October 11th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Celebrity Weakest Link – I did not enjoy that episode.  Lisa was really annoying me, so the fact that she continued on was my problem.  Overall, the comics really struggled.  They had some pretty low rounds.

Only Murders in the Building – So, will the building itself be murdered?  I’m very curious where they are going to go with this twist as the season plays out.  And what, if anything, does it have to do with the murders?  And whose finger is that?  But there was no need for the flash forward opening.  And how did Loretta know what color scarf he was wearing?  On the other hand, the trivia game and Oliver talking to the strangers was both hysterical.

Dancing with the Stars – I like Andy.  I really do.  But he needs to go soon.  You know me, I’m looking at dancing talent the further we get into the season, and it’s time for that to happen.  Having said that, I’m not sorry to see Hilaria go.  She is a good dancer, but I just wasn’t connecting with her.  As to the dances, this is always my favorite of the season since I love the songs.  I think Scott’s dance to “Bop to the Top” was tops for me.  So much fun, and they channeled the characters perfect.  I was laughing so hard at their interview afterwards.

Shifting Gears – As much as this new relationship bugs me, I found their scenes together really sweet this week.  And they at least acknowledged the age issue, which I appreciated.  The other storylines were fun as well.  Loved the guys working through their issue, and Reilly’s storyline with the other mother was fun if predictable.

The Challenge – Once again, the team that left was hurt by one partner.  The man, too.  It will be interesting to see if that trend continues.  Although, I’ve got to say, she didn’t seem to be trying to really work with him.  She wanted him to just believe everything she said, which is never going to work in a situation like that.  So maybe her mouth had as much to do with them being in that position as his ego did.

Survivor – That was a tough episode to watch.  They were kicked twice in the episode.  I’m glad the guy is okay, however.  Talk about being very scary.  And then to lose on top of that.  I am glad to see the other teams felt it, too.  Although if they had celebrated, I would have understood (unlike when it had happened in previous seasons).  I know this is an extreme, but I still feel like one tribe mostly losing in the first half is a feature of the new era.  Maybe they need to rethink things a little?

The Amazing Race – As a race, that was rather boring.  Did anyone change places?  No more than one if they did.  And I’m never a fan of a super alliance like this, especially when they are in the lead.  We need something to shake things up.  Having said that, the team that came in last wasn’t going to last too long.  But I was rooting for them anyway.  They seem like a great couple.

TV Show Review: Fuller House - Season 5

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Lots of laughs and emotion with the extended Tanner family

Cons: Things feel a bit forced in the early episodes, but that goes away

The Bottom Line:

One last chance to laugh

With a family we love

Sad to see it end

“I Heard a Rumor They Have Cake that Tastes Like Pie.”

I have no excuse.  I’ve had the DVD set for Fuller House season 5 since it was released over four years ago.  I guess I was just trying to put off seeing the end.  But I finally watched the final season of the show, and I enjoyed it.

If you aren’t familiar with the show, Fuller House was a continuation/reboot/sequel series to the classic 80’s/90’s sitcom Full House.  When the show started, recently widowed D.J. Tanner Fuller (Candance Cameron Bure) had asked her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and her best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) to move into her house, aka the old Tanner house, to help raise her three boys, Jackson, Max, and Tommy (Michael Campion, Elias Harger, and twins Dashiell and Fox Messitt).  While Stephanie was single when the series started, Kimmy brought with her a teen daughter, Ramona (Soni Bringas), and an ex-husband who didn’t want to stay an ex, Fernando (Juan Pablo Di Pace).

Along the way, Stephanie found love in the most unlikely place – Kimmy’s brother Jimmy (Adam Hagenbuch).  And D.J. rekindled her romance with her high school boyfriend, Steve Hale (Scott Weinger).

Season 5 picks up where season 4 left off.  Stephanie and Jimmy are coming back from the hospital with their new daughter, which Kimmy was the surrogate for.  While Stephanie and Jimmy try to adjust to being parents, the guys go into partnership to buy a favorite sandwich shop.  Ramona gets a new boyfriend while Jackson winds up with the lead in the school play.  Stephanie decides to cook Thanksgiving dinner, which turns into a disaster – but not in the way you are thinking.  And Steve proposes to D.J., leading to planning a triple wedding for three very different brides.

No, the Olsen twins don’t make an appearance here, which means Michelle is the only character from the original we never see.  Because this season filmed while Lori Loughlin’s legal troubles were going on, we didn’t get to see Aunt Becky this season (which seemed weird given the wedding that ended the series), but Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier popped up several times as Danny Tanner, Uncle Jessie, and Joey.

And yes, this show is built on nostalgia for the original series.  There are lots of nods to the original either in moments, storylines, riffs, or outright copying.  But you know what, I was here for it.  Having rewatched the first half of Full House since I watched season 4 of Fuller, I caught more of those references this time.

Not to say that this is a carbon copy by any means.  There are plenty of fresh storylines and jokes to be had, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I was watching.

One thing I really appreciated was the way the show portrayed the friendship between the three guys, Fernando, Jimmy, and Steve.  The show did a good job of giving them chances to act together, and I loved watching their chemistry.  It might not be as strong as the chemistry between D.J., Steph, and Kimmy, but those actresses have been friends playing these characters longer.  Anyway, it was nice to see a show that showed such great friendships.  We can even include John Brotherton’s Matt, D.J.’s ex-boyfriend but still current business partner, in the circle.  Yep, he shows up a few times.

I’ve found that many modern sitcoms feel forced to me, with the shows working too hard to bring the laughs.  I felt that here with the first few episodes of the season, but once the show got rolling, the laughs came more naturally.  Either it is because I was watching this show over the course of a couple of weeks, so I could get more used to the rhythm, or the writers and actors took a couple of episodes to find the rhythm again.  Either way, I was laughing and enjoying the show completely by the time I’d hit the first quarter of the season.  And that continued until the end.

And I have to give the actors their due.  We have quite a large cast, obviously, but they all shine when they are on screen.  And no matter who the actors are playing off of, the chemistry is strong and brings the laughs.

Season five consisted of 18 episodes, and they are all in the DVD set on two discs.  Each episode is roughly 30 minutes.  Since this was a Netflix show, there aren’t commercial breaks, and the shows run the length of time needed, sometimes a little longer, sometimes a little less.

Along with the laughs, we also get some serious storylines and moments.  Nothing remotely preachy, but some good storylines that reflect who the characters are and what they’ve been through.  These storylines ultimately turned into very heartwarming moments that I loved.

Which brings us to the series finale.  I hit me harder than I was expecting, and I mean that in the best way possible.  Be prepared for all the feels.  It’s a perfect ending.

If, like me, you’ve been putting off watching the final season of Fuller House, it’s time to watch season 5.  You’ll really enjoy seeing where the characters end up.  If we ever get more with this very full family, I would be there in a heartbeat.

Book Review: Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason (Lady Darling Mysteries #1)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Lady Darling and a good mystery

Cons: Over writing and Lady Darling’s backstory

The Bottom Line:

A new sleuth appears

Interesting first story

Backstory bothers

Hunting a High Society Killer

I’ve been enjoying the mysteries that Colleen has been releasing under her Colleen Cambridge pen name, so when she announced she’d be being writing a new one under as Colleen Gleason, I paid attention. Unfortunately, Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer didn’t grab me as much as I would have liked. 

Lady Darling is a widow of a certain age (50), wealthy, and willing to live out her life in the country. But when her friend asks Lady Darling to chaperone her daughter as she comes out in society, Lady Darling reluctantly agrees to go to London for the season. 

At their first dinner party, the host is killed in his study. Lady Darling takes it upon herself to investigate and find the killer. After all, no one takes her seriously, so she can worm her way in and get answers. Certain that the killer was one of the men at the dinner party, she starts looking closer at them. Will she find the killer?

One thing I’ve notice with Colleen’s books is that they can be over written for my taste. We get a little too much about the character’s thoughts and their self-reflection. That’s usually tempered with well-developed characters and some good twists. Here, it got in the way of the book, especially at the beginning. I feel like it was done on purpose to more mimic the style of the 1890’s, when the book is set since it did seem more so than the other books I’ve read. 

Now, this isn’t to say we didn’t get some good twists. Once the story got going, I was entertained. The ending made sense when we reached it, although it was a little drawn out for my tastes. And Lady Darling made a couple of leaps along the way I didn’t think were supported by what she had learned when she made them. 

Lady Darling herself is a hoot. She’s got plenty of spark and enjoys taking advantage of being underestimated. 

The story is told from a few different points of view, and it worked well to give us the complete story and get to know a few of the other characters. 

However, my big gripe with the series was something in Lady Darling’s backstory that didn’t sit right with me. I’ll probably be alone in my take on this, and I can understand why she did what she did. I just feel like someone as smart as she is could have found another way to solve the problem, even given what society was like back then. 

I’m not sure if I will continue on with this series. However, plenty of other readers are enjoying meeting Lady Darling. If you enjoy this time and place, give Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer a chance and see what you think for yourself. 

Movie Review: Too Much to Lose - The Jane Mysteries

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Good mystery with fun characters

Cons: Typical low budget cheese at times

The Bottom Line:

Missing Reporter

Appeared on pun themed game show

Another good flick

Hunt for a Missing Reporter

Hallmark has finally released the final Jane Mystery to cable.  And Too Much to Lose was a return to form for this franchise.

If you’ve missed the series, it features Jodie Sweetin as Jane Da Silva, a singer who has returned to Baltimore to help run the charities her late uncle was part of.  One of those is looking at old criminal cases and trying to solve them or free those wrongfully convicted.  When she does that, she works alongside Detective John Cameron (Stephen Huszar).  Rounding out the main cast is Jane’s aunt Sadie (Paris Jefferson).

As this movie opens, Sadie is gearing up for a fundraising gala that is supposed to help a local children’s hospital.  While Jane is all in to help, she gets sidetracked by a very active case.  Reporter Irene March (Sherry Miller) has gone missing after winning a pun themed game show.  With the police reluctant to do anything, Jane starts nosing around.  What will she find?

This movie engaged me from the start, and I appreciated the fact that we were starting off with a missing person case instead of a murder.  I always enjoy a variety in the plots even if most mysteries wind up dealing with a dead body at some point.  This one didn’t wind up going where I thought it might, and I appreciated that.  But everything made sense at the end.

Considering Irene was on a pun related game show, I wish the movie had included some better puns.  I mean, there is no such thing as a bad pun, but these still could have been more original.  Granted, we didn’t see much of the show itself, which was probably for the best.  What we did see was pretty bad.  Yep, it was the worst of the low budget cheese in this movie, but not the only example we got.  But as long as you know to expect that going in, you’ll be fine.

We really don’t have any supporting characters, just the three leads.  And, naturally, the romance between Jane and John.  I enjoyed watching that play out here.

And we got to see Jodie sing again here.  And she plays dress up thanks to Sadie’s extensive costumes, which is always fun.

All told, Too Much to Lose was a fun addition to the franchise.  I’m glad I finally got to see it.  If you’ve enjoyed these movies, you’ll want to watch it.  I haven’t heard anything about any more, but if we do get more, I’ll be watching.

Book Review: O, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany (Year-Round Christmas Mysteries #8)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Characters and setting charm as always

Cons: Pacing of mystery and repetition

The Bottom Line:

Mystery neighbors

Merry must find her landlord

Some charm, some issues

Suspicious New Neighbors

Being the Christmas lover that I am, I’ve read Vicki Delany’s Year-Round Christmas series since it started. While I still enjoyed popping in on the characters, I did find the most recent, O, Deadly Night, a bit disappointing. 

The series is set in the fictional town of Rudolph, New York. When the city’s economy was dying years ago, they took advantage of their name and rebranded themself the Christmas capitol of the country. The tourists loved it. Our main character is Merry Wilkinson, who runs an upscale gift shop, called Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. 

It may be busy season, aka December, but Merry’s landlord at home is distracted by the new neighbors who have moved in. Mrs. D’Angelo hasn’t been able to meet them, and as the center of the town’s gossip mill, that doesn’t sit right. And, she keeps noticing weird things going on at the house. Merry’s too busy to give it too much attention. That is, until Mrs. D’Angelo disappears. Was she right about something strange going on across the street?

As always, I love the setting for this series. The town names are so charming, and I can easily get caught up in the magic of a town that celebrates Christmas all the time, especially when we are visiting in December. That holiday spirit infuses the pages and draws me in. 

Sadly, the book suffered from repetition. It was worse with a subplot involving a cookbook that Merry’s friend is putting together. But there is an entire scene near the beginning that could have been removed without confusing the reader at all. In fact, I made sure that I hadn’t wound up going back a chapter. 

Once the mystery really does get going, it was interesting, but I didn’t feel Merry was active in the investigation. She kept getting updates from others. She does figure things out at the end, but she was also pretty stupid at the end. Overall, the pacing could have been better. 

The characters are their normal charming selves. I do love the cast of characters, so seeing them again was fun. Yes, a couple annoy, but I find I even enjoy seeing them. 

While this isn’t a culinary cozy as such, we do get lots of discussion of delicious food, so I was happy to see the two recipes at the end. 

While there were things I enjoyed about O, Deadly Night, there were things that needed to be smoothed out. The result, for me at least, was a mixed bag. 

Here are the rest of the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this mystery. 

Movie Review: A Case for the Yarn Maker - An Ainsley McGregor Mystery

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Compelling mystery, fun lead characters

Cons: A little low budget cheese, but a small dose of it

The Bottom Line:

Business exec dies

Setting off second fun film

You’ll be glad you watched

“My Jokester Brother Thinks Being Funny Is More Important Than Being Intelligent.”  “And My Sister Is a Nerd.”

I enjoyed the first Ainsley McGregor Mystery movie when it premiered on Great American Family just about a year ago.  I was hoping that the second, A Case for the Yarn Maker, would make its way to the channel at some point as well.  Fortunately, it made the leap from streaming to cable over the weekend because I enjoyed it.

Ainsley (Candace Cameron Bure) is leading an event to honor the 150^th anniversary of her town, Sweet River.  The featured guest at this event is Ellie Mitchum (Christine Upright) a local woman who founded a nation-wide yarn company.  Ellie is difficult from the moment she shows up, but she doesn’t come out of her room to give the talk.  Instead, she’s dead.  Now, Ainsley must work with her brother Ryan (Robin Dunne), the sheriff, and her boyfriend Jake (Aaron Ashmore), the fire chief, to figure out what is happening.  But can they do it?

Yes, I have to comment on the opening act.  We start with a couple few minutes that end with Ellie’s death, then flashback an hour.  Seriously?  We didn’t need the flashback.  Yes, it is a pet peeve.  But since we got Ellie’s death in real time at the first commercial break, I’m unsure why we needed the opening scene.

Okay, that’s out of my system.

I really did enjoy this movie.  We don’t have the awkward exposition to start things off we got with the first movie.  Instead, the writer gives us just enough context to remember who the characters are without trying to reestablish everything.  Even though I hadn’t watched the first movie in a year, I was quickly back in these characters’ world.

And what fun it is.  Ainsley, Ryan, and Jake are a great main trio.  Their joking and teasing of each other made me smile and laugh as I was watching.  The chemistry the three actors have really makes us believe their relationships.  We do also see Ainsley’s book club, and those were fun scenes as well.

Meanwhile, the mystery was solid.  Looking at the plot of the book, I’m wondering if this is a wholly original story.  Either way, it kept me guessing until the end with some great twists, suspects, and plot points.  Yet, everything made sense at the end.

Yes, the movie does have some of the low budget cheese I was expecting when I sat down to watch it.  A few of the performances and a few of the lines were to blame.  But it really was kept to a minimum.  If you watch these kinds of movies on a regular basis, it won’t bother you at all.

I really enjoyed A Case for the Yarn Maker, and I hope we get more movies in this franchise next year.  Meanwhile, I need to make time to start reading the books.

October 5th's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to this week's Sunday/Monday Post!  I will be linking up to:

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

After all the excitement last week, this was another quiet week.  It was month end close at work, so busy.  And I got another couple things put on my plate for this upcoming week.  You remember how I was talking about September being a marathon that's also a sprint?  I haven't reached the end of that yet.  Hopefully, at the end of this week, things will have calmed down some.  Hopefully.

And I'm mourning the loss of summer weather.  Since it's October, I guess I need to admit that we are not going to get hot weather again this year.  Things really dropped off once we hit September, with temps barely hitting the 90's for a day or two before dropping to the mid-80's or even the 70's.  It's unusual for it to drop that fast.  I'm not happy about it.  But I guess it is time to admit fall is here and start thinking if I need to grab my jacket when I go somewhere.

And yes, I know I have it pretty good if I am complaining that the weather isn't quite to my liking.  But it is my blog, and I'll whine about summer going away if I want to.  :)

Joke of the Week:

What do you call a store that sells only bagels and donuts?  Hole Foods.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Book Review: Hurricane Heist by James Ponti

Tuesday - September Reading Summary

Wednesday - Book Review: Murder Comes Home by Rosalie Spielman

Thursday - Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Friday - TV Show Review: The Marlow Murder Club - Season 2

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Movie Review: A Case for the Yarn Maker

Tuesday - Book Review: O, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany

Wednesday - Movie Review: Too Much to Lose

Thursday - Book Review: Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason

Friday - TV Show Review: Fuller House - Season 5

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

This section was looking like it might be rather small.  And then Friday happened.

I started out the week with one ARC.  A Grave Deception is the sixth Kate Hamilton Mystery from Connie Berry.  Kate is an antiques dealer who has moved to England, where she is constantly finding herself involved in murders.  It won't be out until December, so I'll be reading it in a few weeks.

Friday, I got approved for a second ARC.  This one is Murder in Manhattan by Julie Mulhern.  I'm determined to stay up to date on at least one of her series.  This is the first novel, although I did read the prequel novella earlier this year.  The main character is an advice columnist in 1920's New York City.  It also comes out the beginning of December, so I'll be busy the beginning of that month.  (Especially since there's one more ARC I want to request that month.)

Also, Friday, I learned about a couple of ebook sales I wanted to take advantage of.

Gigi Pandian sent out her newsletter, and part of it was announcing that she's got a sale on a boxed set of her first three Accidental Alchemist mysteries.  I think I have the first book in paperback around the condo somewhere, but even if I do, this is still two books I don't have for a total of $2.99.  You just can't pass that up.  The sale is good all month, so you've got time if you are interested.

Also, Tule Publishing is discounting almost all of their ebooks to $1.99 for the month of October.  While there are still some I'm eyeing, I went ahead and bought A Case for the Cookie Baker by Candace Havens.  It's book five, and the only one I did not have, in her Ainsley McGregor Mysteries.  Now, I need to actually read the books, right?  I have no excuse.  (And yes, the movie I'll be reviewing Monday is based on one of the books.)

What I'm Currently Reading:

As I'm typing this, I finished up a book last night.  Murder Most Scenic is a collection of short stories by Liz Milliron.  These are the stories that really introduce the characters in her Laurel Highlands Mysteries.  I read book one before I realized I really should have started here, so I went back to the beginning.  I enjoyed them, and now I'm anxious to get back into the series.

I've got a couple of Halloween books on my TBR pile for the month, and I have barely started on one of them.  Haunted House Ghost is the fifth book in the Baxter Campus Mysteries from James J. Cudney.  I'm not far enough into it to have an opinion yet.  The series can be uneven, but hopefully, this will be a good entry in the series.

Have a great week!

October 4th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Marlow Murder Club – I really didn’t follow this story.  Was it there was too much going on?  Not concentrating enough from week to week?  Both?  I enjoyed the main characters as always, but I just wasn’t invested in the mystery.

Celebrity Weakest Link – I was glad to see the couples didn’t fight with each other.  At least on camera.  And the stuff between the couples was pretty fun – in keeping with what we would normally see.  I was wondering if it would still be for charity or not, but I really did like both of the charities they were playing for at the end.  There were some rough rounds in there, but the guy who won finished strong.

Only Murders in the Building – Yes, I’m all caught up!  (Watch for my season 4 review coming soon.)  I’ve watched all of season 5 so far this week, and I’m intrigued.  Glad I only have to wait until Tuesday for the next new episode.  After that, it’s going to be hard since I’m used to binging this show.  I’m also liking that they are creating a stronger overall mystery these days instead of focusing on a different suspect each week until we reach the end.  Are we taking down the billionaires?  Or are they just red herrings?

Dancing with the Stars – Well that was a surprise.  So much for my prediction about Andy.  I like the guy, don’t get me wrong, but he really is the weakest dancer left.  Overall, not my favorite night.  I get the desire to tie into TikTok, but this just did not work for me.  I wasn’t a fan of most of the songs.

Shifting Gears – Nice episode back.  The big guest stars they’d been teasing were under used, however.  I mean, it was great to see them, but I was expecting a little more.  I also didn’t realize Nancy Travis was in this episode.  Kind of cool to have all the shows represented in one episode, but I was thinking it was going to be a different episode.  I’m really going to struggle with this relationship between Matt and Eve.  The age difference is messing with me, which is a shame since I like both Tim Allan and Jenna Elfman.  It’s nice to see her in something else.

The Challenge – I get that CT is older, but I am wondering why I keep rooting for him.  He doesn’t seem to be that good at this anymore.  I understand the reputation from year’s past, but that doesn’t mean he’s that good right now.  Mind you, I wouldn’t be doing any better, so I’m not judging.  And I was sorry to see him go.  At least his partner had the same issue he did during the trivia challenge, so he wasn’t the only reason they lost.  I think I would have struggled with that as well.  Balance and I are not friends.

Survivor – Realistically, it probably should have bene Sophia.  She is struggling so much it is going to keep being an issue for the team.  I mean, look at how the tribe fell apart at the puzzle.  They also need to figure out the puzzles.  But, I’ve got to say I’m glad they kept their focus on Annie.  She was going to be a problem later on if they let her think she was running things.  And seriously, how do you think you are in control?  Have you never seen this show before?

The Amazing Race – I must admit, I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the show as it was starting, so I was not always following all the ins and outs of the train travel.  Looks like some teams did make a very fortunate accident there, however, since they wound up in the front.  Hopefully, the rest are able to catch up on the next leg and maybe the leading teams get hit with something that doesn’t work for them, so they are knocked out of the lead.  Yep, already rooting against the leaders.  Meanwhile, not too surprised with the bottom team, but my pick for loser last week is still around.

TV Show Review: The Marlow Murder Club - Season 2

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Two good mysteries with fun characters

Cons: The final mystery is disappointing

The Bottom Line:

Three Marlow cases

First two are entertaining

Last one disappoints

“How Are You?”  “Well, Apart from Standing Next to a Dead Body, I’m Good, Thanks.”

The producers behind The Marlow Murder Club decided to do something different for season two.  While season one spent four episodes bringing the first novel to life on the screen, season two would bring us three different stories.  Each would unfold over two episodes, which gave us a total of six episodes for season two.  While two of the stories were quite entertaining, one fell flat.

If you’ve missed the series or the books, it revolves around three unlikely friends in the British town of Marlow.  There’s retired archeologist Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), dog walker Suzie Harris (Jo Martin), and the Vicar’s wife, Becks Starling (Cara Horgan).  Rounding out the main characters is DS Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew), who has come to recognize how helpful these three amateurs can be to solving the crimes in their community.

The first two episodes are pulled from the second book in the series, Death Comes to Marlow.  It kicks off with Judith being invited to a party celebrating a wedding, scheduled to take place the next day.  But when the groom-to-be dies in a locked room, it’s up to our characters to solve the murder.

I’d read it about a month before the episodes aired, so I was very familiar with it.  In order to cover the story in two episodes, they had to cut out a few things, most prominently some sub-plots, but a twist or two got rushed as well.  Overall, it was a decent take on the story, although it’s easy to say the book was better in this case.

Up next, we have the case of a dead body in the middle of the cul-de-sac.  There are only two houses still occupied since the rest have sold out to a developer who wants to build in the area.  But neither of the couples will admit to seeing anything that morning.  Who is the victim?

I really enjoyed this story as well.  Since this was an original story, I didn’t know for sure where they were going with it, and I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.  They manage to have time for a good sub-plot or two involving the main characters as well, which I enjoyed.

The final story of the season involved a murder at the local sailing club.  When one of the members is found dead, it looks like an accident, at least at first.  But the trio soon uncover evidence that it was murder.  Can they navigate club politics to find the killer?

Honestly, this was the story I struggled with.  While the set up was good, there were just too many suspects and motives, and we didn’t see enough to cement the relationships and their motives.  And that’s without any real subplots.  While things did make sense at the end, we got a long monologue from Judith explaining what had happened as she accused the killer.  That’s only slightly better than the villain monologuing.

One thing I loved from the first season is the chemistry of the main cast.  That holds true here again, and it’s only gotten stronger.  While they were just forming their friendships in season one, here, they are established, and you can feel how much they care for each other.  The supporting actors and guest stars are just as good at bringing their characters to life.

The show is filmed in Marlow, which is also fun.  The locations are lovely.  If I ever make it to England, I’d enjoy visiting.

While the final third of the season is disappointing, I highly recommend the first four episodes of season two.  They show just how fun The Marlow Murder Club can be.

Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black (Shady Hollow #1)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Decent mystery and likable characters

Cons: One element bothers me (and is a me thing)

The Bottom Line:

Creative setting

Slow start to good mystery

But one thing bugged me

Not Bad, but Didn’t Quite Work For Me

When I heard about Shady Hollow, I knew I had to give the series a try. It sounded like a fun twist on the cozy mystery genre. Having finally read the first, I can say it didn’t quite work for me. 

The series is set in the town of Shady Hollow, where woodland creatures live together in harmony. The carnivores have sworn off eating animals, or at least their fellow residents (fish are still on the menu). It’s so peaceful that the sheriff and deputy have little actual crime fighting experience. 

Until one day when the body of Otto, a toad, is spotted floating in the pond. When evident that he was stabbed surfaced, it is quickly deemed a murder. Granted, Otto wasn’t well liked, but who would want to kill him? Fortunately, Vera Vixen, a fox and the newspaper’s ace reporter is on the case. Can she catch the killer?

Sitting down to read this book, I thought it had the potential to turn into one of my favorite series. When I set it down, I concluded that it’s not bad, but I don’t think it is for me. 

The story is told in omniscient point of view. While it’s not my favorite story telling method, the author did a decent enough job with it. But it worked to keep me out of the story. As did the backstories we got on some of the characters as soon as we met them. 

That backstory also contributed to the story starting out a little slowly. Once it got going, there were some decent twists and surprises along the way, and the ending made sense. 

And the characters were fun. I liked them and found myself rooting for Vera to figure things out. 

The cast of animal characters are human in every discernable way. You just have to accept that a mouse and easily talk with a bear or a moose owns a coffee shop. I’m okay with that, but I felt the author could have done a better job with the town. Maybe it’s just me, but I was expecting a bit more creativity like the book store they invented. That was brilliant. 

But what really bothered me was the idea of interspecies romance. I was willing to buy everything else, but for some reason, that really bothered me. I get it, this is a me issue, so your mileage on this will vary. 

So, that’s why I won’t be continuing on with this series. If the premise still intrigues you, give Shady Hollow a try. Lots of others love it, so you might as well.

Book Review: Murder Comes Home by Rosalie Spielman (Hometown Mysteries #3)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong mystery and characters

Cons: No cons came home

The Bottom Line:

Cameraman dies

Setting off compelling book

Better with each book

Tessa Must Pick Another Murderer

I am really enjoying Rosalie Spielman’s Hometown Mysteries.  In fact, Murder Comes Home is the third book I’ve read this year in the series, and I’m planning to work in the Christmas entry into my December reading plans.  Anyway, this third book in the series was another page turner.

The series features Tessa Treslow, who has returned to her hometown of New Oslo, Idaho, after retiring from a career in the Army.  She and her aunt are working on setting up a car restoration business, and in order to do that, they need to clear out their old garage so they have more space to work.  When they are contacted by the TV show Picks with Ricks, they quickly agree to be featured on the show, hoping the hosts will find some items they are willing to buy, thus getting them some money and cleaning out the garage a little.

However, what one of the hosts fixates on is the car that Tessa and her aunt have almost finished restoring.  While the duo haven’t decided about selling it to him, Tessa is shocked to find it on a nearby deserted road.  Worse yet, the body of the show’s camera man is inside.  Who wanted him dead?  And why in their car?

A TV show or movie coming to town is hardly a new set up for a mystery, but this one caught me with the unusual murder set up.  The stolen car pulled me in right away, and the further I got into the book, the harder I found it to put down.  The twists kept coming until I reached the ending.  At that point, everything made sense.

It’s helped that there is a strong mystery in the past as well that kept me engaged.  And that’s all I will say on that subject.

The characters are becoming better developed as the series goes along, as well.  I’m really growing to love the regulars, including the fun residents we’ve been fortunate to meet.  Tessa and her family are wonderful characters, and I love getting to spend time with them.  And I’m really liking Tessa relationship with her love interest as well.  The suspects did a great job keeping me confused as the story went along.

So far, this series has gotten stronger with each book I’ve read, and Murder Comes Home is no exception.  I already can’t wait until I get to visit the characters again.

Settle in for the rest of the Hometown Mysteries.

September 2025's Reading Summary

Welcome to the last day of September.  Time to check in with my reading summary for the month.  I didn't get a chance to update the index this month.

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

 

Whiskey Business by Adrian Andover (Mixology Lounge Mysteries #1) – 5

Reece Parker has opened Subplot, a literary themed cocktail lounge, in his hometown. He’s trying to build his clientele, so he’s thrilled when a whiskey club wants to use the space for their monthly meetings. But the first night goes wrong when one new member seems to want to go out of his way to irritate everyone. After the meeting, Reece finds that member dead in the alley behind his lounge. Fearing the hit this might do to his business, he starts investigating. Can he find the killer?

I met the author this spring, so I’ve been looking forward to this book since then. And I really enjoyed it. It captures the cozy vibes well with the setting and the characters. I’d be interested in visiting, between murders, of course. I could really feel the love the characters have for each other. The mystery starts well, and doesn’t waiver on the way to the logical climax. I might have a niggle or two with it, but I’m being nitpicky here. Reece has recently come out to himself, and I appreciated how that subplot was handled as well. If you are looking for a new cozy series, you won’t go wrong picking this one up. Me? I’m waiting for the sequel. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra (Food Truck Mysteries #1) – 3

Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd have inherited a food truck from their aunt, and Beth decides to increase their exposure by entering a reality competition. However, after the first day of filming, a fellow competitor, one that Beth has a history with, is found dead in his food truck. In order to clear her name, Beth starts poking around. Can she find the truth?

I was looking forward to this debut since it sounded fun. And the book started out well, with me laughing and the set up moving along well. But as the book kept going, I found events took the place of actual investigation. Many of the suspects were thin, and the main characters started to wear on me with their antics. The book wasn’t all bad, but it needed a little more time to become more polished. Hopefully, a second book will be better. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

The Tell-Tale Homicide by Daphne Silver (Rare Books Cozy Mysteries #2) – 2

Juniper Blume has moved to Rose Mallow to work from the Calverton Family and their personal library. However, on her second day, she finds a dead man inside clutching a rare early edition of Edgar Allan Poe – one that was missing from the library. Can Juniper figure out what is going on?

I enjoyed the first, but this one was a real let down. The book needed a serious edit. Most obnoxious to me with the multiple blatant timeline issues. They, along with some other things, left me wondering if the suspicious behavior I was observing was poor editing or something I was supposed to pick up on. The pacing was uneven, and a storyline involving the future of the town was wrapped up too easily. There was an element of the climax that was never explained. And some politics of the day pop up, making me roll my eyes. I did still enjoy my time with the returning characters. Well, most of them. (And don’t get me started on how that character behaved.) I see others have really enjoyed this book, so maybe it’s me, but I can’t recommend it. 

 

Watching the Detectives by Julie Mulhern (Country Club Murders #5) – 4

When this book opens, it’s been four days. Only four days since Ellison Russell was chased by a killer clown. Ellison has decided it is time to redecorate her husband’s study, and she’s brought in Khaki White, one of her potential boyfriend’s ex-wives. But Khaki is the go-to decorator among the country club set, so Ellison is getting a quote. That is until her housekeeper calls with car trouble, and Ellison runs out to get her. The two women return to find Mrs. White dead in the study, shot by a revolver. Can Ellison navigate the latest dead body in her life?

It has been too long since I read the previous book, but I was quickly back in Ellison’s world. I enjoyed seeing what was going on with the characters, and I’m hopeful the love triangle has been put to rest. Her mother wasn’t quite as overbearing in this book, which was appreciated. The 70’s are brought to life with plenty of great details, and some of the politics of the day. Fortunately, the content the series has had that keeps it just outside of cozy for me was toned down in this book. The mystery gets a little sidetracked, and the ending is weaker than I like, but it still kept me going. Ellison’s dry wit narration is a delight and keeps me smiling if not laughing. Hopefully, it won’t be so long before I revisit the characters. 

 

Claws Out by Cate Conte (Cat Cafe Mysteries #9) – 4

Maddie James and her family and friends are taking their cat cafe on the road thanks for a giant food truck donation. They are heading off island to Provincetown to a literary festival that focuses on cats in fiction. But Maddie keeps hearing things that show not all is well behind the scenes. On the second morning, one of the headlining authors is found murdered. Who killed her?

I love how the author came up with such a creative way to take the cat cafe on the road. The murder took a bit of time to happen, but there was enough set up I didn’t find my interest waning. Maddie seemed to abandon her responsibilities a bit more than normal to investigate, but we got some good twists along the way to a logical if rushed climax. I was bothered by a couple needless misandrist comments that were irrelevant to the story. There were also a couple of glitches that I couldn’t tell if were poor editing or unclear writing. I appreciated how many series regulars we got, although one subplot with them wasn’t developed as well as it felt like it should have been. While there were lots of small things that annoyed, overall, I did enjoy this entry in the series. 

 

Death on the Causeway by Caleb Wygal (Myrtle Beach Mysteries #4) – 3

Clark Thomas is stuck in Memorial Day weekend traffic when he sees a woman obviously upset on the side of the road. When he goes to help her, he finds her fiancé abandoned her a few hours earlier. As the two set out to find him, will they figure out why he took off? And how does the dead body they find along the way complicate things?

While the premise intrigued me, I found the pacing way off. Early on it was repetitive. And I figured out what was going on early. Still, I do like Clark and the rest of the gang, although I wasn’t happy with how his love life developed here. The setting makes me want to go visit in real life. And we get a new clue on the death of Clark’s wife. Those looking for a light read will enjoy this series, but don’t start here. 

 

Essentials of Death by Kim Davis (Aromatherapy Apothecary Mysteries #2) – 4

Carissa Carmichael is frustrated to learn that the booth next to hers at a community event is being staffed by Lacie, her nemesis since the two were growing up in the town of Oak Creek Valley. True to form, Lacie makes the day miserable for everyone. But that night, Carissa stumbles on Lacie’s dead body. With the evidence pointing to herself, Carissa can’t help but jump in again. Can she find the killer?

It’s been a while since I read book one, but I didn’t have any trouble slipping back into Carissa’s world. I enjoyed the bonds the characters have, and the subplots that helped us get to know them better were great. The mystery itself started out a bit unevenly, with events driving things more than Carissa did. But as she began to take more of an active role, I got hooked, not wanting to put the book down. The ending was satisfying. And we get an essential oil recipe and an intriguing sounding cookie recipe. Here’s hoping we get to visit again soon. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine by Liz Ireland (Mrs. Claus #6) – 5

It’s a few days before Valentine’s Day, and April Claus is getting ready for her best friend’s wedding.  Claire, a friend from Oregon, is marrying Jake Frost.  But as the bridal party is at a dress fitting, someone leaves them a note with a threatening Valentine in it.  April isn’t quite sure how seriously to take it.  That is, until someone dies the next day at the next dress fitting.  Can April figure out who the killer is?  Or will the mayhem destroy Claire and Jake’s special day?

This series is a favorite of mine, and this book is no exception.  There is so much going on here that I was never bored, even though I figured things out a little early.  It was great to spend time with the returning characters, and the new characters fit right into this world.  And what a world it is.  There is a fantasy element to it, but the mystery is still center stage.  The author has done such a great job of world building.  It is very sweet and clever and each new detail makes me think “How else would things be?”  And yes, I am still laughing and chuckling as I read with a grin on my face the entire way.  Don’t miss this series.  If you are already a fan, you’ll love this entry.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Hurricane Heist by James Ponti (Sherlock Society #2) – 4

This book finds the Sherlock Society about to head back to school after a fantastic summer. But their return to school gets delayed by a few days when a hurricane hits the city. In the aftermath, a body is found at a nearby hotel. When it is identified as a man who disappeared in another hurricane 60 years before, Alex and Zoe’s grandpa is intrigued. He knew the man back then, and he never bought the story from the time that the man was involved in a jewelry heist. Can the Sherlock Society figure out what happened all those years ago?

After an exciting opening chapter from the climax, this book flashes back, a technique I don’t like. In this case, it was worse since the book took longer than it should have to set up the main mystery. Once it did, I was hooked on the story. The ending was a bit rushed, but that was a minor complaint. I loved the characters and the character moments felt like they grew out of what we learned about them in the first book. Plus, we met some new characters I hope pop up again. Despite the slow start, I enjoyed this book overall.

Book Review: Hurricane Heist by James Ponti (Sherlock Society #2)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Interesting mystery with great characters

Cons: Set up takes way too long

The Bottom Line:

Body unburied

Along with story from past

Slow start but still good

Hurricane Uncovers a Heist from History

While I do know that hurricanes hit Florida, I sometimes wonder if citizens of that state feel about their portrayal in fiction like I do about earthquakes here in California. Yes, they happen. But do they happen as often as they pop up in fiction? Either way, they form the basis of Hurricane Heist, the second Sherlock Society mystery from James Ponti for Middle Grade readers.

The Sherlock Society are a group of middle schoolers. Alex is our narrator, and his sister Zoe is a reluctant member. The other two kids are their friends Yadi and Lina. Rounding out the group is Alex and Zoe’s grandfather, a former reporter for the Miami Herald.

This book finds the friends about to head back to school after a fantastic summer. But their return to school gets delayed by a few days when a hurricane hits the city. In the aftermath, a body is found at a nearby hotel. When it is identified as a man who disappeared in another hurricane 60 years before, Grandpa is intrigued. He knew the man back then, and he never bought the story from the time that the man was involved in a jewelry heist. Can the Sherlock Society figure out what happened all those years ago?

As with the first, this book starts out with an exciting scene from the climax, and then flashes back. Aside from how much I hate that storytelling device to begin with, I found it even more annoying here since we flashed back to Grandfather as a boy, setting up what happened sixty years ago. Honestly, with the tangents we took along the way, we were a third of the way into this book before the mystery really kicked off.

Once it did, it was fantastic. I was intrigued by what happened all those years ago and how the Society was going to uncover it. The ending felt a bit rushed to me, but my questions were answered.

I liked the characters when we met them in the first book, and that held true here. Some of the character growth from the first book didn’t quite stick, but in a realistic way. I actually appreciated how that was dealt with. And I loved some of the new characters. I hope we see them again in future books.

Kids might struggle a bit with the first third of Hurricane Heist, but if they can get beyond the extended set up, they’ll be hooked and enjoy this second visit with the Sherlock Society.

September 28th's Sunday/Monday Post

It's that time of the week again.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

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

You'll notice I haven't had much exciting to talk about the last few weeks.  That's changing this week.

Let's start with the frustrating.  My Threads account was deactivated for me.  Meta did nothing with my Facebook or Instagram profiles (fortunately).  I tried appealing, and it was declined.  No idea what I did since I'd been on it about an hour an a half before they took it down, and all seemed fine.  And I can't seem to figure out how to get ahold of someone to talk to about it.  Worse yet, they didn't really tell me what was going on/why they took it down, so I have no clue what I'd done.

Kind of reminds me of when my Google+ account was frozen.  At least with them, I was able to get them to tell me it was because I was a "spammer."  My crime?  Sharing my latest review there once a day.  Since I wasn't interacting enough with others, I was a spammer.

Anyway, everything I've tried with Threads has been a dead end.  I guess I'm locked out of there permanently.  Probably better for me overall, but it's so frustrating.

Now, for the fun news.

Tuesday, I finally made it to a sitcom taping!  It's something I've wanted to do for years, and I tried once before, but I didn't make it in day of.  I went to a taping of Happy's Place, which is Reba's new sitcom, and so much fun.  Since the show hasn't come back for season two yet (coming in November!), I haven't watched it for a while, and I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy it.

They had pre-shot about half the episode, which I think I'm grateful for.  The scenes they did shoot in front of us they shot two or three times each, and an entire episode would have taken so much longer.  I was about ready to be done when we were let go.

But it was so much fun.  I laughed a lot, and the general energy was great.

I was surprised to run into someone I know before the taping started.  Turned out, his girlfriend, who works on the show, had written that episode.  She did a good job, too.  Complete coincidence, but a fun one.

Yes, I'd consider doing it again, but probably for a different show.  I'd want to do it for a show I enjoy, however, since sitting that long watching something that wasn't that great would be boring.

My guess is this episode I saw won't air until sometime in January, but we'll see.

Joke of the Week:

Why did the cat cross the road? Because the chicken had a laser pointer!

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Movie Review: Signed, Sealed, Delivered - The Vows We Have Made

Tuesday - Book Review: Essentials of Death by Kim Davis

Wednesday - TV Show Review: Only Murders in the Building - Season 3

Thursday - Book Review: Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine by Liz Ireland

Friday - Movie Review: The Christmas Charade

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Book Review: Hurricane Heist by James Ponti

Tuesday - September Reading Summary

Wednesday - Book Review: Murder Comes Home by Rosalie Spielman

Thursday - Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Friday - TV Show Review: Marlow Murder Club - Season 2

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

I have three books to tell you about this week.

Up first, my pre-order of Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason.  It's the first in a new series set in England in the 1890's.  I've generally enjoyed the books that she writes under the name Colleen Cambridge, so I'm looking forward to giving this a try.

It's been a while since my last audio book, so it was time to fix that.  I grabbed Murder Walks the Plank by Carolyn Hart from the library.  It's book fifteen in her Death on Demand series.  Kind of hard to believe I'm so far into it.

Finally, I spotted a Kindle sale for My Father Always Finds Corpses, the first in a new series from Lee Hollis.  I have so many first in series from them, it's time I actually read one, don't you think?  Not that I think I will get to this one soon.  Anyway, it is still on sale as of Saturday, so if you are interested, you can also snag it.

What I'm Currently Reading:

I almost could combine these two sections this week.  I was so very close.

You see, I just finished O, Deadly Night, the eighth in Vicki Delany's Year-Round Christmas series.  It was okay.  I always enjoy the Christmas setting, but there were some things that bugged me with this one.  But I'll get into that more when I write my review.

Meanwhile, I am already listening to Murder Walks the Plank.  So far, I'm enjoying it and curious to see how it is going to all play out.

And I'm about to start Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer.

As you can see, lots of crossover this week between the two sections.

That's it for me.  Hope you have a good week!

September 27th's Weekly TV Thoughts

The Marlow Murder Club – I was looking forward to the episodes set in the sailing club, but so far, I’m not finding this mystery as compelling as the others.  I guess I wasn’t paying close enough attention to get the connections between all the characters.  But I’m sure I’ll figure it out next week.  I’m curious exactly how Judith’s set up will go.

Celebrity Weakest Link – I guess I watch the wrong shows because I only recognized two of the TV Moms on the stage.  So happy about the money raised for the veteran’s charity.  I felt like I probably would have done about as well as those women with those questions.

Dancing with the Stars – Either the dances were that much better or the judges were less grumpy than last week.  Did Carrie Ann help with that?  I really expected Andy to go home tonight, so I’m surprised he stayed.  But the two couples who went home weren’t a super surprise.  Corey was my other choice, honestly.  We’ll see if Andy goes next week or if he’s got enough of a fan base to stick around a while longer.

The Challenge – That was a lot of drama for five minutes that actually mattered.  I’m guessing they couldn’t prove everyone who did or didn’t cheat, which is why they just cancelled the results of the challenge.  I’d be angry as well at those who cheated.  And all the back and forth.  If I hadn’t started on time and been watching close to live, I would have fast forwarded a lot.  It will be interesting to see how these pairings turn out.  Especially with both members going if they lose in the sand.

Survivor – There are quite a few I am rooting for.  At least for now.  We will see what I think in a few weeks, but for now, I really like the majority of this cast.  Teams seem to be voting out the weak links early on these days, which I applaud.  I get that alliances form and you worry about the strong for later on, but you need to make it to later on.  Also, did I miss it, or did they tell us who the other sub was.  I’d read that two people were caught talking before the game started, which is why we have two subs, but they didn’t reference that in this episode either.

The Amazing Race – I might know one or two of these people from other shows, but I’ve never watched Big Brother, so I don’t know the majority of them.  I thought the newly weds were gone early on, but they made it.  And the one woman losing it that much in leg one?  Yeah, I’m already tired of her.

Movie Review: The Christmas Charade

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun Christmas movie with some mystery elements

Cons: Several things are a bit rushed

The Bottom Line:

A blind date mix up

Sets off this Christmas caper

Turns out to be fun

“One Hour?  With a Criminal?  I’m a Librarian!”

At this point, I’m a little unclear why I selected The Christmas Charade to watch.  It was probably the premise that caught my attention, although there is a small chance it might have been the stars.  No matter which reason it was, I’m glad it did because I really enjoyed it.

The movie introduces us to Whitney (Rachel Skarsten), an elementary school librarian.  And yes, she is just as risk averse as that sounds.  She gets her thrills from watching movies.  In fact, she has to think long and hard before she agrees to go on a blind date.

Yet, the blind date goes wrong in a way she never could have predicted.  She mistakes Josh (Corey Sevier) for her date when in reality, he’s an FBI agent attempting to start an undercover operation.  He’s been trying to track a thief for months, and he thinks the next target is going to be a priceless necklace, the Heart of Christmas, which only gets displayed on Christmas Eve.

With Whitney inadvertently inserted into the operation, Josh has no option but to move forward with her as his undercover partner.  She is turning out to be surprisingly adept at it.  But can they keep the charade up and save the necklace?

When I sat down to watch the film, I realized that I’d seen both of the leads in the Hallmark Mystery movie Jazz Ramsey in 2024.  Obviously, Hallmark thought they had great chemistry since it cast them as the leads here.  I’ve got to agree.  Even though I thought the romance was a bit abrupt story wise, I still bought into it thanks to their great chemistry.

As unrealistic as the set up is (no, the FBI wouldn’t really let a civilian get this involved), if you are willing to buy into the premise, you’ll have a fun time going along for the ride.  I feel like a couple of things were a bit rushed, but that’s minor.  Overall, I had fun with the premise.  I appreciated that they set up Whitney with some skills that made her useful to the case.  There were a couple of nice twists and complications along the way.

Because there is a case for the leads to work on, this movie has a minimum of the typical Christmas trappings.  Yes, we get a few, but not as many as we might in a typical Hallmark movie.  So if you are looking for something different, this would be a good one to watch.  Yet, the Christmas elements they put in turn out to be plenty of fun.

As I hinted at earlier, I found the leads to be great, which is a good thing since they carry quite a bit of this movie.  Overall, the cast was good.  There were a couple of issues with the writing, but most of that was related to twists that didn’t have enough of a set up.

If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.  The Christmas Charade is a fun example of the movies they produce each year.

This movie is included in this three movie DVD set.

Book Review: Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine by Liz Ireland (Mrs. Claus Mysteries #6)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun mystery, great characters, charming and delightful

Cons: I’m not vicious enough to list cons

The Bottom Line:

Valentine wedding

Murder rears its vicious head

Book is pure delight

Who Penned a Real Poisonous Valentine?

It’s no secret how much I love the Mrs. Claus Mysteries from Liz Ireland.  I’ve raved about them since book one came out.  So, naturally, I was looking forward to reading Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine, the latest in the series.  As always, it was a delight.

If you haven’t yet found this series, yes, it does feature the real Mrs. Claus as the main character.  April Claus met Nick when he visited her bed and breakfast in Oregon, and the two fell in love.  Even now, several years later, April is trying to get used to her new life at the North Pole with elves and snowmen and talking reindeer.

This book opens a few days before Valentine’s Day, and April is getting ready for her best friend’s wedding.  Claire, a friend from Oregon, is marrying Jake Frost.  But as the bridal party is at a dress fitting, someone leaves them a note with a threatening Valentine in it.  April isn’t quite sure how seriously to take it.  That is, until someone dies the next day at the next dress fitting.  Can April figure out who the killer is?  Or will the mayhem destroy Claire and Jake’s special day?

That’s just one of many storylines that are juggled in this book, as always.  And, as always, the book does it expertly.  I never felt like the pace lagged at all, and I was hooked from start to finish.  I did key in on things a little early, but I didn’t mind since I was having such a fun time.  And yes, that means when we reach the climax, everything does make sense.

Over the course of the series, we’ve gotten to know quite a large group of characters, and we get updates on many of them here.  The suspects blend into the cast of characters well, and I found them entertaining.

I always love it when an author is able to take a storyline that’s been a subplot and bring it to the forefront of the series.  We’ve been following Claire and Jake’s romance for multiple books and novellas at this point.  I was so pleased that this book was leading up to their wedding.  So yes, I will recommend that you read the earlier books in the series.  But we get enough background that you could jump in here.

But why would you want to when this series is so much fun.  Obviously, there is a fantasy element to it, although it doesn’t overwhelm the mystery.  And the author has done such a great job of world building.  The elf’s names are perfect.  Then there are the businesses.  And the reindeer.  I even love the fact that snowmen don’t move quickly.  It’s just all these little details that make me smile and feel right as I’m reading.  I can’t imagine the North Pole being any other way.

And yes, there’s the humor as well.  April is still new enough that her observations can be funny.  Other times, the elves react is a way that makes me laugh.  Truly, this series is a delight.

If you like to read around a holiday if possible, the question would become, do you read this book at Christmas or Valentine’s.  Honestly, either would be just fine.  It gives off enough vibes for either holiday.  Personally, I couldn’t wait that long for either.  It’s hard to wait when I know I’ve got a new book in the series ready for me.

So yes, give Mrs. Claus a try.  If you are already a fan, you know what fun is waiting for you in Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine.  And you won’t be disappointed.

Get more merry vibes from the rest of the Mrs. Claus series.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.