TV Show Review: WandaVision - Complete Series

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Marvel adventure in classic sitcom trappings

Cons: For some, the early episodes; for me, the payoff was a bit weak

The Bottom Line:

Marvel hits TV

Mystery, classic sitcom

Unique blend, it’s good

“Life Moves Fast in the Suburbs.”

I hadn’t been planning to watch the Marvel shows on Disney+, mainly because I hadn’t been planning to get Disney+.  But when I changed my mind on that, I decided I’d watch WandaVision as it rolled out over the last nine weeks.  It’s been quite a ride, and a mostly enjoyable one.

Being the casual Marvel fan that I am (I’ve watched all the movies, but only once each), I didn’t remember for sure who Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) are.  Fortunately, Disney+ did have a cheat sheet of sorts for me with Marvel Legends, allowing me to watch some scenes of them from mainly Age of Ultron and Infinity War to help remind me of their characters and where they’ve been.  If you haven’t seen those movies, this show will spoil them for you, so either be prepared for that or watch those movies first.

This is a show that is kind of hard to describe.  It follows Wanda and Vision as they live their lives in the suburb of Westview.  Vision has a typical office job and Wanda is trying to adjust to her life as a stay-at-home wife.  Each episode is designed like a sitcom from a different era, with the first two even being in black and white before we switch over to color.  We get episodes inspired by such classics as The Dick van Dyke Show, Bewitched, and The Brady Bunch, to name the first three.

However, everything isn’t as it appears in their ideal world.  We get hints that something strange is really at work.  Who or what is behind it?

The first few episodes really are a slow burn, living more in the sitcom world (complete with a laugh track) than the real world.  It’s episode 4 where we get a glimpse of what is really going on, but that only leaves us with more questions.  From there on out, we get the story told from two different points of view, the sitcom world and the real world, as we build toward the climax.

The level of detail that went into this show is phenomenal.  Each episode, the show picks a different classic sitcom from a different decade as the basis for the show.  They roughly move through the decades, although we get two from the 1960’s and they skip over the 2000’s. The character’s hair and costumes change to match the decade, which I expected.  The sets change each week as well.  I’m not talking just decorations or furniture, but the entire layout changes at times to emulate the layout of a classic sitcom home.  I know some fans struggled with the first few episodes, but I didn’t.  As a fan of classic sitcoms, I was in awe at what they were doing to invoke each era, and how perfectly they were doing it.  I mean, we even get a different, era appropriate theme song each week.

Having heaped that praise on the show, I will admit that the jokes for the sitcoms weren’t as strong as I would have liked.  I was amused, but I wasn’t laughing like I would have been if I were watching the classics they were trying to emulate.

However, I’m willing to give them a pass since the sitcoms were just as excuse to set up a wonderful mystery.  Even as the sitcom aspect became less and less important, I was still hooked because I had to know just what was going on.

I’m not done praising the show.  I must mention the actors.  They do a fabulous job of playing their characters as sitcom characters.  If you are paying attention, the performances change slightly from episode to episode to capture the characters and acting of the era.  Yet they are still recognizable as Wanda and Vision.  It’s all deftly balanced and it looks effortless.  I’m sure it was anything but.

The cast is rounded out by supporting players from the Marvel universe.  Honestly, I had to get some help figuring out who all of them are since they have popped in briefly in a movie here or there but not been major players, but I enjoyed them and their performances even without all the backstory.  Naturally, there are new characters as well who round out the show.

In keeping with the sitcom motif, the early episodes all clock in around 30 minutes.  The last couple of episodes, as everything is finally coming to a head, are longer.  Still, at only nine episodes, you won’t be investing too much time when you sit down to watch this show.

For me, the biggest disappointment was the payoff of the final episode.  I felt like, we’ve been building to something, but it just left us hanging until the movies the characters would be in next come out, which won’t be for another year yet at a minimum.  Don’t get me wrong, they wrapped some things up, and the action and emotion in the finale was wonderful.  But I was left with a feeling of “that’s it?”  And I know that Marvel movies are designed to lead into each other, but I still get more of a sense of resolution than I got here.  Or maybe it’s just because what we got wasn’t what I wanted.  Maybe once I see these characters again, I’ll feel differently and get this show a little more.

But I still definitely suggest you watch WandaVision.  Overall, it is a fun show that will keep you spellbound until you’ve watched the whole thing.

Book Review: The Phantom Outlaw at Wolf Creek by Sigmund Brouwer (Accidental Detective Mysteries #15)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong mystery, fun characters

Cons: Pacing a little off early on

The Bottom Line:

Trip to Montana

Legend of a bank robber

Suspenseful and fun

Danger on a Montana Ranch

Through fits and starts, I’ve finally reached the point of reviewing here on my blog the final novel in the Accidental Detectives series, Phantom Outlaw at Wolf Creek.  I’ve read this book multiple times over the years, and this is still a wonderful read.

Ricky Kidd is looking forward to a month long vacation with his friends Mike and Ralphy at Mike’s uncle and aunt’s ranch in Montana.  The fact that he winds up bringing his younger brother, Joel, along dampens his anticipation a little, but only a little.

When he arrives, he hears the legend of a bank robbery that happened decades ago and the phantom of the outlaw that still haunts the nearby canyon.  Or is it a legend?  Mike and his visiting cousin, Sarah, insist on investigating, and Ricky sees evidence with his own eyes that the legend might be true.  Can Ricky uncover the truth of what is really going on?

This middle grade mystery series continues to be a favorite of mine.  The characters are rich and fun.  In fact, some of their pranks do slow things down early on in the book, but that is a minor complaint since I am enjoying their antics so much.

And there are threads of the mystery being introduced that early into the book as well.  You only start to appreciate that once the entire mystery has been unraveled at the end.  Meanwhile, the clues are fantastic.  I’ve read the book enough I remember where things go, but the first time I read the book, I couldn’t figure out where the clues were leading until Ricky figured it all out.  The ending is wonderfully suspenseful as well.

The series is written for a Christian audience.  Ricky’s faith is worked into the book wonderfully.  The never preaches, and those moments feel completely organic.

This series was originally released in the 1990’s, and that is very obvious.  Not only do none of the characters have cell phones, but the dates given for the bank robbery are very dated at this point.  As long as kids know that going into the book, they’ll be fine.

This series is long out of print – twice.  But it is worth tracking down.  Phantom Outlaw at Wolf Creek is a fun and mysterious read for kids of all ages.

Looking for more?  Here are the rest of the Accidental Detective Mysteries.

This review is part of this week's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

March 6th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Batwoman – Glad they are starting to deal with her wound.  I was losing patience with that, and they need to deal with it at some point.  Not surprised she broke up with her girlfriend again.  She had guest star written all over her.  Kane shutting down the clinic is not a good plot complication.  And once again, Alice got all the best lines.

The Equalizer – I’m loving the relationship between Robyn and Detective Dante.  Yes, a bit of will they/won’t they along with the will he arrest her question.  They sure do work well together when they need to, don’t they?  Like this episode.  Hard to believe that set up worked at the end, but I loved it.  Still not loving the sub-plots with the daughter, but they are getting better.

The Flash – It’s been 10 months since the last episode aired.  And I can tell.  I can’t remember who the new characters are exactly, which was my biggest frustration.  Glad to see them wrapping up one storyline with Barry getting his speed back.  I know I’m supposed to feel something for how he did it, but I actually don’t.  I’m actually kind of over that character, and the version he got last season didn’t help matters at all.

Superman and Lois – Jordan doesn’t have powers after all?  I don’t believe that.  I suspect they will pop up at bad times over the course of at least this season, and he’ll eventually learn to control and harness them.  I never would have figured out he was named for Jor-El.  Nice reveal.  While the family drama with the teens can be a bit much, I am loving the relationships they are building with the family.  Not surprised Lois quit; her storyline is going to be very intriguing.  And what made this alternative Superman so evil?

WandaVision – I’m going to have to sleep on this one.  Lots of action.  Lots of twists.  I’m not sure we got a lot of revelations or a ton of resolution.  On the other hand, I certainly felt what Wanda was feeling there at the end.  Very well written and acted.  And the effects were outstanding.  Of course, it makes sense.  This is a semi-tie-in to the movies.  If you don’t see it, you are supposed to still follow the movies, so they can’t do too much that will confuse the viewers who only watch the movies.

Book Review: Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Four fun stories

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

These four Seuss stories

Combine into a fun book

For young, young at heart

Four Great Seuss Tales

I have been skeptical of the books released in recent years after Dr. Seuss’s death.  However, I couldn’t resist looking at my library’s copy of Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories.  I mean, who doesn’t love Horton?  I’m glad I did because there are four fun stories here.

Up first is the title story in which a Kwuggerbug asks the kind-hearted elephant to help him reach a Beezlenut tree.  If Horton takes the bug there, the bug promises to give him half of the nuts when they arrive.  Will it be worth the journey?

The next story involves Marco from And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and McElligot’s Pool.  In this case, “Marco Comes Late” to school, but he has a great excuse.  You’ll have to read it to find out what it is.  The bigger question is, is it true?

We stay with Mulberry Street for “How Officer Pat Saved the Whole Town.”  When Officer Pat sees a fly buzzing, he knows it means trouble.  Just how big is the trouble?  And how will he stop it?

Finally, we get a two-page story about “The Hoobub and the Grinch.”  No, not that Grinch.  In this case, the Grinch is a salesman attempting to get the Hoobub to buy a piece of green string.  Will it work?

All of these stories are told in classic Seuss rhyme with classic illustrations to go with them.  And, while short, they all have the feel of the best of Suess’s stories.  Since they are all short, it makes sense they’d be collected in one book.

The introduction gives some background to these stories and where they fit in Seuss’s career.  It also explains that all of them were originally written for magazines.  And maybe knowing that was one reason I was willing to give this book a chance.  Dr. Seuss actually did finish these and put them out in the world himself, unlike the other book published after his death that I read, which felt like a work in progress.  These feel finished.  They are short, but they are fun, and there might even be a lesson or two in there as well.

Speaking of the introduction, I definitely think adult fans will enjoy it, but parents reading to their kids will be perfectly fine skipping over it.  There’s a lot of good info here, but kids won’t care, and the lack of picture will bore them.

So if you’ve been avoiding Horton and the Kwuggerbug and More Lost Stories, I suggest you pick it up today.  These four stories will entertain kids of all ages.

Book Review: No Way Home by Annette Dashofy (Zoe Chambers #5)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Pete, Zoe, interesting mystery

Cons: Dueling stories make the beginning slow

The Bottom Line:

Plenty going on

With divided attention

But slow to begin

 

Slow Start Due to Set Up

One of the series I am slowly trying to catch up on is the Zoe Chambers Mysteries.  (At my average of one book a year, it’s going to take me a while.)  I’ve made it half way through the series to date with No Way Home.  This one took me a little time to get into this entry, but ultimately, it was worth it.

A rare warm Sunday in November sends Zoe to the stable for a trail ride through her area of Pennsylvania.  However, that trail ride ends early with the discovery of County Commissioner Dale Springfield’s body.  It appears he fell off his horse in a tragic accident, but Zoe doesn’t think that explanation quite makes sense.

However, her hopes of being involved in the investigation get sidelined when her best friend, Rose, demands Zoe’s help.  Rose’s son has disappeared in the New Mexico desert, and the police think he is a person of interest in a murder.  So Zoe joins Rose in New Mexico.  Can she help find Logan and figure out what really happened?

This series really does have two main characters, Zoe and Pete Adams, the local chief of police.  Each book is written about half from Zoe’s third person point of view and half from Pete’s third person point of view.  This allows us to follow both cases as they unfold even though they are a thousand miles apart.

But that was my biggest issue with the book.  While the mysteries are compelling, they felt like they were competing for page time.  This is especially true at the beginning when one story was beginning to gain momentum and suddenly Zoe’s is traveling to New Mexico.

However, I stuck with it, and my patience was rewarded.  By the time I reached the end, I found the book as compelling as always.  There are some very suspenseful scenes as Zoe and Pete finally figure out what is going on.

It helps that Zoe and Pete are both very strong characters.  They easily pull us into the story.  Because the story is so busy, it takes away from the rest of the cast really standing out like they usually do, but they still help make us care about what is happening to them.

Zoe is a paramedic and a deputy coroner, so these books are more traditional than my usual cozy.  Just expect something a little grayer when you pick the book up and you’ll be fine.

No Way Home might have taken a bit more time to pull me in, but I’m still glad I read it.  This is not the best book to jump into the series, but fans will enjoy it.

Here are the rest of the Zoe Chambers Mysteries in order.

Ornament Review: Ian Lightfoot - 2020 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Captures Ian in action

Cons: Doesn’t stand on its own; possible that some parts could snap off

The Bottom Line:

Ian ornament

Captures magic of Onward

Will make film’s fans smile

Ian Lightfoot Offers a Touch of Magic to Your Tree

2020 saw two Pixar films released.  Unfortunately, Onward, the first one, got lost in the early closures of the pandemic when it was released in theaters in March.  However, Hallmark released Ian Lightfoot last year, an ornament tying in to the film.

If you’ve missed the movie, Ian is one of the two main characters, a troll who has just learned he has a bit of magic in him.  As such, he’s pretty easy to recognize if you’ve seen the film.  After all, not too many characters have light blue skin, dark blue hair, and pointed ears.  He’s dressed in a red flannel shirt and blue jeans.  In his hands, he’s holding his staff, and it’s got a bit of orange at the end, so magic is about to come from it.  He’s got his legs apart in the stance he has to use to cast a spell as well.

This is a classic stance for the character, and anyone who has seen the movie will recognize it right away.  Since I really did enjoy the movie, I had to get this ornament.  It captures a character I loved in action.  It’s sure to make any fan smile.

With Ian’s stance, he won’t stand on his own.  The legs are at too awkward an angle.  However, that’s not really an issue since he hangs straight.

I do want to issue a warning.  Ian is made of plastic, but I feel like he could still easily break.  His staff and legs, especially, are thin and feel like they could snap off easily.  I haven’t heard anything about him breaking, but keep that in mind.

I do hope that Onward gets the viewers it deserves video Blu-Ray and Disney+.  It’s a good movie.  Any fan of the movie will be happy they tracked down Ian Lightfoot for their ornament collection.

Book Review: Murder in Chelsea by Victoria Thompson (Gaslight Mysteries #15)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Characters and plot pull you in

Cons: Series timelines seems compressed

The Bottom Line:

Catherine in danger?

Story draws the reader in

Series shift ahead

The Mystery of Catherine

Over the last few books in the Gaslight Mysteries, author Victoria Thompson has been teasing us with information about Catherine, the young girl that series protagonist Sarah Brandt has taken in.  The time has come to officially answer all of those questions and get Catherine’s background.  That made Murder in Chelsea a compelling read for this series fan.

When midwife Sarah Brandt returns from an especially difficult delivery, she learns that a woman has stopped at the mission where Catherine was abandoned asking after her.  Determined to find out what is going on before turning the child she has grown to love over to someone else, she meets with the woman in her boarding home.  The story this woman tells makes Sarah wonder if Catherine is in danger.

So, she enlists the help of Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy.  However, when Frank goes to meet the woman, he finds her murdered.  Now the concerns about Catherine’s safety have increased, and Sarah and Frank start to investigate.  Will they be able to protect Catherine?

If you are new to the series, you could certainly jump in here.  There’s enough background to explain the characters and their relationships.  However, fans of the series will be more invested in the characters, so the events of this book will mean more to them.

And that includes some of the character interactions.  I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the scenes between Sarah, Frank, and some of the supporting characters.  The way the characters are interacting is surprising and fun, and I definitely mean that in a good way.  It’s a testament to the growth we’ve seen over the course of the series.

The plot pulled me in and didn’t let me go.  I finished the book in two days because I couldn’t put it down.  Just when I thought I might have a handle on what was going on, something would happen that would make me question what I thought I had figured out.  I has my suspicions as I neared the end, but it took Frank and Sarah to fully explain everything.

I do have some timeline questions.  Not within this book, but this book seems to compress the timelines of earlier books in the series.  It would take rereading those earlier books to figure it out for sure, so I will let it go – or try to.  Not that I wouldn’t enjoy rereading the series, but I would prefer to catch up since I am still quite a few books behind.

I’ve marveled with each book in this series how much I am pulled into the world of New York City in the 1890’s.  I am always reluctant to put the books down, and it seems that with each passing book, I am more and more invested in the lives of these characters.  That’s not a complaint in the slightest.

This book does contain some major changes for the characters, changes fans have been rooting for and will be happy about.  I knew the changes were coming soon, and I’m looking forward to seeing specifically how everything set up here plays out.

The Gaslight Mysteries seem to get better with each book.  Murder in Chelsea is another fantastic entry in the series.  I will be revisiting Sarah, Frank, and the rest again soon.

Need another trip back in time?  Here are the rest of the Gaslight Mysteries.

February 2021's Reading Summary

That time of the month again already.  It may be a short month, but I packed a bunch of good books into it.  (Even more than that with how many books I'll be reviewing in March I got read as well.)

And I got the index updated this month.  Twice in a row!  Although I think I'd have to go for three in a row to get the record.

Anyway, here's what I read in February.  All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great), and the links take you to my full review.

 

The Sharpest Needle by Renee Patrick (Lillian Frost and Edith Head #4) – 5

It’s August 1939, and silent film actress Marion Davies has been receiving poison pen letters from someone calling himself Argus.  The letters threaten to reveal something from Marion’s past, something that could ruin her current relationship with William Randolph Hurst.  When she turns to Lillian Frost and Edith Head for help, Edith can’t help but think there is more to the situation than there first appears to be.  Then a dead body turns up.  Can Lillian and Edith figure out what is going on?

There is so much to praise in this book.  The plot is strong and always keeps us engaged.  It does get a little convoluted as we reach the climax, but as long as you pay attention, you’ll follow what is happening.  Real people and fictional characters rub elbows seamlessly, and they all appear fully formed to us.  I love watching for cameos.  The news of the day impacts the character, and therefore us.  Yet we also have talk about the films coming out during that time, which I enjoyed.  This is more than a Hollywood mystery.  If you enjoy historical mysteries, you need to read these books today.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Bone Canyon by Lee Goldberg (Eve Ronin #2) – 5

A recent wildfire in the Santa Monica mountains has had a surprising side effect.  The bodies of several people dead for many years have started to be found since the brush that’s been hiding them is no longer around.  Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Eve Ronin and her partner, Duncan Pavone, have landed the most recent one of these cold cases.  Their case proves to be complicated when they identify the body as that of a twenty-something who vanished several years before.  As they begin to investigate, they make several startling discoveries.  What exactly lead to her murder?

I enjoyed the first book in this series, and I wasn’t disappointed with this one in the slightest.  Part of the fun is learning the twists of the case as they unfold, and then watching Eve try to make sense of it all.  There is plenty of action on the way to a wonderful climax.  Eve is a strong main character, and I enjoyed getting to know her better here.  I did feel like a few of the supporting players could be stronger, but maybe that was my reaction to their poor attitudes which aren’t fully explained.  While the overall tone of the book is serious, as it should be given the case, there are some very fun moments, most of them coming at the expense of Hollywood.  This isn’t one of my typical cozies, so there is language, sex, and violence; be prepared before you pick up the book.  I’m glad I picked up this fast paced, twisty mystery.

 

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club #1) – 4

Welcome to Coopers Chase Retirement Village.  It’s a community for active seniors in England.  There are all kinds of activities happening on a regular basis, but the most unusual, and smallest, is a group of four friends who meet every Thursday to discuss cold criminal cases.  Then one day, the murder of a developer takes place near the community.  Naturally, these four friends jump at the chance to figure out what is really going on.  Will they be able to solve the case?

I kept hearing about this book, so I had to give it a try.  The premise is certainly right up my alley, and there was much I enjoyed about it.  The characters are charming, and there were plenty of twists to the mystery.  In fact, I feel like we could have done without a twist or two.  Yes, everything makes sense at the end, but there are so many twists at the end, it is a little overwhelming.  The book is funny, although at times it feels like it is trying too hard to be charming and funny.  The police let the lead characters get away with a little too much, although I usually ignore that in the books I read, so this is worth noting in passing.  I did struggle a bit with the justice done at the end of this book.  The story is told in present tense from multiple points of view, but we always follow which character is our focus.  This is one of those books with some obvious flaws, but I still enjoyed it overall.  If you are interested in it, I definitely recommend you pick it up.  I’ll be visiting the characters again for the sequel.

 

Bronzed Betrayals by Ritter Ames (Bodies of Art Mysteries #5) – 5

Laurel Beacham and Jack Hawkes are enjoying a night out together.  Well, that might be an exaggeration since they are at a party they aren’t enjoying.  However, it provides the perfect cover for an art recovery that the two have planned.  That recovery doesn’t go as planned, but the night really spins out of control when Laurel returns to her hotel room to find a dead body.  She knows the victim, but who killed the person?  Are they trying to frame Laurel?

As always with this series, I have to warn you not to jump in here.  There are so many ongoing plot threads that you won’t fully appreciate what happens here if you do – not to mention the twists that will be spoiled from earlier books.  Fans of the series will be very happy with this book.  There is plenty of action to keep them glued to the page, and the advancement we get on the ongoing stories is satisfying.  All this while providing us with a beginning, middle, and end to the story told here.  I went into the book thinking that this was the final book of the series, but clearly that won’t be the case with the plot threads that were left open and the cliffhanger we get.  Meanwhile, the characters are showing some maturity, which I enjoyed.  When you are in the mood for a cozy caper, I highly recommend this series.  If you are already a fan, you’ll enjoy this chapter in Laurel’s story.

 

Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox by Michael Buckley (Finniverse #1) – 4

Finn is a typical almost twelve-year-old.  He’s got a younger sister who annoys him, he’s struggling to make friends at his new school, he’s being picked on by a bully, and he has a crush on a classmate.  His life changes when he accidentally takes his sister’s lunchbox to school one day.  When it starts to glow, he discovers that it’s become a portal to another part of our galaxy.  On, and this portal is the key to a battle against a race called The Plague that destroys planets.  With The Plague now looking at Earth as their next target, Finn is going to have to come up with some kind of plan to save the world.

It’s been a few years since I picked up one of Michael Buckley’s books, so I was thrilled to see he had a new series out.  As you might suspect from the description, this is a wild, fast-paced right that I found hard to put down.  And I haven’t even mentioned the seven-foot-tall robot yet.  I did feel it got a little too apocalyptic for me at times, but that’s a matter of personal taste.  The characters are good, although the one that got the most development here was a cliché.  The creativity that went into this book is outstanding with lots of details that are fun.  Kids will eat this book up and be anxious for the next one when they are done.

 

Smothered by GP Gottlieb (Whipped and Sipped Mysteries #2) – 3

Alene Baron is finding herself irritated by Stanley Huff, who owns the gym next door to Arlene’s café.  Not only is he an inconsiderate neighbor, but Alene questions some of the things he sells.  Alene is shocked when she finds him dead one morning.  When the police begin to look at one of Arlene’s employees as a suspect, she can’t help but try to learn what really happened.  Can she uncover the truth?

This was definitely a mixed book for me.  Most of my issues were things that could have been smoothed over with a strong edit – a few dropped plot threads, the dreaded timeline issues, and a few conversations that were summarized for us instead of including us in them.  On the other hand, there were things I enjoyed.  We have a large cast of characters.  Since it had been a while since book one, I had to remember who every was again (the cast of characters at the beginning helped), but once I did that, I appreciate the growth in the characters we saw here.  The heart of the mystery was good, and I especially appreciated how Alene figured it out, which lead to an entertaining climax.  Alene’s café features vegan recipes, so the recipes we get at the end are vegan as well.  If you enjoyed the first, you’ll want to pick this up and see what happens to the characters next.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Long Island Iced Tina by Maria DiRico (Catering Hall Mysteries #2) – 5

Mia Carina is thrilled for her friend Nicole, who is expecting her first baby.  Nicole has chosen Mia’s catering hall, Belle View, as the location for one of her baby showers.  Despite Mia’s best efforts, the baby shower is interrupted by a fight between Nicole’s mother and step-mother.  Then, one of Nicole’s presents turns out to be a valuable painting stolen years before.  Things only get worse when Mia finds the body of a shower guest the next morning.  Is the murder linked to the painting?

I enjoyed the first book in the series, and this one was great as well.  The painting added a fun element to the mystery, and I really enjoyed seeing how that played out.  The mystery had some great zigs and zags along the way.  The climax was a bit complicated, but I was able to think it through, and it did make sense.  All the characters were wonderful, with some interesting growth for the series regulars.  Mia’s grandmother provides a very funny sub-plot, and there are other great moments of humor throughout the book.  At the end, we get four recipes and a hit for hosting events yourself.  The series is set in Queens, and Mia’s family is involved in the mob.  Even so, this is most definitely still a cozy series.  Grab some ice tea and enjoy this delightful book.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Furbidden Fatality by Deborah Blake (Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery #1) – 5

Kari Stuart had been working as a waitress in a town in the Catskills until she won the lottery.  She’s not quite sure what she is going to do with her winnings until she hears about an animal sanctuary on the edge of town that is for sale.  Impulsively she buys it and sets about getting it ready to reopen.  Unfortunately, that’s also when she runs across Bill Myers, the local dog warden, who seems to have targeted the sanctuary.  After Kari finds Bill dead just outside the sanctuary’s fence in the middle of the night, she becomes the police’s prime suspect.  Can she figure out what really happened?

I started to hear some early buzz about this book, so I decided to give it a try.  I’m so glad I did.  This may be the first in the series, but I already love the characters.  Kari leads a great cast, and there are just as many charming four-legged characters as there are humans.  The plot is inventive, with plenty to keep us engaged over the course of the story.  Yet everything Kari uncovered helps make for a satisfying resolution when we reached the end.  While this is Deborah Blake’s first mystery, she has written quite a few other books, and that shows through in the writing.  If you are looking for a promising new mystery series, adopt this book right away.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Shucked Apart by Barbara Ross (Maine Clambake Mysteries #9) – 5

Julia Snowden should be focusing on getting the last-minute tasks done to open the summer season of her family’s clambake, but when her boyfriend asks her to help his friend, Andie, Julia can’t resist.  Andie runs an oyster farm not too far away, and someone has just stolen $35,000 worth of new inventory from her.  Andie seems reluctant to give Julia any suspects, however, so it isn’t that surprising that Julia hasn’t made much progress when she finds a dead body.  Is the robbery connected to the murder?

This book does a great job of introducing us to oyster farming without slowing down the mystery itself.  I learned quite a bit while also getting the foundation for the plot.  The pace does build as Julia gets closer to figuring things out, and the climax wraps everything up for us perfectly.  This series is often on the slim side, and this is no exception.  While the suspects are strong and the mystery complex, the supporting players aren’t as prevalent as they might be.  While I did miss them and wouldn’t have minded a sub-plot that could have included them, it’s a minor issue.  The book leaves us with five recipes that seafood lovers will want to try.  As always, this book left me anxious to find out what will happen to Julia next.  Fans won’t be disappointed.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

A Side of Murder by Amy Pershing (Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries #1) – 4

Samantha Barnes, Sam to her friends, grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but left to go to culinary school and become a famous chef.  Thanks to an inheritance and a new job writing about food in the area for a local paper, she is back.  Her first assignment is to review a new restaurant in town, but the good food is quickly forgotten when she finds a dead body floating in the water next to the restaurant.  The police think it was an accident.  After all, the victim was a known drunk, so she could have easily fallen in and drown.  Sam thinks something more sinister is happening.  Can she prove it?

There is a good mystery here, and I enjoyed seeing how Sam figured everything out.  Unfortunately, there is just as much set up, introducing us to the people in Sam’s life and filling us in on her past.  The result was a pace that was uneven.  I did still enjoy it since I liked Sam and the supporting characters.  We saw hints of the depths to the characters that I’m sure we’ll see more of in future books in the series.  I was bothered by a cliché that several of the characters fell into, however, especially since it doesn’t fit one of the characters at all.  The book ends with recipes for a suggested four-course casual dinner with friends.  Overall, I enjoyed this virtual vacation debut.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Disney Pin Review: Stitch Crashes Beauty and the Beast - Stitch Crashes Disney #1 - 2021 Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great looking giant pin

Cons: I’m not beastly enough to find cons

The Bottom Line:

Stitch gets the spotlight

Beautiful first series pin

Oversized, looks great

Stitch Starts His Chameleon Act with a Change as Old as Time

For 2021, Disney centered their limited edition series around Stitch.  I’m not a big fan of Lilo and Stitch (although I keep meaning to rewatch the film), but I loved the trailers they produced when it first came out.  These trailers featured Stitch ruining iconic scenes in other Disney animated movies.  Because of that, I was intrigued by the series.  To be honest, I’m still not sure if I will be collecting all of them, but I caved and got the first since it is centered around Beauty and the Beast, one of my favorites.

The pin is of Stitch, and he’s still his mostly purple color.  However, he’s not completely purple like normal.  He’s got roses on him – enchanted roses.  He’s also got a rose in his mouth, looking like he is trying to impress a woman.  Maybe Beast has some competition for Belle from someone other than me.

Even the card the pin comes on gets into the act.  Behind Stitch, we see the remains of a chandelier that has crashed to the ballroom floor.  For those who remember those trailers, this was how one of them ended.

What I haven’t mentioned is that this is a jumbo pin.  It’s 3.5 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide.  It had better be big since this is the only pin we get for $24.95, which is more expensive than the 3 pin sets they’ve been releasing over the last few years.  To be honest, it almost looks big enough to be one of the things Disney sells to hang from a pin lanyard, but it clearly isn’t.  It’s got two pins sticking out of the back, although I wouldn’t want to wear this one in the park all day because of the size.

As I said, between my love of those trailers from almost 20 years ago and loving Beauty and the Beast, I decided to get this pin.  I really do like it, and I think the pin’s backing is as much part of the fun.  Did I mention the sides of the card have holes in them, making it look like old fashioned film?  It’s great!

Stitch is going to change more as the series progresses.  The next two are growing on me, so I suspect I will wind up with all of the pins from this set.  Either way, I’m glad I got the first entry.

February 27th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Batwoman – So we will spend a couple of episodes chasing this painting now – at least we know who has it.  And we’ve got a new mystery in Alice’s past.  With all this emphasis on what happened to Kate, how are we ever going to solve it if the actress is never coming back to the show?  And, to a certain extent, I’d kind of like them to move on at this point.  We know she’s never coming back, let’s really build the new world.  I am definitely torn on this one since I do get what they are trying to do with the returning characters and getting the new Batwoman fully into the show.

The Equalizer – Okay, no surprise that the man was innocent.  It’s rare that we find someone who is truly guilty in a show like this.  Given that, I still enjoyed seeing how the story unfolded and exactly where it went.  I’m sure the detective won’t work with her for too many episodes, but I am loving that dynamic.  And the sub-plot with the daughter wasn’t quite as annoying this week.

Ellen’s Game of Games – Two for the price of one!  I’d forgotten about the slime bucket challenge.  They need to have that more often.  I do feel sorry for the person who couldn’t find her prize in the first round.  And the winner the second hour would just begin to get momentum and then lose it again.  I kept rooting for her, although I wouldn’t have done any better than she did.

Superman & Lois – I think I was surprised at just how somber this show was.  I’m not talking dark like Arrow or Batwoman, but serious.  I guess especially since the producers have been talking about Superman as a symbol of hope.  But there is much I enjoyed here.  I really love Clark and Lois’s relationship.  And I like the fact that they are friends with Lana and her husband.  I hope they don’t mess that up, aka have Lana be hiding feelings for Clark.  And, while I know there will be bumps along the way, I want Lois and Clark to have a firm relationship.  I know we are going to get teen drama with the twins.  I hope it isn’t too bad/predictable.  And the liberal slant has already started as well.  We shall see how bad it gets.

WandaVision – A very different episode.  Drama instead of comedy.  It is certainly interesting to see more of Wanda’s backstory, and I loved how they worked in scenes from a few of the shows they were drawing inspiration from.  But it felt slow, especially after the quicker pace of the earlier episodes.  I can certainly understand why Wanda did what she did, however.  And it definitely looks like she was being manipulated into creating this world.