if I am going to read this or listen to it.  I listened to a sample of the audiobook and the audio didn't grab me, so I'm not sure if I want to use my Audible credit on the book. Decisions, decisions.  

Speaking of Audible, I recently listened to one of the Audible Originals.  It's called After the Fairy Tale and is a great listen for anyone who has watched a season or more of The Bachelor franchise.  This story is a fictional account of what happens after the final rose when the happy couple is separated for several months. If you have a membership this title is free.  This is different than a standard audiobook written by one reader this is a full audio production with sound effects and a full cast of characters.  Think of this as a lifetime movie for your ears.  The story and the acting are very engaging.  If you are looking for a distraction this is it! 

Coming up this week:

A review of Scones & Scofflaws by Jane Gorman 

I'll be sharing a recipe that went over very well at my house from Real Simple Magazine. 

Celebrating National Bubble Bath Day

Welcome New Year! Be Better Than the Last Two PLEASE!

I have decided that approaching the new year with cautious optimism is my only choice. 

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."- Anne Bradstreet from Meditations Divine and Moral.

Looking at the world through my cautiously optimistic lens, I am planning to find the beauty in the cold of winter, keep all my fingers and toes crossed for health for myself and my family, and that maybe just maybe we can manage the pandemic and soon than later live music will return. 

I'll also be hoping that we'll be able to see my parents, that the kids will have those social interactions that make school fun, and that I'll run the Chicago Marathon in October. 

The new year is here, and the days are getting longer!

****

Today's book review: 

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The first book in what is--thankfully-- a long series! Nalini Singh creates a world where Archangels are at the top of the pyramid followed by 'regular angels' then vampires, then humans. Humans who want immortality can petition to be 'made' Angels into vampires. It's interesting how Nalina Singh takes angels and makes them into a mafia.

Elena is a vampire hunter, she doesn't kill them Buffy style, she's more like a skip tracer. New Vampires are indentured for a hundred years to their makers and some of them try to run in. Elena is born with hunting skills and she is the best hunter around. Just this plotline and Nalini Singh mix of modern life and myths in the world-building was enough for me to devour this book, but then you add in the archangel Raphael, Elena's past, the Cadre of Ten and now we have the beginning of an epic tale with just the right amount of romance.

If you like reading Ilona Andrews & Patricia Briggs, you'll love this series

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