January 31st's Weekly TV Thoughts

Somehow, I managed to get caught up.  Which means I have a LOT of thoughts.

The Traitors (1/15) – I wasn’t expecting two episodes.  I’m so glad that Michael is gone.  But it just amazes me the group think.  Everyone is so sure that it is Ron, when he laid out some very good arguments at the beginning.  But they are going to keep on him.  Of course, it’s because they really don’t have any other clues.  That’s what makes this game so hard.

Happy’s Place (1/16) – Yeah, that was fairly predictable, but I still loved it.  These characters are such fun when they are allowed to play off each other.  What impresses me is that we yet again have an episode without guest stars.  They are keeping them to a minimum this season, yet you never really notice.  That’s how good the writing and the cast are.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1/21) – I’ve been hearing how the series ending is different from the book, and I had to go look it up.  It’s just been too long since I read it that I had to look things up.  I’ll be interested to see how they play out the twist they did with Thalia.  And I’m really wishing I could remember what really happened to her in the books.  I need more time to reread things.

Shifting Gears (1/21) – I really like this new boyfriend.  I wish he were going to stay around.  But it’s obvious where the show is ultimately going to go romance wise.  Very funny episode overall.

The Traitors (1/22) – I feel for Rob.  I really do.  He’s caught between people everyone knows he is playing with and the Traitors.  I’m now sure what I would do in his situation.  Lisa’s around for at least another day.  And I’m curious to see if the eavesdropping they supposedly showed us was real or not.

Happy’s Place (1/23) – I’m very surprised.  I assumed I knew where Gabby’s storyline was going to go.  Does this mean we are looking at an adoption?  Love that we are slowly getting to know Dakota better.  He’s a man of surprises.

Wild Cards (1/26) – This was a very pleasant surprised when it popped up on my DVR.  I wasn’t aware the show was coming back already.  And I’m so happy it did.  A fun case of the week and some new, juicy storylines set in motion.  I can’t wait to see what this season will hold in the way of twists and turns.

Shifting Gears (1/28) – Not quite as great as last week, but still pretty funny.  And it was nice to finally meet the son/brother.  They wrote it so that he could move back home, too, but I wonder how much we will really see him going forward.

The Traitors (1/29) – This is the part where things get interesting.  I get why Rob was voting how he was, but leading the argument against Lisa?  That’s next level stuff.  I love it when the traitors are at each other’s throats.  This is going to be fun.  And who will the new traitor be?

Happy’s Place (1/30) – I’d forgotten that Emmet had this secret, which is ironic since I’d seen this episode when I went to the tapping back in September.  (The episode I actually watched be filmed is probably the first one back from the Olympics.)  Anyway, it’s been quite a while since they did much with this storyline.  Or even really did much with Bobbie and Emmet’s relationship.  Still, a fun episode with a serious ending.

January 30th's Friday Post

Hi all!  Slipping in a little Friday post here.  I'll be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

For the first three, I'll be pulling quotes from The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo by Carrie Doyle.

This is book three in the Trouble in Paradise! series.  It's set on a fictional Caribbean island, and this one was enjoyable.

Here's how it begins:

Plum Lockhart's fingers paused above her computer's keyboard.

Okay, so maybe not the most exciting beginning.  But on page 56 we find this:

"Do you have a minute?  I wanted to talk to you about murder - "

That will certainly catch your attention, won't it?

I'm planning to review this one on Thursday, so I'll hope you'll come back then to see what I thought.

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

Do you struggle to start a new read after finishing a truly amazing one?

Not really.  It's rare I start a book immediately when I finish the last one.  Usually, I set a book down and go do something else for a while, be it internet or TV or work or chores or something else.  So by the time I am ready for my next book, I'm mentally ready for my next adventure.  I always start my next book before I go to bed that night.

That's it for me.  Have a magical weekend.

Book Review: Michelangelo’s Ghost by Gigi Pandian (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries #4)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great story and interesting characters

Cons: My hunt for cons came up empty

The Bottom Line:

Renaissance artist

With India connection

Pages keep turning

Jaya’s on the Trail of an Obscure Italian Painter

Being one to be distracted by the next shiny thing, or in this case a new release, it’s been five years since I read book three in Gigi Pandian’s Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries. During that time, I was enjoying her newest series, the Secret Staircase Mysteries. But I decided it was time to catch up on Jaya’s adventures, so I picked up Michelangelo’s Ghost, the fourth in this earlier series. 

If you aren’t familiar with the series, (or, like me, it’s been a while) Jaya Jones is a history professor in San Francisco. Her research and interest in India have led her to make some incredible discoveries of previously unknown art and treasure. While there are some references to her previous adventures, this can be read as a standalone, which is a good thing since I’d forgotten much of the earlier books. 

As this book opens, Jaya’s gotten a tantalizing email from an old mentor. Dr. Lilith Vine has found an obscure Renaissance artist she thinks was not only a protege of Michelangelo, but someone who traveled to India, incorporating that culture into his work. His name and work have been lost to history, but Jaya can’t help but be intrigued at the possibility. After a death under suspicious – at least to Jaya – circumstances, she travels to Italy in hopes of finding the man’s long-lost work. But can she find a centuries old trail?

I quickly got caught up in this story. Obviously, this isn’t a traditional murder mystery, and if you pick it up looking for that, you’ll be disappointed. But if you start this book expecting a well plotted story, you’ll be well rewarded. I was pulled further into the book as I went along and was impressed about how important information was layered into the story when I reached the end. 

I enjoyed getting to know the characters again. Jaya is given some time to reflect, which I enjoyed. The rest of the supporting players weave in and out of the book. And I’m quite interested to see what come next for them. Yes, I’m planning to read more of this series this year so I can find out. 

Of interest to fans of the Secret Stairway series, Jaya’s best friend, Sanjay, is a supporting player in that newer series. There are a couple of references to characters I’m familiar with from those books as well. Considering this book came out in 2016, and that series started in 2020, I found that quite cool. 

I also found the note at the end fascinating as Gigi separates the fact from the fiction. 

I’m glad I returned to Jaya’s world. Those searching for a fun adventure-based mystery will also be glad they picked up Michelangelo’s Ghost. 

Hunt up the rest of the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries. 

TV Show Review: Suits LA - The Complete Series

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Actors, some interesting storylines, fun cameos

Cons: Flashbacks detracted from getting to know the entire large cast

The Bottom Line:

Lawyers in LA

There was potential here but

Too many flashbacks

“That Kind of Makes Me Sound Like a…” “What Ever Word You Are Searching For, Double It.” “Handsome Handsome.”

I was a fan of Suits back in the day.  I mean, back when it was originally airing on the USA Network in the 2010’s.  Yes, I did get tired of it in the last few years, but I was still interested when I heard about the Suits LA spinoff, especially when they cast Stephen Amell as the lead.  As I kind of expected, it wasn’t nearly as good as the original.  There was promise there, but the execution needed to be very different.

When we meet Ted Black (Stephen Amell) in the present, he’s the head of a law firm in LA.  He thinks that his firm is about to merge, but in reality, his partner, Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt) has effectively cut him out of the deal, leading to a firm split.  Stuart sets up shop with Samantha Railsback (Rachelle Goulding), who just happens to be Ted’s ex.  The two firms battle it out for clients, some of them real celebrities and some fictional.  Also, Ted, a former prosecutor, takes on a case for movie producer Lester Thompson (recurring guest star Kevin Weisman), who is accused of killing his business partner.

Meanwhile, we see flashbacks to the time that Ted, Stuart, and Samantha were all back in New York City in 2010 (just before the original Suits).  Ted is trying to get a mob boss behind bars, but that comes with incredible danger.  What will it mean for his relationships, especially with his slimy father (recurring guest star Matt Letscher).

Let’s start with that last one.  Obviously, if you’ve followed my reviews, you know I was a huge fan of the Arrowverse.  While Stephen’s Oliver Queen and Matt’s Reverse Flash never shared a scene in those TV shows, it was fun seeing them acting opposite each other here.

Like the original show, this one had plenty of legal maneuvers, more often than not outside the courtroom.  I will say, the way the lawyers procured deals for their clients, I felt like they were more agents than lawyers, but maybe I just don’t understand the entertainment business as much as I thought I did.  Anyway, those stories could be fun.  Also, since all the characters from both firms know each other, that added to the interpersonal drama.

Each episode featured a flashback to what happened to drive the characters from New York to Los Angeles.  Honestly, this hurt the show for a couple of reasons.  First, we knew the ultimate outcome very early on.  So there was little suspense in seeing all that unfold.  Second, it took time away from the current storylines.  Unfortunately, we kind of needed that backstory to fully understand the character relationships, but the way we got it just wasn’t satisfying.

It didn’t help that there were too many characters to easily track.  Some were only recurring, but they took up quite a bit of screen time when they were in an episode.  If you look at the original Suits, it had six main characters, and the first season really focused on them.  And it had a fairly simple hook.  Yes, the characters had backstory, but we didn’t get it all at once.  Or even in the first season.  We had flashback episodes, but it was something related to what was currently going on.  That show had narrative focus; this one was a bit all over the place.

Like with the Pearson spin off, I felt like it was trying to include too many characters and storylines all at once, and that just didn’t work well.

So what did work?  I found the murder storyline interesting.  What can I say, I’m a mystery fan.  That had some nice twists.  I would get on board with a storyline here and there, but I wasn’t compelled to keep watching from week to week.  Oh, I did, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t wait to see.

I’m not faulting any of the actors, who are all good at bringing their characters to life.  For me, the problem lies with the writing, which felt like a case of too many cooks in the kitchen.

I already mentioned that we had real life celebrities popping in as versions of themselves.  That was often my favorite part of each episode.  None of them had long arcs, but they were always fun.

Three characters from the original popped up.  The most prevalent was Gabriel Macht as Harvey Specter, who guest starred in three episodes.  He was electric as always, and I really liked his storylines the best.  Showing up in one episode each, we had David Costabile as Daniel Hardman, who would have been about the last character I expected to show up, and Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt, which just reminded me that a little bit of Louis goes a long way.

The show never did well in the ratings, so I wasn’t surprised when NBC cancelled it.  While the show leaves quite a few things up in the air, I felt like we got enough of a sense of closure that I’m okay.  Don’t get me wrong, I very much want to see what the show would have looked like going forward, and I would have turned in.  But I also feel like we can move on from these characters satisfied.  Or at least I can.

If you are a fan of the original and are curious about this one, give Suits LA a chance.  Otherwise, you aren’t missing much of you skip it.

Book Review: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull (Fablehaven #1)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: interesting start to a fantasy series for kids

Cons: The set up, while entertaining, feels a little slow. 

The Bottom Line:

Trip to grandparents

Hiding magical secret

Slow to start, speeds up

Unexpected Visit

My nephew has been recommending the Fablehaven series to me for a while now, and I haven’t picked it up. There are just so many books to get to, right? But when he gave me the first one for Christmas, I prioritized reading it. And I’m glad I did. 

This is a middle grade fantasy series, not my typical mystery. Of course, I’ve enjoyed middle grade fantasy over the years, and I often say I fell into mystery and I can’t get out (not that I’m trying that hard). It was a nice change of pace for me. 

This book introduces us to siblings Kendra and Seth. When their parents need to take a trip, they arrange for the pair to stay with their grandparents. You might think that sounds ideal, but Kendra and Seth barely know their grandparents, who live in the middle of nowhere in Connecticut. But slowly, the siblings begin to discover there is more to their grandparents’ property. What does the revelation mean?

Being the first in the series, this book has a certain amount of set up to do. I expect this, and it is as entertaining as it can be while doing that, but I did find my attention wandering a bit during this part. Still, I’m not sure how we could have gotten the information we needed any faster.

However, once that set up has happened, the story kicks into high gear and never lets up. I didn’t want to put the book down when I got to this point, and I found the payoff very satisfying. Yes, the story is wrapped up well here while still leaving things opened for future books in the series. 

Kendra and Seth are a study in contrast, but they are both well suited for the story we get here. While I feel like we follow Kendra the most, we do get some scenes from Seth’s third person point of view as well. I did find Seth annoying at times, but I appreciated the growth we saw in his character. I also appreciated where Kendra ended the book. And I liked the rest of the characters we met along the way. 

Some of the scenes in the back half of the book might be a little intense for sensitive kids. But I’m sure most kids will devour those pages like I did. 

Would I be opened to a return visit to Fablehaven? Absolutely. It’s easy to see why so many kids are fans of this series. 

Movie Review: Superman II

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Great action scenes as Superman’s story continues

Cons: Slow second act, Lex is useless

The Bottom Line:

Superman is back

Film still has pacing issues

Not classic for me

“Not Everyone Can Have X-Ray Vision.” “Do I Detect a Note of Jealousy?”

In my quest to watch the Christopher Reeves Superman movies, I had recorded the second when it was on cable.  As much as I had issues with the original, Superman II had its own issues.

After a bit more of the prologue with General Zod (Terence Stamp) and his two hence people on Krypton before it explodes, we get the opening credits, which also act as a refresher of what happened in the original movie.  Pretty clever, at least in my opinion.

When we are off to Paris where Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) is trying to cover some terrorists who have set up a hydrogen bomb in the Eiffel Tower.  When Superman (Christopher Reeve) takes it to space to it can explode without causing any damage, he accidentally frees General Zod and the other two prisoners from the Phantom Zone where they’ve been held prisoner all this time. 

While the trio make their way to Earth with the intent to taking it over, Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve, obviously), and Lois grow closer, leading to Clark making a choice with huge implications.  Oh, and Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) manages to escape from prison thanks to help from Eve Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine).  What havoc will he cause?

Obviously, with the backstory out of the way, this movie can get off to a faster start, and the opening act is fun and thrilling.  We know how it is going to end, but it’s still fun getting there.

It’s the second act where the movie struggles.  We get General Zod’s trio working on taking over the planet while Superman and Lois are out of touch (the wonders of life in the pre-cell phone days).  For me, it dragged.  Couldn’t Superman have learned about the threat earlier?  Because we knew where it was going to go, and I wish the movie had taken less time getting there.

Then comes the third act, which is what we have all been waiting for.  And it was worth it.  I enjoyed the fight.  Yes, we got lots of special effects, but the fight was still contained enough that we could follow what we going on.  Modern superhero movies could learn from it.

Other issues with the film?  I watched the original theatrical cut, and it had a huge plot hole in it.  I had to go back to the internet to figure out exactly what happened.  Yeah, my theory was right, but really?  A line of dialog would have resolved it.  Also, what point did Lex Luthor have in this film?  I get that it’s Lex, but we really didn’t need his character.  They could have accomplished the little bit he did in other ways.

None of what I just said is a slam on the actors.  They are all great at bringing their characters to life.  It’s the fault of the screen play.

The effects are dated; we can definitely tell when a green screen is being used.  But it’s a movie from 1980, so that’s no surprise.  As long as you keep that in mind, you’ll be fine.

I know that the next two sequels aren’t as well regarded as the first two movies, which makes me curious to watch them and see what I think.  I’m also curious to rewatch Superman Returns, which I haven’t seen since it was in the theaters almost twenty years ago.

While Superman II is by no means a bad movie, it isn’t a classic for me, either.  I think nostalgia plays a large part is how much people enjoy it.  For me, that was lacking.

Movie Review: Love in the Great Smoky Mountains

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Beautiful scenery, did enjoy the romance

Cons: Awkwardness in the script; lectures

The Bottom Line:

A dig in the park

Creates chance for love to grow

But script needed work

“Of All the Digs in All the World, You Had to Show Up at Mine.”

Since I’ve started watching Hallmark’s movies set in various National Parks, I’ve been keeping an eye opened for new ones.  Fortunately, I spotted Love in the Great Smoky Mountains: A National Parks Romance on the channel recently so I could keep the streak of watching them all alive.  Unfortunately, the movie wasn’t nearly as good as it could have been.

As this movie opens, Haley (Arielle Kebbel) has just gotten her doctorate in archeology and is thrilled to be heading to a dig in the Great Smoky Mountains for a few weeks.  It will be a great step in her career.  However, she is less than thrilled when she discovers that her ex, Rob (Zach Roerig), is already at the dig.  They haven’t spoken since they broke up three years ago.  Will their both being on the dig cause tension?  Or will old sparks fly again?

I had seen a few previews before I watched the movie, and I was actually rather excited to see how the story unfolded.  I thought the archeology aspect would provide an interesting backdrop to the romance.  At times, it did.  It did drive a few plot points and Haley gets obsessed with an item she thinks might be in the park.

However, it also slowed things down.  I felt like we got lots of exposition at times, more so than the movie called for.  We also got some lectures about how wonderful life was for the Cherokee tribe before they were forced to leave and how awful the Trail of Tears was.  Now, please do not misunderstand me.  What happened to the tribe in the 1800’s was horrible.  It is indeed a part of American history we should be ashamed of.  However, it felt awkward here.  Part of that is how the movie was written.  And part of it is because I wasn’t sitting down to watch something on the topic.  I was sitting down for a light romance.

I mentioned the writing in the previous paragraph.  It left something to be desired.  There were some rough transitions between scenes and topics.  Plus, dialog sounded stiff.  The script needed a polish.

The acting wasn’t the best either.  Yes, I know some of it was the writing, but the actors seemed to be overly enthusiastic at times in an effort to make up for it.  This had a high dose of Hallmark cheese.

On the other hand, the scenery was beautiful.  I believe it was actually filmed in Great Smoky, and this made me want to go visit the park.  And so many waterfalls!  (At least if this movie is to be believed.)

I was pulled into the romance.  That’s part of the reason I found some of the other stuff annoying.  I wanted to see more with Haley and Rob.  There’s a second relationship that I was also rooting for, although they got more of the awkwardness of the script that Haley and Rob did.

While these movies aren’t that great, I’m still finding myself drawn to them just because of the settings.  If that’s you, you’ll want to watch Love in the Great Smoky Mountains.  Otherwise, you can skip it.

This movie is part of this two movie DVD release.

TV Show Review: Poppa's House - The Complete Series

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Scenes between Poppa and Junior often lead to laughs

Cons: The characters aren’t likable and the show tries too hard for laughs. 

The Bottom Line:

Sitcom light on laughs

Badly written characters

Stories try too hard

Occasional Laughs, but Mostly Doesn’t Work

When the 2024 fall TV season hit, I picked out a few sitcoms I wanted to try. While I found a couple of shows I wound up liking, Poppa’s House was not one of them. 

The show was created as a vehicle for Damon Wayans and his son, Damon Wayans Jr. to work together. And they play father and son. Poppa is a talk show host with a show in New York City where he spouts whatever is on his mind. Things chance when the station assigns him a new cohost. Ivy (Essence Atkins) is everything Poppa isn’t, including a physiologist who better understands how people behave and how the sexes best interact. 

Meanwhile, Junior lives next to Poppa with his wife, Nina (Tetona Jackson), and their two kids, Trey and Maya (Caleb Johnson and River Blossom). He works for his father-in-law, but he is trying to get a career together as a film maker, causing tension at home. 

Over the course of the season Junior and Nina attempt to create a retrospective about Poppa’s career. The couple also try to get their parents to help them pay for private school for their kids. Poppa wants a family picture…without his ex-wife in it.  And Junior attempts to get his sister to make up with their father.

So where did things go wrong? This is another sitcom where the writers and actors are trying so hard to be funny that it isn’t funny. The situations are so over the top and the reactions are so exaggerated, it doesn’t work. And yes, I do know sitcoms. Some of my favorite shows of all time are sitcoms. This is a trend I’ve seen with many recent shows in the genre. 

Meanwhile, the show also falls into the dumb male tropes. Neither Poppa nor Junior are especially bright or aware of anyone beyond themselves. It is painful to watch. 

Not that the women fare much better. Nina comes across as a shrew (if not a nag) more often than not. Ivy fairs a bit better, although her know it all attitude can wear itself out. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are funny moments in each episode. They just aren’t enough to sustain a 22-minute episode. 

The show has teased a romance between Poppa and Ivy all season, which was a bit icky to me since they are obviously very different in age. But maybe that’s just me. 

I’m not blaming this on the actors, who are all fine. It’s the writing that lets them down. And I enjoyed seeing other Wayans family members show up in guest parts. 

How do I know the writers were struggling? They changed a big part of the premise early on, having Pippa and Ivy getting fired from their radio show and setting up a podcast instead. I had so many questions about the hows and whys of that, both behind the scenes and the storyline. And I could never figure out if their show was pre-recorded or live. It seemed to switch to whatever the writers needed at the time. Yes, that’s a typical thing on TV shows, especially sitcoms, but this one seemed especially blatant. 

The bright spot was any scene that just involved Poppa and Junior. The Wayans were allowed to riff and play off each other, and the results were often some of the best laughs of the episode. I would have watched much more of this every week. 

The show consisted of 18 episodes. The series wasn’t picked up for season two a few days before the series finale aired, meaning no one knew that’s what it was when they were working on it. That means we get some relationship cliffhangers, but nothing too egregious. 

Obviously, I’d already decided I wouldn’t be back if the show had returned for season two. Honestly, I couldn’t quite decide on the show for several weeks, and by the time I did decide, I figured I’d finish season one and then stop. 

So if you have yet to watch Poppa’s House, you aren’t missing anything. I suggest you find a better sitcom, maybe an old favorite, to watch instead. 

Ornament Review: Winter Fun with Snoopy #28 - Shoveling Snow - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Cute scene

Cons: But is it fun?

The Bottom Line:

Doing wintry chore

Snoopy, Woodstock make cute scene

But does not seem fun

You’ve Got a Weird Definition of Fun

Snoopy has enjoyed quite a few fun things over the course of the Winter Fun with Snoopy series.  I do have to seriously question if he’s really have fun in the twenty-eighth entry in the series since he’s shoveling snow.

The ornament itself is great as always.  Snoopy has a shovel that is about half his size, but he’s using it to push the show that has recently fallen.  Woodstock is along for the ride as always.  And, in this case, literally.  You see, he’s sitting on the snow in front of the shovel that Snoopy is pushing.  Snoopy is wearing a purple cap and blue scarf while he does this work. 

Now, I’ll be the first to confess I’m not a cold weather or snow person.  But seriously, who finds shoveling snow fun?  I feel like this might be a sign that the series is running out of ideas.

That aside, I do like the ornament itself.  It’s a cute scene and I just love the idea of Woodstock catching a ride instead of working.

Do remember that this is one of Hallmark’s miniature series.  The ornament is only about an inch tall.  So keep that in mind before you buy it.

Because Snoopy is standing on a snowy path, the ornament has a nice, solid base, so you can easily set it out to be displayed if you so desire.  You’ll find the 28 in a Christmas tree on the bottom of this base.

When you go to hang the ornament, you’ll find it tips just a little to the left.  But you have to be watching for it.

While I might have my issues with whether this is fun or not, I do enjoy this Winter Fun with Snoopy ornament overall.  If you are a Peanuts and mini ornament fan, you’ll like it, too.

Check out the rest of the Winter Fun with Snoopy ornaments.

Book Review: Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman (Leaphorn and Chee #7)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Leaphorn and Chee finally team up in a great mystery

Cons: None for me 

The Bottom Line:

Two detectives meet

In case that draws readers in

As series changes

Leaphorn and Chee Finally Team Up

When I started Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee series, I commented on how different the series is from what we get today. I get it. Not only was it a different tone in publishing, but I suspect the characters and series evolved as it was written. Either way, we are now on book seven, and the two characters are finally working on a case together. Skinwalkers was well worth the wait. 

Lt. Joe Leaphorn is concerned with the three homicides that have occurred on the Navajo Reservation this summer. They don’t appear to be connected, but he can’t help shake the idea that they are. Not that they have any clues to solve these crimes whether they are connected or not. 

Meanwhile, Officer Jim Chee barely misses being killed in the trailer where he lives. At first, Leaphorn thinks that Chee was targeted because of bad policing, but soon the two men think it ties in to the other homicides. But how?

I’ve already noticed that Hillerman likes these types of plots, the seemingly unconnected and therefore unsolvable cases. And he’s a master of them. Juggling the various homicides gives us plenty to keep us engaged, although I did have a hard time keeping the various players straight as a result. That might just be me. Either way, I appreciated how everything came together in the end. The climax was suspenseful while wrapping things up well. 

I enjoyed watching Leaphorn and Chee work together for the first time. While they knew of each other, this is the first time they have worked together, so there isn’t any history we have missed out on. Those scenes were fun for me. I also love that the two men are so different in how they feel about their heritage. It gives them distinction while also helping drive the story. I expect this will factor into future books even more. Finally, we did get an update about Chee’s personal life while finally learning something about Leaphorn’s. In his three solo books, there was very little about his life outside the case. 

These two characters really are co-leads. We got scenes from both of their third person points of view, and they each contributed to solving the case. I appreciated that. And any time the point of view changed, it was easy to follow. 

These two are the best drawn characters in the book. The rest are fine for their role, but they don’t get the page time needed to be fully fleshed out. Still, given how the plot unfolds, it works perfectly. 

Once again, I listened to the audiobook, narrated expertly by George Guidall. I always enjoy the way he brings the book to life. 

Now that the series has turned, I’m excited to see what comes next for the characters. Skinwalkers is another exciting mystery that proves why this series has been so popular over the years. 

Here are the rest of the Leaphorn and Chee Mysteries. 

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!