Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

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Of all the movies that Hallmark airs, the cozy mysteries are my favorites. I'm especially delighted that my favorite mystery series lives on. Although I discovered the series just five years ago, the first one, A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery premiered eleven years ago. I had seen a couple other movies on Hallmark before, but this is the one that made me want to stay. So every time a new one in the series premieres, count me in.

Sugar and Vice is the thirteenth movie in the series. In this installment, The Cookie Jar bakery owner, Hannah Swensen (Alison Sweeney), caters the grand re-opening of the Lake Eden Inn. After a dead body is found during the party, however, everyone is suddenly trapped with a potential murderer. A severe storm has hindered the ability for more authorities to arrive at the scene of the crime so Hannah and her family and friends do some sleuthing to try to find the culprit before anyone else becomes a victim.

This movie had the potential to be a true locked "room" mystery. Unfortunately, less than half the movie takes place at the event where the murder happened. It almost felt like two different movies when the night ended and Hannah was back at her bakery. As much as I love the bakery scenes, it would have been a welcome change to set this movie almost entirely at the party.

All that aside, though, I did enjoy the movie. As always when I watch this series, I felt like I was meeting up with old friends. While some were missing, most of the regulars were there and they were all delightful to watch. I had to smile every time Hannah offered people cookies in exchange for information. I was seriously craving cookies the whole time.

While the mystery could have been elevated if most of it was set at the party, I thought it was fairly well done and fun to watch unfold. I did identify the culprit very early in the movie and I never changed my mind, but that didn't stop me from enjoying everything leading up to the big reveal and beyond. I have to admit, I was proud of myself when I noticed a clue early on that eventually came into play near the end. 

There wasn't a huge focus on romance in this installment. Hannah and her boyfriend seem happy with their growing relationship and Delores also seems happy. That's always nice to see, but I'm glad these scenes didn't take too much time away from the mystery. 

If you are looking for a light-hearted cozy mystery to watch, look no further than the Hannah Swensen series. While each installment is a self-contained mystery and can be watched as a standalone, it's fun to watch it from the beginning to see how characters and relationships change.

If you've read the books, don't expect the movies to be the same. The earlier ones follow the books more closely, but the more recent ones do not. That makes me happy because it's more to love in the Hannah Swensen universe. More mysteries to solve without knowing what happens is okay with me!

Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery premiered on The Hallmark Channel and is now streaming on Hallmark+. It will likely air again on The Hallmark Channel, but if your library has the Hallmark+ Hoopla Bingepass, you can also watch it that way free of charge. 

And I'm so excited it was announced they are definitely making another one in this series. I will be back to watch it!

At Death's Dough (Deep Dish Mystery 5), by Mindy Quigley

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Last year, I won a copy of At Death's Dough in a giveaway. I was behind on the series and have been trying to catch up ever since. I like reading series in order so I can follow the character development and relationships. A few weeks ago, I was finally ready to read this installment.

Valentine's Day is fast-approaching in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Delilah O'Leary is hoping her gourmet pizza restaurant is fully booked for the holiday.  This will also be her first Valentine's Day with the love of her life. Unfortunately, an ice fishing trip sets new plans in motion when a dead body is discovered. Who is the victim and what exactly happened? This investigation becomes personal and dangerous when clues are followed and secrets are uncovered. 

This installment in the series begins with an incident that occurred about one hundred years ago. It then switches to present day when several things are happening. I wasn't quite sure if and how the events would be connected, but it did come together in a cohesive, edge-of-my-seat mystery.  

With this being a Valentine's Day installment, I was hoping for a little more romance, but I did enjoy the tie-in with the holiday. The whole book had my undivided attention from beginning to end. There were enough viable suspects to consider with lots of twists and turns. I did not figure out the whodunnit, but in the end it made perfect sense. 

One thing I loved about this book, and others in the series, was that Butterball, Delilah's cat, wasn't just a cozy companion. Butterball played a critical role in how this story came together. He has become one of my favorite four-legged characters in the genre. 

Another element I really loved in this installment was how much weather conditions played a role. I am always a fan of when weather is a factor in cozies, and in this one it certainly was. It wasn't there just to create atmosphere; it had the potential to directly impact clues and the outcome of certain events. 

I continue to enjoy the character development in the series. Relationships are evolving and within themselves, characters are growing. They have depth and they feel like friends, which keeps me interested in spending time with them. 

There are some serious events that take place in At Death's Dough, and it is well-balanced with a good bit of humor. This is in keeping with the author's style of writing throughout the series. This is part of why I continue to enjoy these books. And if you enjoy culinary cozies, you'll be happy to know there are a few recipes at the end of the book.

As with most cozy mysteries, this is a self-contained mystery. However, if you want to follow the character development and changing relationships, I recommend starting with the first book, Six Feet Deep Dish, and reading them in order. I'm so excited there are plans to publish another book in this series. I'm all caught up with the series and I will be reading it!

Sunday Post 131

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?

March has come in like a lion and continues to act like one. Last week, one day we had temps higher than 80f. That evening, we had severe thunderstorms, and the next day it snowed. On the day of the thunderstorms, there was a small tornado confirmed in my county. It was farther north than where I am, thankfully. Tornados are the one weather phenomenon I fear the most, though lightning is a very close second. I prefer snow and cooler weather, so I was happy with the frozen precipitation (but not ice this time) and cooler temps that followed. On the day that it snowed, the sun came out in the afternoon and melted most of the snow that had fallen.

Tomorrow (Monday), we are expecting a line of severe thunderstorms to come through sometime in the afternoon. We again have the possibility of tornadoes, hail, and high winds. I pray that damage is minimal (if any) and that the electricity stays on. Our high on Monday should be around 70f, but after the cold front comes through, temps are expected to drop at night down into the 20s. 'Tis the season for ups and downs!

Last week, I had my monthly physical therapy evaluation and I improved all around! My strength is better and so is the range of motion in my left arm, although my range of motion is still not where it needs to be. My PT was ready to let me go another month without another session, but she gave me a couple new exercises to do. She also explained which of the older ones I can stop doing and which ones I should continue. By the time my session ended, my mind was a muddled mess. I told her I was not comfortable with the new routine on my own yet, so we agreed that I'll still go every two weeks at least for the next month (while also doing the exercises at home). I understand the value in varying the exercises, but if she keeps incorporating new ones I won't master them on my own. So she agreed to not give me anymore new ones. I already have a wide variety.

Today I'll be watching the gold medal game for sled hockey in the Paralympics (Team USA is going for the gold again!), as well as the Closing Ceremony. I'm also planning to work on a puzzle. I woke up early today and did some reading, so I'm not sure if I'll read anymore today.

Random thought - why aren't there ice rinks where people with disabilities can use sleds to skate just like everyone else can skate for fun using skates on their feet? I would do it!

IN THE BOOKS

Note: I had planned on listening to Murder By Cheesecake, by Rachel Ekstrom Courage. However, I realized the audiobook is not available on Hoopla or Libby. I don't subscribe to Audible, so I'll have to postpone it for when I have more time to read the book.

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I finished At Death's Dough (Deep Dish Mystery 5), by Mindy Quigley. I really enjoyed it! The author is nominated for an Agatha Award for this book. Voting will take place at Malice Domestic in April and winners will be announced at the banquet. You can read some excerpts here on my Friday Features post. I am planning to post a review on my blog soon.

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I listened to Syrup to No Good (Maple Syrup Mystery 2), written by Catherine Bruns and narrated by Lameece Issaq. The mother was a bit overbearing and the romance subplot overpowered the mystery at times, but overall I enjoyed it. This was a rare instance when I read the series out of order. There weren't any major spoilers in the third book, In the Blink of a Pie, so it was fine.

IN PROGRESS

I read weeks 11 and 12 in The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, written by Margaret Renkl and illustrated by Billy Renkl. My takeaways are noticing the light that shines through darkness and nature is beginning to wake up this month. The author clearly loves spring and I can see why. While my preferences are fall and winter, I do appreciate all that nature has to offer in the spring.

I am enjoying an ARC of Murder in a Lavender Daze (Aroma Wellness Mystery 2), by Daryl Wood Gerber. I really enjoy this author's style of writing. The story is flowing well, both the mystery and the subplots. Like her Fairy Garden Mysteries, it has a light-hearted feel to it that balances well with the more serious events.

I'm listening to The Jig Is Up (Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery 1), written by Lisa Q. Matthews and narrated by Rebecca Gallagher. Since it's set around St. Patrick's Day, I figured this was a good time to listen to it. I'm enjoying it so far.

UP NEXT

Whiskey Business (Mixology Lounge Mystery 1), by Adrian Andover, has been on my radar ever since I met the author at Malice Domestic last year. He is a debut author and hadn't released this book yet, but everyone was talking about it. A few months ago, I won a signed copy from him. I'm excited to finally read it. The author has been nominated for an Agatha Award for this book.

ON THE SCREEN

• Psych - I'm enjoying re-watching the more light-hearted episodes in this series. I'm just picking whichever one I feel like watching at the time.
• The Brady Bunch - I watched all the episodes in season 1 that I recorded from MeTV, then watched the first episode in season 2. Then I realized a lot of the episodes in the series are also on Pluto TV. They don't air all of them (wwwwhhhhyyyy???), but they do air some that don't air on MeTV, so I'm able to fill in some of the gaps from season 1.
• Smart Cookies - I had never seen this 2012 Hallmark movie until now. I recorded it last year and had been saving it for Girl Scout cookie season. What I didn't realize until afterward is that I watched it on National Girl Scouts Day! The romance in this one is the subplot. The movie mostly focuses on the Girl Scouts and their fish-out-of-water volunteer. I really enjoyed it. It was both humorous and heart-warming. It stars Bailee Madison who is well-known for her character, Grace, in The Good Witch series.
• Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery - The 13th installment in my favorite Hallmark mystery series premiered last weekend. While not the strongest in the series, I still enjoyed it. I've scheduled my review to publish on Tuesday.

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 02/28 - Weekly Recap
• Puzzle - 03/07 - Leprechaun Magic
• Friday Features - 03/13 - Bookish response, featured book, Feline Friday, Nature Friday
• Puzzle - 03/14 - Fruit Pies

I'm not sure if I'll have time to publish a Sunday Post next weekend, but I'm sure I'll see you again soon. 

Have a great week!

Puzzle 132 - Fruit Pies

Happy National Pi Day!

This puzzle took me 1:58 using 24 non-rotating pieces.

Enjoy some dessert on me! What is your favorite kind of pie?

Friday Features 31

Happy Friday the 13th!

Today I'm once again 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: Are there genres you read that you feel shy about?

My response:  No, there aren't. If I did feel that way about them, I probably wouldn't read them.

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

Today's excerpts are from the paperback format of At Death's Dough (Deep Dish Mystery 5), by Mindy Quigley.

Here's the beginning:

Prologue

Winter, 1924

Come spring, Mickey Keene was putting the kibosh on this kind of thing. Driving through the forest to the godforsaken middle of frozen nowhere in the black of night to deliver...what? He didn't know. They wouldn't tell him.

And here's an excerpt from page 56:

I'd had more than my fair share of interactions with law enforcement since moving to Geneva Bay, but Capone had always been there as a buffer, a beacon of calm. Without him, I had the disquieting sensation of being alone to face whatever was coming. And although the day was clear and calm, I couldn't shake the feeling that an epic storm was brewing.

This book is nominated for an Agatha Award. Winners will be announced at the Malice Domestic Convention next month. I'll have my review posted soon, but I can say it was a delicious read.

FELINE FRIDAY, hosted my messymimi's meanderings

No reach will ever be high enough for Bell. She was reaching even higher than this shortly before I took the picture.

NATURE FRIDAY, hosted by Living the LLB Life

This is a cherry tree in my neighborhood beginning to wake up. Peak bloom is expected to be early to mid-April, depending on which kind of cherry trees they are and exactly where they're located. Some kinds bloom later than others and my neighborhood is always about two weeks behind the ones in Washington, D.C.

Puzzle 131 - Leprechaun Magic

 Happy March!

This whimsical puzzle took me 3:46 using 42 non-rotating pieces.

Feel free to share your time if you like and how you modified it if you did. But most of all, have fun! I hope it brings a moment of peace in your day.

Sunday Post 130

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?

Last week I told you about the speed puzzling competition, which took place today (Saturday). We had three hours to complete a 500-piece puzzle. My tiny but mighty team of two called Pixie Puzzlers (I named us) had two goals. One was simply to have fun and the other was to not finish last. 

Welp. We accomplished the first goal of having fun. The second goal, not so much. Yep. We finished...drum roll please.................LAST! 

There were ten teams of up to four people each who had the same puzzle. Those who were on the waiting list were allowed to compete against each other, but they had a completely different puzzle. It took my team two hours and twenty minutes to finish. We're just glad we did finish before the three hours were up and, as I said, we had fun. 

The next competition likely won't be until August and we are definitely planning to do it again. Honestly, it just felt good to complete a puzzle in one afternoon. Oh! And guess what! we were awarded prizes for our perseverance!! My friend received a gift card to Target and I received a gift card to Amazon. (Actually, they let us choose and my friend didn't have a preference, so I chose the one that would allow me to buy the most amount of books/e-books.) So we did walk away with prizes after all. Also, we got to keep the puzzle. I have more room to store puzzles than my friend does, so I brought it home.

Here is the puzzle all ten registered teams completed. It was harder than the last puzzle we did, but easier than we thought it was going to be. And we still finished last. LOL.

IN THE BOOKS

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I listened to Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library (Lakeside Library Mystery 2), written by Holly Danvers and narrated by Allyson Ryan. I enjoyed the subplots, and the mystery was fine, but I would have preferred more sleuthing. I was a bit taken aback when the word "handicap" was used to describe a disabled person. The correct term is "disabled". 

IN PROGRESS

Week 10 in The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, written by Margaret Renkl and illustrated by Billy Renkl, is mostly about crows, which I love. The author also mentioned being able to see birds more clearly on the bare trees during the winter. This is one of the things I have always loved about winter. It's so much easier to spot the birds, and yes, they are still around at this time of year.

I'm about 40% through At Death's Dough (Deep Dish Mystery 5), by Mindy Quigley. There was one part that was a bit slow for me, but overall I am really enjoying this one. As I approach the halfway point, I'm excited to see how everything unfolds.

UP NEXT

Murder in a Lavender Daze (Aroma Wellness Mystery 2), by Daryl Wood Gerber, will be my next read. This book releases at the end of April, but I was given a physical ARC to read and review. I'm excited to dive into this one. I really enjoyed the first one, Essence of Foul Play.

My next audiobook listen will be Murder by Cheesecake (Golden Girls 1), by Rachel Ekstrom Courage. Now that I'm more familiar with the characters in the television series, I'm really excited to finally listen to this one.

ON THE SCREEN

• The Traitors - I finished watching seasons 1 and 2. The cast in season 2 took some getting used to, but once I did, I was all in. Overall, it was better than the first season because of the way the cast played the game. I loved watching how their strategies would play out. I was surprised how the end unfolded. I will likely skip the third and fourth seasons since they are rated MA. The first two seasons were rated TV14, which meant there was less profanity. I typically don't watch anything that's rated in MA. However, I know that they will be filming a non-celebrity season soon, which will be rated TV14. I'd love to tune in for that one whenever it airs.
• Psych - I'm still doing some episode hopping with this show. What is your favorite Psych episode? I don't want anything heavy. I'd like to rewatch the more light-hearted ones.
• The Brady Bunch - I'm about halfway through the first season. I'm not sure why some episodes don't air on television. I'm hoping eventually they will.
• All Things Valentine - I rewatched this 2016 Hallmark movie and I still love it. That's the only Hallmark movie I watched all week!

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 02/21 - Weekly Recap
• Puzzle - 02/28 - Puzzle Puzzle

Have a great week!