Showing posts with label Bell and Fiona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bell and Fiona. Show all posts

Friday, May 1, 2026

Friday Features 34

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.

Question: Is there a book you've been meaning to read forever, but haven't gotten to yet?
My response:  I've been an avid reader for only about five years, but I can think of a lot of books I've been meaning to read and haven't yet. The Hannah Swensen series, by Joanne Fluke, got me hooked on cozies and on reading in general. I started reading the series in 2021, but then wanted to explore other cozies. I'm on book 18 and have been wanting to finish the series for a while now. I've got the next one on my TBR for later this year.

Today's excerpts are from the e-book format of Spell to Pay (Spellbooked Magical Cozy Mystery 2), by Elle Wren Burke.

Here's the beginning:
"This is the book my soul needs?"

And here's an excerpt from 56%:
    On my way back to the sales counter, I made an impulsive stop in the self-help section to check if we had more copies of the books Page had found for James.
    Nope. For now, I'd have to think about being authentic and vulnerable all on my own. I shuddered.

You can see in the beginning, a question is being asked. The customer seems unsure of the book Page, the sentient bookshop, chose for him. In the excerpt from 56%, Kinley, who is the narrator, is talking. I wonder why she shuddered at the thought.

I'm about 60% done with this book. It's an ARC of a book that was just recently released. It was a short turnaround time, which is why wasn't able to finish it before the release date. I'm planning to finish it and post my review next week. Spoiler alert: I'm enjoying it!

Although I believe my girls were born in April, their birthday is noted as today, May 1st. They are now four years old.  I can't believe how fast the years are flying by! These were the best I could get for their birthday pictures.


Dandelions are my favorite flower. I love seeing them on my walks. 

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Friday, March 27, 2026

Friday Features 33

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.

Question: What is your favorite bookish scent, and why does it appeal to you?
My response:  That "new book" scent is always fun when I start reading one that's a physical copy. It makes me excited about the new adventure that's ahead of me.

In honor of National Whiskey Day, today's excerpts are from the paperback format of Whiskey Business (Mixology Lounge Mystery 1), by Adrian Andover.

Here's the beginning:
I rested my blowtorch on the bar.

And here's an excerpt from page 56:
    If Kristin wasn't willing to share more about him and why he was so good at making enemies, I wondered why she went out of her way to chat with me.

I won a signed copy of this book last year and I'm so excited to finally read it. I met the author at Malice Domestic last year, before the book was published. This year, the book is nominated for an Agatha Award. I'll report back when I'm done, but so far, I'm loving it!

I don't have a lot of pictures of the girls together, but when I do get one, this is the vibe.
The first picture was taken on March 19th. The second picture was taken about one week later. These are some of my favorite spring flowers to see on my walks.


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Friday, March 20, 2026

Friday Features 32

Happy Springtime!

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.

Question: If you could write the sequel to a classic book, which one would it be? What new characters or plot twists would you bring in? 
My response:  I haven't read too many books that are considered classics, and the ones I have read already have sequels. I'll leave the writing to the authors. I might read them, but not necessarily write them.

Today's excerpts are from the paperback ARC of Murder in a Lavender Daze (Aroma Wellness Mystery 2), by Daryl Wood Gerber.

Here's the beginning:
I was adjusting the spa menu to reflect the Halloween-themed treatments we would offer during the month of October, like the pumpkin spice facial and apple cider wraps - the latter being great for detoxification - when the silent alarm flashed in big red letters on my computer screen and cell phone.

And here's an excerpt from page 56:
    They retreated, and my gaze landed on Rodriguez. She'd moved away from the door and was taking photographs of the surroundings. Was this truly a murder investigation? She snapped an image of the desk, the chaise longue, the armoire, and finally Addison, who sat hunched and miserable and unaware of the officer's attention.

This book releases at the end of April, but I'm almost done reading the ARC. I'm planning to have my review posted next week. I can say I am enjoying it, even more than the first one in the series.

Fiona is taking time out from her busy day of eating and napping to say Hello.



I spy a little bit of spring!
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Friday, March 13, 2026

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.

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.



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.

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

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.

CORRECTION: This is a maple tree, not a cherry tree!
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Friday, February 13, 2026

Friday Features 30

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.

Question: How do you feel about the current state of romance novels.
My response:  I don't read a lot of romances, but I think there is a wide variety for all types of romance readers. 


Today's excerpts are from the paperback format of The Tell-Fang Heart (Vampire Pet Boutique Mystery 2), by Elle Wren Burke.

Here's the beginning:
"Look at this smooshie face! Who has a smooshie face? You do!"

And here's an excerpt from page 56:
    "Are you just here to gawk at me?" she asked with narrowed eyes.

This book was released a few years ago and it's been on my bookshelf since then. It's a paranormal cozy mystery set around Valentine's Day, so I decided to finally read it. So far there's no murder and I'm more than halfway through it. However, there is still a mystery to solve, which is light and fun. The main character is a disabled vampire. She is a wheelchair user who has the same disability that the author has, so it's authentic disability representation.

Here's a throwback picture from August 2022 when the gal pals were just a few months old. They want to wish everyone a very happy Galentine's Day!



Here's another throwback picture. This one is from the day after the Blizzard of January 2016. What I really loved about this storm was that it was all snow. That's the difference between that storm and the one we had two weeks ago. The one we had two weeks ago was topped with a thick layer of ice. I much prefer this fluffy white stuff.
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Friday, February 6, 2026

Friday Features 29

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.

Question: What drives you to read?
My response:  Connection. I was not an avid reader until about five years ago when I discovered cozy mysteries. Sure, I love a well-told story and everything cozy mysteries have to offer, but I am also driven by how connected I have become to the community - both fictional and in real life. I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries that have a strong sense of community, and that same kind of community can be found with the authors who write them and the readers who read them. I love being able to share this love with the cozy mystery community. I do sometimes read other genres and I love connecting with readers in general, but cozies have my whole heart.

Today's excerpts are from the eARC Kindle format of Moonlight Murder (Detective Aunty Investigates 2), by Uzma Jalaluddin.

Here's the beginning:
Every action is judged by intention, and every person will gain what they intended. The words floated up to him now, a half-lucid thought as he struggled to open his eyes.

And here's an excerpt from 56%:
    "When I visited your house, I heard you say, 'We should have stayed. Why did we leave him alone?" She watched Reza carefully as she recited his words back to him and watched as his face drained of color."

This book doesn't release in the U.S. until May 5th, but I already finished reading the ARC. I posted my review, which you can read here. (Spoiler Alert: I really enjoyed it!)

Bell is super excited she gets the spotlight (and the Snuggie) today! 

This is one of my favorite spots to pause on my walks. I love seeing how the view changes through the seasons. I'm not sure if you can see it clearly, but the pond is in the distance. With temperatures below freezing even during the day for nine days straight after the storm, the pond was frozen. It might have started to thaw over the last day or so, but not much. After bitterly cold temperatures are expected this weekend, we are due for a warm-up next week.
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Friday, January 30, 2026

Friday Features 28

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.

Question: Do you struggle to start a new read after finishing a truly amazing one?
My response:  No, I don't. I'm always excited to start a new book no matter how good the last one was.



Today's excerpts are from the audiobook format of Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes (Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery 1), by Karen Rose Smith.

Here's the beginning:
The Victorian house with its gray siding and white gingerbread trim loomed in front of Daisy Swanson as she and Tessa Miller approached it.

And here's an excerpt from 56%:
    "Aunt Iris. Are you back home?"

    "Oh, Daisy. I don't know what to do." Her aunt's voice shook and she sounded panicked.

I finished this cozy mystery last week and I really enjoyed it. This week I've been listening to the second one in the series, Murder with Cinnamon Scones. The series is ten books long and I plan to read or listen to all of them.

This past Wednesday was National Daisy Day, so I'm again shining the spotlight on Fiona Daisy. It isn't enough that there's a cat tower in the living room where the blinds are wide open. She's got to have a challenge, otherwise what's the point?

With the storm that affected so many people last weekend, my area ended up with about 11 inches of snow and sleet. We haven't had temps above freezing since before that storm hit and we won't for at least several more days, so it will stick around for a while. It was an unusual storm with such a thick layer of ice on top of the snow. Our schools have been closed all week. I don't mind the cold weather, as long as the electricity stays on. (It's summer that I'm not a fan of.)
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Friday, January 16, 2026

Friday Features 27

Happy Friday!

It's been a while, but 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.

Question: Is there a book or series so precious to you that you wouldn't want it adapted for screen, fearing it might be ruined? If it did happen, would you still find yourself watching it?
My response:  I can't think of any book or series that I wouldn't want adapted on screen. When I watch an adaptation of a book, I go into it knowing it will likely be different. I see this as an extension of the world created in the book, not as a comparison.

Today's excerpts are from the paperback format of Public Anchovy #1 (Deep Dish Mystery 3), by Mindy Quigley.

Here's the beginning:
Sonya Dokter, my sous chef and best friend, perched in the passenger's seat of our rented catering van, trying unsuccessfully to tune the radio to the weather report.

And here's an excerpt from page 56:
    I turned to find myself face to face with the man who'd been talking to Jarka before the party, Count Victor von Creepazoid Whatshisname Jingleheimer Schmidt.

I have four chapters left to read, so I expect to finish it today or tomorrow and publish my review next week. For now, I'll say that I'm loving this book! I'd describe it as hauntingly cozy.

Let's talk about Fiona. She just had her 3 month mani and pedi. Unlike Bell, Fiona will not allow me to trim her claws. Only her vet or the technicians can do it. She has no problem with them. She's in and out in five minutes.

When she gets home, Bell always hisses at her. She used to hiss all day and even into the next day. This time she only hissed a few times and spent the rest of the day sulking. I don't know what her problem is. She does this even after they've both been to the vet for their annual checkups. I guess Bell is just displaying that "tortitude". Fiona used to get visibly depressed when Bell hissed at her, but now she just takes it in stride knowing her sister will eventually get over it.

In this picture, Fiona is chasing shadows. She's almost four years old and she's only now discovering how cool they are. It's become quite an obsession.

We've had very little snow so far this winter. I've put in my order for more. We've had the cold weather, just not the precipitation when it's cold. I'm hoping that changes soon because I love snow.
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Friday, September 26, 2025

Friday Features 26

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.

Question: Do you ever get strange looks from strangers while browsing the book aisle in department stores? What do you think is going through their minds?
My response:  It's been a long time since I've been in a department store and back when I did go there, I wasn't much of a reader. So I probably didn't even visit the book aisle. If I did, it was for magazines and I don't remember ever getting strange looks.

Today's excerpts are from the audiobook format of Cold Clay (Shady Hollow Mystery 2), by Juneau Black.

Here is the beginning:
As might be expected from its name, the village of Shady Hollow is nestled deep in the woods, covering a wide valley between two mountains. What might be less expected is the fact that the village residents are all animals, representing many species and temperaments.

And here is an excerpt from 56%:
"Whether it is significant, I can't say, but I didn't see the creature come autumn. It had moved on."

Yes, this is a cozy mystery series where all of the characters are animals, most of which are woodland creatures. I enjoyed the first book in the series, Shady Hollow, when I listened to it a couple years ago, and I am enjoying this one even more. The narration is quite entertaining to listen to.



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Friday, September 12, 2025

Friday Features 25

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.

Question: Are there any books that are considered terrible, but you love?
My response:  I'm well aware of the fact that although cozy mysteries are my favorite genre, some people do not like them at all.  I love them because I enjoy trying to figure out the mystery with quirky, fun-loving characters in a welcoming community. I could go on and on about why I love them, but I understand we all have different tastes. For example, you will never convince me to read a horror with a lot of graphic scenes, but I know some people love them.

Today's excerpts are from the audiobook format of And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie, whose birthday is coming up on Monday, September 15th. 

Here is the beginning:
In the corner of a first-class smoking carriage, Mr. Justice Wargrave, lately retired from the bench, puffed at a cigar and ran an interested eye through the political news in "The Times".

And here is an excerpt from 56%:
The storm increased. The wind howled against the side of the house. Everyone was in the living room. They sat listlessly, huddled together and surreptitiously they watched each other. When Rogers brought in the tea tray they all jumped.

Now, if you're familiar with this book, you know this is not a cozy. I had never read it before, but I recently listened to it for the first time. Then I watched the 2015 BBC adaptation and listened to the audiobook again. And now I need a vacation. But not on a remote island.

Anyway, I don't know that "enjoyed" is a good way to describe my experience with a slasher novel, but it is a well-crafted mystery for sure. The first time I listened to it, I had a difficult time connecting with the characters. After watching the movie, I felt more connected to them, and so when I listened to the book again after that, I understood it better. This is the kind of book that I can see myself re-reading again at some point because there's so much to pick up on.

This is Fiona inside the bottom part of the tower. It doesn't happen often, but occasionally, one of them sleeps in it. They can both fit in it together, but they always go inside one at a time.


NATURE FRIDAY, hosted by Living the LLB Life
More mums  to celebrate fall.

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Friday, September 5, 2025

Friday Features 24

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.


Question: Do you seek out new authors to read or do you stick with the same ones.

My response:  I do both. Every familiar author was new at one point and I can't find new favorites if I don't read ones that are unfamiliar to me. What I do tend to stick to are genres that I enjoy.

Today's excerpts are from the Kindle format of Fatal Sign-off (Book Blogger Mystery 3), by Sarah E. Burr.

Here is the beginning:
“As far as murders go, this one was pretty clever.” Joanie Nix turned her worn copy of He Didn’t See It Coming over in her hands as she shared her thoughts on our latest book club selection. “Did any of you figure it out before the big reveal?” She glanced around our circle with her wide gray eyes.

And here is an excerpt from 56%:
Although I was joking, I couldn't help but reflect on the glimmer of truth warming my insides. Copper Bay had given me so many relationships I treasured.

While that excerpt from 56% has nothing to do with the mystery, it's one of the reasons why I love cozy mysteries. The characters and their relationships are heart-warming.

I am almost 60% through this book and really enjoying it. I'm planning to post my review next week, so I hope you'll come back for that.

Here is a classic Fiona pose. She loves to stick one front leg out and fold the other one in. She alternates which leg sticks out.






The mums declare than fall has begun no matter what the calendar says!


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