All My Bones, by P.J. Nelson

                                                                                        

Publication Dec. 2, 2025 

This book would be a great guide to life in a small Southern town, at least in most cozy mysteries. Having once lived in the South, I can attest to some of it but, well, thankfully not all the quirks of Enigma, Georgia. Gossip flows fast and it almost seems like everyone is related or at the very least knows everyone else. And by that I mean, both their good and bad. But, hmm, no one knows how Bea Glassie came to be buried in the front of the Old Juniper Bookstore. Oh, they know about her past romances, what books she reads, and that the Glassie family money speaks loudly, but not who killed her. Madeline/Maddy is determined to find out, however, not just because the skeletal remains were found in her bookshop front yard but because her best friend, local Episcopal priest Gloria Coleman, is accused of being the killer. Never mind that evidence is almost non-existent. Bea's entitled sister, used to getting her way because of her family's wealth (and threats to use it), accuses Gloria and as far as she's concerned, that's that. Family influence and power mean the local law and even state bureau of information are practically forced to arrest Gloria and throw away the key. Maddie, therefore, faces a huge task. 

While I wasn't particularly fond of Maddie in book one, either she's mellowed a bit or I have. I'm still not sure I'd enjoy her company but, well, she's growing on me. She still jumps to conclusions and acts impulsively, such as visiting her suspects alone, but, well, she loves her cat and books. Grin. She's also surrounded by some of the quirkiest characters you can imagine. There's Dr. Philomena Waldrop, a college professor and her late aunt's best friend. Uh, well, let's just ignore the fact that Phil, as she is usually referred to, burned down the gazebo at the shop on what I seem to recall as Maddy's first night in town. She's seemingly been in and out of the loonie bin, her words, not mine, but is smart and seems to genuinely care for Maddy. Maddy also has a blooming relationship with master gardener David, who had a hand in Aunt Rose's Ophelia's Last Laugh roses. Oh, and local lawman Billy Sanders seems to be prone to philosophical and profound sayings, showing there's far more to this good ol' country sheriff than what might meet the eye. Gloria's past is slowly emerging, too, and priest or not, she has certainly had a colorful life. Maddie's employee, Jennifer, shows depth, too, so am wondering how her spot will be filled when (if?) she leaves for Tate Modern for her internship there. Actually, all the characters had some solid backgrounds, even the not so likable ones, so an excellent job making this character driven reader a happy camper.

As for the whodunit, I won't detail the plot. There's small town rumors, secrets, quirky characters, the role of money and small town politics, and lots of literary and book talk dispersed throughout. Hey, Maddie runs a bookshop. What did you expect? Oh, and was an actress, too, so lots of theater references. Needless to say, she does have a flair for drama. Wait till you see the big reveal. Nope, not sharing. Read the book. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #Minotaur for introducing me to Maddy, skeptical as I originally was, and allowing me this early peek at how she's growing into her role as both an amateur sleuth and small town bookshop owner. 

100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life (Audio), by Dick Van Dyke, narrated by Tom Bergeron, with intro by Dick Van Dyke

 

AUDIO, Narrated by Tom Bergeron with intro by Dick Van Dyke        7h 27m

I loved it. With an introduction from Van Dyke himself and Tom Bergeron, a favorite from his time on Dancing With The Stars, as narrator, it was a winner. He captured Dick Van Dyke well. So well, in fact, that it was easy to forget you weren't listening to Van Dyke himself. The pacing and generally upbeat lilt, for lack of a better word, to his voice added a great deal to the story. I'd actually read the print version (I'll paste that review at end) and enjoyed it, but in this case I'd say if you can only get one version, go with the audio. Sections that I had enjoyed but didn't particularly jump out at me in print had a new vibe, er, life in audio. Bergeron does an excellent job capturing voice changes when Van Dyke was writing as a character, such as the old man in Mary Poppins, too, a real plus. 

The pacing was upbeat, capturing the upbeat spirit hopefully conveyed, and it was easy to lose myself in the story as if I were sitting in an easy chair listening to Van Dyke/Bergeron talking to me like an ol' friend as we looked through old photos. That's basically what this book is, after all, a verbal photo of Van Dyke's life and memories, both good and bad. He doesn't shy away from the bad stuff, just puts it in its proper place, as a learning tool/memory, so to speak, that maybe doesn't define him but helped mold him. He says early on that his goal is to lift us up, to take care of us, so to speak, and one thing that I caught here that sorta passed me by in the print was his perceived role as protector to his little brother. So, that role is something ingrained in Van Dyke from an early age. 

On the technical side, while chapter numbers are narrated, the various "rules" are introduced via the title. They seemed to do an excellent job not only preparing you for what is to come but summarizing what you were about to hear, too. I found Bergeron a delight to listen to, which reminded me he got his start in radio, I believe, so he's perhaps naturally suited to this task. Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this audio journey back through Dick Van Dyke's memories and wisdom sharing via Tom Bergeron's voice. Thanks. #HatchetteAudio - #GrandCentralPublishing for sharing this early listen with me. We could all use more positivity in this world and Van Dyke's book is a reminder that it's out there, even through the not so good times. Original review below. 

**********

Delightful. Just like Van Dyke. It felt pretty much like an ol' friend simply sitting in my living room sharing stories and memories. In other words, very readable and personal. I liked the fact that despite the title, he emphasizes early on that there are really no set rules. Instead, you'll get lots of  stories that seemed to encompass his entire life. And what a life it has been. I'm pretty sure my first intro to him was via the Dick Van Dyke Show but have followed his career off and on over the years. How cool was it to see his appearance in the recent, updated version of "Mary Poppins" with Lin-Manual Miranda essentially playing his past role as Bert. 

Dick Van Dyke's optimism and humor shine through. I've been lucky enough to have read a couple of his past books, including a biography where he divulged that despite the smile and humor we saw on screen, his life wasn't always clear sailing, so it was wonderful to see he's living his best life nowadays. True, as he notes, to use a phrase borrowed from elsewhere, old age isn't for sissies. He admits to the aches and pains and associated with aging, his challenges of the past, his losses, and to the loneliness as old friends leave us, not to mention his cheerful admission of forgetting the lyrics to songs at times. Given that here he is, nearly 100, singing with an a capella group called the Vantasix, it made me grin to imagine him losing the melody but finding it eventually without shame. Almost sounds like it could be a television show, huh? You rock, Dick. 

I won't detail the "rules for living" he shares, more like things "I've learned in nearly 100 years that may or may not apply to you but may amuse you", so you can discover them for the first time personally. His love of family, especially his praise for the role wife Arlene has played in his life, is touching, as are memories of his family and former friends and co-stars. I opted to just read and enjoy, to be honest, so don't have many notes to share. For me, and I think for others, Dick Van Dyke has accomplished his main goal, to lift us up by sharing a piece of himself. And, oh, I just grinned. Sat down to type and realized I've been running around barefooted, which he'd obviously approve. It's called earthing, he notes, and he highly recommends it. So glad I've been following this bit of advice much of my life. Thanks #GrandCentralPublishing for giving me an early peek at this absolutely delightful tale. Dick Van Dyke continues to inspire and lift us all up. 

 

Life as a Dog: One dog, two lives and adventures that live forever, by L.A. Davenport

 

Publication Nov. 13, 2025

Dog people, you need this book. 

I absolutely loved this. It spoke to me as a human owned by a dog in so many ways. Seriously, I could easily see myself in many of the situations and circumstances described, from walking the dog to talking to it, to all the highs and lows that come with being owned by a pet. While the author's setting is far more urban than my town in Alaska, the people and dogs are the same. I felt the author's panic when he talks about a dog coming at them on a walk clearly meaning harm because, well, been there, done that. Hope to never do it again. And, and, and....so many moments, both wondrous and difficult. 

Time permitting, I'll perhaps add a few more specifics later but for now, well, my own four legged friend is demanding my attention. Seriously, if she could figure out the logistics, I'm pretty sure Daisy would have long since buried this laptop. Bottom line, loved it and highly recommend it to not just dog owners but those who've been loved by any animal. So much of the behavior and the moments in this book could easily be converted to just about any animal. My sincere thanks to #P-WavePress and #NetGalley for making this charming book available to me early. Virtual treats for all those pets out there! 

I could go on endlessly but will simply say this is an easy read, rather like sitting in the living room with our dogs sprawled across our laps soaking up the scratches and attention. You know, kinda like friends talking. 

Easter Egg Murder, compilation by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, Peggy Ehrhart

 

Publication February 2, 2026

I always enjoy this compilations by various authors, in this case three of my regular reads. The stories are novella style, with characters long-time readers will be familiar with. In this case, Meier uses "Easter Egg Murder" to introduce us to another set of series characters of hers that I was not familiar with, A Carole and Poopsie Mystery. I quickly fell into the story, however, helped along by the presence of long time favorite character Lucy Stone and thoroughly enjoying my introduction to Carole Capobianco. It was interesting to see the way the two quite different families meshed and I'll definitely be checking out the new series. As it is, we get a free trip to France this go round which, murder aside, was fun. Who knew falling into conversation with strangers on a flight would lead them to solve the murder of a cook, not to mention an old robbery? 

"Death By Another Easter Egg" by Lee Hollis sees another favorite character scrambling to save her restaurant's reputation after a young reporter died while eating a meal Hayley Powell had prepared herself. Definitely not good for business. And, yikes, Hayley's husband is even a suspect. As she delves into the reporter's past things get dangerous. Nothing new for Hayley but definitely not the way one hopes to spend Easter. 

Peggy Ehrhart's "An Eggy Way to Die" introduced me to the concept of an "egg influencer". Is there really such a thing? In any case, the victim is not only well known for her egg expertise but the body is found surrounded by broken eggs. As usual, it's great fun to watch Pamela get carried along by the power of Bettina's personality and quest for the truth. In the process, however, we get to have lots of great food, much courtesy of Bettina's husband, and learn a bit about fiber arts via Pamela's job of proofing and editing possible stories for a fiber arts magazine. I always find these stories, many based in historical research, fascinating. In the meantime, there's a murderer on the loose and they are determined not to let Pamela reveal their crime. Can Pamela and Bettina zero in on the culprit before they are dispose of like rotten eggs?

Bottom line, I enjoyed all three mysteries and was smiling as I finished "An Eggy Way to Die". What an epilogue. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing for this early peek at these twisty tales. It's way early but I am looking forward to checking out some decorated Easter Eggs when publication time draws nearer. 

Hendrix and Rocket: Holiday Helper, by Kristin Haynes, Anna Thompson (Illustrator)

 

By sheer chance, I met two Weimaraners last time I was at the vet's office for Daisy's annual checkup. One was outgoing and friendly. The other was far more reserved and unsure of its surroundings. Hey, it was the vet's, so can't blame it. It actually probably better mirrored Hendrix in behavior with its unsure but friendly approach to a strange human stopping to stare at it. In any case, you can see why this fun children's book featuring two Wiemaraners drew me right to it. Here Rocket is the more assured, comfy in itself canine while Hendrix is still feeling his way. He wants to be a part of the excited activity and frequently chaos about him Christmas has brought to the household but is struggling to find his place in the whole. Just like a child, he wants to be included while not quite knowing how. 

The illustrations by Anna Thompson help convey the activity and growing excitement about them all. There was a homey feel to the pictures, each of which offers cute little extras. Make sure you check out Hendrix and Rocket's collars and Rocket's fun holiday sweater. The dogs' expressions are well done, each managing to convey a mix of caution and hopefulness, not to mention disappointment and surprise. Lots of garlands and green, too, about the house, but make sure to note the decorations on the walls and such. It was also cool to see and read about the Tasmanian Christmas Bell flowers, something I'd never heard about. 

Bottom line, a sweet story for young children that, well, can be enjoyed by all ages. Even us not even close to childhood adults. As a dog person, especially having met a couple Weimaraners recently, I know I enjoyed the story and illustrations. No one wants to feel ignored or left out, even the pets, and let's face it, when you think about it, the activity and semi-controlled chaos, fun as it may be, about homes at the holidays may be a bit overwhelming for both human and pets. Thanks #BooksGoSocial for giving me an early look at this delightful Christmas tale. This story may focus on a specific holiday but, let's face it, these moments of uncertainty, not quite feeling a part of things, are universal no matter what the occasion or time of year. 

 

100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life, by Dick Van Dyke

Publication Nov. 18, 2025

Delightful. Just like Van Dyke. It felt pretty much like an ol' friend simply sitting in my living room sharing stories and memories. In other words, very readable and personal. I liked the fact that despite the title, he emphasizes early on that there are really no set rules. Instead, you'll get lots of  stories that seemed to encompass his entire life. And what a life it has been. I'm pretty sure my first intro to him was via the Dick Van Dyke Show but have followed his career off and on over the years. How cool was it to see his appearance in the recent, updated version of "Mary Poppins" with Lin-Manual Miranda essentially playing his past role as Bert. 

Dick Van Dyke's optimism and humor shine through. I've been lucky enough to have read a couple of his past books, including a biography where he divulged that despite the smile and humor we saw on screen, his life wasn't always clear sailing, so it was wonderful to see he's living his best life nowadays. True, as he notes, to use a phrase borrowed from elsewhere, old age isn't for sissies. He admits to the aches and pains and associated with aging, his challenges of the past, his losses, and to the loneliness as old friends leave us, not to mention his cheerful admission of forgetting the lyrics to songs at times. Given that here he is, nearly 100, singing with an a capella group called the Vantasix, it made me grin to imagine him losing the melody but finding it eventually without shame. Almost sounds like it could be a television show, huh? You rock, Dick. 

I won't detail the "rules for living" he shares, more like things "I've learned in nearly 100 years that may or may not apply to you but may amuse you", so you can discover them for the first time personally. His love of family, especially his praise for the role wife Arlene has played in his life, is touching, as are memories of his family and former friends and co-stars. I opted to just read and enjoy, to be honest, so don't have many notes to share. For me, and I think for others, Dick Van Dyke has accomplished his main goal, to lift us up by sharing a piece of himself. And, oh, I just grinned. Sat down to type and realized I've been running around barefooted, which he'd obviously approve. It's called earthing, he notes, and he highly recommends it. So glad I've been following this bit of advice much of my life. Thanks #GrandCentralPublishing for giving me an early peek at this absolutely delightful tale. Dick Van Dyke continues to inspire and lift us all up. 

Murder Among the Stacks, by Rosie A. Point

 

Publication Nov. 2, 2025

Well, this was different. What a unique way to present a mystery. Short and sweet. It's basically a one page per chapter text followed by a related word search puzzle. Once I got past my tendency to want to do the word search, even mentally, I easily zipped through the story.  Brief as the text was, it gave us the needed points and moved on. True, there wasn't much time for character development but, well, it was also strangely fascinating. The clues were all there and, heck, the author even managed to work in an admittedly almost instant romance for us. 

Bottom line, while my character fixated mind wouldn't want a steady diet of such mysteries, it was still a novel, fun diversion. I even found myself rather liking the characters on a surface level, although I'd prefer more on my palette. It was actually rather interesting to see an entire murder mystery play out in front of my eyes so quickly and, yes, well. The ending made sense, well, if you can buy such an instant romance. Thanks to #AdamsMedia for the early look at this "novel" approach to a cozy mystery. Now, as a word search fan, I think I may need to go finish my mental word searching. 

Vows and Villainy: The Cambridge Bookshop Series, by Elizabeth Penney

 

Publication Nov. 25, 2025

I chuckled to myself at the sheer serendipity of starting this book that features the Ophelia amidst the lilies image just as mega-star Taylor Swift released her song using the symbol. I'm not quite sure Swift will create a huge number of new Shakespeare readers but it was fun to see. Even better, it works well as a standalone. In any case, our main character Molly Kimball is busy helping best friend Daisy plan her wedding at Hazelhurst House manor, the ancestral home of Molly's boyfriend Kieran. Daisy wants to utilize a Shakespeare theme and Molly is having great fun pulling things together, including a troupe of players who'll perform a Shakespeare work, until, well, no surprise for series' readers, there's a murder. Molly discovers one of the theatre (we're in Cambridge, England) troupe dead in the moat. Yes, there's a moat. Kieran's older brother Alan jumps in to try to save Sir Nigel but, alas, he's long gone. Then, to add to the drama, one of the players accuses Alan of being the murderer. Yep, things are going to get complicated real fast. Will Daisy's dream wedding happen? Or, gulp, will there be other murders?

This has quickly become a "must read" series for me. It's strongly character driven and it's been fun to see the growth and changes of the regular cast over the length of the series.  Toss in not one but two weddings in the work (oops, forgot to mention that Molly's aunt is about to be married, too, to a long time romantic interest? Grin), a bookshop to run, friends and family to give her time to, and suspicious accidents, Molly is one busy lady. Honestly, I think I enjoyed watching the very human aspects of Molly's life evolve around her more than I did trying to figure out whodunit. I like the usual cast and they feel a bit like family, albeit with mostly British accents, I'm sure. Let's face it, just imagining the life Kieran had growing up in this manor, moat, maze, and all, and getting to know his mother, not to mention Molly's family better, was a delight. Toss in the imagined Shakespeare sonnets and play snippets and it was a bit like Molly wasn't the only one getting to visit the Globe Theatre in London. 

Bottom line, I won't rehash the plot, it's an intriguing one that you can enjoy while not visualizing the setting and stage actions. As is often the case, the past has a role to play, too, not to mention the Thomas Marlow bookshop Molly runs which has been around for over 400 years. Molly makes mention of her love of the smells of the bookshop, including old paper, leather, wood, and glue, giving you a bit of a virtual sensory experience. And, hey, we get to spend some time finding our way through a maze. Good thing Kieran grew up knowing the way, including the shortcut Alan and he had devised. And, of course, you'll spend time trying to figure out whodunit before Molly, I'm sure. Alan? Surely not. One of the players? Someone from Sir Nigel's not always sparkling clean past? Or, well, maybe the geese shoved him into the moat? Nah, just kidding. You'll love the ending, I do know. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for, first, introducing me to these wonderful characters, and, two, giving me an early peek at how life in Cambridge is treating Molly and her mom after their move from America.  

Trouble in the Alps (Miss Ashford Investigates, #6), by Vivian Conroy

 

Publication Nov. 30, 2025

If you're a fan of virtual travel, this series should be a hit with you. It's taken me to some of the most incredible places, albeit there always seems to be a murder involved to distract my attention. Seriously, the author does an excellent job of setting the scene and sharing what we'd be seeing, not to mention usually eating and even sensing the aromas of, were we there. Although this one didn't quite pull me in as the previous books have, it was still an enjoyable read. Atalanta Ashford inherited both her late grandfather's fortune and investigative service, something she's shown great talent in tackling. True, her tactics aren't always what might be expected and she does tend to let her emotions lead her, well, astray isn't the right word, so lets just say along difficult, even dangerous paths that might best have been avoided. In this case, her romantic yearning for champion race car driver Raoul Lamont, takes her to an isolated grand hotel in the Alps where he's recuperating from a bad accident. Not only that, but when she arrives she finds he's suffering from memory loss and doesn't even recognize her. Given the female attention he's garnered, maybe he isn't really suffering but he's chaffing under the restrictions placed on him by the hotel's owner who just happens to be Raoul's new race team owner. Why is he so determined to keep Raoul isolated?

And, that's about all the plot I'm going to share. Atalanta was frantic to reach his side given their "almost" relationship and at first is determined to focus on simply helping him recover. Then there's a murder. It does say a great deal for Atalanta's kindness and personality that even though Raoul doesn't recognize her and the "almost" moments they're shared, he's drawn to trust and like her. In her case, her mind is whirling even more than usual, which is a great deal, as she's determined to add finding out whodunit as well as protect Raoul. Fortunately, she does have help in Renard, the butler she seems to have inherited from her grandfather, too. 

Bottom line, this was an interesting read that kept my attention. Let's just say, lots of intrigue, international at that, the usual romantic angst and always hopeful back and forth between Raoul and Atalanta, setting and staying focused on priorities, and, hey, is the mob involved? Simply staying alive is a priority, too, with her laser focus on Raoul's health and future. If you're a series fan, you know there's always a letter to anticipate but I won't explain that further as it's fun to discover how relevant words written in the past by a man who barely knew his granddaughter are under present circumstances. Thanks #HarperCollinsUK - #OneMoreChapter for introducing me to Atalanta (her names means "huntress") Ashford and giving me this early peek at how her life and wannabe romance is going with Raoul.

Where the Bodies Are Berried, by Peg Cochran

 

Publication November 11, 2025

Love the Christmas-y cover. It's Christmas at Sassamanash Farms and Monica is busy hosting the local animal shelter's fund raiser. Since having one's picture taken with your pet and Santa is a staple around here, I was surprised to discover it apparently isn't that widely used. There are even some live reindeer on hand. Yep, things are beginning to look a lot like Christmas....wait, I've heard that line somewhere. Grin. In any case, all is going well until, in an effort to recapture a piece of money blowing away in the wind, Monica almost stumbles over a dead body in a snow drift. Uh, oh, he's one of the shelter's biggest donors. Is there a connection?

I won't detail the plot, but will say that as mother to a month old, Teddy, Monica already has her hands full. That doesn't stop her from sleuthing, of course.  There were quite a few characters coming and going, some quirky and memorable, others seemingly just passing through. I put it on myself that I had a tough time sorting them out and, as a result, found the plot rather slow. Monica also isn't the best at seeking information via otherwise informal conversations, either, even managing to further distress the victim's wife early on. In front of friends, no less. I liked her relationship with husband and shop owner Greg but found myself not really caring what happened to her despite curiosity over the usual whodunit. The side stories were intriguing and did add to the story, some of those characters showing promise for future installments. 

So, bottom line, while I wasn't loving it, I wasn't pulled into the story, either. As noted, I'll lay some of that blame on myself and feel many will fully enjoy this one. You will learn a bit about cranberry salsa, btw, and farm life on a cranberry farm in general. Toss in little touches like needing to set up the monitor in baby Teddy's room while speaking to visitors and there is a homey feeling to the story. As for whodunit, I didn't really know until the end, so figuring that out was fun, even if the logic behind it was rather saddening. Past events do have a way of haunting our lives today. Thanks #BeyondThePage for the early visit to Cranberry Cove. Despite not quite being lured in fully this go-round, it's a place I'll happily revisit.