The Christmas Table - Fiction Review

 Goodreads:  The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere

Rating: Really Liked It!
Source: Publisher

Description: In June 1972, John Creighton determines to build his wife Joan a kitchen table. His largest project to date had been picture frames but he promises to have the table ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Inspired to put something delicious on the table, Joan turns to her mother's recipes she had given to Joan when she and John married.

In June 2012, Lauren Mabrey discovers she's pregnant. Gloria, Miriam, and the rest of her friends at Glory's Place begin to pitch in, helping Lauren prepare their home for the baby. On a visit to the local furniture builder, Lauren finds a table that he bought at a garage sale but has recently refinished. Once home, a drawer is discovered under the table which contains a stack of recipe cards. Growing up in one foster home after another, Lauren never learned to cook and is fascinated as she reads through the cards. Personal notes have been written on each one from the mother to her daughter and time and again Lauren wonders where they lived, when they lived, and in a strange way, she feels connected to this mother and her daughter and wants to make the mother proud.

The story continues to from 1972 to 2012 as Joan battles breast cancer and Lauren learns to cook, preparing for the baby's arrival. As Christmas nears, can Lauren unlock the mystery of the table, and find the peace she's always longed for?

Genre: Fiction

Why I Picked This Book:  I have enjoyed some of the previous books by this author and this one sounded like one I'd enjoy.

My Impression:  This book is a bit like a Hallmark movie in the best possible way.  It was sweet and entertaining and I knew that everything would work out the way I wanted it to.  What makes this even better then a Hallmark movie for me is that I'm so connected to these characters.  I love Lauren and Travis, Glory, Miriam, and all the other characters in the community and catching up on them was so sweet.  Lauren has had a tough time of it and to see her in the middle of a community is just delightful.

This is a dual timeline story and the format really worked.  When Lauren, nervous about life changes and uncertain in her ability to create a home since she has so little experience, finds the recipes she's immediately drawn in and those recipes prove the connection between her and a woman named Joan in 1972.  I loved the stories on the recipes and the story of each of the women.  As many as you know, my 10 year old son is currently battling Leukemia (which is a much better diagnosis then what poor Joan has and they know so much more now then they did then) and I did struggle a bit with Joan's story.   While I was more emotional reading Joan's story then I would have been without my current experience it didn't feel like it was exploiting emotions or sensationalizing anything.  It was handled sensitively and it was overall a story of hope.  All of VanLiere's books have a Christian element in them and it seemed especially strong in this one.  It fit the storyline and I didn't find it preachy but if that content bothers you then you may want to give this a miss.

This was a sweet Christmas story of hope and community that was just what I needed right now.   

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I enjoy her Christmas books every year and will pick up the next one without

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you are looking for a sweet feel good story to start off the holiday mood this is a good one!

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - Covers On My TBR With Fall Vibes

 

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is all about covers with fall vibes.  I'm looking specifically at covers on my TBR and trying to not just go for the creepy ones!

1.  Witch by Barbara Michaels - Well maybe one or two creepy ones!

2.  Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz - The warm colors of the building just look like fall.

3.  An Early Wake by Sheila Connolly - A setting sun and leaves changing in the distance just scream fall.

4.  A Deadly Grind by Victoria Hamilton - I love all these warm colors so even if the book isn't set in fall it feels like fall!

5.  The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean - Ditto above

6.  I Saw Her Standing There by Marie Force - Love the leaves in the background.

7.  Amherst by William Nicholson - Ditto above

8.  A Roux of Revenge by Connie Archer - Fall leaves, pumpkins, and soup.  Yes please!

9.  Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews - The orange cover, the black birds, and what appears to be a creepy house in the corner make this book especially Halloween-y.  And the title is just glorious!

10. The Grim Steeper by Amanda Cooper - Fall leaves in the background and a fabulous cozy title make this a perfect fall read.

What books on your TBR have great fall covers?

Dying in a Winter Wonderland - Cozy Mystery Review

 

Goodreads:  Dying in a Winter Wonderland (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #5) by Vicki Delany

Rating: Very Good
Source: Publisher

Description:  Christmas has arrived in Rudolph, New York, and Merry Wilkinson is looking forward to a much needed rest. But before that can happen, Luanne Ireland walks through her door. Luanne had asked Merry to help make decorations for her wedding, but has suddenly moved the wedding months earlier and is now demanding that everyone follow her lead, regardless of the cost.

But that cost is much higher than anyone anticipated. When Luanne's fianc� is found murdered at their proposed wedding venue, Merry resolves to restore peace and calm to the community of Rudolph. But the closer she gets to the killer, the more personal the case becomes, and Merry begins to worry that a death knell could ring in the New Year.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I enjoyed the previous book I read in this series and how could I resist that title??

My Impression:  I do love a Christmas cozy and this series is fun because it's always a Christmas cozy no matter what time in the year the investigation takes place.  In the case of this one it really is a Christmas cozy in a Christmas town and there is tons of Christmas-y fun.  The town of Rudolph sounds like such fun and I'd love to shop in Merry's store and meet her family.

I enjoyed the mystery in this one a lot.  Luanne is such a nightmare but at the same time I can see why Merry got tangled up with her.  Things weren't going great but they definitely start skidding off the rails when Luanne moves her wedding that she talked Merry into planning up 4 months.  There's all kinds of hidden motives, secrets, and some drunken breakdowns.  The story kept me guessing and I love following Merry around while she's investigating and the more Mattie time the better!  Really any book that involves a huge dog is always going to be a winner for me!  This one kept me guessing and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.  

If you love a good cozy mystery series this is a great one to pick up.  I jumped in at the last book and while I'm looking forward to reading the earlier books I had no problem understanding the whos and the whys in this book or the previous one.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'll be looking for the next one and the previous books are already on my TBR.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Definitely!  This is a great series with mysteries that pull you in and characters you want to be friends with.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Living with Leukemia (and some Reading) - October 4

 It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

This week was a long one but I feel like I say that every week!  Will went inpatient this week for 2 nights for high dose chemo and a spinal tap/chemo combination.  It went well except for the fact they tried a new medicine to help with nausea after the procedure and it made him crazy loopy and then super groggy for the rest of the day and he was still nauseous. Prior to his Leukemia diagnosis Will had never really had much medicine.  He'd never needed antibiotics or anything stronger then an occasional over the counter allergy med so each new medicine has been a brand new experience. 

We are going home this weekend for a short trip - mostly to change out clothes.  It's starting to get cold and I've been freezing the last few days!  I'm also going to trade out the books I've read and restock a bit.  It'll be like shopping but from my own books.  I'm kind of weirdly excited about it.  This week I think will be pretty relaxed which I'm super excited about.  We are worn out and a whole week without much going on sounds amazing!  

Currently:

Reading:  Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas and Emily's Ghost by Denise Giardina

Listening:  Murder Go Round by Carol J Perry

Watching:  I ended up watching quite a lot of Friends in the hospital and enjoyed it quite a bit.  I forget how much I loved that show.  I like the earlier seasons best but it's a lot of fun.

How is your week going?  What are you reading?

Essential Classic Mysteries I've Read

I found this list on Flavorwire that listed 50 essential mysteries.  Since I started reading chapter books I've been primarily a mystery reader.  I enjoy other genres and I like to mix it in a little bit but more often then not I'll have at least one mystery going.  Lately, I've been reading basically all mysteries so when I saw this list I thought it might be fun to go through it and look at some that I've read, some I want to read, and to see just how many "essential mysteries" I've actually read.

Some I've Read:

Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle - I read this as a kid and then listened to it fairly recently and enjoyed it both times.

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - I listened to this one just a couple of months ago after watching the movie.  I wasn't a fan - one of the few cases where I thought the movie was better.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - One of my absolute favorites!  I've read this countless times and always pick up something different.

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by PD James - I really expected to love this one but really really didn't.  I think the last straw for me was when the main character actually wear the belt on that had been used in the death of another character.  

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - This was gorgeous with such rich writing that I could only read a chapter or two at a time but I loved every page of it.

Some I Want to Read:

Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers - I really want to read just more from Sayers.  I've only read the first book and want to read my way through her books.

The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart - Rinehart is an American writer from the Golden Age of mysteries and one I've sadly neglected.

Beast in View by Margaret Millar - I hadn't heard of this one but it sounds fantastic!

The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan - This is one of those that I've read the title of or mentions of so many times that I kind of forget it was a real book!  

The Complete Auguste Dupin Stories by Edgar Allan Poe - I'm a little hesitant of these because I have mixed feelings about Poe but since this the character that created the mystery genre I feel like I shoud read it.

How Many I've Read:

12 Out Of 50 - I haven't read much noir so that really hurt me.  Plus, they only had one Agatha Christie and no Ngaio Marsh or Patricia Wentworth so that hurt a bit.

Friday Fives - My Favorite Books for the 3rd Quarter of 2020

 

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  Michelle over at Because Reading is Better Than Real Life   used to do a Five on Fridays that I always enjoyed and I've seen a few other variations on the theme.  As well I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd give start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  Today I'm listing my favorite 5 reads that I picked up from July through September (not counting rereads).

1.  Revenge in Rubies by A.M. Stuart - This is the 2nd book in a historical mystery series set in Singapore.  I thoroughly enjoyed the 1st book and the 2nd one just might have been even better!

2.  The Last Curtain Call by Juliet Blackwell - I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this paranormal cozies.  There's lots of Old Hollywood and bunches of ghostly fun.  

3.  The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - This book was pure bonkers in the best possible way!

4.  Murder in the East End by Jennifer Ashley - This is one of my absolute favorite historical mystery series and I love that we got to learn a little bit more about Daniel in this book.

5.  The Summoning by Heather Graham - I've noticed a bit of a trend with Graham's Krewe books. Three come out every year with a link of some kind.  I love the first one, the second one is enjoyable, and the third is a bit meh.  I can't swear that last year's trilogy follows the same plan but I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the first one set in ghostly Savannah.

What were some of your favorite books this quarter?

Haunted Homicide - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Haunted Homicide (A Haunted Mansion Mystery #1) by Lucy Ness

Rating: Liked It    
Source: Publisher

Description:  Avery Morgan has been hired to breathe new life into the Portage Path Women's Club, but first she'll have to deal with a dead body and a meddling ghost.

Avery Morgan has had a harrowing first week on the job as manager of the Portage Path Woman's Club. Not only is she in charge of a grand old home with a mountain of maintenance problems and scheduling nightmares--thanks to a recent fire in the Marigold meeting room--but she's also got Muriel Sadler to deal with. Muriel is the current president of the club, the one "nay" vote when the rest of the board voted "aye" to hiring Avery.

After a morning of dealing with another one of Muriel's snits and a meeting with the delicious and delightfully unsettling Ben Harkness, who will be handling renovations in the fire-damaged portions of the house, the last thing Avery needs is for one of the fuses to blow. Again.

She grabs her handy flashlight and heads into the basement, where she stumbles across Muriel's body. She also stumbles across an unexpected helper, Clemmie Bow, the ghost of a young woman who was accidentally killed in the building almost a hundred years ago.

Together the Clemmie and Avery are determined to solve Muriel's murder before the killer sends Avery to join Clemmie on the other side.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy, Paranormal

Why I Picked This Book:  To be honest this sounded a bit like a grown up Nancy Drew with ghosts 
 
My Impression:  Well this was just fun!  Maybe not my absolute favorite or most memorable read of the year but from start to finish it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading.  Avery is taking over as business manager for an established women's club that happens to reside in an old mansion.  And Avery just happens to have an interesting background.  She grew up in a small town in New York state - and not just any small town but the small town of Lily Dale complete with mediums, seances and all things other worldly.  I thoroughly enjoyed that she had this background that made her fairly knowledgable but at the same time had a serious dose of skepticism.   It proves useful when she found herself face to face with Clemmie Bow a dashing young ghost in her most glamourous 1920s flapper style.  I'm sincerely hoping we learn a bit more about Clemmie as the series progresses and she takes a bit more of an active role.

This being a women's club the politics and secrets are flowing at a pretty intense rate and when the thoroughly unlikable president Muriel Sadler is murdered no one is too shocked.  But on the other hand who disliked Muriel enough to kill her?  There's a lot to set up here and a lot of characters to introduce so at times the mystery felt a little haphazard.  The bulk of the ending wasn't a huge surprise but the author did manage to to sneak a few unexpected reveals in.  While it wasn't perfect I was satisfied with the ending and am excited to see where the series goes in the future.  Avery is a likable main character with a decent amount of common sense and I do love a good ghost sidekick!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm really excited to see where this series goes next.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you love paranormal cozies you really can't miss this one!

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *