Puzzle 142 - Seashells

A collection of seashells makes for a fun puzzle. Would you agree? What is your favorite seashell in this puzzle?

It took me 1:30 using 24 non-rotating pieces.

Enjoy!

Sunday Post 141

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?

Surprise!

I didn't think I'd have time to post this weekend, but I started drafting this a few days ago and here we are! I will keep it short and sweet, as I'm heading out later and I have things to do at home before then. I had a pretty calm week with just a couple of virtual appointments and a good amount of time to read and work on my blog.

IN THE BOOKS

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I finished Witches, Walkie-Talkies, and Warnings (Bewitcher's Beach Paranormal Cozy Mystery 6), by Emily Fluke. (There is a misprint in the title of the book. It should be "Walkie" not "Walkies".) While it leaned more into fantasy than mystery and the magic gets a little confusing, I did enjoy it. I'm planning to post my full review next week.

IN PROGRESS

I read Spring Week 13 in The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, written by Margaret Renkl and illustrated by Billy Renkl. This is the final week in the spring section and it ended on a somber note. Honestly, while some chapters are hopeful, this book has a more melancholy tone than I thought it would. With the title of the book having the word "comfort", I'm hoping future chapters are more uplifting.

I'm more than halfway through The Deep End (Country Club Murders 1), by Julie Mulhern. So, this book is not cozy! The language and themes are not what I expected. I do like the mystery, so I'll keep reading. I've heard that the second one is lighter in tone, so eventually I may give that one a try too.

UP NEXT

I haven't started this yet, so my next read will still be The Masala Chai Mystery Club, by MJ Soni. I met this author at Malice Domestic back in April and I'm excited to read an ARC of her debut cozy mystery. I'm planning to start it this weekend.

ON THE SCREEN

• The Way Home - I watched episode 9. This was an action-packed emotional episode, arguably the best of the season and one of the best in the entire series. I'm sad that there's only one more episode left in the series. I hope it's picked up again to either continue the series or start a spin-off. There is so much more that can be done with these characters.
• The Brady Bunch - I watched a few more episodes in season 4. Fun fact: Rita Wilson (wife of Tom Hanks) made her acting debut on one of these episodes. She played Greg's girlfriend. Rita and Tom didn't meet in person until years later on the set of Bosom Buddies, but Tom said he first saw her on The Brady Bunch.
• Murder, She Wrote - Just a few more episodes left in season 5. I expect to finish the season in the next week or so. For those of you wondering, I've been recording it on frndly tv. It airs on three different channels almost daily. I think I have the entire series recorded.
• Texas Two-Step - This was a new Hallmark movie that premiered last weekend. The cast for this was great, as were the directing, the script, and the music. However, it was a recycled plot that we've seen so many times and it was slow at times. It will fall in the middle of the pack for me this year.

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 06/13 - Weekly Recap
• Book Review - 06/16 - Pour Choices, by Adrian Andover
• Book Review - 06/18 - Wedding Cake Murder, by Joanne Fluke
• Friday Features - 06/19 - Bookish response, featured book, featured cat/s, nature pic
• Puzzle - 06/20 - Flower Boots

Have a great week!

Puzzle 141 - Flower Boots

I love this colorful, cozy scene. It took me 2:49 using 35 non-rotating pieces.

Your turn!

Friday Features 38

Happy Friday!

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: If you could pick any fictional character to live with, who would it be, and how would they change your daily life? 

My response:  I would pick Fiona from the Fairy Garden Mysteries, by Daryl Wood Gerber. How could living with a fairy NOT change my daily life? We would have so much fun!

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

I recently featured Whiskey Business, by Adrian Andover. Today's excerpts are from the follow-up, Pour Choices. This was an eARC in the Mixology Lounge series that I read. The book releases at the end of June.

Here's the beginning:

I wiped a bead of sweat from my brow with the back of one wrist as I lugged a sandwich board sign under my other arm.

And here's an excerpt from 56%:

I couldn't make out everything he said, but I heard him say something like, "Everything will be fine once we get her out of the picture.'

I already read and reviewed this book. You can read my full review here. (Spoiler alert: I loved it!)

FELINE FRIDAY, hosted my messymimi's meanderings

Miss Tinker Bell loves to play games. I was looking everywhere for her and I finally found her in a corner on the floor behind the window seat.

NATURE FRIDAY, hosted by Living the LLB Life

It's been a while since I've taken a walk due to the warmer weather and the insects that love such weather. So here's a throwback to a fall day. This is a black vulture, which is smaller than the turkey vultures. Both kinds are common around here, but in my neighborhood, I usually see the black vultures. I happen to love them.

Wedding Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery 19), by Joanne Fluke

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The Hannah Swensen Mysteries, by Joanne Fluke, are what ignited my love of cozies and of reading in general. After discovering Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, I was hooked. I proceeded to read several books in the series, but after a while, I wanted to explore more books in the genre. So I paused the series. It has always been my intention to finish it and I'm happy to say I've resumed reading them.

This 19th installment sees Hannah preparing for her wedding. But that's not all. Hannah is also entering a dessert chef competition, hosted by the Food Channel. For this big event, she is traveling to New York City. When Hannah wins the Hometown Challenge (of course she does!), the remainder of the competition comes to Lake Eden, Minnesota, where she owns The Cookie Jar. Unfortunately, one of the judges is found stabbed to death. Hannah once again embarks on a mission to bring the killer to justice.

I always enjoy visiting with Hannah and her friends and family. It feels like coming home, which is comforting to me. I love their conversations, especially when talking about food. The descriptions sound delectable. While I'm not a baker myself, I can almost taste the goodies just from reading about them. The main setting in Lake Eden also feels cozy, although I appreciated that in this installment, Hannah ventured away from home for a little while.

The mystery had potential. The stakes were high enough and there were several viable suspects to consider. I did not figure out who the culprit was, but I believe that was due to the lack of time spent on the mystery.

That's the main issue I had with this book - the structure. The first half of the book is almost entirely about Hannah's upcoming wedding, the competition, and all the foodie talk. There are several chapters that end with recipes. This happens through the end of the book. Once the mystery did pick up, I was really excited to dive into it. Unfortunately, even when it did come up in the second half of the book, a good portion was still spent talking about Hannah's wedding, the competition, and the recipes. I'm probably in the minority when I say I don't mind that the recipes come at the end of the chapters and not at the end of the book. I think it's fun to read the recipes when they're talked about in the context of the story. The problem was that there were so many of them. And while I enjoyed all the wedding, competition, and foodie talk, it took a lot of time away from the mystery.

Since this is the series that got me hooked on cozies and I still love spending time with the characters, I will continue reading them. If you've read the series through book 18, you'll likely want to continue with Wedding Cake Murder, even though it's one of the weaker ones in the series structure-wise. If you've never read the series, however, I recommend starting with a stronger installment from earlier in the series. You can certainly read this one and not feel lost. Just know that there are stronger installments before this one. And as with most cozies, you'll appreciate the character development more if you start at the beginning.

Pour Choices (Mixology Lounge Mystery 2), by Adrian Andover

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The award-winning debut cozy mystery by Adrian Andover, Whiskey Business, was released last year. However, I didn't read it until earlier this year. I loved it so much and I was happy I didn't have to wait long for the second one, Pour Choices. This is a strong follow-up to Whiskey Business.

Pour Choices takes place in August, a few months following the events in Whiskey Business.  Mixologist Reece Parker hosts the first ever comedy night at his literary-themed speakeasy, Subplot, in Hope Mills Pennsylvania. The next morning, Reece's best friend, Nate, finds the star of the show dead in the Delaware River. With Nate as the prime suspect in this murder investigation, Reece is determined to find out who the real killer is. Did the popular comedian take her jokes too far or was there another motive that lead to her demise?

I am a huge fan of when weather plays a role in cozies. The heat and humidity in August come up several times in this book. Now, I am not a fan of summer weather at all. However, we are given a respite when Reece mentions the coolness of being in the A/C. It's also mentioned by one of the customers. Reece also talks about looking forward to fall weather and fall beverages. I could feel the relief from the heat as I was reading these descriptions and I'm officially ready for fall.

There is a strong sense of community in Hope Mills. Small businesses in the town support each other. There's even talk about a collaboration with a couple of them. The strong reputation of the local culinary scene is mentioned. I would love to see more of this. Foodie talk always feels cozy to me and I want to know where I'll be dining when I visit.

The main characters feel like they could be friends. I enjoyed the rapport Reece has with his co-workers and friends, but I especially adore the relationship he has with his parents. Reece's visits with the retired couple are some of my favorite scenes in the book. They feel comforting to me because he gets along so well with them.

The suspects were interesting to get to know. Juicy secrets about them were uncovered as Reece conducted his own informal investigation. There were just enough suspects to consider and I never felt overwhelmed by the number of characters. 

Since Reece is recently coming to terms with his sexuality, he is taking it slow with his love interest. He wants to move on with his life and he's definitely interested in someone. However, he's treading carefully. The romance is moving at a comfortable pace that feels natural. I also love that he still has a close friendship with his ex-girlfriend Chloe. They have so much respect for each other.

A mystery of sorts begins right at the beginning of this book, which immediately pulled me in. The main mystery is well-crafted and well-paced. I had a hunch early in the book who the culprit was, which turned out to be correct. However, there really were a number of suspects who could have committed the crime. It was fun to watch Reece follow the clues that led to the big reveal. There were red herrings, twists, and turns that made it an entertaining ride. 

Reece's warmth extends to his customers, as he offers both cocktails and mocktails at Subplot. As someone who does not drink alcohol, I appreciate this. It feels like a cozy establishment that I would enjoy. The descriptions of the beverages sound delightful.

As someone with a physical disability, however, I'm not sure how I would be able to enter Subplot. The main entrance has stairs, as shown on the cover of the book. The ground level back entrance feels unsafe and has gravel on the ground, which is not suitable for those with mobility impairments.  All of this can be rectified by adding a lift to the stairs that folds up when not in use, making sure the back door is not too heavy, and creating a smooth paved surface instead of gravel. The ground level door could then be used as an emergency exit. My hope is that renovations will be made in a future installment so that I can visualize myself safely entering Subplot. Just like in real life, I would love to see the accessible entrance front and center with the entrance everyone else uses. 

While the accessibility issue is important for inclusivity, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I loved it and I cannot wait for the next one. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this Mixology Lounge series, by Adrian Andover, beginning with Whiskey Business and reading them in order. The mysteries are self-contained in each book, but you will appreciate the character development more if you read them in order. This series is the perfect blend of cozy and mystery.

Thank you to author Adrian Andover for providing me with an eARC of Pour Choices.

Sunday Post 140

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?

I finished the puzzle! I ended up with 60 duplicate pieces. That's 60 extra pieces to sift through that didn't even belong in the 500-piece puzzle! Anyway, it's done and I feel very good about that. You can't see it from the picture, but this puzzle has a 3D effect.

Title: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Brand: Prime 3D

Artist: Lucasfilm

Piece count: 500

Size: 24×18 in.

This puzzle came in a set of two. The other puzzle is just Grogu. It's cute, but it looks very challenging since it's mostly one color. I'm not ready to take on that puzzle, but eventually I might. 

So, have you ever completed a puzzle and ended up with extra pieces. I did a 1000 piece puzzle twelve years ago that had one duplicate piece. I thought 60 for The Mandalorian and Grogu was quite high! What would you do with all those extra pieces?

All the extra pieces are in this tray.

IN THE BOOKS

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I listened to Wedding Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen 19), written by Joanne Fluke and narrated by Suzanne Toren. The mystery got started late and once it did, it was often disrupted by foodie talk. I love the foodie talk, but there was just too much of it and not enough mystery for my taste. I'm going to finish the series, though. The next one is Christmas-themed, so I'll save it for Christmas in July.

IN PROGRESS

I read Spring Week 12 in The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, written by Margaret Renkl and illustrated by Billy Renkl. Butterflies! When I taught second grade, the lifecycle of the butterfly was my favorite unit. Butterflies also make me think of my best friend. (Stephanie passed in 2010.) She designed a tote bag for me that has monarch butterflies on it.

I'm about halfway through Witches, Walkie-Talkies, and Warnings (Bewitcher's Beach Paranormal Cozy Mystery 6), by Emily Fluke. (There is a misprint in the title of the book. It should be "Walkie" not "Walkies".) This series has evolved quite a bit. I'm enjoying this installment, especially as the action picks up in the second half of the book.

UP NEXT

My next audiobook listen will be The Deep End (Country Club Murders 1), by Julie Mulhern. She is a new-to-me author. I won her book in a giveaway (not on Goodreads). I love having a signed copy, but I'll get to it faster if I listen to the audiobook.

My next read will be The Masala Chai Mystery Club, by MJ Soni. I met this author at Malice Domestic back in April and I'm excited to read an ARC of her debut cozy mystery.

ON THE SCREEN

• The Way Home - I watched episode 8. Only two more episodes left in the entire series. The music is such an integral component of the show that Hallmark released a soundtrack that currently has 30 songs, with two more coming after the series finale airs. I've been listening to the soundtrack on repeat on Spotify.
• The Brady Bunch - I've watched a few episodes in season 3. The kids have really grown up at this point, especially Greg. I think he was 20 years in real life when the show ended after season 5.
• Murder, She Wrote - I'm still enjoying season 5. My plan is to finish this season this month because July will be all about Christmas movies. Anything to beat the heat!
• The Greek Aisle - This is the first in the summer-themed movies on The Hallmark Channel. I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure I'd watch it again. It has a strong cast and beautiful scenery, but it's a recycled plot. Also, I thought it would be funnier than it was because it's a fake marriage trope. That should have been hilarious, but it missed the mark with the lack of humor.

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 06/06 - Weekly Recap

Have a great week!