Weekend Book Review

A Shift a Day for Your Best Year Yet by Dean Del Sesto promises 365 ways to improve your life, career, and relationships.  The book does deliver on this.  However, I was hoping for more than a statement and short blurb for each way.  Many of the items are thought provoking and could have been explored further since this is a book.  As it stands this would have been better served as a daily calendar. 

disclosure:  I received this book through Revell, a division of Baker Publishing group, but I was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Murder Once Removed by S.C. Perkins is the first book in the Ancestry Detective series.  Lucy is a genealogist who goes the extra mile for her clients.  She is researching the family history of a billionaire and finds proof that his great-great-grandfather was murdered.  Lucy is even close to solving the very cold case when an unknown person sets out to stop her no matter what.  I loved the genealogy aspect of this book although the once removed stuff still baffles me.  The characters fell a bit flat, but I expect this to change as the series progresses.  The mystery was strong, and the series has great promise!

The third book in the Farm to Fork Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon is One Potato, Two Potato, Dead.  While helping at a local mission, Angie meets her employee Hope's professor, Daniel.  The next day Daniel is found dead shortly after Hope gave him a ride home.  To further confuse matters, Angie's boyfriend abruptly leaves the country with no warning or contact.  I normally love Ms Cahoon's books and this series, but this particular book fell flat.  Angie comes off as annoying - whiny, selfish, and just generally unlikeable.  The story was full of filler material with very little action.

Something Read, Something Dead by Eva Gates is the fifth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series.  Library employee Lucy is busy helping her cousin Josie plan a small simple wedding.  Things take a swift turn when Josie's grandmother and other relatives arrive with plans for the wedding event of the year.  Josie's cousin Mirabelle threatens to ruin Josie's simple wedding and maybe even still Josie's fiance.  When Mirabelle is murdered Josie is the obvious suspect.  The characters are strong and mesh well together.  I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and the mystery.  I do not remember reading any previous books in this series, but I had no problem following this one.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Birthday Season

For the youth in my Bible class at church I always plan a small party for their birthday.  It is never anything elaborate.  I let them choose from a cake, cupcake, or cookie cake decorated however they want.  During the late spring we celebrate a bunch of birthdays.  Surprisingly most of the younger ones are not picky about how they want their item decorated.  Then teenagers are another story.  The oldest teen wanted "something cool".  I searched for birthday cakes for teen boys and came up with a candy cake.

It was very easy to make.  I used a rod and melting chocolate to get the pouring candy effect.  I spooned the melted chocolate onto the rod which was placed on a lined cookie sheet.  I added the candies and put it in the freezer.  I repeated that a couple more times until it was built up enough.  Chocolate icing and more candy on top of the cookie cake finished it off.  

I was thrilled when the birthday boy walked in and said "Now that's cool".  It is not often that a teen boy is impressed by anything.  It is especially good when all it took was a homemade birthday cake.  

Weekend Book Reviews

One Feta in the Grave by Tina Kashian is the third book in the Kebaby Kitchen Mystery series.  Lucy is settled in as the manager of her family's Mediterranean restaurant.  The summer tourist season is drawing to a close but is ruined when another shop owner is murdered.  The suspect list is long, but Lucy's best friend Katie is at the top.  The characters work well together, and the mystery is strong.  I always look forward to the next book in this series, and this one does not disappoint.

The third book in the Pie Town Mystery series by Kirsten Weiss is Pie Hard.  Val is surprised when a reality television crew shows up at Pie Town to film and critique her pie shop.  When the show's producer falls to her death, Val and her crust maker Charlene find themselves in the middle of another mystery.  Soon the killer turns his/her sights on Val.  This book has a few surprise twists in the form of sub-plots but keeps the same zany cast of characters.

Criminally Cocoa by Amanda Flower is the latest book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series.  This particular book is more of a novella and takes place in New York City rather than Amish country, but many of the same characters are on hand.  I was worried that the change in location would cause me to love the book less but that was not the case.  Bailey is filming a television show Bailey's Amish Sweets along with the help of her Amish cousin Charlotte.  Charlotte notices that some of the problems with the show are more intentional events of a jealous individual rather than random accidents.  This is a quick read yet a nice addition to the series.


disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

No Good Tea Goes Unpunished by Bree Baker is the second book in the Seaside Cafe Mystery series.  I had not read the first book, but I was able to follow this one with no problem.  Everly owns an iced tea shop and cafe in North Carolina.  She has organized a beachfront wedding which goes horribly wrong when the groom is found dead.  Everly begins her own investigation and soon becomes a target for the killer.  Add in two eccentric aunts, a crazy ex-boyfriend, and an annoying reporter and Everly has her hands full.  It all works together though.  I loved the setting and the characters in this book.  While the book easily stands on its own, it makes me want to go back and read the first book as well as any future installments.

The third book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series by Libby Klein is Restaurant Weeks are Murder.  Poppy finds herself as the assistant chef on a restaurant challenge cooking show along with her ex-fiance.  In addition her bed and breakfast is hosting the judges for the challenge. Someone is out to ruin the challenge by sabotaging the contestants and then murdering one of the judges.  The mystery is a strong one and kept me guessing until the end.  I look froward to the next book in this series.


Alibis & Angels by Olivia Mathews is the third book in the Sister Lou Mystery series.  Sister Lou is focused on the upcoming Lenten season when she is asked by the mayor to look into a recent murder.  The mayor's finance director is murdered, but it seems that the mayor may have been the intended target.  While this book definitely has a religious theme, I love the author's gentle way of discussing the topic.  Sister Lou is a wonderful character, and the supporting characters are equally charming.  The smart characters and wholesome writing make this one of my favorite cozy mystery series.



disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Hanging Out in the Garden

I set up a lounge chair in one corner of the garden so that I can crochet.  I am almost never alone out there though.

Toby made himself a wallow hole underneath the chair for napping.

Ezekiel often stops by and also finds a nice spot for a nap.

The chickens are always busy looking for bugs but they come by for a drink of water.

June, Already?

It is hard to believe this year is nearly halfway over.  May was a busy month.  I ended up decorating for a baby shower at my church.  I was on a serious budget, but I wanted everything to look nice.  I will apologize in advance for the awful photos.  The lighting inside was not good.

I used magnolias from the yard to do an arrangement for the food table.  I put the extras on a spare table at the front door.  The scent was wonderful.

The gift area had a banner with the new baby' name and some balloons.  I made tissue paper flowers and bows to go on front of the food and gifts tables.  W made the balloon columns.

I painted some old mason jars to look like cows and added flowers greenery from the yard.  The tables also had burlap and cow punches spread around.

In the end it was nothing fancy, but it turned out nice enough I think.