Candy Review: Snickers

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Chocolate, caramel, peanuts - what else do you need to know?

Cons: Only if you are allergic to peanuts.

The Bottom Line:

Delicious tasting

Peanuts, caramel mix well

Chocolate covered

The Classic Taste of Snickers Still Satisfies

I've never specially thought about why I like Snickers, I just know I do.  But recently I've realized just how much this candy bar has in common with one of my favorites.  Not that it needed the extra boost because this is a great candy bar.

The Snickers bar has essentially four layers, nougat, caramel, and peanut wrapped in milk chocolate.  Really, those four are winners sure to make your taste buds happy.  Overall, the chocolate and peanut are the main flavors, but the caramel gives it an added kick that you don't find from Reese's.

However, that's not the comparison I had in mind.  These candy bars are very close to a favorite of mine - Milky Way.  In fact, the only difference is the inclusion of the peanuts.  While I do love the Milky Way, at times I really want the peanuts, too, so it's nice to have the option of having both.  But really, how can you go wrong with anything that includes chocolate and caramel.  I just love those two together.

The ingredients look about like you'd expect, chocolate, peanuts, milk, sugars, oils…. Pretty much things that are bad for you.  No wonder it tastes so good.  Obviously, if you have a peanut allergy, you'll want to steer clear of this one since peanuts are one of the main ingredients.

This is a candy bar, don't think about the nutritional information.  Just assume they aren't good for you.  How not good for you?  Two of the small fun size bars contain 160 calories, 70 of them from fat.  And there's no vitamins or minerals to speak of to justify the calories.

Which is why Snickers should be the occasional treat instead of a constant part of your diet.  But every once in a while, it tastes so good.

Book Review: Killing Cupid by Laura Levine (Jaine Austen #12)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Laughs, fun, and a good mystery

Cons: Might be too wacky for some

The Bottom Line:

Matchmaker murdered

Filled with hilarity, clues

Light yet oh so fun

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Yourself Dead

When it comes to comedic mysteries, Los Angeles based freelance writer Jaine Austen tops my list of favorite sleuths.  Her adventures are always funny but the mysteries are always well done.  Killing Cupid is her 12th adventure, and it’s just as good as the others.

Always in need of a paycheck, Jaine jumps when she gets a referral to Dates of Joy, the premier matchmaking service in Beverly Hills.  Joy Amoroso, the owner, wants Jaine to write a new brochure and some copy for the website.

However, Joy is a bear to work for, scams her clients, and hordes her chocolate.  And those are her good points.  It’s hardly a surprise when Joy drops dead in the middle of her annual Valentine’s Day party.  In fact, the list of suspects includes everyone who ever met Joy.  Since Jaine is one of the suspects, she decides to jump in and find the real killer while dodging her new geriatric suitor, a man who is dating Jaine to get close to her cat, Prozac.  But who actually killed Joy?

Author Laura Levine is a former sitcom writer, and it shows in these books.  Each book stands alone, so you can jump in with any book that catches your interest.  The humor comes from wacky characters and Jaine’s asides in the breezy narration.  Plus she gets into some pretty funny situations as well.  The squirrel scene is especially good in this book.  I was laughing and smiling from start to finish.

As a result, the characters can be a bit thin at times.  I do come to care for most of them, but they don’t have quite the depth of the characters in many of the novels I read.  Still, they work for this series where the emphasis is on just having fun.

The mystery is strong here.  There is some set up of suspects before the murder takes place, so we already know who might have done it when Joy drops dead.  I suspected who the killer might be early on, but I wasn’t sure until Jaine figured it out.

As always, there is a sub-plot involving Jaine’s parents.  They live in a retirement community in Florida, and their story unfolds in a series of hilarious e-mails.  It doesn’t tie in to the main mystery, but it is fun just the same.  This time, Jaine’s Dad thinks someone is trying to woo her Mom, and it just snowballs from there.  This may be my favorite of the sub-plots yet.

So when you are ready for something light and fun, pick up Killing Cupid.  You’ll be laughing before you know it as you wait to see just who Jaine will actually catch at the killer.

While you don't need to read this series in order, if you want to do so, here's The Jaine Austen Mysteries in order.

TV Recap: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 1-13 - T.R.A.C.K.S.

Last night’s episode used an unique storytelling devise – filling us in on the action from various viewpoints until we got the full picture.  It can be a risky viewpoint, but it was executed perfectly for this episode.  I loved it!

We start with our team on the plane getting their assignment.  Quinn, the billionaire from the last episode (and an earlier one), has bought some device and is using a train in Italy to transport it to wherever he is hiding.  The team is going to sneak onto the train under cover and tag whatever it is so they can track it to Quinn.

Everyone seems to get into place, and it seems to be going well.  Simmons’s antics to spill the tracking powder in the passenger car was a particular highlight.  (It also provided Stan Lee the chance for his cameo.  Pointless to the episode but so much fun.)

But then things go wrong.  The earpieces go out just as they’ve found the package.  Coulson heads out to the location to find no one there.  Then Ward comes rushing in followed by several bad buys.  One of them has a grenade.  Ward and Coulson jump off the train, which promptly vanishes after the grenade is thrown.

Commercial

February 5th's Waiting on Wednesday

Since it is Wednesday, it is time once again for Waiting on Wednesday.

This week, I'm spotlighting Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke.

This is the latest in the Hannah Swensen mystery series.  That means that the murder victim will be found next to one of Hannah's newest creations - in this case a blackberry pie.  There will be tons of recipes, some cookies since Hannah owns a cookie shop, definitely the blackberry pie, and probably a hot dish or other type of recipe.

Looking for more than that?  Hannah is the one in the cross hairs after she accidentally hits a stranger in a thunderstorm.  Who was he?  Would he have died before the accident?  And all this just as the local paper was announcing how long it had been since Hannah stumbled over the last dead body.  Plus Hannah is in charge as her mother gets remarried.  Plenty of fun to be had in the latest adventure to be sure.

And I won't have long to wait.  The book comes out at the end of this month on the 25th.

TV Recap: Castle 6-14 - Dressed to Kill

During the first season of Survivor, every episode’s teaser involved some hint that the alliance of four might crack.  Of course, it was all about the editing and that alliance never came close to cracking at all until the end.

I bring this up because everyone seems to be trying to apply the same thing to Castle.  Not any of the official press releases I’ve read, but the clips that blogs are linking up to involve someone getting cold feet.  Please.  That’s not what they are writing toward.

But we are now writing towards a Spring wedding (now there’s a shocker).

Of course, there is a murder.  Two fashion designer wanna bes are digging through a dumpster when they suddenly find a dead body.  Turns out our victim was the assistant to the woman who runs one of the best fashion magazines in the country.

The surprise is that this woman knows Beckett.  Seems that Beckett had a past as a model, all 15 minutes of it, and actually turned this woman down to become a detective.  They do seem to be on friendly terms since she didn’t turn Kate away.  I was glad Castle didn’t remember this about Beckett.  Makes me feel better since I didn’t know it either.

Movie Review: Turbo

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Comedy, great story, wonderful characters

Cons: Story is predictable (but you’ll have so much fun you won’t care)

The Bottom Line:

Ordinary snail

With extraordinary speed

Laughs and fun for all

A Garden Snail with a Need for Speed

I didn’t get to the theater as much as usual in 2013, so I’m catching up via rentals now.  One of those I missed was Turbo, and it was well worth watching.

The story follows the adventures of a snail who dreams of racing.  And yes, we’re talking car racing.  Not only does Turbo (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) stay up nights watching tapes of races; it interferes with his day job of corralling the rotten tomatoes his co-workers send down from the vines.

One day, an accident infuses him with the one thing he craves, speed.  Then he finds himself in the possession of a taco truck driver, Tito (Michael Pena), who thinks that Turbo just might be the way to get his brother’s taco stand notice.  Will it work?

Obviously, this animated delight has no basis in reality – especially in the final act when Turbo, as a snail, fulfills a dream of racing cars.  But you know what?  I didn’t care.

Why is that?  The film is filled with delightful characters from start to finish.  While Turbo and his brother Chet (Paul Giamatti) have their disagreements, they do obviously still care for each other.  In fact, I loved how their relationship mirrored that of Tito and his brother Angelo (Luis Guzman).  The other owners of the shops in the strip mall where much of the action takes place are fun as are the other racing snails in the complex.  I truly loved all of them and enjoyed spending time with them.

The voice talent is wonderful.  Whether famous or not, the only voice I recognized was Samuel L. Jackson, but it fit the character so perfectly I didn’t find it a distraction at all.  The actors did what they needed to do, allow me to get lost in the story.

So how lost in the story did I get?  During the climax, I was so into it I found myself yelling at the screen.  Yes, I knew how the story would end (it is fairly predictable), but in that moment it didn’t matter.  Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t get to catch this one in the theaters after all.

And I can’t leave out the comedy.  While the premise may be crazy, the execution is perfect, and I couldn’t help but laugh the entire way through.  The scene where Turbo first discovers his changes is especially funny.

DreamWorks Animation is a mix of stylized and realistic.  This one ventured more toward the realistic side of things with several beautiful shots throughout the film that come close to rivaling Pixar at their best.  One key scene takes place in the Los Angeles “River” (don’t get me started on that drainage ditch), and I recognized it.  This was before I knew the setting was the LA suburbs, and I was pretty excited with my catch.

Turbo was delightful from start to finish and I’m sorry I didn’t get to see it sooner.  Don’t let this one race by without stopping to enjoy it yourself.

Ornament Review: St. Patty's Day? - Happiness is Peanuts All Year Long #8 - 2014 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Lesser done character in a great ornament

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Patty leads the way

To celebrate Irish day

Lots of fun I say

Sorry, Peppermint Patty, but the Day is for Someone Else

Since the Happiness is Peanuts All Year Long series is highlighting holidays for the monthly ornaments as much as possible, it makes sense that the March ornament would be based on St. Patrick’s Day.  But when I saw the ornament, I was double impressed.  St Patty's Day? is easily a favorite in the series.

The ornament features, who else, Peppermint Patty.  Instead of her trademark clothes, she’s decked out in green, including a traditional Irish green hat.  Her right hand is over her heart and in her left hand she’s holding a four leaf clover.  She’s smiling and clearly proud to be celebrating something.

I’m a pun guy who famously says there is no such thing as a bad pun, so part of the appeal of this ornament is the pun that forms the basis - Patrick to Patty.  Get it?  Get it?  Not only that, but I can totally see Peppermint Patty thinking the day is all about her. Frankly, I think that smile on her face is from thinking just that.  And then poor Marci would have to explain what the day is really all about, not that Peppermint Patty would listen or get it.

Adding to the fun is that Peppermint Patty is a very rare Peanuts character to find in ornament form.  Yes, she is out there, but she’s not as plentiful as Linus, Lucy, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy.

There is a nice flat surface of green grass (with a few more clovers hidden in there) Peppermint Patty is standing on that helps form a solid base for the ornament.  As such, you can set her out anywhere as you decorate for St. Patrick’s Day.  You'll also find the series marker on the bottom of the base.

Wonder of wonders, the loop in the top of her head is facing the right direction so you can hang her from the stand that Hallmark sold separately to compliment the series.  That makes two ornaments in a row that were done correctly.  Maybe they’ve figured it out.  Anyway, when you hang her, Peppermint Patty hangs forward a little, although her backed is arched such that she still looks good.

Speaking of the stand, the background for this one is perfect.  It’s got a rainbow leading to a pot of gold in the middle of a grassy field.  It screams Ireland and Irish to me, which is exactly what they were going for.

So whether you have Irish roots or just want to celebrate the day, St Patty's Day? is a great way to decorate for March.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Happiness is Peanuts All Year Long series.

Original Price: $12.95

Monthly Reading Summary - January 2014

Here's my summary of what I read this month.  Links take you to the full review.

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

YOU CANNOLI DIE ONCE by Shelley Costa (Miracolo Mysteries #1) - 4

After an injury leaves Eve unable to dance, she becomes the head chef at her family's Italian restaurant.  One more, she arrives to find a dead man in the kitchen.  She's even more shocked to learn the dead man is her grandmother's current boyfriend.  Why was he there?  And can Eve keep her grandmother out of prison?

The cast of characters was a little too large, and I had a hard time keeping them all straight at first.  They came into focus as things went along, and the plot was always moving forward.  An absolutely fun debut.

NEW LANDS by Geoff Rodkey (Chronicles of Egg #2) - 5

Egg and Guts are headed to the New Lands to try to find the treasure map they've found.  But their journey will be dangerous with hostile Natives and a settlement that has an edict against foreigners.  Will they survive long enough to explore the wilderness?

A great middle grade novel, this one picks up where the first one ended (so read it first).  The characters are fun, charming, and feel real.  The plot takes some great twists and I was shocked a time or two by what Egg learns along the way.  Can not wait for the third and final book to come out.

NOTE: I won an ARC of this book in a contest.

MURDER WITH GANACHE by Lucy Burdette (Key West Food Critic Mystery #4) - 5

Hayley's family is coming to town for her best friend's wedding, but things get off to a rocky start with her teenage step-brother.  When he goes off to explore on his own and disappears, the family begins to panic.  Will they find him?  What might he have gotten into?

This was my introduction to the series, and I'm regretting that.  I really enjoyed this book.  The plot was great and completely pulled me in.  While the characters could have been a little better introduced to those of us who don't know the series, I didn't have too much of a hard time getting them all figured out.  The ending could have been a little smoother, but everything was explained by the end.  I'm going to have to go back and read the earlier books in the series.

NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

MR. MONK GETS ON BOARD by Hy Conrad (Monk #17) - 5

When Natalie decides to attend a business conference on a cruise ship, she is surprised when Monk tags along.  She's almost talked him into leaving when she over hears a murder plot.  Can they stop it?  Can they prove who the killer is?

A couple of times, this book got a little lost in the fun of Monk on the cruise ship, just like the series.  And just like in the series, I enjoyed those moments.  The mystery was still strong and the characters were great as always.

GLADIATORS: A TRUE STORY OF 'ROIDS, RAGE, AND REDEMPTION by Dan "Nitro" Clark - 4

This memoir was written by Nitro from the original American Gladiators.  It's the story of his life and his struggle with steroids.  Yes, we get some time talking about the show that made him famous, but the majority of the time was actually spent on the price of that fame.  You can tell Dan is trying to issue a warning to others about the dangers of steroids.

At times the book is a tough read just because Dan never holds back on the effects of the drugs.  However, I enjoyed the book overall and I'm definitely glad I read it.

LOST AND FONDUE by Avery Aames (Cheese Shop Mysteries #2) - 4

Charlotte is catering a fundraiser at the old winery on the outskirts of town.  During the scavenger hunt, she finds the body of one of the guests in the basement.  With the police looking at someone Charlotte cares about, she must spring into detective mode to find the real killer.

I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this second book in the series.  The characters were a tad overwhelming at first by their number, but I quickly had them all figured out.  The plot slow down a tad in the middle, but the end result was great.  I'll definitely be back for the next slice.

CLOCHE AND DAGGER by Jenn McKinlay (Hat Shop Mysteries #1) - 4

Scarlett Parker's life is falling apart between loosing her job and a breakup gone viral, so she moves to London to help run the hat shop she and her cousin inherited from their grandmother.  However, when she arrives, her cousin is missing.  Her bad feeling about everything only grows with one of their customers is murdered.

The book is very engaging with delightful characters who feel fully formed from the moment they step on to the page.  In fact, it took me a little while to realize the plot was moving rather slowly.  That's my only complaint with the book, however, and I'm certainly looking forward to the next book when it comes out in May.

NYPD PUZZLE by Parnell Hall (Puzzle Lady Mysteries #15) - 4

When lawyer Becky Baldwin gets a new client in NYC she doesn't feel comfortable with, she asks famed Puzzle Lady Cora Felton to act as her body guard.  But when they arrive for the meeting, the client is dead with a crossword puzzle on his body.  Then Cora is arrested for the murder.  What is going on?

This books are always fun and quick witted, and this is no exception.  The plot is a little weak, but the characters get frustrated by my frustrations, too, so it was on purpose.  Still, fun overall and definitely one fans of the series will enjoy.

Book Review: NYPD Puzzle by Parnell Hall (Puzzle Lady Mysteries #15)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: More crazy fun with Cora

Cons: Plot and characters a little weak

The Bottom Line:

Solve the puzzles and

See Cora catch a killer

Still plenty of fun

Trips to New York City are Murder

I’m not a fan of crossword puzzles.  And yet I keep reading the Puzzle Lady Mysteries because I enjoyed the banter between the characters.  They are light, fun reads, and NYPD Puzzle, the latest, is no exception.

When attorney Becky Baldwin gets a new client who wants to meet at his bachelor penthouse in New York City, she’s concerned.  So she hires Cora Felton, the renowned Puzzle Lady, to accompany her and act as her body guard.  However, when they arrive, they find the client murdered, a crossword on his body, and a man in the bedroom robbing a safe.  Cora exchanges shots with the burglar, but he escapes and Cora finds herself the chief suspect in the murder.

Thanks to some fast talking, Cora and Becky head home only to discover that someone is following them.  And the puzzles keep coming.  Can Cora figure out what the heck is going on?

The banter between the characters can at times veer off into the characters talking past each other and get annoying.  Fortunately, that only happened for a scene or two here.  Instead, I was able to enjoy the quick wit of the characters as they try to figure out what the heck is going on.

Now fans of the series need not worry about missing series regulars since the action starts in New York City.  Yes, a portion of the book takes place there, but there is still plenty of action back in Bakerhaven, and all the major characters are still present – and many of the minor ones make an appearance as well.  They are more caricatures than fully formed characters, but they are developed enough to be fun to be around and to make us care about the story.

Speaking of story, the plot in this one is made up of events that Cora can’t seem to connect.  Just as I was getting frustrated with the lack of forward movement, the characters started to comment on that as well.  That made me feel much better because I figured it they could complain about it I was in good company.  While never as strong as I prefer my mysteries, it still did reach a logical and suspenseful conclusion.

Which brings us to the puzzles.  There are several crossword puzzles and two Sudoku that play a part in the story.  You can solve them yourself, but if you like me you don’t care that much, you can just keep reading and wait until the characters solve them for you.  Fortunately, that usually happens fairly quickly since these puzzles are part of the story.

With the last book, I wasn’t happy with a certain sub-plot involving Cora’s personal life.  Things have been resolved to my liking this time around, so I’m happy.

I always enjoy spending some time with Cora and the gang, and NYPD Puzzle provided another great opportunity to do that.  If you enjoy puzzles or wit, check out this fun series.

And if you want to start from the beginning, check out The Puzzle Lady Mysteries in order.

February 1st Weekly TV Thoughts

Ack!  How can it be February Sweeps already?  And February in general.

As a reminder, spoilerish comments start below.

Intelligence - I'm done.  It's not that the show was bad, but it wasn't that special or unique.  Outside of the second episode, everything felt like another procedural going through the motions.  I don't have time for new shows I'm not loving, so I'm backing this one in.

Melissa & Joey - Man, I think I'm going to have Ryder's song stuck in my head.  Not good!  Glad Joe has moved back in where he belongs.  Wonder what is next for this new relationship.

Arrow - Mom running for mayor?  That's going to be good.  I hope Sarah being there will bring Laurel's drinking to an end because I hate that storyline.  On the other hand, I'm really liking Roy and Oliver's new working relationship.  Long may they train.

Psych - I'm not normally a fan of Woody, so I was dreading a Woody centric episode.  This one was actually kind of fun.  I was also wondering just how long they'd keep the interim chief around.  Won't miss him at all.

The Big Bang Theory - They have really mastered the three story thing this year.  All three of them were a hoot, although I loved having James Earl Jones becoming such fast friends with Sheldon.  Completely crazy, but funny, too.  And the first couple of scenes with just Penny and the guys?  Classic Big Bang comedy.

The Crazy Ones - How did a computer spit out that great ice commercial and the stupid cat food commercial?  Oh, wait, I'm thinking about it logically when the reality is it was a plot point for a comedy.  And as such, it was pretty funny.

White Collar - Yeah, yeah, Mozzie didn't die and they caught Rebecca.  That much was a given.  Let's talk the last 10 minutes.  It looked for a moment like this was a series finale even though I knew it had been picked up for another season.  And with Peter feeling the need to stay for Neal, that's what gets him to stay in New York.  But Elizabeth commuting?  Please tell me they aren't going to give them issues?  I have always loved Peter and Elizabeth's relationship.  And yes, who kidnapped Neal and why?  And how long do we have to wait for the next episode?

Enlisted - So they seem to be on an every other cycle.  A really funny one followed by an amusing one.  This one was amusing but not as funny as the first and third.  Still, I really enjoyed it.  I knew something like that ending would happen, but I still wasn't quite sure what it would be until the suit's head came off.