The Expectant Detectives (Expectant Detectives #1), by Kat Ailes

 

Publication Jan. 9, 2024

I'm not quite sure what drew me to this book. Probably a combo of the dog and the unexpected idea of the amateur detectives being expectant mothers. In any case, despite a slow start, once it kicked in it was a fun, interesting read. Think families, unfamiliar territory, and trying to fit in and make new friends....all while near your delivery day. Set in a Cotswold village, transplanted Londoners Alice and Joe have a lot to learn about life in the country. A learning curve made all the steeper when they find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation. Only married a year,They're about to learn a great deal about each other.

The book is populated by some quirky, unique characters. Think New Age and Hippies, with herbals and crystals and....oh, you get my drift. It took me a bit to sort out who was who, must admit, perhaps because I was initially distracted by the name droppings of so many obviously British brand names and services. Toss in that Alice, our narrator, is what I'd kindly refer to as scattered and hormonal and things were a bit confused in my mind for a bit. I did like the characters, however, once I began to differentiate them. True, I found my eyes growing tired as I rolled them at Alice's scattered thoughts and thought patterns, but she was quite likable. Joe seemed remote initially but took on a bigger role as the story picked up steam. It'll take you through not just picturesque Penton, the Cotswold village they decide to move to sight-unseen, but into commune life in the area. And, oh, then there's Helen. She's gorgeous but, well, to be polite, not the smartest dog around. Yes, Helen is Alice and Joe's frequently mayhem prone dog. It seemed like almost every time Alice got a text to meet someone somewhere, "Don't bring Helen" was added. That is rather telling. You'll keep wondering how she'll do when the baby arrives.

So, whodunit? I'm not going to detail the plot because it'd give away too much. Let's just say, finding a dead body at the local antenatal class was not on any of the women's to-do lists. And that is just the beginning. Could it have been one of them? Being very pregnant can't rule out being a murderer, can it? Why was the victim killed? What connection does he have to anything? The woman, strangers until they are brought together by their common pregnancies, are nicely characterized and offer up both humor and information. Why do they wind up visiting a commune? A birthing hut? Oh, my, that visit may be intense. But, there's a murderer out there. Who did it? Who has a....oh, enough teasers. It's a fun read and you'll enjoy it extra much if you happen to be pregnant (or remember those days) and/or British, but once you get past the, to me, overuse of British name brands and such, it's an easy, even humorous read at times. These women not only become friends, they're not bad sleuths, even if their bellies slow them down. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for introducing me to them. I can't wait to see who gets up to what next.

Daisy isn’t quite ready for winter yet but it’s here

 

A Bean to Die For (A Coffee Lover's Mystery #4), by Tara Lush

 Publication Jan. 9, 2024

Do you know what a mushroom log is? You will after reading this book. It's actually rather intriguing, gotta admit, as was the latte art machine. Being a former Floridian, I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, happy that I didn't live in quite as quaint and quirky and area. In this case, Lana is living the good life on Devil's Island, It seems to be a cross between a mecca for hippy types and those wanting to start a new life. The gardens overseen by the community seem to bring them together although it isn't always in peace. Even worse, Lana stumbles across a body in the community garden. Her coffee related plans will have to wait.

Who killed cranky Jack Daggett? Unfortunately for Lana, she has no time to play sleuth. Boyfriend Noah's mother and sister are due to arrive in a few days and Lana desperately wants to make a great impression on them. So why can't she even seem to find the time to go shopping for dinner ingredients? Why are community residents arguing over....monkeys? Will Lana be able to withstand the pleading of suspect Darla to help her clear her name? Even with the help of her best friend and barista Erica, she's definitely feeling stressed. Her forever hippy father isn't exactly helpful. Amazingly enough, her boyfriend, Police Chief Noah, ultimately doesn't even try to stop her sleuthing behind his back. He simply asks her to do it safely, it via online and such, not in-person snooping, er, questioning. That's rather a pleasant twist of the ol' trope of the romantic partner being strongly discouraging. I do give kudos to Lana for not being TSTL, ie too stupid to live, too. I liked that her character didn't go rushing blindly into danger as many cozy mystery amateur sleuths do. In other words, this book offers up some refreshing twists in addition to an intriguing plot full of quirky characters.

Even better, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting these characters again (having read the previous book). Lana is a former crime reporter, so delving into crimes isn't exactly new to her. She'd hoped to have left all that behind her when she left Miami but, well, life (or death?) happens. Erica is a hoot. She seems far more into the sleuthing than Lana, to be honest, but isn't exactly subtle in her questioning. Read the room, Erica! And don't make Erica mad, either. Lana's father Peter, the once-and-forever hippy, is an odd mix of ol' hippy and techno pop, oddly enough. Ol' timer with a modern twist. He definitely enjoys the sleuthing. And, Noah? Well, he sounds like a saint. A good looking saint with patience to spare. So, why is Lana so anxious about meeting his mother and sister? They're....oh, enough teasers. Their meeting is....no, no, no more hints. Let's just say there is a lot going on when they meet. 

It's a fun read, full of likable, interesting characters, soft/sly humor that will make you smile, a cute dog, and a setting with some bizarre critters and townspeople Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me down to spend some time in Florida. It's always an adventure.

Curiously Gracie - Life Begins, by R S Christopher

I'm a sucker for a dog book, especially a cute children's dog book. As such, I expected to thoroughly enjoy this story of Gracie. As it turned out, it left me disappointed. There is promise to the story but for me it just didn't seem to go anywhere and the ending was abrupt. The illustrations occasionally seemed to be made up of elements that didn't quite mesh or didn't seem to adequately illustrate what was happening. Nor did it show Gracie, said to be curious and a bit of a rebel in that she wasn't always following the lead of her siblings, romping around and having fun, not to mention her expression never seemed to change. Like people, dogs have very expressive faces, so this was a disappointment. 

As noted, there is promise to the story, however. The sub-title "Life Begins" made me think this is simply the intro to a series that will follow Gracie's life, curiosity and fun adventures in future books. Don't get me wrong. Gracie's image is adorable in the book, it just rarely seems to change. Westies are adorable little dogs and I'd love to see the mischief in her eyes to better reflect the adjective of curious that is applied to her. I'll also note here (the dog owner in me showing) that she's depicted in some pictures in a yard that appears to border a road. Hope to see a fence next go-round if my hunch is right about future stories. Bottom line, 3 stars for the concept but it could have used a bit more fine-tuning. Thanks to #IndependentlyPublished for allowing me this glimpse into Gracie's beginnings and potential. I'm definitely up for checking in on Gracie as her life goes on.

Hammers and Homicide, by Paula Charles

 

Publication Jan. 16, 2024

It took me awhile to get into this book, to be honest, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like most first books of a series, it has to introduce characters and setting, you know, all that stuff we know by the third or fourth book without thinking, but I'm liking what I'm seeing so far. The characters, including main character Dawna, are quirky and fit into the small town atmosphere perfectly. Although I found it slow going initially when it was largely only focused on Dawna, once the other characters appeared, things really began to pick up. Dawna's relationship with her adult daughter April is realistic and I loved their back-and-forth banter. They came across like real people, in other words, with a long established relationship. I'm assuming there's some romance in April's future, too, based on comments about JT, the detective investigating the murder in Dawna's hardware store. Well, the shared bathroom of the hardware store and the neighboring boutique shop run by Darlene. 

Who killed land developer Warren Highcastle? Why? Although many weren't happy with his bid to buy the old theater, would that be enough to make someone kill him? What was the argument Dawna overheard about? Why was Steve so uncharacteristically late that morning? And, hey, big question. Why was Dawna so invested in finding the murderer that she brought her daughter into her investigation? I have to admit, I did cringe at some of her questions and actions, especially when she....oh, no. Wait. Enough teasers. 

A promising start to a new series that I will be following. I liked the characters. I liked the relationship between Dawna and April. Now, true, I wasn't expecting the paranormal aspects but they weren't a real distraction. Kinda fun, in fact. The chapters were relatively short and it was an easy read. And, no, I didn't guess whodunit until the big reveal, either, so it will keep you guessing, not to mention throw in some surprises along the way. Bottom line, a good start and I'm looking forward to watching the quirky, occasionally clumsy Dawna evolve as an amateur sleuth. This should be fun. Thanks #NetGalley and ##CrookedLaneBooks for letting me take this peek into a fun, new series. I think the hardware store will be an intriguing business connection.

William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country, by James Lee McDonough

 Another oldie  from my Facebook rambling on books. Nov. 2016

"Not exactly an escape from politics as it obviously has lots of that in it, but reading a big ol' book called "William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country". Big book, some 700-800 pages, but so far has been a pretty good read so I'm persevering."

 

"Interesting to see how many ties Sherman had to the South himself, including admiring a little town in GA named Marthasville, which seems to have eventually become a much bigger town named Atlanta and we all know Sherman's connection to Atlanta. Have learned tons about him, some of the politics of the day, including the role the inability to compromise played, and that he worked as a banker in CA and NY prior to the Civil War at a time when his own marriage was having issues. And I'm not even up to the war yet."

 

The next day I added: "While I'm on my history kick, one of the things it mentions in the Sherman book I'm reading that's totally unrelated to politics or war is that the man visited Niagra Falls several times and found it fascinating. I liked that little peek into a long dead guy's soul."

 

________________ 

 

Current add: I was obviously seriously into my history kick, probably reading Civil War related books. I certainly don't recall all the details aside from his father being a fan of Tecumseh, at least I think that was the story about the middle name. Someone who definitely touched our nations survival and evolution, that's for sure. 

The Sign of Four Spirits (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #9), by Vicki Delany

 

Publication Jan. 9, 2024

Emma isn't going to the seance. Definitely not going. Nope. Not going. So, how'd she wind up there anyway, albeit perched outside the door where the event is taking place?

This has become a favorite series for me although, quite frankly, I still find Emma Doyle more annoying then likable. That said, she's definitely improved and grown on me over the series. I even think I'd like her as a friend, albeit one that'd wear on my nerves quickly. It isn't that she rivals Sherlock Holmes with her observation skills and ability to put complex clues together. That's impressive. It's just that her people skills need work. That said, it's obvious in this book that she's trying to be a better friend. She hesitates and doesn't always spout out what she's thinking, thoughts that are often negative toward the one she's speaking to/about. She doesn't make abrupt phone calls in the middle of the night, showing more awareness. It's Emma's smarts and ability to learn and change, albeit slowly, that keep me coming back. Toss in that Vicki Delaney/Eva Gates is a superb writer and hooks me from the very start and I find myself gravitating to this series, not to mention being so intent upon trying to sort it out that I tend to read the book in one or two sittings. 

So, who killed the medium? Why didn't she allow Gemma into the room for the seance? It doesn't matter whether we believe in such things or not, there are characters who do and that is the reason for the gathering. Or, is it? Why was Donald disappointed in the seance even before it really got started? Who was that last angry voice heard? Will Ryan, the detective/boyfriend, accept Gemma's help or not? Will Moriarty the cat ever warm up to Gemma? Why is the medium's assistant so interested in Bunny? Will Rebecca ever make peace with her step-son? And, once again, who is this diabolical killer? Can even Emma's masterful deduction skills find the truth in time? 

Bottom line, I loved this book/series. Great cover. The writing flows and the characters are fully-developed, even the minor ones. And, heck, you'll learn quite a bit about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the process of reading, too, so a win-win. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for allowing me to spend some time in Emma's world and mind. I think my mind is still spinning at how she put it all together.

Roo and the Big Garden Redo, by Steve Foxe, Daniela Barros (Illustrator)

 

Publication Jan. 1, 2024

Change can be stressful, especially for children. This delightful story will show that change doesn't have to be bad, though, especially with the help of friends. Roo and Aco, who resemble a mushroom and acorn, find their tiny world is about the change. Roo and Aco are Tiny People who live amongst us and utilize lost and misplaced items, like buttons, to build their homes. They've grown accustomed to knowing the wildlife about them and where everything is. In other words, they are comfortable in their tiny world. That's about to change. Their garden home is about to be renovated by the humans whose land they share. 

Roo, a pessimist, is distraught and fearful. Aco, far more optimistic and brave, doesn't mock Roo's concerns. Instead, Aco offers solutions. They will pack up and move to a fellow Tiny Folk's home while the renovation is done. They even face obstacles along the way but, using their brains and teamwork, they have a successful trip and, based on the adorable artwork, seem to enjoy their visit to a friends. Soon, they learn the renovation is done and head home. Roo still frets, fearing their animal and bird friends may have fled. What do you think they find when they arrive? Let's just say, it's beautiful and, hey, they even now have a swimming hole. Change can be good!

This was a sweet book with fun, colorful illustrations. The artwork is manga-esque (is that a word) in style and paints a lovely garden setting for the story. Their bird friend is lovely, too. The facial expressions of Roo and Aco are very expressive and capture their feelings beautifully. This story will help those dealing with the stress of change by showing how others deal. It's also a gentle reminder that change isn't always bad. Being worried isn't bad, either. It's how one handles the worry that matters and Roo and Aco are an excellent example of how friends can help you through it with understanding and, yes, teamwork. I liked the guide questions at the end designed to help a parent/reader guide children through their emotions. Thanks #NetGalley and #Capstone - #StoneArchBooks for this lovely moment in that splendid garden. It was a definite pick-me-up for me today as I look out my window at some new-fallen snow. 

Potions and the Pleasantly Poisoned, by Eloise Everhart

What would you do if you unexpectedly discovered you were a witch? That's the situation Dani Williams faces. She's already dealing with a divorce, lost job, and the death of her beloved grandmother. But, a witch? Seems this was one not so little secret her Gran kept from her. Then, a friend is murdered. One she'd just seen the day before. Even worse, she realizes that the vision she saw while driving there and almost hitting a deer may have foretold the murder. How's that for a burden to carry?

Dani's life has suddenly been turned upside down. She's always had good instincts, insight if you will, but this is way, way beyond that. Fortunately, she's back in a place she's familiar with and has friends, even if, okay, one of them is the top suspect for the murder. She's dealing with organizing her Gran's office with the help of the way pregnant Olivia, and discovers she has skills there that might play into investigating alone, magical or not. Her initial tries of casting spells found in the journal Gran left behind were promising but shows that she still has much, much more to learn. How can Dani navigate this situation alone? How would you handle suddenly elevated senses that allow you to sense everything to a heightened degree? How does one learn to control magic you never knew you had? Maybe more importantly, will it help her avoid danger and to catch a killer? There's already one unsolved mystery in town she knows about. She's already getting threatening notes. Good thing one of her friends is now with the police.

Bottom line, though I'm always wary of books with a paranormal element, this one captured my interest from the beginning. The human element prevails and the characters are likable, even the suspects, and we're exposed to a bit of their backgrounds as the story goes along. There's still lots more to learn, of course, and I look forward to following this series as it grows and develops. What other secrets are hidden away? Thanks #BookSirens for introducing me to Dani and her suddenly magical world. Will that adorable kitten have a role in future books? Oh, I hope so.

The Sunflowers Babushka Planted, by Beatrice Rendon, Olga Baumert (Illustrator)

 

Publication Jan. 1, 2024

This story could be happening today. In fact, it surely is. And not just in Ukraine. Although written from the memories of the author's grandmother as a child refugee during and after WWII, people are still fleeing for their lives from their homes and homelands. Bombs are still falling. People are still dying. Families are being ripped apart. This story is a reality for all too many.

All that said, this story somehow manages to be both heart wrenching and hopeful. The sunflower, Ukraine's national flower and a symbol of hope, is the perfect symbol here of resilience and hope for the future. Tania's family is forced to flee their home in Ukraine during WWII. Her babushka, or grandmother, is too frail to leave but urges them to do so anyway. Tania carries with her the memories of long afternoons of reading and storytelling with her babushka as well as her love of sunflowers. The family is forced to move frequently for safety and chances of a better life. None of these places seem like home. Then, Tania's mother paints sunflowers on the walls and on curtains made from flour sacks. Like Tania's babushka, her mother helps plant the seeds of hope in Tania, who eventually became the babushka of the author. 

It's a moving story, one being played out in multiple places about the world today. Children are caught in the crosshairs but hope of a better future, a better life, springs eternal. This beautifully illustrated book should be on every library and teacher's bookshelf. If you've ever had to leave behind all you know and love, this story should speak to you whatever the cause. Sadly, it's a universal story, separation from the comfort of familiarity. From safety. It's difficult for adults to cope, let alone children. Thank you so very, very much #NetGalley and #Capstone for allowing me to read this book early. Children are our future.