Sunday Post 94

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. 

Wow, it's been a while since I shared a Sunday Post! Things are going well for me. I've just been busy. Part of the reason is because I fell so far behind this summer when I wasn't feeling my best that I have so much to catch up on now. I'm also trying to get back on track with regular exercise. I have several ARCs to read and review between now and Thanksgiving, so on my blog and with my reading, that's mostly what I've been focusing on. I may or may not post on my blog over the next month, except for ARC reviews.

The weather here has been nothing but sunshine and crisp, cool temps. I love it! This coming week will be warmer, but not crazy hot. I'll take it. Unfortunately, we really need some rain, so hopefully we'll get some soon.

While the skies were clear and temps were comfortable, I was able to see the Northern Lights for the first time ever. Of course, it wasn't nearly as bright as it is in some parts of the world, but it was cool to see it anyway. I also saw the comet and the full moon. What a show the sky has been putting on for us!

Now let's see what else I've been up to.

IN THE BOOKS

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

RECENTLY FINISHED

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I listened to Apple Cider Slaying (Cider Shop Mystery 1), written by Julie Ann Lindsey and narrated by Amy Melissa Bentley. It's always a challenge with a first in series because we're getting to know the characters. I did feel the setup interfered with the flow of the mystery at times, but other than that, it was very enjoyable. I definitely want to continue the series.

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I listened to the 18th installment in the Hannah Swensen mysteries, by Joanne Fluke. Based on reviews I read, I enjoyed Double Fudge Brownie Murder more than many others did. It certainly isn't one of the better ones in the series, but it was still fun to visit Lake Eden and all of the main characters again. I'll continue the series.

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I received an ARC of the upcoming third installment in the Maple Syrup Mysteries, by Catherine Bruns. I had requested it on NetGalley and I wasn't approved until several weeks later. So I listened to the first one in the series, A Doomful of Sugar. Apart from the setup again sometimes interfering with the flow of the mystery, I really enjoyed it.

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I read an ARC of Apparitions, Aerobics, and Arson (Bewitcher's Beach Mystery 3), by Emily Fluke. I have really enjoyed this series from the beginning and I've been looking forward to this third installment ever since I finished the second one. You can read my full review here and you can read some excerpts here.

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The October pick for The Cozy Mystery Book Club is Steeped to Death (Witch's Brew Mystery 1), by Gretchen Rue. It's narrated by Kristin Price.  I really enjoy cozies that have a touch of magic in them. There were a couple times when I felt the backstory of the main character disrupted the flow of the mystery, but other than that, I loved it.

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I read a paperback ARC of Murder on the Page (Literary Dining Mystery 1), by Daryl Wood Gerber. This book releases this Tuesday, so I'll publish my full review then. I loved it and I definitely want to continue reading the series when more books are published. It felt very...well...cozy. It also had a great mystery with characters I'd love to visit with again.

IN PROGRESS

Since I'm focusing mostly on ARCs now, I haven't read much in Tatyana McFadden: Ya Sama! Moments from My Life, by Tatyana McFadden with Tom Walker. I will have to pick this one up again when I finish the ARCs.

I also haven't read much in The Complete Book of Flower Fairies, by Cicely Mary Barker. This is a book of poetry. I'll have to make it a point to read at least one poem a day. I don't want another fall season to pass when I haven't finished the fall poems.

I received an eARC of The Tell-tale Homicide (Rare Books Mystery 2), by Daphne Silver, so that's what I'm reading now. This is the follow up to Crime and Parchment, which I loved. I'm enjoying this one as well. It releases in November.

My audiobook listen right now is Out of My Mind, written by Sharon M. Draper and narrated by Sisi Aisha Johnson. It has been made into a movie that will start streaming on Disney+ in November. It's about a girl who has cerebral palsy. She cannot walk or talk, so she struggles to communicate her thoughts. I have friends who have cerebral palsy and I think this book is very realistic. And the cover is perfect!

UP NEXT

My next audiobook listen will be A Halloween Homicide, by Tonya Kappes. I'm enjoying this series and I'm reading each installment around the holiday it is set. I may or may not start it later this week.

ON THE SCREEN

• Psych - I'm done! I watched all of the episodes and the movies. It wasn't until almost the end when I found out there's a pineapple, or a mention of one, in every episode. At some point, I'll have to rewatch the series and look for them. Has anyone out there found all of them? I can see myself going back and occasionally watching a lot of these episodes. It was a fun series to binge.
• Falling Together - I loved this movie! It's one of my favorite 2024 Hallmark movies. It did such a great job highlighting Alzheimer's, while still keeping it fun and light-hearted. I may or may not have shed some tears. And I'm realizing that Ashley Williams is one of my favorite actresses. 
• Love on the Danube trilogy - This trilogy is streaming only on Hallmark+. The first two were okay, but the third one was the best. I'm glad the series is done, though. It wasn't anything special. It reminded me of The Love Boat, a series that I enjoyed more.
• Young Woman and the Sea - This is not a Hallmark movie. Can you believe it?  It's streaming on Disney+. Some of
  the
  early scenes seemed rushed, but I know
  the
  y had only a certain amount of time to work with. I would have loved to see a flash forward scene at
  the
  end of her teaching
  the
  deaf children to swim. I think that was an important part of her life after accomplishing such an amazing feat. Overall it was really good and I highly recommend it.
• The Real West - Okay, back to the Hallmark movies. I thought this was good, mostly because of the amazing and talented Kimberly Sustad. However, I'm not sure I liked it enough to watch it again.
• A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery - I enjoyed this installment in the Hannah Swensen mysteries even more than the previous one (which I also loved). It's near the top of my list for favorite Hallmark movies this year, especially with mysteries.
• Autumn at Apple Hill - I appreciate that Hallmark is embracing the fall season, as I think it gets overlooked too often. However, this movie was not that exciting. The fall feels were the best part. The plot, not so much.
• Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: A Lesson in Murder - This is streaming only on Hallmark+, which I've been watching through the Hoopla app at no cost. This is a very strong series, and I'm saying this even as a fan of the original series. This movie, to me, was a bit confusing at times, but overall it was really good. One of the final scenes was so memorable and fun!
• The Jane Mysteries: Murder at the Moseby - This is another one only streaming on Hallmark+. I loved the first two, but this one was just okay. I was a bit disappointed. The plot just didn't hold my attention the way the previous ones did.
• Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Death at the Diner - I guess this series will continue to stream only on Hallmark+. I loved this one. It's easily my favorite mystery of the year so far, of the ones that I've seen. It held my attention the entire time and the mystery was good. The end made me a little sad, but also hopeful for what's to come. I hope this prequel series continues.
• Agatha All Along - There was one episode that was slow and another one that was slow until the final ten minutes. Other than that, I'm loving this series. I can't wait for the next episode airing this week. Last week's episode was by far the best on in the series up to this point. It was a flashback, but it was necessary. It answered a lot of questions.
• The Good Witch Halloween specials - There are five movies that are focused on Halloween and I've watched three so far. After that, I'll circle back and watch the television episodes. It's perfect for this time of year. Last year, I watched all of the movies that came before the television series.

ON THE BLOG

• Sunday Post - 09/22 - Weekly Recap
• Book Review - 9/26 - Panic in the Panhandle (Elmo Simpson Mystery 1), by J.C. Kenney
• The Friday Six - 9/27 - Bookish Response and excerpts, Feline Friday, Nature Pic
• Puzzle - 9/28 - Making Apple Cider
• Series Review - 09/30 - Murder, She Wrote Season 3
• Book Review - 10/09 - Aerobics, Apparitions, and Arson (Bewitcher's Beach Mystery 3), by Emily Fluke

Have a great week!