November 2025's Reading Summary

As December dawns, let's take a look back at what I read in November.  I had some time after getting back from Thanksgiving, so I got the index updated.

The links will take you to my full review.  All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

 

Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries #4) – 5

Ricki James-Diaz is thrilled her parents are in town for Christmas.  She’s hoping that she and her mom and use the time to track down more of Ricki’s birth family.  But when one of her mom’s former co-workers is killed right after Ricki meets her, murder takes center stage.  As more of Ricki’s family and friends come under suspicious, she can’t help but jump in.  Will she find the killer?

It was great to be back with Ricki and her family and friends.  They are a fun bunch, and we met some new characters I hope we see again.  There are some spoilers for previous books’ ongoing storylines, but they are minor.  There are several subplots in addition to the main mystery, so I was never bored.  Yet everything was balanced well and we reached a satisfying climax.  I did find a couple of small things that should have been caught by an edit, but they are minor.  I loved the Christmas setting of the book for both the humor and the coziness it brought.  And we get some appropriate recipes at the end of the book.  Whether you read this book now or save it for December, you’ll be glad you read it.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

The Devil Comes Calling by Annette Dashofy (Detective Honeywell Mysteries #3) – 5

Detective Matthias Honeywell is called to the scene of a double homicide. The victims were found in a home being renovated and were shot execution style. One of them was Emma Anderson’s predecessor as a crime beat photographer for ErieLIVE. While Honeywell conducts his investigation, Emma begins to wonder if a co-worker is involved. But with a complication from Honeywell’s past in town, will that distract him from the case?

While it’s been two years for us since the previous book, it’s only been a few weeks for the characters. I recommend you read the previous book because this one picks up a storyline from that book; I wish I’d had time to reread it myself. Also, keep in mind this is a police procedural, not one of the cozies I often read and you’ll be fine. As always, this book started strongly and kept getting better. I was hooked long before I reached the logical yet surprising climax. Honeywell gets some very nice backstory here, and Emma continues to be a strong second viewpoint characters. The switches between the two are always easy to follow. The suspects are strong, and I’m happy to see the supporting characters continue to grow. This book was worth the wait. Dive into this series today. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Player Elimination by Shelly Jones (Wren Winters Mysteries #1) – 3

Wren Winters is running the game story she and her late husband started in a small college town. Her biggest issue is her landlord, who is talking about doing something new with her building despite the fact that he uses the game store to try out new solo games himself. But one morning she arrives at the store to find the police there. Someone has murdered her landlord. But who?

I’ve gotten back into games the last couple of years, so I was hoping this would be a good cozy mystery with that theme. Sadly, it needed just a bit more. There is one character who uses they/them pronouns that I found distracting, but that’s probably mostly on me. Overall, the characters were a little flat. The mystery was uneven, although the ending was good. Even the games Wren and her friends played didn’t give us the details I was hoping to enjoy. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll continue this series. 

 

This Way to Murder by Shelley Shearer (Board Game Cafe Mysteries #1) – 3

Remi McKenna is hosting a letterboxing event with some friends in the town where she is planning to move. Along for the ride is her best friend, Trace Cooper. However, Trace has brought a problem with her. She’s been getting some weird texts and phone calls recently, and it appears her potential stalker has followed her. Can Remi juggle the event she is running with trying to figure out if her best friend is truly in danger?

This debut had some promise to it. I really did enjoy the main characters, for example. The supporting characters tended to blend together for me. While the letterboxing event was fun, I was expecting a bit more about the board game cafe instead of it being a subplot. The pacing for the mystery is a bit off, but things made sense when we reached the end. I’d consider giving a second in the series a chance, but I’d hope some of these kinks would be worked out. 

 

Framed! by James Ponti (Framed! #1) – 4

Florian Bates and his family have just moved to Washington DC, where his parents have landed jobs at the National Gallery.  Florian is building a friendship with his neighbor, Margaret, before they both start middle school.  But when the National Gallery is robbed, they realize they might have some vital information.  Can they use their observations to figure out the crime.

This book starts with an exciting scene near the climax before flashing us back to the beginning, a storytelling style I don’t like.  And the book took a bit longer with the set up than I normally enjoy.  Here, I did find watching Florian and Margaret build their friendship fun.  The mystery itself is good with some nice developments before we reach the climax.  I also enjoyed the homage to Sherlock Holmes in Florian’s ability to observe the small things.  Readers of all ages will find the pages turning all too quickly.  I’m hoping I can read the next two soon.

 

Catering to the Dead by Kim Davis (Cupcake Catering Mysteries #8) – 4

Emory Martinez is providing the cupcakes for a Dia de los Muertos party. She’s also helping out her sister, who is providing the rest of the food. But as Emory is cleaning up after the event, she finds a member of the Mariachi band under the dessert table. She doesn’t consider this a case she needs to get involved in until the hosts keep trying to point the finger at her. Can she find another killer?

When I saw we were getting a new entry in this series, I jumped at a chance to read it. While the setting may not be traditionally cozy, I really enjoy it. And the characters help pull us in. I enjoyed spending time with Emory and her family and friends as always. The pacing was a little off early, and the end left me with a minor question, but overall, the mystery was enjoyable. Plus we get nine recipes and two craft ideas. Whether new to the series or a longtime fan, you’ll be glad you picked up this book. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna (Stella and Lyndy Mysteries #7) – 4

Stella and Lyndy are in Montana visiting Stella’s mother and the dig site where Lyndy’s father is spending the summer of 1906 looking for fossils.  Not too long after the couple arrives, the night watchman for the dig dies.  While the local coroner is quick to rule it an accident, Stella thinks there might be more to it.  If she is right, how can Lyndy and Stella prove it?

It was natural that Stella and Lyndy would wind up in the US at some point instead of England, where the earlier books were set. This different setting allowed us to see a different side of Lyndy.  Between that and the continuation of character arcs from earlier in the series, I liked the character growth we got.  Sadly, many of the regulars didn’t make the trip, and I did miss them.  The new characters, while good suspects, weren’t the same.  The mystery is a bit uneven, partially because it tries to do a bit too much.  I did have one issue that I didn’t feel was resolved, but overall, I was satisfied with the ending.  While this may not be the best book to jump into the series with, it is one that fans will still enjoy.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Paradise Plagued by Sarah E. Burr (Court of Mystery #6) – 4

Jax, her new husband, and her closest friends are escaping to the Ogdam Oasis for a much-deserved vacation. She is going under an assumed name in a hope to truly be able to relax. However, Jax finds a dead body their first night there. When some things at the scene don’t add up, Jax determines that it was murder. Can she find a way to bring about justice without giving away who she really is?

It was longer than I intended before I returned to this series, but it was good to visit Jax again.  All my favorite characters made the trip with her, and some of the others did get mentioned.  Updates on the politics of the realm in the months since we last visited Jax slowed down the beginning, but I got caught up in the mystery once it really got going.  I did figure one thing out early, but I was hooked all the way until the logical solution.  A few of the characters didn’t come fully alive for me, but that was due to their limited page time.  This story does move the series into a new direction, and I’m anxious to see what comes next.  Fans will be glad they read this book and be ready for the next when they set this one down.

 

Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg (Eve Ronin #6) – 4

LA County Sheriff Detective Eve Ronin and her partner are called to the scene of a body found in the Malibu Lagoon. Of course, it couldn’t be a body floating in the water. That would be too easy. In this case, the body was found floating in a fifty-five-gallon drum. What’s even more shocking is that Eve recognizing the victim. With his ties to some of the most powerful people in the county, can she find the killer without getting impacted by the politics of the case?

This book does contain some heavy spoilers for earlier stories in the series by necessity, but there is enough background you could jump in here. And what a wild ride it is. The plot spins in some unexpected directions, but I believed it all on the way to the logical climax. The characters are a little thin, but I do care about them. And I appreciate the depth we did get for Eve. The banter between the characters was fun, and the locker room humor was kept to a minimum. The violence was a little more than in the books I typically read. I’m ready for the next already, and fans of the series will be glad they picked this one up. 

TV Show Review: The Brady Bunch - Season 1

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Smiles and mild laughs with this family

Cons: Slower paced, very dated aesthetic

The Bottom Line:

Come meet the Bradys

In show’s charming first season

Dated but still fun

“What’s That All About?”  “Don’t Ask Me; I Only Live Here.”

Among the many TV on DVD sets I’ve bought myself over the years and never watched is The Brady Bunch.  After buying several more series recently, I decided it was time to watch start watching these many series.  Since I am working my way through Step by Step (expect my review of the first season of that show soonish), I decided that I should actually sit down and watch the first season of The Brady Bunch.  Yes, it’s dated.  Yes, it’s cheesy.  But it’s still fun.

For the few who might have missed this cultural phenomenon, it tells the story of the Brady family. Mike (Robert Reed) is a widower raising three boys, Greg, Peter, and Bobby (Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, and Mike Lookinland).  In the first episode, we meet them on a big day.  Mike is marrying Carol (Florence Henderson), a mother with three daughters, Marsha, Jan, and Cindy (Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb, and Susan Olsen).  Rounding out the cast (because eight characters isn’t enough) is Ann B. Davis as their housekeeper, Alice.

As I said, the first episode revolves around the wedding, which is filled with pet caused chaos.  From there, we get an episode about everyone moving into the house together (although it aired, sixth – explain that one).  I was a little surprised to see how many of the episodes revolved around the characters adjusting to having each other in their lives.  It makes sense, but I hadn’t really picked up on that before.  Poor Cindy has to decide which one person to invite to see her in the school play.  The kids worry when they see a letter to an advice columnist that could apply to them.  The women go on their first camping trip.  Even Alice thinks the family doesn’t need her any more.  And the adults must work out whose doctor they will use for the kids. 

Other episodes in the first season just deal with the trials of growing up, dealing with a big family, or a classic battle of the sexes.  Mike installs a pay phone for the kids to use when the phone bill gets to be too big.  Marsha and Greg face off for class president.  Greg develops a crush on his math teacher.  Mike and Carol decide to change roles with the kids for a day.  When the trading stamp company announces it is closing, the kids have to decide what to do with the books they’ve been saving.  And the parents think about selling the house in order to get something larger.

The thing that struck me while I was watching is that each episode has one storyline.  All the characters interact with it in some way, but there are no sub-plots or “B” storylines.  I’m curious when that changed in sitcoms because we are used to have two or even three storylines in most shows these days.  As a result, I did find the episodes a little slow at times.  Yep, even this reader has found his attention span shortened by how TV is written.

The show also isn’t as funny as I’d expect for a typical sitcom.  That’s despite the canned laughter we get through each episode.  Yes, it is completely fake here since the show wasn’t filmed in front of an audience.  Even so, I still find it more appealing than so many modern sitcoms, which are trying so hard to be funny that they are more annoying.  Here, I still found the show fun and charming even if I wasn’t laughing.  Of course, the show does have some lines and situations that made me laugh.  And I was smiling more often than not as I watched.

This is clearly an idealized family.  Even if we weren’t dealing with a blended family, the way the characters get along and work through things is unrealistic.  Nothing would be this easily wrapped up in twenty-five minutes.  But I think this is part of the reason the show is so popular.  Yes, it’s a fantasy, but it’s a fantasy we all wish were true.  It’s nice to be in a world where people can get along this easily and work through their problems maturely.  And the show provides some models of good behavior without becoming preachy.

While most of us think about the show as a 1970’s show, the first season actually aired from 1969 to 1970.  Still, the early 70’s influences are everywhere.  The house.  The fashion.  I know it gets even more pronounced later, but it’s all there.

I’ve caught the show in reruns here and there over the years.  I’ve never been a consistent viewer, so I’m sure there are episodes I’ve missed.  I was surprised, however, to find that I recognized most of these episodes.  Maybe I’ve seen more than I realized.

One thing I will give the show is that these characters feel like characters.  Considering the size of the cast the writers had to juggle, that’s impressive.  It helps that most episodes focus on one or two characters, so we really get to know them.  The rest of the credit obviously goes to the actors who are already doing a good job at bringing their characters to life.  There are a few moments where the acting isn’t quite right, but they are easy to forgive.

As I said, I have the series on DVD.  There are four discs containing all 25 episodes of the first season.  We get some extras here, too.  Series creator Sherwood Schwartz does a commentary on the first episode, and Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, and Susan Olsen do commentaries on two other episodes.  There’s also a short documentary (about 17 minutes) about the creation of the show and its impact.

The Brady Bunch is definitely a show from a different time.  It might not appeal as much to today’s kids as a result, but I still found the first season charming.

November 29th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Since we had the holiday this week, I'm behind on my TV watching.  But I'll work on catch up next week.

In the meantime, here's what I did watch.

Happy’s Place (11/21) – The baby storyline is my least favorite in the series.  I knew it was coming back, but I’m not necessarily happy about it.  Having said that, this was a good episode.  It was nice to see a customer have a line.  Plus there were some guest stars.  And we saw some of Dakota’s family, even if we still don’t know that much about him.

Celebrity Weakest Link – That was painful!!  This was also the episode that almost aired before the World Series.  I’ve been wondering who the exes would be.  Never thought about it being reality TV stars.  I knew the Housewives would stick together.  But man, none of them could answer any questions.

TV We Love – I’ve watched Cheers here and there over the years, but I really need to sit down and seriously watch it.  I always enjoy it when I do.  I think I knew most of those stories, but it was still fun to watch the interviews and clips.  And I did learn a thing or two.

Dancing with the Stars – I’ve been team Robert all along, so I am thrilled with the outcome.  Yes, he was a front runner all season long.  Yes, there were lots of great dancers.  But I am really happy he won.  Having said that, I think Dylan’s freestyle was my favorite of the five this season.

Wipeout – I’m glad the brothers won and “redeemed” for their dad.  It’s hard to have a loss by so few seconds.  And yes, I do think the courses were more creative in the original.  Still lots of Wipeouts back then, but that creativity made it a little more fun to watch.  At least to me.

Ornament Review: Darkwing Duck - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Perfectly captures Darkwing

Cons: A little big for my taste, but not too bad; hat hides his face

The Bottom Line:

A pop character

Loyal fans will thrill to have

Protecting your tree

Let’s Get Decorative

I’m not quite sure why I got hooked on the Disney cartoon series Darkwing Duck, but I am a huge fan. So when I saw Hallmark was releasing an ornament of him this year, I jumped on it. 

If you missed the show, it’s essentially a superhero spoof with Darkwing being modeled most closely on Batman. However, it’s a lighter, funny take on that kind of character. If you want to know more, here are my reviews of the two DVD sets that Disney released. (Sadly, they stopped short of releasing the entire series. 

The ornament captures the character perfectly. He’s wearing his purple costume including his hat and mask. He’s holding his cape out with one hand and his gas/gadget gun with the other. I can picture him just about ready to jump into action. 

And I love it! Seeing that character on my tree is making me smile. It’s a very specific character, but Darkwing has his loyal fans, and we are all going to be happy having him in our collection. The brim of his hat does make his face a little hard to see, especially when he’s hanging on your tree, but I’m not sure how you’d get around that since it is accurate to the design of the character.

I will say, the ornament is a little big for my taste, but I was expecting that given Hallmark’s trend toward larger ornaments in recent years. It’s not as big as it could be, so I’m not complaining too much. 

Because of Darkwing Duck’s stance, you can set the ornament out to be displayed. However, the cape is a little back heavy, so he isn’t super steady on his feet. 

However, when you go to hang the ornament, you’ll find that he hangs perfectly straight. Since I plan to hang him on my tree, that’s fine with me. 

Fans of the series are going to be delighted with this ornament. Now’s the time to snag it so you can make sure Darkwing Duck spends years on your tree. After all, he’s the ornament your tree has been missing. He’s Darkwing Duck.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No new review since it's a holiday here in the US.  I'm spending the day with my family.  I hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday if you are in the US as well.

As always, I'm thankful for all of you who regularly read my reviews.

Book Review: Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg (Eve Ronin #6)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Plenty of wild action and fun

Cons: Characters are a little on the thing side

The Bottom Line:

A familiar corpse

A case laced with politics

Another fun book

Body in a Barrel

When you pick up a Lee Goldberg book, you know you are in for a wild ride that’s hard to put down. That was the case once again with Fallen Star, the sixth book in the Eve Ronin series. 

If you are new to the series, Eve is a detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. And I wouldn’t suggest jumping in here. There are some spoilers for previous books since this book follows up on those stories. If you really wanted to, you could jump in here since everything you need to know is explained. 

Eve and her partner are called to the scene of a body found in the Malibu Lagoon. Of course, it couldn’t be a body floating in the water. That would be too easy. In this case, the body was found floating in a fifty-five-gallon drum. What’s even more shocking is that Eve recognizing the victim. With his ties to some of the most powerful people in the county, can she find the killer without getting impacted by the politics of the case?

Of course, if you think this case is going to be that simple, it’s a sign you aren’t familiar with this series. It spins off in some wild directions, and yet each twist and turn is believable while you are engrossed in the story. I was thinking at one point how nice it was that Eve has a team behind her, were each able to contribute something along the way to the logical climax. 

I will say, the characters are a tad on the thin side. Between the banter and the fast action, there isn’t as much time to get to know the characters on a deeper level. That’s not to say I don’t like them or care about them. It’s just that they could be a little deeper. And there were a group of characters I had a hard time keeping straight. That is due to how they were introduced. 

The exception to this is Eve. While the book is told in third person, we follow her closely, so we get to see a bit more of what she is struggling with. I liked getting to see what those struggles revealed about her. 

I mentioned banter earlier. The characters do joke around, and we have some running jokes I always appreciate seeing show up. The locker room humor is kept to a minimum here, which I appreciated. 

Keep in mind that these are police procedural books, so the level of violence and language is more than in the cozies I often read. 

As always, this book left me anxious for the next in the series. Fans will enjoy Fallen Star as much as I did. 

Do check out the rest of the Eve Ronin Mysteries. 

Movie Review: Now You See Me 2

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun, action filled, movie

Cons: Characters are thin

The Bottom Line:

Magic and action

What happens next to the cast

Worked better for me

“And Now?  A Pigeon?”

While I found the first movie uneven, I enjoyed it enough to accept an invitation to watch the sequel with some friends.  I’m glad I did because I found myself enjoying Now You See Me 2 quite a bit.

This movie picks up eighteen months after the first movie.  While FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) is still trying to track the Four Horseman (or at least pretending to), the four magicians are laying low, something that isn’t sitting well with Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg).  He’s still in touch with Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and Merritt McKenney (Woody Harrelson).  The only one who has left the group is Henley Reeves (because Isla Fisher did come back for the sequel).  But Atlas wants to get out there again.  And Jack wouldn’t mind no longer having to play dead.

They finally get called back to action.  Joining them is a new Horseman, Lula (Lizzy Caplan).  And their assignment?  Infiltrate a tech company’s big announcement to reveal some secrets and warn about the new technology.  But their event goes horribly wrong, and the four of them find themselves in danger, with Dylan making a deal with the last person he expected to in order to help them.  Will they find a way to get out of their predicament?

One thing I appreciated about this movie is that it is a true sequel.  It isn’t just a retread of the first.  It actually shows what happens next to the characters, and it builds on what came before.  As a result, I highly recommend you watch these two movies in order.

While the first one really played into the big stage magic acts, this one is a bit more subtle with the magic theme.  Oh, it’s there, but it isn’t nearly as prominent.  But that’s okay because the story that is being told is served by the magic we do get.

And the magic we do get is still spectacular.  Oh, it’s more movie magic than realistic magic, but that’s okay.  It’s still incredibly fun to watch.

To enjoy this movie, you have to be able to go along with what they are giving you.  There’s one scene in particular that is so over the top but it is completely fun.

That’s really the key word here – fun.  This is what movies should be.  There’s action.  There’s adventure.  There are laughs.  You don’t care how realistic it is or isn’t because you are along for the ride.  And it’s a great ride. 

Having said that, the characters are overshadowed by the action.  There are some small character arcs, but nothing significant.  You are here for the action and fun, not for the big character growth.  But again, it works.

And this isn’t a slight on the actors.  They are working on bringing the characters to life as best they can.  They are just part of a movie that is focused on spectacle rather than character.  Lizzy Caplan was a great addition to the core cast; I really enjoyed her dynamic with the rest.  And there are some great actors in the cast I didn’t mention by name who are fun.

Speaking of spectacle, this movie is filled with special effects.  And they all work.  I have a feeling they were able to use a lot of practical effects, which helps.  I completely bought everything I saw on screen.

Since I think my issue with the first movie was more personal preference than anything else, I can easily say that Now You See Me 2 was a better movie for me.  Yes, it’s flash over substance, but it’s fun.  And if that’s what you want, you’ll be glad you saw it.

Book Review: Paradise Plagued by Sarah E. Burr (Court of Mystery #6)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Jax and the rest in a good mystery

Cons: The beginning is a bit slow

The Bottom Line:

Try to get away

But Jax still finds a murder

Turn for the series

Jax Finds Vacation Turns Political

I’m transitioning Sarah E. Burr’s Court of Mystery series from audio to ebook since that’s how I got the rest of the series. But I wasn’t good about putting the ebooks on my schedule, so it’s been longer than I intended before I returned to Paradise Plagued, the sixth in the series. 

This series is a little different from the cozies I typically read. They are set in the Realm of Virtues, a fictional continent with a strong Medieval vibe. There’s no magic, but I do feel like we’ve got that light fantasy touch to it. 

The main character is Jacqueline, Jax to her friends, who is the ruler of the biggest kingdom in the realm. She’s recently taken over the kingdom from her deceased parents, and solving their murder has led her to getting involved in other cases. 

This book finds Jax, her new husband, and her closest friends escaping to the Ogdam Oasis for a much-deserved vacation. She is going under an assumed name in a hope to truly be able to relax. However, Jax finds a dead body their first night there. When some things at the scene don’t add up, Jax determines that it was murder. Can she find a way to bring about justice without giving away who she really is?

Because of who Jax is, these books are part political intrigue. Unfortunately, reminding us of the political landscape and updating what has happened in the months since we last visited the characters makes the opening a little slow. I did figure out one part of the story early, but I was still caught up in watching Jax figure things out and bring us to a logical conclusion. 

I love the characters, and our favorites were all here. I enjoyed getting to spend some time with them in a different setting. A few of the new characters stood out, although some of the others didn’t get enough page time to truly come alive. 

I’d heard that this book marked a change for the series, and having read it, I can see that. It might bother some readers, but I’m invested in this series and am curious to see how things are going to play out. In fact, with how this book ends, I’m even more anxious to read the next in the series. 

It was interesting reading this book having listened to the first five. I could hear the narrator’s voice in my head when I started, although that began to fade as I got into the story. I also enjoyed seeing some of the words, mainly character and place names, I’d just guessed at how to spell before. 

While this book references earlier entries in the series, it doesn’t outright spoil them. Still, I recommend you go back to the beginning to fully appreciate where the characters are coming from in this book. 

Hybrids seem rare to me in the mystery genre, but this series is one that works. Fans will enjoy seeing Jax’s story take a step forward in Paradise Plagued. 

Pick up the rest of the Court of Mystery novels. 

November 23rd's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to another weekend.  It's time for my Sunday/Monday Post, where I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It was a fairly quiet week around here.  I tried to make sure I had everything done I needed done at work since fiscal year end starts this coming week, before Thanksgiving.  Always a busy time of year for this account who works for a company with a slightly off fiscal year.

Weather wise, we got some rain and the temps remained cold - at least cold for us in Southern California.  I actually turned on my heater for the first time this week.

Last night, I hung out with some friends for a movie night, and we are meeting up again Sunday for a movie in the theaters.  And yes, you'll read my thoughts on both in the coming couple of weeks.

I think that's all the news around here.

Joke of the Week:

A person rushed into the doctor’s office and shouted, “Doctor! I think I’ve been shrinking!”

The doctor calmly responded, “Now settle down.  You’ll just have to be a little patient.”

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Book Review: Framed! by James Ponti

Tuesday - Book Review: Catering to the Dead by Kim Davis

Wednesday - Movie Review: Believe in Christmas

Thursday - Book Review: Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna

Friday - Movie Review: Three Wisest Men

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Book Review: Paradise Plagued by Sarah E. Burr

Tuesday - Movie Review: Now You See You 2

Wednesday - Book Review: Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg

Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday - Ornament Review: Darkwing Duck

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

I've got a couple of books to tell you about this week, and I will be getting to both of them in December.

Up first is a last minute ARC I received.  Catherine Dilts contacted me to let me know she had a third in her Rose Creek Mysteries coming out soon.  I'd loved the first two in the series and had often wondered what happened to the characters, so I jumped at a chance to read The Body in the Hayloft.  The book's release date is December 1st, so I'm trying to figure out when I'll post my review.  But I can't wait to read it!

I've been planning to read Home for the Homicides by Rosalie Spielman in December.  It's the fourth in a series I've been enjoying this year.  I read the first three already this year.  And reading a Christmas themed cozy in December?  Sign me up, please.  I was just about to buy it when the ebook went on sale for 99 cents.  You'd better believe I jumped on that.  As of my typing this, the book is still on sale, so if you are looking for a Christmas book for next month, now's the time.

What I'm Currently Reading:

I'm typing this early afternoon on Saturday, and as I type this, I'm again between books.

That's because the first thing I did when I got up today was finish the book I was currently reading.  That was A Grave Deception by Connie Berry.  This is book six in a series about an antiques expert who has moved to England and keeps finding herself embroiled in crimes with ties to the past.  The series has been a little uneven, but I enjoyed this one.  My review will be out a little ahead of publication, which is the ninth of December.

Up next is another December new release.  Murder in Manhattan is the first in a new series from Julie Mulhern set in the 1920's.  I did read the prequel novella earlier this year, but I'm looking forward to diving into a full novel and really getting to know the new characters.

That's all I have for this week.  Have a great week and a wonderful Thanksgiving if you are celebrating.

November 22nd's Weekly TV Thoughts

I've gotten buys on Fridays all of a sudden.  Another week missing my thoughts on Happy's Place.  But I can use that next week for sure.

Meanwhile, here's what I thought of what I did watch this week.

TV We Love – I’ve seen clips, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full episode of Dynasty.  (Same with Dallas, and I wonder why it wasn’t the focus of an episode since Dynasty was the copy.)  It was interesting to get this history of the show since I know so little about it.  Definitely sounds crazy, but in a mostly fun way.

Celebrity Weakest Link – Overall, that was fun.  A couple of the personalities were a bit much for me, but I laughed plenty.  And I do think that was the highest of the season, right?  I mean, they didn’t have to kick any extra in.

Dancing with the Stars – I did not have Whitney and Mark going on my prediction for tonight.  However, the way they were cheering Jordan and Ezra?  Pure class.  Nothing but respect for them in a moment that I’m sure crushed them.  Three dances next week and three hours?  It’s going to be a long finale.  My money is on Richard to win, more so now, but it will be fun to see what everyone comes up with.

Wipeout – Ouch!  That’s pretty much all I have to say.  I haven’t seen so many teams quit in one episode that I can remember.  And we saw some obstacles we haven’t seen in quite a while.  I wonder if this was originally an early one since one of those exchanges is in the opening of the show each time.

The Challenge – And Olivia makes it to the finals.  Not sure why I was rooting for her alliance to fail so much, but I’m not happy they did as well as they did.  I was confused by all the drama at the beginning, but as the rest of the episode unfolded, it made sense.  And I was laughing during the nominations.  I was sad they left, but I was glad they took it with the great humor they did.

Survivor – I loved Alex’s response as he was voted out.  “You all talked?!”  Not sure I have much else to say on the episode.  Good challenges.  I feel like everyone is enjoying some back and forth with Jeff, which is fun to see.

The Amazing Race – That hurt.  They were my favorite team, so to see them go was very disappointing.  I was glad to see the U-Turn become a triple U-Turn.  I didn’t feel like either side was that hard.  Only one team struggled with one of them.  How fast the teams flew through the first one really blew me away.  Those two teams really were struggling with directions.  I mean, wow!

Movie Review: Three Wisest Men

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: More Christmas laughs with the Brenners

Cons: A little predictable; not as fun as the first

The Bottom Line:

Third Brenners visit

Filled with laughs, Christmas chaos

Heartwarming moments

“Nothing Like a Trilogy to Make People Happy.”

After recording all those Hallmark Christmas movies in 2024 and then not watching most of them until the start of this year, I swore that I wasn’t going to watch any this year.  And I’ve been tempted.  (We aren’t counting Mistletoe Murders because they are calling it a TV series.)  But when I saw that the Brenner family was coming back for Three Wisest Men, I knew I had to give it a watch.

If you’ve missed this now trilogy, it all started with 2022’s Three Wise Men and a Baby, which proved to be a surprise hit for Hallmark.  They continued the story with last year’s Three Wiser Men and a Boy.  I definitely recommend you watch those two movies first, which is no problem at all since they are fun.  Honestly, I wish I’d rewatched at least last year’s entry since I obviously misremembered something from the previous movie.

When we rejoin the family, it is once again Christmas, and it looks like things are going to drastically change once again for the Brenner brothers.  Luke (Andrew W. Walker) and his wife Sophie (Nicole Major) and expecting twins, which is making their son Thomas (Miles Marthaller) feel a little forgotten.  Meanwhile, Stephan (Paul Campbell) is having trouble committing to any decisions for his wedding to Susie (Fiona Vroom).  Oh yeah, and her father (Lochlyn Munro) has popped in unexpectedly for the holiday.  And Taylor (Tyler Hynes) has been offered his dream partnership, but it would mean moving to San Francisco, a big change for a man who still lives in their mother’s basement.  Of course, he can’t do that much longer since Barbara (Margaret Colin) has decided to sell the family home.  You know what that means… an effort to make this the best Christmas yet.

If you think that’s a lot going on, you’d be right.  But we are just getting started.  Yes, most of the twists and plot points are predictable.  But that doesn’t make them any less fun.  There is plenty of craziness, but fans of the franchise are going to know to expect that.  I couldn’t help but laugh as they were unfolding.

And yet, we still get the moments that have made us fall in love with these characters.  The characters may be heightened, almost caricatures at times, but we love watching them figure out life together.  And we love seeing them be there for each other. 

There’s plenty of Christmas charm, but mixed in with the silliness.  If you are looking for a typical sweet Hallmark Christmas movie, you’ll be disappointed.  This is more sitcom than romantic comedy.  But it does evoke the Christmas feelings you’d expect.

And the actors are all at the top of their game.  The low budget cheese is very minimal, and the characters and situations pull you in.

Having said all of this, the film still wasn’t as good as the first one.  I didn’t feel like they were trying quite as hard here as in the second to duplicated it, but it still lacked that unexpected magic of the first one.  Not that it should keep you from watching.  If you liked the first two, you’ll find plenty of enjoy here.  Although there was one item I’m surprised they didn’t replicate here.

These movies maybe not follow the classic Hallmark Christmas movie formula, but they are delightful.  If you’ve enjoyed the first two, you’ll be glad you check in on the Brenners once again with Three Wisest Men.

Book Review: Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna (Stella and Lyndy Mysteries #7)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Stella and Lyndy in a different environment

Cons: Missed other regulars, plot could have been a little tighter

The Bottom Line:

Montana; fossils

Murder still follows duo

Fans will enjoy book

Uncovering Fossils and Murder

At some point, it makes sense to bring Lyndy and Stella to America to explore what that shows up about these two characters. And that's just what author Clara McKenna did with Murder at Cottonwood Creek, the seventh in the series. 

For those unfamiliar with the series, it is normally set in England, where Lyndy is a Viscount. Stella is his new American wife. While their marriage was originally an arrange marriage, the two have come to truly care for each other. 

This book finds the couple in Montana in the summer of 1906. They are visiting Stella’s mother, whom she has recently reconciled with, as well as the archeological dig that Stella’s inheritance is funding. Lyndy’s father is fascinated with fossils, and so he has been there for some time already getting his hands dirty – literally. 

But soon after Stella and Lyndy arrive, the night guard dies. The local coroner is quick to rule his death a horrible accident, but Stella isn’t quite as sure. Can she and Lyndy figure out what really happened?

The book being in America gave us a chance to see Lyndy and his father out of their natural element. I enjoyed seeing them, well mainly Lyndy, feeling a little uncomfortable. It shows a different side of his character. We also got to see the continued growth of Lyndy and Stella we’ve enjoyed since the series started. 

I did miss so many of the series regulars, however. I enjoy those supporting characters. We saw some of them in the previous book, which also found the characters traveling. The new characters are good, but they were mostly suspects, so they didn’t feel the same. 

The plotting of this book was uneven. Part of that is because there is a lot going on. I’m not quite sure everything got juggled properly. But I did get caught up in the story and was mostly satisfied when we reached the end. There was one thing I felt like we could have gotten a definite answer on, but maybe that’s just me. 

While the focus of the book is the fictional murder, there are plenty of mentions of real people and events that would impact the world of Montana in 1906. I always enjoy that kind of detail. 

Fans of Stella and Lyndy will enjoy their latest adventure. If you haven’t started the series yet, you’ll enjoy Murder at Cottonwood Creek more if you’ve read earlier books in the series. This is a series I definitely recommend. 

Here are the rest of the Stella and Lyndy Mysteries. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Movie Review: Believe in Christmas

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun winks to Christmas movie cliches in an enjoyable Christmas movie

Cons: Plot is mostly a typical Christmas romance

The Bottom Line:

Visit Christmasland

As most cliches come to life

Familiar yet fun

“So What You’re Trying to Say is This Town Makes You Feel Like You’re Living in a Christmas Movie.”  “Isn’t It Awesome?”

We’ve made it!  The final Christmas movie I recorded in 2024.  I saved a fun one for last with Believe in Christmas.

This movie follows Beatrice (Meghan Ory) and her best friend Emilia (Lindura).  The two have spent Christmas together for years doing their own traditions, but this year, Emilia wants to shake things up.  The Christmas lover of the two, she’s excited to have won an all-expense paid trip for two to Christmasland, a town in Massachusetts that goes all out to recreate that Christmas movie experience.  Beatrice tolerates their traditions, but she gets talked into going along.

While there, Beatrice starts spending time with Ethan (John Reardon), the inn owner’s son.  Despite her best efforts to remain skeptical, Beatrice begins to fall under the charm of the town and fall for Ethan in general.  But where does the act the town puts on end and real feelings begin?

Emilia is a fan of Christmas movies, so she provides the commentary as we go along.  While this isn’t quite a wink and nod laugh fest like Galaxy Quest, there are some laughs at the analysis of the Christmas movie cliches.  The movie leaned into them when it suited and then commented on them when it suited as well.  I will say this particular aspect provided a nice twist on the act three complication, which I appreciated.  And yes, there are some nice laughs along the way at the commentary.

But the movie really does tell a great story.  Since the leads are married in real life, their chemistry pops off the screen.  It was easy to root for them to figure things out and get together in the end.  Watching Beatrice slowly melt as she experiences the joys of the town was also great.

I do have a nitpicky question.  Emilia wins a contest for two.  Yet they have separate rooms.  Wouldn’t a contest be for two people in one room?  I mean, would this inn really have two extra rooms waiting for guests, depending on who won the contest?  As I said nitpicky, but that did bother me.

This may have been the most decked out Christmas movie I watched, which is understandable given the town.  And it was fabulous.  I enjoyed seeing all the lights and decorations.

The acting was good, and the writing was pretty believable.  This didn’t fall too far into the low budget cheese that some of these movies can.

Really, Believe in Christmas is a typical Hallmark Christmas movie elevated by the knowing wink to the cliches of the genre.  But, if you are a fan of the genre, you’ll appreciate that wink.

Will I do this again?  I hope not.  This was a bit much.  So I just need to not pay any attention to the movies that come out in the future, right?  Because I don’t know if I could just do one or two a year.  Too many with stars I like or fun sounding premises.

This movie is part of this DVD set.

Book Review: Catering to the Dead by Kim Davis (Cupcake Catering Mysteries #8)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Great characters in a fun mystery

Cons: A couple of niggles with the plot, but minor overall

The Bottom Line:

Death after party

Hosts want to blame Emory

Eighth fun mystery

Who Took the Day of the Dead Literally?

It’s always a treat to travel to Orange County and catch up with Emory Martinez with the Cupcake Catering Mysteries. So when I learned that Kim Davis was releasing book eight in the series, I added Catering to the Dead to my reading list. 

This entry in the series finds Emory providing the cupcakes for a Dia de los Muertos party. She’s also helping out her sister, who is providing the rest of the food. But as Emory is cleaning up after the event, she finds a member of the Mariachi band under the dessert table. She doesn’t consider this a case she needs to get involved in until the hosts keep trying to point the finger at her. Can she find another killer?

It is true that Orange County, California, is hardly the small town you’d typically picture for a cozy mystery, but it works well here. It does help that I enjoy spending time in a location I have a passing knowledge of, and that’s the case here. 

It also helps that we’ve gotten to know Emory’s circle of family and friends over the course of the series. All the regulars get at least a cameo, and it’s nice to check in with them again. The suspects are interesting and keep us guessing as we read. 

Which brings us to the mystery itself. It was a little uneven early on, and the ending left me with a couple of minor questions. Overall, I did enjoy the plot and was satisfied with the ending. 

Since this is a culinary cozy, we get some recipes at the end, all in keeping with the Day of the Dead theme. There are nine of them here, including some cookies and cupcakes, a soup, and even a cocktail. Plus, we get two crafts. 

Those looking for a bit more of an urban setting for their next cozy mystery will be glad they picked up Catering to the Dead. As always, it will leave you hungry for more. 

Snack on the rest of the Cupcake Catering Mysteries. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Book Review: Framed! by James Ponti (Framed! #1)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun characters and an interesting plot

Cons: Set up, while fun, does slow down the beginning

The Bottom Line:

Solving an art heist

Book does take time with setup

But overall fun

Can Florian Solve an Art Heist?

James Ponti’s Framed! series has been on my radar since I found his books years ago. But I finally sat down and read the first, also called Framed! I’m not at all surprised that I enjoyed it. 

The book introduces us to Florian Bates. His parents have worked for various art museums, so he’s moved around his whole life. The family has now landed in Washington DC, with both parents working for the National Gallery. Before Florian even starts at the local middle school, he meets his neighbor Margaret, and the two become fast friends. 

One of the things they bond over is Florian’s ability to pick up on small details that help him piece together bigger things. It’s a game until some paintings are stolen from the National Gallery and Florian realizes that he’s got some clues that could help. But can he and Margaret piece together what really happened?

I have to start where the book does because, yep, my least favorite storytelling technique is on display here.  We start with an exciting scene and then flash back to see how Florian got into that predicament.  In some ways, it feels even worse since there is some set up in this book.

Now, don’t get me wrong, that set up is still entertaining, but it does mean it takes a bit to get to the heart of the mystery.  I enjoyed my time meeting Florian and Margaret and the supporting players.  I love Florian and Margaret’s friendship, and watching them play off each other was great.  I’m happy knowing we get two more books with them, and I’m anxious to find out what happens to them next.

And the story, once it got going, was very interesting.  We had some good twists and a very fun climax.  I did find a twist at the end a little hard to buy into as I was reading, but as I thought about it more, it didn’t bother me as much.  I’m guessing the target middle grade audience won’t be bothered by it at all.

Those familiar with the mystery genre will quickly identify Florian’s ability as being a direct descendent from Sherlock Holmes.  I found it a fun homage, and I didn’t feel like the author dragged out the reasoning behind Florian’s deductions any more than needed.  I also liked the fact that Florian did get it wrong occasionally and have to backtrack to figure things out.

As I already said, I’m happy to know there are two other books with these characters for me to enjoy.  If you or your middle grader has missed this series, be sure to pick up Framed! today.

November 16th's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to this week's Sunday/Monday Post.  I will be linking up to the usual suspects, which are:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's been quite a week for variety.

It started on Monday, which I took the day off work.  My brother and his family were in town, and we spent the day at Magic Mountain.  They didn't have quite as much cars going on their coasters as I think they should have, but we still had fun and got to ride many of the coasters.  We all have passes, so I hope they come back again.  And the weather?  It was almost a bit too warm since it was in the upper 80's.

With only having four days this week, it was a crammed full week at work.  But I got done what I needed, and I'm in a good position for this upcoming week.  Our fiscal year end is the end of this month, so I've got to make sure everything is good, and not that much time to do it all.

Meanwhile, the weather is cold and gray and rainy today.  It was just drizzling yesterday, which was a good thing since I got some maintenance done on my car while I was working yesterday and I had to walk some as a result.  But today, it's really rained.  I'd planned a lazy day at home, and I've got to say, I've been lazier than I intended.  But it's been nice.

And yes, I've started to decorate for Christmas already.  I have the trees up in my living room, with lights on them and some ornaments.  I've put up what I do in my bedroom already.  I was fully decorated before I went out of town for Thanksgiving last year, and it was so nice.  I'm hoping to do that again this year.

Joke of the Week:

It has been said that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers.  However, all the league records were destroyed in a fire, so we will never know for whom the Tells bowled.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Movie Review: Signed, Sealed, Delivered - To the Moon and Back

Tuesday - Book Review: Player Elimination by Shelly Jones

Wednesday - TV Show Review: Only Murders in the Building - Season 5

Thursday - Book Review: This Way to Murder by Shelley Shearor

Friday - Movie Review: Sugarplummed

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Book Review: Framed! by James Ponti

Tuesday - Book Review: Catering to the Dead by Kim Davis

Wednesday - Movie Review: Believe in Christmas

Thursday - Book Review: Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna

Friday - Movie Review: Three Wisest Men

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

For a while, I was thinking I might not have anything.  But I wound up with two late breaking books.

The first was a library audiobook, which I'll be saving to listen to while traveling for Thanksgiving.  My audiobook cycle is on Michael Connelly, and the next of his I have to read is The Night Fire.  I'm looking forward to seeing what Bosch and Ballard get up to in this book.  I'd put a hold on it a while ago and it came in on Friday.  Perfect timing!

Then, this morning, one of the cozy mysteries I've been eying went on sale for 99 cents.  Yep, I snagged it.  Cavaliered to Death is the first in a series from C.B. Wilson about a town that caters to dogs and those who love them.  With my pet allergies, I'm not much of a dog person except in fiction, but I think it sounds fun.

What I'm Currently Reading:

As I'm typing this, I'm currently between books.

I  just finished up Paradise Plagued, the sixth Court of Mystery book from Sarah E. Burr.  Since I enjoy her books, it's no surprise I enjoyed this one.  And I like the different setting for this one with it's faux Medieval setting.  

I'll be going darker with my next book.  Fallen Star is the just released sixth book in Lee Goldberg's Eve Ronin series.  Of course, these are still lighter than many police procedurals are, but they aren't the light fun of one of Sarah's books.  

That's it for me.  Have a great week!

November 15's Weekly TV Thoughts

Happy’s Place (11/7) – There were parts of that episode I didn’t need.  But there were also some good laughs. I’m glad they didn’t drag out Emmett’s secret for very long.  I’d heard he had one, and I’d guessed what it was months ago.  Overall, glad the show is back.

Celebrity Weakest Link – For some reason, I expected more from this group.  Although they did have a nice chain going at one point.  If only it hadn’t broken.  Still, I don’t feel like they wound up being that much worse than usual overall.

TV We Love – I didn’t feel like we went quite as far in depth, but I still enjoyed this look at the show.  I wasn’t aware there were two Chucky’s.  And the video quality of the clips from near the end of the series was pretty amazing.  Maybe that’s why the show hasn’t been fully released on DVD.  I’d heard it was rights, and that might be it as well.  But those pictures make me think the show really needs to be cleaned up, at least the later episodes.

Dancing with the Stars – What a night.  It was great having Tom back.  (But please don’t bring back the results show!!)  So many perfect scores.  I was happy to see both Dylan and Robert get them, although I felt like maybe too many were given out with two more weeks left.  (And how do we only have two weeks left before Thanksgiving!)  I’ve been vocal that it was time for Andy to go.  I am sorry to see him go, but it was definitely time.  It will be hard seeing anyone go next week.

Wipeout – With the title of the episode, I thought it might be the couple who met doing obstacle races that won.  I was rooting for them, so that was a hard fall at the end.  So very close.

The Challenge – I feel a bit for the team that went home.  As a viewer I loved the drama of the switch and then being voted in (although some of that heat was going too far).  But it’s hard when you wind up thrown together and then fighting for your life like that.  Still didn’t completely get the first challenge.  This was one that really didn’t translate to TV well.

Survivor – I know I’ve complained about them splitting the tribe into two for a random vote in the past.  For some reason, I liked it tonight.  Not quite sure why that was.  I’m curious why the vote wound up being what it was.  Or maybe I just should have paid a little more attention. 

The Amazing Race – I’m shocked that both Express Passes didn’t come out as soon as they saw the egg challenge.  I would have put mine out at that point.  I was thinking about how many episodes are left and how many teams, and when the last clue said, “May be eliminated,” I knew it would be a non-elimination leg.  And I was so happy it was.  Hope the brothers can pull it off next week, although with the voting double U-Turn, I have a feeling they will be targeted.

Happy’s Place – A stronger episode than last week.  Lots of laughs and moving the story forward in ways that add to the characters, too.  I’m very much invested in this season and can’t wait to see where things go next.

Movie Review: Sugarplummed

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: The leads in a movie that is a lot of fun

Cons: Rule #2 – Never list the cons

The Bottom Line:

Fictional magic

Invades a real-world Christmas

Delightful movie

“See, He Gets It.”  “No, He’s Being Sarcastic.”

When I was looking at Christmas movies in 2024, two that were obviously Hallmark poking a little fun at themselves caught my eye.  Considering they also starred actresses I like, I had to give them a chance.  The first one I watched was Sugarplummed, and it was a delight.

Emily (Maggie Lawson) is a lawyer with a family.  Between juggling her demanding job and her efforts to create the perfect Christmas for her teenagers, December is a very stressful time.  But she has her list of the things she needs to do to make this Christmas perfect for her family.

However, things are going wrong.  Frustrated, she makes a wish that her life could be like the Sugarplum movies.  This extremely popular franchise on the Harmony Home network features a character who is great at bringing Christmas magic to life with movies that always end happily.

Much to Emily’s surprise, Sugarplum (Janel Parrish) pops out of the screen and into the real world.  She even comes with her book of rules for a magical Christmas.  And they seem to be working even though Sugarplum is now in the real world.  Could this be the ticket to Emily’s perfect Christmas?

Yes, we’ve seen this kind of story telling before.  Disney’s Enchanted comes to mind.  But I didn’t care in the slightest.  I enjoyed all the winks Hallmark put in.  If I caught quite a few, I’m sure a diehard fan would spot even more than I did.  And yes, that includes a few Hallmark channel stalwarts who have cameos.

But what really makes the movie work is the chemistry between Maggie Lawson and Janel Parrish.  Honestly, I thought Janel’s over-the-top performance as Sugarplum was going to get annoying.  I couldn’t have been more wrong; she is perfect, and I was sold on her performance after just a couple of minutes.  Meanwhile, Maggie has just the right gravitas to anchor the movie.  The two play off each other wonderfully.  There are so many laughs from just the two of them.  The rest of the cast is great as well, but these two really do shine.

Yes, the movie is fairly predictable.  I didn’t have all the details nailed down, but I wasn’t that surprised when some of the twists came along.  But I didn’t care.  Yep, I was having fun.

And the Christmas touches were nice.  Things looked great, and there’s a great Christmas song as well.

Sugarplummed didn’t come out until December of 2024, so it might have been a little harder to catch.  If you’ve missed it, I highly recommend you watch for it again.  This was a delightful addition to Hallmark’s Christmas movie collection.

Sugarplummed is part of this DVD collection of Hallmark Christmas movies.