Ornament Review: Jiminy Cricket - 2015 Hallmark Limited Edition Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Captures Jiminy at the beginning of the movie perfectly

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Jiminy Cricket

Parachuting in to tree

For fun ornament

Jiminy is Dropping onto Your Tree

I wasn’t going to get him.  I got the mini Jiminy Cricket from a couple years ago, and I have Jiminy as part of the Mickey’s Christmas Carol ornament series.  So I was going to let the limited edition Jiminy Cricket that Hallmark just released go by without buying it.  Then I looked at him, and I caved.

Actually, it’s fairly easy for a DisNerd to justify buying this ornament.  See, unlike the others I just mentioned, this ornament features Jiminy at the beginning of Pinocchio.  In fact, this is just as he is jumping into the story – literally.  He’s holding his umbrella over his head and floating down.  The only difference is, he’s not wearing the rags he is wearing when we first meet him but the spiffy clothes the Blue Fairy gives him at the beginning of the movie.  So maybe it is from a scene later in the film (I must admit it’s been a while since I’ve watched the movie), but I can’t help but think of that first scene.

And that’s why I wound up buying him.  No, I didn’t need Jiminy on my tree again, but I loved this different look for him.  The floating aspect added to the fun and really makes it perfect for an ornament.  This is also Jiminy on his own as a full sized ornament, and I prefer those over the mini ornaments as well.

Since Jiminy is floating, his feet are not flat.  In fact, only the toes of one reach the ground.  This means there is no solid base for setting this ornament out to display, so you’ll have to hang it.  That’s perfect fine because so much of the fun of this ornament is the angle he is hanging.  It looks like he is floating down.  Have I mentioned how fun I find that?

I must not have been alone in loving Jiminy since he was a very popular limited edition ornament selling out quickly in many stores across the country.  So if you want Jiminy Cricket for your Christmas tree, I recommend you track him down soon.

Original Price: $14.95

Book Review: Time's Up by Janey Mack (Maisie McGrance #1)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Mostly enjoyable coming of age story

Cons: This book is not a mystery, some clichés, especially in characters

The Bottom Line:

There is some fun here

I am just not the correct

Audience for it

Got Any Change for This Career Change?

I try to be as selective with review requests as I am with the books I purchase.  After all, I’m going to spend the same amount of time reading and reviewing a book whether I buy it or take it for free.  I will admit I hesitated when I was offered an ARC of Time's Up, but that was mainly because I had other books I was dying to read.  The premise sounded good and unique, however, so I accepted it.  Sadly, it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

Maisie McGrane is the youngest child in her family and the only girl.  She is planning to follow in the footsteps of her father and three of her five older brothers and become a cop.  That is until her psych evaluation comes back.  She failed.

Coupled with the disgrace of washing out, Maisie must also pursue a new career path.  While her mother, wants Maisie to become a lawyer like she and Maisie’s other two brothers are, Maisie hits on another path – meter maid.  Sorry, I mean parking enforcement.  Her reasoning is that if she can prove she can handle this job, she can prove her psych evaluation wrong and get reinstated as a cop.  But does she really have what it takes to handle this job?

Now let’s clear one thing up right now – the genre.  Right on the cover, this book says it is a mystery.  It isn’t.  Yes, there is a dead body (two actually), and yes, Maisie does figure out who the killer is in the end.  However, that is a sub-plot at best and by far the weakest part of the book.  Instead, the focus is on Maisie and her new job and the trouble she gets into on this job.  It’s really more coming of age than anything else.  Then again, I'm the one who classifies Lisa Lutz's popular (and wonderful) Spellman books as dysfunctional family comedy instead of mysteries, so what do I know?

Once I figured the true genre out, I did begin to enjoy the story.  Yes, there were still slow spots, but for the most part, I couldn’t wait to see how Maisie’s actions would get her into trouble next.  The book twists in some unexpected directions, which also helped keep me entertained.

The characters are a mixed bag.  Some of them are very predictable.  Maisie having five older Irish brothers doesn’t exactly break new ground, especially when she complains about her dating life.  Honestly, we really only get to know a couple of the brothers, which does leave room for the others to be developed in future books, because, once again, the focus is on Maisie’s job.

And there we get some great characters.  They are fun and memorable.  Maisie herself is also a delight to spend time with.

I saw one person compare this book to Janet Evanovich, and I’d say that’s a fair comparison.  It’s Evanovich light, but if you enjoy her Stephanie Plumb books, you’ll probably enjoy this.  I’ve only read the first two books in that series, so I probably wasn’t the right audience to begin with.

And like Evanovich, this certainly has more language and sex than I normally read.  Just keep that in mind when you pick up the book.

And that’s what makes rating this book so hard for me.  It’s not that the book is bad, I just don’t think I’m the right audience for it.  If you like Evanovich, consider giving Time's Up a try.  Otherwise, feel free to pass in favor of another book.

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

The Peaches and Scream Winner Is....

Wow!  Thanks so much to all of you who entered the contest for Peaches and Scream.  That has got to be one of my best contests yet.  Unfortunately, there is only one winner, and that winner is...

Mary H!

Mary, I've just sent you an e-mail, so check your inbox so we can connect you with your prize.

Ornament Review: Five Golden Ring - 12 Days of Christmas #5 - 2015 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Gorgeous colors with rings working into the details

Cons: Not the usual take on this day

The Bottom Line:

Unique idea

Used for stunning ornament

Once you accept bird

On the Fifth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me…Wait, What?????

The big question on everyone’s mind when Hallmark started the 12 Days of Christmas series was how artist Edyth Kegrize was going to handle the fifth day.  We actually got a sneak peak of it last year, and it set off a bunch of talk on the Hallmark ornament message board I’m part of.  It’s a different take on Five Golden Rings to be sure, but it also is a beautiful ornament.

You see, Edyth went with a bird.  Yes, that’s right, a bird is representing the rings.  It’s not just any bird, it is a ring-necked pheasant, and apparently it was a traditional dish at the Twelfth Night feasts.  According to some sources, it is what was meant by the golden rings of the fifth verse.  I haven’t done my own research, so I’m trusting Hallmark and Edyth here.  While I still grates a little to see a bird, I really do love this ornament.

Our pheasant is mostly reds and oranges.  His coloring is very much in line with the colors of Three French Hens two years ago, only darker and richer in hue.  The wings are blue and green.  The back wings have a few notes on them, and the front wings have words.  When the head is facing to the right, you see Five Golden Rings written in fancy calligraphy.  On the other side, the wings have the fifth verse in smaller calligraphy.  And the tail on this bird is very long.  Look on the underside of the tail to find the series marker.

In a nod to what we normally associate with this verse, the crest attaching the wings to the body is made up of five interlocking rings.  The same is true of the dangle hanging from the bottom of the bird.

The colors are bright and really stand out more than anything we’ve seen in this series before, and I love them.  This series continues to be so artistic and beautiful.  It’s definitely one of the ornaments I can stare at for hours.  What won me over to this take on the verse was that fact that the rings we in America associate with this verse are hidden on the ornament.  It’s a nice nod to today while also using some long forgotten tradition for the main part of the ornament.

Like the previous ornaments in this series, you can’t set it out.  It’s a bird and has something dangling from it, after all.  When you do slip a hook through the loop near his neck, you’ll find that he hangs straight.

It’s taken me some time to warm up to this take on Five Golden Rings, but the result is another ornament I love.  The colors and artistry continue to be breathtaking.  Give the idea behind the ornament a chance, and I think you’ll love it, too.

Of course, you'll need to get all of the 12 Days of Christmas series.

Original Price: $12.95

Book Review: Murder on the Bucket List by Elizabeth Perona (Bucket List Mysteries #1)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great characters, good mystery, and laughs

Cons: Killer a little obvious, characters occasionally annoying

The Bottom Line:

Unusual sleuths

In a fast paced, fun story

Delightful debut

Put Reading This Debut on Your Bucket List

Sometimes, a book crosses my path, and it sounds like so much fun I just have to read it.  That was how I felt after reading the description of Murder on the Bucket List.  I’m delighted to say it lived up to my expectations.

Francine McNamara and four of her friends each created bucket lists when they turned 60.  While they let a decade go without being active in crossing the items off their list, they have recently started to work together to fix that.  Which is why the five of them are at Alice’s pool at midnight one night to help Joy knock skinny dipping off her list.

As the friends find ways to stall, Mary Ruth notices a foul odor.  Investigating further, they find a dead body in the pool shed.  The victim is Friederich Gurrmann, a mechanic for the midget car circuit with ties to a local celebrity racer.  While it kills the mood for the dip in the pool, it soon leads to other items from the bucket lists being marked off, including Joy’s desire for publicity and Charlotte’s desire to solve a mystery.  But who would kill Friederich?  More importantly, why did he end up in Alice’s shed?

Confused by all those names I just threw your way?  Don’t be concerned at all.  While the first chapter is a bit overwhelming meeting all five woman and finding the body, the characters are very strong and it was only another couple of chapters before I had all the players straight.  During that time, we are given plenty of reminders and pieces to connect everyone, so I never had to flip back to remember who was whom.  We’ve got a lot of characters, too, not only the five women who are the core of the book but the suspects and supporting players who pop up as the book progresses.

It absolutely helps that Francine is our only view point character.  While the story is told third person, we never leave Francine’s side as the case unfolds.  As she spends times with characters alone, we get a better feel for them.

I also loved the fact that our main characters are all in their 70’s, much older than the normal age for the books I read.  Yet they are all obviously still sharp and active.  I want to be like them in 30 years myself.

The plot of the book starts quickly, and the pace never really lets up.  There is plenty happening here in addition to the murder, but the mystery is never eclipsed by any of it.  I did figure out the killer before the end, but I didn’t have the motive right until it was all explained.  The climax was wonderful.

In addition, there is humor.  As the story gets picked up in the press, the notoriety the “skinny dipping grandmas” earn is very funny.  At times, I did find the characters a bit annoying and selfish as they dealt with their fifteen minutes of fame, but it never lasted for long as something would happen that would make me laugh again.

Any complaints I noted above are all minor, and I was sorry when I reached the end of Murder on the Bucket List.  This is a winning series debut, and I can’t wait to visit these characters again.  You can bet reading the sequel is high on my bucket list.

Be Sure to cross the rest of the Bucket List Mysteries off your list.

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

Giveaway:

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of this book to give away.  Because it is a physical book, the contest is limited to residence of the US.

Leave me a comment with one item on your bucket list and your e-mail address so I can get in touch with you.  I will pick the winner next Monday, July 20th, so please leave your comment before 12:01AM on 7/20.

Ornament Review: Building Buddies Snoopy - Spotlight on Snoopy #18 - 2015 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Christmas colors added to a good sculpt

Cons: One arm seems a little long, noticeable tip

The Bottom Line:

The festive apron

Is nice touch.  Snoopy, Woodstock

Ready to build now

Snoopy’s Building a Great Ornament

The thing I love about Snoopy is, he can do just about anything.  And Hallmark has taken full advantage of that with the Spotlight on Snoopy series.  After all, Building Buddies Snoopy is the eighteenth ornament in the series, and it’s still going strong.

This ornament features Snoopy all ready to go to work on some construction site.  He’s wearing a silver hard hat on his head and he’s got a hammer in his right hand.  Snoopy’s also wearing a work apron, and in a touch I love, it’s green with a red pocket.  This series hasn’t had many nods to Christmas in the last decade or so, and I love it here.  Couple that with Snoopy’s red collar, and he’s actually looking very festive.

In Snoopy’s right hand is a wooden toolbox.  It’s actually closed, so we can’t see any tools in it, but sitting on top of the box is Woodstock.  He had to show up somewhere since he’s been in all the others of the series, and the idea of him getting a ride to work is lots of fun.

As I already mentioned, I do like the colors they added that give it a bit of a Christmas feel.  However, Snoopy’s left arm seems a little too long to me.  It’s probably how they needed to sculpt it to have him holding the tool box, but it just doesn’t look right from some angles.  Other angles, it does look fine, however.

Unfortunately, there is another flaw with this ornament – it tips toward the toolbox.  I’ve seen worse, but it is definitely noticeable.

On the other hand, between Snoopy’s feet and the toolbox sitting right next to him, there is a nice solid base, so you can place Snoopy out on display and not worry about him tipping over at all.  The series marker, an 18 in a Christmas tree, is also on the bottom.

The two flaws are enough to knock a star off my rating of the ornament, but overall, I do still think that Building Buddies Snoopy is a strong addition to this series.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Spotlight on Snoopy series.

Original Price: $12.95

July 11th's Weekly TV Recaps

No preamble, so let's get right to it.

America Ninja Warrior – For me, the people I was rooting for the most were the twins.  And they both went out at the same place, which was so hard to watch.  I thought this was a special kind of thing, but in reality, they are making this another leg of the competition, so really, there are six different qualifying cities.  I love seeing so many people getting a chance to compete each year, so I’m not complaining at all.

Royal Pains – Divya and Jeremiah.  I love them and their relationship.  I go back and forth on whether I think they’d make a great couple or not, but I hope they never lose their friendship.  The twist with Evan at the end was quite interesting, and I loved his “Thank you?”  I really do love these characters and this show.  I don’t think I’ve mentioned that this season yet, have I?

Scream – So are they going to start each episode with a murder?  And did no one really find her body until the next morning?  Although I guess if the killer moved it into her room, that might make sense.  Definitely more high school drama since they do need to spread things out, and they have explained the new mask, although I really, really will always miss Ghostface.

Melissa & Joey – You know, that future kind of seemed like something from 1984, but maybe I have that on my mind since I listened to it a couple months back.  I think my favorite parts were the “or else” lines, especially “Don’t worry, be happy.  Or else.”  I may have to remember that line in the future.

Baby Daddy – Bonnie settling down?  I mean, I know she was married before the series started, but I can’t quite picture it.  How are they going to play out this engagement?  I seriously don’t expect it to last.

Suits – As I was watching, I was thinking about how Harvey treats people, running them over when they get in his way.  And then the therapist brought that out in the roll play.  I think I’m actually rooting for Harvey to lose something (beside Donna) this season so he has to take a step back from how he always treats people.  Loving Rachel and Jessica together this season – more of that, please.  And anyone else know what our mid-season cliffhanger is going to be?  Because I have a guess.  Rachel’s dad learns Mike’s secret.

Graceland – The curse of too many storylines strikes again.  Why did they need to find that guy in Florida?  Oh, and if the cop say “Let me do the talking,” I’m going to do the talking.  Just saying.  Looks like they’ve set things up to be very, very interesting next week.

Girl Meets World – Overall, a very disappointing episode.  Really?  You’re going to preach to us that the voting age should be lowered?  And crazy Eric is funny in small doses.  I much prefer the sane Eric.  Having said that, I almost remember Tommy, so that part was neat.  And I loved the final scene.

Ornament Review: Petite Treat - 2015 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Cute pepperminty looking cupcake

Cons: Very small

The Bottom Line:

This mini cupcake

Shrinks as mini ornament

Fun by very small

Mini Ornament of a Mini Cupcake

I rarely pay attention to the mini ornaments that Hallmark produces.  However, since I do collect the Christmas Cupcake series, Petite Treat caught my eye.  This mini cupcake is a Keepsake Ornament Club exclusive and really is quite fun.

Unlike the series, the ornament is made all of plastic.  It features a chocolate cupcake in a green cupcake foil.  On the top is a thin layer of red frosting, white frosting, and then just a dap of green frosting.  Finally, on top, is a round, white peppermint candy with swirls of red on it.

Now, I will admit that I the small size does still bother me.  I mean, the entire ornament is only just over an inch tall, so there just isn’t room for much detail.  This also makes it smaller than real mini cupcakes.  However, there is still some fun detail, and the colors and pieces of glitter are quite festive.  I really do love it, although I still worry about the miniature ornaments getting lost in a tree because of their size.

Yes, it may be small, but the bottom is still flat.  You can set it out as part of any display you want.  There is a hook in the top of the peppermint, and the ornament does hang level or close enough it’s hard to tell if it is tipping slightly one direction.

Not a member of the KOC?  Not to worry.  Rumor has it that next year’s ornament in the official Christmas Cupcake series will be inspired by this ornament.  Will it be an exact duplicate only larger?  Or will it be similar with new colors?  Only time will tell.

Either way, you probably only need to track this down if you are a completest, like me.  However, the size is the only problem I can see with this Petite Treat.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Christmas Cupcakes series.

Original Price: $7.95

July 10th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

It's Friday!  I'm looking forward to Hallmark's Ornament Premier on Saturday.  But before we get there, it's time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

I just started a reread of the 11th book in an old favorite series.  I'm reading Mrs. Pollifax Pursued by Dorothy Gilman.

For those who aren't familiar with the series, Mrs. Pollifax is a grandmother, widow, garden club member...and part time CIA agent.  Her boss at the CIA is Carstairs, so you might guess just how much I love this series.

Here's now the book begins:

Henry Bidwell was rich, but this was of little consequence to him since he had always been rich.

Jumping ahead of page 56:

"Could we go back?" Kadi asked eagerly.  "Could we rescue him?"
Mrs. Pollifax shook her head.  "You've become dangerous to them, Kadi, presumably because you're a friend of Sammy's."

It's probably been close to 20 years since I read this book, so I don't really remember much of the plot.  I'm not much further than the 56, but so far I'm really enjoying it again.

Book Review: Fatal Reservations by Lucy Burdette (Key West Food Critic Mysteries #6)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great characters and setting in a puzzling mystery

Cons: Hayley’s job insecurity rises up yet again

The Bottom Line:

Return to Key West

With rising tensions, murder

And delightful cast

I Have No Reservations About Recommending This Book

Last year, I read the five books available in the Key West Food Critic Mysteries, and I completely fell in love with the character and setting.  I hadn’t realized just how much until I picked up Fatal Reservations, the just released sixth book, and was delighted to be back in Key West with Hayley Snow.  Fans of the series will be delighted with her newest case.

It’s February in Key West, the height of tourist season, but below the happy faces everyone puts on, tensions are building.  A new restaurant, For Goodness’ Sake, is causing controversy since, as a boat, it has managed to bypass many of the regulations that the restaurants on the island must follow.  Meanwhile, a series of robberies around the cemetery are leaving everyone on edge and negotiations with the performers at the Sunset Celebration on Mallory Square are splitting this group into two very bitter parts.

Leading one side of the fight on Mallory Square is Bart Frontgate, who entertains the tourists by juggling flaming pieces of meat on specially made forks.  When he is pulled from the sea having been stabbed with one of his own forks, Hayley’s friend Lorenzo is the chief suspect.  Hayley can’t believe it since Lorenzo, a tarot card reader, is such a kind and gentle man.  Yet he is obviously hiding something.  Despite vows to not get involved, she can’t let her friend take the fall.  Will she uncover the real killer?

While I had never given visiting Key West a thought prior to picking up this series, it’s now on my must visit list thanks to the wonderful descriptions in this book.  I feel like I already know the island so well, and I have so many places I feel the need to visit.  This book continues to bring the island to life and has even added an unlikely spot I’d want to visit in real life.  Yes, I must see the cemetery now.

The cast of characters has always been great, and that continues here.  Hayley has definitely grown stronger over the course of the series, and there is a bit of maturity that comes across in a few of her decisions this time around that I really liked.  She’s still a twenty-something, but she has learned from the previous books.  My favorite character by far in the series is Miss Gloria, Hayley’s elderly roommate.  She delights yet again.  Obviously, Lorenzo gets more than his usual one or two scenes, and I enjoyed getting to know him better.  The new characters are just as real and interesting as the series regulars.

There are multiple threads in this book, and that keeps the story moving forward at a brisk pace.  I am a little tired of Hayley being afraid for her job, and that sub-plot is back here, but that was my only complaint with the book.  The mystery contains some nice twists and surprises, and the ending was suspenseful and satisfying.  Everything going on gives the book a bit more depth than I was expecting, which I enjoyed.

The end of the book includes half a dozen recipes for everything from a Raspberry Cake to Blue Cornmeal Pancakes and Baklava.  If your mouth isn’t watering as you read the descriptions of them in the book itself, the recipes will certainly get you ready to cook.

Obviously, fans of the series will be thrilled to return to the characters and setting, but if you are new to the series, you could jump in here as well.  There are a few references to Hayley’s previous cases, but nothing that will truly spoil anything in those earlier books.

So whether you are new to Key West or feel like you know it thanks to Hayley and her adventures, pick up Fatal Reservations.  This is another delicious mystery with a charming cast and a wonderful setting.

If this book leaves you hungry for more, check out the rest of the Key West Food Critic Mysteries in order.

NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.