Fatal Fudge Swirl (Ice Cream Shop Mysteries #3), by Meri Allen

 

Publication June 27, 2023

What a diabolical murder weapon! Although it took me awhile to warm to ex-CIA librarian Riley Rhodes, I've grown to look forward to her next exploit. Here she's being her usual, helpful self when she stumbles over another dead body. Sadly, on the day Diantha was to be married, not to mention on her favorite holiday, Halloween. With Diantha's almost-husband, sons and family on site, not to mention a film crew shooting the latest in the popular romantic comedy series, there are several suspects.

It was interesting to watch Riley puzzle out clues from her own observations -- she'd been asked to stay at the inn that night to help out with household duties -- and clues found. I made a good guess early on as to the murder method but couldn't put it together on how it was done, let alone pin-point the murderer. The side stories, which included, no lie, George Washington, Rome, cancer, greed, towels, family  relationships, and troubled romance, fit into the whole nicely, some even adding a clue to whodunit. Riley's own romantic life seems, well, not troubled, but Liam was rather side-lined in this one. Guess that's a topic for another installment. Oh, and let's not forget Sprinkles the cat's charisma in front of the camera. Sprinkles is a calculating hoot.

The supporting cast is solid and it was interesting to get a look into their lives. Jack the detective's troubled mind made me think of the police families I know, to be honest. A relationship with someone who puts their life on the line every day can't be easy. The characters' interconnections are intriguing and hopefully we'll hear more about that later. 

Bottom line, an interesting mystery with an unusual murder weapon that will keep you turning pages. Thanks #NetGalley and StMartinsPress - #StMartinsPaperbacks for inviting me to stop by the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop once again. I'm already curious to see what flavor Brandon comes up with next.

Trooper at the Beverly Hills Hotel, by Susan McCauley (Author), Darlee Urbitondo (Illustrator)

Publication Nov. 22, 2022

My first move after finishing this short, sweet read was to go cuddle with my own dog. Like Trooper, I consider her special, even if she's never gotten to stay in as upscale a place as the Beverly Hills Hotel or fly on Sylvester Stallone's private jet. Dogs do make us whole, however, no matter where we live or what our circumstances. Kudos to Andrea Eastman for sharing a bit of her beloved Trooper's life with us, albeit fictional from Trooper's point of view. I loved the illustrations and photos, too, and know he is missed. My furry girl sends you a lick. 

To be brief, this is Trooper's story of his stay at an upscale hotel while his person was undergoing surgical treatment. The hotel seems to have opened both its doors and hearts to Andrea and Trooper and I had to smile thinking of him taking his own leash in his mouth to prowl the lobby to see who was available to take him for a stroll. My girl doesn't do the leash in mouth thing but, oh, my, she does have a way of demanding, er, asking politely for a walk. In other words, this book will resonate with dog lovers everywhere, no matter their age, and the illustrations are lovely. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for letting me tag along virtually for that ride on a private jet and well-cared for stay at the hotel. This book is sure to delight not just the target audience, children, but adults and pet lovers all over. My Daisy gives it four paws up and a tail wag.

Daisy with three precious, autographed books

 No reviews, just my mind detouring after running across my autographed book stash.

Yes, even that worn paperback copy of "Woodsong" is autographed. It was my first copy and intro to all things Alaska and the wonder of Gary Paulsen as an author so it seemed only appropriate I have him autograph it when I had the chance. 

The Dick Van Dyke book was a find online, as was the Joe Biden book. Van Dyke, of course, is a long time favorite and I couldn't resist the chance to snag an autographed copy of his memoir. At the time I grabbed the Joe Biden autographed book, he was an ex-Vice President and seemingly out of politics for good. Imagine my delight to now have the autograph of the President of the United States on a very heartfelt book about his son Beau's death from cancer. 

In any case, all treasures for different reasons. Paulsen because he changed my life as this book would ultimately spur my curiosity about Alaska and lead to me ultimately living here. Van Dyke because I grew up laughing at his various tv shows. Who can forget his famous prat fall over that footstool? Biden, well, my family, too, has been touched by cancer and it was touching to see how someone in the spotlight dealt with this blow. That he became President was just an extra.

And that's my mind detour of the day after dusting off some bookshelves. Read on!

Rock N Roll Nanny, by Sally Arnold

 

Publication October 17, 2022

Sally Arnold lived the rock'n'roll fantasy that most fans could only dream about. Hanging out with famous musicians, meeting the rich and famous, and seeing exotic places are only the surface of that reality, however. Even with some background in concert photography and interviewing many an artist myself back in "the good ol' days", I was astonished to read of the unending, constantly changing list of responsibilities she shouldered just to get the artist onstage, let alone keep them alive and healthy. 

What from the distance looked alluring was tiring, frustrating, and required her to be on alert and ready at all hours. Just reading the tasks she handled, from setting up offices to supervising stage set-up and frequently not-very-cooperative artists, to managing to herd the often egotistical, wasted performers on stage, was exhausting. From working as a nanny, honest, she was trained at a highly respected school, for Mick and Bianca Jagger after the birth of Jade, to working on all aspects of mega-shows for the likes of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Rolling Stones, the Who and others, to charity events that brought her into contact with the likes of royalty, Arnold navigated it all in an admirable way.

That said, tho' I'm probably odd man out here, I found myself as intrigued by her early travels as her rock'n'roll experiences. True, reading of how she taught Mick how to change a "nappy" (British terms used) to Charlie Watts taking her shopping for baby supplies for Jade added a touch of reality, but so, too, did her experiences traveling to the likes of China and Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railroad. This was at a time when foreign travelers of either sex there were rare and not only looked at with suspicion but frequent targets of theft. Amazingly, she seemed to love every moment of it, even being held for a time when her Visa proved incorrect. She also details later travels that are a delight to read but I was most impressed by her courage as a young girl taking on her dream of travel against some pretty big odds. Her experiences and travel both seem to have colored her world.

Those with an interest in not just rock'n'roll but how the music/touring industry works will find this a fascinating read. If you're into travel and other cultures, so much the better. There's lots of name-dropping, of course, but that doesn't distract from the real story, a young woman overcoming odds to find her place in the world, a world that ultimately included surviving cancer.

Thanks #NetGalley and #SilverwoodBooks for introducing me to Sally Arnold. What a fascinating life she has led.

Secrets in the Stacks (Survivors' Book Club Mystery #2), by Lynn Cahoon

 

Publication Nov. 1,2022

This book is as much about friendship and being there for each other as it is about solving a murder.

"Secrets in the Stacks" is about a group of women who come together as strangers in Rarity's book club and bond together as friends. What sets this book apart from others following this same idea is that these women are almost all cancer survivors. They've faced that silent enemy and survived, They've shared a common enemy. They are now there for each other

When book club member Darby's beloved grandmother is murdered, they close ranks immediately and step forward to both physically and emotionally support Darby. The characters have grown immensely since book one and their back stories are slowly beginning to emerge as they share their united strength. It also doesn't hurt having detective Drew and Rarity's boyfriend, Archer on hand, but the women are the core. And, oh, Rarity's darling dog Killer, who we met in the first book. All have roles to play, which is a real plus.

I won't detail the plot as the book blurb does an excellent job. I'll simply say that secrets kept can lead to devastating results. Let's face it, we all have secrets. Even the most beloved characters have secrets, secrets even those closest to them don't know about. What secrets are being harbored in Sedona? Who are those strangers who keep popping up and unnerving Rarity? Heck, even Killer barks at them. Are there secrets hidden in the library study? What gives with Darby's parents? Will Drew even ask Sam out? Her patience is growing thin, after all. What role does Drew's father play in this whole mess? What drives someone to murder? Okay. Enough teasers. Read this one. Author Cahoon is a cancer survivor herself and has created a wonderful fictional family of friends for us to share without cancer being a prominent theme of the story. It's a winner.

Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to visit with Rarity and her extended book club family again. We should all be lucky enough to have such a wonderful, positive group of supporting friends.

The Tuesday Night Survivors' Club (Audiobook), by Lynn Cahoon

 

Audiobook Review (plus original ebook review at end)

Narrator C.S.E. Cooney Tantor Audio, 7 hour duration

I thoroughly enjoyed the e-book version of this book and was delighted to see an audio version available. The story's focus on a group of soon-to-be friends who are brought together by them having survived cancer could be a downer but the book was more a story of friendship, new beginnings, and inner strength than cancer. Kudos to author Lynn Cahoon for handling this potentially tricky subject matter (Cahoon is a survivor, too) and making it work. And, all this circles about a murder that the book club members are determined to look into, even after being cautioned not to do so by the town detective, Drew. It's an intriguing mystery, highlighted by the growing friendship of the group. See the original review below my thoughts on the audio version for more insight.

As for the audio version, although I was having trouble keeping which voice was which straight initially, I realized at some point that I'd nailed it and just automatically knew who was speaking when the narrator spoke as the book progressed. This was done through both subtle changes of pace, emphasis, accent and inflection as well forcefulness, if that makes sense. In other words, you quickly could pinpoint the more confident, forceful personalities of the group. As for Rarity, the main character, the narrator's voice seemed perfect, showcasing her kindness and concern for all. The voice made me feel that Rarity was someone I'd like and trust.

One of the things that came through to me much more forcefully in this audio version was how much Rarity adored the dog she unexpected found herself with. Hearing it, I realized how often the dog was the topic of conversation or interest, not to mention that Rarity talked to it frequently, just as most of us owned by dogs do. In addition, besides these frequent mentions the author also gets in subtle bits of info on dog care and all involved with owning a dog, including the importance of vet care, the need to tag and identify your pets, and the need for proper nourishment and such items as dog beds, toys, leashes, and, well, the list can be endless as any dog owner knows. I honestly didn't really notice this via simply reading. The chapter changes were simply a stated "Chapter__" whatever with no disruption to the flow.

Bottom line, a fine addition to the editions available. Thanks to #NetGalley and #TantorAudio as well as publisher #KensingtonBooks for making this audio version available. I should note that my own little dog listened as I did and says Killer deserves extra treats.

ORIGINAL REVIEW OF eBOOK:
I've become a huge fan of Lynn Cahoon. This book only made me more of a fan. Skillfully centered about a cancer survivor book group, Cahoon deftly weaves in introductions to new characters and new mysteries without either making cancer the central theme or ignoring it. As someone who was a bit wary of reading this book given my own family's losses from the disease, I have to admit to almost passing it up. I'm glad I didn't. Yes, cancer survival isn't hidden in some dark corner in the book but it is more the thing that brought this intriguing cast on new characters together. With nods to the worries and concerns that all survivors have, Cahoon, who has survived her own cancer journey, doesn't try to pretend the disease doesn't exist. Instead, she uses it to pull people together, form and strengthen friendships, and, oh, yes, solve the murder of a group member. I had no real clue who the murderer was until the reveal, so it definitely will keep you guessing.

The characters were likeable and it was interesting to see the dynamics of friendship and, hmm, maybe romantic relationships developing. I was actually sorta meh on Archer until the end, maybe because it didn't seem like we got to know him as well as we did Drew the detective, but he won me over when he showed up with flowers after Rarity's regular cancer checkup. This was in sharp contrast to her last boyfriend who pretty much ignored than left her while she was ill. Her best friend Sam, who it took me a moment initially to figure out was probably a Samantha, not male, has always had her back and despite a brief flair of jealousy on Sam's part, still had Rarity's back. We all need friends like that who will tamper down their own emotions to support us. Drew, of course, seemed like a winner from the time he told Rarity about the now owner-less dog, Killer. Dog lover that I am, I had to admire Rarity for agreeing to take in Killer even when she was most likely envisioning a large, scary dog. It didn't take Killer long to worm his way into her heart, however.

I liked the characters and how well the medical issues surrounding potentially fatal illness was worked smoothly into the story. This included doctors who may or may not be real doctors pushing miracle cures, treatments, and pushing their products on the most vulnerable. Grr, but enough said on that topic, The key theme here isn't medical. It's friendship. It's good to have friends and Rarity is slowly but surely finding friends and making her own place in Sedona, New Mexico. I'm looking forward to following this series.

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #LyricalPress for introducing me to Rarity and the rest of her growing circle of friends, not to mention Killer. Treats for Killer!