Month: January 2020

Things in Jars by Jess Kidd

 

Things in Jars

THE BLURB:

In the dark underbelly of Victorian London, a formidable female sleuth is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child in this gothic mystery—perfect for fans of The Essex Serpent and The Book of Speculation.

Historical Fiction with a mystery, a missing child with odd looks and powers, taking place in the underbelly of Victorian London.

Bridie Devine is a surprising and delightful character, along with her housemaid, Cora, who happens to be about 7 feet tall and was one of my favorite characters.

In this London, there has been a kidnapping. And no one wants the police involved for reasons unknown at first. The child is supposedly the secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick. Her name is Christabel and to say she was a bit odd would be an understatement.

Her unique appearance and abilities have attracted attention from some seriously unscrupulous fanatics of the unexplainable and odd. They have no qualms killing anyone in there way. So how is Bridie going to find and rescue this child? Along with Cora and a very lovely ghost with moving tattoos, and maybe an assist from her mysterious apothecary.

The author has such a unique way of writing. I was hooked by the prologue! You would think that any historical fiction in Victorian London would be dour, but you would be wrong. Her style is so different and relatable, just when things are looking grave, boom! you’re laughing.

Of course, underneath all of this danger, there is a very good look at what we consider human. Sometimes the monsters are the ones living in fine homes and not the ones under the water.

I hope we see more of this particular character!

Well Done!

NetGalley/ February 4th, 2020 by Atria Books

 

 

 

 

Hello Friday! You are looking especially nice today!

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We made it to Friday!! Woo-Hoo! The sun is shining brightly and I am wearing shorts. Okay, they are gym shorts but they count.

This has been a week. I have not watched any anxiety-inducing news shows. I have started Season 6 of Schitt’s Creek. Finished The Witcher, and Dracula. I wasn’t impressed with Dracula. I like my vampires more refined.

I just finished An Everyday Hero by Laura Trentham from St. Martin’s and I am so happy I was home alone because I cried like a baby! This one has all the feels and is so timely.

We are already looking toward Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras. Photoshoots are coming together for both. Since OU Boy’s birthday is February 21st, it will be a King Cake birthday!

We lost his aunt this week. She is about 59 or was. This one I didn’t know too well. All I know is she has been dying for the 17 years I’ve known the family and I still don’t know why. His sweet Uncle Kevin was in a diabetic coma for a bit but is doing some better. Turns out he found out he was a diabetic a while back and never told anyone, including his wife! I would not want to be around when she gets done with him!

There has been a lot of sadness this week, so this weekend just blast the world with love.

Enjoy and be kind.

xx P

 

The Family Next Door by Fiona Cummins

The Family Next Door

For Sale: Lovely family home, ready for your updates. Friendly neighborhood setting close to park; secluded.

Garrick and Olivia are making a fresh start out of London. The house is lovely and architect Garrick is already full of ideas to make it better. They could never have afforded such a house, but then no one is exactly clamoring to purchase Number 25 The Avenue. Maybe it has something to do with the murders in the park behind the house.

The day they move in they see a body being removed. Not a good omen for a couple whose marriage is on the rocks and one of them is still hiding a secret!

Their children aren’t thrilled with the move but the daughter is a teenager and not happy about anything. Their son who is nine is curious about the old treehouse at the back of their property and what he finds there will put his own life in danger.

Someone doesn’t want Garrick digging around the cellar. And killing again won’t bother them in the least.

This was a really well-done mystery/thriller. I was absolutely sure I knew who did the deeds. I was wrong. On both guesses! Wow! I did not see that ending coming!

Well Done!

NetGalley/January 28th, 2020 by Pinnacle Books/ Kensington

 

 

Bigelow’s Benefits Teas!

It has been a hot minute since we talked about some tea! And I received more than my share for the holidays!

Let’s talk about the Refresh.  Why is it great? It contains Dandelion, thought to promote healthy harmony. Nettle, a unique plant traditionally regarded to help support a healthy lifestyle. Turmeric, brilliant yellow root commonly thought to help keep the body on track. Turmeric is something we have every day in food and teas. It has a ton of good uses. I even brush my teeth with it. Chili/Black Pepper supports your well being. Matcha, traditional green tea known to energize the body. It’s my own opinion that they each have a lot to offer health-wise. Plus it’s really good!

My friend Casey and I have a huge love of anything tea and this weekend we shared our stashes in pictures. Now she wants my tea cart. You can pick one up at a restaurant supply company for a song. Each of the rows has space for 6 boxes of tea. So in every row you see, there are 5 or more teas behind the lead tea. And that isn’t including the Harney and Sons Royal Palace Collections. The box underneath is an antique French hot chocolate set with matching cups, plates and spoons.

The only bad weather we had was rain and we really needed that. Our daffodils are about 6 inches out of the ground and the sun is saying “It’s Spring!”But the wind is saying, “Wanna bet?”

Jerome the gnome is overseeing this rich, smoky Lapsang Souchong from Harney and Sons Teas and I loved this ARC so much I read it twice. And cried. The smokiness of the tea smells like a campfire and was perfect with this tale!

Happy Monday Y’all!

Be Nice!

xx P

Under a Firefly Moon by Donna Kauffman

Under a Firefly Moon

Blue Hollow Falls may be a small Blue Ridge Mountain town, but it’s big on love—and second chances . . .

We are back at Lavender Blue Farm! A place for healing, hope and as many chances as you need to find your way home.

This is number four in the series. The women who own the farm are like family to each other and they have all suffered in their lives. But here they have found safety and their own inner strength and are all following their dreams.

This is Chey’s turn. The former barrel racer has worked hard to forget the pain of her past and what she lost. She has found healing at Lavender Blue and is perfectly content. She let her shot at love go willingly and regretted it instantly. She misses her two besties from her life growing up on the rodeo circuit. Wyatt Reed left the rodeo after she put him in the friend zone. Her other BFF, Tory, did as well.

This is the story of what happens when Tory pokes her little nose into the lives of her friends. She finds Wyatt’s horse in very bad shape and who does she know that rehabs horses? Yes! Chey. Chey is happy to take Buttercup but when Tory shows up to stay, she brings Wyatt Reed right smack into Chey’s life. But not the same Wyatt. A different, calmer and gentler Wyatt.

Will, she let him walk away again? Or will they fall in love under the firefly moon?

What did I like about this one? All of it. This series is a powerful look at what women can do when they support each other. These are stories of hope and a reminder to all of us that we can get back up and change our reality.

Kauffman is the Queen of all the Feels!

NetGalley/January 28th, 2020 by Zebra

 

 

The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler

The Look-Alike

Thriller, Psychological Drama, and Mental Illness. It sounds like a recipe for staying up past your bedtime!

Erica Spindler is a master at twisty, mental thrillers.

Ten years ago Sienna Scott was taking a shortcut from the library at college. Wearing a white coat with the hood pulled low, she could barely see for all of the snow coming down. Until she sees the red that shouldn’t be there, and a dead girl wearing the same coat as Sienna.

Sienna’s mother has had mental health issues since shortly after Sienna’s birth. Paranoid delusions, fear of someone hurting her child. She has been locked up in her own house since Sienna left and is getting worse. But what if they really are out to get you? Are you still paranoid?

Sienna is still dealing with the thoughts she has that the girl’s death was meant for her. She just can’t shake that feeling and when her mother agrees with her, the seed is planted.

Shortly after the murder, she was sent to London to live with her aunt. Her father afraid she would turn out like her mother, asked her half-brother to look after her after his death. Since Sienna has been gone so long, he has mainly been taking care of her mother, but now he needs help and Sienna returns.

This was one crazy ride! I suspected everyone at some point. Compulsively readable, a cast of great characters and a great ending!

Well Done!

NetGalley/ January 28th, 2020 by St. Martin’s Press

 

 

 

A FIELD GUIDE TO HOMICIDE by Lynn Cahoon

A Field Guide to Homicide (Cat Latimer Mystery #6)

Cat Latimer Mystery #6

Cat is hosting a different type of writer’s retreat this time. Couples. 2 couples, 1 odd college student and Uncle Pete’s girlfriend, Shirley. It seems like everyone and his brother are jumping on the writing bandwagon!

Seth is overwhelmed with planning an outing for the group, doing airport runs and prepping for his military unit’s reunion.

Hiking local Colorado mountains and venturing into mining claims turns into finding a dead body and not just anybody, but a friend of Seth’s from the military. The one who died in the war. Chance had been living off the grid for all these years and no one knew. Or did they? And why did he fake his death?

Everyone is acting odd at this retreat. Including Seth and Shauna. And of course, our Cat is going to stick her pert little nose into this mystery and find out what her man is hiding and who killed his friend.

This is my favorite book so far. The characters are well-formed and are continually growing and evolving. There are really tough topics tucked in these mysteries and I always learn something new while being thoroughly entertained. With Ms. Cahoon that is a given.

NetGalley/January 28th, 2020 by Kensington Publishing Corporation