One small but sure sign that things may not be as bad as they seem these days in the bookish world is the availability of Advance Readers Copies(aka ARCs).
By this I mean actual physical copies, which have been hard to come by during the worst of the pandemic (digital ones are fine yet nothing beats having a good story in page turning hand).
Recently, I was lucky enough to win a nice stack of upcoming titles via a giveaway at Discord and while they are a mix of science fiction and fantasy, one emerged from the pack to peak my Regency reading interest considerably.
The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray takes place in the Jane Austen universe, where the former Emma Woodhouse and her loving husband Mr. Knightley are hosting a summer gathering with acquaintances old and new.
Unfortunately, the unexpected and unwelcome arrival of Mr. Wickham causes plenty of trouble yet propriety demands that he remain, despite the discomfort to more than one set of visitors.
When the title event occurs, it falls upon two of the younger guests, Juliet Tilney and the eldest Darcy son Jonathan, to sort the situation out before more foul play threatens all assembled.
For an Austen fan like me, this book seems like a wonderful surprise gift(that I will dive into as soon as I finish up the current Austen themed book I’m reading). Part of the official description for TMOMW calls it a blend of Austen and Agatha Christie, which is most certainly my cup of tea(May):
One of the other notable books in this prize pack that caught my eye was Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility.
This is one of those storylines that travel through time, beginning in 1912 with Edwin, a young man exiled to Canada who makes a bizarre discovery.
That finding is recorded in 1994 and later found in 2020, becoming a part of a concert performed by the brother of the young woman who captured it on film.
This influence extends to the year 2203, where an acclaimed author named Olive uses it as the inspiration for her new book, written at a colony on the moon. Promoting her work on a trip back to Earth, Olive appears to have connected those last links on the mysterious chain but what will that ultimately reveal?
This does sound promising and like many others, I did enjoy Mandel’s Station Eleven(which has recently become a popular HBO series)very much. I plan to save this for the SciFi Summer readathon this June but fortunately, you don’t have to wait that long for Mandel’s latest literary journey to begin(April):
Before that set of upcoming books arrived, I did win a historical fiction set during the final years of the Romanov empire , The Last GrandDuchess.
Author Bryn Turnbull introduces us to Olga, the firstborn daughter of Czar Nicholas, haunted by a prophecy that she would not live to see the age of thirty.
As she does her best to deal with the slow yet steady decline of the royal family’s power, Olga tries to hold onto to hope for the better, with the chance of a possible romance awaiting in the wings.
As someone who doesn’t know much about the final years of the Romanovs beyond the basic history,this should be interesting in more ways than one (February):
Of course, it’s going to be a good long while before we get any sort of regular life back again. However, it does help to have some pop culture delights to look forward to there.
Getting new books in any form is a part of that and I’m very grateful to have these gorgeous storytelling gems Grace my shelves. Granted, I do have a spot of bother in finding space for these fresh reads but that is one problem that I am truly happy to have:
Readathon time is upon us and for me, the Winter’s Respite coming up in February over at Seasons of Reading is a great way to start the new year.
Michelle Miller of SOR holds it for a month and reading fiction is mainly encouraged (nonfiction is fine as well). I’ve been keeping my TBR selections set to the rule of three , which seems to be working out for the better in my case.
The trio of books that I’ve chosen here all happen to be in the romcom category, given that a) Valentines Day is also next month , and b) the term respite invokes relaxing entertainment , a solid bet when it comes to this genre:
A HOLLY JOLLY DIWALI:
Author Sonya Lalli introduces us to Niki, who is tired of being the “good daughter “ that gave up her musical dreams for a steady computer career in Seattle.
Upon being downsized from her job, Niki decides to be bold for once and goes on a trip to attend a friend’s wedding in India.
While there, she meets Sam, a musician from London whose band is breaking up. It’s clear that these two are in tune with each other but is this a new beginning or a vacation fling destined to be a one hit wonderland for them both?
I fondly remember reading Lalli’s first novel, The Matchmaker’s List, and happy to find her lively way with words readily on hand again:
HOW TO MARRY KEANU REEVES IN 90 DAYS:
In K.M. Jackson’s latest novel, a pair of friends go off on the title quest despite one of them being head over heels for the other.
When Bethany Lu Carlisle learns from a tabloid report that her favorite leading man is about to get hitched, recruiting her high school best buddy True Erickson to ride along is an instant go-to for her. Who better to trust to help stop Keanu from making a big mistake than her True blue companion?
While he does reluctantly agree to accompany her, True’s real hope is to prevent Lu from making a major error of her own, plus maybe getting her to see that the love of her life might be sitting in the front seat right next to her.
I must admit that not immediately diving into this particular Book of the Month selection has been difficult at best. However, I have a strong feeling that my patience will be well rewarded here:
LOVE YOUR LIFE:
I have to say up front that this last pick is a reread but since I’m using a physical copy instead of an ebook version this time, that’s as good of a reason as any!
Plus I did enjoy Sophie Kinsella’s quirky look at instant romance here. Ava, a copywriter in need of inspiration, goes to a writer’s retreat in Italy where she meets Dutch, a too good to be true guy who is inspired to be romantically involved with her.
While their time in Italy is great, going back home to London turns the page in more ways than one for them both. Getting to really know one another (including their real names-Dutch is actually Matt!) and their decidedly different takes on life is a real test of commitment that may be hard for either of them to pass.
Returning to a book you know is a good time to be had is always a good choice, in my opinion, and Kinsella has proven to be a sure bet when seeking some smartly sweet solace:
The Winter’s Respite readathon begins on February 1 and if you’re in search of a good way to spend the rest of the frosty days ahead of us, this is certainly a most excellent starting point.
There is plenty of time to sign up and give yourself a nice break from technical stimulus that threatens to overwhelm your sensibilities on a daily basis. Instead, indulge in a little literary oasis there:
Given the state of things today, I am glad to have gotten a good number of new books for Christmas (eight in total!) and have also gotten my Goodreads challenge for the year off to a solid start by finishing two of them.
My first completed read for 2022 is Apples Never Fall, thelatest by Liane Moriarty.
When reluctant tennis retiree Joy Delaney goes missing for several days, suspicions begin to form about her husband Stan, who still can’t get over losing a potential superstar tennis player back in his coaching days.
However, as the quartet of adult Delaney children discover, this vanishing act may have something to do with the mysterious stranger that stayed with their parents for awhile.
Savannah showed up at the Delaney’s door one night, claiming to be escaping from a brutal boyfriend, and wound up becoming a long term guest. Was she truly a damsel in distress or a promising young woman seeking a slow motion revenge?
To say more would spoil the devious delights of this book but if you’re familiar with Moriarty’s artful blend of mystery and family drama, then this is definitely your cup of storytelling tea. Tennis is a strong thread in this book, one that binds the plot points and emotional arcs of the characters as tightly as a professionally made racket:
Next up was Lana Harper’s Payback’s a Witch , where Emmy Harlow returns to her hometown of Thistle Grove, a haven for witchcraft practicing families.
Emmy left years ago, due to having her heart broken by Gareth Blackmore, the heir apparent of his family. Turns out Gareth has also been playing with the hearts of her best friend Linden Thorn and long time crush Natalia “Talia”Arvamov, who is interested in a little magical revenge.
The main reason that Emmy came home is to arbitrate the Gauntlet, a series of challenges meant to determine which family is in charge of Thistle Grove. The Blackmoores have been in power for several generations now and using their power play to slowly yet surely push the other witch families down.
Emmy is happy to help settle more than one score here but she is in danger of being distracted by a budding romance between herself and Talia, who is eager to encourage Emmy to staying in town for good.
Can Emmy gain her revenge and find true love all on her own terms or this there a price for both that she’s not willing to pay?
This is the first time that I’ve read Lana Harper and the good news that I want to read more . As luck would have it, this novel is meant to be the first in a Thistle Grove series (the follow up, From Bad to Cursed, is due out soon). Harper showcases a charming knack for crafty character development and staging, bringing this magical town to vivid life on the page.
The best part is watching Emmy and Talia click together as a couple, creating more than one kind of magic to enchant audiences with:
At the moment , I’m in the middle of a wonderful Book of the Month club selection that I treated myself to as a New Year’s present.
Debut historical fiction writer Kaia Alderson tells the story of the role African American women played in WWII in Sisters in Arms. In 1942, New Yorkers Eliza Jones and Grace Steele separately found themselves at a crossroads regarding the course of their lives.
Each woman decided to join the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps(WAAC) and meet up to form an on-again, off-again bond that got them through some tough times.
While Grace’s set of street smarts often clashed with Eliza’s upper class notions of the world, the two of them shared professional dreams that both sexism and racism combined to stand in their way.
Working together to not only set a strong example for change but to protect the country they love, Grace and Eliza do their best to get over what misunderstandings arise between them to pave the way for others to follow.
Alderson does more than give a history lesson here, she makes her leading ladies truly engaging and heartfelt. Grace’s love of music and Eliza’s determination to be more than just a “lady reporter” expand the backstory of their characters as well as the realities they live in.
It’s also interesting to see real life figures placed within the story such as Mary McLeod Bethune(a prominent Black military adviser who worked with Eleanor Roosevelt) and Charity Adams ( the first African American female officer of the WAAC),adding a greater sense of history making to this story of women moving towards a better tomorrow for all:
While I don’t have a major reading goal this year, apart from any upcoming readathons and blog related books, I do intend to dive into more historical fiction as the winter season rolls on.
Winter is a good time to take a few looks at the past, I think , with shows such as the new season of All Creatures Great and Small( with two more seasons to come!) and the upcoming HBO series, The Gilded Age, soon to arrive.
Hopefully, such fictional stories can teach us something about those long ago days that might steer our present day thoughts away from making similar mistakes and possibly improve our current course of actions. Not a sure thing but using some solid storytelling for solutions is not the worst idea out there:
First off, I hope everyone had a good holiday season and a very Happy New Year (despite the ongoing health crisis).
A good part of keeping my spirits bright was the ChristmasSpirit readathon, hosted by Michelle Miller at Seasons of Reading. My TBR for this challenge was small but wonderfully sweet.
The first book that I completed here was Christina Lauren’s In A Holidaze , which I heard quite a bit about and it was all good indeed.
Our leading lady is Maelyn, who finds herself stuck in a time loop that has her reliving Christmas week with her family and their longtime friends, especially a pair of brothers, one of them she’s had a secret crush for years.
With only one person in the group that she can safely confide in(Benny, a sweet natured stoner), Maelyn has to figure out how to appease the powers that be to get back to her regular life without any dire consequences.
Yes, part of Maelyn’s dilemma involves the potential love triangle between brother Andrew and Theo but it’s also about making changes to her life for the better in other ways while improving the status quo for the rest of this gang of friends and family who gather together for a beloved shared experience annually.
This is the first time that I’ve read a Christina Lauren novel and given the storytelling charms that floated off the pages, it won’t be my last. This had a Christmas movie vibe in the best sense of the term:
I also enjoyed A CandlelightChristmas by Susan Wiggs and planned to dive into a cozy mystery collection but wound making a switch for a brand new release which also has a Christmas movie vibe to it as well.
The Holiday Swap is a debut novel by Maggie Knox that combines twin sisters, romance and baking show behind the scenes drama. Charlie Goodwin is the co-host of a popular baking show called Sweet and Salty with her obnoxious TV partner Austin truly living up to his half of the title.
While filming their holiday special ( and hoping to get her own solo series), Charlie has a minor accident that impairs her sense of smell and taste. Knowing full well how Austin would take advantage of this situation, she calls her identical twin sister Cass to change places with her until filming ends.
This isn’t an easy decision for Cass, who is running the family bakery in their hometown alone for the first time and is in the middle of a breakup with her longtime boyfriend Brett, who is being denser than a fruitcake about this.
While Charlie agrees to handle Brett and Cass has at least one person on the Sweet and Salty set in the know to help her out, both sisters find that the life their sibling is leading is harder than it looks.
Not to mention that each of them find unexpected romance that could be perfect but for the fact that neither man knows which sister is which.
This was a nicely done story that rang all the right holiday bells and I look forward to their next seasonal book(Maggie Knox is a pair of writers working together, much like Christina Lauren, interestingly enough!).
Publishing plans are already set for next fall with All I Want for Christmas being a reality show romcom plot. Sounds like a great holiday read to tune into:
Meanwhile, I finished up the last of my Culinary Cozy Feast selections for the Series-ous Reading challenge .
Joanne Fluke’s Wedding Cake Murder finally has small town baker and part time detective Hannah Swenson get married yet not to either one of her long running boyfriends Mike or Norman. Instead she weds Ross Barton, an old college flame who became a film director ( he first appeared in Cherry Cheesecake Murder).
Not only is she getting married , Hannah is set to appear on Food Channel’s Dessert Chef Competition (her younger sister Michelle sent in an application for her secretly!) and by winning the first challenge, the rest of the show is now going to be filmed in her hometown!
That leaves Hannah’s eager to be in charge mother Delores in place to make all of the wedding plans,a dubious benefit at best. What truly is an advantage is an old family friend who grew up with the head judge of the dessert competition, picky Alain Duquesne, and knows his favorite flavors.
Hannah is happy to have that extra bit of help and even resorts to wearing her wedding clothes to serve up a specially themed wedding cake to the judging panel. That cake turns out to be a solid win but proves to be Alain Duquesne’s last sweet sensation in this life:
When Alain is found dead in the freezer by Hannah’s sister, she naturally feels honor bound to find the killer but can she do so while trying to win the competition and not be late for her own wedding in more ways than one?
While I would vastly have preferred Norman to be the groom here(the man is practically tailor made for her!), I guess Ross will do for now. This is a murder mystery series so, hey, we’ll see how long this relationship lasts-not jinxing anything here, I swear!
Otherwise, it was nice to see Hannah have a happy ending in the romance department. While her love life is not always stable, you can count on Hannah to have a good cookie on hand and a mystery to solve in front of her:
So, having finished up my reading challenges for 2021, I feel ready for this new year of 2022 bookish delights.
My thanks to Michelle Miller for keeping these readathons going and I’m already planning my TBR for February’s Winter’s Respite.
As for Series-ous Reading , the theme this year is Sisters in Sleuthing with a range of female detectives from young to young at heart, with modern day and historical settings as well.
My first choice in this category is Murder is a Must by Marty Wingate, the second entry in her First Edition Library series.
Newly appointed curator Hayley Burke is still catching up on the Golden Age mystery women writers that make up the bulk of Lady Fowling’s collection in her care when she discovers that a rare Dorothy Sayers first edition may be on the library’s shelves.
Unfortunately, the search for that particular title leads to the untimely demise of her new assistant Oona and that makes Hayley have no choice but to learn a few literary lessons to find out who done it.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Bodies in the Library, and with a third book due out soon entitled The Librarian Always Rings Twice, this seems like a perfect pick. Also, it might inspire to tackle some Dorothy Sayers at last, so a win-win all around indeed:
Well, another year of reading is coming to an end and I am definitely looking forward to the start of a brand new one filled with wonderful reads.
This year has been a “best of times, worst of times” deal to be sure. However, I think that a good book at hand can make both situations better.
Whether it offers relief from the real world or helps you understand that reality a bit more clearly than before, books are powerful gifts to shared indeed. My top five picks for 2021 are personal preferences to be sure but maybe one or two of them might resonate with you for future reading:
AUSTEN INSPIRED
THE HEIRESS:
Molly Greeley’s second Jane Austen themed novel focuses on a well known character from Pride & Prejudice, a young woman who is seldom heard from next to her indomitable mother.
Anne de Burgh, the only child of the infamous Lady Catherine, has been considered ill for the majority of her life. That sickly nature turns out to be due to an over abundance of laudanum, prescribed by doctors eager to please Lady Catherine’s wishes for a more pliable offspring.
After Anne chooses her to leave her mother’s house and detox, she finally begins to live a real life, one that gives her some unexpected options on where to find true happiness. Even with her inheritance intact, can Anne be the person that she truly longs to be?
I really enjoyed Greeley’ earlier work about P&P’ Charlotte Lucas Collins, The Clergyman’s Wife, but this one is even better with the depth and emotional journey taken by Anne, whose growing knowledge of herself causes much needed ripples in this classic story pond for those around her. I can’t wait to see what Greeley does next!
HANA KHAN CARRIES ON:
This modern take on the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks romcom You’ve Got Mail is a national follow up for Uzma Jaluddin as her first book, Ayesha at Last, was her take on Pride & Prejudice.
Instead of bookstores, it’s rival restaurants as Hana’s family cafe is being threatened by the arrival of a huge commercial eatery right next door.
While she hopes for a career in radio, with a small podcast of her own, Hana is determined to protect the family business from Aydin Shah, the very handsome and charming owner of the rival restaurant.
Despite her heartfelt attempts to save the cafe, she finds herself digging a little social media dirt against their competition but quickly regrets it, especially when the biggest fan of her podcast is not happy with that tactic. She also is trying hard to not like Aydin, who may not be the instant villain of this situation.
All in all, Hana wants to save the day but can she protect her own dreams as well as her heart? Jalaluddin is such a lovely writer who weaves humor and pathos together in a perfect design that Jane Austen herself would admire.
This tip of the hat to Nora Ephron’s triple tribute to Shop Around the Corner, New York and Pride & Prejudice is a beautiful compliment to all of the above and then some:
FRIGHT OR FIGHT
HOUR OF THE WITCH:
In Chris Bohjalian’s historical fiction, the reality of a woman’s place in Puritan society during the early days of America is keenly felt.
Mary Deerfield does her best to find some joy in her marriage to Thomas, an older man who unleashes the worst of his violent temper towards her in private. When his acts of abuse become harder to hide, she flees to her parents’ house in order to get a divorce.
Unfortunately, despite the wealth and status of her own family, Mary has little influence in the matter. Worse of all, she is in danger of being charged with witchcraft, a claim that endangers her life.
Is she being set up by her husband and his indentured servant girl(who would love to be the next Mrs. Deerfield) or are there some supernatural elements at play here? Either way, Mary must make some hard decisions to preserve her freedom and life.
Bohjalian’s tale is a steady slow burn that mixes court room drama, historical settings and feminism in a hearty stew that simmers to a thoughtful and ultimately satisfying conclusion. A page turning dish suitable for all seasons.
THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORTGROUP:
Grady Hendrix has been on quite the roll with his style of pop culture themed stories featuring strong women at the helm. His latest one, a splattered yet sincere salute to the heroines of horror is definitely a cut above the rest.
Our leading lady here is Lynette, who has grown weary of the title meetings and is willing to stick with her self imposed strictly solo lifestyle, keeping company with a plant named Plant.
That option becomes not viable as the members of her unique group are being hunted down by unknown enemies. Having no choice but to rely on each other as the body count grows higher, Lynette and company have to battle a new set of personal demons as brutally as they can.
With the various slasher movie references mixed with dark humor and heartfelt twists and turns, this book could a rough ride for some. Yet, for those who do take a seat on this fabulous frenzy of a novel, it’s well worth the price of admission:
A TRUE SISTER CLASS ACT
YOU ‘LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TO LACEY:
Writer and comedian Amber Ruffin teams up with her sister Lacey Lamar to share some insight and humor into the way too many to count racial incidents in their lives.
From being followed in stores to work place encounters and best mistaken for Black celebrities that they do not resemble at all, Ruffin and Lamar showcase the sad reality of racism with a strong sense of self and a few laughs to make these situations better to cope with.
As a fan of Ruffin’s work on Late Night with Seth Meyers and her own streaming series on Peacock, The Amber Ruffin Show, this book is a heartfelt reflection of the tough times that she and her sister (who is equally as eloquent as her famous sibling in her storytelling sections) have dealt with on a sadly regular basis.
Over the past few years, it’s been hard for me to engage with nonfiction books due to the dire nature of the news headlines making that whole “truth stranger than fiction “ saying way too real.
However, this was the one nonfiction title that I was determined to read and I hope that others do as well for the excellent insights and savvy humor that Amber and her sister Lacey have graciously given us all:
These books and many others were wonderful to read this year and I plan to enjoy many more in 2022.
So this is my last post of 2021 and I thank you all for stopping by to check my small corner of the pop culture world out. I also thank all of the authors on this list as well as the many others out there who have persisted in giving readers like me well needed respites during these difficult days.
While unity seems pretty much impossible right now on far too many fronts, a good story can be a great start to coming together and hopefully, that distance can grow smaller and smaller as time goes by.
Happy Holidays to everyone and see you in the new year:
While we’re still at a crossroads between getting back to “normal “ and staying safe during the sadly still ongoing health crisis in the world, there are some sources of much needed entertainment relief out there such as the movies.
Whether you can find a theater that feels right for your level of comfort or prefer to stick with streaming services, there are some buzz worthy films around that have the added bonus of being book adaptations to boot.
A major one is House of Gucci, with an all star cast that includes Adam Driver, Al Pacino and Lady Gaga in a true crime story based on Sara Gay Forden’s 2001 nonfiction book.
The lynchpin of the real life and cinematic tale is Patrizia Reggiani(Lady Gaga) who marries into the Gucci family and has plenty of ideas about how to run the acclaimed fashion empire.
Pushed out by family politics , she is bound and determined to gain control of the company, especially since the current heirs to the corporate throne are either incompetent or uninterested in maintaining the high standards of their legacy(including her husband!).
That drive does lead to scandal and murder, which should make for a hell of a movie at the very least. While the reviews have been mixed, most would agree that Gaga’s performance is well worth the price of admission:
Due out at a multiplex near you as well as Netflix, The Power of the Dog stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank, a surly rancher who feuds with his new sister in law Rose(Kirsten Dunst).
Phil’s vicious behavior doesn’t fully extend to Rose’s son Peter(Kodi Smit-McPhee) who he once mocked but reluctantly befriends over time. A number of secrets and lies become revealed which explains Phil’s aggressive nature and possibly seals his ultimate fate.
I don’t know how close to the 1967 novel by Thomas Savage this film is but director/screenplay writer Jane Campion is receiving some of the highest praise in her career here for it. Seems like a future Oscar contender for sure:
Now for something completely different indeed in Nightmare Alley, which has Bradley Cooper playing a 1940s era hustler named Stanton Carlisle.
Stanton has been learning a few extra tricks of the trade, thanks to carnival performers such as fortune teller Zeena(Toni Collette) and former top mentalist Pete(David Strathairn).
Now, he’s aiming for bigger targets in high society, partnering with the innocent looking Molly(Rooney Mara) and savvy shrink Lilith Ritter(Cate Blanchett).
As his scheme starts to unfold, Stanton grows suspicious of Ritter’s intentions and begins to wonder if her endgame is far more ruthless than his.
Although this story was made into a Tyrone Powell film , director and co-screenwriter Guillermo del Toro insists that the original 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham was the direct inspiration for this current adaptation. That sounds right, given del Toro’s style, and seeing him take on a full on noir piece like this ought to be quite the game changer there:
I hope that by this time next year, the decision to see a movie at home or in theaters is less of a health based concern. At least, our options in this regard are getting better and more convenient for many people who want a taste of movie magic in their lives.
Meanwhile, having a good book to screen adaptation in any format is fun to talk about with friends and fans alike(not to mention a good excuse to get together for much needed rewatching!). While the book is usually better, a good movie version is not to be overlooked at all:
As this year of Series-ous Reading is coming to a close, I have to say that diving into this Cozy Comfort Food of mysteries has been fun.
While I have made last minute changes to this bookish menu, the main fictional feast has been a very tasty and relaxing time indeed.
For this next to last page turning meal, Daryl Wood Gerber’s Inherit The Word (the second entree of her Cookbook Nook series) had plenty on the plate to chew over. Jenna Hart, the widowed co-owner of the culinary themed bookstore set in the beachside town of Crystal Cove, is busy enough with playing host to the annual Grill Fest competition without a small mystery of a personal nature to deal with.
Her playful kitten Tigger happens to knock over a Lucky Cat statue given to Jenna by her late husband David (whose unusual death once had her suspected of doing him in), breaking it to reveal several gold coins and a key.
While she has no idea about where the coins came from or what this key unlocks, Jenna is given the perfect excuse to take her time finding out. During the first round of Grill Fest, whose theme this year is grilled cheese, one of the most contentious contenders, Natalie Mumford, is found dead right behind the shop!
Due to Natalie’s less than friendly nature, plenty of suspects abound but when the focus is on Lola, the mother of Jenna’ longtime friend, Bailey, Jenna finds herself looking into the case.
Granted, there were a good number of folks on hand that day who knew how to handle a panini press, which was the weapon of choice here. However, the grilled cheese contest may not have been the motive for murder:
As Jenna looks more into the case, Natalie’s family is appearing to be less than innocent. From melancholy daughter Ellen and her spendthrift lout of a husband Willie to Norah, the newly arrived older sister, money might truly be the cause of Natalie’s demise.
Meanwhile, Jenna has to ultimately face the mystery that David left behind and the solution to that puzzle spells out a shocking secret that changes her memories of him for good.
What I am really liking about this series so far is the setting of this small yet viable town that offers both lively activity and a peaceful retreat all at once.
Crystal Cove may be in California but it has Stars Hollow energy, with these Gilmore Girls worthy characters such as the eternally cranky Pepper Pritchett, Jenna’s Aunt Vera ,who always is ready with a healing crystal and fortune telling based advice and Katie, the quirky chef at the Cookbook Nook’s cafe.
One of the nicest subplots in this story is a budding romance between Katie and Keller, an ice cream maker who sells by bike. I hope that this spark of love grows into something more with each book in this series:
Jenna has a potential love interest of her own, Rhett, who was unjustly accused of setting a restaurant fire years ago.
While he’s mostly a supporting player of the emotional kind this time around, chances are that Rhett will become more of a leading man as time goes on.
I do plan to read the third Cookbook Nook mystery, Stirring the Plot, next year and despite the Halloween theme, probably won’t wait until October to do so.
This combo of mystery, cooking and books is the best recipe for cozy reading in my opinion. Plus, there are loads of cookbook recommendations sprinkled throughout the story and yes, recipes that include new versions of classic favorites like the grilled cheese sandwiches served up with a smile here:
For our final course in this Cozy Comfort Feast, dessert is definitely called for.
With that in mind, I’m ready to have a slice of Joanne Fluke’s Weddings Cake Murder just as soon as I finish up Double Fudge Brownie Murder first!
Hannah Swenson is about to get married but not to either one of her regular beaus, Mike and Norman. Instead, she’s walking down the aisle with Ross, a former college sweetheart and filmmaker who we met a few books back. I’m still Team Norman, regardless of that!
Anyway, Hannah is too busy to plan her big day as she’s competing in a Food Channel contest being held in New York. While her culinary skills are earning her big wins, those sleuthing talents of hers also make an appearance when one of the judges takes their last bite out of life.
Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the groom, seeing Hannah get married should be a sweet treat to end this round of Series-ous Reading right:
With the holidays fast approaching, it feels like there’s not enough time to prepare for them as well as enjoy the delights of the season to boot.
However, getting something good to read is as important as finding the ideal vegetables for your Thanksgiving side dishes(my mom is a rutabaga fan)so a library trip combined with a little grocery shopping was fruitful on both counts.
The first book on my to-be-borrowed pile was Lucy Foley’s The Guest List, which I had tried to read in ebook form last year but it was too popular a library loan to have for long.
The story is set on an island, where celebrity couple Will Slater and Julia Keegan are having their big wedding. The occasion is fraught with tension already from jealous members of the wedding party, not to mention a mysterious note given to the bride warning her about the groom , before a murder is announced during the reception.
The fact the Irish island where this wedding is taking place was formerly best known as the site of a gruesome massacre doesn’t inspire much confidence among the still living attendees. Can those who remain survive long enough to discover the killer in their midst?
This book happens to be a Reese Witherspoon book club selection and I tend to like many of those page turning picks of hers. Also, TGL has been favorably compared to the Agatha Christie classic, And There Were None, which adds some extra sinister spice to the party mix indeed:
The next novel that caught my eye was That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron.
The title lady is Jennie Jerome Churchill, the mother of historic British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Well before he was born, Jennie was making a name for herself in more ways than one.
Jennie was an American heiress(one of those Edith Wharton style “buccaneers “) who married Lord Randolph Churchill and became a very well received society wife, eager to advance her husband’s political career.
As time went on, it was clear to her that she was in a marriage of connivance and in order to find true affection, Jennie had to look elsewhere. That pursuit of passion did not affect her determination to advance the goals that her husband and then later on, her son had in mind to make the world a better place.
I’ve read several of Barron’s Jane Austen Mystery books and really liked them, so that alone makes this worth a try. Plus, this story sounds like a good way to learn a bit more about Jennie Churchill, a woman who seemed to know how to make the best of things while staying true to herself:
To round this library stack off, I went with A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle, one of the books in her Fixer-Upper Mystery series.
Shannon Hammer is well known for her home renovation skills along with her knack for solving murders but her sister Chloe is more of a household name due to her popular show on the Home Builders Network.
When Chloe and her film crew come to their hometown of Lighthouse Cove for some special episodes, Shannon is happy to see her sister again after being ten years apart from each other.
Yet, despite Chloe’s seemingly successful life, there are some hidden tensions and secrets that threaten to be revealed when her executive producer Bree is found as dead as a door nail.
Can Shannon use both sides of her toolbox to help her sister out of this sticky situation or is Chloe painted into a deadly corner with no way out?
Over this past year, I have become a fan of Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mysteries titles(reading one as we speak at the moment) and thought that checking out her other cozy mystery series would be fun.
Also, some of these books have been turned into Hallmark Channel movies and this gives me good reason to watch a couple of them before the new year begins:
While I must confess to not having finished all of the books from my last library haul(the Stephen King book was read quickly) but I do have higher hopes for this TBR pile.
Mostly, I’m thankful to be able to visit my local library on a regular basis and that we still have the right to read freely, a right that is being challenged more and more these days. Things are bad enough as it is without simple minded folk attempting to force their particular brand of narrow thinking upon all of society.
Hopefully, a celebration such as Thanksgiving can unite us in focusing on what positive energy we can bring to the collective dinner table as well as set up more chairs for others to join in and contribute to the mutual bounty.
So, I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving and/or Friendsgiving to relax, have a great meal and spend a little time with your loved ones, perhaps watching a classic or sharing a fine read:
With Thanksgiving about a week away, it’s close enough to start making those holiday plans and that includes reading for me. Once again, I’m signing up to partake in the Seasons of Reading Christmas Spirit readathon (hosted by the awesome Michelle Miller).
The readathon and its adjacent challenge has a great time span, starting on November 22 and ending in early January, which grants you plenty of page turning hours to have during this busy season.
My TBR will be small but sweet here, beginning with a very cozy stocking stuffer of a read:
EGGNOG MURDER: Having enjoyed Halloween Party Murder by this trip of cozy mystery authors-Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross-I thought that it might be fun to see how one of their happy holidays collections would be.
The title tale belongs to Meier’s Lucy Stone as she fears the recent demise of Dorcas Philpott via an allergic reaction to the classic seasonal drink may have been meant for the spouse of a good friend. Death by Eggnog from Hollis has Hayley Powell trying to discover who wanted eternally cranky librarian Agatha to check out for good.
Barbara Ross wraps things up with Nogged Off as her crime fighting heroine Julia Snowden finds herself hosting an unexpected guest for the holidays and a deadly trip to take as well.
While I’m not a fan of eggnog, I can appreciate the nostalgic joy folks take from imbibing this occasionally spiked drink around this time of year. Much like the drink itself, this set of savvy sleuthing ladies can be entertainingly versatile when the situation calls for it:
IN A HOLIDAZE: Writer Christina Lauren introduces us to Maelyn Jones, who is spending her holidays with her family at the cabin they share with the Hollis family
As it turns out, Maelyn has had a longtime crush on one of the Hollis sons, Andrew. Instead of finally telling him how she feels, Maelyn winds up sharing a kiss with his brother Theo and following the news that the elder Hollises want to sell the cabin, Maelyn is convinced that this is the worst Christmas of her life.
However, on her way home, she finds herself caught in a time loop that allows her to relive that holiday week and perhaps get a chance to change her life for the better.
I remember hearing a lot of good word about this book and I’ve never read Lauren before, so this should be a real delight of a seasonal story there. After all, after the past couple of years, plenty of us would welcome the opportunity to have a redo of last Christmas:
CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS: Part of the Lakeshore Chronicles series by Susan Wiggs, this holiday romance brings together two people not quite sure of heading into that heartfelt fire of emotion.
Darcy has just gotten out of a bad marriage when she meets Logan, a single father who wants to focus on turning the ski lodge that he bought into a viable business.
Thanks to India, Logan’s sister and Darcy’s friend, the two of them find themselves meeting up again and again. With a visit to his ski lodge during the holiday season, Logan and Darcy slowly realize that denying the chemistry they share together could be a huge mistake on both their parts.
I have to say that discovering the novels of Susan Wiggs this year has made my reading life a bit brighter and that makes me look forward to this book as much as any kid waiting for that special gift on Christmas Day.
Not to mention that the whole single parent falling in love during the snowy season theme makes me want binge some classic Gilmore Girls episodes (which I may do!):
There is still time to sign up for this readathon and thanks again to Michelle for keeping that reading spirit alive and well all year long.
Diving into the Christmas Spirit readathon does not mean that I’m fast forwarding Thanksgiving at all.
On the contrary, my ThankFall Reading is going along quite nicely as I am now reading the second book on my list(A Cookbook Conspiracy) and had so fun with Ellery Adams’ Murder in the Cookbook Nook that I picked two more books in that particular series!
When it comes to the holidays, a little friendly feasting is fine whether it’s food, books or fun. Just be sure that in the food department, you take care where your recipes come from for a more deliciously digestible day:
I know that for many folks the challenge of Nonfiction November is a tempting one indeed.
As for me, I prefer my history with a side of fiction there. Yes, facts are important and well planned research is to be appreciated.
However, I’m not alone in wanting to imagine what those times in the past were like for both regular people and prominent folk alike and historical fiction is the ultimate immersive experience, if you ask me.
November just feels perfect for diving into a fresh batch of historical fiction and a recent release, ThePilot’s Daughter by Meredith Jaeger , is a prime pick on my reading list.
The story begins in 1945, as reporter Ellie Morgan is more concerned about finding her missing in action father(presumed to have perished in the war) than her upcoming wedding.
Her search takes her to the San Francisco home of her Aunt Iris with a stack of love letters written to her father by a woman who wasn’t her mother.
Iris is less than thrilled to stroll down this particular path on Memory Lane as it leads back to her days as a Ziegfeld Follies dancer in New York during the 1920s, where she had a few unsavory encounters. One of those secrets may have lead to murder.
Despite the risk of revelation, Iris joins Ellie in her quest to discover the truth behind those past and present mysteries. One of the most intriguing elements of this book is that part of the plot is inspired by an actual cold case involving the death of a rather popular Ziegfeld Follies entertainer, so there’s something for the true crime crowd to take in as well here:
In the meanwhile, I am catching up with a title that was set aside in order to focus more on my current readathon books.
Katherine Parr:The Sixth Wife is naturally the final book in Alison Weir’s Six Queens series about the wives of Henry the VIII. Being the one who “survived “ tends to get her overlooked by history and pop culture but as it turns out, Parr has plenty going on her own life before Henry showed up.
Widowed twice, Parr hoped to marry for love the third time around as she and courtier Thomas Seymour formed a serious attachment. Knowing how dangerous it would be to refuse an offer of marriage from this particular king, she planned to use her unwelcome position as queen to encourage religious reforms and perhaps moderate Henry’s quick temper.
Her steadfast nature made her several enemies, one of whom attempted to have Parr tried for heresy. Nonetheless, even when Henry finally died, she found no easy respite from the aftermath of the Tudor reign.
Weir’s background as a historian really works well with her fictional takes on the characters, blending both of her storytelling sides as skillfully as a chef creates a simmering stew of delights. While I do still have one book in this series left to read(Jane Seymour), this finale promises to be a grand one worthy of applause:
I got some great news in my email over the weekend, that I won a giveaway for Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest work, Velvet Was The Night (such a great mouth feel to this title!).
Set in Mexico during the turbulent 1970s, we meet Maite, a bored secretary who finds herself caught up in unexpected intrigue as a cat feeding favor for one of her neighbors becomes a missing person case.
She’s joined by a man who calls himself Elvis, whose reason for seeking out this vanished lady is potentially deadly and possibly political. As the two of them dive into the who, what , where and why of this joint venture, the main question is how much are they meant to be together.
Moreno-Garcia conquers every genre that she tackles and this mix of history and mystery sounds like a good page turning beat that your imagination can dance to:
I don’t know how soon Velvet Was The Night will arrive but I know it’ll be worth the wait. That’s the thing about historical fiction; all of these tales tend to marinate into wonderful mental feasts as time goes on and finding those recipes are a true treasure that never grows old.
Of course, the best compliment to any work of nonfiction is that “it reads like a novel!” and that holds true both on and off the page;
While the season of trick or treating was a pretty quiet time for many of us again this year, there were still plenty of wicked delights to be had.
Mine came from the annual FrightFall readathon (hosted by Michelle Miller at Seasons of Reading). I started with a trio of cozy mysteries stories entitled Halloween Party Murder featuring Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross. Since I’m familiar with Meier’s Lucy Stone series and Ross’ Maine Clambake mysteries, those seasonal tales were easily engaging there.
Lee Hollis’ Death of a Halloween Party Monster was my first introduction to her Hayley Powell mystery books and a good one indeed. Hayley is having an opening night party for her new catering business on Halloween with the theme of movie monsters.
Things seem to be going well, even with an obnoxious guest, music teacher Boris Candy, having too much fun scaring Hayley’s brother in law (and local police chief) Sergio with his Pennywise costume.
At the end of the party, Hayley is in the midst of cleaning up when Boris offers one last scare; his dead body in the freezer. Can she help Sergio find the killer before everyone is out the door and into the night?
The story was fun, with several amusing fights from a last minute arrival, who was rather appropriately outfitted as Cruella DeVil, that made the closed room caper move merrily along. That entry also included recipes and columns written by Hayley that showcased her character more in depth.
The Lucy Stone story had some good zip to it, despite the ending being a little dragged out and the Julia Snowden section from Barbara Ross played out well. With her niece Paige calling for help as a simple slumber party turns into an out of control teen takeover, Julia already expected trouble before she arrived to save the situation.
As it happened, the party ended even before the police showed up due to upstairs neighbor Mrs. Zelisko fatally floating downstairs. While none of the teen attendees were responsible for her demise, there was an uninvited guest who had unfinished business with Mrs. Zelisko, who was far from innocent in her own professional dealings about town.
Each story shared the Halloween party theme yet displayed their own fictional worlds separately. That made for a scary sweet platter of holiday reading treats that satisfied my cozy mystery cravings perfectly:
The night before Halloween, I finished CatherineHouse by Elizabeth Thomas and it’s a sinister slow burn of a read.
Our leading lady is Ines, who has been accepted to the title academy for their three year course of intense study. While the institute requires no contact with the outside world, many of their graduates have gone on to make major careers for themselves in science, art, politics, etc.That endgame seems to make the stifling inclusive nature of the place worth while or does it?
Ines is just glad to be somewhere that protects her from the consequences of a wild night out that lead to the death of a girl she barely knew. While trying to get motivated enough to pursue any serious academic goal, she finds herself intrigued by the secretive studies being held on plasm, the source of controversy by a former professor and allegedly no longer use for experiments.
As Ines goes on with her mix of hard studying and hard partying with her friends, she can’t help being curious about the plasm experimentation that is still going on at the school. That curiosity leads her down a few strange corridors that could be more dangerous than she expected there.
Catherine House is subtle with its storytelling suspense and at times is enchantingly gothic with a modern day flair. As a debut novel, Thomas presents a rather lively mind at work here and I look forward to seeing what she does next.
We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix was the headliner for me this FrightFall. Once a member of a promising heavy metal band, Kris Pulanski finds herself decades later trapped in a dead end hotel clerk job with nothing to show for her musical career.
When Terry Hunt, the lead singer of her old band Durt Wurk, announces his farewell tour for his solo group Koffin, Kris is stirred by conflicting memories of the past, enough to pick up her guitar again and head out on the road to get the band back together.
That reunion tour is more terrifying that she expected as the fog begins to lift on the night that Durt Wurk signed off on contracts that ended their run and made Terry a superstar. A deal was made with supernatural forces that demanded the best album the band ever wrote to be shelved for good and perhaps an even more personal price be paid.
Hendrix has a great knack for blending nostalgia with strong female leads, plus a solid sense of humor that doesn’t undermine the fear factor in his stories.
Kris is a great rock and rock warrior woman who not only has to battle with evil entities in the form of UPS delivery men and deal with band mate betrayal, she also has to save the world from utter damnation with music as her ultimate weapon of choice.
Balancing that divide between heartfelt devotion and balls to read wall terror is hard as hell yet Hendrix makes it look so easy. Granted, it does help if you’re even a casual fan of old school heavy metal (guilty as charged) but I do think that this book could be a good gateway to that genre for newcomers.
All in all, FrightFall was a fun ride and thanks again to Michelle Miller for making it possible yet again. If I had to recommend only one of my FF reads here, We Sold Our Souls definitely has the looks that kill:
I also wanted to give a shout-out to my latest Series-ous Reading selection, Ellie Alexander’s Mocha, She Wrote.
This new entry in her Bakeshop Mystery series has expanding culinary entrepreneur Jules Capshaw cheering on her top barista Andy in his first big coffee competition.
The Barista Cup has come to Ashland with Andy not only facing deadly serious competitors like five time winner Sammy and trendy Diego, head judge Benson Vargas already seems to have it for him. One of Andy’s early offerings causes Benson to spit out the drink, making his chances of winning appear to go down the drain:
Andy vows to redeem himself by making Benson a fresh cup which he is able to hand to the judge by the time the first round is done for the day.
Unfortunately, that was literally Benson’s last cup of coffee that was deadly to the last drop and while Jules knows without a doubt that Andy is innocent, proving that is a hard grind indeed.
Despite a potful of suspects on hand, trouble is brewing for Andy but can Jules rescue him before the beans are spilled for good?
I have to hand it to Alexander for the wonderful way she has made this series stay so warm and inviting as time goes on.
You don’t just tune in for the mystery adventure here, you have a good time in walking the streets of Ashland and meeting up old fictional friends like Lance, theater director extraordinaire and crime solving cohort and The Professor, the about to retire police detective ready with a Shakespeare quote for any occasion.
Even the occasional appearance by local nemesis Richard Lord is welcome and seeing new characters such as Rosa and Sequoia become part of the Bakeshop family is an additional treat to boot. Kudos to Ellie Alexander on yet another Bakeshop Mystery read and looking forward to many more:
At the moment, I’ve started this month’s Series-ous Reading pick and it’s the second book in Daryl Wood Gerber’s Cookbook Nook series, Inherit The Word .
Jenna Hart and her Aunt Vera are doing well with their cookbook themed bookshop/cafe but keeping interest going during the off season of their beach front town is tricky going to be sure.
When the opportunity to host the annual grilling competition arrives, Jenna is happy to oblige and with the challenge this year being grilled cheese, this event seems to be too good to be true.
Sadly, a fatal find happens during the competition with an old family friend being grilled about their possible involvement. Can Jenna save the day and the entire event from a complete murderous meltdown?
Grilled cheese may not sound exciting but trust me, there’s more to this savory sandwich and this story than meets the eye:
