Movie Review: Jaws 2

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Third act; a few creative choices

Cons: For a movie called Jaws 2, the characters are oblivious for far too long

The Bottom Line:

Shark is same waters

Characters should know sooner

But third act is great

Maybe It Helped That My Expectations Were Low

Despite the fact that I didn’t find the original Jaws to be the masterpiece that most consider it, I was still curious about the sequels.  Yeah, I know, nobody likes them.  But I still decided to give Jaws 2 a chance.  Turns out, I thought it was about as good as the first, which is faint praise.

This movie sees the return of Roy Scheider as Brody, Lorraine Gary as his wife, Ellen, and Murray Hamilton as Mayor Vaughn.  That’s right, we are back in Amity.  It’s been several years since the first movie (and three since the first movie was released).  Ellen is now working of a developer who is building condos on the island.  They are bringing in new prospective owners as things really ramp up.

Which is why the timing of another giant shark in the waters off the coast is horrid.  Of course, no one is ready to believe that this is what is happening despite missing divers and water skiers.  Is Brody being paranoid?  Or is there really another shark in the waters?

I’ve got to say, the movie falls into a trap the first movie avoided a bit.  Here, it isn’t obvious to any of the characters for far too long that there is indeed another shark in the water.  Instead, we get Brody suspecting what is going on, but without proof.  And without proof, the mayor and the others aren’t willing to cause a panic.  Honestly, I get it.  You can’t ruin businesses, aka people’s lives, without proof.  Of course, there is tension since, if you are wrong, people are going to die.

But here’s why it doesn’t work for this movie.  It is called Jaws 2.  We know going into the movie exactly what is going on here.  So waiting for the characters to catch up gets boring.  Yes, we have some nice sequences of near misses and actual attacks.  I enjoyed that, but it still made for a movie that dragged.

Brody’s two kids were recast for this film.  Mark Gruner, who players older son Mike, is significantly older than I felt like the character was in the first film, while Marc Gilpin feels about right for younger son, Sean.  Anyway, with Mike being a teen, we get quite a few teens here.  Honestly, they felt a bit like the casts of a slasher film, which were still in their infancy.  But these characters love sailing, which naturally puts them in danger.  I will say, the movie doesn’t give us enough time to really get to know all of them, or really any of them beyond Mike and Sean.  Then again, we don’t often get to know the characters in other horror movies super well.

But the sailing provides a nice way to put characters in danger in a fresh way.  While it is set up early on, this becomes the focus of the final act.  And here’s where the movie truly comes alive.  The final act is one tense moment after another with several great sequences.  Realistic?  Probably not.  But they are still very entertaining.  And that includes the climax, which I don’t think would have worked out as well for the humans as it does here.  But it’s possible I missed something.

I will give the cast this – they bring their characters to life the best they can with the script they have.  They aren’t the issue.  And I still felt the connection of the Brody family, especially Brody and Ellen.

The effects also hold up.  Yes, there are a couple of moments where it is obvious we aren’t seeing a real shark, but the shark is used sparingly again, so the little we seem him, we are ready to buy it.

Keep in mind that this movie came out in 1978.  I have a feeling it might be rated PG-13 if it were released today thanks to a few harsher swear words and the violence.  Although I don’t think the violence was as bad as the first movie overall.

As I said in the opener, I feel like this movie is about the same as the first.  I found the first to be just okay, and that’s ultimately how I feel about this one.  Even though act three is an adrenalin ride.

If you enjoy the original, you might want to check out Jaws 2.  While it has its flaws, it is a worthy sequel.

Book Review: Death of the Party by Carolyn Hart (Death on Demand #16)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Annie and Max in a solid mystery

Cons: Set up takes a bit too long

The Bottom Line:

Private island death

Who got away with murder?

Nice break in series

Will This Party Be the Death of Someone?

When cozy authors take their series characters out of the normal setting, the results can be uneven. Often, it’s the familiar supporting characters we miss. But sometimes, the time away and focus on just a couple of the main characters works well. That was the case for Death of the Party, the sixteenth book in Carolyn Hart’s Death on Demand series. 

The series features Annie Darling, the owner of a mystery bookstore on the island of Broward’s Rock off the coast of South Carolina. However, this book takes her to the smaller, private island of Golden Silk when her husband, Max, is hired to help find a killer. A year ago, media mogul Jeremiah Addison died when he fell down the stairs of his mansion. At the time, only his sister-in -law knew it was something more than an accident. But now, she’s inviting the guests from the weekend back, and she’s hoping that Max will be able to help her find the killer despite his insisting that this is a job for the police. With Annie tagging along, can they determine which guest turned it into a killer party?

To be perfectly, clear, the only regular characters we spent much time with are Annie and Max. While I did miss the other, it wasn’t as much as I might normally. Annie and Max are great leads, and new characters, aka the suspects, were given more time to develop this way. I quite enjoy that. 

Having said that, I felt like the story could have started a little faster. There was repetition before everyone got on the island and things really got started. Once that happened, I was hooked and along for every twist. The ending was a little abrupt, but it works to answer all our questions. 

I was a bit surprised to find that we hardly had any references to other mystery novels in this book. While I found it a bit overwhelming in the early entries in the series, I’ve enjoyed them in the more recent books. Here, it was almost non-existent. I hope they come back in the next. 

On the other hand, I’ve been getting tired of Annie’s antagonistic relationship with the police in the recently entries. Here, that wasn’t an issue. This is one thing I hope carries forward. Or is at least toned down. 

I loved the setting for this one. The private island came wonderfully to life. I think I’d enjoy a visit - when there isn’t a killer on the loose, of course. 

Annie and Max really do make a good detective team. As always, they are both heavily involved in the investigation, and we follow the story from both of their points of view, helping us capture every detail. 

Normally, this is the point where I mention having listened to this one as an audiobook. Except, I didn’t this time. None of the libraries I have access to have it as an audio. So I managed to find my hardcover in my condo (which was a minor miracle). It was interesting reading what I would normally listen to. Since we really didn’t see most of the regulars, I’m wondering how I would have felt reading the book if they’d been here. Normally I don’t switch up audio vs regular book like this. I’m hoping to go back to audio for future volumes, but we will see what happens. 

Death of the Party is another entertaining entry fans of the series will love. It’s been out a while, but if you haven’t read it yet, you are in for a treat. 

Demand the rest of the Death on Demand series. 

TV Show Review: Survivor - Season 49

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Memorable (in a scary way) early on

Cons: Not so memorable later, but still good

The Bottom Line:

More fun Survivor

One memorable moment

Others familiar

Another Enjoyable Season

I am a Survivor addict, having watched since episode one twenty-five and a half years ago.  (Hard to believe it’s been that long.)  I always look forward to each new season, and season 49 was no exception.

As most seasons do these days, this season started out with 18 fresh contestants divided onto three tribes for a 26-day game to see who can outwit, outplay, and outlast the others.  Along the way there will be challenges for rewards and immunity from being voted out at tribal council.

This season included some drama early on that was tense for me at home; I can only imagine how it was for those playing the game.  But it made me very impressed with the crew behind the scenes that we rarely see.

Usually, when the tribes merge in the second half of the game is my favorite part.  This season, it wasn’t.  Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed watching it.  But it was fairly easy to see what was going to happen from week to week.  It didn’t help that some of my favorite players were getting voted out as a result.  But I was happy with the winners.

The season ultimately lives or dies on the people.  Even in the second half, I was enjoying the people playing the game, even when they were voting my favorites out.

It’s easy at this point for the seasons to blend into each other.  Outside of a very memorable moment early on, I think season 49 of Survivor will be one of those that fades over time.  But, it will still be fun for fans to watch.

Movie Review: Game of Love

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Pulls you into the story

Cons: Predictable, Audrey at the beginning

The Bottom Line:

Developing game

A predictable romance

Ultimately fine

Will They Win the Game?

When I heard about Game of Love, one of Hallmark’s romance movies, I thought it sounded like it could be fun.  Due to the movies I have on my DVR, it took me a while to get to it.  It had its moments, but it was a typical romance movie overall.

Audrey (Kimberley Sustad) is a board game designer who works best as a team of one.  She’s cut out any hope of romance in her life.  So when her game company decides they are going to create a game about romance, she is less than enthused.  Even worse, she is assigned to work on it with Matthew (Brooks Darnell), a marketing wiz brought in to help the company.  Oh, and they are going to rush it through the design phase so they can submit it to an annual awards competition coming in just four weeks.

You know where the story goes from here.  And the movie does a good job of hitting the expected squares on the way to the finish.  It’s not exactly ground breaking, but it is creative in how they find the elements the game needs as the two leads build their relationship.

Of course, I had so many questions along the way.  Like is there any way a game could be ready in four weeks?  Oh, I get they needed to put pressure on the characters to make the plot work, but I just kept running up against that question.  And there’s the question of how much replay a game like this would get.

Then there’s Audrey.  She’s a self-absorbed jerk at the beginning of the movie.  Yes, I get they were going for some character growth, but I can’t tell you how much I disliked her.  They really needed to tone her down.

The film does manage to keep the Hallmark cheese to a minimum, which is a good thing.

Even with knowing how the movie would end, I got pulled into the story.  I was frustrated with the rushed ending, however.  I feel like they should have given us a bit more than a few rushed realizations to wrap things up.

All this said, I did find myself rooting for Audrey and Michael and caring about the outcome.

If you are looking for a light Hallmark romance, Game of Love is fine.  While it has weaknesses, it is a light if forgettable movie.

January 17th's Weekly TV Thoughts

I know, I know.  I didn't watch all my shows this week.  Too much else going on.  But I'll get to them...eventually.

But here's what I did watch (thanks for Hulu since Disney+ seemed to be down when I tried to watch this first show).

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – I was remembering there was something about Thalia before this story was over.  I don’t think it does what they were thinking it would at the end of the episode, and I think Percy knows it.  I just wish I could remember what it does.  Some nice moments with Annabeth.  I prefer it when they aren’t complete enemies.

Shifting Gears – A very fun episode.  It helped that it didn’t go at all the way I thought it would.  Nice to see Matt not be the biggest grouch.  Usually I agree with him, but still nice to see someone else have that moniker.  And I loved the ending of the review storyline.  I hope we get more with that guy.

January 16th's Friday Post

We've made it to another Friday!  Time for this week's Friday Post, where I will be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

This week's quotes for the first three will come from Death of the Party by Carolyn Hart.

This is book sixteen in the Death on Demand series.  Normally, I read this via audiobook, but I read my hardcover copy of this one, so I figured it was time to spotlight it.  The main character is this series, Annie Darling, owns a mystery bookstore on an island off the coast of South Carolina.  

Here's how this particular entry in the series begins:

The room wasn't moving.  Britt Barlow held to that reality, no matter her dizziness.

Moving on to page 56, we find this:

Annie pictured a figure kneeling on the stairs in darkness, heart pounding, hands sweaty, perhaps with a pencil-sized flashlight resting on a tread, illumination a death trap.

I enjoyed this entry.  I'll have my full review up on Tuesday, so I hope you'll come back to see my full thoughts then.

Meanwhile, let's take a look at this week's Book Blogger Hop.  The question is:

Is there a book or series so precious to you that you wouldn’t want it adapted for screen, fearing it might be ruined? If it did happen, would you still find yourself watching it? 

I had to answer this question since I submitted it to the Hop.  (And I will get around to reading everyone's answer at some point.)

For me, it's an easy answer.  As much as I love the Trixie Belden series, I don't want to see it turned into a series.  For those unfamiliar, it's a middle grade mystery series, kind of like the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew.  You can read more about it here.  Anyway, I love these characters, and I have a very specific view of them in my mind.  Plus, I've seen what various producers and writers have done to other characters, like the Hardys and Nancy, over the years.  I don't want them to do that to Trixie.

And if they did?  Yeah, I'd probably wind up watching.  I would hope to be pleasantly surprised, but I wouldn't hold out much hope.

I'll be curious to read everyone's answers.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Book Review: Heaven Has No Rage by Liz Milliron (Laurel Highlands Mysteries #2)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Strong characters and an entertaining mystery

Cons: One of the storylines was a little weak

The Bottom Line:

Body in a fire

Plus a stalker sending notes

Characters growing

Stalking a Fire

I’ve come to really enjoy Liz Milliron’s books. Since I’m up to date on her two other series for the moment, I’m hoping to really dig into the Laurel Highlands Mysteries this year. Thus, I prioritized Heaven Has No Rage, the second novel in the series, this month. 

This series features Pennsylvania State Trooper Jim Duncan and Assistant Public Defender Sally Castle. They are flirting at starting a relationship, although in the months since the previous book ended, things have been a little awkward between them. 

It’s now the middle of February, and Jim responds to a call in the middle of the night. A local ski resort has had a fire. Sadly, there’s a dead body in the burned-out chalet. Evidence appears to show that the victim didn’t die in the fire. Who was he? How did he die?

Meanwhile, Sally has started getting some weird notes. They are mildly threatening. Does she have a stalker?

This book does a great job of referencing the previous book without spoiling anything. Considering how much Jim and Sally’s relationship was impacted by the last book’s ending, that’s especially impressive. You could jump in here if you wanted without worry, although you’ll appreciate this book most if you’ve read them in order. 

Since these books are more police procedural/traditional, we start right out with the mystery. I did find one of the mysteries better than the other, but I was still drawn in for the climax of both, reading as quickly as I could to see how everything was going to play out. And I was enjoying the book the entire way through. 

There is a strong emphasis on the growing relationship between Jim and Sally, and I’m here for it. The issue in their relationship felt natural, and I was glad they made some progress on it before the end of the book. 

It helps that I really like both of them. They are solid characters you want to see happy. We get to know a some supporting characters from Jim’s life, and I like them as well. And the suspects are intriguing. 

As I said, this is more in the traditional vein than the cozy tradition, so keep that in mind when you pick it up. The book still keeps the violence, language, etc. to a minimum. 

I’m looking forward to watching these characters continue to grow as the series progresses. Heaven Has No Rage is a good second entry that will help hook fans. 

Plan more visits with the rest of the Laurel Highlands Mysteries. 

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

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Solid mystery, the main trio are fun

Cons: A dose of low budget cheese

The Bottom Line:

A local cold case

Can Ainsley unravel it?

Entertaining film

“Soon, You’re Going to Want to be the Sheriff.”  “No, I Don’t Look Good in Brown.”

If the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries were going to be as long a movie franchise as I hope they will be, I knew at some point, they’d run out of books to base the movies on.  After all, there are only five books in the series (at least as of now).  But I was surprised to find that they are already venturing off on their own with the third movie – A Case of the Watchmaker.  Not that I’m complaining since I really enjoyed it.

It’s been a quiet few months in the Texas town of Sweet River, so quiet that Ainsley McGregor (Candace Cameron Bure) and her friends in her mystery solving book club are getting a bit bored.  That’s when Ainsley suggests looking for a cold case to solve.  When someone suggests a case from in town, it gets a bit awkward since the victim was married to group member Maria (Francisca Dennis).  But Maria decides it is time to learn just what happened to her husband.

The victim, Mark (Stephan Miers), was found in a park in town.  Several things don’t add up for Ainsley, but her brother, police chief Ryan (Robin Dunne), doesn’t want her dredging up the past.  Ainsley’s boyfriend, fire chief Jake Trenton (Aaron Ashmore) is more willing to help out.  Can Ainsley solve the cold case?

Cold case mysteries can be hit or miss for me.  This time around, it worked well for me.  While it had been a few years, it wasn’t long enough ago that there were no stakes.  In fact, most of the people involved were still in town, and I loved watching Ainsley figure out what had happened in the past.  Along the way, there was a fun new character.  I can’t imagine this character will be back, but if it happens, I would be quite happy.

I continue to love the relationship between the three leads.  Ainsley and Ryan have a fun dynamic as siblings, and Jake rounds out the trio wonderfully.  The chemistry between the three leads is perfect, and I can’t help but grin and laugh at the teasing and jokes.

Unfortunately, the movie does have a dose of low budget cheese.  As long as you know to expect it, you’ll be fine.

And yes, there is a connection to watchmaking.  But I’ll leave it for you to discover as you watch.  (Of course, the pun was intended.  This is me.)

I had to laugh at the beginning of the movie.  This “book club” (they solve cases more than they read books) reminds me quite a bit of the real murders club in Candace Cameron Bure’s old Hallmark franchise, the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.  Maybe it’s just Candace up there leading it that makes me think of it.

A Case of the Watchmaker is another fun, entertaining story.  If you are looking for a light mystery movie, you’ll be glad you sat down to view it.  I hope it’s not too long before we get to visit these characters again.

Book Review: Lime and Punishment by Cathy Wiley (Fatal Food Festival Mysteries #5)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great characters and mystery and humor

Cons: Not a lemon in sight

The Bottom Line:

Some lime in the keys

Murder on menu again

A fun concoction 

Murder Leaves a Tart Taste on This Festival

Cathy Wiley’s Fatal Food Festival Mysteries has become a favorite series, so when Lime and Punishment, the fifth in the series, crossed my radar, I jumped right in to the latest adventure. 

The series features Jackie Norwood, a former celebrity chef whose career ended thanks to her alcoholism. Now sober, she trying to rebuild her career, and part of that path is as a celebrity guest judge at various food festivals all over the country. 

This time, Jackie and her friends have landed in Maverick Key, one of the smaller of the Florida Keys, for their key lime festival. Everyone is happy to be there since it is February. But Jackie is disturbed to find out that two bar owners have been killed in the last few weeks. She was hoping for a more relaxed festival this time, however, it looks like murder has followed her once again. But it’s only after she runs into her high school band teacher and learns he’s the prime suspect that Jackie decides she must investigate. Can she clear her friend of the crime?

As always, the book does a good job of setting up the story while also reintroducing us to Jackie and the rest of the characters. She has quite the entourage who comes with her in every book. Not that I am complaining since I love them. They each contribute something to the enjoyment of each book, and provide the cozy core we might normally miss in a travel-based series. Yet they are balanced well with the suspects, who are entertaining and keep us guessing. 

The mystery itself is strong. Once things are set up, we are off with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep us guessing. The ending was completely logical and resolved all my questions. 

While you can read this book as a standalone, there are character arcs that are building on what has come before, and you’ll enjoy them best if you’ve read the series in order. But they are all delightful, so that’s not a problem. 

Rounding out the ingredients for this book is the humor. There are lots of puns, which I always love. We’ve also got some character-based humor. 

And I can’t leave out the recipes. We’ve got several, the majority of which are dessert based, but there are some other choices as well. All of them fit the key lime theme.

As I said, this is a favorite series, and Lime and Punishment was well worth the wait. If you have yet to start this series, you’ll want to start following Jackie around the country today. 

Travel to the rest of the Fatal Food Festival Mysteries. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

TV Show Review: Rescue HI-Surf - The Complete Series

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Actors and stunts

Cons: Show’s focus on personal lives of characters making mostly bad decisions

The Bottom Line:

Hawaiian lifeguards

Show is more soap opera

Minimal rescue

Beachy Soap Opera

When I was considering new shows to try out in the fall of 2024, I decided to give Rescue: HI-Surf a chance. No, I don’t normally watch those types of shows, but I thought one following life guards on Hawaii would be worth at least checking out. While I did stay for all of season 1, I wasn’t really a fan. 

The show follows part of the life guard crew on the North Shore of O’ahu. There’s Sonny (Robbie Magasiva), the boss who just lost a family member due to drowning and is considering retiring. His second in command is Emily (Arielle Kebbel), who used to date another member of the team, Will (Adam Demos). Just to complicate things, Will is about to get married to someone else, and Emily might not be other him. There’s Laka (Kekoa Kekumano), who wants a promotion even though he’s a bit of a partier. Meanwhile, we have the two rookies, Hina (Zoe Cipres), who was the best in the recruiting class but lost her choice at first assignments to Kainalu (Alex Aiono), who happens to be the mayor’s son. Not that the mayor wants his son out doing something like this. 

Each episode finds the crew doing one of two rescues. Sometimes, it’s as many as three. And there are some creative rescues they have to perform. The problem is, they are over quickly. If that’s what you are tuning in for, which I was, you’ll be disappointed. 

Instead, the show focuses on the soap opera lives of the characters. Each week brings some new complications as they try to figure out their lives. And, honestly, this is where I struggled. I didn’t feel that any of the characters were especially smart. Instead, it felt more like watching a train wreck. No, every week wasn’t that bad, although some were. It was just hard to get that invested. 

I know what you’re saying, and I agree. There was something that drew me to keep coming back. Yes, I was curious how some storylines would play out. I did enjoy the setting. And, at first, I hoped it would get better. If there was a competing show I wanted to watch, I probably would have bailed. But with a quiet Monday, I decided I’d give it a season. Since the show wrapped up multiple storylines, leaving only a few dangling, I feel like I can walk away, which is a good thing since the show wasn’t renewed for a second season.  If it had come back, I wouldn’t have. 

Now, keep in mind I’m not blaming the actors. They are all great at bringing their characters to life. And the stunts used for the rescues are also entertaining. 

Season 1 consisted of 19 episodes. 

I don’t regret watching the first season of Rescue: HI-Surf. But I also have no desire to find out what happens to the characters next. I can close that chapter of my TV watching and find something else to fill that time with. 

January 11th's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to the weekend and another Sunday/Monday Post.  I will be linking up to:

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

The plumber came on Monday and got everything fixed.  There's still a hole in my closet, but someone is coming Sunday afternoon to take care of that.  It's nice to have that taken care of.

We've gotten a break from the rain.  Of course, the sun brought his friend wind with him.  And it's not exactly warm.  Yes, I get that my idea of cold isn't what the rest of the country views as cold, but you've got to admit that a wind makes anything feel colder.

Fortunately, the wind wasn't blowing Friday night.  I have a friend who volunteers at the LA Zoo, and she gets complementary tickets to their Zoo Lights.  This was the last weekend of the event, and we went.  They displays are pretty and fun to look at.  It was cold (at least for us), but fun.  Then we went out to dinner afterwards.

And today is the first game day my friends host for 2026.  Really looking forward to it!

I've been remiss in mentioning a blog milestone.  Over Christmas, I hit 6 million total lifetime hits on my blog, at least according to Blogger's hit counter.  Now you may be thinking, "Mark, that's amazing since you just hit 5 million earlier in 2025."  And I completely agree with you.  I suspect that it is counting bots that are constantly crawling over my blog, especially when you look at some of the random entries that spike for a week or two for no explainable reason.  But I'm not going to point that out.  I'm just going to bask in the glow of crossing another milestone.

Punny Holiday of the Week:

Jan 13 – Let your enthusiasm bubble up for Rubber Ducky Day

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Favorite Books of 2025

Tuesday - Book Review: Whine and Dine by Marc Jedel

Wednesday - Movie Review: Love in Aruba

Thursday - Book Review: A Spy in Saigon by Nancy Cole Silverman

Friday - Friday Post featuring Lime and Punishment

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - TV Show Review: Rescue HI Surf

Tuesday - Book Review: Lime and Punishment by Cathy Wiley

Wednesday - Movie Review: A Case for the Watchmaker

Thursday - Book Review: Heaven Has No Rage by Liz Milliron

Friday - Friday Post featuring Death of the Party

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

Got four books to tell you about this week.

Up first is my pre-ordered copy of Fire Must Burn, the newest Sparks and Bainbridge Mystery from Allison Montclair.  This series is set in London just after World War II, and features two women who open a matchmaking service.  Of course, their clients get them involved in mysteries, plus there are some strong ongoing storylines.  I'm very behind in the series.  I should work on catching up this year.  (Among other series I should be focusing on.) Of course, there's one book in the series I still don't have, but it's not the next I need to read, so I guess I have no excuse for not reading more.

Up next is Big F@!king Deal by Lawrence Allan.  It's his second Jimmy Cooper Mystery about a former child star, recovering alcoholic, and PI.  As you can tell from the title, it's not a cozy, but I loved the first one, and I'm looking forward to this one.

Today, author Heather Day Gilbert put the bundle of her Exotic Pet Sitter Mysteries on sale.  I already had the first two books, but for 99 cents, I figured I would snag this so I would have book three as well.  Now, I have no excuse not to start the series, right?  Actually, I've grabbed quite a few of this author's ebooks over the years when they've been on sale.  I really need to read some of them.

Finally, I went to the library for Something Whiskered, the latest Cat in the Stacks Mystery from Miranda James.  This used to be a favorite series, but it's slipped recently.  Still, I was curious enough about what happens in this book to get it from the library.  We'll see what I think of it.

What I'm Currently Reading:

At the moment, I'm working on Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.  As I told you last week, my nephew wants me to read it badly enough he gave it to me for Christmas.  I'm enjoying it so far.  Hoped I would get more time to read it today, but I slept it.  So, it's looking like I will wind up finishing it on Monday.

I think next up for me will be Michelangelo's Ghost by Gigi Pandian.  I've had this one for a while, but I've been reading her newest series instead of this one.  It's time I go back and read more in it.  This one takes Jaya Jones, the main character, to Italy.  Should be fun.

That's it for me.  Have a great week!

January 10th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – I’m a bit confused by the episode title because someone did get the fleece.  I am very curious to see how we get it back because I remember we do.  Loved Anabeth in this episode.  And how stuff was filmed while they were in the cave.

Shifting Gears – Eve at least got mentioned, so I guess she isn’t completely gone.  Overall, a fun episode.  I figured the vase wouldn’t last through the episode. Seriously, who would put something breakable on a table like that? 

The Traitors – Normally, I “binge” this show (and I mean watch it one episode a night), and I’m reminded why.  The episode enders are brutal!  But since Pod Meets World is going to cover this season live, I thought I’d dig in.  Three episodes in a night is a lot.  I was surprised they got out a traitor already.  And the secret one, too.  I wonder how the Faithful will react to learning no one knew she was one.  This is looking to be an interesting season.

January 9th's Friday Post

Welcome to Friday!  For the second Friday in a row, I'm doing a Friday Post.  I'll be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

I'll be pulling quotes from the first three from Lime and Punishment by Cathy Wiley.

This is book five in her Fatal Food Festival Mysteries.  I love this series, and this book was no exception.  Here's how it begins:

Marshall Montclair held up the large, spiky green fruit like it was a precious gem instead of something that looked like a baby porcupine. A bright green baby porcupine.

Yes, the book has that sense of fun as it goes along, although we do have a murder mystery.  This is me, after all.

Meanwhile, at 56% into the book, we find this:

Zach managed a tired, crooked smile. “Let me treat all of you, including April and Marshall, to the best pizza on Maverick Key since you guys are awesome. Thank you. I just hope none of us gets arrested tonight.”
“We’ll try,” I said. “But no promises.”

Did anyone get arrested?  You'll have to read the book to find out.

My review will be up on Tuesday, so I hope you'll come back for it.

Meanwhile, let's take a look at this week's Book Blogger Hop.  The question is:

Looking back, which books from 2025 stood out as your favorites?

Well, I did just post my top reads of the year on Monday.  If you are interested, please check it out.  (Lazy, I know.  But there were 15 books on the list.)

And that's it for me.  Have a great weekend!

Book Review: A Spy in Saigon by Nancy Cole Silverman (Kat Lawson #4)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong characters and mystery in a specific time and place

Cons: I spy no cons

The Bottom Line:

Assignment gone wrong

Can Kat continue forward?

Pages turn quickly

A Simple Assignment Gone Wrong

While technically not a historical series because of when they are set, I’ve enjoyed Nancy Cole Silverman’s Kat Lawson series.  They provide a great look at a specific time and place and are great stories to boot.  A Spy in Saigon is a perfect example of that.

This book is set in August of 2000.  Kat is a journalist who, after losing her job, has taken a job for the FBI.  Her cover is as a photo journalist, but she goes into other countries and tries to complete a simple assignment or two.  In the past, these have revolved around art, but that’s not the case here.

In this case, Kat is heading to Vietnam.  Given her age and the time, this is filled with mixed emotions for her since the Vietnam War impacted her personal life.  But now, the country is once again opening up to foreigners, and Kat is there to cover what the country is like now.  At least that’s the cover.  She’s actually there to make a drop off and pick up with a jeweler in Ho Chi Minh City.  However, while she’s in the store, the contact is murdered in front of her.  Now, Kat has no idea what to do.  In a country where she is constantly watched, can she still get the information she came for?

This series has always been a bit of a cross between a traditional mystery and a cozy spy adventure.  This book leans more into the spy genre.  Not that I’m complaining in the slightest.  This is just something to be aware of before you pick up this book.

The book wastes little time.  We get just enough set up before we jump right into the story.  And I was hooked from the beginning.  Kat doesn’t know who to trust, but she is compelled to see her mission through.  The result is a compelling story that is almost impossible to put down.  The climax is satisfying while keeping the pages turning.

This is the fourth book in the series, but you could easily jump in here.  Nothing about the previous books is spoiled, and the only other character that shows up is Kat’s boss.

Having said that, Kat gets some nice development here.  I really enjoyed getting to know her better.  And the rest of the characters come alive as we read.

As I hinted at earlier, this book is a definite look at a particular place and time.  I was born as the Vietnam War was ending, so I’ve only read about it in history books, both the war itself and the impact here at home.  I also remember the mixed feelings others had when the country was reopened.  This book brought that all back to me, and I loved seeing how it was impacting Kat in particular.  As with much of life, it’s complicated.  But that makes for great fiction.

A Spy in Saigon is an engrossing story with a strong sense of time and place.  If you want to start your year with a bang, pick up this book today.

Enjoy the rest of the Kat Lawson Mysteries.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

I'm reviewing this book as part of a blog tour.  You can find more stops here.

And be sure to enter the tour wide giveaway.

Movie Review: Love in Aruba

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Beautiful locations, some good complications

Cons: Poor writing, little chemistry between leads

The Bottom Line:

Romantic movie

That’s very poorly written

Little chemistry

Even by Low Budget Movie Standards, This Was Bad

When I decided to start watching some movies from the Great American Family Channel in 2023, I was in the mood for some romance movies.  It was around Valentine’s Day, after all.  So I recorded a few of them, including Love in Aruba.  It was obviously a low budget film.  Everyone was trying their best, but it still didn’t quite work.

The premise finds single father Connor (David McConnell) looking for a nanny/tutor for his daughter Macey (Scarlett Hazen).  He’s going to be spending the summer on a project in Aruba, and he wants to take Macey with him.  He’s looking for someone who can watch Macey but also make sure she doesn’t forget everything she’s learned at school this past year.

Enter Amber (Sashleigha Hightower), who is looking for something to do with her summer off from teaching fourth grade.  She agrees to go with them, and after a rocky start, the three start to really get along.  But is something more building?

I’m placing the blame here directly on the writing.  We get entire scenes of Amber taking Macey on trips and talking about animals or other school things.  Seriously?  Couldn’t we see them bonding in some other way?  Some way that would actually be interesting?  It definitely slowed things down.

Which is too bad because the complications that come up in the romance were actually pretty interesting.  Since I was sitting down to watch a romance, I would have been interested to seeing how those things were handled.  Instead, the ending felt rushed.

I will give the actors credit for doing the best they can with the material they are given.  Some of the dialogue is pretty bad, and there isn’t much they can do with it.  Still, it would have helped if the main couple had a little more chemistry.

I will say this, it was filmed in Aruba, and there are some beautiful shots.  There are also some tight shots that make you wonder what they are trying not to show.

Even by low budget movie standards this one is pretty bad.  I recommend you pass on finding Love in Aruba.

Book Review: Whine and Dine by Marc Jedel (Redwood Country Mysteries #2)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Setting, puns, decent mystery

Cons: Extraneous Subplots, Andy is too much of a grump

The Bottom Line:

When shopkeeper dies

Andy finds himself sleuthing

Just okay at best

Not Much Better Than the First

While I had my issues with the first Redwood Country Mystery from Marc Jedel, there was enough there I wanted to give the second one a chance. Sadly, Whine and Dine didn’t really improve on what came before. 

The first book introduced us to Andy Shirley, a recent widower who has moved to Monte Rio to run a bed and breakfast that he and his late wife had planned to run in their retirement. However, he’s a recluse who has no desire to interact with his guests. That was going to all be his wife. But with no other choice, he has to make do. 

When this book opens, it’s been a few months since he solved a murder in the community. Now, it’s October, and Andy has settled into his new life a little. He’s still trying to avoid making friends, so when the owner of a souvenir shop in town is found dead in her shop, he doesn’t intend to get involved. That is until the young woman who handles his plumbing, someone he’s become friendly with, begs him to get involved. It seems the police think her friend, who works at the store, is guilty. Can Andy figure out what happened?

Like the first book, there is quite a bit going on here, but not in a good way. In the first book, I chalked it up to introducing characters and setting. Here? It just feels extraneous. There is one sub-plot in particular that goes nowhere. And other one that feels like it really didn’t need to be there, so it was just padding. 

Which is a shame because there was an interesting mystery in the book. It just got choked out by everything else going on in the story. With a little more focus, we could have gotten to know the suspects better, too. The climax does answer our questions, although the way Andy goes about solving things doesn’t really work for me. 

Andy is proud of wanting to be a recluse, and he fights against any attempt to make friends. This was cute in the first book, although it grew old quickly. I was hoping that he had grown a little beyond that, but it wasn’t the case in this book. 

The big draw for me is the setting. Monte Rio is near where I grew up in Sonoma County, and I enjoyed the references to places I know. But it isn’t enough to make the next a must buy. 

I also enjoy the puns that are thrown into the book. After all, there is no such thing as a bad pun. 

I did get caught up in the mystery, but the flaws are obvious. I really wish Whine and Dine hadn’t left me with anything to whine about. 

My Favorite Books Read in 2025

Tomorrow, I’ll be fully jumping into 2026 with another new review.  But before I start with new reviews, I want to take one more look back at what I read in 2025 with my list of favorites of the year.  Once again, most of these were books originally published during the year, although a few of them were old books I just read for the first time this year.  And yes, I’m leaving out the rereads, and I did reread some old favorites.

These are the ones that stood out to me as I read them this year.  What’s funny to me is there are some clumps.  The first several all came from February, for example.  May was another popular month.

I also didn’t trim the list this year.  That means there are 15.  Too much else going on in my life to try to make those painful decisions.  And that means two authors show up on the list twice.

For those keeping track, it’s also almost half and half physical and ebooks again this year.  And a couple of new authors made the list along with some familiar faces.

If you are interested in reading more, the links will take you to my full reviews.

 

Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell

I am woefully behind on this historical mystery series.  Must find time to read more of it.  This is the third and completely hooked me.  I love the strong mix of real and fictional characters and how they interact so seamlessly.  I’m also really enjoying the 1890’s Newport setting.  And the mystery in this one was fantastic as well.

 

The Lies We Live by Liz Milliron

This is the sixth in a series set in Buffalo during World War II.  I’ve been a fan since the beginning, but as the characters grow, I’m getting more and more hooked on it.  This book introduced something I’ve been waiting for since book one, and I loved seeing it play out.  While we have to wait for the next, I’m glad to know more are coming.

 

London Calling by James Ponti

I’m not reading as many middle grade books these days, so this is the only middle grade book on the list.  It’s the sixth in the City Spies series, so it is still mystery adjacent.  This book resolved an ongoing storyline, and the author completely nailed it.  I was left satisfied.  Fortunately, more are to come since I am not ready to say goodbye to these wonderful characters yet.

 

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

I’d bought this book before the first season of the TV show based on it premiered on Masterpiece Mystery.  But that inspired me to go read this book.  I’m so glad I did because it was a delight.  Even when I remembered where a clue or a red herring led, I was enjoying watching the main characters build their friendship.  This is one a light, fun read.

 

Shattered Sight by Liz Milliron

The first author to show up twice on my list this year.  This kicks off a new series for Liz, and it was great.  Definitely more serious than the previous two books on this list, but the character growth was outstanding.  It was a very entertaining mystery as well.  I’m looking forward to book two this year.

 

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian

While I still need to go back and read more of her earlier books (it’s on my 2026 list), I have really enjoyed this series featuring a former stage magician solving impossible crimes.  This one was especially impossible, but at the end it made sense.  Throw in lots of references to classic mysteries (which again, I need to read more of), and you’ve got a fun read.

 

Bait and Swiss by Korina Moss

Sadly, this is the last book in Korina’s Cheese Shop series.  Fortunately, she sent it out in top form.  The characters are in a good place, and the mystery was entertaining.  I’m going to miss this series.

 

What Comes Around by Annette Dashofy

Another series ender, but this one was by Annette’s choice.  And what a great ending it was.  The storyline was something we’d been building to for several books, although we never imagined it would lead here.  While I hope the characters come back at some point, I am happy with where they ended up.

 

There’s No Murder Like Show Murder by M.S. Greene

A mystery set behind the scenes of a theater?  Sign me up.  This was a delightful debut filled with strong characters and a compelling mystery.  And the behind the scenes look at life in the theater was fun.  A sequel doesn’t appear to be on the horizon, sadly, but I keep hoping we’ll get an encore.

 

Frightened to Depths by K.B. Jackson

Life on board a cruise ships proves to be anything but smooth sailing yet again in this book, the third in a series about two sisters as full time residents on a cruise ship.  The mystery included some personal stakes for the main characters, which pulled me in more.  The characters and story are fun.  I hope the author revisits these characters in the future.

 

Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Bryon

A modern-day gold rush sets off the second in a series set in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.  Once again, the setting was fun, the characters endearing, and the mystery kept the pages turning.  I love Ellen’s books, and this series is my favorite yet.

 

Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine by Liz Ireland

I think this series has made my list all but one or two years since it started.  This book is another winner.  Yes, this is THE Mrs. Claus solving mysteries at the North Pole.  Part comedy with a light touch of fantasy, the mysteries keep you guessing and the charming characters keep you coming back.  Make sure you check out this series if you’ve missed it so far.

 

Murder Comes Home by Rosalie Spielman

I read the first four books of this series this year and enjoyed them all.  This is the third, and it was my favorite.  The plot of this one really grabbed me, and the characters have become friends.  I’ve got one more to get caught up on the series, and I’m hoping to do that this year.

 

Contesting the Wool by Diane Vallere

If you’ve been paying attention in the last few years, you’ll notice just how many of Diane’s books I’ve read.  I always enjoy her books, but this one really stood out to me this year.  I have a special love of these characters, so that helped, but the plot was very creative and kept me engaged.  The comedic tone was great as well. 

 

No Sone Left Unturned by Annette Dashofy

Annette’s second entry on the list is her latest book, not even out a month yet.  The mystery starts strongly and just keeps building.  Meanwhile, the characters continue to grow before our eyes.  I’m glad to know that book five is coming because I can wait to spend more time with them.

 

I’m looking forward to seeing what gems I find in 2026.

January 4th's Sunday/Monday Post

Welcome to my first Sunday/Monday Post of 2026.  As always, I will be linking up to:

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

Happy 2026!

I got to spend Christmas week with my family in Northern California.  I worked remotely the first three days, but then was around for fun in the evenings.  And then I took the day after Christmas off.  I drove back last Sunday, stopping along the way to visit some friends.

That means I missed the horrible storm we had before Christmas.  Yes, it rained where I was, but nothing like we had down here.  I spent much of the week worrying about how much my garage might flood, which happens upon occasion, but nothing like it used to.  Fortunately, when I got home, my garage was dry.  I could tell a little water got in, but nothing I had in there got wet.

After procrastinating for a couple of days, I finally started taking my Christmas decorations down New Year's Eve.  Everything is down and the living room put back together.  Plus, I've taken extra stuff out of my spare room so the plumber can get in there on Monday.  Meaning, my living room is pretty crowded at the moment.  Can't wait to put everything back.  And maybe I should sort through/get rid of some stuff at some point, too.  But, you know, these books aren't going to read and review themselves.

Joke of the Week:

I have several page a day calendars with extras on the back, and that's where I get some of the jokes and puns I post.  This last year, they had puns related to those weird holidays you hear about every so often, which I usually saw after the fact.  So I saved them for this year.  You'll see them sprinkled into this part of my posts as we get near those dates.

For  example, Monday the 5th is National Whipped Cream Day.  Pun-officially, that's not a holiday to dessert.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Candy Review: Hershey's Kisses - Snickerdoodle Cookie

Monday - Movie Review: Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Tuesday - December Reading Summary

Wednesday - 2025 Reading Challenge Wrap Ups (multiple posts)

Thursday - 2026 Reading Challenge Sign Ups (multiple posts)

Friday - Friday Post featuring A Spy in Saigon

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - Favorite Books of 2025

Tuesday - Book Review: Whine and Dine by Marc Jedel

Wednesday - Movie Review: Love in Aruba

Thursday - Book Review: A Spy in Saigon by Nancy Cole Silverman

Friday - Friday Post featuring Lime and Punishment

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

It's been two weeks with Christmas in there.  Of course, I have plenty of books to tell you about.

I got three books for Christmas this year, two of them from my wish list.

The first of those is Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood.  It's the fourth in the Marlow Murder Club series.  I haven't read book three yet, but I have it, and I'm looking forward to this one.

Next was Lost and Clowned, a stand alone cozy from Dana Mentink.  I really enjoyed her Shake Shop Mysteries, so I'm looking forward to this one set in a circus.

And the book that wasn't on my wish list?  My nephew loves the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull.  So, he gave me the first one.  He's told me multiple times that I need to read it.  As I often say, I read mysteries because I fell into them and can't get out - not that I'm trying too hard.  So I'm anxious to check out this book.  In fact, I'm planning to get to it sooner rather than later.

Of course, that didn't stop me from getting some ebooks that went on sale this past week.

The first of those was Great Party!  Sorry About the Murder by D.B. Elrogg.  I just love that title.  The party in question is a New Year's Eve party, so now was the time to put it on sale, right?  Looks like it is back to full price.

I also snagged Cozy Up to Danger by Colin Conway.  My patience finally paid off!  I've been waiting for this book to go on sale for three and a half years.  The later books are on sale as well, but a dollar more.  I'm not quite ready to spring that much for more (don't think the series is worth spending too much on).  But I might change my mind before the prices go back up.

This last one wasn't on sale, but I had some Kindle points set to expire at the end of December, so I used them to get Reckoning at the Riviera Royale by P.J. Fitzsimmons.  This is book five in his Anty Boisjoly series, which I always enjoy.

What I'm Currently Reading:

Friday night, I finished up Lime and Punishment by Cathy Wiley.  It's book five in her Fatal Food
Festivals series.  I really enjoyed it, but that's no surprise since I always do.  I need to work on my review, but it won't be up until the 13th.

As I'm typing this, I'm only two chapters into my next book, Heaven Has No Rage by Liz Milliron, the second in her Laurel Highlands series.  I want to try to read a few of these this year since I'm so far behind and I enjoy her books.  I'm hoping to get a little more reading time in this afternoon, so I will be further along soon.  The plan is to finish it on Monday.

Hope you have a great week!

January 3rd's Weekly TV Thoughts

Two weeks, and I only have two episodes of the same show to talk about.  It's like it is the holidays or something.  Next week won't be too much better.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (12/24) – I’m glad I didn’t watch this one until 12/30 with that cliffhanger.  Other than that, we got some needed backstory, but I don’t feel like we got too much real forward movement.  Poor Grover has had much to do this season, either.  I kind of remember that from the book.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (12/31) – The opening was a bit shocking remembering where we were at the end of the last episode.  And we saw a lot more of Grover, too.  The books lend themselves to this kind of episodic structure, but I liked this one.  Some nice character development, and we did get the characters closer to where they want to be.

January 2nd's Friday Post

It's been *checks notes* 4 months since I did a Friday post.  I was trying to get my Hallmark Christmas movie reviews out, and then other things kept popping up on Fridays.  But here we are.  I'll be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

And what book will I be highlighting to kick off the new year?  A Spy in Saigon by Nancy Cole Silverman.

This is book 4 in her Kat Lawson series.  I've finished it, and it is wonderful.

Here's how the book begins:

The only connection I had to Vietnam was the gold four-seasons bracelet my husband had given me.

A bit of a simple beginning, but it does set up the story very well.

Meanwhile, at 56% into the ARC, we get this:

“That’s the safe house?” I expected a safe house to have some type of guarded protection. A speedboat in the river with a couple of plain clothed guards, but this had nothing. The house was nothing more than a bungalow on stilts with a covered balcony.

I need to write my review, but the plan is to review it this coming Thursday as part of a blog tour for the book.

Meanwhile, let's take a look at this week's Book Blogger Hop.  The question is:

Which genre are you eager to jump into more this year, and what draws you to it? 

Nothing comes to mind.  I'll still be the mystery focused reader I've been in the coming year.

Have a great weekend!