Friday Fives - Favorite Moments of 2021

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  This week I'm sharing pictures from my 5 favorite moments of 2021.

1.  

Quality time with the hospital therapy dog.

2.  

Will got to be the Headlight Hero and judge a car show.  This was his pick.

3.  

Swimming!

4.  

Getting to reconnect with Will's Physician Assistant from St. Jude who was the medical officer on SpaceX's Inspiration 4 and getting to meet the rest of the crew.  They were so sweet.

5.  

Getting Rover!  He's grown so much since this picture was taken!

What were some of your favorite moments of 2021?

Classic Mystery List for 2022

 

In 2021 I made a list of 10 classic mysteries that I wanted to be sure to read and really liked having that to focus on.  So I decided to do the same thing in 2022 and here is the list I'm looking forward to reading.

1.  Anna, Where Are You? by Patricia Wentworth - This is the next Miss Silver book and one I haven't read!

2.  Double Sin and Other Stories by Agatha Christie - Now that I have finished the Miss Marple books I'm starting Christie's short story collections and am so looking forward to them!

3.  Mrs. Pollifax on Safari by Dorothy Gilman - Mrs. Pollifax is such a delight and I can't wait to see what kind of trouble she gets into on safari.

4.  A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh - This is the first book in the Roderick Alleyn series.  I've had an iffy history with Marsh but am planning on starting from the beginning with the Alleyn series and seeing what I think.

5.  Henrietta Who? by Catherine Aird - I really enjoyed the first Inspector Sloan book and am looking forward to rereading this one.  It's been so long since I've read it that it barely counts as a reread.

6.  Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers - This is the third book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series.  I enjoyed the first two though I have decided that audio for these doesn't work for me as they can be a little bit slower paced but it is important to pay attention to all the details.  I'm hoping that reading this in print works better for me.

7.  The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart - I have read a few Mary Roberts Rinehart books and enjoyed them quite a bit and am looking forward to continuing.

8.  Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart - This is more Gothic then mystery but Stewart is an author I want to read more from.

9.  The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey - This is the first book in the Inspector Grant series and while I have met Grant in another book I'm looking forward to starting at the beginning of the series.

10. Dead Men Don't Ski by Patricia Moyes - I read several books by Moyes back in college and remember really enjoying them.  This is the first book in the Henry Tibbet series and I'm looking forward to seeing if it lives up to my memories.

Have you read any of these?  Do you have any classic mysteries you want to read this year?

Final Year of the Series Reviews - The Missing Sister, Cajun Kiss of Death, and Picture Them Dead

After the calamity that was 2020 I didn't want to give myself serious reading goals but I did want to do something to help my book stacks get a little more under control.  I've tried getting rid of the ones I want to read but unfortunately I want to read all the books I own.  So I decided to focus on series.  There are so many I have that I abandoned halfway through or came in halfway and never read the first few.  I made a list of ten series and the next book I had to read in them and will be rolling in new books and series as I go along and catch up.  These are mini reviews for 3 series ending/catching up books.

Goodreads:  The Missing Sister (The Seven Sisters #7) by Lucinda Riley

Blurb:  The six D’Aplièse sisters have each been on their own incredible journey to discover their heritage, but they still have one question left unanswered: who and where is the seventh sister?

They only have one clue – an image of a star-shaped emerald ring. The search to find the missing sister will take them across the globe; from New Zealand to Canada, England, France and Ireland, uniting them all in their mission to at last complete their family.

In doing so, they will slowly unearth a story of love, strength and sacrifice that began almost one hundred years ago, as other brave young women risk everything to change the world around them.

My Thoughts:  While the other 6 books in this series have been focused on each individual sister this book reads partly as a bridge between those books and the next book which is the story of Pa Salt.  We did get the story of the missing sister and it does connect some threads that have made appearances since the first book.  I also enjoyed getting a quick check in with each sister as they each had their own mini journey in finding the next sister.  That said because it ends somewhat on a cliff hanger and has a split focus this book as well as the usual two timelines it felt a bit disjointed.  I have heard Lucinda Riley's estate has chosen an author to continue with the last book and I can only hope that this author lives up the expectations that have been set.  My Rating: Liked It

Goodreads:  Cajun Kiss of Death (Cajun Country #7) by Ellen Byron

Blurb:  In Pelican, Louisiana, Valentine's Day has a way of warming the heart, despite the February chill. But the air at Crozat Plantation B&B turns decidedly frigid when celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson checks in. And when the arrogant Phillippe--in town to open his newest Cajun-themed restaurant--perishes in a fiery boat crash, Maggie Crozat's dear friend JJ lands in very cold water.

Did JJ, proprietor of Junie's Oyster Bar and Dance Hall, murder Phillippe because he feared the competition? Might Maggie's mother, Ninette, have bumped off the chef for stealing one of her cherished recipes? Or was the culprit a local seafood vendor, miffed because Phillippe was somehow able to sell oysters for a remarkably reasonable price, despite an oyster shortage?

Maggie had planned to devote her February to art lessons in New Orleans, a present from her sweetheart, Bo. But now she has to focus on helping her friend and her mother cross a murder charge off the menu. Meanwhile, Maggie receives a series of anonymous gifts that begin as charming but grow increasingly disturbing. Does Maggie have an admirer--or a stalker? And are these mysterious gifts somehow related to Phillippe's murder?

My Thoughts:  I love this series and this did not change that.  I loved that this was an intentional end to the series and doesn't leave anything open ended.  I really loved seeing Maggie and Bo married.  The mystery was a solid one which I have come to expect from this series and I loved that it involved a long time side character in the series so we got to know JJ a bit better.  That said the side mystery was a bit weak.  Overall, this is such a great series and one that I am sad to see end but am so pleased that Byron gave us a peek into the future of these characters.  My Rating: Really Liked It!

Goodreads:  Picture Them Dead (A Family History Mystery #3) by Brynn Bonner

Blurb:  When genealogists Sophreena McClure and Esme Sabatier are called on by Detective Jenny Jeffers to help figure out who the corpse in the backyard of her father’s house is, they reluctantly agree. Known for figuring out the unusual, Sophreena and Esme do their best to uncover the mystery behind the corpse, and the glass coffin he’s buried in. Word soon spreads about the bizarre burial site, leading the people of Morningside to “adopt” the corpse and begin leaving mementos in memoriam for him. But when the body of a young woman is found near the memorial, the duo has another task on their hands: to dig into the past of the house’s previous owners. Could the clues to a recent murder finally help this soul rest in peace?

My Thoughts:  I love this series so much.  I love the research, the characters, the dives into history and finding out long buried family secrets.  I enjoyed that we got a bit of background on Jenny Jeffers who has been Sophie's kind of nemesis since the beginning of the series.  I loved the mystery and spending time with these characters and am so sad to be done with it.  My Rating: Really Liked It!

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten 2021 Releases I Didn't Get Around to Reading

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 2021 Releases I Didn't Get Around to Reading.  This is the first year that I don't have overdue 2021 review books which is VERY exciting for me so while I was better about that I still didn't read all the books I wanted to read.

1.  Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson - With this title how can I not want to read this one??

2. Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest - I've seen a couple of reviews for this one and it sounded fantastic but I didn't get to it.

3.  The Wicked Widow by Beatriz Williams - I've really enjoyed books from this author but it's been far too long since I've read anything by her.

4.  The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict - It's historical fiction involving Agatha Christie.  I feel like I'm either going to love this one or hate it but I do know I want to read it!

5.  Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas - Basically this is a stand in for the last several years of books by Kleypas because I haven't read any of them even though I've really meant to get them.

6.  The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan - This sounds amazing and I always enjoy Colgan's books but somehow I didn't get to this one.

7.  A Hex for Danger by Esme Addison - I really enjoyed the first book in this series but didn't pick this one up.

8.  The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis - This is another stand in but for basically every book by Shalvis in the last few years.  

9.  The Rose Code by Kate Quinn - I finally listened to The Alice Network this year and loved it so now I really want to read more by her.

10. The London House by Katherine Reay - I have read one of her books and it was one of my favorites of 2019.  This blurb really caught my attention but I just ran out of time.

What books did you mean to read but didn't?

Spirits and Sourdough - Cozy Review

Goodreads: Spirits and Sourdough (Magical Bakery Mystery #10) by Bailey Cates

Rating: Liked It!
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Baker Katie Lightfoot needs a sprinkle of magic to solve a haunting mystery in the newest book in this New York Times bestselling series.

Hedgewitch Katie Lightfoot works at the Honeybee Bakery in Savannah, and she's always up for investigating her adopted home's rich supernatural history. That's why she's taking a ghost tour for the very first time. But when the psychic tour guide tells Katie that she's being followed by the ghost of a recently murdered woman, Katie realizes she met the victim earlier that day, just before she died. She knows she must bring the killer to justice.

And this murder isn't the only mystery Katie needs to solve. Her new husband, Declan McCarthy, is missing the guardian spirit who always watched over him, and she's concerned that Deck's life could be at risk if they can't find him. Under pressure from the living and the dead, Katie will have to use all of her magical skills to start an investigation from scratch and avoid half-baked alibis, because this baker kneads to find a killer.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I enjoyed the previous book in this series so had to pick up this one.

My Impression: This is such a cute series with lots of yummy food mentions and likable characters.  I like the mix of mystery and supernatural  and that the supernatural part isn't involved in helping Katie investigate.  

The mystery did keep me guessing until just before the reveal with lots of possible suspects and motives.  I liked the hook of the ghost tour and the tour guide who can see the dead.  It did surprise me a little that Katie was pretty much on her own with the investigation other then the occasional phone call with the police detective.  Most of the spell book club is busy with the side plot of Declan's guardian spirit.  

I would like to go back and read more about the side plot and the spend more time with the characters in general but I do feel like you could jump in with this book without too much issue.  There's enough information about who is who and even the guardian spirit subplot that I think even new to the series readers would have no issue.  This isn't a book that will really stay with me long after I'm done but it is one I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end which is sometimes just what I want.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'd really like to go back and read the earlier books in this series and will be keeping an eye out for new books.  

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like a supernatural edge with your cozies and are looking for a fun read I think you'd enjoy this series.

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

Life with Leukemia (And Some Reading) - January 16

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

What I Got:

Nothing!  I really meant to do some book shopping but there just wasn't time this week.

Currently:

Reading:  Totally Pawstruck by Sofie Ryan and Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman by Vicki Delany

Listening: The Girl from the Savoy by Hazel Gaynor

You can't really tell super well in this picture but Will no longer has the feeding tube in his nose.  On New Year's Day at about 4AM he woke up really sick to his stomach and the tube ended up coming out when he was sick.  It was quite a dramatic way to start the year.  Because he had done so well with it and put on enough weight it gave us a little wiggle room to try to get him to eat on his own and not have it put back in.  He is seriously motivated to keep it out and has been really working hard on eating. We are all holding our breath and hoping he can do it.  The NG tube is definitely worth the trouble and made a tremendous difference for him but he's really enjoying not having to deal with it.  He's still having a lot of foot pain things to the neuropathy and we are still waiting for the braces to be delivered. I'm really hoping they make a big difference and allow him to get back to being more active.

Rover is growing in leaps and bounds.  He had a vet appointment Tuesday and had doubled his weight in 3 weeks.  They keep kind of warning me that he's going to be big which is kind of funny.  We are estimating probably around 80 pounds when he's full grown.  He starts puppy class this week and I'm so excited to really start working with him.  He's so smart and pretty well behaved for a 13 week old puppy so I think once we harness his energy a bit he's really going to be a great dog.  I will not miss those little dagger puppy teeth though!

I thought last week was the week of appointments but it turns out this week has even more which I'm not super thrilled about.  My insomnia decided to show up again with an added twist.  I'm sleeping super light when I finally get to sleep and it's driving me crazy!  Normally I'm a super heavy sleeper once I actually get to sleep but right now every tiny little sound wakes me up.  I'm not a fan.  Any light sleeper tips?  At least I'm getting some decent reading done.  

Have a great week and happy reading!

The Brading Collection - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Brading Collection by Patricia Wentworth

Rating: Really Liked It!
Source:   Purchased

Description: Lewis Brading loves only one thing – his collection of jewels. Not only are the gems extremely valuable but also every piece has a fascinating and bloody history attached to it.

However Lewis is a frightened and difficult man who sees thieves around every corner. When he asks Miss Silver for help, she gives him some sound advice and turns him away. A few days later, she receives a letter from him, again asking for help. But it is too late. In the morning paper is the news of his murder.
Lewis Brading loves only one thing – his collection of jewels. Not only are the gems extremely valuable but also every piece has a fascinating and bloody history attached to it. However Lewis is a frightened and difficult man who sees thieves around every corner. When he asks Miss Silver for help, she gives him some sound advice and turns him away. A few days later, she receives a letter from him, again asking for help. But it is too late. In the morning paper is the news of his murder.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

My Impression: I love the premise of this one - especially the actual Brading Collection which consists of jewels with notorious histories.  Lewis Brading is not the nicest of individuals.  He has no issues with blackmail, manipulation, and just general ruthlessness.  When he meets Miss Silver she refuses to take his case because of his behavior and recommends he change his ways.  I loved that she refused him and told him so as succinctly as she could.  As well I really enjoyed the concept of the collection and thought the setting was perfect for a murder mystery.  

Let me say first that I did enjoy this one and it was a fast entertaining read.  That said I felt like this was a bit undeveloped.  The collection was barely mentioned and was basically window dressing which was too bad as it could have been so interesting.  As well there are several characters who have sinister motives for various actions and while these were touched on I really wish there could have been more development across the board.  I feel a bit like Wentworth had a few plots that weren't completely finished and she had an approaching deadline so she just kind of shoved them all together.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Well of course!  I'll probably reread this one though it won't be top of my list.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Without a doubt I would recommend this author and while there are some issues this is a fun book though I think many of her other books are better.