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Wednesday, April 30, 2025

April 2025's Reading Summary

 That time of the month again.  Here's my reading summary for April.  Due to a busy last week, I didn't get the index updated this month.  

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

 


People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman (Leaphorn and Chee #4) – 5

It seems an odd assignment. Jim Chee is asked by a rich man’s wife to locate an old box her husband cherished. Only she doesn’t know what is in it. And she doesn’t want him to involve the local police. She’s even hiring him off the books. The more Chee begins poking around, the more questions he gets. And every person who tells him to stop just makes him more curious. What will he uncover?

Knowing that Jim Chee becomes the other main character in this series, I was happy to finally get to meet him. The set up has several different elements, and even knowing they’d come together, it seemed like a bit too much. But by the end I was impressed with just how it all connected. There was one character that was a bit of a page hog, but overall, I thought the cast was good and I wish I thought a couple of them were coming back. I also enjoyed how Navajo culture played into the story. I’m looking forward to spending more time with Jim Chee again soon. 

 

Ranch Dressing by Diane Vallere (Samantha Kidd #15) – 5

Samantha Kidd’s father-in-law is interested in buying a dude ranch in New Jersey, so Samantha joins him and her husband on a trip to meet the current owner and check it out in depth.  She is so out of her element that she must borrow jeans for the trip, but she is doing her best to be supportive and stay in the background.  Their first night there, Samantha finds the owner dead in the barn.  Can she get the rest of the staff to warm up to her enough to solve the crime?

This book really builds on the growth we’ve seen in Samantha over the last couple of books, which I appreciated.  You could jump in here without any spoilers, but you won’t appreciate the character arc as much.  I also appreciated that this allowed Samantha’s relationship with her husband to really shine.  Meanwhile, the new characters were entertaining.  The mystery kept me confused until we reached the logical climax.  I laughed as always as I was reading.  Trixie Belden fans will enjoy an Easter egg in this book.  Now that I’ve caught up on this enjoyable series, I can’t wait for the next book to come out.  If you aren’t caught up yet, now’s the time to fix that.  You’ll enjoy the time spent doing so.

 

Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles by Elizabeth Crowens (Babs Norman #1) – 2

The year in 1940, and Babs Norman and Guy Brandt have set up a detective agency. But it is struggling to bring in any money, which is why Babs has just been evicted from her apartment. But the potential for positive cash flow comes when they learn that Hollywood isn’t going to the dogs since their dogs are disappearing. Basil Rathbone’s dog has been kidnapped as has the dog that plays Asta in the Thin Man movies. Since a new Thin Man movie is supposed to start production soon, the studio is desperate to get their canine star back. Can Babs and Guy figure out what is going on?

The draw for this book is old Hollywood, and it is fun spending time with the stars. They are an active part of the plot and at times outnumber the fictional characters. Sadly, the plot is uneven with too much time spent on the antics of the stars. While it does reach a satisfactory conclusion, the plotting is clunky with elements introduced roughly. And there’s a subplot that feels forced and isn’t really resolved. While most of the book felt right historically, I did find a blatant historical error early on. The writing kept us at arm’s length, making the characters thin. This is a book to read for the old stars. If you want a good mystery, you’ll have to look elsewhere. 

 

Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien (Noodle Shop Mysteries #5) – 5

Lana Lee has decided to expand her family’s restaurant into catering, and their first gig is for family friend Donna Feng. But the party ends when Donna’s nanny is found floating in the pool. While the police look at Donna, Lana finds evidence that it might actually tie to Donna’s past. But how could that tie in to this murder?

Donna and her past were plot points for the first book in this series, so if you haven’t read that book, know there are spoilers here. I was actually happy to see this come up again with enough background to refresh my memory. There are some good clues, although I’m not sure the villain’s actions at the end made perfect sense. Still, I was hooked on the suspenseful climax. Many of the regulars took a backseat, which was good in the case of Lana’s family. But we got some great new characters, one of which I hope pops up again. This series is getting stronger as it goes along. Fans who are behind will enjoy this entry. 

 

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

Book store owner Clark Thomas is surprised when a woman comes in with an invitation to join her father for dinner.  Even more surprising is that the man is John Allen Howard, famed Hollywood composure.  The night of the dinner party turns out to be the night the remnants of a hurricane are passing through town.  During the chaos, someone kills the host.  It seems the rest of the guests all had motive.  Can Clark figure out who did it?

The plot employs a few mystery cliches, and I did roll my eyes a couple of times at them. I also spotted a key clue early on.  Overall, the mystery is good, however, with an ending that did surprise me.  We don’t see quite as much of the supporting players as we might, but I did appreciate the updates on them.  That also includes a little forward progress on Clark’s wife’s murder, an ongoing story.  I did spot a couple of timeline issues, but they were more annoying than anything else.  We meet the suspects at one time, but it wasn’t long before I was able to keep them all straight.  As always, I enjoyed the vacation setting of the series.  Those who enjoyed the first two books will be glad they picked this one up.

 

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian (Secret Staircase Mysteries #4) – 5

Tempest Raj and the rest of the team are working on turning a house into a new library in Hidden Creek, this one focused on classic mysteries. While the library isn’t ready to open yet, they are participating in the Summer Stroll program that kicks off in a few days. Their contribution will be an escape room and an interactive mystery play that Tempest wrote with her best friend, Ivy. Naturally, Tempest is there for a dress rehearsal. Unfortunately, it goes horribly wrong with one of the actors turning up dead after a scripted power outage. However, by the time they call the police, the body is gone. Is he really dead? If so, who moved the body?

The case is even more impossible than I was able to work into my teaser, and I had fun watching Tempest lead us to the logical solution. The pacing might have lagged a bit in the middle, but that might be me. It was fantastic to spend time with all the regulars again, and I’m curious where some of the relationships will go from here. The suspects were good, too. We get a delicious sounding recipe for Blackberry Crumble Cobbler and more references to classic mysteries. I really need to find a time to read some of them. This book will work well as an intro/standalone if you haven’t read the earlier books in the series yet. But you’ll want to go back to read them after the fun you’ll have here. Fans will be glad they picked up this book. 

 

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman (Mrs. Pollifax #1) – 5

Seeking to give her life meaning, widowed Mrs. Pollifax applies to be a spy with the CIA. She's sent on a simple currier assignment for Carstairs, but things go wrong and she is kidnapped. Can she use her wits to escape? The story is highly improbable, but I absolutely fell in love. The final third still make me turn pages quickly even though I remember all the twists from the first time it kept me up all night to finish.

 

Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry (Seven Ponds Mysteries #1) – 2

Amber has never met her grandma Jade, but when she breaks up with her boyfriend, she winds up heading to Jade’s retirement community. Amber is thrilled to be welcomed with open arms, but the night she arrives, a man in the community dies. The police suspect it was murder, and the man’s family begins telling anyone who will listen that Jade is responsible. Can Amber lean on her PI training and figure out what really happened?

I enjoyed a previous series from this author, but this one didn’t really work for me. I was put off by a negative attitude toward Christianity we get early on. I get it that this is a personal issue, but it did make me read more critically. The characters are thin and more caricature to drive the comedy. The plot is more events than mystery driven, although Amber does make some good deductions along the way. Still, there was an aspect of the plot that I didn’t enjoy. The book does provide some laughs, but over all, it didn’t work for me. This will probably be my only visit with these characters. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (An American in Paris Mystery #3) – 4

Tabitha Knight, who grew up learning both French and English, is making some money tutoring various people in French. She’s now landed a job as a translator for a diplomat’s wife who is looking to buy an haute couture dress for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Their first stop is Maison Lannet, where they are treated to a fabulous fashion show. But when Tabitha realizes she left her gloves behind, she finds the designer dead. Can she figure out what happened?

It was nice to be back in 1950 Paris, once again seeing what life was like for people trying to rebuild their lives after the war. Yes, Julia Child has a strong presence in this book again, so there is lots of talk about French cuisine. So expect your mouth to water. The pacing of the mystery was a bit uneven, thanks in part to a couple of subplots, but I appreciated some of the twists we got along the way. The characters are fun as always, and I am curious to see where one storyline will go in the next book. All told, anyone interested in Julia Child or life in Paris in 1950 will be glad they picked up this book. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg (Sharpe and Walker #3) – 3

West Hollywood has been rocked by a series of arsons in one night. The arsonist hit multiple apartment buildings by setting fire to a car in a car port. Just as Sharpe and Waler are beginning to piece some key clues together, a major fire impacts the city. Will this new fire distract them? Or will they be able to solve it as well?

There is a strong secondary plot as well that includes some major spoilers for the first book in the series. I didn’t like that storyline because it slowed things down with flashbacks and introduced some politics that hit wrong, especially after events in the last couple of months. On the other hand, I enjoyed the main storyline and all the great twists along the way. The characters are good but flat, and the male teenage humor doesn’t help them. There are some other laughs and great banter. I also enjoyed some scenes that were set close to me. Fans will enjoy this book, but I do wish it were stronger. 

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Book Review: Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg (Sharpe and Walker #3)

Stars: 3 out of 5
Pros: The main story is fun
Cons: The sub-plot slows things down and the characters are flat
The Bottom Line:
Serial arson
The main storyline is fun
But has weaknesses




Searching the Smoke for the Truth

I’ve followed Lee Goldberg’s career from his days writing tie-ins to his new books following characters in the LA Sheriff’s Department. Along the way, his books have started to slip from the list of things I always enjoy. They aren’t bad, they just as good as they used to be. Hidden in Smoke, this third in his Sharpe and Walker series, is a perfect example. 

If you are new to this series, Walter Sharpe is a brilliant arson investigator working for the LA Sheriff’s Department. Andrew Walker is his partner, a former US Marshall who has taken the job for something safer so he will be around for his family. Not that it always turns out that way. Still, Walker is beginning to pick up the skill needed for his new job even if he misses the more action-oriented parts of his old job. 

When this book opens, West Hollywood has been rocked by a series of arsons in one night. The arsonist hit multiple apartment buildings by setting fire to a car in a car port. Just as the partners are beginning to piece some key clues together, a major fire impacts the city. Will this new fire distract them? Or will they be able to solve it as well?

There is actually a very strong second storyline that includes some major spoilers for the first book. Since it is introduced first, those spoilers start almost from the first page. 

And, it’s actually with this second storyline that I want to start. There are some tie ins with the main storyline, but on the whole, it really could have been its own story. It adds little to the overall mystery and the flashback portions to tell this part of the story just slow things down. I was very bothered by aspects of this story since it involved targeting a medical company CEO. Maybe it’s just bad timing with the headlining murder that’s been in the news in the last few months, but it felt more political than the fun mystery/thriller I was looking forward to when I picked up this book. It’s obvious that Lee Goldberg wanted to write a caper, but it felt forced into this book.

On the other hand, the main mystery was fantastic with plenty of twists and turns to keep me engaged. I was surprised by several things along the way, but they all made sense to me as they happened. 

The characters are a mixed bag. They are real enough to make us care about the outcome, but they feel a bit flat overall. The teenage boy humor we get at times certainly doesn’t help. This also really hurts the second storyline I was talking about earlier. They are some of the flattest characters. 

On the other hand, there are some fun laughs and great banter between the characters. 

Fans of Lee’s other current series will be interested to note that Eve Ronin and her partner Duncan Pavone show up part way through. There are some supporting characters between the two series as well. If you haven’t read Eve’s books, you won’t miss too much, but a few references will fly over your head. 

Since I live in LA County, I enjoy all the references to places I know as I’m reading this book. I especially enjoy a few scenes that take place close to me. I was smiling as I followed the action, picturing exactly what I was talking about. 

As you can see, Hidden in Smoke was a mixed bag. Fans of Lee’s books will enjoy it, but I do wish it were stronger overall. 

Monday, April 28, 2025

Movie Review: Viva Las Vegas

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Light, fun romantic comedy musical
Cons: None worth dwelling on
The Bottom Line:
Romance, comedy
Wrapped up in fun songs in this
Charming musical




Flirty Fun in Vegas

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I look to entertainment mostly for an escape.  I want have fun.  Yes, I do enjoy some more serious books and movies, but it’s always a pleasure to find something that is just looking to be light entertainment.  That’s exactly what Viva Las Vegas is trying to be, and it succeeds in spades.

The movie tells the story of race car driver Lucky Jackson (Elvis Presley).  He’s planning to enter a race leaving from Las Vegas, and he’s there earning the money to buy an engine to go into his new car.  His chief competitor, Count Elmo Mancini (Cesare Danova) is there as well, and the two are talking when they meet Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret).  Rusty gets them to help with her car, but then vanishes before either man can get so much as her name.  The two set out to find her, but by the time they do, Lucky’s money is gone.  Forced to take a job as a waiter doesn’t prove to be too bad because it gives him time to woo Rusty.  Or will Elmo win her heart instead?  Will Lucky have an engine for his car in time for the big race?

Let’s be honest, you can probably guess at least some of what happens along the way just based on my teaser.  This isn’t a terribly original movie if you are familiar with romantic comedies.  But you know what?  That’s okay.  This is a fun movie with character you want to root for.  Yes, even Elmo.  Oh, you don’t want to root for him to win a race or win the girl, but he is still a likable foil and not a true villain.

It also helps that Elvis and Ann-Margret have chemistry.  The film sizzles when they are on screen together.  Again, you are rooting for the two of them to get together.  As is often the case with a romantic comedy, the film brushes a few issues under the rug in the rush to the ending, but that’s okay.  What is here works.

And part of that is the acting.  The entire cast is obviously having fun together, and it pulls us into the story they are telling.

With Elvis and Ann-Margret as the leads, I’m sure it’s no surprise that this is a musical.  In addition to the famous title track, we get a variety of songs throughout.  There are no true show stoppers with tons of choreography, but that’s okay because the songs are fun.  There are a few done as part of shows, but there are also songs that the characters sing in “real life.”  As much as I do find the title track fun, my favorite song by far was “The Lady Loves Me.”  It is such fun, you can’t help but laugh as Lucky and Rusty sing back and forth to each other.

This movie came out in 1964, and it is a throwback to a simpler, more innocent time.  There is very little if any innuendo (I can’t remember any off hand).  The romance is extremely chaste.  And yet, we are rooting for the characters and having a great time.  It’s also the time when someone can be in the pool in one shot and have perfectly styled hair and basically dry clothes in the next, which takes place thirty seconds later.  That may be unintentional humor, but it is still fun none-the-less.

I completely enjoyed watching Viva Las Vegas because it has lost none of its charm.  Next time you are in the mood for a light romantic comedy, I definitely recommend you track this one down.

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Candy Review: Hershey's Kisses - Butterbeer

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Delicious taste of butterbeer
Cons: Appear to be a seasonal item
The Bottom Line:
A seasonal kiss
Enjoy butterbeer flavor
These will be a hit




Enjoy a Bite of Butterbeer

Back in March when I was wandering through Target’s Easter aisles, I found a new flavor of Hershey’s Kisses – Butterbeer.  Naturally, I had to grab them.  They were every bit as good as I expected.

Unlike a traditional Hershey’s kiss, these aren’t chocolate based.  Maybe there is some white chocolate in them, although it didn’t stand out in a quick scan of the ingredients.  Instead, they have a butterscotch flavor.  A very strong butterscotch flavor.  It’s so strong that you can smell them as soon as the bag is opened.  I’ve had a mostly empty bag in my pantry for a few weeks waiting for me to write this review, and every time I open the door, I smell them.  That’s not a problem, just be prepared.

Anyway, they taste just like you’d expect.  Lots of butterscotch flavor with a hint of cream.  The candies themselves are tan.  If you bite into one, you’ll find that there is a white center to them.

And they are delicious!  I took this package to a family gathering, and everyone who tried them loved them.  It’s hard to eat just one, which is always the sign of a good Hershey’s Kiss, right?

As you are probably expecting with the Butterbeer flavor, these are Harry Potter themed.  The name is on the packaging, and the wrappers have various Harry Potter things, like books, glasses, and steins of butterbeer to name a few.

My only question is why are these seasonal?  I think they’ve be popular any time of year.  And I really don’t think of Harry Potter around Easter.

I suspect these were Target exclusive since I didn’t see them anywhere else I was looking.

I realize my timeliness stinks since, if these were an Easter item, they aren’t in the stores any more.  Hopefully, they’ll be back in future years.  If so, you’ll be happy you snagged some Butterbeer Hershey’s Kisses.

Saturday, April 26, 2025

April 26th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Tracker – Yes, it was a little weird, but not nearly as bad as the show can be.  I enjoyed this one overall.  Tracking back through the night before proved to be fun.  I’m not sure I bought what the friend was selling there at the end as to how she got away.  I’m not sure why, but I just didn’t trust her.  Or maybe it has to do with the fact that we still had time left in the episode.  I’m probably just being too suspicious.

Suits LA – Of all the people from the original I wanted to see again, Hardman wasn’t on the list.  I get why he was there, however, and it was a good use of him.  I’m sad that was Harvey’s last episode since he was the best character on the show.  And his dynamic with Ted was also the best.  I wonder if this means we aren’t going to see Eddie’s death in the flashbacks.  I sure hope that’s the case.  Honestly, I wish we’d just drop them.  They didn’t add much to the story.

Poppa’s House – A better episode than most.  I think it’s because they went serious in the middle instead of quite as insane as they often go.  I just wished they’d pulled back Dyrrl a little.  He was just a bit over the top for me.

Night Court – I preferred the A story to the B story, but even the B story was fun.  Several good moments and some serious messages mixed in well.  I’d forgotten Abby was an alcoholic, however.

Friday, April 25, 2025

Movie Review: Get Him Back for Christmas

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Charming, sweet Christmas movie
Cons: Predictable; the lip-syncing is obvious
The Bottom Line:
Writing a new song
Will friends move to next level
Charming Christmas film




Does Music Have the Power to Restore Relationships?

Having watched some previous movies that husband and wife Carlos and Alexa PenaVega have done together, I decided to give Get Him Back for Christmas.  I’m glad I did since it proved to be completely charming.

Bella Harlan (Alexa PenaVega) has gotten her big break when she met mega popstar Sage Majors (Alan Powell).  Their two duets have swiftly climbed the charts, and the fact that they are dating has captured the nation.  However, it all comes crashing down on Bella before Christmas when Sage announces that he wants a break for the holidays.  It only gets worse when the press reports that the two have broken up.

So Bella does the only thing she can think of – she heads home to her small town in Texas.  It’s there that she reconnects with her old song writing partner, Jack Grayton (Carlos PenaVega).  The two secretly had feelings for each other when they were teens.  But Bella is intent on getting Sage back and asks Jack to help her write a song to help her do that.  Will they rediscover their feelings?

If you go into this movie and aren’t shocked by the developments along the way, you haven’t been paying attention to these made for TV Christmas movies.  But, as I always say, it’s more about the execution than the predictability.  In this case, I was having plenty of fun, so I don’t care that much that I knew where the story was going.  There were some nice subplots I wasn’t expecting along the way, and some real depth to the characters that helped bring me in.

Since this is set in Texas, this is now the second Christmas movie I’ve watched that didn’t include snow.  I’m a bit surprised, but not that upset since snow doesn’t feature into my Christmases either.

I will say that the singing was a bit weak.  Not the actual vocals, but the lip-syncing they did during the filming.  It looks fake.  But maybe that’s just me.

One thing I especially appreciated was the third act.  Again, the characters had been established, so the third act complications felt real, and I appreciated how the characters behaved.  I respected them for the choices they made.

There were some elements of the movie I wasn’t expecting, like the prominent place The Salvation Army had in the movie, or the roll that Mario Lopez played in the movie (as himself).  There’s also Jack’s younger brother.  I found their relationship very sweet.

The acting is good.  Alexa and Carlos carry the movie, but the rest of the cast are fine in their parts as well.

Ultimately, Get Him Back for Christmas is a sweet and charming Christmas movie.  If that is what you are looking for, you’ll be rewarded.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Book Review: A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (An American in Paris Mystery #3)

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Interesting look at life in post-war Paris with a good mystery and fun characters
Cons: Pacing at times
The Bottom Line:
Fashion and murder
Return to post war Paris
With fun mystery




Tabitha Must Find a Well Dressed Killer

I’ve always enjoyed getting to meet real people via the pages of historical fiction, and Colleen Cambridge has found success with that in two mystery series. A Fashionably French Murder is the third in her An American in Paris series which features Julia Child. 

The main character is Tabitha Knight, who moved to Paris in 1949 to live with her grandfather. She just happens to be neighbors with Julia Child, and the two have become good friends. It’s now February of 1950, and the two are about to become entangled in another murder. 

Tabitha, who grew up learning both French and English, is making some money tutoring various people in French. She’s now landed a job as a translator for a diplomat’s wife who is looking to buy an haute couture dress for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Their first stop is Maison Lannet, where they are treated to a fabulous fashion show. But when Tabitha realizes she left her gloves behind, she finds the designer dead. Can she figure out what happened?

Once again, we are plunged into post-World War II life in Paris. The war’s after effects are still playing a part in daily life. I appreciate that perspective on things because it isn’t something I think about too much. Yes, I find the war years fascinating, but I don’t think about how that horrible experience impacted people as they tried to rebuild their lives. 

Just because this book takes place in the fashion industry doesn’t mean we don’t have as much talk about French cuisine as in the first two books. Would you expect any less with Julia Child as a supporting character? Prepare for your mouth to water as you read. 

My observation from the previous books holds true again here. I find it weird that the French characters, who are supposedly speaking French, occasionally have a French word or expression in the middle of their dialogue. And yet it works to give them a French accent in my head as I’m reading. 

The mystery itself has some good twists to it, but I did find the pacing a little uneven in the middle. It never stayed that way for too long, and it helped that we had some subplots to distract Tabitha, and us, from the main mysteries. But I definitely liked the solution to this mystery. 

And the characters are entertaining as well. Several threads from the previous book continued here, and I’m especially interested to see what is going to happen next with one of them. 

Tabitha and Julia continue to be good guides to life in 1950 Paris. If that interests you, you’ll be glad you picked up A Fashionably French Murder

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Ornament Review: Sally and Pigpen - 2024 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Two lesser produced Peanuts characters
Cons: None for me
The Bottom Line:
Sally and Pigpen
Dancing onto Christmas tree
In this mini set




Two More Peanuts Characters Get the Mini Treatment

Over the years, Hallmark has released various sets of Peanuts characters around themes.  Usually, they include Lucy, Linus, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy in those sets.  So when I spotted a two ornament collection of Sally and Pigpen in 2024, I snagged it.

This is a collection of two miniature ornaments.  It’s just as you’d expect from the name.  Sally is dancing, so she’s got one leg up.  While Pigpen doesn’t have his big cloud of dust around him, we can see smudges of dirt on his face and on the bass he’s playing.

I must admit, I didn’t realize until I was home with the set that these are both themed around A Charlie Brown Christmas.  These are the characters as they appear in the big dance scenes that are interrupting the pageant practice.  This makes me wonder if I should have paid more attention and we’ve gotten more miniature ornaments featuring other characters from the special in the past.  Either way, that was a fun bonus for ornaments I was already planning to get.

You see, I love Peanuts, and it is nice to have a variety of the characters.  I get that the most popular characters are going to be the ones that sell the most, but I appreciate that these lesser done characters get their day every so often.

As I said earlier, these are mini ornaments.  Pigpen is a little taller just because his bass is so much bigger than he is, but the characters themselves are about an inch tall.  As long as you know that when you buy the pair, you’ll be fine.

This probably means you don’t want to set the ornaments out to be displayed anyway.  But if you wanted to, you’ll find that Sally doesn’t stand on her own at all.  You can balance Pigpen, but he isn’t very stable, so he’ll probably fall over the first time someone walks by.

Fortunately, both ornaments hang straight, so you’ll be fine when you go to hang these on your tree.

The Sally and Pigpen set was fun to get.  If you are a Peanuts fan looking for some lesser produced characters, you’ll be glad you picked it up.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Book Review: Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry (Seven Ponds Mysteries #1)

Stars: 2 out of 5
Pros: Some laughs along the way
Cons: One plot element I didn’t like, thin characters, derogatory attitude toward Christians
The Bottom Line:
Meeting her grandma
A death in community
Disappointing start




Retirement Community Filled in Intrigue

I enjoyed the three books in Tamara Berry’s By the Book mystery series, so when I saw she was starting a new series, I immediately put it on my to be read list. Sadly, Murder Runs in the Family didn’t work nearly as well for me. 

Amber Wilson has just left her long-term boyfriend behind and turned to her family for help. Of course, in this case, it’s her grandma Jade, a woman she’s never met before. Jade lives in the Seven Ponds retirement community in Arizona, and she is thrilled when Amber shows up. In the fact, the two are quickly on their way to making up for the lost decades. 

That is until murder and theft rear their ugly heads. The night that Amber arrives, one of the men who lives in the complex dies. Not too surprising in a retirement community, right? But in this case, the police think something isn’t right. Even worse, a ring belonging to the victim has vanished. And the man’s relatives think Jade was responsible for both. True, Amber doesn’t know Jade well, but she can’t let her go to jail. Can Amber call on her PI training and find the killer?

The estrangement in the family is a big part of the book. Amber’s mother has refused to let anyone have any contact with Jade. Early on, we learn that Amber’s mom is a Christian and Jade decidedly isn’t. As a Christian myself, this was a turn off, especially with the attitude Amber has toward her mom while this information is being delivered to us. Later in the book, we do get more insight into these family relationships, but I never really got beyond the bad taste that scene and attitude left in my mouth.

As a result, I found it harder to get into the story, with any flaws sticking out to me more. Like the pacing. This is one of those books where there is a lot happening, but what is happening isn’t necessarily advancing the plot. Amber does make some logical deductions along the way, which I appreciated, but there were other aspects of the plot I didn’t enjoy. That really put me off as I was reading, too. 

The characters were more caricatures than fully drawn characters. I get that they were designed for laughs, and I did laugh a little as I was reading. But I was left wishing I’d actually gotten to know the characters better. 

Yes, some of the humor did work for me. I got some laughs and grins along the way as I was reading. But it was not enough to overcome the flaws. 

I was really hoping for another series I would enjoy. However, I think Murder Runs in the Family will be my only visit with these characters. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Monday, April 21, 2025

Movie Review: John Wick - Chapter 3: Parabellum

Stars: 2 out of 5
Pros: Attempts to weave the action together with a story
Cons: Overly violent with cardboard characters
The Bottom Line:
More violence here
Some story elements that
Don’t really work out




Action Has Consequences

My first thought after watching the second part of the John Wick franchise was that I was done.  But then, I spotted John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum on TV.  By that point, I was curious enough to see what happened in part 3 to record it.  Besides, the price was right.  While it was better than the second movie, I’m still scratching my head over how this franchise has fans.

This movie picks up at some point after the second one.  We’re supposed to think it is immediately after, but it has to be a few hours at least since it finds John Wick (Keanu Reeves) on the run in the dark and the rain while the previous movie ending during daylight.  Anyway, he is trying to get some help into place before the target that The Table has placed on him goes into full effect.  Will he get the help he needs to survive the run of assassins targeting him?  And what might the consequences be for those who do decide to help him?

I will say that this movie was slightly better than the previous one.  While the action was still over the top, it wasn’t non-stop.  Attempts were made to give the story a plot.  I’m not saying the plot was good or made sense.  Seriously, what are these characters thinking?  Considering what The Table wants from people, why wouldn’t people run away from it given the chance?  But obviously, that’s just me being a normal human being, I guess.

And maybe that’s part of why I feel the characters are still paper thin.  Yes, there is some attempt to develop them, but it mostly falls flat for me.  It’s either cliched development, or it just doesn’t work like it is supposed to.

Part of that is Keanu Reeves’s fault.  He gets the most character development, which makes sense because he is the main character.  But his wooden acting makes those scenes laughable.  I’m a little surprised at some of the other actors here.  We’ve got the likes of Ian McShane, Lawrence Fishburne, Angelica Houston, and Hallie Berry.  Their acting is fine, but they aren’t given much to work with.

If you are looking for impossible action, this movie is for you.  While it isn’t as relentless as the previous movie, there are still plenty of action scenes.  You have to suspend lots of disbelief to go along with what is happening here, more so than most action movies, but there are some moments that are still fun.  But the improbability of it all gets to even the biggest fans after a while.

And yes, the movie is still excessively violent.  There are lots of scenes that I cringed away from as I was watching, even when airing on TV.  Know that going in.  I did appreciate the good editing of the foul language in the version I watched.  You could usually still tell what was taken out, but it was much more subtle than normal.  And, it wasn’t as much as I was expecting.  Or I missed the edits.

Honestly, there’s really still no need to start this franchise.  John Wick: Chapter 3 has little to redeem it.  This isn’t a franchise worth spending any time on.

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Easter Sunday's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to this week's Sunday/Monday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

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

The temperatures were as predicted this week.  Sadly.  For the majority of the week, it was in the lower 60's.  We even had a couple of days that didn't get out of the 50's.  While we only got a little drizzle, we did have some cloudy days as well.  Not my idea of April weather.  That's January weather.

Today (Saturday) is in the 70's and sunny.  I'm much happier.  Supposed to be like that for the next few days as well.

Friday night, I went to the Good Friday service at my church.  A couple of the members of the congregation created a passion play incorporating some songs.  It was nice.

Saturday morning, I had walking book club (a localish library hosts - a small group of people come and talk about books we've been reading while we walk around the neighborhood).  I was a few minutes late since I left later than I intended (as always) and then hit some traffic on the way there.  Fortunately, the traffic had been cleaned up by the time I headed home.

Sunday, I'll be going to my church service in the morning and then spending the rest of the day with some friends.

And I think that catches you up on my incredibly exciting week.

Blog Spam Comment of the Week:

It's been a while since I had one of these.  But I got a pretty mockable spam comment.  This was posted on one of my book review from 10 years ago:

Thank you for sharing, I was just looking for something like this, you had a great time, greetings! Nice post thank's for sharing this information. it is really helpfull for us.

Yes, the spelling errors are in the original. Then, at the end, we got a link.  Got a nice laugh out of it.

This Past Week on the Blog:


This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post
Monday - Movie Review: John Wick - Chapter 3
Tuesday - Book Review: Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry
Wednesday - Ornament Review: Sally and Pigpen
Thursday - Book Review: A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
Friday - Movie Review: Get Him Back for Christmas
Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

Just two books to tell you about this week.  And I'll be reading both of them pretty quickly.

The first is #Throwback for Murder, the fourth Trending Topics Mystery from Sarah E. Burr.  I'm really looking to it since I enjoy her books and I haven't read one yet this year.  Her main character in this series is a social media star, which makes for something outside of the ordinary for the books I typically read.  I'll be starting it soon since it comes out May 6th.

The other book is a book I got from the library.  Thanks to the Libby app, I got the digital version of A Killing in Costumes by Zac Bissonnette.  It's been out a couple of years, but I never have gotten around to reading it.  The main characters are former soap opera stars and former spouses who have opened a vintage Hollywood memorabilia shop in Palm Springs.  Sadly, it appears this was a one and done since it's been almost three years since the book came out and there's no sign of a sequel.

What I'm Currently Reading:

As promised last week, I did read Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg.  In fact, I finished it after book club before I came home.  He has some of the typical issues I have with his books here, but overall, I enjoyed it.  The series features a couple of arson investigators in LA County, so I got to see some areas I know well, too.  My full review will be up on the 29th.

Up next will be A Killing Way by J.R. Sanders.  I'm sticking with LA, but going back to the 1930's and a book that will again bring the characters up to my part of the county.  The main character is a PI, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he gets up to this time around.

That's it for me this week.  Hope you have a great week.

Saturday, April 19, 2025

April 19th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Tracker – Another promising episode that went completely off the rails.  Yikes was that bad.  I definitely missed some things, but I stopped paying attention.  I just didn’t care.

Suits LA – Can we just get to the part where the brother dies in the backstory already?  I suspect it is coming this Sunday, but I’m just cringing waiting for it.  I forgot to jot down my thoughts right after I watched it, and I’m trying to think about anything in the contemporary story that was worth commenting on.  Honestly, not too much.  A couple of things were set up, so we’ll see what the payoff is.

Poppa’s House – The stuff with the phones was fun, but then the show just went a little too far with things.  Especially since I was trying to eat dinner with the fish scene.  Yikes!  I am curious what they did for the make up effects for when Jr. shaved his one eyebrow.  It was good.  Too good since clippers wouldn’t really erase all trace of it like that.  Still, it was very impressive.

Wild Cards – I wasn’t not expecting the episode to go there.  Pretty impressive.  I’m a bit more jaded than the characters were at the end, but I want to believe that they’d make it.  As to the scenes with Max’s dad, you can remember the past and move forward as well.  It’s important to be able to do both, in fact.

The Challenge – It was closer than I was expecting.  Very close, in fact.  But ultimately, I was right about who would win.  Not sure what I thought about Sam’s knee.  I hope it wasn’t really injured.  But I could see something like that being mental.  And I’m glad the winning team split the money.

Survivor – As someone who has played games with people who are playing in ways that frustrate you, I get where Chrissy was coming from.  I truly do.  But going at them head on rarely works like you want it to.  And I’m not sure there is a right perspective here.  It’s nice to see the strong guys teaming up for a change instead of getting voted out.  They are right.  But it’s always frustrating when you get in a situation with a strong alliance you can’t crack.  And that’s where Chrissy found herself.

The Amazing Race – I hate those needle in haystack challenges.  This one almost literally a needle in a haystack.  It’s crazy how the gamers were able to come back and not be eliminated.  Guess the brothers being saved last week wasn’t for very long.  Crazy to realize this is the first time the teams had to drive on the race.  Definitely a game changer.  And unlike when a taxi gets lost, I don’t feel as badly for the teams since it is their fault, not just bad luck in taxi drivers.

Friday, April 18, 2025

Good Friday's Friday Post

I'm back with another Friday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

For the first three, I'll be pulling quotes from A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge.


This is the third book in her An American in Paris Mysteries, which are set in 1950 Paris.  The main character just happens to be the neighbor and friend of Julia Child.  Which gives us the opening quote:

"It's the easiest thing you'll ever make," Julia assured me gaily. "Just plop it all in a pot and let it cook."

Nothing too mysterious, or fashion related, in that line, I'll admit.  But it isn't too long before we jump into both.  Which is why we find this quote on page 56:

This morning, I begged off going to the market with her before my first appointment because I wanted to retrieve my winter coat from the police.

Confused?  It makes sense in context, but I'll leave it for you to figure out.

The book doesn't officially come out until April 29th, but I enjoyed an ARC and my review will be up on Thursday.  I hope you'll come back then to see what I thought.

But let's switch gears and take a look at this week's Book Blogger Hop.  This week's question is:

Do you know the Night Song in the Jungle?

Sorry, never heard of it.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Book Review: The Library Game by Gigi Pandian (Secret Staircase Mysteries #4)

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Tempest and crew in another fun, twisty impossible crime
Cons: Listing cons is not a game
The Bottom Line:
Rehearsal body
But where did the victim go?
The pages fly by




Murder Strolls into a Library

I keep saying I need to go back and read more of Gigi Pandian’s books. I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve read, but I have quite a few I haven’t gotten to yet, including one series I haven’t started. But I am making sure I stay up to date on the Secret Staircase Mysteries, so I sat down to read The Library Game not long after I got it. 

This series features Tempest Raj, a retired stage magician. She’s now back in her hometown of Hidden Creek and helping with her family’s construction company. The company specializes in fun construction projects, things like hidden rooms and passageways. 

This is the fourth book in the series. While Tempest was on a quest early on dealing with some family tragedies, that storyline has been resolved. There are a couple of vague references here, but nothing that comes close to a spoiler. Honestly, if you wanted to pick this book up, it would work as a good standalone. 

Tempest and the rest of the team are working on turning a house into a new library in Hidden Creek, this one focused on classic mysteries. While the library isn’t ready to open yet, they are participating in the Summer Stroll program that kicks off in a few days. Their contribution will be an escape room and an interactive mystery play that Tempest wrote with her best friend, Ivy. Naturally, Tempest is there for a dress rehearsal. Unfortunately, it goes horribly wrong with one of the actors turning up dead after a scripted power outage. However, by the time they call the police, the body is gone. Is he really dead? If so, who moved the body?

This series firmly plants itself in the locked room, or impossible crime, mystery sub-genre. Believe me, what I’ve teased is only part of what else is going on in this plot. I was completely hooked by the mystery, and very satisfied when Tempest finally figured things out. It might have slowed down a little in the middle, but I’m probably just being nitpicky. If so, it wasn’t for very long. 

Tempest has a core group of friends who are an active part of each book. They are a great group, and I love spending time with them again. There are some interesting developments with them, and I’m curious to see where things pick up in the next book. Meanwhile, we also spend some time with Tempest’s family, which I also enjoyed. The suspects did their job of keeping me confused. 

While this isn’t a culinary cozy as such, there is lots of talk of food thanks to Tempest’s grandfather. And there’s a delicious sounding recipe for Blackberry Crumble Cobbler at the end of the book. 

As always, this series pays tribute to classic mysteries, especially of the locked room variety. I really need to make the time to read some of those older books mentioned here.

Series fans who might be concerned about the future of the series now that Tempest solved her big case need not worry. The Library Game is another strong mystery that will keep you turning pages until you reached the only possible ending. 

Check out the rest of the Secret Staircase Mysteries

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

TV Show Review: The Traitors - Season 3

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Another fun hit for the Traitors
Cons: Too many shields in play each time
The Bottom Line:
Hunt out the Traitors
Fun watching how it plays out
Back stabbing galore




More Mayhem, Mystery…and Murder

Since I wound up keeping my Peacock subscription (thanks cheap renewal), I was able to catch the third season of The Traitors this winter. As before, I waited until it was almost done before I started so I wasn’t annoyed by the cliffhangers. And it was another fun ride. 

The premise, if you’ve missed it, is that a group of people arrive in a castle in Scotland. A few of them are the Traitors. The others are Faithfuls. Each night, the Traitors pick one Faithful to “kill,” aka kick off the show. During the day, everyone competes in a challenge to try to win money for the prize pot. Early evening, everyone gets together and the Faithfuls try to vote out a Traitor. And the cycle repeats. It is similar to the party game mafia, just with a big prize pot and reality tv cameras. 

Speaking of which, like with season 2 of the American version, the cast is almost completely made up of reality TV vets. We have people from Survivor, Big Brother, and the various Real Housewives shows. Honestly, outside of the former Survivor players, I didn’t know who most of them are. The biggest get, at least in my eyes, was Boston Rob from multiple seasons of Survivor

There are very few clues to go on as the Faithful try to figure out who is eliminating them each night. That means, they can make wild accusations based on a weird look. It’s fun in some ways and frustrating in others. After all, we know who the Traitors are. 

I’ve got to say, the way the Traitors treated each other this season was weird. Clearly, they didn’t think through strategy at all. But it made for great tv. 

Alan Cummings is the host, and he is definitely part of the fun. His outfits and delivery are delicious. 

On the other hand, there’s the swearing. Seriously, it is so over the top. I always forget how bad it is until I start a new season and I just cringe. And they start swearing over nothing. 

As I hinted at above, this show has some weird and mean cliffhanger endings. As we are about to find something out, we cut to the preview for the next episode. I highly recommend this as a binge rather than a once-a-week show. 

My only real complaint was the overabundance of shields. These are used to keep the Faithful safe from elimination by the Traitors overnight. Maybe I’m not remembering how many there were in previous seasons, but in most episodes, about half the people were safe. It’s much more interesting when the Traitors have their pick. It can also be much more revealing who the Faithful are. Although the Traitors did a good job of giving themselves away even with all the shields in play. 

All told, season three was another entertaining season of The Traitors. If you’ve enjoyed the show so far, you’ll enjoy this season as well. 

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Book Review: Death on the Golden Mile by Caleb Wygal (Myrtle Beach Mysteries #3)

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Clark leads a fun cast in a solid mystery
Cons: A couple of the cliches and an easy to spot clue
The Bottom Line:
Dinner party death
Leads to mostly good story
In fun location 




Murder on a Dark and Stormy Night

When I was looking at what book to read next, I was debating between several books. But when I realized that it had been a year since I had read the second book in the Myrtle Beach Mysteries, that bumped Death on the Golden Mile to the top. 

This series centers around Clark Thomas, a widower who owns a bookstore right in the touristy area of Myrtle Beach. The bookstore had been his dream with his late wife. This is now the third time he’s found himself getting involved with a local murder. 

In all starts when a woman walks into his store and offers Clark an invitation to dinner with her father later in the week. Her father just happens to be famous Hollywood composer John Allen Howard. Naturally, Clark accepts. 

However, the night of the dinner party turns out to be stormy as the remnants of a hurricane are coming through the region. Most of the other guests have some connection with the host, so Clark is feeling a little out of place. During the worst of the storm, suddenly, a shot rings out, and their host is dead. 

It’s then that Clark learns his purpose in being there was to uncover the person who has been attempting to kill John Allen Howard. He’s left behind some potential motives. While they wait for the police, Clark starts to investigate. Can he figure out what happened?

Yes, this book indulges in a few cliches of the genre and I rolled my eyes two or three times. I also figured out the location of a clue much earlier than Clark did. 

But these are minor complaints overall. I was very impressed with how things came together at the end. There were several clues that I didn’t pick up on. The solution was completely logical. 

We didn’t get as much time with the series supporting players as we might have, but they still made some appearances, and it was nice to catch up with them. We meet the suspects at once, but they were distinct enough that I didn’t have any issues keeping them all straight. 

There are a couple of timeline issues, but they are minor in the overall structure of the plot. 

Even with the storm, I still enjoyed the setting. It’s always fun picturing the world that tourists get to visit from the point of view of someone who lives there. 

And yes, we get a little more about the death of Clark’s wife. As with the previous book, it bookends the main mystery, and it left me very interested in what exactly is going on there. I’ve got to catch up on the series since I know that particular storyline has been resolved at this point. 

I’ve got the next several books in the series already, so I need to find the time to read them. Death on the Golden Mile will please fans of Clark’s first two mysteries. 

Be sure to check out the rest of the Myrtle Beach Mysteries.

Monday, April 14, 2025

Movie Review: A Lesson in Murder - Aurora Teagarden Prequel Mysteries

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Good mystery with a fun climax
Cons: Usual problems for a prequel and a Hallmark movie
The Bottom Line:
True crime student dies
In second prequel movie
Mystery is fun


“I Have to Go.”  “To Play Detective?”  “No.  I’m a Librarian.”

I figured that eventually the movies that premiered on Hallmark+ would also air on the cable channels.  That’s one of several reasons I haven’t rushed to get the streaming service.  It’s taken a while, but I’m finally being proved right and am getting to watch the second of the Aurora Teagarden prequel movies – A Lesson in Murder.

It’s been a while since the first of these premiered.  It was all the way back in 2023.  Okay, that might not seem like a super long time, but considering this movie was on Hallmark+ last year, it makes it seem longer than it was.  Anyway, this is the second in a series of movies featuring Aurora as a graduate student.  And, while she may be officially studying library science, she is still fascinated by true crime.  In fact, she’s a TA for a true crime class.

One of the students in the class is struggling.  He also plays on the baseball team, so it’s important that he keep his grades up.  When he doesn’t show for a tutoring session, Aurora makes a horrible discovery.  He’s dead in his car.  Aurora feels compelled to figure out who killed him.  But can she do it?

With the first movie, I talked about the issues with the cast.  The only cast member to come back from the original movies is Marilu Henner as Aurora’s mother.  She still nails the part of Aida.  But, since the characters are supposed to be younger than they originally were, they’ve recast everyone else with Skyler Samuels playing Aurora, Evan Roderick as now rookie cop Arthur, and Kayla Heller as Sally.  Here’s the problem, they just don’t work as these characters.  Listen to me carefully.  They are not bad actors.  They just aren’t the characters we already know and love.  And it’s really hard to buy them as these characters.  Honestly, I wish they’d cast these actors in a new franchise.  That would have been great to watch.  As it is here, you have to pretend these are different characters.  If you can do that, you’ll enjoy this movie.

Which I did.

Before we move on, one more rant about the stupidity of these as prequels.  They are setting up a love triangle with Aurora, Arthur, and Jordan Buhat’s Daniel, a cook at the diner where Aurora has gotten a job.  We know that Aurora and Arthur dated at one point, but we’ve never heard of Daniel.  And we know that Arthur and Aurora wind up married to other people.  So, what’s the point of the romantic subplot, and especially it being a romantic triangle? 

Again, I’m not blaming any of the actors for this.  They are in a no-win situation.  And if you can pretend we’ve never met these characters before, you’ll get lost in the story and enjoy their performances.  And I enjoy Steve Bacic as the detective who keeps trying to get Aurora to stop investigating.

Yes, it is obvious this is a Hallmark production, although I am getting very used to it after all the movies I’ve watched over the years.

The mystery itself is solid.  I feel like the ending is a little rushed in the way of explanations, but the solution Aurora reaches does make sense.  And I loved the creativity of the climatic confrontation.

Despite all my rants, my actual rating is on the mystery itself and leaving all the prequel baggage behind.  Obviously, I’m not able to watch it while ignoring all of that.  If you aren’t able to do that either, you’ll have my same rants.

A Lesson in Murder isn’t a bad movie.  But it suffers from many of the problems that prequels have.

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Palm Sunday's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to this week's Sunday/Monday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

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

It was warm in my corner of Southern California this week.  Temps were in the 80's for most of the week.  I loved it!  Sadly, looks like we are going to cool of this coming week and it will be in the upper 60's a week from now.  I'm ready for the full time warm weather at this point.

Thursday, I went to an author event here in town.  J.R. Sanders was at one of the libraries talking about his book A Killing Way, which partially takes place in the town where I live.  I'd already bought the book, so I took it with me to get it autographed.  I haven't read it yet, but I'm hoping to get to it in a couple of weeks.

Saturday is my monthly game day, so I'm working on this first thing.  Looking forward to it as always.

Joke of the Week:


Innkeeper: The room is $15 a night.  It’s $5 if you make your own bed.
Guest: I’ll make my own bed.
Innkeeper: Good.  I’ll get you some nails and wood.

This Past Week on the Blog:


This Coming Week on the Blog:


Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post
Monday - Movie Review: A Lesson in Murder
Tuesday - Book Review: Death on the Golden Mile by Caleb Wygal
Wednesday - TV Show Review: The Traitors - Season 3
Thursday - Book Review: The Library Game by Gigi Pandian
Friday - Friday Post
Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

Would you believe I have just one book to talk about this week?  I know, I'm shocked as well.  Even more surprising, it's not a book I should not even have yet.

My preorder of Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg showed up this week.  It's not officially released until the 22nd of the month.  This is me not complaining.  It's the third in his series about a couple of arson investigators who work for the LA County Sheriff's department.  And it is going to cross over with his Eve Ronin characters again.

I'm reading a couple of ARCs that also come out this month at the moment.  Then I'll probably read this book.


What I'm Currently Reading:

Friday night, I finished one of those ARCs.  Murder Runs in the Family is the first in a new series from Tamara Berry.  I'm still ruminating on my thoughts, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I did her By the Book series.  

I have barely started my next book - A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge.  This is the third An American in Paris Mystery which features Julia Child in 1950's Paris.  No, she isn't the main character, but she is a strong character in the series since her neighbor and friend is the main character.  I'm hoping to be about a third of the way into the book by the time the weekend is over so I can easily finish it up in the early part of the next week.

That's it for me.  Have a great week!