Swine and Swindle: A Cozy Animal Mystery, by Max Parrott

 

Publication Feb. 5, 2025

Getting tampled by a hyped up pig was the least of Angela Anderson's problems. Someone killed Bram Cole and the more she digs, the more complicated the case gets. Well, no one said being a private detective would be easy. And, oh, her car!

Fortunately, boyfriend David and her trusty dog Ruff have her back. Actually, she more or less self-appointed herself the case as she was on the scene at the rodeo event at the time screams rang out. Seems Angela's pig Petunia was one of the entries in the pig show competition. Petunia's up against some tough competition, one of whom becomes a suspect when the perennial winner Bram is found dead. There are suspects galore, however, some event related and some from his past. Seems there are lots of secrets buried in Hummings Hollow. There are lots of, well, true characters amongst the town people.

I won't detail the plot further other than to say it was a fun, reasonably quick read. The author's descriptions of the sights, sounds, and scents floating about the rodeo grounds will have you suddenly craving pop corn or a corn dog or maybe even some cotton candy. In other words, you'll feel like you're right there with Angela trying to decide which of those tantalizing teasers to sate first. The recurring cast, which includes Angela's parents (her mother's early onset dementia always makes me sad), police Chief Helbar and Kim, as well as newspaper editor/reporter Michelle, as always, add a sense of family/friends to the mix. Thanks #BookSirens for this early peek at the goings on in Hummings Hollow. And, oh, loved that ending and am looking forward to the next book.

Murder By Cheesecake, by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

I’ll perhaps elaborate more later but for now keeping this uncharacteristically short for me. I believe that if you enjoyed the tv show “Golden Girls”, you’re likely to enjoy this. It’s about as close to sitting in front of our tv and watching the beloved characters as they navigate another episode in their virtual lives, this time facing a, yikes, murder. And Dorothy is the chief suspect! The author does a great job of keeping the characters as we remember them with the dialogue seeming fresh and true to their television characters. Lots of St. Olaf stories, too. Thanks #HyperionAvenue for allowing me this early visit with people who seem like old friends.

Bait and Swiss (Cheese Shop Mysteries Book 6), by Korina Moss

 

Publication April 29, 2025

Perhaps the hardest personal aspect of this investigation, well, other than being considered a suspect, was the need for Willa to avoid contact with boyfriend-detective Heath. Seems his superior is watching this one very closely and would like nothing better than to take the case away from Heath, thus denying Willa what protection he can provide from harassment. If only she hadn't given in to that moment of pique and left that now questionable note with the chocolates she delivered to the newsroom for the brand new shop. Nothing like leaving your fingerprints and a potential threat in broad daylight. Needless to say, despite being stunned that the pop-up chocolate shop is headed by her ex-finance and former best friend, Willa carries on what she does so well, trying to run her own cheese shop as usual while ferreting out evidence and questioning potential suspects, even those who happen to be people she likes.

So, who poisoned the new, quite pushy newspaper reporter? Who had motive and opportunity to put the poison into the chocolate rum cremes? We barely got to meet ambitious reporter Kevin Wallace before he was dead, so little is known about him other than that he'd surely managed to annoy many in a short time, but...enough to kill him? Or, wait. Was he even the target? Or was it Gazette editor/owner AJ? Or, gasp, even Willa? I won't detail the plot further other than to say that there seem to be ample suspects but none with a seemingly legit reason to kill. Willa is already unhappy by the presence of her former fiance Pearce and former friend Riley but reluctantly agrees to help. Side-stories are less stressful, with even some budding romances. And, oh, for those unaware, a pop-up shop is meant as a temporary shop, usually used to test a new product line in an area with heavy foot traffic. 

Bottom line, lots going on, including some humor. I'm pretty sure Willa didn't like how her bed-head hair was described, for instance, and AJ's attachment to that fedora certainly isn't helpful in going undercover. The characters were likable and it was fun watching them interact and deal with their own lives, romantic and otherwise, in addition to helping Willa with the case. Yarrow Glen sounds like an intriguing town with close knit shop and shop owners who support each other through both the good and bad times. It was sad to see the sudden drop in trust of food places as a result of the poisoning but perhaps that is normal. Fortunately, I've had no experience with that. You'll get to know them by the time to big reveal of whodunit rolls around, one that was a bit of a surprise to me, I must admit, even though it made sense. Thanks #St.Martin'sPress for giving me this early look at how Willa's life is progressing in Yarrow Glen. After that scene at the end definitely looking forward to the next book.

Souvenirs from an Absurd Life, by Don Dahler

 Publication Feb. 25, 2025

After reading this, I'm never going to watch news clips of wartime correspondents quite the same way. They always somehow manage to look so pulled together, cool and calm. Dahler's book reveals the backstory. Far from pulled together, like they've just stepped from a 5-star hotel, Dahler's shared past experiences are often harrowing and anything but calm. He notes that more journalists are injured or killed just getting to the source of action than are actually killed by bombs or bullets and, whoa, some of his flying experiences illustrate that scary tidbit. Let's just say, his job as a journalist has been anything but dull.

I won't detail all his jobs or exploits, but they do range from bartender to news anchor. In fact, he was one of the first on the scene on 9-11, albeit without a camera or crew. Instead, he had to rely on a rapidly dying phone battery and the knowledge source in his own head since there were definitely no script writers handy. For someone who was told by one of the standardized tests that he wasn't suited for being in journalism, he's done well. That said, while I couldn't quite conjure up an image of him in my head but was certain I've seen him onscreen, he's also gotten around. He says his career might be described as a series of "almosts" and it seemed to be true. Some in a good way, some not as rewarding. His news idol was Charles Kuralt and his early work was patterned after Kuralt's series of road reports, ranging from the likes of Carolina artists and moonshiners to fishermen and Civil War reenactments and more. He would late film things like deep diving, an encounter with a shark (ouch!) and meeting the likes of Mother Teresa, Kobe, the then Melania Krauss, and Leo DeCaprio, not to mention many others. He also did a stint with the FOX network, which I found highly interesting and, yes, revealing of the state of news today. He missed being with a fire ladder company headed into the World Trade Center disaster when he couldn't locate his camera, one he later found exactly where it was supposed to be and where he'd already looked. Just one of those fateful "almosts" in his career.

To be honest, I hesitated asking to review this book for fear it's be a dull rendition of how great he was, blah, blah, blah. I'm glad I didn't listen to myself. Dahler writes a fascinating tale, one taking a hard look at many different things, including lives he encountered that bring the people to life. His tales of the people of Afghanistan were particularly moving to me as that country is once again in the news as I type. We even get a short burst of info on tank structure and why, not to mention he saw a young, badly injured solder on the war front who was burnt over a large part of his body in an explosion. That young man, who I knew only as the winner of a Dancing With the Stars season, was JR Martinez. Nope, nothing dull about Dahler's story and it was, well, not always an easy read as I can imagine the man may have the occasional nightmare even now, but a fascinating one that gave me lots of food for thought.

Bottom line, there's much, much more for you to take in. From his early life as a military kid who was frequently bullied and beat up at each new school to an abusive father, he didn't have it easy but shows what you can do with determination and a bit of luck. He even trained in karate and loved dogs and horses, even housed K-9 handlers (dog Miranda) during recovery efforts from the World Trade Center, so it wasn't all news/battlefield oriented. Seriously, if you want a behind the scenes look at the news world, or entertainment world in many case nowadays, you need to read this book. In the process you'll get to know a remarkable man who has definitely left a mark on our world. My sincere thanks to #PineHillPress for allowing me this sneak peak at this #DonDahler memoir. It was fascinating and made me think. Two big things in my mind.

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, by Kelly Oliver

 

Publication Feb. 16, 2025

An interesting mix of fact, fiction, history, and mystery....with a dash of romance. Don't let the title confuse you. Although Agatha Christie does make an appearance, she's hardly the central character. That spot falls to Eliza Baker, secretary/assistant to mystery author Dorothy Sayers. While the plot centers about happenings at the Sayers' created Detective Club of mystery authors, including Christie. Eliza is there simply as Sayers' secretary. In fact, she's not even a fan of the genre though you'd never know it when she does turn sleuth.Theo Sharpe, an aspiring mystery writer who has an obvious crush on Eliza, becomes her sleuthing partner/competitor. It really does seem at times like they're more in competition than cooperating, to be honest. In addition to their sleuthing skills, both play a mean game of chess although Theo refuses to play Eliza for reasons that slowly emerge.

While I won't detail the plot, it's wicked clever. It even centers about the Detective Club and its members, including Sayers and Christie. In fact, the inevitable murder occurs during the initiation of Theo into the organization.  Who killed jokester and mystery writer Neville Lively? Christie? I mean, almost the last word from Neville's mouth was "Agatha". Other clues emerge, many pointing to Agatha, others in other directions. It was interesting and almost surprising to see Eliza switch gears from the seemingly bored assistant to sleuth in the blink of an eye (gunshot?). Seeing how evidence was collected and evaluated in 1926 was also interesting, even if readers may be uncertain as to where she gained her skills at this point. At best we know she once worked for Scotland Yard but quit after her partner was killed, an event she blames herself for. To be honest, if the book blurb itself hadn't stated this was a new series, I'd have been sure I'd missed a first book.

The characters involved, both real and fictional, were an interesting lot. Sayers stands out but it's Theo that drew most of my attention. He's SO besotted with Eliza. While he comes from a titled family with money, he's turned his back on all that to write. Unlike Eliza, who believes life is about living it, not writing about it, he's more feelings based. Eliza tends to be procedural and fact driven while he has great respect for hunches. Eliza's sister Jane remains a bit of an enigma, perhaps because she works for British intelligence, something sure to provide plenty of interesting situations for Eliza to become involved in as the series progresses. As for the other characters, largely mystery writers and their family and/or friends, while not fully fleshed out, they seemed likable enough and were easy to differentiate. The author did manage to work in a reference to Christie having enjoyed surfing in Hawaii, I noted, a fun, humanizing aspect. I've always enjoyed Oliver's ability to weave history into her plot but be sure to read her Author's Note at the end to find out who was real and who wasn't if you're unsure. 

While I was a bit put off by the frequency the wannabe romance between Eliza and Theo took center stage, it was interesting to get both points of view at times. It was also a bit disconcerting to see Eliza's sudden, abrupt shift from no real interest in mysteries to being this talented, direct sleuth, even to the point of being almost cruel, when questioning suspects. Had to wonder why they simply answered her questions instead of showing her to the door. Grin. Hopefully that will get better, of course, and there will be less focus on the romance, at least less intensity, although to each their own.

Bottom line, despite my minor quibbles and excellent start to a new series, even if somewhat bewildering at times. The characters and story drew me in and kept my attention. I've always enjoyed author Oliver's ability to somehow weave together a sensible plot that involves real life character in fictional situations, something that definitely attracts this history buff. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for this early intro and peek into the lives of Eliza, Theo, and the rest, including Eliza's dog Queenie. I'm already looking forward to the next book to see how Oliver continues the idea of the Detective Club and what members may become recurring characters. Sayers, surely, especially as Eliza's employer.

The Body at the Roman Baths, by by Kate Hardy

 

Publication Feb. 26, 2025

Do you believe in ghosts? That's the question that drives a wedge between Georgina and boyfriend Colin this go-round. After finally working up the courage to tell him about her ability to hear ghost Doris, Georgina is somehow surprised when he doesn't simply shrug and accept her ability without question as her daughter and close friends have. Colin's disbelief aside, Georgina manages to stumble across another body, this time while at a photo shoot for an ancient mosaic uncovered at Little Wentworth Manor during an archaeology dig. The victim, Simon, was heading the project with his associate who discovered the body with Georgina. Given the nature of the site, restricted, the suspect list isn't lengthy but as it turns out, there are others who might have benefited from his death, too.

It's while looking into this death that Georgina manages to stumble into a very cold case, ie mid-1800's, in the same area. Not only are there no bones from that case for dog Bert to dig up, one of his not so endearing traits, but even Doris isn't able to pinpoint a body. Colin, while respecting Georgina's request that they spend some time apart for awhile, has few leads for either case, alas, but does realize how much he misses Georgina. We even get his point of view a few times, which is always a nice touch and doesn't leave us guessing as to his feelings. Toss in some possibly related heritage crimes, ie theft of relics, usually relatively valuable ones, and it's a complicated case. As for the cold case, Georgina has the help of daughter, an actress but one skilled at not just computer research but digging into family tree matters. I love how the author manages to weave in Bea despite her no longer living at home. 

I won't detail the plot further other than to say despite some quirky issues with my early, not final copy, which have now been corrected, I was fully sucked in and enjoyed the story. The characters are likable and bring a variety of skills and knowledge to the story, a real plus. Toss in Doris's other worldly resources, let's call them, and while no one person has the answer, it's fascinating to see it all come together at the end. The trend of this series seems to be a current and cold case with some sort of historic connection, so this former history major fully enjoys it. Thanks #StormPublishing for introducing me to Georgina and company and allowing me an early peek at what's going on in their world. I genuinely feel like these are people I could know and enjoy the company of, ghosts included. A great mix of mystery and history with a very decided human touch. Heck, readers, even the ghosts are intriguing with full stories, making them easy to accept and like.

Murder at Merivale Manor: A 1920s Cozy Mystery (Kitty Goring Investigates Book 1), by Ella Strike

 

What happens when you throw a robbery party but it turns into a real life murder investigation? Kitty Goring may have been bored but she wasn't expecting that. Nor was she expecting the infuriating Scotland Yard detective, questionable friends of her brother, spoiled relatives, or a valuable jeweled necklace to really go missing. Even worse, she definitely wasn't expecting murder.

While I spent considerable time rolling my eyes at Kitty's occasionally dangerous impulses, I ultimately warmed up to her a bit more by the end of the book. As the first book of the series, the characters weren't fully fleshed out, but it was easy to see a possible romance ultimately blooming between Kitty, society girl, and Detective Henry Burton. Me thinks she protests too much of how annoying he is. He is patient, however, at least to an extent, even when she seems to come up with a new suspect that she proclaims as the murderer to him multiple times. I actually found myself sympathizing with him more than Kitty although it was clear she felt genuine guilt at how wrong an idea born from her boredom had gone. 

Who killed poor Jane? Why do multiple bodies keep piling up? Are they connected? Kitty seems to suspect almost everyone at one time or the other, even her own mother. Mother, aka Lady Goring, is a piece of work, that's for sure. She is fixated on marrying off her children to well-to-do partners and seems to be more concerned with finding the thief who took her necklace than the killer. Or killers? Kitty's brother Jimmy is a nice enough guy, albeit all we really know of him at this point is he likes to gamble and has questionable friends, but murder? Even his friends seem unlikely murderers but why did they lie to Detective Burton? There are secrets everywhere, it seems, but who would have killed to prevent them being revealed? Kitty is already feeling guilt over things she didn't do. How does it all connect?

But, enough teasers. While I wasn't immediately taken by Kitty, I am considering catching up with this series asap. As it was, other than the basics, we don't know much about the characters, innocent or guilty, at this point, and I'm curious to see what the author has done with them. People are not always who they appear to be, of course, so that's another fun aspect, sorting out who's for real and who is the faker. I actually had a hunch about the guilty party early on but, like Kitty, no real proof, so it was interesting to read the big reveal of whodunit. Thanks to #BookSirens and the author for introducing me to Kitty and company. It's always intriguing to discover what happens when secrets explode in characters' faces, so to speak. And, oh, I can't forget Scottie. He was a great, fearless addition to the mix. More Scottie, I hope.

Billy the Kid: The Life Behind the Legend, by George R. Matthews

 Publication Feb. 20, 2025

Little moments. Seemingly insignificant decisions. Disappointments. Tragedy. Highs and lows and countless moments where I somehow wished I could reach out through time and tap Billy on the shoulder and tell him "No, don't even think about it." In many ways, I felt like I was riding right beside him as I read. So many "If only he'd...." moments, moments where seemingly insignificant choices lead him down the trail to his early death.  

While even Billy himself seems to have shook his head in disbelief at some of the tales surrounding him, the life he lived was anything but dull. Even his mother's decision to migrate from Ireland at age 19 for America and the man she ultimately hooked up with had repercussions. True, initially her life seemed upward bound but then, well, I don't want to ruin the tale for you but you'll find much, much to digest here. His mother's life is certainly worthy of its own book but it's how it impacted her oldest son that led author George R. Matthews to do a deep dive into son's life in an effort to separate fact from fiction. It makes for a fascinating read. There's also an extensive bibliography, notes, and index, as well as both b/w photos and old wood engraving (I think I'm getting the style right) style illustrations, adding to the experience. 

The author paints a vivid, detailed picture of all Billy, and I'll call him Billy here as that is how most know him, may have seen and done. Ironically, given his legendary reputation, Billy seems to have been an affable child, one who loved music and reading. Given that Mark Twain was popular at the time, it was intriguing to wonder what he might have thought of Twain's take on the Western landscape. Heck, I even learned something that, well, I wasn't even aware that I didn't know. Know that ol' song about the Erie Canal and that "low bridge"? I discovered what that really signified. How cool. I'm always a sucker for a book that teaches me something and this one had lots of info to share, ranging from the background details of that now famous photo of Billy standing with the rifle to his meeting up with the equally famous Jesse James and a Gov. Wallace who just happened to go on to write "Ben Hur". In between there are countless characters. Some good guys, some bad, most somewhere in-between, probably a norm for those rough and tumble times. I mean, even the supposed ruthless Billy the Kid was saddened to discover one of the horses he'd stolen was beloved by a young girl and tried to return it despite complications. So, like all of us, he was complex and multi-sided, a view this book does an excellent job conveying. Baseball was already a popular pastime, so it's intriguing to wonder if he played.

Bottom line, it's obvious I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I grew up a fan of westerns, albeit in my case more for the horses than story, so it was fascinating to discover how much I missed by not making an effort to discover the true story behind the legend. The characters who pass before our eyes are many, sometimes almost too many to keep straight, but some famous, others mere blips in history. If you've ever wonder what travel by stage coach was like, you'll find the answer here, too. You'll also see the result of being on the losing side of a range war, not to mention the realization that Billy the Kid really wasn't much more than a kid when he was killed by Pat Garrett. My thanks to author George R. Matthews for giving me this early peek at this fascinating book. The ol' history major in me was thrilled as was the child in me that sat in front of the television screen and watched endless westerns.

A Spirited Blend, by Lauren Elliott

 

Publication March 25, 2025

How would you like to discover you had magical powers as a full-grown adult? Let me rephrase that. How would you like to be a witch but with no real knowledge or control over your supposed powers? That's the situation in which Shay Myers finds herself. You have powers that can change lives, yours included, but no idea how to utilize them safely. Although she has had some time over the course of the series to learn certain skills, it certainly hasn't changed her life for the better. So much for all that simple twitch of the nose and all is well stuff with Samantha in "Bewitched".

In fact, her magic has made her life, if anything, more complicated and, yes, dangerous. Like, who are these people who keep showing up claiming a possible relationship to her family? Just as troubling, why is her former husband in town? What is he up to with his new wife? Why is Shay so spooked when a woman shows up claiming kinship? Surely it isn't a good omen for Shay that the woman later turns up dead, her body arranged in a ritualistic way? What's going on with the former supposed friend now in such a nasty competition with Shay's shop? Toss in the erratic relationship Shay has with Liam, who really annoyed me most of this go-round, and Shay has a great deal to deal with. Never mind that Liam's Gran keeps reassuring her things will work out. Shay obviously isn't a super patient person, especially since Liam keeps coming to Shay asking for romantic advice for his interest in other women. Oh, grrr....

On the plus side, Gran and Shay's spirit dog, well, Spirit, have her back as does, when push comes to shove, Liam. Hang on for that cliff-hanger of a life changing event near the end. The characters, even some of those that might annoy you early on, are well-developed and seem to mesh well, making you root for Shay all the more. Despite me frequent annoyance at Liam, just way too much venting over him this go-round, I fully enjoyed the read. Shay's own self-doubts make her all the more human, making it all the easier to root for her. There's even bits of good ol' fashioned Irish folklore/myth for good measure, making for an intriguing read. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for the magical early virtual peek at Shay's world. I'm looking forward to seeing where that ending is going to take us next visit.

Murder on the Cornish Coast (A Miss Underhay Mystery #19), by Helena Dixon

 Publication February 20, 2025

Actual review to come later as this one is part of a virtual book tour. This shared as sort of a place holder for me to remind me when I actually finished.

Spring Fling, by Annie England Noblin

 

Publication March 18, 2025

If you like small town/second-chance romances with fun, quirky characters, give this book a read. Seems like feisty tackle shop owner Mylie has been pinning for school friend Ben since, well, probably since their school days. Ben left, though, to pursue his dream of becoming a professor and is only back in town to sell his family home. He'd made a promise to his mother that he'd visit one more time before selling it but figures to get in and out quick. No muss, no fuss, no entanglements. He didn't count on Mylie. Their accidental cute re-meet starts out somewhat tensely for reasons you'll discover, but they are soon back to best buddies status at the very least. Do I need to tell you that doesn't last long?

Mylie is a bit of a contradiction, employing a good chunk of the town's population at her tackle shop in Clay Creek, Arkansas, while remaining stuck on her old flame/best friend. Grannie is, well, I wasn't really sure to begin with. Part stereotypical feisty ol' lady with the heart of gold who's as likely to pull a gun on you as to offer you a cookie (or some moonshine), while Mylie's step-sister Callie is a typical teen with all the ups and downs and missteps you'd expect of a teen. One thing you'll quickly discover, too, is how quick and efficient the town's gossip mill is, not to mention how very, very seriously they take their bingo nights. Ben has been away long enough to both forget but fall quickly back into the rhythm of small town life, one that includes not only bingo but Stanley, Mylie's dog and Stanley's nemesis, Fat Tony, a raccoon that seems to be part town pet, part menace, and downright entertaining. I mean, what's a raccoon going to do with a cell phone anyway? Not so entertaining is Robbie, mean and menacing, who seems to have earned his reputation as the town's bad news legitimately. I won't give away the plot but will say he has a grudge against Mylie. Others flit in and out of the story, ranging from the clerk at a nearby gas station to the doctor at the ER who, unfortunately, you will get to meet. Nope, not telling why. Read the book. Grin.

Bottom line, while in some ways not much seems to be happening aside from preparation for the local fishing tournament and the sparks flying between Mylie and Ben, there's actually a lot going on. You'll still get a full dose of small town gossip and fun. One plus of the narrative is that we get the perspective of both Mylie and Ben periodically, with even some of young Callie's thoughts. I'm pretty sure we don't want to know Fat Tony's thoughts, especially in some of the fixes he finds himself trapped in. A fun read, characters you'll like, even while not quite grasping the logic behind them initially, small town quirkiness, a fishing tournament, and some minor sexual moments that are really more about feelings than actions, so it simply adds to the growing senses of learning who these characters really are. Thanks #Avon - #HarperVoyager for the early introduction to Mylie and Ben. It didn't take me long to fall into the rhythm of life in Clay Creek and I'll definitely be on the lookout for this author's next books.

Women in the Fight Against Slavery, by Therese M Shea

 

Publication January 15, 2025

Beautifully done from the dramatic cover to the material covered. The woman's eyes seemed to be looking right at me from the cover with the intense sky and light on the plantation behind her. While aimed at children, the text is informative, full of names and dates and significant events, making it a good, quick resource for older students and adults, too. I was particularly impressed that the author wove the fight against slavery into the fight for women's rights, making it particularly timely. 

The illustrations are well done, depicting everything from a slave auction to depictions of such noted activists of the era as Harriet Tubman and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Divided into four chapters/sections, the book takes us from the beginnings of slavery in the Americas with the arrival of a ship from Angola in August, 1619, through the Civil War as well as mentioning the role of the 13th Amendment in 1865. Kudos to the author for including a section on the enslavement of Native Americans, too, an area usually glossed over or totally ignored. 

In addition to the basic text, info boxes are included in each section. Finally, there's a Timeline, Think About It section (excellent discussion starter questions), Glossary, and list of resources to Find Out More as well as an index. Each of these is nicely and thoroughly done given the limits of the target audience. Thanks #RosenPublishingGroup for giving me this early peek at the content. I'll be recommending it to teacher friends as well as the local library. There's a great deal to ponder here.

Thomas Jefferson, by Kathryn Walton

 Publication January 15, 2025

I've always been fascinated by the enigma of Thomas Jefferson, a man with so many aspects to his personality, some good, some bad, some quite troubling. As a result, even though this one is aimed right at young readers, I jumped at the chance to review it. While there certainly wasn't anything particularly new or surprising here for me, a former history major, I found it a satisfying read for children. It even touched on him being a slave owner, albeit without going into any great discussion other than explaining his times while noting how bizarre it was for a man who so espoused freedom to not only own slaves but never release his own slaves during his lifetime.

While I would wish it'd gone more into some of his fascinating inventions, the book does an excellent job of giving young readers a basic overview of who Jefferson was and why we remember him. Although it mentions the death of his father at a young age, the book really begins with his service in the Second Continental Congress. In his early 30's at the time, Jefferson stood out there, especially for his writing skills, being cited as the main writer of the Declaration of Independence. His political career is briefly detailed, too, as is his stint in France. I rather wished it'd mentioned the coincidence of the date of death for both Jefferson and John Adams since it mentions the role of the Electoral College in making Adams the second president, not Jefferson, but, hey, you can't have everything. Grin.

Each section is short and easy to read, accompanied by illustrations with more short bits of interest. I've always been fascinated by the home he built at Monticello, which means "little mountain", so was glad to see an actual photo of it included. Most of the illustrations are based on historical moments, such as the signing of the Declaration and portraits, so quite accurate. There's a timeline, glossary, index, and For More Information section at the end. It includes both print and online sources. Bottom line, for those new to Jefferson, an excellent starter book with suggestions of where to find out more at the end. Thanks #RosenPublishingGroup for this early peek at this book. Jefferson is a man of many interests, so hopefully this will guide young readers to want to know more about him.

Dead Post Society (A House-Flipper Mystery, #7), by Diane Kelly

 

Publication April 1, 2025

I've come to really enjoy this series. Why? Not just because of good stories, which is certainly true, or the likable, interesting characters who usually display a good sense of humor, but also because of one of the basic themes of the book: Don't destroy something just because it's rundown or old. While house flippers Whitney and cousin Buck accept that this isn't always easy, their efforts to find another way to preserve and restore the heart of what is there are admirable. It's certainly true in this book where Whitney just has an instinct about an old home that, gulp, was the scene of a murder-suicide. Or was it? Toss in Whitney's seeming inability to ignore a mystery, even one decades old, and you've got the basis for an intriguing story. 

You'd think that with Whitney's marriage to Collin and with Buck being a brand-new father (welcome to baby Mari) that they wouldn't have time to sort out a long cold case. You'd be wrong. Although Whitney is devoted to her feisty cat Sawdust, she's like a dog with a bone when something spurs her into sleuth mode. Obviously Buck and Collin have her back but, well, speaking of cats, there's this ol' saying about curiosity and cats which comes dangerously close to proving true in Whitney's case. How could simply asking a few questions (okay, lots of questions) about a case that she can blame her curiosity on now owning the house wouldn't make Whitney a target, right? Wrong, but you're going to have to read the book to find out the details. You'll even figure out why this title.

Bottom line, a fun, intriguing plot that stands alone nicely even for new readers. The characters quickly become like old friends and neighbors, people you'll feel like you know and can root for. I've got to admit, I love that Whitney's profession isn't the typical role for females, too. The setting in each book is in the same area but involves a different property with different neighbors, so there's always something new to discover and new faces to meet. If it wasn't a murder-suicide, which even the old police files seem to have found an uncertain conclusion, what really happened? Who killed the husband and wife? Why? And, what's that presence Whitney senses in the house? Ghost? Or, yikes, is someone keeping an eye on her? Why....oh, never mind. If you like a fun cozy with interesting characters and frequent humor, not to mention occasional input from Whitney's feline Sawdust, you'll enjoy this book/series. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #Minotaur for this early peek at what Whitney and Buck have been up to this time. Loved the reveal at the end. Can't wait for the next book!

After Disney: Toil, Trouble, and the Transformation of America's Favorite Media Company, by by Neil O'Brien

 

Publication March 4, 2025

I was still a kid when Disney World was being built in my state of Florida. As such, other than hoping to one day get to go and see Cinderella's Castle, I didn't give it much thought. Imagine my delight when many years later, I was able to not only visit there but attend a "Backstage Disney" class for teachers that took us, whoa, under that same castle and into what is really the first level of the park, the part underneath all the magical sights we see. Yes, it truly is a magical place.

Given that, it's amazing to look back via this book and discover the turmoil that was going on behind the scenes that made decisions of what would be filmed, when, and such details that we mere "guests", as Disney insists paying customers be called, never gave one moment's attention. I won't even attempt to summarize it all as it was long lasting and the names are both familiar and unheard. I definitely enjoyed getting to know some of those unknown faces via the book, giving me new insights into the germ of an idea for, say, Fantasia, or the comings and goings of people like Tim Burton of Nightmare Before Christmas fame. It's equally astonishing to realize how close we may have come to never seeing the likes of Beauty and the Beast or Lion King, among others. Disney's animation department may have been its heart and core at the beginning, with many of the animators being with Walt Disney even before Mickey Mouse, but its survival wasn't guaranteed by any means. You'll also learn of the Disney family's involvement, both token and active, over the years and the role they played in the survival of the park.

For the most part, it's an easy read, somewhat conversational in tone. That said, when the author delves into lengthy lists of names and facts, jumping back and forth in time a bit, I did find my eyes tending to glaze over at times. It'll probably depend upon how business savvy you are or interested in mergers and corporate structures and power struggles as to where you fall on that aspect. I was glad to see so many unknown to me names not only get credit, however, but be fleshed out as real people. Disney's magic is based around family values and it made it easier for me to care about what was happening to those involved, whether creative or management. Even the family had struggles with these aspects of what became a massively huge conglomeration of different parts and sections, many of them giving rise to the likes of, say, Pixar. It was quite nice to see Disney's daughter emerge more in her later years, making her feelings and ideas known, too. Family. That's the key to Disney magic and it seems like that despite all the disgruntlement at times, those who thrived remembered that concept. So, no simple, quick read, but one that will give you insight into what keeps that magic going and it isn't all pixie dust.

Bottom line, for those of us who grew up with Disney, whether watching the cartoons, nature shows, or usually child-friendly movies, this is an intriguing read. It even delves into how difficult it was to decide not only to stretch self-imposed limits as times changed, but how the reactions both within and without of the organization impacted those making them. For me, child of the pixie dust, of course, it was fascinating to read how the animators worked, the meticulous skill and attention required, not to mention how many re-draws were done in record time. And, yes, seeing the finesse and skills of early female animators gain their rightful place was also a "You go, girl!" moment. Thanks #PostHillPress for allowing me this sneak peek behind doors I didn't even know existed. That said, I still think fondly of the mantra we teachers took away from our workshop there which might be summarized as when the going gets tough, spread a little more pixie dust. More pixie dust for Disney, please. We need them all the more in this day and age.