LadyoftheLodge Reads in 2024--Part 2

Hi there!

My name is Cheryl. Although I am retired from full time work in public education, I teach online college classes in Leadership Theory, as well as the Sciences, for several universities. I also write curriculum and book reviews. My husband and I recently started to volunteer on Saturday mornings at the private library in the retirement community in which we live. We also serve as "shepherds" to mentor and assist residents who are new to our retirement community.

I live in a small town, have two lovable cats, and played the clarinet in a community band (sadly, we have made the difficult decision to disband, no pun intended). My husband and I like to travel and have frequently been spotted on cruise ships, although not lately! We also enjoy theater and music venues. Our travel lately has been limited to bus trips to the symphony and also day trips. Both of us are voracious readers, although our reading tastes differ immensely.

My library occupies one room of my house. There are books in every room of my home as well. I read cozy mysteries, classic mysteries, assorted fiction, historical mysteries, children's books, and occasionally biography or memoirs. I enjoy reading print materials as well as e-books. (I like being able to carry all those e-books with me whenever I go anywhere. My Kindle or tablet is often in my bag when I leave the house.) My two "reading cats" enjoy reading with me every night before we all go to sleep. They have not yet expressed any specific reading preferences.

Challenge Hosting Commitments for 2024:

(RandomKIT--July) DONE
(MysteryKIT--October) DONE
(CalendarCAT--November) link to November holidays here DONE
https://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/november.htm
https://www.countryliving.com/life/a62456158/november-holidays-observances-full-...

AlphaKIT

X & Z Yearlong

January - A Y--The Amish Christmas Angel-by Mary Lantz & If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff
February - F E--A Summer at Sea by Katie Fforde & A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
March - H R--The Christmas Hedgehog by Ian Humphreyes & The Puzzle of the Paper Daughter by Kathryn Reiss
April - U O--Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jessie Q. Sutanto and On Retreat with Thomas Merton by M. Basil Pennington
May - N P--The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber and Nicole Bayley and Christopher the Holy Giant by Tomie dePaola
June - J B--Abide with Me by Jane Willan and A Match for the Reluctant Bride by Tess Thompson
July - I S--Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer Chow and A Rolling Scone by Nancy Warren
August - M G--Crumbs and Misdemeanors by Nancy Warren and Gingerdead House by Nancy Warren
September - V C--Murder in the Snow by Verity Bright and Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke
October - D T--The Old Ducks Hen Do by Maddie Please and Tangles and Treasons by Nancy Warren
November - L W—The Last Note of Warning by Katharine Schellman
December - K Q--Lighthouse Lane Girls: Katherine's Story by Erika Tamar and Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor

MysteryKIT

January—short story mysteries--The Parfait Murder by Luna Snow
February—true unsolved mysteries--History's Unsolved Mysteries by Paul Aron
March—historical--The Puzzle of the Paper Daughter by Kathryn Reiss
April--series--Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley
May—golden age--Lonesome Road by Patricia Wentworth
June—authors new to you--Abide with Me by Jane Willan
July—cross genre mysteries--The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren
August—amateurs--Crumbs and Misdemeanors by Nancy Warren
September—upstairs/downstairs--Murder in the Snow by Verity Bright
October--not too scary mysteries--Tangles and Treasons by Nancy Warren
November--noir—The Last Note of Warning by Katharine Schellman
December--culinary mysteries--Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney

RandomKIT

January--Early Birds--Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Let it Crow! by Donna Andrews
February--Rescue/Escape--Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble by Laurien Berenson
March--Wildlife--The Christmas Hedgehog by Ian Humpheryes
April--Garden Visitors--They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
May--Art & Architecture--Francis: the Poor Man of Assisi by Tomie dePaola
June--Initials--Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra
July--Favorites--A Rolling Scone by Nancy Warren
August--Cool Title--Crumbs and Misdemeanors by Nancy Warren
September--Raining Men/Weather--Murder in the Snow by Verity Bright
October--'Tis the Season--Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming
November--In First Person—A Christmas Sonata by Gary Paulsen
December--Roll the Die--Amish Christmas Rescue by Samantha Price

CalendarCAT

January--Snow Place for Murder by Diane Kelly
February--The Amish Matchmakers by Beth Wiseman
March--The Christmas Hedgehog by Ian Humphereyes
April--The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber
May--Francis: the Poor Man of Assisi by Tomie dePaola
June--A Match for the Reluctant Bride by Tess Thompson
July--Once Upon a Villa by Andrew Kaplan
August--The Seaside Sisters by Pamela M. Kelley
September--Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander
October--It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz
November—A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles M. Schultz
December--Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney

Reserved for BingoDOG

I decided to try reading all children’s books for this challenge, since we don’t have KiddyCAT/KIT this time.

2024 BingoDog card:
1. A book with an ugly cover-- Spoiled (Kimberly the Cat Series)
2. Something that takes place in multiple countries-- How My Parents Learned to Eat
3. Set in the city-- Miss Malarkey Doesn't Live in Room 10
4. Involves warriors or mercenaries-- History Comics: World War II: Fight on the Home Front
5. Epistolary or diary format-- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
6. Title contains a person's name-- Gerald McBoing-Boing
7. Written by an author 65 or older-- A House for Hermit Crab
8. A book with nothing on the cover but the title and author-- The Secret Ingredient
9. Features a paper based item in the plot-- Dog Loves Books
10. Reread a favorite book-- The Little House
11. Something themed around food or cooking-- The Gingerbread Cowboy
12. A book with fewer than 100 copies on LT-- King Charles III
13. Read a CAT-- If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
14. A book featuring water-- The Puzzle of the Paper Daughter
15. A book written in another cultural tradition-- Arthi's Bomma
16. The words "Big" or "Little" in the title-- The Little Engine That Could
17. A book featuring twins-- Two and Two are Four
18. A short story collection / Anthology-- Peanuts Countdown to Christmas
19. Read a current/recent bestseller-- The Day the Phones Went on Vacation
20. A book about a topic about which you have specific knowledge or expertise-- Miss Malarkey Won't Be In Today
21. A book about Friendship-- Library Lion
22. First published in a year ending in 24-- The Christmas Hedgehog
23. A book from one of the libraries listed under the "Similar libraries" featured on your LT profile page— Changes for Samantha
24. Something written by a person of colour-- Grandfather's Journey
25. A three-word title-- The Chanukkah Guest

Complete! April 2, 2024 Yippee!

My Challenge--Kindle Unlimited

I just started a subscription to Kindle Unlimited. I already have a huge list on my Amazon Wishlist of KU titles I want to read. Keeping track of finished titles here should help me make good use of my subscription. So far, so good!

1.The Amish Library by Naomi Troyer
2.The Wilder Widows by Katherine Hastings
3.Spoiled (Kimberly the Cat Series) by Rob Baddorf
4.Murder and Cake: Royal Appointment by Luna Snow
5.Murder and Cake: The Orange Marmalade Cake Murder by Luna Snow
6.Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble by Laurien Berenson
7.Christmas Nights at the Star and Lantern by Helen Rolfe
8.History's Unsolved Mysteries by Arch Stanton
9. Christmas Camp Wedding by Karen Shaler
10.Murder in New Orleans by Ann Sutton
11.Where We Belong by Sarah Bennett
12.The Day the Phones Went on Vacation by Maribella Blake
13.Cherish Key West by Lynette Paul
14.Cherish St. Maartens by Lynette Paul
15.In From the Cold (Juniper Meadows) by Sarah Bennett
16.Cherish Bermuda by Lynette Paul
17.Come Rain or Shine (Juniper Meadows) by Sarah Bennett
18.Escape from Assisted Living by Joyce Hicks
19.New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock by Hannah Lynn
20.Abide with Me by Jane Willan
21.A Match for the Reluctant Bride by Tess Thompson
22.Murder Goes Jazz by Ann Sutton
23.Murder on the Med by Ann Sutton
24.The Cyclist's Guide to Crime and Croissants by Ann Claire
25.Hard Cider Abbey by K.P. Cecala
26.The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey
27.The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren
28.Baker's Coven by Nancy Warren
29.A Rolling Scone by Nancy Warren
30.Cruising Through Midlife by Addison Moore
31.Hibiscus Homicide Cruise by Addison Moore
32.A Bundt Instrument by Nancy Warren
33.Crumbs and Misdemeanors by Nancy Warren
34.Blood, Sweat, and Tiers by Nancy Warren
35.Cream of Passion by Nancy Warren
36.Whisk and Reward by Nancy Warren
37.Cakes and Pains by Nancy Warren
38.Alaska Alibi Cruise by Addison Moore
39.The Old Ducks' Hen Do by Maddie Please
40.Art and Apprehension in Las Vegas by A.R. Winter
41.Snow is Falling: Juniper Meadows, Book 4 by Sarah Bennett
42.Brother Cyril's Book by Penelope Wilcock
43.Amish Christmas Rescue by Samantha Price
44.A Family Under the Christmas Tree by Terri Reed
45.The Christmas Quilt by Mary Lantz
46.We'll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale
47.Christmas at Gingerbread Inn (Sugarplum Falls Romance) by Jennifer Griffith
48.A Very Barrie Christmas: A Poppy Creek Novella by Rachael Bloome

My Challenge--NetGalley

I plan to keep track of my NetGalley finishes/reviews here.

1.Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally
2.Max Fernsby and the Infinite Toys by Gerry Swallow
3.The Amish Quiltmaker's Unlikely Match by Jennifer Beckstrand
4.A Case of the Bleus by Korina Moss
5.Snow Place for Murder by Diane Kelly
6.The Amish Matchmakers by Beth Wiseman
7.The Fatal Folio by Elizabeth Penney
8.Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns
9.Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop DNF by Hwang Bo-reum
10.How to Train Your Human by Babas
11.A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander
12.Good Taste DNF by Caroline Scott
13.Letters of Wisdom by Wanda Brunstetter
14.Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley
15.Coconut Drop Dead by Olivia Matthews
16.Amish Love Letters by Shelley Shepard Gray and others
17.Of Hoaxes and Homicide by Anastasia Hastings
18.Lucy Burdette's Kitchen by Lucy Burdette
19.The Heart's Shelter by Amy Clipston
20.I Only Read Murder by Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson
21.Tree Table Book by Lois Lowry
22.Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra
23.The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel
24.The Lantern's Dance by Laurie R. King
25.Cloistered: My Years as a Nun by Catherine Coldstream
26.Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer Chow
27.A Clock Stopped Dead by j.M. Hall
28.Searching for Van Gogh by Donald Lystra DNF
29.Once Upon a Villa by Andrew Kaplan
30.Four Alarm Homicide by Diane Kelly
31.Author vs Illustrator by Don Lemke
32.The Seaside Sisters by Pamela Kelley
33.Seven Summer Weekends by Jane L. Rosen
34.The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh by Claudia Gray
35.Death of a Master Chef by Jean-Luc Bannalec
36.Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander
37.Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke
38.The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton
39.Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant by Stephanie Kiser
40.Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley
41.The Ties That Divide by Sandra and Taylor Preisler
42.The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts
43.Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
44.The Swans of Harlem by Karen Valby
45. The Pirate's Hideout and The Pirate's Treasure by A.J. Lark (Pirate's Cove book series)--DNF
46.How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
47.The Rosie Life in Italy by Rosie Meleady DNF
48.Better Safe Than Sorry by Mike Martin
49.Death by Misadventure by Tasha Alexander DNF
50.A Cat's Judgement by Suzanne Stephenson DNF
51.My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes DNF
52.Fondue or Die by Korina Moss
53.The Last Note of Warning by Katherine Schellman
54.The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne
55.The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley
56.A Lancaster Amish Christmas by various writers
57.Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney
58.An Amish Christmas Match by Winnie Griggs
59.Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Love by Robert Marro
60.Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor
61.The Christmas Gathering by Shelley Shepard Gray et al
62.Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge by Kjersti Herland Johnsen (DNF)

I decided to start a new thread beginning July 1, since my other one was getting a bit lengthy. Looking forward to conversations with my LT friends.

I just finished the third book in the Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren. A Rolling Scone features the same characters from the first two novels (minus those who were sent home from the contest). As you might guess, the main baking challenge is scones, but a cool showstopper contest also is featured. Poppy is learning to use her special talents and of course becomes involved in sleuthing another mystery, along with Gateau, her cat familiar, and her ghostly pal Gerry (he is hilarious and steals the show, so to speak). Now I am on to the fourth book in the series, A Bundt Instrument, and I bet you can guess what Poppy and the other bakers are making in this one. I got these novels free on Kindle Unlimited.

Happy new thread! >10 LadyoftheLodge: I love the punny titles!

Happy new thread. Hoping the second half of the year treats you well.

Happy new thread.
>10 LadyoftheLodge: I am taking a BB for the first book in the series, The Great Witches Baking Show.

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Thanks for all the friendly greetings, and welcome!

Four Alarm Homicide
In this sixth addition to the House Flipper series, Whitney and her cousin Buck acquire a fire house and a townhouse to renovate. However, many twists and turns add stress to the projects. When a woman in a neighboring townhouse dies under strange circumstances, there is no shortage of suspects. In addition to seeking out clues to the death, Whitney and her cop boyfriend Collin prepare for their wedding. The characters are interesting and each one is described and developed well. The fire house concept adds interest to the story, as do the food descriptions and wedding preparations. My one complaint is the lengthy descriptions of settings and the construction projects, which sometimes read like a travel brochure or technical website.

Although this is part of a series, it works well as a standalone. Readers who enjoy a cozy mystery, without overt violence, strong language, or intimacy will find this an engaging read, especially if they like extensive details.

>13 lowelibrary: The books are really fun to read and the paranormal aspects are minimal to the plots. I hope you enjoy the book. The titles are all "punny."

Happy new thread. You are doing well with your personal challenges - keep up the good work!

>20 DeltaQueen50: Thanks, good to see you here!

We went to eat at one of our fave hangouts last evening and it was jam packed, lucky to snag a table, and many would-be diners giving us the side-eye and wishing we would leave so they could grab our spot. Fireworks were in the offing in a large local park and there were tons of families out and about claiming their viewing spots, also many food trucks and other vendors.

We have heavy rain here today, with some thunderstorms, so we celebrated Independence Day with church this morning and later dinner at home.

>22 LadyoftheLodge: Our church did its 4th of July thing on Sunday June 30. They bring inflatables for the children. We have a big fireworks show each year. I believe it is paid for by a few members. I opted to stay home this year. I'm wanting some ice cream or frozen custard, and I think I'll probably head somewhere to get some in a bit. I had burnt ends, salad, and mac & cheese for lunch. I really don't need anything else except a big bowl of something nice and cold for supper.

Author vs Illustrator
This colorful and cute graphic novel shows how writers and illustrators work together to create an illustrated book. It is told with humor and reads almost like a comic strip. I also liked the writer and illustrator information provided at the end of the book, complete with photos of them and their families. This nonfiction selection would be appropriate for children, middle schoolers, and teens, although it is a fun and easy read for adults too.

>23 thornton37814: That sounds like a great way to spend the day. There was a lot of fireworks noise last evening but quieted down by 11:00 p.m. Our cats hung out with us all night, probably because of the noise, then more thunderstorms today. We received about 6 inches of rain over the last 24 hours.

Went to the hair stylist today, got my hair cut! Yikes! It was down to the middle of my back, so my stylist cut off about 5-6 inches, making it much more manageable. I also took with me a wig that I am planning to wear to a costumed event so she could style it for me. With shorter hair, the wig will work better too.

This will be a busy week, as we are preparing for the first ever library book sale for our retirement community. We received quite a few donations and have been sorting for weeks. The sale will be on Friday, open to residents and to partners/employees.

We also have a dinner theater bus trip on Wednesday for a matinee performance, so that should be fun. We have been to this theater in the past, and there are quite a few signed up for the trip. One of the interesting things about this venue is that it is a small, family-owned business. Instead of large restrooms for the genders, there are about eight individual private unisex bathrooms and each is decorated in a unique and different way, with decos and wallpaper. For example, Noah's ark, country cute, railroad, antiques.

My The Flatshare borrow from Libby appeared, so I downloaded it and so far have enjoyed it. Thanks to whomever reviewed it and from whom I took a BB for this title.

I am also reading The Seaside Sisters for NetGalley and A Bundt Instrument by Nancy Warren, which is part of the Great Witches Baking Show series.

I just finished Hibiscus Homicide Cruise which is part of the Cruising Through Midlife mystery series. I have a few more in this series downloaded from Kindle Unlimited, but I had to give it a rest for a bit. The snarky humor, silliness, and repetitive plot ideas were getting to me, although this series has been fun and light. Each novel in the series features the same characters on the cruise ship, but a different mystery/murder occurs in each story. The main character gets involved in solving the mystery, aided by a different spirit visitor and her two quirky friends each time, and working alongside the ship's detective. There is also romantic tension as she is being courted by two equally cool men on the ship. The next one in the series switches locations from Hawaii to Alaska.

Hope the theatre trip and sale both go well.

>26 LadyoftheLodge: This seems to be the week to go to the hair salon. I took along a hair clip so my stylist could do an "up-do" with my hair. (It was a clever way of reminding her that I like to pull my hair back in summer and to please leave the layers long enough that it isn't a problem.) On today's agenda is a visit to the Apple Store to replace iPhone and iPad. I quickly finished my Early Reviewers book last night so I wouldn't lose access to it if it got lost in transition.

Happy new thread!
You have so many things going on, sounds fun.
Summer in Phoenix equates to nothing happening, it's too hot to do much.

The book sale is finally over. We set up on Thursday, had the one-day sale on Friday, and cleaned up/packed up the remnants today. Some of the books will go to the county Senior Services, and the rest along with DVDs, CDs, and miscellaneous items to the local library book sale. I was able to snag some good books. The money will be used to purchase more large print books for our community library. It was a lot of work, and I am glad it is over.

The theatre trip was a fun outing, food was nice, although the play 9 to 5 is sort of outdated, although somewhat entertaining. We had a nice time and got to talk with friends we have not seen for a few months. I was glad to be on the bus and not having to drive!

>31 LadyoftheLodge: Congrats on getting through the sale -- sounds like it was a success!

>32 christina_reads: Thank you. We would have liked to have sold more of the items, but for a first attempt, we did well.

I finished The Flatshare which was fun but I found it a bit tiresome after awhile. I also read Crossing the Lines which is a prequel to the Vampire Book Club series. Still reading A Bundt Instrument and The Seaside Sisters.

Lots of hot weather and thunderstorms that last couple of days here. This month is shaping up to be busy, with events or activities scheduled for each day. We plan to go to dinner at our favorite special occasion restaurant for my birthday. We have also been invited to a birthday lunch. My sisters are planning to come and visit next week, and we will be running around and doing things with them while they are here. We have plans to dine at the hibachi grille and the bistro here in our retirement village, and I am sure they will want to do some other stuff too.

My next teaching assignments do not start until August, so I am glad for short breather from online teaching. I will have one section of Earth Science and one of Intro to Christian Leadership, but I do not yet know the enrollment numbers for them.

Our retirement community had a grand opening celebration this week for the renovations that took place over the last year at the main building. The theme was "happiest place on Earth." Hubby dressed up as Prince Charming and I disguised myself as Snow White (the original Disney princess!), complete with black wig. We were the only residents who dressed up, although all the staff and some professional actors were dressed in full attire too. We won the costume contest, and had a ball interacting with some little kids who were also dressed up as mermaids and princesses. Food was excellent, as well as nice music, and there were some short speeches by the executives. All this was free to residents, partners/staff, and their little ones. A horse drawn carriage picked us up at our house! We felt like royalty.

>35 LadyoftheLodge: That sounds like a really fun time!

I am back! July has been a very busy month so I am looking forward to a less busy week. My sisters came to visit for a few days and ended up staying at our home instead of the motel they booked due to some check-in problems. We do not have a guest room and their stay was unexpected so it was not the best for comfort on all our parts. While I always want to see them, I was ready for them to go home and for us to get back to our own lifestyle. Having visitors and entertaining them is exhausting. My kitties were also happy to have their own space back to normal.

For my birthday, we went to a very nice restaurant that we only visit for special occasions. Hubby presented me with a very nice silver ring featuring an eagle motif with jasper and turquoise stones.

I finished Crumbs and Misdemeanors and Blood, Sweat, and Tiers in the Great Witches Baking Show series, and also finished and reviewed The Seaside Sisters for NetGalley. I am currently reading Seven Summer Weekends and A Cream of Passion in the Great Witches Baking Show series.

I read enough of Anne Dreams and Shakespeare's Sisters to review them, but they were just three star reads.

Seven Summer Weekends
When Addison inherits her aunt's beach house, the timing could not be better. She has just lost her job due to a silly mistake, and now is seeking her new direction in life. The beach house reflects her aunt's artistic and eclectic style, including an art studio to which Addison is immediately drawn. She meets her enigmatic neighbor, to whom she is simultaneously attracted and also repelled. Through a series of weekend visitors, Addison gets to know the real story of her aunt's life, and in doing so she reinvents herself.

This is an enemies to friends to loves romantic comedy. I liked the artistic side to Addison and was glad she reconnected with her true self. This was a fun beach read, but I wished the story had omitted the epilogue and afterwards.

>37 LadyoftheLodge: I feel the same about visitors and am always happy when my husband and I can return to our quiet lifestyle at home! The restaurant visit and present sound lovely.

I am glad to be into August since July was such a busy month. We have a group outing planned to a historic town on the Ohio River, and also some casual lunch get togethers. I have an online class starting on August 6, and I got that set up today. The geology class I was supposed to teach was cancelled due to small enrollment numbers, so I have a bit of breathing room which is good. Hopefully August will not have such constant activity as did July.

I hope the upcoming class goes well!

>42 clue: Thank you. There were some technology glitches because of system upgrades, but I hope they are all fixed now.

My online course opened today. We have a new link to an online book source and some students are having difficulty with it, which helped me learn more about it as we navigated through it together. I have 12 students right now, but a few usually drop out. Twelve is a good number for discussions yet not too onerous for grading. These students are relatively new to the program, so they might require lots of coaching and compassionate help.

I am currently finishing The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and getting to the end so the villain should soon be revealed! I also need to race through The Cloister Walk since I am the discussion leader for our on ground book group. I want to get back to Cream of Passion which I have not yet finished.

>44 LadyoftheLodge: good luck with the course. Hope the source problems work their way out.

>45 Helenliz: Thanks, I hope there are no more online glitches, although I see today that the platform for loading final grades is down! Thankfully, I will not have to worry about that for four more weeks, so hopefully that problem will soon be fixed.

The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh
In this third of the Austen spin off mysteries in the Miss Tilney/Mr. Darcy novels,the two sleuths are called upon to investigate attempts on the life of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Reminiscent of a classic "country house" mystery, this mash-up combines elements of Jane Austen novels with golden age mystery stories.

Readers of Jane Austen will find some old friends in this novel, as well as new additions to the famed stories. Those who enjoy classic mystery novels will enjoy the clues and the plot development that leads to an astonishing conclusion. While I had some skepticism regarding how the attempts were accomplished by the villain, it was still an enjoyable read.

I am currently reading Death of a Master Chef for NetGalley. This book involves a team of commissaires who are trying to solve two murders, the main character named Dupin. It is set in Brittany. I got confused at first because there were so many names and different characters, but things seem to have smoothed out now a bit. I will hang in there a bit more to see if things start to move along.

I am nearly finished with The Cloister Walk for our onground book club discussion next week. I did not like it this time nearly as much as the first go around many years ago. There were a few intriguing selections but also some that I skipped.

Death of a Master Chef
When a sibling rivalry becomes deadly, Commissaire Dupin and colleagues are called upon to conduct an investigation into the crime. Through many unexpected twists and turns, the team comes together to put into practice a collaborative system. Hidden plans and plots come to light, including remnants of the corsairs and their treasures! The Brittany setting places the reader in the beautiful and intriguing center of the action. For foodies, this novel also provides delicious forays into local restaurants and specialty foods of the region.

Although part of a series of crime novels about Georges Dupin, this story can be read as a standalone. While it features crimes, the novel can be classified as a cozy mystery, lacking in overt and descriptive criminal actions. There are no instances of strong language or descriptive intimacy.
I found the many names and characters introduced at the beginning to be somewhat confusing at the outset, but they quickly sorted themselves out.

Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander
In this installment of the Bakeshop mysteries, Jules and team partner with the local Shakespeare theater director to provide excellent culinary adventures along with wine and theater at the vineyard. However, as usual for Jules, death accompanies the event, and there is no lack of suspects. It seems as if several of those affiliated with the venture had secrets, as did the victim of the crime.

Readers who enjoy lots of culinary detail, this novel will fit the bill and provide inspiration for preparing some treats. If you do not like all that detail, just skip over it as i do, since the mystery is still worth the read. This novel would especially appeal to wine and food lovers, as well as avid theater folks.

For readers of this series, familiar characters will add interest and provide engagement with the story, although there are new twists and turns to the plot. The author sets things up nicely for the next installment in the series. However, this book can be read as a standalone.

I am not sure what the title has to do with the story though. Neither sticks nor scones play a major part in the storyline. The title is also the same as a book by Diane Mott Davidson, also a culinary mystery. That can be confusing to some readers, as it was at first for me.

>50 LadyoftheLodge: I've noticed a lot of "repeat titles" among cozy mysteries lately. I suppose there are only so many puns one can use. I don't know the politics that goes into title creation, but I'm sure the publisher had a reason. I just don't know why they'd use one from such a long-running well-known cozy series.

Just stopping by to catch up. Thanks for all titles you shared ... I'll be sure to pick up a BB or two.
Good luck with your online class this month.

>52 beebeereads: Hi there, so good to have you drop by! You are welcome any time.

Whisk and Reward by Nancy Warren
Wow, this book nicely wraps up the Great Witches Baking Show series. I was sorry to see the series end. Book 8 ended with a cliff hanger and really could have been combined with Book 9, which I did not appreciate. I had guessed some plot points early on in the series, but there were huge twists in the last book. This series of nine books was through my Kindle Unlimited subscription. No spoilers here though, in case any other readers want to read this series.

I am currently reading Villa Mirabella and Murder in the Snow. Both are engaging so far.

Thankfully this has been a quiet week and I got my grading done in record time for Week Two of the leadership class I am teaching. Yesterday members of our on ground reading group met to select the books for 2025 (Is is that time already??) and then reserve them from the Council for the Humanities through the Novel Conversations website. Many of the December selections we wanted were already spoken for! Usually six or seven people show up for the selection meeting, but this time there were just myself and hubby, and two other group members, one of whom does the ordering. The other members submitted suggestions from the list of available titles. We were able to reserve some books from our last year's list that we could not get due to glitches in the book delivery system. I am excited to read the titles we picked--I think we have a good selection of books that our group will want to read. (Someone suggested Anna Karenina and Wuthering Heights but we did not think the rest of the group would want to read those. We try to steer away from books that seem like school assignments.

I just finished Rhythm and Clues for NetGalley. This novel is the latest addition to the Sip and Spin record shop cozy mysteries. When a massive thunderstorm dumps tons of rain on the small town of Cedar River, Texas, disasters follow, including power outages and flooding. Juni and her sisters Tansy and Maggie, owners of the Sip and Spin Record and Coffee Shop, have their hands full in trying to keep water out of the shop, help their neighbors, and serve hot coffee to their community. In addition, during the storm a car spins out of control and crashes into Tansy's car. However, the car also includes a dead man, who happens to be an investment guy whose company "helps" struggling small businesses! Juni gets involved with law enforcement in trying to solve the mystery.

One of the most fun parts of this book is the quirky names of all the stores in the small town, as well as the cool musically inspired names for the coffee beverages served in the shop. Although this story is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.

>55 LadyoftheLodge: I'm not familiar with this series, but it sounds like one I want to try!

ETA: One of my libraries has the e-book of the first in series, so I added it to my list.

>56 thornton37814: I read the first book in the series for NetGalley, then missed the second one somehow. I liked this third one better than Book One, but it is worth the read to start at the beginning of the series.

This week has been sort of strange, in that the temperatures outdoors returned to high summer all week. We also had dealings with cell phones that should have been easy (just wanted to trade in one that was falling apart for something similar, but that did not work out) and ended up being really complicated and taking a long time at the phone store. A woman came in while we were there and started a loud argument with the manager who was trying to finish with us! I wanted to just scrunch down into the floor! Then we had to erase the old phone and try to find a place to recycle it. I dropped it on the sidewalk which further added to the poor thing's damage, made the back fall off, and then it would no longer even turn on. Finally found an ecoATM machine at Wal-Mart that accepted my phone for recycling and gave me $1.00, which was fine, as I just wanted to recycle the phone and not throw it in the trash as some people do. If you have never used one of those machines, they are pretty cool and easy to use. They are sort of like a bank ATM or the airline check in machines they have in airports.

Then I had anxiety related to several badgering text messages from one of my departed spouse's daughters, none of whom contacted him the entire 28 years of our marriage, nor have they contacted me since the funeral nine years ago. I felt like I was in the middle of some kind of family drama about "stuff". She is middle aged and should know better, rather than behaving like a sulking teenager. I will have to block her on my phone contacts if this continues.

Hoping next week/month will be less full of craziness.

>58 LadyoftheLodge: That all sounds very crazy! I hope September goes better for you.

>58 LadyoftheLodge: I usually hold on to my old phones until the OKC Zoo does their donation month. Recycle a phone for gorilla/orangutan conservation and get free admission. That is about $12 per phone.

>60 lowelibrary: -That sounds like a great way to recycle. There is a local computer repair store that will take your old electronics and scrub them before recycling for free which is handy. I've also used them when I buy something new and need everything moved from the old machine to the new.

>61 dudes22: Now that is a company I could use.

>62 lowelibrary: Ditto that! My sister lives in a large town near Chicago and they have a recycling center by the police station that takes hazardous materials like paints, as well as electronics and just about anything else that can be recycled. They also have large shredders that can handle bulky papers. Wish we had something like that here in our smaller town.

I finished reading Cruising Through Midlife: Alaska Alibi Cruise by Addison Moore, which is part of a series entitled Cruising Through Midlife. The snarky humor was sort of annoying after awhile as are the sexual innuendoes. The series of books would work well as a miniseries or NetFlix, and they read like screen plays. This is a book from Kindle Unlimited and included a cliff hanger ending.

I did not finish Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant by Stephanie Kiser which is about a young woman who becomes a nanny to kids of the very wealthy. It was getting a bit tiresome though as it seems the author is plowing the same ground over and over. I read enough to review it though. (for NetGalley)

We did not do much over Labor Day weekend, and most of the restaurants locally were closed on Monday. We had errands to run on Tuesday (grocery shopping, which I do not enjoy) then out to a local pub for dinner, then a quick run to today to help my sister-in-law. We took advantage of being out and about and went to First Watch for brunch.

The online class I am teaching is in its last week, and then I will have a couple of weeks off before my Astronomy class gets started in October. I already set up the online quizzes through the textbook site, so now I am waiting for the course to be loaded into the online platform. I will have some grading to do over the next few days as we head into the end of the course.

I finished Murder in the Snow by Verity Bright for the RandomKit challenge and for Alphakit. It was a fun mystery novel set in the 1920's in England, and the killer completely took me by surprise! What a twist! That is to me the mark of a good mystery novel.

I just started Bento Box in the Heartland for our onsite group read next week.

>66 LadyoftheLodge: I have the first in that series on my Kindle, but I haven't read it yet. I'm sure I got it for a great bargain price and just never managed to read it. It's probably on my Kindle TBR list.

The course I am teaching ended last night, Yippee! Now I have a few papers to score and then turn in final grades. I have a couple of weeks off until I start teaching Astronomy on October 1.

We had a fun time on Sunday evening when we sat at the bar and had pizza at the local pub (which was packed) and watched WNBA game on the TV. There was still a crowd there from watching the Colts football game too. We struck up conversations with other people at the bar, and also got to visit with a little kid and his parents, whom we sometimes see at another local spot. The bartender was trying out new autumn and holiday combination cocktails, so we got to be his judges as he handed out tiny samples of his latest concoctions. The apple and caramel was our fave.

>69 LadyoftheLodge: Will there be any big astronomic events while you are teaching the Astronomy course? It seems we've had all sorts of big ones lately.

>70 thornton37814: I am not sure about that, but it would be a good idea to check on it.

I finished reading The Old Ducks’ Hen Do by Maddie Please. It was a fun read although one scene about a facial treatment gone wrong was not necessary to the plot and went on way too long.

Our on ground book group had a good discussion about Bento Box in the Heartland even though quite a few people were missing. Lots of memories and personal experiences were shared.

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley
This book is part of the Deep Dish mystery series, and I consider it the best so far. In this complex plot line, Dee and friends get involved in helping law enforcement solve the mystery of a woman who fell from a balcony on a snowy winter night after a fancy party. Dee and associates run a pizza restaurant and catered the event. Many things about the woman's death just do not add up. When law enforcement starts to question members of Dee's family and her friends, tension mounts as the story builds to a surprising conclusion.

As a reader of many mysteries, I am usually pretty good at guessing the outcome. This book was an exception! I never saw that ending coming, although it all made sense. Add in the holiday celebrations for Christmas and Hanukkah, and you have the recipe for an outstanding mystery with a resounding resolution. The recipes at the end with their humorous comments just add value to this story.

Readers who enjoy culinary mysteries with quirky characters will find this latest addition to the series to be intriguing and a definite page-turner. For those returning to this series, the characters are further developed, supporting the feeling of being with family. New and interesting character depths are explored in this story, although it can be read as a standalone novel. This book contains no steamy intimate scenes or strong language or descriptive violence.

This week has been a bit of a mess with frustrating phone calls and also several dentist appointments. Both hubby and myself had tooth extractions this week, with our new dentist. She is so funny, and a very good dentist. If I have to go to the dentist, might as well have some fun.

>74 LadyoftheLodge: I love this series and did not know this was out yet. I had it listed as an October release. I am reading Public Anchovy #1 for October MysteryKIT.

>76 lowelibrary: Your release date might be correct. I received an ARC from NetGalley.

My Thingaversary was September 2, which makes 14 years here in LT. I purchased two print books and the rest were digital reads. Many of the digital reads were purchased using Kindle Rewards points or else they were on sale, so I got a good deal. I spread the purchases out over the month, making the shopping more fun for me.

In print:
Wuhu Diary by Emily Prager
Whispers of the Dead by Peter Tremayne

Digital versions:
The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray
Legend in Green Velvet by Elizabeth Peters
Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey
Stately Pursuits by Katie Fforde
Wild Designs by Katie Fforde
Restoring Grace by Katie Fforde
The Twelve Months of Christmas by Sheila Roberts
Winter Magic on Railway Lane by Alison Sherlock
Key Lime Garden Inn by Annie Cabot
Firefly Junction--A Humbug Holiday by London Lovett
The After Life Meddlers Club by Thomas Smith
A Simple Prayer by Amy Clipston
Garden Girls Box Set 1-3 by Hope Callaghan

I also rewarded myself for being a good girl at the dentist this week and last week with one more.

Tiffany Black Cozy Mysteries Compilation Books 1 to 12 by A.R. Winters

Happy Thingaversary!! Looks like you are going to have a great stack of Christmas reading on hand.

Happy Thingaversary! I enjoyed Faking Christmas and The Late Mrs. Willoughby.

Happy Thingaversary. The After Life Meddlers Club sounds fun.

Happy Thingaversary!

Happy thingaversary. I think a reward for the dentist is entirely allowable - and a book is at least better for your teeth than something sweet!

>78 LadyoftheLodge: Looks like good reading ahead! I read several Katie Fford's several years ago. My favorite was the first, Wild Designs.

>79 DeltaQueen50: I don't like winter and cold weather, but that is a good time to stay inside and read.

>80 christina_reads: I read the other books in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series but somehow missed this one. It was a fortunate Kindle deal. Faking Christmas was a BB from someone, maybe it was you?

>81 lowelibrary: The After Life Meddlers Club sounded like fun, and I can really see that kind of thing happening. I believe that is how my hubby and I met--our departed spouses got together to help us out.

>82 MissWatson: Thank you. It was fun to spread out my shopping over the month.

>83 Helenliz: The dentist is never a fun trip, but a book reward makes it better. "A spoonful of sugar..."

>84 clue: I think I read at least one Katie Fford book in the past and liked it. I got some good deals on the three I downloaded.

Thank you for all your happy wishes.

The Ties that Divide by Sandra and Taylor Preisler
When Lucy, maid to Lady Zoe Demas, goes missing and is later found dead, Lady Demas determines to discover what happened to her. She becomes involved with a group of people who help her, including a private investigator, a "resurrectionist," street urchins, and some rather unsavory and questionable characters.

This novel reminded me of a Dickens novel, with its rather dark atmosphere and plethora of street people and scenes. Some parts of the novel seemed unlikely, such as the likelihood of a fine lady running about in London with only her ladies' maid to accompany her. This is a complex novel that includes quite a few characters and hidden secrets.

My main dislikes were the gory bull baiting scenes (added little to the plot) and the cliffhanger ending. I wish the novel had just ended without tacking that on at the finish. There were a lot of typos and word usage errors, plus one sentence that made no sense at all, unfortunately integral to the mystery. Since this was an ARC, I hope these were corrected upon release. A good editor was needed.

We had a backlash of the hurricane here in the Midwest, with intermittent rain over the last two days and high winds last evening. Additional gusts are expected today as well as some rain. The local Fall Festival in our town was canceled due to this weather, which I am sure disappointed the vendors, food truck owners, and concert fans. There were supposed to be two outdoor concerts in the amphitheater, as well as a beer and wine garden, a parade, hay rides, doggie parade, fun run, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and so on. This is all run by Parks and Recreation and is a very family oriented fun time, so I am sure there were disappointed families, not to mention the local restaurants and shops that profit from the festival attendees.

The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts
This novel focuses on a group women, all of whom are at a crossroads of sorts in their lives. As they form a book club, they also work through specific issues in their lives and find ways to address those issues.

Each chapter begins with a quote from one of the books they are reading (but only one book actually exists!) I liked those little special "Easter eggs." The book deals with themes such as betrayal, adultery, grief, fear, divorce, and family estrangement. However, the story line keeps moving and I wanted to continue reading to see how the story ended. I think this would be a great book group discussion book. Most readers who enjoy reading about book clubs and female protagonists would enjoy this book.

Our library chair person for our retirement village library is stepping down at the end of 2024. I volunteered to co-chair the committee along with another volunteer librarian. (Besides the cataloger, I am the only other person with a library degree.) I plan on dealing with the library book collection (organization, decisions about donated books, weeding, shelf checking) but I am not too keen on leading meetings or planning programs, although I do not mind training or working with the other volunteers. My co-chair and I will decide about specifics when we assume the role in 2025.

The outgoing chair still wants to retain some duties, such as picking up acquisitions from other libraries that we get for free, taking new books to our cataloger for processing, and managing overdues. I hope I do not regret taking on this new role of co-chair, since I originally said I did not want to do that.

A fun day at the symphony with lunch after, then turned into a mess once we got home. My hubby developed an extremely painful tooth problem that resulted in a rapid trip to the dentist and three hours of oral surgery, ending at 7:00 p.m.. Then we had to pick up prescriptions at the all-night pharmacy (30 minutes from home), which were not ready. We were told to return and when we did an hour later, they were still not ready. The pharmacist put a rush on the order, but there was still a problem with one prescription. We finally got home at 10:00 p.m. What an unexpected ordeal.

I read a couple of Halloween books for RandomKIT and CalendarCAT:
Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz

>90 LadyoftheLodge: So sorry for the medical mishap. It makes my mouth hurt just thinking about it.

Sorry that your day out at the symphony ended in dental woes - hope he is feeling better today.

>92 beebeereads: >93 DeltaQueen50: Thanks for your kind thoughts. It is good to know I have friends here on LT. He is doing better today, after spending the day yesterday in the recliner and sticking to soft foods and fluids.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
This story of family secrets, mayhem, and murder threw me for a loop! What started out as a story about "the Saint,' a family owned and run resort, turned into a surprising mystery. I found the alternating viewpoints/chapters to be confusing, sort of like literary whiplash. However, the many characters and plot lines wrap up at the end.

Readers should be aware of profanity and some violence in the story. This makes a great vacation reading selection.

I read/DNF several books for NetGalley. Here is my take on them.
The Swans of Harlem is an interesting and needed addition to the performing arts literature and to Black history. I got bogged down in too much detail, although the premise of the book is thoughtful and it is well-researched. It went on just a little too long.
The Pirate's Hideout and The Pirate's Treasure (both by A.J. Lark) are two middle school books about kids who go to camp where mysterious happenings occur. Middle school readers would find enough scary, creepy, funny things to make these enjoyable, but I could not get into them even though I often read children's books.

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
This story is told from the points of view of several different senior citizens who meet up at a local community center. Lydia, the director of the program, expects a quiet group who plays bingo and visits. Instead, she gets a feisty group of seniors, each with secrets and past activities that eventually come to light amongst the group members. Throw in a teenage single dad and his little girl along with an aging dog, and you will find warmth and humor as the group bonds together and works to save the community center.

Our community book group read Code Girls for our October discussion and it turned out to be interesting and lively, even though the discussion leader was uncertain about how it would turn out.

The book list for 2025 was handed out and members of the group were encouraged to sign up to lead the discussions. I signed up for Girl Waits With Gun which I was supposed to lead in 2024 but we didn't get the books. The state Humanities Council maintains multiple copies of books for loan to reading groups, but there was a mess with their couriers and it took some time to sort out where all the books were and get them all back. We had to select alternates for the first three or four months of 2024, so added in the ones we had to miss for our 2025 list as they were again available. (Does all that make sense?)

>97 LadyoftheLodge: I love the title, I'm taking a BB for this.

>98 LadyoftheLodge: I loved Girl Waits With Gun I have read the second in the series and keep forgetting to go back to it. A fun time. Hope your group enjoys it.

>99 lowelibrary: I hope you find it interesting. I like books with feisty seniors who have unexpected ideas, often with hilarious results. You might even recognize some character traits in some senior citizens of your acquaintance (I sure did).

>100 beebeereads: I also read several others in the Kopp sisters series. I like the idea that the novels are based on women who actually existed.

I read Snow is Falling: Juniper Meadows, Book 4 by Sarah Bennett as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription. This is the fourth book in the series and each book features a different member of the Travers family although they all appear in all the books. This one was set at Christmas time and it was fun to read about all the activities planned for the guests at Juniper Meadows (a resort). I especially enjoyed reading about the silent disco! The story dragged out a bit too long and was quite predictable, but still a fun read. I was disappointed in the abrupt ending though. Too bad.

I DNF A Rosie Life in Italy but got through the first four chapters, enough to write a review. I got bored with what was going wrong with this family and did not want to endure more, as it seemed to take a long time to get anywhere and they were not even living in Italy yet. Maybe I just need something more uplifting or fun.

I read A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry and just started A Christmas Guest. I always like these Christmas novels and needed something enjoyable, maybe a bit early for the season, but still fun.

>105 LadyoftheLodge: Never too early. Most of these are feel good books.

>106 mnleona: Thank you. I am enjoying A Christmas Guest now.

Better Safe Than Sorry by Mike Martin
In this addition to the Sgt. Windflower mysteries, Windflower and his fellow police officer Eddie Tizzard are hot on the trail of motorcycle gangs who are involved in distributing illegal drugs. Several overdoses and one fatality have already occurred as a result of this lethal street drug. Readers will quickly become involved not only in the police work of these men and women, but also in their families and colleagues. This novel is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel. One of the most interesting aspects of the novel is that it is set in Newfoundland and the law enforcement officers are part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I would classify this novel as a "soft" or "cozy" police novel, because while there are crimes committed, the story involves the daily lives of the officers and their families and friends. There is not a lot of gory detail and no strong language. This is a great introduction to the series for readers unfamiliar with the previous stories or the Sgt. Windflower Christmas stories.

Death by Misadventure by Tasha Alexander
This is a part of the Lady Emily mystery series, although it can be read as a standalone. In this book, Lady Emily and her husband Colin are visiting Baroness Ursula at her lovely mansion in the Bavarian Alps. While there, Kasper, the boorish son-in-law of the the Baroness, experience numerous mishaps, so someone does not like him! Lady Emily and Colin become embroiled in trying to unmask who is attempting to harm Kasper and they unearth secrets that date back decades. This is a dual timeline novel, alternating between 1906 and 1866, and featuring King Ludwig of Bavaria and connections to Wagnerian opera.

I have read other of the Lady Emily novels, and this particular one is not my favorite. There were a lot of characters to keep track of in this book and I had difficulty keeping them straight. I am not a fan of dual timeline novels that keep switching between the time periods. Other readers may enjoy this book better than I did though.

Also read/reviewed but DNF:
A Cat's Judgement by Suzanne Stephenson
My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes

>109 LadyoftheLodge: I've read a few in that series although I'm not as far along as you.

We decided to forego the huge used-book sale held in a nearby town at the fairgrounds. It runs for a week and the proceeds all go to the local food bank. All the workers there are volunteers. While we usually come home with a trunk full of books, and the money goes to a good cause, we already have stacks of books at home that we have not read yet. Besides, we had way too much going on this month already. (Maybe I am trying to convince myself that it was a good idea to give it a miss....)

I am currently reading Brother Cyril's Book by Penelope Wilcock. This is part of series 2 in the Hawk and the Dove series, which is about monks at a monastery in England. The books are about the personalities of the monks and how their lives are affected and lived in the monastic tradition.

Brother Cyril, a novice, is interviewing all the monks in the monastery, asking them the same four questions in preparation for compiling the responses into a book.
In series 2, the same characters from series 1 are included and further developed.

This has been an exhausting week! On Wednesday we went on an all-day bus trip to Indianapolis to tour several churches and to eat lunch at a brew pub that was once a church. At lunch, one member of our group passed out and the paramedics had to be called. It was traumatic for us all and after that most of us did not feel like eating the rest of our desserts. The tours were great overall, but it was a long day.

Thursday we took our two kitties to the vet, which was an anxiety filled family adventure for the four of us. They do not like to go in the car or get into the carriers, but they were very good boys overall, despite all the meowing and carrying on. Our eldest cat Charlie Dickens had blood tests done because he lost a lot of weight, and was diagnosed with kidney disease and hyperthyroidism, both not uncommon in elder cats. Charlie now will receive special medicine for the thyroid problem, and special food to help with the kidneys. We all needed a nap when we came home, and the two kitties spent the rest of the day hiding.

>113 LadyoftheLodge: That is a lot! I hope the group member who passed out is doing better now.

>113 LadyoftheLodge: I hope today is easier. Take care.

>114 christina_reads: >115 mnleona: Thank you for your kind thoughts and words. They are much appreciated.

Fondue or Die by Korina Moss
n this next installment in the Cheese Shop Mystery series, Willa Bauer and Team Cheese help law enforcement solve a murder. Dairy Days is in full swing, including a pageant directed by Nadine. However, Nadine meets with an untimely accident when a shelf falls on her at the historical museum. When Willa finds Nadine at the scene, some things just do not add up, and Willa and her team jump in to help. Past secrets come to light and add to the suspense of this cozy mystery novel. Yummy cheesy recipes are the best part of this novel, along with a little bit of romance.

This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Readers of cozy mysteries will find this a fun addition to their reading list, as there are no scenes of gory details or intimacy, and no strong language.

This week at least is starting out better. We had our eye exams today and that went much better than the last one a couple of weeks ago. Several phone calls worked out well too. Keeping my fingers crossed for continuing good luck this week.

Good luck this week! You've had a hard time lately and you deserve a break.

>119 mstrust: Thank you, we had a fun day at the Classics symphony yesterday and enjoyed dressing in some Halloween attire (not costumes, although there were some costumed attendees).

The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne
When Amanda visits her grandmother Birdie in her Shelter Inn senior apartment, Amanda never thought she would meet up with a gorgeous firefighter named Rafe and his adorable little son Isaac. What starts out as a plan to help Rafe when he breaks his arm turns out to be a key to romance and a second chance at love. Amanda and Rafe both need to take a risk to find love again.

Grandmother Birdie also finds a chance at love with Rafe's grandfather Paolo as they spend time together at the Shelter Inn and at the December Market coordinated by Amanda. Readers are invited to follow these couples through the progress of their respective romances and look forward to happy ever afters. Featuring cute kids, dogs, and cats, this book has a lot to love.

This is a sweet romance with kisses only, no overt intimacy, no violence, or strong language. The magic and miracles of the Christmas season add fun and flavor to this story of overcoming past heartbreak to open one's heart to a new life and love. This book is the second in a series, although it can be read as a standalone.

The Last Note of Warning
In this latest addition to the Nightingale mystery series, dressmaker Vivian is accused of murder after she discovers the body of a man at the home of one of her clients. Through many twists and turns, the mystery of his killer is solved.

The intriguing part of this novel is its time and place. Much of the action takes place in a speakeasy in Manhattan, and the time is Prohibition. The scenes set in the Nightingale club are the best and most interesting in the story. Although this is the third one in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

The Little Hedgehog and the Very Windy Day
This addition to the Little Hedgehog books is a perfect story to share between adults and children. The colorful illustrations are the best part of the book. The story features animals interacting with each other on a windy day. The theme of kindness comes across as the animals help each other. Although this is part of a series, the book can be read as a standalone. Readers who love this book are encouraged to read and treasure others in this series.

The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley
This novel is all about change, going home, and finding what you really want out of life. When Riley loses her job in marketing due to re-organization, she decides to go home to visit her mom Beth in Chatham while she regroups her life. Her mom needs help running her bed and breakfast inn since she recently broke her leg, so Riley's visit could not come at a better time. While Riley is there, she helps her mom with some marketing ideas for the inn's website, and meets some new friends while reacquainting with old ones. Riley acquires a few clients who need help with their websites, sparking her plans to take on some consulting whilst seeking a new job. However, Riley now must evaluate her life in the big City and she makes some life-changing decisions. This all takes place during the Christmas holidays, adding details about the seasonal plans and events, with some yummy foodie ideas thrown in the mix.

Readers who enjoy Christmas stories with romance and family thrown in will enjoy this sweet and clean bit of domestic and family fiction. Kisses only, and no violence or strong language.

I just started a book from Kindle Unlimited A Family Under the Christmas Tree which is a sort of Hallmark Christmas story. I had to laugh at how the main character's Grandma was portrayed: a silver-haired lady in a wheelchair (due to her injured ankle). BTW, Grandma is only 70 years old--a year younger than me, but I do not fit the description at all. Cute, made me laugh!

>125 LadyoftheLodge: A funny thing happened to me yesterday. A women in her thirties with three children told me she didn't get much help from her parents because they were old. I was seeing people in their eighties or nineties. Then she volunteered they are 61 and 65. I'm 76 and had just finished walking 3.5 miles in the park where we were talking. Until I talked to her I was feeling pretty good but afterwards thought I'd better get to a park bench quick and lie down!

>126 clue: Smiling here! In the book I mentioned, Grandma was snoozing in her recliner after they got done baking Christmas cookies, she was just tired out. :+)

>124 LadyoftheLodge: I don't remember if I added it to my list of books to read or not when I was going through publisher's blurbs on Edelweiss for the library. There are just so many books and so little time. I did at least consider it.

>126 clue: My oldest son will be 66 next week. He is still working in sheet metal (his grandfather started the business in 1928) and very strong. I do thank God we are still going. The walking for you is great and 3.5 miles is wonderful. You are telling me I need to do my treadmill more. I am 86 and have problems walking a lot.

>129 mnleona: I admire your family for keeping the business going almost 100 years! I'm familiar with sheet metal having worked in manufacturing almost 40 years and was the steel buyer for several years.

I've grown to be a walking enthusiast over time and feel much better mentally as well as physically when I do. I also enjoy being outside and I walk in our first city park, dedicated the same year your business was established!

I am still finishing my KU selection and also reading a book of four Amish stories set at Christmas. Both books feature kids, animals, and second chances for love.

Our on ground reading group read One Thousand White Women but I couldn’t get through it. We had a good discussion though.

The December selection is An Indiana Christmas published by Indiana University press.

I had a terrifying experience yesterday. I was working outside getting my garden ready for winter. A dog was barking in our neighbors yard and it broke loose and crashed through an opening in the fence. It came at me snapping and snarling. No one else was around. The dog started to run after me! I finally stopped and stood still. The dog kept its distance and finally ran away. I was still shaking whenever I thought about it!

>132 LadyoftheLodge: Oh, that does sound terrifying! What a relief that you were able to face the dog down.

>133 NinieB: Sections of the fence fell down during a storm a couple of years ago and we have been asking our retirement community admin to get it fixed.

>132 LadyoftheLodge: That was scary. I am so glad you are OK.

>135 mnleona: Thanks for your kind wishes and for thinking of me.

I just finished a Kindle Unlimited sweet Hallmark Christmas story about second chances and taking risks with one's heart. A Family Under the Christmas Tree by Terri Reed. This story featured kids and dogs, so it was predictably a cute and enjoyable Christmas book. I also liked that the story included references to church and to Christian beliefs.

My Charlie Dickens kitty had a road trip today as he went to see the vet tech for a blood test and blood pressure reading. I rode along in the back seat with him while hubby drove. Kitty did very well in the car and at the vet, and was a good, good boy! He hid out at first upon arrival at home, but now has been hanging out with me all day. (That would be Charlie, not hubby Stephen.)

>138 LadyoftheLodge: Thanks for the laugh. What a cute name for your cat

>137 LadyoftheLodge: Hallmark publishes books?
Glad the vet visit went well!

>140 mstrust: I don't think the book was published by Hallmark, but the cover states that it was a Hallmark Christmas production.

We got our first snowfall of the season today. The early snow from this morning melted, but it is snowing again now. The temperatures are supposed to rise over the next few days, so it will all melt again. Hubby and I decided to stay inside for an "at home" day.

A Lancaster Amish Christmas
This book contains four Christmas novellas set in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Each story presents a unique perspective on Amish life. While they differ in details, the stories all convey the true meaning of Christmas: helping others, expressing love, and opening one's heart to new beginnings and chances. Some themes found in these stories include care-giving for a special child, reuniting with a lost love, discovering one's purpose in life, friendship and romance, and moving to a new town. The stories are all set at Christmas time and feature a Christian perspective. They are clean and sweet novels, kisses only, no violence or strong language. I enjoyed every story and all the unique characters, especially the children.

>143 LadyoftheLodge: These are stories I like.

>144 mnleona: Same here, this was a very enjoyable selection and the stories were all different. They were also realistic in dealing with problems faced by many people.

I finally got my new eyeglasses. The lens surface area is much larger than my last pair and thus my progressive bifocals work much better. I am amazed at how much improved my vision is now, since the optometrist re-evaluated and adjusted my prescription, plus the larger lens area. The style of these glasses is much bolder than my last pair too, so I think they make me look more scholarly?? I am just thankful to be able to see much better now.

>146 LadyoftheLodge: Good! I struggle with glasses all the time and its so aggravating. I need very little help with distance but need much more for close up, especially if the print is small as it is on bottles, cans and cartons these days. Best buy dates? Forget it, they are rarely readable. I got new glasses last month but don't seem much better, I'm pretty much just putting them on to read.

>147 clue: My vision problem is just the opposite of yours. I need my glasses for distance but I was taking them off for reading and computer use because the prescription was not working. That was causing my eyes to be tired. I now have another pair of glasses just for reading and computer work. This is much better all around, although like you, I can’t read tiny print even with my glasses.

Madrigals and Mayhem
In this latest addition to the Cambridge book shop mystery series, mysterious poisonings, destructive break-ins, and missing valuables lead readers through twists and turns to solve the crimes. Family rivalries abound as Molly and friends become involved in helping Charlotte, the owner of the Magpie Lane toy shop, to find out what is happening and why. The Christmas setting adds interest to the story, as does the madrigal performance at which many clues are revealed. Romance also makes an appearance and provides a perfect setup for future entries in the series.

Although this book can be read as a standalone, readers familiar with the series will enjoy becoming reacquainted with Aunt Violet and Molly's mom, as well as other merchants on Magpie Lane. This is a clean and cozy mystery, without overt violence, strong language, or descriptive intimacy (kisses only).

>143 LadyoftheLodge: I'm in the mood for something like that. I'll be at the library tomorrow, and they usually have lots of Amish fiction. If I'm lucky they'll have that one. If not, I'm sure I can find something similar.

>149 LadyoftheLodge: I enjoyed the first in the series. I need to see if I can find the second. She's not an author widely stocked in libraries around here.

An Amish Christmas Match by Winnie Griggs
I read a lot of Amish fiction novels, and this one has to be one of my all-time favorites. Phoebe is the star of this novel, as she takes on the task of housekeeper to a bunch of brothers. Phoebe turns their household upside down with her unorthodox ways of doing things, and wins them over with her caring attitude. However, Phoebe appreciates the opportunity to escape from her overbearing elders and run a household on her own while helping out her friend Edna, who injured her arm while serving as the housekeeper for the brothers.

Edna has some matchmaking tricks up her sleeve! As Phoebe and oldest brother/widower Seth get to know each other, they come to grips with their differences and learn to work together. and care about each other. Phoebe also discovers that her problems with reading and writing are due to dyslexia, which I found to be an interesting twist to this story. I liked that the novel emphasizes the clever workarounds Phoebe devised to compensate for her dyslexia, and her intelligent and resourceful ways. Readers will also become educated about dyslexia and learn about appropriate interactions with individuals with dyslexia. This is a sweet and clean novel, without strong language, descriptive intimacy, or violence. The characters are thoroughly delightful and each personality stands out as unique and resourceful.

Today my hubby and I went on our annual before Christmas book shopping trip. We each selected whatever we wanted and then paid for each other's books. They will remain in the shopping bags until Christmas when we will gift them to each other. I generally do not remember the books I picked out by the time Christmas rolls around, so they are a surprise. We usually place them in cute Christmas gift bags rather than wrapping them individually.

>152 LadyoftheLodge: What wonderful and special gifts.

>153 mnleona: Thank you, it is a tradition we started years ago. We try to go book shopping during a weekday when the stores are not so crowded as on weekends. It was a good day.

I am in the midst of teaching my final online Geology course of the 2024 year. So far, all nine of my Geology students are passing and we have two more weeks to go. Then once I turn in my grades, I will be "free" for two weeks during the Christmas holiday break. I am not yet contracted to teach anything in the new year.

Today we worked our shift in the community library. The cataloger sent us two bags of newly-cataloged books to process (add genre labels, mark as New Book, file shelf card, shelve with new books) and that is always fun. I like getting to see the new books before anyone else on the staff. Since I am the new co-director/co-chair with another staff member, it is good to get into the work for the library. Our shelves of New Books are getting crowded, so it is time to move some of them into the regular library shelves.

The featured selections for December are Christmas books, and we have a new spinning rack for features. These Christmas books are getting a lot of circulation already, especially after the Christmas tea/reception we held last week.

>152 LadyoftheLodge: That is such a lovely tradition! My husband and I gift each other books, too, but we order them secretly and give them to each other on Christmas Eve. More often than not, my presents for him are books I read about in our group here on LT!

>157 MissBrangwen: - I too buy my husband at least one book each Christmas and I make notes through the year as people mention books that I think he'll like.

Friday we attended the Yuletide Symphony and enjoyed the concert very much. Sandi Patty was the host. The costumes were amazing as always. Some of the acts are traditional and are included each year, such as the tap dancing Santas! There are some new and different ones too. It was crowded and traffic was heavy getting out of downtown but at least the bus driver was very skilled. We went out for pizza afterwards. That is probably the biggest event of the holidays for us.

Way too busy last week, but hopefully things will slow down a bit. I finally got some indoor decorations up over the weekend, so we are looking a little more festive now.

Here are a few comments about my reading last week.

The Christmas Quilt by Mary Lantz (Kindle Unlimited)
I liked the premise and the main plot of this sweet novel about an Amish quilt shop and second chances at love, with a good dose of God thrown in. However, a good deal of editing was needed. Four different names were given for the quilt shop, and the chapters were not numbered correctly.

There were also two different endings! At one point the main characters Lydia and Abram were entering a hospital with a quilt in hand. In the next chapter, they were entering a barn during a snowstorm with the quilt in their buggy, and Lydia was becoming ill. I think either of the endings would have worked out, or else there could be two different stories there. Readers of Amish novels would find themselves questioning why Lydia lap-quilted an entire quilt by herself under a short deadline.Why not organize a quilting frolic and get the sewing circle quilters to help and to pray together? The community would have jumped in to help.

Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Love For NetGalley
This story presented an interesting extension of and variation on the original Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge. I liked the basic premise and especially appreciate the inclusion of St. Michael the Archangel as one of the spirits. There was a bit too much historical detail for me in parts, but it is still an enjoyable read, especially for the Christmas holiday season.

Readers unfamiliar with the film referred to by the author in the introduction may miss out on some of the connections. However, maybe the story will encourage some readers to take a look at the film!

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor For Netgalley
Readers who are fascinated by the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II will enjoy this glimpse into her imagination and thinking as she takes the reins (reigns!) of her new role as queen. The main plot of the story features two friends who still long for each other as more than friends after many intervening years. This is a multiple time line story that wings backwards to the time when the main characters met, forward to 1950's, and back again.

While I especially enjoyed the sections about the royals, the story of Olive and Jack seemed long drawn out and got to be repetitious after awhile. The author notes at the end detail their meticulous research for this novel and they certainly did their homework.

We'll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale Kindle Unlimited
This was a sweet story about a young woman and her son, as they move into a suite to care for William Harrington, a wealthy elderly gentleman. Noelle and Lucas both fall in love with William's grandson Alex Harrington, but fear they will lose him to his business interests in New York. Alex has many tricks up his sleeve to help Noelle's failing family bakery to re-imagine itself, and to show his true affection for Noelle and Lucas. Noelle is determined to mend the rift between William and Alex. In the process, Noelle discovers hidden connections between her grandmother and William! This could definitely be a Hallmark film!

I just finished a fun romantic comedy that would be a great movie! Christmas at Gingerbread Inn (Sugarplum Falls Romance) by Jennifer Griffith. This story includes a runaway celebrity, two rival hotel businesses, extortion, bad guys, grandmas, and a hunky hero. It was perfect for a seasonal and entertaining read. This was a Kindle Unlimited book.

Yippee doodle! Grading is done! Home for the Holidays! I am not booked to teach any more classes yet. We will see what 2025 brings.

Yesterday I went to my first meeting with a new book group. The structure of this one is quite different from our retirement community book club. It is much smaller, which I like. The members of the group are mostly retired teachers, and I know several of them.

Each member brought four reading suggestions to the meeting, we negotiated what to read for the first six months, and every person had at least one suggestion that was accepted. We ate lunch at a local diner, which we love! My hubby also attended and talked more at the meeting than he ever did at the other book club. They made him feel very welcome and actively involved him in the meeting. This group does not have a bunch of rules and restrictions like the other larger one, and every person is responsible for obtaining the books in whatever format he or she prefers.

The first reading selection for discussion in January is any book on the role of women in World War I or II. (One of our members is a retired history teacher. Two others are retired French/Language Arts teachers. The remaining member is a local vet tech, but her college major was women's studies.)

I will probably stick with the other group too, since I helped pick out what to read in 2025.

>151 LadyoftheLodge: You hit me with a book bullet on the Amish Christmas story.

>164 thornton37814: I hope you like it! I rarely give a five star rating, but that book got one!

>165 LadyoftheLodge: I'm also very stingy with 5 star ratings (and 4.5 star ones too).

>166 thornton37814: Same for me. The highest rating I would generally give is 4 stars. I just finished A Very Barrie Christmas: Poppy Creek Novella by Rachael Bloome and that also earned 5 stars. I especially liked the inclusion of military veterans and the problems they face with re-assimilation into society after military life.

A Very Barrie Christmas: A Poppy Creek Novella was an enjoyable read that sort of recreates the 1945 film Christmas in Connecticut. A writer (Juliet) visits her senior citizen aunt and uncle for Christmas to find solitude to work on her novel (she has a bad case of writer's block). An Army veteran (Nate) also is spending the holidays with the same folks. Both Nate and Juliet have mistaken first impressions of each other, but soon find out they have a lot in common. Astute readers will soon see where this is going!

The seniors Frank and Bevy Barrie are delightful matchmakers. This novel also addresses themes of veterans' re-assimilation into society following military service. This is part of the Poppy Creek series but can be read as a standalone. 5 star novel from Kindle Unlimited

The Christmas Gathering
Three novellas set the stage for Christmas reading in this book by known writers of Amish fiction. Although each story is unique and different, each will prove to be more than satisfactory for readers of Amish fiction novels. Whether the story deals with love between an "odd couple" (Amish and Englisher), or a story of star-crossed lovers and a family feud, the Christmas element adds delight and joy to this collection.

This is a series of clean and sweet novels, with no overt violence, graphic intimacy, or strong language. Snuggle up with a cup of something warm and satisfying, a plate of goodies, and a woolly blanket and get ready to read!

Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge
Translated from Norwegian into English. After she survives a climbing accident, Ingrid returns to her family-owned mountain lodge. While managing the lodge, she encounters some mysterious problems and secrets that threaten the lodge. There is a lot of detail for readers who like that, as well as information about Christmas customs. (DNF)

Wartime Christmas in the Dales by Betty Firth
In this historical novel, the people of a town in the Dales prepare for the Christmas holidays during World War II. Rationing and supplies, as well as injured servicemen and refugee kids, make this a different kind of Christmas. The presence of many different kinds of people in the village make for an interesting time. I liked the Christmas details and the descriptions of how the characters prepared for and celebrated Christmas.

I also felt as if I was stepping into the middle of an ongoing story! I had not read the previous novels in the series so was not familiar with the characters. The names and numbers of characters felt confusing, especially at the beginning of the novel. I also did not like the cliffhanger ending.

I also completed my annual Christmas re-read of A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas. I love the illustrations in my copy, which I have had for years.

We had a quiet Christmas at home, cooked together and opened up the shopping bags full of books we bought for each other weeks ago. It was fun to see what I had selected at the bookstore! Hubby also gave me several nice pieces of jewelry, and I gave him a small sculpture piece he had admired and a couple of shirts.

Happy Christmas to all! Happy Boxing Day, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa to those who celebrate.

'Tis the day after Christmas. We removed some of our decorations and stored them, including the nutcracker collection. The rest will come down as we feel like tackling the job. We will also be eating leftovers today and hanging out at thome.

Christmas had some strange elements! At about 1:45 a.m. on December 25, flashing lights woke us up. Several emergency vehicles were parked outside our neighbor's house, with all their lights flashing. That ruined our night of sleep! Apparently our neighbors both came down with a bad case of the flu and called 911. I think both of them went to emergency in the ambulance!

On Christmas morning we went to church. No one was showing up to serve at the altar, including the priest! Several of us set up the communion table and lit the candles, and the musicians were playing their pre-Mass Christmas hymns. We looked everywhere in the church, called the priest's cell phone, and finally two people went across the street to knock on his door. His visiting brother said he went to the church 30 minutes ago! The priest finally showed up 20 minutes late, walked in from outside, no explanation given, with a church full of people waiting for Christmas Mass to start! Hubby and I served the cup and another person helped out too. This was an unexpected kind of start to Christmas!

Hopefully all my LT friends have a festive holiday!

>172 LadyoftheLodge: Ah-ha! A plot for a Christmas mystery!

>173 clue: That sure sounds like one!