Sunday Post 75

Happy Weekend, friends!

Through Monday, I am linking with the following: 

Reading Reality, who hosts Stacking the Shelves

Readerbuzz, who hosts Sunday Salon

Caffeinated Reviewer, who hosts Sunday Post

The Book Date, who hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On the above blogs you will be able to see links to the posts from others who are participating in those blog hops, and if you're a blogger, you can join too. 

I am posting so late today because I spent the afternoon trying to fix my computer. You know, the NEW computer! I tried to use Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 on the computer for the first time and let's just say it wasn't happening. I thought it was going well. It told me everything was installed, but that I had to restart my computer to start using it. That's normal protocol. So I tried to restart it...and it wasn't starting. When it came back on, the screen was mostly blank. Somehow, I eventually managed to get past that (I can't even remember how I did it) and it seemed everything was back to normal. However, I discovered that none of my pictures were opening.

Eventually, everything really did get back to normal, but I am not touching Photoshop anymore. It served me well for 12 years, which I think is pretty good. I installed a free editing software that's comparable to what I was using Photoshop for. It's called GIMP and it works well. Whew!

Our week started out mostly sunny, so on Monday we were able to see the eclipse (90% coverage in my area). I didn't have the glasses, so I didn't look up (although, in retrospect I probably could have when a thin layer of clouds covered the sun). But it was nice to just be outside at that time. The sky did get dimmer and it felt cooler around peak time. I enjoyed seeing so many others outside all focused on the same thing. Someone livestreamed it from my area, so I watched some of that on my phone.

Later in the week it got really humid for a couple of days, but that all changed on Friday. When I took my walk Friday morning, it was cloudy, cool, and drizzly, with much lower humidity. I like walking in that kind of weather, so I was happy to get out for a walk on my birthday. Then the sun came out.

I didn't get my wish for snow on my birthday, but I did get cherry blossoms. The puffy Kwanzan cherry trees are still blooming where I live, while the Yoshinos are mostly leaving out now. The Kwanzans will soon form a thick pink carpet on the sidewalk when the petals fall.

IN THE BOOKS

Click on 2024 Bookish Challenges on the right sidebar to see how I'm doing with this year's goals.

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I finished Death of a Fairy Tale (Mari Fable Mystery 1), by Emily Fluke and narrated by Suzanne T. Fortin. It got off to a fast start, but then slowed down. Then it really picked up. The main character is a new mom, so it shows how she balances motherhood with sleuthing. The narrator did a great job.  If you were a fan of Once Upon a Time, you'll enjoy this book.

IN PROGRESS

I once again didn't make any progress with Magus of the Library, Vol. 1, by Mitzu Izumi. Other books keep calling my name, but I do want to finish it. Eventually I will because I do like it and it is a library book that I'll have to return soon. I can keep it for a couple more weeks.

I am enjoying A Twinkle of Trouble (Fairy Garden Mystery 5), by Daryl Wood Gerber. To read some excerpts from this magical cozy, click here. I hope to finish it this week and post my review before or on release day, which is Tuesday, April 23rd.

UP NEXT

I'm going to continue listening to Sarah E. Burr's Ducal Detective Mystery series, narrated by Melissa Green, this week. I should be able to listen to the next two novellas, if not, more. I already listened to the first one (twice) and loved it.

ON TELEVISON

• Blind Date Book Club - This 2024 premiere on Hallmark was very cozy. The setting had Cabot Cove written all over it. If it weren't for the fact that I struggled to understand exactly how the book club worked, I probably would have given it five/five stars. Now that I do understand everything (after having it explained to me), I'd love to watch it again.
• One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery - My favorite mystery series and this was a good one!! I will have to post a review for it, but I can say Alison Sweeney's film writing debut was a hit! I hope she writes future installments in the series. I really missed Cameron Mathison, but I thought they did a good job handling his departure.
• Recipe for Love - This is a culinary Hallmark movie from 2015. I enjoyed watching it once, but it's probably not one I'd watch again.
• Hailey Dean Mysteries: Murder, With Love - I finally started watching this older Hallmark mystery series. It has a more serious tone than I what I prefer, but I still enjoyed the pilot. I'll continue watching the series this week.
• A Wish Come True - This is a Hallmark romcom from 2014. It has a birthday theme, so when I saw that it was on recently, I recorded it and watched it on my birthday. I really enjoyed it.
• Friends - I finished season 9 and started season 10. As you may recall, season 10 is shorter than all the rest. 

WEEKLY BLOG RECAP 

• Sunday Post - 04/07 - Weekly Recap
• Book Review - 04/09 - Brie Careful What You Wish For (Grilled Cheese Mystery 4), by Linda Reilly
• Five for Friday - 04/12 - A Home in Fiction, A Twinkle of Trouble, and a Cat on a Couch
• Puzzle - 04/13 - It's Raining

Have a great week!

Puzzle 77 - It's Raining

We've had so many rainy days lately, but I think we may be done with it for a while. How's the weather where you are? Also, have you seen any fairies or fairy homes?

I completed this puzzle in 3:01, with Fiona's help. I used 36 non-rotating pieces.

Enjoy!

Five for Friday - A Home in Fiction, A Twinkle of Trouble, and A Cat on a Couch

Happy Friday!

Today I'm participating in five blog hops. You can click on the host links below to read the blogs of others who are participating in each blog hop. If you're a blogger, feel free to join through their links!

BOOK BLOGGER HOP, hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Question: If you could live in any book, which one would you pick and why?

My response: I wouldn't mind living in the book I'm currently reading, A Twinkle of Trouble, by Daryl Wood Gerber. I love the little town in which the entire series takes place. It's a town where fairies exist!

BOOK BEGINNINGS, hosted by Rose City Reader

FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower

FRIDAY 56, hosted by My Head is Full of Books

Today's excerpts are from the paperback (ARC) format of A Twinkle of Trouble (Fairy Garden Mystery 4), Linda Reilly.

Here is the beginning:

Chapter 1

The fairies, it is said

Drop maple leaves into the stream

To dye their waters red.

Kikaku, "Fairies"

Exhale, Courtney! I was holding my breath the way I did whenever I got too stressed.

And here is an excerpt from page 56:

Her wings folded inward, and she sobbed into her tiny hands, reminding me of Scarlet seated on the trunk, upset by Genevieve's taunt. Maybe Genevieve had decided to forego dinner so she could apologize to Scarlet and Daphne.

Except, out of nowhere, a frisson of dread spiraled down my back, making me think otherwise.

Each chapter in this book (and in all the books in the series) begin with a poem about fairies. That's one of the reasons I love having my own copies of each book.

Page 56 is the end of a chapter and it's less than half a page long. It did make me want to immediately read on to the next chapter. In this excerpt, "Her" is referring to a fairy. I love the small detail of her wings folding inward. Why do you think she was so upset? And what's going on with Scarlet, Genevieve, and Daphne?

This book releases on Tuesday, April 23rd. I'm planning to have my review posted on or shortly before release day.

FELINE FRIDAY, hosted my messymimi's meanderings

It only made sense to show you a picture of Fiona today, since The Fairy Garden Mysteries is where I got her name from. (Fiona is Courtney's sidekick sleuth. Fiona is a fairy.) This is one of her favorite spots to sleep - on top of the couch.

Brie Careful What You Wish For (Grilled Cheese Mystery 4), by Linda Reilly

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I have been enjoying the Grilled Cheese Mystery series from book 1, Up to No Gouda, so I was delighted to learn there would be a fourth installment. It's been a long time coming since there was a change in publisher, but it was well worth the wait. I really enjoyed Brie Careful What You Wish For, by Linda Reilly.

It's summertime in Balsam Dell, Vermont and Carly's business is going strong. Soon-to-be college student Ross Baxter has started his own business delivering food from various restaurants to senior citizens, and Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery is one of those establishments. Unfortunately, things go awry when a dead body is found and Ross is the prime suspect. Much to the dismay of her loved ones and of the authorities, Carly is confident they have the wrong person and she is determined to find out who the culprit really is. Carly has in the past found herself in some dangerous situations. Can she get to the bottom of this latest investigation before she or anyone else gets hurt?

I had fun visiting Carly and her friends again in Balsam Dell, Vermont. It was like coming home to my own friends. Grant remains my favorite of her employees, but even as Carly's business grows, all of them are very likeable. I also enjoyed visiting with her neighbors and boyfriend again. It was wonderful to see that there is still room for the introduction of new businesses. The setting is growing, while maintaining a cozy feeling.

The mystery is strong, with plenty of suspects who have motives and opportunity. I did have a hunch who the culprit was not long after that character was introduced. My guess turned out to be correct, but it was just that - a hunch. There was something I picked up on early that Carly didn't at first, but it certainly wasn't concrete proof this person was the killer.  It was fun to see the mystery unfold as Carly was doing her sleuthing.

While I do enjoy the self-contained mysteries, it's the subplots with the main cast of characters that really hold my interest throughout the series. In this installment there are a few storylines that progress. One of them was bittersweet for me, but I'm happy for all of the characters as they move on in their personal and professional lives.

There are a couple of recipes for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches at the end of the book. This is one type of culinary cozy I can handle. Grilled cheese sandwiches are typically simple to make, versatile, and comforting.

I really hope there will be a fifth installment in this series because I will definitely read it. I'm excited to see where the characters' lives will take them next and what their next mystery will be. Despite the growing crime rate, I still find Balsam Dell to be a cozy town that keeps me coming back.

If you are up-to-date with this series, then Brie Careful What You Wish For is definitely one that you'll want to pick up as well. It releases today, April 9, 2024. If you haven't read any books in the series yet, I highly recommend beginning with Up to No Gouda, which is the first one. You will enjoy getting to know the town of Balsam Dell and all of the characters who make it feel so cozy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this book. Thank you also to Linda Reilly and her team for choosing my suggestion for the title, Brie Careful What You Wish For. It is an honor to be a part of this series in this way! All thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.

Sunday Post 74

Happy Weekend, friends!

Through Monday, I am linking with the following: 

Reading Reality, who hosts Stacking the Shelves

Readerbuzz, who hosts Sunday Salon

Caffeinated Reviewer, who hosts Sunday Post

The Book Date, who hosts It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On the above blogs you will be able to see links to the posts from others who are participating in those blog hops, and if you're a blogger, you can join too. 

We had quite a bit of rain last week, but thankfully no storms. We did have some graupel on Thursday, which was also the day of my dental appointment (it changed from Wednesday to Thursday). It was fun being out and about to experience the graupel. It's a pretty rare occurrence. (Wow, it took me a while to get the spelling of occurrence correct!) Anyway, this week looks mostly nice and sunny, with temps in the 60s and 70s. Thursday and Friday, I see storms in the forecast. This is not what I want for my birthday!

As for the dental appointment, it went smoothly. It was just a consultation since it was my first time seeing the new dentist. I really like her and her staff. They also seem really up-to-date on technology. I had 18 x-rays done. I've never had that many x-rays done all at once! I shouldn't have to go through that again for a while. She also had a little pen-like camera, which she used to take pictures of my teeth. I had never seen that before. I thought it was interesting how she also has a television on the ceiling. LOL. I don't think I'd be interested in watching television while having my teeth worked on, but I suppose it works for some people. 

Everything looks fine, except (and I expected this) one tooth that has a filling. I have only ever had one cavity, but it's been refilled a few times. She suggested I put a crown on this this time. Ugh. So, my cleaning is scheduled for the beginning of May, unless availability opens up sooner, and I'll go for my first crown appointment at the end of May. After that, I'll have one more appointment to have the crown attached. I am NOT looking forward to this, but hopefully it will be for the best in the long-term.

My birthday is this coming up on Friday and I decided I want a traditional Thanksgiving meal, minus the turkey. Give me all the high carb sides, please! Thanksgiving side dishes are my absolute favorite, so why not have them for my birthday too? Yesterday I made mac and cheese (using a gluten-free pasta I like) and mashed potatoes. Today I'll be making stuffing and possibly cranberry sauce. And I plan to eat leftovers for a few days, just like what typically happens for the Thanksgiving holiday. On the day of my birthday, I'll have grilled cheese for lunch, since that's also National Grilled Cheese Day.

Are you in the path of Monday's eclipse? Here in Central Maryland, I have read that it will be close to 90% coverage and the weather might actually cooperate. I don't have the special glasses, but I will go outside anyway. If you look at the shadows on the ground from trees, you should be able to see crescent shapes if you're in the partial eclipse path. I noticed this in 2017, the last time we had a partial solar eclipse. Here's a picture I took that year:

IN THE BOOKS

Click on 2024 Bookish Challenges on the right sidebar to see how I'm doing with this year's goals.

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I haven't posted my review yet, but I finished reading My Lucky Charm (Holidays with Hart 2), by Courtney Walsh. This is a clean hockey romcom, with some disability representation. I really enjoyed it! Be on the lookout for my review, but in the meantime, you can read some excerpts here.

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I finished reading an eARC of Brie Careful What You Wish For (Grilled Cheese Mystery 4), by Linda Reilly. I once again enjoyed this installment in the cozy mystery series. I will post my review on release day, which is this Tuesday, April 9th. In the meantime, you can read some excerpts here.

IN PROGRESS

I once again didn't make any progress with Magus of the Library, Vol. 1, by Mitzu Izumi. Other books keep calling my name, but I do want to finish it. Eventually I will because I do like it and it is a library book that I'll have to return at some point. I can keep it for a few more weeks.

My audiobook listen for the week has been an ARC of Death of a Fairy Tale (Mari Fable Mystery 1), by Emily Fluke and narrated by Suzanne T. Fortin. I still have over five hours to go, so this will continue into this week. Not sure I'd classify this as YA, but I am enjoying it.

UP NEXT

I am so happy I was selected to receive an ARC of A Twinkle of Trouble (Fairy Garden Mystery 5), by Daryl Wood Gerber. I received a signed physical ARC copy. I love this series so much and I can't wait to dive into this next installment this week. This series is the inspiration for the mushrooms I use in my rating system.

ON TELEVISON

• An Easter Bloom - This 2024 premiere on Hallmark was so poorly done. The story was so  somber through almost the entire movie. I think they could have made it more uplifting sooner. The plot wasn't too believable either, which I can forgive if the rest of the movie is okay. It was not. Some of the outdoor scenes had green screen written all over them. At one point, the background shot was black and white when it clearly should not have been. They also did a poor job with disability representation. This surprised me because Hallmark, although rare, usually does disability representation pretty well. This is easily my least favorite new Hallmark movie of the year so far.
• Just My Type - Thankfully, this Hallmark movie from 2020 cheered me up! I would definitely watch this one again. It's a great springtime movie.
• Timeless Love - This is another Hallmark movie that I enjoyed. It's from 2019.
• Once Upon a Prince - This one is from 2018. It's one of the better royal-themed Hallmark movies, which tend to not be my favorite in general. I would definitely watch this one again, though. It's another one that's great to watch especially in the spring.
• Murder, She Wrote - I'm now about 15 or 16 episodes into season 3. I think my favorite episode from this season so far was number 12 - The Corpse Flew First Class. I just looked up the title on IMDb and noticed this episode is labeled top-rated. So I guess many others liked it a lot as well.
• The Way Home - This was a jammed-packed season finale. I wasn't thrilled with the way some of the (many) storylines ended, but I'm still looking forward to season 3 next year. I am planning to post a review of season 2, but I may rewatch all ten episodes first. I think I need a break from it for a bit, though.
• Friends - I'm more than halfway through season 9. Phoebe has met Mike, played by Paul Rudd. It was hilarious how his character got started. Do you remember his first appearance on the show? He was my favorite guest actor. I think he would have fit right in with the regular cast for an even longer period of time. I love his character's sense of humor and I get the impression this is what Paul Rudd is like in real life. I also love him as Ant-Man.

WEEKLY BLOG RECAP 

• Sunday Post - 03/30 - Weekly Recap
• Five for Friday - 04/05 - Book It!, Brie, and Bell
• Puzzle - 04/06 - Finches in Cherry Blossoms

I've been trying to focus more on reading, which is why I don't have any reviews on my blog this past week. However, I have some ARCs to review, so that will definitely change. Stayed tuned!

And have a great week!

Puzzle 76 - Finches in Cherry Blossoms

Happy Cherry Blossom Season! 

There are two types of cherry blossoms in my neighborhood. One is starting to leaf and the other is just beginning to wake up.

This puzzle took my 1:47 using 24 non-rotating pieces.

Enjoy!

Five for Friday - Book It!, Brie, and Bell

Happy Friday!

Today I'm participating in five blog hops. You can click on the host links below to read the blogs of others who are participating in each blog hop. If you're a blogger, feel free to join through their links!

BOOK BLOGGER HOP, hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Question: In elementary school, did you participate in the Book It! reading program?

My response: I don't remember participating in it when I was a student, but I do remember my students participating in it when I was an elementary school teacher.  I retired on disability from teaching in 2010. I'm not sure if the school where I taught still has this program.

BOOK BEGINNINGS, hosted by Rose City Reader

FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower

FRIDAY 56, hosted by My Head is Full of Books

Today's excerpts are from the Kindle format of Brie Careful What You Wish For (Grilled Cheese Mystery 4), Linda Reilly.

Here is the beginning:

Carly Hale looked up from behind the counter of her Grilled Cheese Eatery. She smiled when she saw Ross Baxter lope through the front door.

And here is an excerpt from 56%:

"...I'm...totally blown away by your offer," Carly finally said. "I'm not sure we can afford it, though, and-"

I'm planning to finish this ARC by Monday, then post my review on Release Day, which is Tuesday.

FELINE FRIDAY, hosted my messymimi's meanderings

Here's Bell taking her after-breakfast nap (sort of).