"A Wish For Christmas"

As part of one year's Hallmark countdown to Christmas,  comes the movie, "A Wish For Christmas."  Sara Shaw works in the marketing department of a large firm and tends to sit by and let her boss take credit for her work.  When Christmas comes and he presents one of her ideas as if it is his own (again!) and receives major accolades from Peter, the handsome owner of the company, Sara (after being granted a 48 hour wish from Santa) decides to take the marketing director (her boss) to task over it.  She does it in front of Peter and all the other employees at the office Christmas party.  As a result, her marketing boss is fired and Peter  invites her to travel from Chicago to Seattle with him instead of her former boss to present her idea to a major client.  With the Santa wish due to expire in 48 hours, will Sara be able to continue to be the assertive, strong woman without the wish?  Before that happens she is able to show Peter (and herself) a side of herself she didn't know she had.  Along the way love and healing happens.  pazt

"More Harm Than Good"

"More Harm Than Good" by Andrew Grant is his third David Trevellyan thriller.  This time David ends up in the hospital in England after a mission in Europe.  He's had a second blow to the head within 6 months in his line of work and is being admitted for an MRI to make sure there is no permanent brain injury.

In the hospital David's boots are stolen on his first day - He loved those boots and that did not sit well with him at all.  Searching for the culprit who stole his boots leads to a chain of events that has him working undercover with a British domestic agency.  He's not comfortable working on his home turf nor is he comfortable with the fact that part of his undercover operation is to see if there is a leak in the agency he's been loaned to -- especially if that leak might be atttributed to an attractive young woman he's going to be working with.  As usual, not all is what it seems and it takes David and the team some time to unravel the truth with some excitement along the way.  pazt

"Me Before You"

"Me Before You' is a beautiful story about love and life transformations.  I really didn't know much about this movie before I decided to check it out from my local library.  Although it is a beautiful story that I would recommend, it probably wasn't the best choice for me and my spouse to be watching at the moment.  He was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer earlier this year and our future together is uncertain.  What we really need are uplifting movies with humor!  pazt

Decluttering and Magazines!

So....I'm into downsizing and decluttering my home and thirty plus years of accumulation is a lot to go through!  I'm currently working on the spare room  -- or what was meant to be my room as opposed to the room my spouse uses for a home office.  Instead, it's been where everything has been tossed for almost 10 years.  There is a queen size futon bed I purchased from our oldest daughter when she moved to England to marry a Brit.  It had been her sofa and bed in her Capital Hill studio apartment in Seattle.  I thought it would make a great guest bedroom piece of furniture but takes up almost the whole width of my spare room and is not that comfortable -- especially compared to one my daughter purchased a couple of years ago from IKEA for her guest bedroom.  Since our guests all stay at our local daughter's home, we don't really have a need for a guest bedroom so my goal is to clear out the room and reorganize so my son and grandson can move the futon out of that room and I can place an ad to sell or give it away!

One of my discoveries has been some old magazines.  I found a couple of Real Simple magazines today from September and October of 2012.  I love Real Simple magazines and they seem to call my name when I pass a magazine stand so I subscribed for a few years.  However, in looking through these old issues, I discovered lots of pictures -- particularly of current fashions -- but nothing much of substance that I wanted to save so they're going into the recycling bin.  There were 3 or 4 pages of ideas that I might try in decorating my home but the fashions are no longer in style. 

I did save some clever Halloween costume ideas from the October issue that I'll pass on to my daughter since she and the two children still at home dress up for Halloween each year.  There were a few recipes that I cut out but my husband and I switched to plant-based no oil, no dairy, no eggs, no meat, etc. a little over a year ago and most recipes from popular magazines don't fit in our new way of eating.  Sometimes I can adapt a recipe that looks good but I've probably already saved more recipes than I'll be able to try in my lifetime!

My favorite magazine used to be "Good Housekeeping" and, as a young wife and mother, I subscribed to it and looked forward to its arrival each month.  However, when they stopped including short stories throughout and a novel at the end, it lost its appeal and I stopped my subscription.  By then I'd gone back to school, finished college and a master's program and was working.  I still miss those short stories and novels, though!  pazt

"Christmas In Evergreen"

"Christmas In Evergreen" is a Hallmark movie that I checked out from my local library.  It's almost Christmas in the town of Evergreen, Vermont, and the local veterinarian is closing her practice and, for the first time in her life, is prepared to spend Christmas away from her family and friends -- in Washington, D.C.  Long distance has taken a toll on a romance and she and her boyfriend have agreed that she'll move to Washington, D. C., to give their relationship a chance.  She's accepted a job with a veterinary practic there but before she makes the move she is going to spend Christmas in D.C.

However, fate has a way of stepping in and changing the best laid plans.  When the Burlington airport is closed by snow, she finds herself interacting with a single dad doctor and his delightful daughter.  When they're unable to find anywhere to stay in Burlington overnight, she invites them to return to Evergreen with her and stay at a Bed and Breakfast that is about to open.  The closer it gets to Christmas and the less it seems she's likely to make it to D.C. for Christmas, she finds herself throoughly enjoying the company of the widower and his daughter and the pull to stay in Evergreen is strong.  pazt

"The Rounders" (1964 version)

My husband and I are often saying "Whatever suits you just tickles me plumb to death."  That line comes from this movie, "The Rounders."  Since it came out in 1964 and my husband was in the Navy at the time, I'm not sure we saw it then but we did see it and that line has stuck with us.

Recently, we decided it was time to view "The Rounders" again so checked out a copy from our local library.  It stars Glen Ford as Ben Jones and Henry Fonda as Howdy Lewis - a couple of modern day cowboys who arrive at their job (working at a ranch owned by a guy named Love) in a pick up truck.  They're bronc riders hired initially to tame wild horses but they've met their match in "Old Fooler."  He's a roan that sometimes calmly walks around with a rider on his back then decides to buck him off.  This movie is pure entertainment so if you're looking for something relaxing to watch, I'd recommend it.  pazt

"Let Me Lie"

I've discovered a new mystery author in reading "Let Me Lie" by Clare Mackintosh.  Clare has written two previous mysteries after serving 12 years on the police force in England.  She's also written for the Guardian, Good Housekeeping, as well as other publications.

"Let Me Lie" is the story of Anna Johnson's family.  Last year her father committed suicide off Beachy Head although his body was never found then her mother followed suit in the same location on the anniversary of his death and her body was never discovered either.  As an only child and the mother of an infant daughter herself, Anna is struggling with her grief but a series of incidents leads her to question the circumstances of her parent's deaths. 

Against her boyfriend's advice, she decides to ask the police to investigate.  She ends up talking with a retired detective, Murray, who now works the front desk at the police station.  Murray doesn't see the need to get the detectives on the case until he does a little exploration of the background of the case himself to see if something might have been missed or if it is straight forward suicides.  In the meantime, his wife, who has been in and out of mental institutions throughout their marriage as a result of suicidal tendencies, is back in the hospital and coming home for the holidays so he has his hands pretty full on the home front.

Mackintosh does an amazing job of spinning this story leading you from one believable twist to another as the story unfolds to a climax that came as a surprise.  This is an author to watch and, if you love mysteries like I do, I highly recommend you check out this book.  I'm now in search of her previous ones.  pazt

"Death In Ecstasy"

"Death In Ecstasy" is the 4th book in Ngaio Marsh's Roderick Alleyn detective series and I had no better luck discovering whodunnit than in her previous mysteries but I had fun trying.

When Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn's friend, Nigel Bathgate is looking out the window of his flat one evening, he notices a sign for the "House of the Sacred Flame" and it intrigues him enough (or is he just bored?) that he decides to go down the street to check it out.  Little did he suspect that one of the worshipers is about to be murdered and he'd have to call his friend, Alleyn, to investigate the case.  He's also a witness to the murder but figuring out who the culprit is and what the motive is will not come easily.  Cora Quayne died in full view of Nigel and the other worshipers  but how her poisoning occurred is not so easy to ascertain.  Clues to why she had to die come from several sources including some outside England.  pazt

Darrow & Darrow vs Sherlock Holmes

Darrow & Darrow is a Hallmark mystery movie and the Sherlock Holmes I'm talking about is the 1954 Sherlock Holmes TV series starring Ronald Howard (son of Leslie Howard) as Sherlock and Howard Marion Crawford as Dr. Watson.  I like Leslie Howard's portrayal of Sherlock the best in terms of all the "old" versions of Sherlock on British TV.  My husband checked out a DVD from our local library that has a number of the episodes from this TV series and we enjoyed watching them together.  For the most part they portrayed Holmes in a very positive manner and some of them were even light hearted.

I had been waiting for some time for the library to have a copy of "Darrow & Darrow" available for me to check out and I was finally rewarded with a DVD to view.  This movie has three generations of Darrows - Joanna who is the mom and grandmother who shut down a practice she shared with her husband when he died.  Her daughter, Claire, was away at law school and when she graduated, she returned home and reopened the firm while her mother was off making money practicing law in New York.  She, too, became widowed and is raising her daughter, Louise, on her own.  Since Louise is brilliant (having skipped two grades), raising her presents its own challenges.

When Joanna returns to town in disgrace and wanting to rejoin the firm, family differences are highlighted between Joanna who is always in pursuit of money and Claire who is in pursuit of justice whether she makes money or not.  As you might expect, clashes ensue between mother and daughter making Claire's involvement in defending a former felon (and friend) a little more challenging.  In the meantime, she finally decides to accept a date with the assistant D. A. after turning him down repeatedly in the past.  Life is about to change for all the Darrows!  This was another feel good Hallmark movie but the mystery was a little higher quality than some of the others I've viewed.  pazt

"Constantine" - the DVD

I'm not sure who or what I read that recommended the DVD, "Constantine," to me but I requested it from the library and, when it finally arrived, they only gave me a week to view it because it is in such high demand!  Perhaps it was the stars, Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz, that interested me but, by the time the DVD arrived, I'd forgotten.

I didn't know John Constantine (played by Keanu Reevesj) was based on a comic character who sees demons who are walking the earth and does exorcisms!  Rachel Weisz portrays Angela, a cop whose twin sister supposedly commits suicide while locked up in an insane asylym and that leads her to Constantine.  Together the pair are formidable.

If you like dark fantasy, this may be for you but it probably wouldn't be something I'd watch again.  pazt

Addendum:  Watch to the end of the credits for more scenes!!!!

"The Hanging"

"The Hanging" is a thriller authored by a brother and sister team of authors - Lotte and Soren Hammer.  Lotte trained as a nurse and has worked all over the world from Greece to Greenland.  Soren was going to become a teacher but is now a programmer and lecturer at Copenhagen University College of Engineering.  Before this book was published in Denmark, its rights had been sold to 16 countries around the world which is the first time that happened in their Danish publisher's long history.  It has been published in 20 countries around the world and has sold over 120,000 copies just in Denmark.

Detective Konrad Simonsen is on vacation with his daughter, Anna Mia, in a villa belonging to one of his team known as "The Countess."  However, before he can enjoy his vacation he is called back to Copenhagen to head up a team (with unlimited resources and answerable to no one) to investigate a gruesome murder.  Five men (later it is learned they are all pedophiles) have been hanged, had their hands cut off, and mutilated in the gym of an elementary school.

As the team tries to identify the victims and their murderers, Denmark is in an uproar and ready to have their lax sexual molestation of children laws strengthened.  People also are not very inclined to assist the police and their anger at the victims leads them to lash out at other known pedophiles making it even more difficult for the police to do their work.

This is a well written thriller and this team has written 4 more books in this series -- I am waiting for the next one to arrive.  pazt

"The Sneaky Chef"

"The Sneaky Chef" is a New York Times bestselling cookbook by Missy Chase Lapine.  However, it is more than just a cookbook because it is full of ideas for making your children's food healthier ranging from what foods it is important to buy organic to staples to buy.  She has "Make-ahead recipes" giving you clever ideas how to hide healthy foods in regular dishes that your children won't even suspect are there and will eat eagerly.  She concludes with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack recipes as well as beverages.

Since I have no children at home and my youngest grandchild is 11 and pretty set in his eating ways, why did I check this book out of my local library?  In August of 2018 my beloved husband of 57 years was diagnosed with a malignant esophageal tumor and the medical community has told us that there is nothing they can offer other than palliative care.  We are fighters and refuse to accept that finality.  We began eating plant-based over a year ago but I was looking for ways to sneak healthier veggies into our meals without being too obvious about it.  My husband has no problems with eating and loves both vegetables and fruits but he is not eating as much as I'd like so he can maintain the healthy weight he reached just before his diagnosis.  We certainly don't want him losing any more weight at this time.

He love ice cream but dairy is a big no-no to our way of eating and I'm just beginning to figure out how to make "N'ice" cream with frozen bananas which was just made easier yesterday with the discovery that Sprouts (new to our area and close to our home) carries frozen bananas!

"The Sneaky Chef" has milk shake recipes in which frozen bananas can be incorporated and there are other recipes using frozen bananas to make ice cream so I'm looking forward to making my hubby healthy "ice cream" treats he can enjoy that don't include dairy.

As plant-based eaters, we do not eat meat, dairy, eggs, cheese, or added oils so I will be adapting recipes in "The Sneaky Chef" to replace oils when I saute with vegetable broth or water.  In baking oils can be replaced with applesauce or prune puree,  etc.  I replace milk in recipes with non-dairy milks and replace eggs with "flax" eggs.  I'll omit cheeses or use purchased plant-based cheeses.  Wish me luck - my  first experiment making "ice cream" with bananas will be tonight!  pazt

"The Good Witch's Wonder"

In "The Good Witch's Wonder" Cassie has her hands full.  Although she has completed her term as mayor and Martha has been elected as her successor, her stepson is getting married and Martha has asked for her help with a town fundraiser and she still has her business to run.  Luckily for Cassie, Audrey comes to town and Cassie hires her to help in the shop but she also helps with the fundraiser and anything else Cassie needs.  They quickly become friends having some similar histories but, what Cassie doesn't know....Audrey is hiding some secrets from her past and those secrets have the potential to hurt a lot of people including Audrey and Cassie.  pazt

"The Constant Gardener"

"The Constant Gardener" is a film I read about in a newspaper billed as "a widower determined to get to the bottom of a potentially explosive secret involving his wife's murder."  It's based on the best selling spy novel of the same name by John Le Carre and, since I usually like his spy novels, I decided to watch the movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz.

It is well done but we know from the beginning what has happened so there's less mystery to solve than usual  - just a matter of following the threads to their conclusion.  I would recommend the movie if you like Le Carre's work.  pazt

"Die Tiwce"

"Die Twice" is a thriller authored by Andrew Grant and is the second in his David Trevellyan series.

Although he was supposed to head back to London after his New York assignment, David has been called to Chicago to flush out and take out a rogue agent.  He is summoned to the British Consulate in Chicago where Richard Fothergill, a former agent who has transitioned into embassy work (something David didn't realize was possible and gives him some food for thought for possible future career opportunitites!) briefs him on his assignment and acts as a liaison between his supervisors and David.

When David is almost killed himself several times in pursuit of the rogue agent, he begins to question what is really going on and does some research on his own trying to decide who really needs to be terminated.  I enjoyed this book as much as the first one in the series and I'm ready to move on to the next one!    pazt

"To Siri With Love"

"To Siri With Love" is Judith Newman's story of her family's journey through a son's autism.  Although the topic is serious, the author manages to tell their story with humor making it informative as well as laugh out loud funny at times.  I'm sure my husband is glad that I have finished reading it so I won't disturb his night time reading with, "Hey, let me share this part with you." or my shaking the bed with laughter when he's trying to sleep.  As you might guess, I highly recommend this book!  pazt

"The Good Witch's Destiny - The Secret of the Grey Lady"

Hallmark's "The Good Witch's Destiny - The Secret of the Grey Lady" was next on my list of DVD's to watch but it had to wait until I returned from vacation.

Cassie Nightengale's birthday is coming up and her wish is to have all her family together but her stepdaughter, Lori, discovers a secret about the Grey Lady portrait in the Grey House and is afraid something will happen to Cassie.  Cassie and the Grey Lady shared a birthday and the Grey Lady disappeared right before her birthday.  Everyone is on edge -- including Cassie - will her magic save her this time?   pazt

"Death At Whitewater Church - An Inishowen Mystery"

Andrea Carter is an Irish solicitor who started her practice on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal, where she ran the most northerly solicitor's practice in Ireland before moving to Dublin to practice - that is, until she started writing mysteries.

"Death At Whitewater Church" is her first book but she has written three others in the Inishowen mystery series.  I found this one at my local library but none of the others seem to be available yet in the U.S.!

This story's lead character is Solicitor Benedicta "Ben" O'Keefe and she finds herself embroiled in a mystery when her clients decide to sell a deconsecrated church they own.  When she and the surveyor go to the church, they discover a body wrapped in blankets in the church crypt.  At first it is thought to be the bones of Conor Devitt, a local young man who disappeared six years ago on his wedding day.  However, when tests come back determining it is not Conor, his younger brother is distraught.  Conor left behind a widowed mother as well as a younger brother and sister and no one has heard from him since his disappearance.  If this isn't his body, then where is he and why did he leave his bride at the altar?

"Ben" has a tenuous relationship with Seargeant Tom Molloy who is officially investigating the mystery.  She has secrets from her past that she hasn't shared with him or any of the other locals and secrets have a way of coming out as well as festering and making relationships complicated. 

The unraveling of this local mystery leads to the unraveling of other stories and changes lives.  It's a great story and I can't wait to get my hands on another one of Carter's mysteries!  pazt

"Before We Were Yours"

"Before We Were Yours" is a novel by Lisa Wingate but it is based on stories reported by children who were taken from their families from the 1920's through 1950 by Georgia Tann and the Memphis branch of the Tennessee Children's Home Society with the support and aid of the police and the state government.  Reportedly they were in abusive or neglect situations or single moms or indigent married women were told their children had died and paperwork they were asked to sign was actually relinquishment documents.

Some whole families of indigent children were removed from their families when the parents weren't home and parents efforts to find them or have them returned were in vain.  So...you would think if they were being removed so that their situations would improve, that could be a positive thing.  However, in some cases their situations worsened as survivors told stories of being placed in holding facilities where they were neglected, molested, abused, and treated as objects.

Tann particularly wanted blonde children who she could place with wealthy families in Tennessee or with movie stars, etc. and line her own pockets with profits.  She had "lookouts" in the community who were paid to spot desirable children she could have picked up.

When Tann died of uterine cancer at home in her own bed before her crimes could be prosecuted, she had benefited illegally "to the tune of $1 million (equivalent to roughly $10 million today)".  An expose ran in the newspaper opposite her obituary and her children's home was closed and an investigator appointed.  However, the investigation was blocked by "powerful people with secrets, reputations, and, in some cases, adoptions to preserve."

When Tann died there were still 22 wards in her home but only 2, who adoptive families had rejected, were returned to their birth families.  Her records were not opened to her victims until 1995 and that meant for many birth families, adoptees, or private investigators it was too late for that information to help them reunite.

If you have an interest in reading more about Georgia Tann's actions, Wingate recommends the following books:
"Pricing the Priceless Child:  The Changing Social Value of Children" by Viviana A. Zelizer (1985)
"Babies For Sale:  The Tennessee Children's Home Adoption Scandal" by Linda Tollett Austin (1993)
"Alone in the World:  Orphans and Orphanages in America" by Catherine Reef (2005)
"The Baby Thief:  The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption" by Barbara Bisanta Raymond (2007)  This last book also contains interviews with several of the victims.

Wingate does an excellent job of telling this story by fabricating a birth family with multiple children who are spirited away from their birth family and placed in the children's home where they endured horrific conditions before some of them were adopted.  If this is a topic that interests you, I highly recommend reading "Before We Were Yours."  pazt

"Wedding Planner Mystery"

"Wedding Planner Mystery" is a Hallmark Channel Mystery movie and another one my hubby and I successfully solved before the police!  The young wedding planner is in the midst of helping a friend plan her wedding when she meets two men - a suave lawyer and an obnoxious investigative reporter.  However, she has little time for the distraction of dating when one of the bridesmaids is killed and the bride is kidnapped and our wedding planner's been framed for murder.  Who will she turn to for help and will she be able to prove her innocence?  Sometimes those we want to trust the most are not the most trustworthy!  Sometimes family are not who we should turn to.  pazt

"When The Future Comes Too Soon"

"When The Future Comes Too Soon" is a novel by Selina Siak Chin Yoke.  I have not read her debut novel, "The Woman Who Breathed Two Worlds," but I will be seeking it out after reading this one.

At the center of "When The Future Comes Too Soon" is Mei Foong, a young wife and mother of Chinese descent living with her family and extended family in Malaysia under British rule.  However, when World War II breaks out, the British leave and the Japanese invade and occupy Malaysia.  Residents of Chinese descent are suspected by the Japanese of being Communist sympathizers and everyone under Japanese rule has a difficult time making ends meet.

This story is about not just the war and how it impacted Malaysian citizens but more about relationships forged during that time and realizations about Mei's own family members.  She ends up being caught between two men -- her husband, an engineer trained in Britain, and a married civil servant.  Her husband does not treat women with respect while the civil engineer does and she sees what her life might have been if she'd made a different choice when young men came calling.  The choices she has to make in the end for her own preservation are heartbreaking but also necessary.  pazt

"Emma In The Night"

"Emma In The Night" was authored by Wendy Walker, an attorney specializing in family law.  This is her second novel and she is quick to point out that Judy Martin, Emma and Cass' mother, bears no resemblance to Wendy's own mother.

Judy Martin has an undiagnosed narcissistic personality disorder which put her in competition with her 17-year-old daughter, Emma, and her 15 year-old-daughter, Cass, rendering her a totally unfit mother but everyone looking in from the outside does not see this.  Well, not quite everyone --
Dr. Abby Winter, a forensic psychologist, is able to recognize the signs having had a mother like Judy.

When Cass and Emma disappear one night and Emma's abandoned car is found on a beach, the hunt is on to find the girls but they are never sighted again until Cass returns 3 years later with a story of where they have been and a need to look for her sister, Emma.

The search for Emma takes some unexpected turns but you'll have to read the novel to learn more about that.  It is well done and I am ready to read Walker's previous book, ""All Is Not Forgotten."  pazt

"Framed For Murder: A Fixer Upper Mystery"

"Framed For Murder: A Fixer Upper Mystery" is a Hallmark movie starring Jewel, the singer., who plays Shannon Hughes, the owner of a construction company.

Shannon has just finished renovating a Bed and Breakfast for a friend when Shannon discovers  the friend's uncle (also a close friend of Shannon's father) dead in his home.  Her new client, whose home she has agreed to renovate, is an investigative reporter and he takes Shannon seriously when she doesn't think the death was an accident.  Their sleuthing uncovers another murder and leads to a hit and run murder and the kidnapping of Shannon's friend.  Will she be able to figure out "whodunnit" and save her friend?  This was a fun mystery for me and my hubby to view together and we even had the right person pegged as the murderer!  pazt

"The Good Witch's Family"

"The Good Witch's Family" DVD was checked out from my local library.  This Hallmark movie is after Cassie's marriage to Middleton Police Chief Jake Russell and she and his family are settling into their new home when her stepdaughter, Lori, decides to make a new family tree to include her new stepmother.  That's when she discovers Cassie has a cousin and Cassie invites her newfound cousin, Abigail, to visit.  Abigail has had a difficult life after her mother's death and knows how to stir up trouble but Cassie knows how to soothe ruffled feathers and create calm waters.  She has her hands full building strong relationships with new family members while running for Middleton Mayor but she's up to the challenge.  pazt

"We Were The Lucky Ones"

"We Were The Lucky Ones" by Georgia Hunter is an incredible story.  Although it is a novel, it is based on her grandfather's family's true story of  surviving the Jewish genocide during World War 2.

Her great-grandparents, Sol and Nechuma, were 52 and 50 in March of 1939.  Their oldest son, Genek, was 31 and was married to Herta.  Their daughter, Mila was 29 and married to Selim and had a 4 month old daughter, Felicia.  Addy, their 25 year old son, was living and working in Paris and he is the author's grandfather.  Jakob, age 23, married Bella and the youngest daughter was Halina, age 21, who married Adam.  Not all of the children were married when the war began but did marry during the war.  Addy met and married an American he met in Brazil.

The family was from Radom, Poland, but some of them ended up in other cities or countries as a result of the war so it is pretty amazing that the whole family survived.  Unfortunately, for their spouses the same could not always be said of their families.

The story starts with Addy in Paris in early March 1939 and each chapter focuses on another family member then returns to the ones featured in early chapters so there is a progression of their separate journeys through the war years.  The author did her research as well as interviewed family members and it is a story that is hard to believe could be based in truth.  I highly recommend this book to everyone.

At the end of the book she tells where each family member eventually arrived after the war and where Nechuma and Sol's grandchildren and spouses and progeny now live as well as the wide range of careers among them.  (P. S.  The author's father is Thomas Hunter, the author of "Softly Walks The Beast.")  pazt

"Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery"

"Murder, She Baked:  A Chocolate Chip Cookies Mystery" is a Hallmark Mystery movie.  Our heroine, Hannah, has a mother who is determined to find the right man for her.  Hannah, on the other hand, seems perfectly content living with her cat and running her cookie bakery.  That is, until her mother introduces her to the dentist who has moved to town to take over his dad's dental practice and until she meets the new detective in town -- come to solve the murder of her best friend from childhood.  Hannah likes to do a little sleuthing herself and that gets her into some serious trouble until the detective and her brother-n-law show up to catch the murderer and save her life.  Now her only problem is she has made a date with the dentist and the detective for the same night.  It's a fun mystery and charming story.  pazt

"A Bone To Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery"

Although this is the second Aurora Teagarden Mystery I have checked out from my library, it appears to be the first in the series.  Aurora has a friend, Jane, from her Real Murders club who is a retired librarian and she invites Ro to her home a few days after a meeting to give her some of her sleuthing books as she feels Ro will find them interesting.

Ro and her best friend have noticed that Jane doesn't particularly seem well lately so it doesn't come as too much of a shock when Jane dies.  What does come as a surprise to Ro, though, is Jane's lawyer cornering her after the funeral to inform her that she has inherited Jane's estate and her home.  Since Jane's mother had left her some money, it means Ro will no longer have to struggle to make ends meet on her librarian's salary and she'll have a home she owns.

There have been some unusual burglaries occurring in the neighborhood where Jane lives and her house is broken into the night that Ro finds she is the new owner.  Since the attorney saw fit to give her a key, she decides to go over to her new home that evening and interrupts a burglary in process.  She notices only large doors and drawers have been opened so she begins to search for what the burglar was looking for and discovers Jane has a skull hidden in her home.

It was at this point my husband could no longer watch the show -- when Ro decides to try to solve the murder herself rather than involving the police -- a stupid, stupid move that, of course, put her in danger.  I had to finish watching the movie and she does indeed solve the case -- after a few mishaps and almost ending up paying with her life for it.  I enjoyed this mystery but not as much as the first one we watched.  pazt

"Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery"

"Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery" is a Hallmark channel mystery movie.  Aurora (known by her friends and family as Ro) is preparing for a meeting of the Real Murders Club when the police arrive to let them know that one of their members has been murdered.  The murder exactly matches the real crime they were going to discuss tonight so everyone in the club becomes a suspect.  When another murder occurs, that throws that theory out the window, though. 

Ro and a new romance in her life (a crime fiction writer) race to find out whodunnit before another murder occurs.  This was a fun watch and I look forward to finding more movies in this series.  pazt

"Garage Sale Mystery"

"Garage Sale Mystery" is the first of a series of Hallmark Movies starring Lori Loughlin who portrays Jennifer Shannon.  Jennifer and a friend own a resell shop and spend their time going to garage sales seeking items for their shop.  As Jennifer is making her rounds of sales one Saturday morning, she encounters a friend she hasn't seen in a long time.  They get to talking and her friend asks if they can make a lunch date.

When Jennifer arrives for the lunch date to pick up her friend, she discovers her dead at the foot of her stairs.  She apparently suffered a fall while her husband was out of town.  Jennifer is suspicious , though, because a Jade statue she'd advised her friend to keep because it might be valuable is missing.

Since there have been a number of burglaries at addresses of garage sales Jennifer attended, she convinces the new, young detective to take another look at the case.  She continues to do some sleuthing on her own, however, and almost ends up a victim herself.

It's a great mystery and a "feel good" movie.  My husband is not particularly a fan of Hallmark Channel movies but he liked the "feel good" portions of this one -- people helping other people instead of trying to rip them off.  It's worth a watch in my opinion.  pazt

"Even"

"Even" is authored by Andrew Grant who is the brother of Lee Child and husband of Tasha Alexander.  After reading the three novels in his Cooper Devereaux series, I decided to start his David Trevellyan Thrillers.  "Even" is the first in this series and it has kept me engaged from the beginning.  It is a book that I started as bedtime reading and, unfortunately as far as my ability to get sleep was concerned, I couldn't put it down until I just had to.  Unlike the last mystery I read which took me weeks to read because it just didn't keep me engaged, this one has been a fast read and fast paced action!

The jacket cover introduces David Trevellyan as "James Bond for the 21st century -- taken out of dinner jackets and thrown onto the gritty streets of New York."

As a member of the British Royal Navy, Trevellyan has just completed an assignment in the U.S. and is ready to board a flight the next morning back to England.  However, on his walk back to his hotel from dinner he finds a dead body then finds himself accused of the murder.  Even the British Consulate is unable to help him with this one because the victim is an undercover FBI agent known to have taken a call from a British man.  It's up to Trevellyan to prove his innocence and  work with the U.S. authorities to uncover an international conspiracy.  Great read!  pazt

"The Good Witch's Gift"

"The Good Witch's Gift" is the third movie in the Hallmark Good Witch series.  Jake has proposed to Cassie and decides they should be married on Christmas Eve so they have only 6 days to plan the wedding.  Of course, nothing goes smoothly but all works out in the end.  They create a new family and help heal a family torn apart in the past.  These movies leave me feeling good about the world.  pazt

:"Death Comes In Through The Kitchen"

"Death Comes In Through The Kitchen" is a murder mystery authored by Teresa Dovlpage set in Havana where the author was born.  She now lives in New Mexico and is the author of of other fiction and plays.

This was not a mystery that grabbed me and kept me reading to the end to figure out "whodunnit."  In fact, I've been reading it little by little for weeks and am just now coming to the end.  Matt, a journalist from San Diego, arrives in Havana to propose marriage to a 24 year old Cuban woman he met through her food blog.  To his surprise, she is not at the airport to greet him and, when friends take him to her apartment, she is discovered dead.  Although he is not a suspect in the murder, his passport is held while the murder is being investigated so he has time to explore Havana and meet some of her friends.

There are so many books and so little time and this one didn't hold my attention well enough for me to want to read any more of this author's work.  If you think I'm in error, I'd love to hear from you.  pazt

"Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters"

"Garage Sale Mystery:  All That Glitters" is a Hallmark Movie Channel presentation and I was able to check out the DVD from my local library.

Jennifer Shannon and her friend own an antique shop and Jennifer likes to sleuth for treasures for the shop but also likes to sleuth to solve mysteries.  However, her husband is not that excited about her getting involved when the owner of a local storage unit is found murdered and Jennifer might be able to identify a suspect.

In the meantime, her son has found a treasure map of his own and is taking after his mother in the sleuthing business while her partner is becoming involved in a new romance.

Unfortunately, Jennifer doesn't take her husband or the police advice to stay away from solving crime and ends up placing herself and her friends in danger.

I liked this better than the last Hallmark mystery movie I watched, "Hailey Dean Mystery:  Murder With Love."  The acting was much better in this one and the story cozy and my husband and I managed to pick out the villain early on - not a bad evening spent together solving a murder.  pazt

"Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, With Love"

In this Hallmark movie mysteries original movie, "Hailey Dean Mystery:  Murder With Love," Hailey Dean has retired from being a prosecutor and changed careers to become a therapist.  When one of her patients loses both parents in a single week in what appear to be tragic accidents, the patient and her brother are also surprised to learn that millions of dollars from their parents' personal and business accounts have also gone missing.  When suspicion turns to foul play, Hailey must investigate in order to advocate for her patient.  In order to do that a culprit must be found.  Since this is a Hallmark movie, there is also a little romance in the air and my spouse found the movie a little "cheesy" which is typically how he views the Hallmark Channel.  However, he did agree to watch it with me and we solved the murders about the same time as Hailey and her crew so it was a fun evening.  pazt

"The Lying Game"

"The Lying Game" is Ruth Ware's third novel and the second one I've read.  "The Woman In Cabin 10" received so much press that I had to read it and that is where I discovered Ware.  In that one I was unable to stop myself from looking ahead in the book to see what happened.  However, in this one I resisted that urge and I'm certainly glad that I did!

This is the story of four girls who were friends at Salten, a boarding school in the boonies, and they had a game they played, "The Lying Game."  All four girls were at Salten for various reasons and it wasn't where they really wanted to be.  Kate was able to attend Salten because her father taught art there and they lived near by.  Fatima was sent to Salten because her parents were living abroad.  Thea was sent to Salten because she'd been kicked out of yet another boarding school.  Isa came because her mother was dying and her father needed to focus his attention on her mother.  They were an unlikely group to become a clique of friends but lifetime friends they became.  When Kate sent them each a message saying, "I Need You!," they all came even though it was inconvenient for Fatima to leave her medical practice and Isa to come with her infant daughter in tow.

This is a thick tome - 368 pages - and the story unravels bit  by bit and what we think we know changes as the story unfolds until the surprising end.  It's a story of friendship and of betrayal and the lengths someone will go to to keep a secret.  It's a great read so now it's time for me to look for Ware's first book, "In A Dark, Dark Wood."  pazt

"Enter A Murderer"

"Enter A Murderer" is why, in my opinion, Ngaio Marsh's Roderick Alleyn mysteries continue to enjoy ongoing popularity.  This is #2 in the series but I somehow overlooked it and had skipped on to #3 before discovering my error and returning to read this one.

Alleyn's journalist friend, Nigel Bathgate, has tickets to see a play and, since his fiancee is out of town, he invites his friend, Roderick Alleyn, to attend with him after warning him it is a play that might hit him a little too close to home as it is much like his real life work.  However, Alleyn is delighted to accept and sets off to the theater with Nigel.  They are invited backstage prior to the start of the play since one of Nigel's friends, Felix Gardener, has a leading role.  They also have the pleasure of meeting several of the cast before the play begins.

The play ends with a bang when one of the cast is shot - for real - and not with the dummy bullets that were supposed to be in the gun.  The wheels are set in motion for Alleyn to put on his Inspector hat and, with the help of his team, solve a murder.  I have yet to deduce who the murderer is in any of the Roderick Alleyn mysteries I have read so far and this was no exception but, when I was two or three chapters from the end of the book, I began to get an idea of who might have done it.  pazt

"The Good Witch's Garden"

"The Good Witch's Garden" is the second movie in "The Good Witch" series.  Cassie Nightengale has settled into her new home, Grey House, in Middleton and is getting ready to host the garden party of all garden parties.  At the same time she's about to open Grey House as a Bed and Breakfast and takes in her first paying guest.

The good looking man staying as her guest raises some questions in the mind of her boyfriend, Sheriff Jake Russell, but Cassie is trusting all is well.  Soon the guest charms the mayor's wife while secretly making plans to claim Grey House as his own.  When he asks the Sheriff to serve Cassie an eviction notice, Cassie is devastated at the possibility of losing the permanent, stable life she has built for herself.  However, Jake isn't done investigating and uncovers some truths with the help of his daughter and her friend.  pazt

"Margot"

"Margot" by Jillian Cantor is Jillian's idea of what might have happened if Anne Frank's sister, Margot, had survived the concentration camp and somehow escaped to America with the help of one of her mother's friends.  Since she shows up listed as having died in the camp, her father and everyone else assumes she is dead and she is living life as a non-Jew, Margie Franklin, in Philadelphia.

The novel is well written and shares what it is like for Margot to hide her true self and the fact that she is Jewish and the conflict that results.  She no longer wants to be a Jew but she still privately celebrates the sabbath in her small single apartment.

She is also conflicted about Peter, the young man in hiding with her family.  They had a plan that, if they survived, they would come to Philadelphia under assumed names and find one another.  What she finds when she searches for him is unexpected and what she finds in working for a young lawyer who is a Jew is also unexpected.  It was well worth the read and I am glad it was recommended to me by a friend.  pazt

"The Good Witch"

I started watching the TV series, "The Good Witch" on Netflix and decided I wanted to watch the Hallmark movies starring the same cast so I checked out "The Good Witch," the first one in the series, and watched it yesterday.  It sets the scene for the TV series explaining why Cassie Nightengale moved to Middleton and how she became the owner of "Gray House."  It's also the start of a new romance for the widower town sheriff, Jake.  While she is accepted by his family, not all the townspeople are welcoming -- particularly the mayor's wife.  Will she be able to overcome their objections and find a permanent home?  pazt

"The Princess Saves Herself In This One"

"The Princess Saves Herself In This One" is a collection of poetry by Amanda Lovelace which I devoured in less than 45 minutes.  I am sure I should have taken more time to really ponder the meaning of her poetry but the library wants the book back so the three people waiting for it can have their chance to read it, too.

Lovelace poetry is hard to describe but I found myself identifying with what sounds like a complicated relationship with her mother.  This is a book I need to purchase and reread regularly so I can savor the words of this feminist social justice activist.  pazt

"The Nursing Home Murder"

"The Nursing Home Murder" by Ngaio Marsh is her third book in the Roderick Alleyn mystery series.  I read "A Man Lay Dead" then somehow skipped over the second book in the series but realized it when a mention was made of that book in "The Nursing Home Murder" when Alleyn asks Nigel Bathgate and his fiancee, Angela, to help him solve this case.

I have seen the movie adaptation of "The Nursing Home Murder" so I struggled with reading the details during the first half of the book because it was all so familiar to me but I had forgotten who the murderer was so became more engrossed as Alleyn began closing in on him/her.  It's a good read but can get a little confusing at times trying to keep all the medical staff straight.  pazt

"The Plot Thickens"

Mary Higgins Clark presents "The Plot Thickens" which is a collection of short story mysteries written by the following authors:  Lawrence Block, Edna Buchanan, Mary Higgins Clark, Carol Higgins Clark, Nelson DeMille, Lauren DeMille, Janet Evanovich, Linda Fairstein, Walter Mosley, Nancy Pickard, Ann Rule, and Donald E. Westlake.  Their contributions were for Literacy Partners, a not-for-profit organization that teaches reading through local and national programs and the impetus behind this book was Mary Higgins Clark.

Mary asked ten of her fellow mystery writers to donate a story for this collection in addition to writing one herself.   The only thing she asked was that each story incorporate three items - a thick fog, a thick steak, and a thick book.  I loved each and every one of the stories and seeing how they were able to insert these three things into their story.  I was familiar with most of the authors but the DeMilles and Donald E. Westlake were new to me.

If you like mysteries, this is a good any time read of short story mysteries.  I took it on vacation for my evening bedside reading and I look forward to checking out books by all these authors - some old favorites and some new discoveries.  pazt

"The English Wife"

"The English Wife" by Lauren Willig (a New York Times bestselling author) was featured at my local library and called to me so I started reading it last night.  That was a mistake because I didn't sleep much!  I've been told in the past that you take your age and subtract it from 100 and that's how many pages you read in a book before you decide if you want to finish it or not.  I won't disclose my age but let's just say that there are more books out there than I have time left in my lifetime to read -- and new ones coming out all the time.  Since I don't want to just spend my life reading - although there is nothing wrong with that!--, I sometimes skim a book to find the answer to the mystery.  Having said that, though, I have to admit I do feel guilty when I do that!

This book flashes back from present day New York (1899) to the past in London (1894) and continues to go back and forth to tell the story of Bayard (Bay) Van Duyvil and his bride, Annabelle, who met in London.  We begin with the discovery of Bay's body and the disappearance of Annabelle leaving their twin son and daughter orphaned and the son heir to his father's fortune.  The story is told from the perspective of his younger sister, Janie, who is kept cowed by her mother and a bit intimidated by her cousin, Anne, who Janie envies for the closeness Anne always had to Bay.

In the novel Janie comes into her own defying her mother and seeking the help of a newspaperman, James Burke, to discover the truth about what happened the night her brother was killed -- something her mother wants to hush up.  The papers are saying Bay murdered his wife then killed himself and this is not the memory of their parents that Janie wants their children to have.

As the story unfolds and new discoveries/truths are uncovered in the process, twists and turns lead to a surprising conclusion -- a great read!  pazt

"Since We Fell"

"Since We Fell" is one of Dennis Lehane's stand-alone novels and not part of the two series I've read before.  There are so many good books and so little time but I don't want to miss a Lehane book.  As usual this one kept me on pins and needles with its twists and turns.

Rachel Childs grew up as the only child of a female professor who always promised to tell her daughter who her real father was but kept that promise just out of reach so that, when she died in an accident, Rachel still didn't know the truth.

Rachel has a career as a TV journalist until an encounter on one of her foreign trips renders her unable to leave her home.  Her marriage ended in divorce as she became more and more a recluse until a chance encounter brought Brian Delacroix back into her life.  A love affair with a man who was helping her rebuild her life and enter the world again led to marriage and what she thought was a wonderful, loving marriage.  All that was shattered by a chance encounter that made her question if she really knew her husband at all.  This one will surprise you!   pazt 

"Run"

"Run" by Andrew Grant is a stand alone novel -- not part of his Cooper Devereaux or David Trvellyan series and it is an outstanding book!

Many years ago (before it was made into a movie) I read "Ender's Game" which was in the teen section of our library.  I don't recall how I heard about it but it was a book whose ending caught me totally unawares and I've not had a book before or since then that surprised me with its ending -- until "Run!"

Marc Bowman is a computer consultant and software designer who has been consulting at a firm where his wife works.  One day he walks into the office and is told that the boss (and his friend) wants to see him immediately.  He is told that his services are no longer needed and he is to be escorted out of the building and his personal computer and belongings will be delivered by courier to his home.

His wife seems to be clueless about why he's been terminated so suddenly but she also appears to need something from him -- something the company wants returned but he hasn't a clue what they're talking about.

At this point events turn bizarre and he is involved with Homeland Security and the FBI and at odds with his wife who he is unable to contact.  As he sorts through what is going on and why people seem so interested in him, clues evolve and he has to make a plan as some individuals around him are ending up dead.

How he resolved the situation blew my mind and was totally unexpected.  Please do not read ahead!  I'm glad I didn't!  pazt

P.S.  If you (like me) check out books in order on fantasticfiction.co.uk, you will see that there are two authors named Andrew Grant.  This particular Andrew Grant is the younger brother of Lee Child and husband of Tasha Alexander who are also authors. 

"Eating Plant-Based, Retirement, Moving and Downsizing"

In January of 2018 at age 75 I retired (for the second time) from a part-time job I had had for 7 years.  The main reason I left the job was because I was an Ideal Protein weight loss coach in my son-in-law's chiropractic clinic.  After my husband and I transitioned to a plant-based diet in 2017 (at the urging of our oldest daughter who has been plant-based for 20 years or more), I found I could no longer support the Ideal Protein program.  On a plant-based diet I was losing weight and was able to eat all the potatoes, vegetables, and fruits that I wanted so I was never hungry.  In December 2017 the decision crystallized for me when my husband and I attended Dr. McDougall's 10 day intensive in Santa Rosa, CA.  We both lost weight and our cholesterol levels were in a normal range for the first time in forever.  My husband had some medical episodes last year that pushed us to make this change and we are glad we did.

Ten years ago we moved into an over-55 mobile home community and I was supposed to be downsizing.  However, I think I may have been depressed at the time because I didn't really accomplish anything and was glad to return to work and earn some extra income.  This time my retirement has been different.  I wake up ready to tackle the household accumulation but, since I'm not giving up my social life, it has not been achieved yet.

Today I was cleaning out a basket in our spare bathroom and found (to my surprise!) a clipping from The Wichita Eagle.  I have no idea how old it is but it is yellowed and we haven't lived in Wichita since 1968 and haven't lived in Kansas since 1976.  Nothing about the article gives me a clue as to why it might have even been saved by our family.  One side is about a Lumberman, C. Stanton Gallup, who headed the American Baptist Convention at that time and was preparing a run for Congress as a Christian.    We would have been attending Southern Baptist Churches at that time - a long ways from our current membership in a Unitarian Universalist Congregation!

The reverse of the article has an ad for the Girls' Department at Henry's Department Store.  Since we had a 4 year old girl when we moved from Wichita, it is more likely that I saved the ad for girl's wool skirts and sweaters but why do I still have it?!  I'm sure I'll be asking myself that question a lot as the downsizing continues.

What was interesting was the fact that The Wichita Eagle was published morning, evening, and Sunday  and the publisher and editorial director was Marcellus Murdock.  If you wamted all 3 issues, it cost you 55 cents a week.  If you wanted only the morning and Sunday editions, it was 35 cents a week and the Morning only or evening only were 20 cents a week and Sunday only was 15 cents a week.  If you lived where the paper needed to be mailed to you, it cost $10 a year for the morning and Sunday editions.  Sounds like a bargain today!  pazt

"Alice Through The Looking Glass"

"Alice Through The Looking Glass" was the book my older brother received when we were a child and I received "Alice in Wonderland."  I can't say I ever read his book and wasn't excited about mine  either despite being an avid reader.  However, my husband and our oldest granddaughter have always been "Alice" fans and both loved the first movie so I decided to check out Disney's "Alice Through The Looking Glass" DVD from our library.

We watched it this evening and the special effects are good but my spouse (the expert!) didn't find it as appealing as Disney's "Alice in Wonderland."  It's sad to note this was Alan Rickman's last role where he performs the voice of the hookah-huffing Blue Caterpillar.   Alan died too young!  pazt

"Fairy Tales From Far and Wide"

I was looking for a specific children's book - a story I'd heard from a speaker that I liked.  However, when I searched for it at the library, I got "Fairy Tales From Far and Wide" by Fiona Waters and Lisa Berkshire.  It is a collection of fairy tales from Germany, Sweden, France, Japan, Ireland, West Indies, and Native America.  These are fairy tales with learning taking place at the end and I found it charming.  I plan to purchase one as a birthday gift for my great-niece's next birthday!  pazt

"False Witness"

"False Witness" is Andrew Grant's third novel in the Cooper Devereaux detective series.  Since it was published in 2018 and it feels like it is left where another book could be in the offing, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the series will continue.

In "False Witness" young women are ending up dead on their 21st birthdays wrapped up like presents and left in public places.  What is the link between the victims and how will Devereaux and the rest of the police force find that link and the murderer?

In the meantime, Devereaux and his girlfriend are living apart while she comes to terms with information that came up in the last book about Devereaux's background.  While she is struggling with whether to continue or end the relationship, he is looking into new information about his parentage and what that might mean for his relationship with his daughter's mother.  This was another good read that kept me riveted.  pazt

"Forever Interrupted"

"Forever, Interrupted" is Taylor Jenkins Reid's first novel and I found it amazing.  It reads like a true story and had me laughing and crying through its ups and downs. 

Elsie Porter meets and falls in love with her true love in a matter of months but, after 10 days of marriage, he is killed in an accident before he has a chance to tell his family about their marriage. The story is told by weaving a chapter about their courtship with present day struggles of dealing with her husband's death with the support of her close friend, Ana, and having to meet a mother-in-law who didn't even know she existed.

As Elsie weathers the storms that have come her way, she and her mother-in-law, Susan, forge a relationship out of the love they both had for the same man.  Through that they both find healing and Elsie evens finds ways through that healing to start to build a new life - something she hadn't thought possible.  pazt

"Victoria & Abdul" - the movie

I wanted to see "Victoria & Abdul" in the movie theater but couldn't find anyone to go with me and I lost track of time and missed it.  I've been waiting to get it from my local library and it is very popular so it was a bit of a wait!

It's the story of Queen Victoria in her later years and a young Indian man, Abdul, who comes to England to present her with a coin in a ceremony.  He was chosen to do the honors because he was tall.  She asks that he stay on and they develop a friendship.

It paints a picture of how lonely it can be to be the Queen and the need to have someone around she can talk honestly to so Abdul is elevated to the role of "teacher."  They develop a friendship that creates a great loss for him when she dies.  It is a beautiful story but also doesn't deny the intrigue that goes on within the palace.  There are those who want Abdul gone!  pazt

"A Man Lay Dead"

"A Man Lay Dead" is Ngaio Marsh's first book in the Roderick Alleyn novel series.  Some of her books have been made into two hour shows in Britain and my spouse and I have watched most of them.  Earlier this year he set out to read her Alleyn novels in order and I decided to do the same.  The TV adaptations of her books do not display the depth of her stories nor do them justice in a condensed form because she has such a beautiful way of describing people, places, and events that does not come through in a film.  In addition, I love her sense of humor!

In this.tale Sir Hubert Handesley is hosting one of his infamous weekend parties at his country estate but this time he has something new up his sleeve.  He has decided it will be a murder mystery weekend and one of his guests will be informed by one of the staff that they are the murderer and they are to choose their victim.  When the lights go out and the gong sounds, the rest of the party are to set about solving the murder.  There is only one hitch - a real murder.

Nigel Bathgate has been invited for the first time to one of these weekends by his cousin, Charles Rankin, and becomes a prime suspect when it is his cousin who is murdered and he stands to inherit his cousin's fortune.  However, he's not the only one who stands to benefit from his cousin's death plus Charles was a bit of a ladies man so that and a Russian mob tie widens the field of suspects.

Inspector Alleyn arrives from Scotland Yard to take charge of the investigation and he has his work cut out for him.  This is a great mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end!  pazt

"The Mountain Between Us"

"The Mountain Between Us" starring academy award winner, Kate Winslet, and golden globe winner, Idris Elba, is based on the novel by Charles Martin.  I haven't read the book but I had heard favorable reports about the movie so I checked it out for my hubby and I to watch this evening.

It's the story of a Philadelphia neurosurgeon and a New York journalist who find each other stranded in the Boise airport after all commercial flights are cancelled due to a storm.  He needs to be home to perform brain surgery on a child the next morning and she needs to get home for her wedding so they charter a small plane together.  When the plane crashes in the mountains and the pilot dies, they are stranded on the mountain with the pilot's dog.  Since the pilot didn't file a flight plan, no one knows where they are and neither one called anyone at home to tell them they'd chartered a plane.

This is a story of survival and learning to depend and support one another and the journey they travel changes both their lives forever.  I found it well worth viewing!  pazt

"False Friend"

Andrew Grant's second novel, "False Friend," in the Detective Cooper Devereaux mystery thriller series kept me reading into the early morning hours a couple of nights until I finished it.  It was good but not quite the same caliber as the first one in the series, ""False Positive."  This novel left me with more questions at the end than answers which was a disappointment -- but maybe that was the author's ploy -- to get me to seek out the next one in the series as soon as possible?  If so, it worked! pazt

"At The Table of Wolves"

"At The Table of Wolves" is the first book in the Dark Talents series by Kay Kenyon, an American science fiction and fantasy author from Wenatchee, Wa.  It was released in 2017 followed by the second book in 2018 and is the first of her work that I've read but it will not be the last.

Kim Tavistock is the daughter of an American woman and her father is English aristocracy.  When Kim's parents divorced, she went to America with her mother but has recently returned to England to live on her father's (Julian) estate.  Julian is rarely at home -- off tending to business affairs which Kim has her doubts about.  In reality he is part of a secret government organization and cannot share with Kim his real work.  Kim's only (and much loved)  brother was killed in the last war and she's still mourning his death.

This novel is set before the start of World War II when the Nazi's were coming to power in Germany.  Julian's organization is much worried about the possibility of another war but the government in power wants to pretend all is well and ignores their warnings.

The historical aspects of the book are interesting threaded in with the novel's "Bloom" theory.  New "talents" are appearing throughout the world and they will likely change the way the next war is waged.  Kim herself has the "spill" talent which means people confide in her and share information without meaning to which means Julian has to be very careful around his daughter.

Kim is also a freelance journalist and, using this as her cover, begins to investigate a woman her father has been seeing who has a German friend.  Kim thinks she might be a spy and is worried about her own father's political leanings.  When she spends a weekend at this woman's house and meets her brother and a German visitor, Kim's "adventure" begins as well as her own espionage work and fight for her life.  pazt

"The Theory of Everything"

My husband and I just watched the movie, "The Theory of Everything," which is the love story of Jane and Stephen Hawking.  They met at Cambridge as students and shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with an illness that was to have been fatal in 2 years.  As we all know, that proved not to be the case since Stephen Hawking died earlier this month at age 76.  (His illness was diagnosed at age 22.)

Although his family was concerned about Jane's ability (and strength) to cope with Stephen's progressive illness, they did marry - a marriage that would last 30 years until their divorce.  In the beginning their life was difficult but manageable and they found a lot of joy in one another but, as his care demands grew, life became more stressful for Jane as they did not have the finances at that time to hire additional help.  They did have three children, too, which also would have been another demand on Jane's time.

Someone who recommended the movie to me said they cried all the way through it but I did not (and I do often cry during movies) so it wasn't depressing as I thought it might be.

Eddie Redmayne does an incredible job of playing Hawking and Felicity Jones as his wife, Jane.  I highly recommend this movie.  pazt

"Into The Woods"

This past year my husband and I went to see the musical, "Into The Woods," performed by our local theater group.  I think the version we saw before this one was a children's theater production -- the adult version is a lot more risque!  About a month ago we decided to watch the film version with Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Johnny Depp to name just a few of the outstanding cast members of this movie.  Johnny Depp makes a wonderful "Big Bad Wolf" and Meryl Streep brings new meaning to the word witch.  I can't recommend it high enough!  pazt

"Smitten Book Club"

"Smitten Book Club" is the third book in a series written collaboratively by four authors:  Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter.  I suspect this may be the last book in the series since one of the authors has died.

If you read my post on the first book, "Smitten," you  may remember that the religious overtones/references were difficult for me.  However, I have enjoyed the series and tended to glide over and/or ignore them in this last book.

Again, as in previous books, each of the four sections is authored by one of the four authors and focuses on a romance.  Most of the romances in this book come with some serious challenges and how they are surmounted is part of the fun in reading about them.  If you're looking for some lighter reading, this might be a book you want to pick up.  Although I read the series in order, each works fine as a stand alone book, too.  pazt

"False Positive"

"False Positive" is a novel by Andrew Grant and the first one of his novels I have read.  Although I was tempted at times to read ahead in this book, I resisted the urge and read the mystery one page at a time from the beginning to the end and I'm so glad I did!

Alabama detective Cooper Devereaux has been paired with fellow detective Jan Loflin who has been working undercover in the vice squad and is a little burned out.  Together they have been tasked with finding a missing 7 year old boy who has been snatched from the home of the foster parents who adopted him.  Cooper and Jan are an unlikely pairing as they both have issues in the past with their home life and their work but this case will bring them together in unexpected ways.  What no one saw coming (including me) was the surprise ending.  Grant is a writer to watch and I'll be looking for his novel, "Run," next!  pazt

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo"

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" is a novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid which I picked up on a shelf at my local library featuring some books.  When Evelyn Hugo wants to do a tell all about her life as a glamorous movie star and her seven husbands and other scandals associated with her career, she chooses a little known reporter, Monique Grant, to do the honors. No one knows why but the reason is unveiled at the end of her life story.

Since I knew what the book was leading up to and I was curious as to why Evelyn chose Monique, I started the book but impatiently scanned the various chapters about each of her husbands starting with page 61.  I read enough to get a picture of each of her relationships until I found what I wanted.  It is not a reading style I recommend but it served me well and I will look for other novels authored by Reid to check out.  It is a well written story and, without telling you my age, I will say that I'm old enough to decide not to read every word of every book so I can "read" more books in my lifetime.  pazt

"Secretly Smitten"

"Secretly Smitten" is the second book co-authored by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter.  When I read the first one - a romance -, I was prepared not to particularly like it but I found it a quick and fun read so I decided to read "Secretly Smitten - Love Changes Everything" which is more romance in Smitten, Vermont, but this time there is also a mystery.

While the Thomas sisters are holding a bridal shower, one of the young guests finds a set of dog tags when she is exploring the attic.  The mystery is that the dog tags belong to a veteran who was once their grandmother's love but he was presumed killed and never returned to Smitten.  So...how did his dog tags get in the attic?

As the sisters go about their daily lives running their businesses and getting involved in their own romances, they also set out to discover how the dog tags came to be in the attic and what does that mean?  Why did they not know about this old boyfriend of their grandmother's?  This is one of those books that would be a fun summertime read!  pazt

"An Almond For A Parrot"

"An Almond For A Parrot" is a first historical fiction as well as first adult novel for Wray Delaney -- the pen name for Sally Gardner, an award-winning children's novelist.

The novel features Tully Truegood, a woman accused of murder in the 18th century.  It describes the hardships of her life from a young age and the fact that her father married her off at age 12 to a man she did not meet.  After her father's death she is sheltered and taken in by Queenie who runs a house of prostitution.

Tully becomes a sought after courtesan who wins the favor of several men in turn and the story illustrates the disparity and unfairness of the male and female roles in 18th century England.  A woman is nothing without a husband but, if she cannot be married or under the protection of a male relative, she has little choice but to resort to prostitution to provide for herself.

This is a well written love story in the form of historical fiction but also falls in the realm of fantasy literature.  It is not what I'd normally select to read but it was on a display shelf at my local library and called my name and I'm glad I read it.  pazt

"The Rocky Road to Romance"

"The Rocky Road to Romance" is Janet Evanovich's third romance novel written before her Stephanie Plum series.

Daisy, the Dog Lady on WZZZ, is a doctoral student but has to keep herself afloat by delivering newspapers, being a crossing guard, volunteering at a retirement home, and working at the radio station.  While her parents are out of town, she's also responsible for her teenage brother, Kevin, who is staying with her.

Steve owns the station where Daisy works and reluctantly agrees to let her be the fill-in weather person on-the-road when the regular weatherman has an accident.  Daisy is a strong woman and, when she comes up against a local drug dealer, she doesn't back down.  Threats are flying her direction so  Steve insists on hiring a bodyguard to travel with her while she's at work.

Daisy is strong-minded enough that she doesn't like the bodyguards that Steve has sent her to interview and hires her own -- Elsie, who Daisy met at the retirement center, drives a Cadillac and carries a big purse with a big gun inside.

As Steve  interacts more with Daisy, he knows he's in trouble when he buys a dog, Bob, to impress her.  Romance blossoms but not without some mishaps along the way.  As Steve becomes more protective, Daisy maintains her independence.  Will love win in the end?  It's a fun read! pazt

Smitten" - another one!

When I was trying to find the romance novel, "Smitten," that Janet Evanovich wrote before her Stephanie Plum novels, I came across "Smitten - Love Is On The Way," at my library and decided to check it out.

It is written by four female romance novelists who are also good friends having discovered one another in their early days of writing at workshops, etc.  The authors are Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter.  They are also all Christians and this novel has a lot of "God" talk which may or may not turn readers off.  I tend to pass over parts of books that don't interest me -- like the explicit sex some novelists feel has to be there to sell romance (and which I loved as a teenager!) or, in this case, a lot of the God talk.

There is a section at the end of the book that is a conversation among the four authors and their editor and it is clear how much they care for one another as "sisters" so it was with sadness I learned that Diann Hunt has since died.  She mentions in the conversation what a support these women have been to her since she was diagnosed with lymphoma then later ovarian cancer.  You can read more at girlswriteout.blogspot.com.

Each of the four authors wrote a different segment of the book which centers on four friends in the town of Smitten.  The local mill is closing down and they come together with an idea to save the town by turning it into a destination resort for weddings, honeymoons, and lovers.  Each has a particular interest that they will pursue to make the transformation of the town happen.  One already owns a coffee shop and another teaches classes in domestic arts.  One is going to open a spa using her background from when she worked in New York and the fourth, who is very athletic, is opening a store stocking outdoor activity equipment.

Each section of the book focuses on one of these women, her private life, and eventually the love that comes into her life.

It's a light hearted, easy read but definitely not what I typically choose.  pazt

"Smitten" by Janet Evanovich

I checked out an e-book copy of "Smitten" by Janet Evanovich with the help of a librarian this afternoon and have already finished reading it and checked out the next book in the series on my own - success!

"Smitten" is the second of the early romance novels featuring Elsie that Evanovich wrote before the Plum series.

The heroine of "Smitten," Lizbeth, is a mother of 2 grade school age boys who was separated from their father for 18 months and has been divorced 6 months.  She is determined to make it on her own with no help from a wealthy father in another state.  Her expertise is raising her sons but she's purchased an older home that needs a lot of tender loving care (or work!) and needs a job.  In desperation she applies for a labor job at a construction site down the street from her house where some new homes are being built.  Despite her lack of experience, one of the co-owners of the company, Matt, finds himself attracted to her and her streak of independence and gives her a job.

In the meantime she has hired her Aunt Elsie to come for the summer to watch her sons while she works.  It's a summer filled with a man flashing himself outside her window nightly and a boss who is falling in love with her.  She's falling in love, too, but wants to be sure she's not making another mistake.  She is looking for stability for her sons and a better match than her first husband for herself.

As always, Elsie contributes to excitement wherever she is!  It's another lighthearted, fun romance read by Janet Evanovich!  pazt

"Back To The Bedroom"

I received a Janet Evanovich book for Christmas and it has been a while since I have read any of her novels and I'm behind on her Stephanie Plum series!  I went to https://www.fantasticfiction.com and printed a list of all her books and I'm starting from the beginning of her writing and working my way forward to the most current.

The introduction to "Back To The Bedroom" is written by Janet and she tells about the twelve short romance novels she wrote before writing the Plum novels.  She describes these romance novels as "red-hot screwball comedies" and they were published between 1988 and 1992,  They immediately went out of print until being re-released in paperback in 2005 or so.  I decided to start with these especially after reading that they feature Elsie Hawkins who was the prototype for Grandma Mazur in her Plum series.

"Back To The Bedroom" is a love story between two unlikely people -- a female who is a serious musician and her next door neighbor who won the lottery and likes to spend his days playing with toys.  Although they've been neighbors, they don't really meet until a camera from a helicopter falls through her roof and makes a hole in the attic and top floor of her home.  This complicates her life because she has decided to take in a renter (Elsie Hawkins) to help with the expenses with the house she inherited from her divorce.  It's also when all the adventures start and our musician finds her disciplined life turned upside down! 

It's a fun read and I'm on to the next book, "Smitten," but first I have to find out from my library how to check out a book as a download on my Kindle!  Janet"s "Smitten" is only available in that form at my local library.  pazt

"Two Mules For Sister Sara"

"Two Mules For Sister Sara" is a movie starring Clint Eastwood as a high plains drifter looking to find himself some money.  On his way, though, he rescues a nun, Sister Sara, played by a young Shirley MacLaine.  I'm sure I've seen this movie some time in the long ago past but watching it again, I have no recollection of the story line at all.

The drifter and the nun join forces with some Mexican revolutionaries who are resisting the French occupation of Mexico.  The adventure begins with the drifter rescuing the nun but ends with a surprise for both of them.

This is a fun movie and I'm glad we decided to watch it again -- assuming I'd seen it before!  pazt

"Journey To Death"

"Journey To Death" is a Lucy Hall mystery by Leigh Russell who is the internationally best selling author of the DI Geraldine Steel and DS Ian Peterson crime series.  This is the first of her mysteries I have read, however.

Lucy Hall arrives in the Seychelles with her parents for a much needed vacation after a break up with her long-time boyfriend.  Her dad worked in the Seychelles before he met and married her mother and he is looking forward to returning to a country he loved but was forced to leave during a civil war.

What none of the family expects, however, is her mother's kidnapping as well as murders on the island that may be connected to her father's earlier life there.  They all get a lot more excitement than they'd bargained for in a vacation meant to be restful.  pazt