Sunday Post 99

Hi everyone!

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. 

It's been about eight weeks since I published a Sunday post, but I'm back at least for this week. I'm just going to take it one day, one week at a time. I just get so overwhelmed when I have multiple things going on and I didn't have the brain power to write these posts. I have missed connecting with all of you, though, so I'm hoping I can once again be more consistent.

One good thing is I set a goal to read at least one chapter each day this year, no matter how busy life gets. One chapter a day is manageable and I've been successful with that goal so far. At least that's been helping me move forward with my reading. I've also been blogging, just not blog hopping. 

But seriously. We're all given 24 hours in a day, as far as I know. Where do the those hours go? Are they with the lids that you can't find for the food containers? Do they get mixed up with missing socks? What happens to them? I don't even work (retired on disability) and I still find myself always having something to do. In one way that's great because I never feel bored. On the other hand, it can feel overwhelming.

Anyway, it's the start of a new season so here's to new beginnings.

IN THE BOOKS

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I listened to Girl on the Run, written by Daryl Wood Gerber and narrated by Tina Smith. This was my first brush with the suspense genre and I'm reminded that I definitely prefer cozy mysteries. Lol. It wasn't bad. It's just that it was a little slow and dark at times (which was expected since it's a suspense). The narrator did a great job.

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I read Vinyl Resting Place (Record Shop Mystery 1), by Olivia Blacke. I loved it!! I definitely want to continue reading this series. It was the perfect blend of light romance and mystery. The author did a great job introducing the characters and setting, while keeping the flow of the mystery going. I also loved how the mystery was incorporated into the record shop.

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I listened to Resort to Murder, written by Annie McEwen and narrated by Patricia Burgos. Folks, this cozy mystery is as cozy as the cover looks. I like to describe it as a warm hug (with a side of murder, of course). Annie McEwen has created the most lovable characters in the coziest setting. I will most certainly continue reading or listening to this series.

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For The Cozy Mystery Book Club, I listened to A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery 1), written by Dianne Freeman and narrated by Sarah Zimmerman. This is a historical cozy mystery. The mystery was not front and center like I prefer it to be. I was pleased with the narration, but I don't think I'll continue this series.

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I read Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir (Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery 2), by Heather Weidner. This was set in the fall and they were filming a show that would air around Valentine's Day. The mystery was great in the last quarter of the book. Before that, a lot was happening, yet the story was not moving forward. I don't think this series is for me.

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The most recent book I finished was an ARC of Essence of Foul Play (Aroma Spa Mystery 1), by Daryl Wood Gerber. This book releases on Tuesday, March 25th. You can read some excerpts from it here and you can read my full spoiler-free review here.

IN PROGRESS

I've read a few chapters in The Puzzler: One Man's Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaw to the Meaning of Life, by A. J. Jacobs. As you can see from the books I listed above, I've been focused mostly on cozies. So this is a slow read, but I'm enjoying it.

I'm currently listening to Bayou Book Thief (Vintage Cookbook Mystery 1), written by Ellen Byron and narrated by Amy Melissa Bentley. This is the March pick for The Cozy Mystery Book Club. We meet on Tuesday, so I'll finish it by then. I am enjoying it so far. I joined a third library system in my state so I could borrow it on Libby because the other two I was already a member of didn't have it.

I'm currently reading The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax Mystery 1), by Dorothy Gilman. There is going to be discussion on this book at Malice Domestic next month and it's been on my TBR for a while, so there's no better time than now to read it. It's very different than most cozies I've read, but I'm really enjoying it.

UP NEXT

Ummm...let me get back to you on this. :) I have enough going on for now that I don't need to think ahead just yet.

ON THE SCREEN

• The Way Home - Season 3 ended a couple of weeks ago. I plan to post a review of the season, but for now, I'll say that I'm still completely invested in this show and I can't wait until next year when we get a fourth season! All seasons are currently streaming on Hallmark+ and season 1 is free on YouTube.
• Columbo - I've been dabbling in this series and I'm loving it. Before watching it, I didn't realize that we always know the whodunnit from the beginning and we watch as Columbo sets out to prove his case. It's amazing how well this format really works for a mystery show. I've been watching it on tubi.
• The Food That Build America - This is such an interesting docuseries. I'm not usually a fan of documentaries, but I'm loving this one. We learn about how America's most iconic foods got their start. I'm currently on season 2. The show is currently in its sixth season, so there are lots more episodes for me to watch. It airs on the History Channel, but I'm binging it on Hulu.
• Paddington 1 and 2 - I watched both of these movies. The first one is on Hulu (and I think Disney+) and the second one is on tubi this month. I loved the first one, but I would consider the second one a masterpiece! You don't need to watch the first one to understand the second on. I highly recommend the second one!!
• Hallmark movies - Of course I've also been watching lots of Hallmark movies. I've been watching all the new ones, plus some older ones that I haven't seen before.

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 01/19 - Weekly Recap
• Puzzle - 01/25 - Ro Puzzle
• Puzzle - 02/01 - Over My Dead Blog Cover
• Book Review - 02/04 - Felines and Felonies (Chatty Cat Mystery 3), by Elle Wren Burke
• Movie Review - 02/05 - One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
• Movie Review - 02/06 - A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
• Puzzle - 02/08 - Snacks
• Movie Review - 03/13 - Mystery Island
• Movie Review - 03/17 - Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major
• Book Review - 03/20 - Essence of Foul Play (Aroma Wellness Mystery 1), by Daryl  Wood Gerber
• The Friday Six - 03/21 - Bookish response and excerpts, Feline Friday, Nature Pic
• Puzzle - 03/22 - Good Friends are Priceless

Have a great week!

Puzzle 100 - Good Friends Are Priceless

I'm back with my 100th puzzle post! What better way to celebrate than with good friends who reside in Hundred Acre Wood. I completed this puzzle in 6:42 using 60 non-rotating pieces. Remember, you can modify it to meet your preferences.

Enjoy!

The Friday Six 14

Happy Friday!

Wowzers!! I have not posted a Friday Six since September!! It doesn't feel like it's been that long, maybe because it was always on my mind. Well I'm back this week!

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

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

Question: Sometimes, readers get into funks and maybe stop reading or feel like reading is work. What do you do to get yourself out of a reading funk?

My response: Since I became an avid reader about four years ago, this has only happened to me once and it was because I wasn't feeling well, physically. I stopped reading for about six weeks. Once I felt better physically I was able to get back on track with reading. This year, I set a goal to read at least one chapter each day. Even on days when I don't feel well, this seems manageable and could prevent me from falling into another slump. So far I have consistently been reading at least one chapter each day since January. As far as reading feeling like work, I am pretty consistent with choosing books I know I will enjoy. This is why I tend to stick with cozy mysteries most of the time, as it's my favorite genre and it rarely lets me down.

FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower

FRIDAY 56, hosted by My Head is Full of Books

BOOK BEGINNINGS, hosted by Rose City Reader

Note: I don't see a link-up for Book Beginnings this week, but I posted the link for her blog in case it is posted later.

Today's excerpts are from the paperback ARC of Essence of Foul Play (Aroma Wellness Mystery 1), by Daryl Wood Gerber.

Here is the beginning:

"Emma, your new place is wonderful!" Nana Lissa exclaimed.

And here is an excerpt from page 56:

Summers pressed his lips together as if trying not to smile.

"May I inquire who saw me go into the spa?' I asked, anxiety roiling inside me. When Summers didn't respond, I said, "The witness's identity isn't a secret, is it?"

If you enjoy Daryl Wood Gerber's Fairy Garden Mysteries, I am confident you will enjoy this first in series. Essence of Foul Play releases next Tuesday, March 25th, but I've already read the ARC and posted my review. You can read my thoughts here.

FELINE FRIDAY, hosted my messymimi's meanderings

The girls have missed you! Bell and Fiona are doing well. They're happy to be back! This picture was taken one day around mid-morning. Bell had just given Fiona a bath. Bell's rule is that only she can give baths. When Fiona tries to return the favor, either a squabble ensues or Bell just walks away.

NATURE FRIDAY, hosted by Living the LLB Life

The daffodils have begun to bloom. Happy springtime!

Essence of Foul Play (Aroma Wellness Mystery 1), by Daryl Wood Gerber

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I am a huge fan of Daryl Wood Gerber's Fairy Garden Mysteries, so when I found out she was writing another series that takes place in the same cozy setting of Carmel-by-the-Sea, complete with fairies, I did not turn down the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Essence of Foul Play.  Emma Brennan is preparing to open her new spa business, Aroma Wellness. Everything is going smoothly until a rival business owner is found murdered. To make matters worse, Emma is the prime suspect. In order to clear her name, Emma sets out to figure out what really happened and who the culprit is.

What I loved most about this book, and what will keep me coming back for more, was the setting. This is the first time I've read a cozy mystery centered around a spa business. I found this so refreshing. In the midst of a murder investigation, Emma and her staff continue to provide services for their clients. I found myself fully immersed in these services. For example, as she instructs her clients to breathe mindfully in a specific way, I found myself following along with my own mindful breathing. The entire atmosphere felt light and airy, much like the Fairy Garden Mysteries.

Speaking of the Fairy Garden Mysteries, I was pleasantly surprised to see appearances of characters, including the fairies, from that series in this book. There is a good mix of new characters, including a cozy cat companion, and familiar ones from the Fairy Garden Mysteries. It made sense to include some of the same characters since it is set in the same area. I've never read a crossover book like this and I am here for it. I'm not sure if there will be more Fairy Garden Mysteries published (I hope there are!), but if there aren't, we can at least visit with those characters in this book. How clever and comforting! And as usual in Daryl Wood Gerber's cozies, we are provided with a list of characters in the front of the book. I always find this helpful. I was mostly able to keep all the characters straight in my mind, but I did refer back to the list a few times.

If you have not read the Fairy Garden Mysteries, fear not. You will not feel lost reading this book. While several characters from the previous series are in this one, it is still very much its own story and, in many ways, the characters felt new. I also want to make it very clear that this book is not about fairies. They make appearances, but they do not play a huge role in the overall story.

With this being a first in series, there is the challenge of introducing us to the setting and characters, while keeping the mystery moving. While I enjoyed the story, I did feel at times the description of the setting disrupted the flow of the mystery. I will say, I did not figure out the whodunnit. I was shocked when all was revealed. I love when I didn't figure it out, but it comes together in a logical way. I'm hopeful that now that we're familiar with the setting and main characters, the next book in this series will have a mystery that takes center stage.

Another hope I have for future installments has to do with the setting. While I really enjoyed the spa setting, it saddens me that it is likely not one where I could receive services. Throughout the book, but especially in the beginning, there is a lot of talk about stairs. Even the delivery person had to use the stairs, and had an unfortunate mishap as a result. I wish there was a wheelchair accessible entrance that the reader was aware of. Based on my interpretation, it doesn't seem that one exists. I'm pleased to say that there is a lot of diversity with the characters in several different ways, but not when it comes to people with disabilities. There doesn't necessarily need to be a character with a physical disability. I just want to know that this is a place where disabled individuals, like myself, could receive services. In fact, it would benefit all of their clients and employees to make it accessible. It is my wish that a ramp or elevator can be installed that is front and center like the stairs.

But make no mistake. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will definitely read the next one whenever it is released. (I hope there will be another one!) The characters have depth. Not all relationships are perfect, just like in real life, but it will have you rooting for them. If you want a relaxing cozy mystery with a side of murder, I highly recommend Essence of Foul Play (Aroma Wellness Mystery 1), by Daryl Wood Gerber. And while this isn't a culinary cozy, there are several delicious-sounding recipes at the end of the book that you may want to try.

This book releases on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Many thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major (2023)

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Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major is a Hallmark movie based on the book, Murder in G Major (Gethsemane Brown Mystery 1), by Alexia Gordon. I have not yet read the book, so my review is only based on the movie with no comparison. After watching this movie multiple times and enjoying it each time, I definitely want to read the series.

Gethsemane Brown (Tamera Mowry-Housley) relocates to Ireland when she is hired as the new choir at a prep school. Her new cozy cottage where she will live happens to be the former home of a legendary Irish composer, Eamon McCarthy (Risteárd Cooper) and his partner, Orla O'Dell. (Orla has a small role in this movie and I cannot find the name of the actress anywhere. If you know her name, please let me know and I will insert it.) Years before Gethsemane moved into this home, Eamon and Orla were found dead. Their deaths were ruled a murder and a suicide.

Suddenly, soon after she moves in, the ghost of Eamon shows up and it turns out, Gethsemane is the only one who can see him. Eamon tells her that he did not kill Orla, nor himself. After her shock of seeing this ghost wears off, Eamon convinces Gethsemane to find out what really happened so that he can reunite with Orla in the afterlife.

I cannot express to you enough how much I adore this movie. It may even be my number one favorite Hallmark movie, non-mysteries included. I chose to re-watch it and finally review it today, St. Patrick's Day, because it was filmed in and is set in Ireland. Not only is the scenery stunning, but they found a way to incorporate it into the movie as if it's its own character. We sometimes see Gethsemane with Eamon or Inspector O'Reilly (Adam Fergus) walking around the picturesque landscape. Gethsemane lives in a cozy cottage, which has a certain kind of beauty of its own. I even enjoyed the pub scenes, and this is coming from someone who does not drink alcohol. It makes me feel like I'm there every time I watch it.

No mystery will receive five stars from me if the mystery element isn't strong, and it certainly is in this movie. I did suspect the whodunnit early on, but I also second guessed myself throughout the movie thinking it could have been someone else. The mystery is well-crafted and engaging. There are enough suspects to consider, but not too many to overwhelm the viewer. There are also lots of twists and turns as clues are revealed along the way. It was a fun ride figuring out how everything would come together.

Gethsemane makes for an intelligent, perceptive, and likable amateur sleuth. She's friendly, but determined to get answers. And I love that her vehicle is a bicycle, not a car. This was a surprise even to her. When she is riding, we get to enjoy the scenery even more so than if she were in a car. Her sidekick in this movie, Eamon, is also charming. He's a friendly and likeable ghost who I was rooting for throughout the entire movie. I really wanted him to have the closure he deserved.  He also provided just the right amount of humor. Gethsemane and Eamon are charming together.

Of course, this being a Hallmark movie, there a bit of a romance brewing. At one point, Eamon mentions the "triangle formation", referring to the beginning of a possible love triangle between Gethsemane, Inspector O'Reilly, and another teacher at the prep school, Griff (Marco Grazzini). It certainly wasn't too much and it distract from the mystery, but there is enough there to work with in possible future installments.

The end of this movie is bittersweet and it brought tears to my eyes. It wrapped up in such a touching way, bringing closure to this installment, but opening up the possibility for more. And I'm happy to say, Hallmark is filming more movies in this series. I don't know when, but I will definitely be there to watch it.

In the meantime, I highly recommend watching Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major. It is streaming on Hallmark+ and sometimes airs on Hallmark Mystery. It is also available on DVD. Every aspect of this movie makes it worth watching over and over again.

Mystery Island (2023)

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The second installment in the Mystery Island series, Winner Takes All, is premiering tonight on both the Hallmark Channel and on Hallmark Mystery. So if you don't have access to Hallmark Mystery or Hallmark+ (where it will start streaming on Friday), you can catch it on the main channel. So many options!

Although I watched Mystery Island last year and have watched it a few times since then, I never did review it. So let's take a look at the movie that started it all. Mystery Island premiered in 2023 and it stars Elizabeth Henstridge and Charlie Weber as the two leads.

Dr. Emilia Priestly (Henstridge) is in need of some rest and relaxation, so her good friend, Baroness Jane Alcott (Kezia Burrows) convinces her to take a vacation at an island resort where Jane has visited before. This isn't just any island, though. It's a resort where they play a murder mystery game and all of the guests are either suspects or the victim/s. Unfortunately, when Emilia and Jane visit this time, it turns into a real-life murder mystery. Emilia uses her expertise as a psychologist to help the authorities, including Detective Jason Trent (Weber), get to the bottom of this unfortunate event. 

I prefer small town settings in Hallmark movies, whether it's a romcom or a mystery, so this was a little out of my comfort zone. I applaud Hallmark for venturing out to a completely different type of setting. I am sure this appeals to a lot of people. That being said, I did, however, enjoy the "locked-room" aspect of this mystery. We knew that it was highly likely someone at the resort was the culprit.

For the most part, I enjoyed the cast of characters. They all had their own personalities and brought something unique to the table. The one character that was a little too over-the-top for me was Jane. She was clearly VERY excited to visit the resort again and perhaps this time, win the game. Some of her over-the-top excitement rubbed off on Emilia at times too.

I thought the mystery was well done. There was a pool of suspects that had motives and means. I did not figure out the whodunnit. It came to a logical conclusion, but while watching it, the outcome never crossed my mind.

Because of the nature of this mystery, I'm not sure how this can become a series. But here we are with the second one premiering tonight. There was a hint of romance in the first one, so we will see where that goes. I'm curious to see how they will change things regarding the mystery. If too many real-life murders take place at this one resort, I'm not sure we can call it a vacation spot. I'm willing to give it a chance and see where it goes.

Puzzle 99 - Snacks

Happy Super Bowl Weekend to my U.S. friends! 

Since both of my teams are out, I don't have anyone to root for. My focus is on family time and food. So here's a puzzle all about snacks! 

My time was 1:50 using 24 non-rotating pieces. Feel free to share your time in the comments and how you modified it if you did. Most of all, have fun!

NOTE: This puzzle was removed from Jigsaw Planet and was therefore removed from my blog.