Monday, June 30, 2025

June 2025's Reading Summary

 Last day of June.  Half way through the year.  I lowered my reading challenge at Goodreads for the year, but I'm still on track for my normal 120+ books read this year.

My blog index has been updated for this month's reviews.  So let's take a look at what I read this month.  The links will take you to my full review.


All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

 

Home is Where the Murder Is by Rosalie Spielman (Hometown Mysteries #2) – 5

Tessa Treslow is settling into her hometown in Idaho after retiring from the Army.  She’s happy to be back for Pioneer Days, a local festival to celebrate the founding of her town.  But the weekend takes a turn when a stranger shows up claiming to be the long-lost cousin of Tessa’s best friend, Freddie.  Then the woman is murdered with all evidence pointing to Freddie.  Tessa knows her friend didn’t do this, but can she prove it?

I was happy to get to revisit these characters, and this book didn’t disappoint.  Several of the characters were more fully developed, which I appreciated.  And I enjoyed seeing the quirky characters again.  The mystery might have started a little slowly, but the further I went, the more I was hooked until I struggled any time I had to put it down.  The climax answered all my questions.  I appreciate how Tessa’s time in the army is handled and the fact that Tessa is middled aged.  It’s nice to see some variety in main characters.  If you are looking for another cozy series to add to your reading list, you need to check this one out.

 

A Rogue’s Company by Allison Montclair (Sparks and Bainbridge Mysteries #3) – 3

It’s August 1946, and Lord Bainbridge has returned from his latest trip to Africa.  That means that Gwen’s life has once again turned complicated as she attempts to wrestle her life back from her father-in-law.  Lord Bainbridge is insisting that Gwen’s six-year-old son is ready to attend the boarding school that the Bainbridge men attend, and she doesn’t have custody to stop him.  Can she figure out how to get control of her life back?

Those following this series will be absolutely hooked by this storyline.  I was anxious to see how it was going to play out.  But this is a mystery series, and the mystery was lacking, starting too late with some key elements feeling forced or rushed.  Don’t worry, Gwen’s business partner, Iris Sparks, gets plenty of page time and some nice development, and all the usual supporting players are here.  We also get the usual banter that makes me laugh.  The paperback I bought recently contains a bonus short story that I feel like was pieced together from a subplot in the previous book, but I don’t remember for sure.  While the mystery may have been weak, fans will still be glad they picked up this book.  I’ll be continuing on with the series soon.

 

Murder Italian Style by Diane Vallere (Samantha Kidd #16) – 4

Samantha and her husband thought his father was treating them to a vacation to visit family friends in a small Italian village over New Years. When they arrive, however, they learn that Samantha’s ability to solve crime has been requested. Twenty-six years ago, a murder occurred in the village, and their hostess’s boyfriend has been serving time for the crime ever sense. While reluctant at first to figure out what happened, Samantha soon becomes intrigued. Can she overcome the language barrier to find the truth?

Since we are out of the country, we don’t see most of the usual gang, but the new characters make up for it. We come to care for them enough to make us care about the outcome of this cold case. There are a couple of small things that could have used a little more explanation, but the main questions are answered satisfactorily. We may be in a foreign country, but we still get Samantha’s usual wit and breezy narration. And her love of snack foods takes an Italian turn, which left me hungry. Fans will enjoy this trip abroad. Pack your bags for another fun mystery. 

 

Note: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Big Fat F@!k-Up by Lawrence Allan (Jimmy Cooper #1) – 5

Jimmy Cooper was a cliché of a child actor, but he’s turned his life mostly around and is now a PI in LA, working freelance as well as cases for his mother’s law firm.  When his latest case ends with him in a pursuit around the city, he gets another dose of fame, which leads him to some new clients.  One such client is Alicia Crowley, a young woman about to get her inheritance.  But she thinks someone is attempting to kill her and wants Jimmy to keep it from happening.  When the prime suspect, her uncle, turns up dead, Jimmy must figure out how to keep Alicia out of jail.  Is Jimmy in over his head?

Yes, the title does give a clue about the content of the book.  Although I will say, it felt like it was used appropriately and not as a writing crutch.  If that kind of thing doesn’t bother you, you’ll find yourself loving this book.  The story takes a little time to set things up, but it never feels like it is dragging.  The mystery is entertaining and reaches a logical climax.  The characters are strong, especially Jimmy, who gets some great development in the book.  Yet there is a nice layer of comedy, too.  It’s an addictive mix that I breezed through faster than I thought I would.  I’ll definitely be back for more.

 


Throne of Threats by Sarah E. Burr (Court of Mysteries #5) – 4

Jax is just days away from the event we’ve been waiting for almost as much as she has – her wedding to the youngest son of a ruler of a neighboring kingdom. With friends and family coming in a couple of days before the big event, and a couple of days before the rest of the guests, Jax is hoping for some relaxing before she has to play hostess and politics with her guests. But when Uma, her lady in waiting, goes to pick up the flowers a couple of days before, she is kidnapped. With only a cryptic clue to guide her, can Jax find Uma and rescue her? And will this latest case hurt her relationships with those she loves most?

Any fan of the series has been looking forward to the events of this book. The beginning takes a bit of time getting to the story. Part of that is set up, but some is just general updates on the characters and the realm. Once the kidnapping happens, the pace doesn’t let up. I loved how things came together. I also loved getting to spend time with these characters again. They truly are fun. Reactions to the events of the story felt realistic, and part of that is because of elements from the past books that are mentioned in passing. It feels like we’ve turned a page in the series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next. 

 

The Gatehouse Mystery by Julia Campbell (Trixie Belden #3) – 5

When Trixie and Honey find a diamond in the gatehouse on the Wheeler property, Trixie is certain that there is a thief around. Could it be one of the new Wheeler servants? We also get to meet Trixie's two older brothers and the five new friends form the Bob-Whites of the Glen. While the mystery isn't strong, the characters are great and this remains one of my favorites in the series.

 

Thrown for a Scoop by Dana Mentink (Shake Shop Mysteries #4) – 4

Upper Sprocket is celebrating its centennial, and Trinidad Jones has created a special freak shake to celebrate the milestone.  But before the celebration kicks off, a stranger wanders into her shake shop.  He’s a true crime podcaster trying to track down clues on a fifty-year-old case, and he thinks that Trinidad’s soon to be brother-in-law, Doug, might know something about it.  Since Doug isn’t good with strangers, Trinidad tries to warn him only to find that the stranger is dead when she arrives.  Despite vowing to stay out of it, she can’t help but try to clear Doug.  Can she do it?

I was pleased to see the author was self-publishing a fourth book in the series.  It does a good job of updating us on the characters while also kicking the story off.  We are treated to a well plotted story that kept me guessing until we reached the logical climax.  And the characters are as quirky and charming as always.  There were some continuity issues early on that felt like things left over from earlier drafts of the book, but once things really got going, I didn’t notice any more of them.  This book will definitely make you crave ice cream, and I am curious what was in the breakfast ice cream that is featured in a fun subplot.  Fans of this series will scoop up this book.  I know I’m glad I did.

 

Playing it Safe by Ashley Weaver (Electra McDonnell #3) – 3

With the Blitz now a nightly reality in London, Ellie is happy to be contacted by Major Ramsey with a new assignment. She is headed to the port city of Sunderland with only a book on birds as a clue to what her assignment is. She’s hardly arrived when someone’s she’s just met dies outside her boarding house. Is it connected to her mission?

While I’ve enjoyed the first two books, this one wasn’t as good. There is too much to the plot. While the ending makes sense, it is very rushed because of being overly ambitious. There’s also a focus on the love triangle, a storyline I’m not invested in since I know the outcome won’t be one I like. I also missed the regulars, although we did still get updates on some ongoing storylines. The book isn’t all bad. Ellie is enjoyable to spend time with, and the story kept my attention when it was the focus, allowing us to see another part of life in England in 1940. This is a book for fans of the series. Everyone else should start at the beginning. 

 

No Hallowed Ground by Steve Hockensmith (Double-A Western Detective Agency #2) – 4

The team of Diehl, Hoop, and Eskaminzim are back on the trail.  This time, they are heading a bit further east than normal when they are sent to Missouri.  According to their client, some thieves have just made off with the cash for a local bank, and if it isn’t returned quickly and quietly, it would cause the bank to close.  Not that our heroes believe that.  But when they learn the truth, the realize that the stakes would impact the entire country.  And they realized just how outnumbered they truly are.  Can they win against overwhelming odds?

If you are looking for an action book, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.  There are some entertaining twists to the story, and the plot is strong enough to hold the action scenes together.  The characters are good, but they could be a little stronger.  Still, they are developed enough to make you care about the outcome.  I appreciated how the changing points of view were used to increase the suspense.  I also appreciate how the politics of March 1894 was brought into the book.  It informed the action without ever being preachy.  While we got some language, I was more bothered by some of the violence, so know that before you pick up the book.  But if you want a historical action story, do pick up this book.

 

Big Bend by Sandy Dengler (Jack Prester #9) – 4

A reporter has gone missing in Big Bend down in Texas, and Jack is asked to help find him. However, when Jack arrives, he finds some auditors have arrived to monitor everything going on in the park. And when out searching for the reporter, Jack finds someone else out there.  The results of that encounter are tragic. What is happening in the vastness of this park’s wilderness?

It is always nice to revisit Jack and the supporting characters we’ve met along the way. Yes, Ev is involved as well. There is a plot point that will be hard for fans of the series. Overall, the plot bites off a bit too much and so a few of the connections feel forced and rushed. Likewise, a few of the minor players fade into the background and are hard to keep straight. The writing is still magical, and I love how the location came to life. I’m hoping we get more books with Jack soon. 

 

Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #10) – 2

One of Evan’s few friends is Tommy, who also happens to be his weapons dealer.  But after discovering some of Tommy’s weapons on an assassin that Evan was fighting, he is mad at his friend for not following Evan’s strict code.  Their initial conversation doesn’t go well, but things get complicated with other assassins and a young man that Tommy is trying to help.  Will the two be able to solve their differences?  Or will they wind up killing each other?

This series is a definite break from my cozy diet, but one I usually love despite the rather graphic violence we get.  In this case, the book has too many flaws.  The entire plot could have been resolved with a couple of conversations.  There are great stretches in the middle where nothing really happens – we’re just dealing with repetitive scenes that don’t go anywhere.  Evan is more evil than usual.  I get that it was supposed to lead to some growth, but it didn’t work for me.  And the ending?  I really felt like it let me down.  We get some ripped from the headline politics in this book, but it leads to cliches and doesn’t feel like there is much point to it.  I feel like the series is marking time in some ways since the initial arc was resolved, and this is worse than normal.  The writing is still wonderful.  Lots of others seem to still love it, but this one is best for only the diehard fans.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

June 29th's Sunday/Monday Post

It's the weekend!  That means it is time for another 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?

Why yes, I did miss this post last week, but I had a very good excuse.  I was out of town with friends at Trixie Camp.

What's Trixie Camp, you ask?  Excellent question!  It's a gather in fans of the Trixie Belden Mystery series.  The short version is that this is a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew type series only more realistic.  If you want to read more about it, here's a guide I wrote years ago.

Back in the early days of the internet, I found a fan site dedicated to the series.  That soon lead to a message board, and the regulars started forming friendships.  We decided to meet up in person, and thus the first camp/convention was born in 2000.  Yes, we do talk about the books (informally), but we also talk about other things.  We've become friends over the years, so, while Trixie is what brought us together, we talk about much more than that.

Our main activities are always touring the area where we met up.  Sometimes, where we meet is directly inspired by locations in the series.  Other times, the connection is loose at best.  This year, we met in St. Louis, the setting of book 15 in the series, Mystery on the Mississippi (which was also the first book I read).  We went to the arch and took a river boat cruise on the Mississippi.  Then we did a dinner murder mystery.  Finally, we spent some time exploring St. Charles, a nearby historical town.

I spent an extra day in the area since the friends whose wedding I was in last year live nearby in Southern Illinois.  They were gracious enough to drive over Sunday, and we went out to Hannibal, Mark Twain country.  I enjoyed touring the Mark Twain stuff they have set up.

The one thing about the trip is that it was hot.  Close to 100 with humidity.  I'm use to those temps here in So Cal, but NOT the humidity.

I haven't been to a Trixie Camp since 2017 thanks to real life getting in the way.  But it was nice to be back, reconnect with friends, and meet lots of people who have started coming since then.

Blog Spam Comment of the Week:

I've got another fun blog spam comment to share.  Presented without any corrections to spelling or grammar:

Wow, this was such an insightful post! I really appreciate the depth of your perspective and the practical tips you shared. It's inspiring to see content that combines both knowledge and authenticity. Looking forward to reading more from you—thanks for sharing your expertise!"

The best part of this?  Once again, they went after one of my ornament reviews.  And yes, after that stopped, they shared lots of links.

This Past Week on the Blog:

This Coming Week on the Blog:


Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post
Monday - June 2025 Reading Summary
Tuesday - Novella Review: Murder by Moonlight by Julie Mulhern
Wednesday - Movie Review: Jaws
Thursday - Book Review: Mistaken Identity Crisis by James J. Cudney
Friday - Movie Review: Jurassic World: Rebirth
Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

It's been two weeks.  Of course, I have books to talk about.

For starters, I picked up two books on the trip.  There was a bookstore in downtown St. Charles, and when I stopped in, an author was doing a signing.  Magestone is the first in a middle grade fantasy series.  I know, not my normal fair, but I do enjoy it.  Of course, I got David Burleyson's signature in the book.

I also had to get some Mark Twain book while I was in Hannibal.  I wasn't sure what I might or might not have of his books, so I settled on The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain as collected by Alex Ayres.  Mark Twain is always good for a quote, right?

I've also started to collect some ARCs again.  A Murder Most Fowl is the first in a new series by Carmela Dutra. The main characters are twins who are running a chicken themed food truck they just inherited from their aunt.  It's set in the San Francisco area, and that appealed to me, too.  I mean, I can't pass up a culinary cozy as it is.  It comes out in September, so I'll read it closer to the release day.

Meanwhile, I also got Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine, the newest from Liz Ireland.  I love this series, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the characters are up to in this book.  It also comes out in September.

Rounding out the list for this week, I have an ARC that comes out much sooner.  Solid Gold Murder is the second Golden Motel Mystery from Ellen Byron.  This one will be out at the end of July.

What I'm Currently Reading:

Which is why I am currently reading Solid Gold Murder.  I'm planning to review it mid-July, so I'm reading it now.  This series is set at a motel in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains.  I loved the first in the series, and I'm enjoying this one as well.

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

Saturday, June 28, 2025

June 28th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Lego Masters – So happy for the mother/son team.  To win this week of all weeks was so special.  Sorry for the team that went home; I was really enjoying them.  Some pretty creative builds.  I wouldn’t know the differences in the eras well enough to do well with that challenge.

American Ninja Warrior – Not one but two made it up the mega wall!  Very nice to see people finally doing it this year.  I feel like I should have remembered the falls they highlighted, but I only remembered one of them.

The Librarians: The Next Chapter – Very creative episode.  While it ultimately was only sort of a murder mystery, I liked that aspect of the plot.  And some nice jokes as well.  Character development was predictable, but on the whole, a fun episode.

The Quiz with Balls – Pretty lopsided game.  And after that smack talk, too.  I was impressed that the one team kept as intact as they did – that’s hard to do.  And then to go out on the first bonus question.

The Snake – I don’t see how you can really control this game at this point.  Too many people with too much chaos and too many changes to be bitten.  I don’t see how anyone could expect a huge plan like that to work.  And, frankly, I feel like it was a little naïve to have thought the plan would stick together.  Interesting to see where it goes next time.

Destination X – If I’d had a map, I probably could have been close.  I get that they are going to be in a major city, and I would have guessed south of Germany based on the clues.  Throwing the challenge to get guaranteed red herrings was actually kind of smart early on.  But in the game like this, you need someone to bounce ideas off of and get more information.  Going solo got Kim eliminated.  Oh, and I love how Rick had nothing but apples in his basket even though he was the only one switching.

Friday, June 27, 2025

Book Review: Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #10)

Stars: 2 out of 5
Pros: Writing is excellent as always
Cons: Murky message, few thrills, conversation could have resolved most of the plot
The Bottom Line:
Face off with a friend
Unusually messy
Even fans can skip




Orphan Versus Friend

I’m realizing I’m reading more and more non-cozy mysteries these days.  But one non-cozy author I’ve been reading the longest is Gregg Hurwitz.  I started when he was doing standalones before he came up with his Orphan X series.  Nemesis is the tenth book in that series, and I was hoping for another great thrill ride.  Sadly, it was very disappointing.

As in introduction if you haven’t started the series yet, it features Evan Smoak.  He was chosen as a teen and trained to become a highly skilled assassin for the US government.  After years of crossing the globe to take on these highly secretive operations, he removed himself from the program, hiding out and fulfilling missions for those who have no other hope.  But he still lives by the strict moral code his trainer instilled in him as he tries to find a way to be a man despite all his training to kill.

Which brings us to this book.  One of the few friends that Evan has made in his life after leaving the Orphan program is Tommy Stojack.  Tommy also happens to be his supplier of weapons, and he’s very good at his job.  So Evan is naturally very upset when he realizes that the assassin he was facing in the previous book was using weapons supplied by Tommy.  Since this is violating one of the rules Evan lives by, he knows he must confront his friend.  Which might turn deadly.

Especially after their first meeting doesn’t go as planned.  But things quickly get complicated when Tommy leaves town to help the son of a navy friend and Evan is ambushed by a group of assassins.  Will the two be able to resolve their differences peacefully?  Or are they destined to have a fight to the death?

So why doesn’t this book work?  There are many reasons, unfortunately.

Let’s start with the fact that this book is a slog, especially for a thriller.  I feel like much of the middle of the book is filler.  Yes, we get a few interesting scenes and a couple of twists, but they could have been condensed into far fewer pages.

Not to mention the fact that a couple of good conversations between characters would have resolved much of the conflict.  And I can see no reason why they didn’t sit down and have those conversations.

Then, there’s the fact that Tommy is an arms dealer.  The way Evan jumped to thinking his friend was evil based on Evan’s code of ethics was a head scratcher to me.  First, why would Tommy have to abide by this code.  Second, how could Tommy vet all his clients?  And that’s just for starters.

Not to mention the fact that Evan is pretty evil at times in this book as well.  He thinks he is following his code of conduct, but he isn’t, and it’s frustrating to watch.  I get the character development we were supposed to be seeing, but it just didn’t work for me.  There were other ways for the situation to be resolved.

Or maybe that was because we were getting this book equally from Tommy’s point of view.  It’s not the first time the third person point of view has included people other than Evan, but it’s the first time it was so much of the book.  That gave us a different perspective on things and made us view Evan’s actions differently.

Tommy leaving town leads us to a story within a story that takes a lot of page time.  Unfortunately.  A ripped from the headlines story that involved politics and cliches.  Tons of them.  And the attempts to develop the characters involved in that story just make the cliches worse, which was just more annoying and made me less invested.  By the end, the political point was very muddy.  It’s not that we get something to think about.  It’s that what we get makes little sense, especially considering a subplot that another character has.  Instead of thinking about something, we’re left wondering what the point was.

All of this leads us to a climax that I found unsatisfying.

This series contains some of the most graphic violence I read.  I feel like it is getting worse in each book, although maybe I’ve just forgotten how violent the early books in the series were.  Either way, I normally can overlook that because of the fun of the story.  Obviously, here, that bothered me as well.

I will give the book this.  Gregg Hurwitz is a talented wordsmith, and he continues with that here.  But it wasn’t enough to save the book.

The series has felt adrift to me for a few books now.  Evan had a clear mission in the early books, but since that arc ended, I’ve been wondering exactly where the series is going.  This book might be the result of the lack of a clear plan.

Honestly, this book was so disappointing I’m debating about continuing with the series.  Lots of others seemed to enjoy Nemesis.  But I would only recommend this one for fans of the series, and even then, reluctantly.

Do check out other books in the Orphan X series.

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Movie Review: Pie to Die For - A Hannah Swenson Mystery

Stars: 3 out of 5
Pros: Fun to spend time with characters
Cons: Mystery a little weak, over acting
The Bottom Line:
Actress killed off stage
Delores is prime suspect
Bit weak overall




Theater Rival Murdered

At this point, I’m a little surprised that the Hannah Swensen movies are pretending that they are based on any particular book.  The characters and storylines are so different from the books it’s more like inspired by than based on.  I’m talking the mysteries as well as the character subplots.  Then again, maybe if I read some of the books I’d see more similarities than I am remembering.  Anyway, we have a new movie – Pie to Die For.  This is the second in the franchise for 2025.  It was okay, but not the strongest.

Hannah’s mother Delores (Barbara Niven) has taken to the local theater.  She is loving performing, but she has developed a bit of a rivalry with Victoria (Laura Soltis).  Victoria is always trying to upstage Delores, and Delores’s ego just won’t stand for it.

When Hannah (Alison Sweeney) goes to delivered an order of four banana cream pies to Victoria, she finds the woman dead.  And Delores is the prime suspect.  Can Hannah clear her mother’s name?

As far as supporting cast goes, this one felt a little light.  We have Lisa Durupt’s Andrea and Juliana Wimbles’s Lisa, the latter of whom is busy planning her family reunion.  We are missing Michelle, Lonny, and Norman, although I’m sure they will pop back up in future installments.

For those wondering, yes, we do get more of Chad, as played by Victor Webster.  In fact, his romance with Hannah heats up quite a bit, which is fun for those who have been rooting for that.  Personally, I’m still wishing they’d given Norman his due as Hannah’s love interest, something that has definitely been under cooked in the movies.

So, what about the mystery in this one?  It was okay.  Hannah did something incredibly stupid at one point.  Like too stupid to live stupid.  I get taking risks, but this was just…no.  I did feel like the mystery would have been better served by a rewrite, although everything did make sense at the end, and I loved way the climax played out.

The acting was a bit more over the top than usual here, which I didn’t enjoy.  And yes, I am saying this knowing I was watching a Hallmark mystery movie.

As to comparisons with the book (which was Banana Cream Pie Murder), I don’t remember Delores being a suspect.  Then again, she never got into theater in the books.  Victoria was a neighbor.  But I couldn’t tell you who any of the suspects were.

I have to geek out a minute.  Zak Santiago has a cameo in this film.  As a fan of Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered franchise, I loved seeing him.  But then his reference to his cousin in Denver really tickled me.  Then I saw that Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, who stars in the franchise, directed this film.  Nice fun Easter eggs.

Also of note, series star Alison Sweeney wrote this entry, which isn’t the first time she’s done that.

Pie to Die For isn’t the strongest in the series.  Fans will still be glad they watched, but I’m hoping the next is better.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Movie Review: A Season to Remember

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Enjoyable Christmas movie
Cons: A couple of issues with storylines, mostly the one with the family
The Bottom Line:
Hunting for story
Mixed with a Christmas romance
Overall, it’s good




A Sports Reporter’s Christmas

Since I enjoyed Nathan Owens when he was guest starring on Batwoman, I decided to give his Christmas movie from 2024 a chance.  A Season to Remember takes a few risks with the Christmas movie formula, but I enjoyed it overall.

Symone Gibson (Michele Weaver) is a sports reporter for a local TV station in Detroit.  Since the local basketball team has a home game on Christmas day this year, it’s a big deal, and her boss is looking for any good lead in story to draw in viewers and ratings.  Symone views this as her chance to move up in the department, if she can only come up with a unique story to pitch.

Her first complication is that she winds up having to work with freelance videographer Iggy Love (Nathan Owens).  At first, the two don’t get along, but as they begin to build a relationship, Symone starts hitting other roadblocks.  Will she be able to land the story?  Where will her relationship with Iggy lead?

This was an OWN Christmas movie, but even so, it followed many of the familiar romance/Christmas movie tropes.  Not that I’m complaining since it is what I expected.  I was actually surprised at how subtle some of those moments were, however.  Notice, I said some; the meet cute was very in your face.

My biggest complaint with the film was one of the storylines involving Symone’s family.  I suspect they were attempting to infuse the movie with some real seriousness, but it was just too depressing for a Christmas movie, at least for my liking.

On the other hand, there were many heartwarming moments.  I bought the relationship building between Symone and Iggy, and I was rooting for them.  I did like Iggy’s backstory and how he was getting involved in the community.  And the story with Symone’s brother was great as well.

My other complaint was some of Symone’s issues at work.  At times, it felt like it was just an excuse to lecture, again not what I was looking for.  The resolution to that, while nice in some ways, also felt like it just ignored some truly bad behavior.  They could have done better with that part of things, too.

Overall, the acting and writing were good.  There weren’t any real moments that threw me out of the movie.

While sports does play a bit into the movie, you can still follow the story without really knowing anything about basketball.  I did, after all.

A Season to Remember is another enjoyable Christmas movie.  If you are a fan of the genre, give this one a shot.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Book Review: Big Bend by Sandy Dengler (Jack Prester #9)

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Jack in an interesting story
Cons: A bit too much so the ending felt rushed
The Bottom Line:
Missing reporter
First step in new mystery
Always enjoy Jack




Finding Crime in the Vastness of Big Bend

When I discovered a couple of weeks ago that Sandy Dengler had released a new entry in her Jack Prester series, I jumped to get it and pushed it up my to be read mountain range. And I enjoyed this trip to Big Bend. 

For those who haven’t met Jack yet, he is an investigator at large for the National Parks service. As a result, we have visited parks all over the country, although many of his cases seem to be in the south west. Of course, Jack does have cases we don’t know about. It’s been two years for the characters since the last book, after all. 

In this case, a reporter has gone missing in Big Bend down in Texas, and Jack is asked to help find him. However, when Jack arrives, he finds some auditors have arrived to monitor everything going on in the park. And when out searching for the reporter, Jack finds someone else out there.  The results of that encounter are tragic. What is happening in the vastness of this park’s wilderness?

There are a lot of storylines going on, including one with Jack’s wife, Ev, also an investigator for the National Parks system. That kept me engaged as I was reading, but it proves to be a weakness of the book. The ending felt rushed and some of the connections felt forced. But this was a minor complaint. Overall, I enjoyed the book, especially some of the outcomes. 

I’ve been reading this series for decades, literally, since the first books originally came out in the 1990’s before the author returned to the series and started publishing new entries in the last few years. As a result, there is one plot point that upset me. I get it, but I didn’t like it. 

This also means the books are a little vague on their technology.  They clearly aren’t set in the 90’s, but I feel like they aren’t quite in modern times either.  Or maybe that’s just because of the setting – National Parks aren’t always the most reliable when it comes to technology.  But that’s a minor point most readers won’t care about.

We have amassed a small group of returning characters, and it was great to spend some time with them again. A couple are very much in the background, but I still enjoyed their cameos. Unfortunately, we had some minor new characters, and I always had a hard time keeping the minor ones straight. The larger players in this story were more distinctive.  We also get the story from multiple points of view, which works well in this case to keep us fully informed. 

The writing is fantastic, which is always the case in a Sandy Dengler book. She brings the wilderness to life and immerses us in the story at the same time. 

I’m hoping this isn’t our last visit with Jack Prester. I’ll certainly be keeping my eyes open for more. Until then, be sure you’ve booked your trip to Big Bend

Here are the rest of the Jack Prester Mysteries

Monday, June 23, 2025

Book Review: No Hallowed Ground by Steve Hockensmith (Double-A Western Detective Agency #2)

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Strong story with plenty of action
Cons: A couple of minor things
The Bottom Line:
Tracking bank robbers
Or is there more to story?
Plenty of action 




More Action in the Old … Mid-West

I seem to be circling around to series I was reading in January right now. Not completely, but there are several series I’ve done that with this month. The latest example is No Hallowed Ground, the second in Steve Hockensmith’s Double-A Western Detective Agency. 

This is a spin off from his popular Holmes on the Range series and is more action oriented than straight up mystery novel. It features a trio that has worked together since their time in the Army. They are Diehl, Hoop, and Eskaminzim. This time around, they are joined by Hoop’s wife, who also happens to be Eskaminzim’s sister, Onawa. 

When the book opens, it’s March of 1894. Their latest assignment takes them to Missouri. Their client is tracking a group that stole the funds from the bank where they work. They need the foursome’s help in getting it back from the thieves before anyone knows the money is gone and the bank loses trust in the community. 

At least that’s the story our heroes are being fed. They suspect there is more going on, but for the time being, they are content to help track down the thieves. Until a confrontation begins to bring the truth to light. Suddenly finding the stakes raised higher than they ever imagined and more outnumbered than they counted on, they have to find a way to save the day before it threatens to unravel the country. 

As I said earlier, this is more of an action novel than a true mystery. Having said that, we have some nice twists to the story that do show Steve’s background as a mystery writer. 

But if you are looking for action, you’ve come to the write place. A few times, I did have to remind myself I was reading an action story, but mostly I was on board with what I was reading. The action starts early, and there’s plenty of it. There’s more meat to the story than in a typical action movie, so the action isn’t non-stop, but there’s still plenty of it. 

The book switches up the third person narrator on a regular basis. This results in us getting the full story and increasing the suspense at times. These switches are always easy to follow and used perfectly. 

As with an action movie, the characters are a little thin. It’s not as bad as in an action movie, but they could be a little better developed. Still, this is a minor complaint. 

We do get some language in the book, but I was more bothered by the violence. Not enough to keep me from enjoying the story, but if that kind of thing bothers you, know it’s there before you pick up the book. 

As with the first in the series, I read this via audio. Chuck Galco is the narrator again, and he does a fabulous job. 

This book delves a little into the politics of the time, mostly in motives for various characters. I appreciated how it handled that. It made me think without preaching. Above all, it felt organic to the story.

If you are looking for an action tale with a story plot, you’ll be glad you picked up No Hallowed Ground. You’ll find the pages flying by as you get lost in the story. 

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Movie Review: Diagnosis: Murder - A Twist of the Knife

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Good mystery and great guest star
Cons: A little drawn out, but still fun
The Bottom Line:
Last pre-series film
Mark hunting deadly doctor
Overall, it’s fun




Is an Old Flame a Killer?

We’ve reached the third and final Diagnosis: Murder movie that aired before the series started.  It’s interesting to see a few things changing toward the show we’d know and love, at least at the beginning of season one.  And A Twist of the Knife was a pretty good mystery, too.

Again, I won’t waste a lot of time on discussion of how the movies are different from season one since I covered that when talking about the first movie.  But I will say that Community General’s administrator and Dr. Sloan’s secretary are both absent.  In that way, it felt more like the later half of the show’s run than the earlier seasons.  While we aren’t told, one car did look to have a Colorado license plate, and the outside of the hospital used for establishing shots looked more familiar.  It makes sense that they’d be making some changes toward the beginning of season one.  This movie aired in February 1993, and the show would debut that fall.

This movie finds Dr. Rachel Walters (Suzanne Pleshette) visiting Community General.  Decades ago, she was a resident under Dr. Mark Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) and he had a major crush on her.  She’s coming to demonstrate a procedure she’s perfected.  However, the patient she performs the surgery on dies after his surgery.  Mark thinks it might have been murder, and he thinks Rachel might be the guilty party.  But can he figure out how she did it?  And what might her motive be?

This movie actually has a couple of firsts for the series.  This is the first time we are shown the killer plotting the murder and then watch as Mark has to solve it.  It’s also the first time he thinks someone he knows committed the crime.  It’s fun to watch, although I did have to wonder why Rachel didn’t start avoiding Mark a little more.  One of those things I don’t think about in a 42-minute TV episode but seems stranger when watching a 90-minute movie.  Overall, it felt a little drawn out.  The stories getting tighter when the show went to series was definitely a good thing.

Still, the plot was strong with some good twists to keep us entertained.  I also appreciated how things played out.

And yes, we get plenty of screen time for the supporting players, Dick’s real life son Barry as Detective Steve Sloan and, in their last appearances, Cynthia Gibb as Amanda Bently and Stephen Caffrey as Jack Parker.  It really is interesting watching those two since they were recast (and Jack given a different last name) before the series started, but they are very much interacting the way the equivalent characters still do in the series.

Also interesting for fans of the series, Mark mentions at one point that he’s been a widower for three years, which makes it more recent than I’d always pictured in the series.  He also says that Steve is his only child, something that was also true in the series…until it wasn’t when they introduced his estranged daughter, Carol (played by Dick’s real-life daughter) in a season four episode.

Suzanne Pleshette gets lots of screen time.  I loved getting to watch her here.  She was fantastic as the murderous doctor.  (Again, that isn’t a spoiler since we see it early on.)  The only other actor I recognized was Christina Pickles, and I really enjoyed seeing her here as well.

Again, I have a feeling these movies might be harder to find, but they are worth checking out.  Yes, it is fun to see what the series might have looked like, but the mystery here is entertaining as well.  Fans will definitely enjoy A Twist of the Knife.

You can find the movie in the Diagnosis: Murder Television Movie Collection DVD set.

Saturday, June 21, 2025

June 21st's Weekly TV Thoughts

American Ninja Warrior – Of the top moments they highlighted tonight, the only one I remembered was the bugs.  Ugh!  A few big names tonight, but not quite as many.  Sorry to see Michelle go out like that.  But I hate the balance obstacles.  I know I wouldn’t do well with them at all.

Lego Masters – All of those builds were so good tonight.  I agree with the team that went home since movement was such a huge part of things, but I really liked their build.  Nights like this are always tough.  I’m glad I’m not a judge.  I was glad the twisters won.  That was such a fun build.

The Quiz with Balls – I didn’t do that well with the dance category.  I thought turkey trot was just a running race.  But I got the sitcoms and the pennames.  I wouldn’t have done well with either of the bonus round categories.  And it was a night when everyone got wet.

The Librarians: The Next Chapter – I still don’t quite feel like the characters have the chemistry of the original cast.  Not that the show is bad, and I’m giving it more time to grow on me.  But I’m not being pulled in like I had hoped.  I did enjoy the shout out to two characters from the first series in this episode.  Wish we got a bit more of an update on Eve, although it sounds like she must be high up in the ranks for the protectors.

The Snake – Adding a new player this early in the game doesn’t seem like it is going to shake things up too much.  But it will be an interesting dynamic next week, I’m sure.  I’m torn on the pastor being saved.  Part of me wants him to go because he turns truly evil.  But I do have to root for the underdog, so I wanted him to stick around for that reason.

Destination X – Two nasty food challenges on two shows in a row?  Seriously, we don’t want to watch that.  Stop!  The twist of having to lie to someone, ouch!  But I’ve got to say, why lie about whether you met someone before they came on the bus?  I never understood what the point of that was.

Friday, June 20, 2025

Movie Review: Forrest Gump

Stars: 2 out of 5
Pros: Historical moments, Tom Hank’s performance, effects
Cons: Depressing, Forrest’s relationship with Jenny
The Bottom Line:
Trip through history
It’s more tragic than it’s fun
Once and done for me




Dramatic Trip Though History

Despite hearing about Forrest Gump for years, I’d never actually seen the movie.  What I knew about the movie didn’t sound like something I’d enjoy, but I’ve heard so much about it over the years, I was still curious about it.  I finally broke down and watched it, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as so many people seem to.

The movie tells the story of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks).  His intelligence is just below the normal range.  Despite that, his mother (Sally Fields) manages to get him into regular schools.  When people discover how fast he can run, he gets a football scholarship to college.  After that, he joins the army and heads to Vietnam.

But what sets him apart is the way his story keeps intersecting history.  He meets several Presidents and is present for other big historical events.  And his path keeps intersecting that of Jenny (Robin Wright), his childhood friend.

Tom Hanks was praised for his portrayal of Forrest, and it is well deserved.  He makes us care for the man, makes him real, and makes him relatable.  He plays Forrest’s mental issues without ever crossing the line.  If you doubt that Tom Hanks is a great actor (and who does?), this movie will change your mind.  The rest of the cast rises to the occasion, so all the performances are strong.

Even so, this movie is hard to watch.  I kept cringing expecting Forrest to say or do something inappropriate.  For the most part, those moments are rare and are actually pretty funny.

I certainly enjoyed seeing how Forrest interacted with history and even changed or influenced it a few times.  You never quite know when something like that is going to pop up, and it is fun.

On the other hand, the story is more tragic than fun.  It didn’t help that I was not in an upbeat mood when I watched this movie, but it is more depressing than inspirational.

And I hated Forrest’s relationship with Jenny.  We were supposed to be rooting for them to finally get together, but I was actually rooting for them to stay apart.  Yes, their relationship felt realistic, but that was part of the tragedy, as far as I was concerned.  It certainly wasn’t a healthy relationship.

When the film came out in the 1990’s, computer effects were just beginning to be widely used.  They used those to have Forrest interact with various historical figures and even recreate film footage.  These effects are phenomenal even today.

While there were moments I enjoyed, I didn’t enjoy Forrest Gump overall.  I realize this puts me in the minority.  I’m glad I watched the movie because I’d been curious about it, but this isn’t a movie I’ll be revisiting any time soon.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Book Review: Playing it Safe by Ashley Weaver (Electra McDonnell #3)

Stars: 3 out of 5
Pros: Ellie, new characters, interesting history
Cons: Too much to the plot, too much on the romance
The Bottom Line:
Mission out of town
Book does a little too much
Series fans only




Ellie Finds an Out of Town Mission Anything but Safe

I always like it when I find a series with a new premise. That was the case with the first Electra McDonnell book. Set in England in 1940, it features a safe cracker who winds up putting her skills to use for the government during the war. Playing It Safe is the third book in the series, and it was a mixed bag. 

This book opens in October and the Blitz is here. Ellie is getting used to the nightly bombing raids, although it doesn’t make it any easier when the bombs start falling. She is happy when Major Ramsey contacts her again with a new job. She’s supposed to head to the port city of Sunderland under an assumed name and then await further instructions. While the lack of details doesn’t surprise her, it does frustrate her. The only clue she has is a book on birds. 

When Ellie arrives, she is shocked when a man she has just met dies outside her boarding house. She is sure his death was anything but natural. But does it relate to her mission - whatever it is?

There were several things that went wrong with this book. The first is the story itself. It tries to do too much with so many plot points to take up page time and for us to remember. The result is an ending that rushes things to wrap things up. Yes, the end does make sense.

Obviously, since most of the book takes place out of Ellie’s native London, we don’t see as much of the rest of the cast. That’s a disappointment since I really like them. We do get some updates, including a big update on an ongoing storyline that has me anxious to read the next one. 

Then, there’s the romantic triangle. With Ellie and Major Ramsey out of town on this mission, she spends a lot of time thinking about her feelings for him. Since I am decidedly not on team Ramsey (although I’m sure I’m on the losing side), this did not make me happy. Plus, there’s another guy that captures her attention. Enough already!

All this isn’t to say the book was bad. It was interesting to get another view of life in England in the early part of World War II. The new characters we meet are interesting, although there are so many of them we don’t get to fully know them. And there are parts of the story that are entertaining even if it could have been stronger overall. 

The next in the series just came out in paperback, and I got it, so I will be moving on. Hopefully, it is stronger than Playing It Safe. Fans of the series will still be glad they read this, but if you are new to the series, start with book one. 

Here are the rest of the Electra McDonnell Mysteries

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Ornament Review: Sandal the Sandman Special Edition - 2024 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Fun paddle boarding ornament
Cons: Not a fan of how the bird looks, slight tip when hung
The Bottom Line:
A unique hobby
Sandal goes paddle boarding
Thrilled with bonus piece




Paddle on, Sandal

So far, Sandal the Sandman has spent his time doing Christmassy things with a beach flair.  But for 2024’s special edition to the series, he branched out and actually did a beach thing.  And I couldn’t have been happier.

You see, for this ornament, Sandal is paddle boarding.  And I paddle board.  Okay, I haven’t done it in a while since I hurt my shoulder (at a mud run), but I’m hoping to get back to it in 2025.  So, that made the ornament so much more special for me.  I got to put one of my hobbies on my tree.

The ornament itself finds Sandal on a teal paddle board (just like what my friend has).  He’s wearing his beach hat, and has his beach towel around his neck.  On the front of his board, he has a new friend, a bird.  I’m sure it’s supposed to be a seagull, but it’s completely white, so it’s hard to tell for sure.

That bird is my only gripe with the ornament.  As with the other animals we’ve met in the series, they are very cartoony, and I just don’t like that.  However, I love what the rest of the ornament represents, and how it looks.

For example, if you turn the ornament over, you’ll see that the paddle board has a tropical pattern on it, just like some paddle boards do in real life.  It’s those little touches that I love.

As I mentioned, this is a special edition, or bonus, ornament, and not an official ornament in the Sandal the Sandman series.  As a result, there’s no series marker on the ornament.

If you try to set the ornament out, you’ll find that it tips slightly to the side.  That’s because Sandal’s paddle is below the board (almost like it’s in the invisible water), and the board has a fin on the bottom.  I appreciate the realism of the design, so it doesn’t bother me that it doesn’t sit straight.  I also wouldn’t set this out for very long like this so the plastic the ornament is resting on doesn’t get broken.

When you go to hang Sandal, you’ll find that he still tips slightly to the right.  It’s not noticeable unless you are looking for it, so it will be easy to disguise with some well-placed tree branches.  Maybe he’s just shifting positions a bit, and that’s why the board is wobbling.

My complaints are minor.  Overall, I’m thrilled to add a paddle boarding ornament to my tree, and I hope that they find ways to add some other types of sports to their line in the future.  Fans of the Sandal the Sandman series will enjoy this bonus ornament.  And any other paddle boarder will love it as well.

Do check out the rest of the Sandal the Sandman Ornaments.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Book Review: Thrown for a Scoop by Dana Mentink (Shake Shop Mysteries #4)

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Fun characters in another great mystery
Cons: Some continuity issues missed in the editing, but minor overall
The Bottom Line:
Podcaster in town
Is his death tied to cold case?
Fun to revisit




Is the Solution to an Old Mystery Here in Town?

When the publisher ended the Shake Shop Mysteries at book three, I thought the series was over. And the ending of book three would have been a nice farewell to the characters. But the author decided to self-publish one more entry - Thrown for a Scoop

This series is set in the town of Upper Sprocket in the eastern part of Oregon and features Trinidad Jones, who has opened the Shimmy and Shake Shop in town.  As this book begins, it’s been about six months since we last checked in with her, and Upper Sprocket is gearing up to celebrate its centennial.  Naturally, Trinidad has created a special freak shake for the occasion that she is hoping will sell well with the locals and the tourists alike.

But things take a turn when a stranger walks into Trinidad’s shop asking questions.  It turns out that he is a true crime podcaster who is certain that the answer to a fifty-year-old hijacking is somewhere in town.  Even worse, he thinks that Trinidad’s fiancé’s brother holds a clue.  Doug has some special needs, so Trinidad knows a stranger demanding answers from him won’t go over well.  But when the podcaster is killed on the brothers’ nut farm, all the evidence seems to point to Doug.  Trinidad swears she won’t get involved again, but she can’t seem to help it.  Can she figure out what really happened to the podcaster?  Was he on to something with this old mystery?

The book doesn’t waste time at the beginning.  It reminds us of the characters and updates us on their lives and sets the mystery in motion very quickly.  From there, we get some great moments as Trinidad goes about gathering information.  It kept me confused up until the end, but once Trinidad figured everything out, it all made sense.

I will say that there were some rather annoying continuity errors early on in the copy I read.  Either I stopped noticing them later in the book or they weren’t an issue.  They felt like the result of some changes between drafts that weren’t completely caught after the changes were made.  As annoying as they were, none of them impacted the story at all.

It was great to visit the characters again.  The cast of supporting characters is quite colorful, and I love spending time with them.  Fans will be happy with some of the updates we get for the characters here.  The suspects were good and kept us guessing up until the end.

If you have a weakness for ice cream (and who doesn’t), this book will leave you drooling quite a bit.  And I’m very curious what exactly is in the breakfast ice cream that is the subject of a subplot.  Sadly, there aren’t any recipes at the end of the book, so I’ll have to try to come up with ideas on my own.

I mentioned at the beginning feeling happy with where the characters had been at the end of book three.  Yes, they are in a good place again at the end of this book.

It was nice to get another case for Trinidad.  Fans should scoop up this book.  While the author has moved on to other things now, if she were to revisit these characters, I’d gladly return to Upper Sprocket.

Here’s the scoop on the rest of the Shake Shop Mysteries.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Movie Review: Diagnosis: Murder - The House on Sycamore Street

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: More focused mystery movie
Cons: Mystery still a little complex for the film
The Bottom Line:
A former student
Suicide? Was he murdered?
Better second film




“You Do Have Something Else to Do, Right?”  “Swamped!  We’re Just Swamped Around Here.”

I’m continuing with my look at the Diagnosis; Murder movies.  Up next is the second movie that aired before the series kicked off – The House on Sycamore Street.

This movie originally aired in May of 1992, so a little over a year before the series premiered.  Everything I said about the cast and location in my review of the first movie still holds true, so I won’t repeat myself and will instead focus on this movie.

We meet Dr. Zach Drummond (Peter Scolari), a former student of Dr. Mark Sloan (Dick Van Dyke).  He’s become a successful plastic surgeon, but something is troubling him.  After he calls Mark in the middle of the night, the two agree to meet for lunch.  However, Mark gets delayed, and by the time he arrives, Zach has leapt to his death from the top of the restaurant where they were planning to meet.  Mark doesn’t believe it was suicide, however.  Can he prove it?

Dr. Amanda Bentley (Cynthia Gibb) and Dr. Jack Parker (Stephen Caffrey) have larger roles in this movie than they did the first.  I enjoyed getting to know these versions of the characters a bit more.  Steve Sloan (Barry Van Dyke) isn’t quite as strong a presence as he’d have in the series, but he still makes a strong impression in his scenes.  It’s a bit weird that he and Mark aren’t living together, but so much of these movies are weird to fans of the series you just have to let it go.

The mystery was stronger than in the first one.  The medical subplot didn’t take up as much screen time, and it started a little sooner.  Even with the better focus, I felt like that story took some leaps, especially at the end.  But things did make sense when Mark pieced them all together. 

An early scene allowed Dick Van Dyke to be Dick Van Dyke.  It finds Dr. Sloan rapping in class.  When I saw where it was going, I started to cringe just a bit, but I need not have worried – Dick Van Dyke pulled it off easily.  I also appreciated that they kept some continuity with his car not being reliable in this movie.

This second Diagnosis: Murder film is definitely a step up from the first.  While it still feels different from the series, fans will enjoy seeing where their favorite doctor detective came from.  If you can find a way to watch The House on Sycamore Street, do so.

You can find the movie in the Diagnosis: Murder Television Movie Collection DVD set.

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Father's Day's Sunday/Monday Post

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

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

Not much going on around here.  It was slightly less crazy at work since I got the majority of our extra work done last week.  I'm where I want to be, which is always a nice feeling.

Our AC went out in the office on Tuesday.  As much as I complain about the over air conditioning, I noticed it when it was out.  But they had it fixed by Wednesday.  Which is a good thing since we are supposed to hit the upper 90's this coming week.  Yes, summer is here!

Saturday is my friends' monthly game day.  I'll be heading over there in a bit and always look forward to it.  But I've got to get this finished and some reading done first.

Joke of the Week:


A guy goes in for a job interview and the manager says, “We’re looking for someone who is responsible.”
“Well, I’m your man,” the guy replies.  “In my last job, whenever anything went wrong, they said I was responsible.”

This Past Week on the Blog:


This Coming Week on the Blog:


Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post
Monday - Movie Review: Diagnosis: Murder - The House on Sycamore Street
Tuesday - Book Review: Thrown for a Scoop by Dana Mentink
Wednesday - Ornament Review: Sandal the Sandman Special Edition
Thursday - Book Review: Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver
Friday - Movie Review: Forrest Gump
Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

After my big hauls the last couple of weeks, I only have two books to talk about this week.  Yes, I'm proud of myself.

I'd spotted Groucho Marx, Master Detective by Ron Goulart a while ago.  A mystery set in old Hollywood featuring Groucho Marx?  Yes, please!  The ebook when on sale, so I snagged it.  It looks like it is back to regular price at this point.  Hopefully, it is a fun as it sounds.

My other book is a physical book.  Music City Mayhem is a mystery set in Nashville and written by Billy Sprague, who is a singer and song writer.  It sounded good when I heard about it, so hopefully, I'll enjoy it when I get a chance to read it.


What I'm Currently Reading:

I'm about half way through Nemesis, the latest Orphan X book from Gregg Hurwitz.  I really enjoyed the first few books, but I feel like things are getting stale now.  And the politics he's thrown into the mix aren't helping things in this book.  As is the fact that, for a thriller, things to have stalled.  Partially because of the politics.  But I'll keep going.  I'm hoping to finish up on Monday.

That's it for me.  Have a great week!