reading

Double Fudge Brownie Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery– Joanne Fluke

Angela8 Comments

It has been quite a while since I have read one of the Hannah Swensen mysteries by Joanne Fluke. They are all titled with fun food references, such as Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (book 1), Carrot Cake Murder (book 10), and Raspberry Danish Murder (book 22). I am currently reading book 19, The Wedding Cake Murder. The Double Fudge Brownie Murder that I am reviewing here is book 18.

Double Fudge Brownie Cover Image

Although I know I have not read all of the books up to book 19 that I am on now, I would say by looking at all of the covers and titles, I have read about 14 or 15 over the years. Hannah Swensen owns a bakery, and is the classic cozy-mystery heroine whom solves the murder case in each story. These books are significantly longer than most cozy mysteries, and they also contain several wonderful recipes throughout the story.

Hannah has her mother and two sisters in her life, a fluffy orange and white tomcat, as well as her assistant at her bakery; Lisa. She has two men in her life throughout this series, Norman and Mike. Both love her, she loves them, and they are obviously aware of the other being in Hannah’s life. Traditional to a cozy mystery, there is no swearing, graphic murder scenes, or sexual innuendos or unbearable scenes to read through.

I will not go into too many details on this story, in order to avoid spoilers, but Hannah and her sisters are helping their mother get married, and they all enjoy a trip to Las Vegas for the nuptials. What Hannah does not know, is that she is in for her own surprise in Las Vegas. This helps to keep her in positive spirits as she knows when she returns home she has to go to trial for an involuntary manslaughter charge from an accident she had (I am guessing in the book immediately before this, that I have not read). Finding the Judge who is going to try the case bludgeoned to death with his own gavel gives Hannah a lot more to worry about!

You can find all of the book titles here: Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke

I highly recommend all of the Hannah Swensen mysteries! Have you read any of the Hannah Swensen mysteries?

It’s Time To Put Down The Iron…

Angela18 Comments

…and pick up the pen!

I have been investing a lot of time trying to make my Etsy store better; with bookish gifts for everyone. It has also kept me from writing my 2 books.

I will admit first and foremost; I am afraid to finish these books; only to be told they are rubbish. So I bide my time doing any number of other things in order to leave them sit in my files; rotting and angry because they have a story to tell.

My poor characters want to be heard; and I continue to silence them. It is time to give them the recognition they deserve; because if I do not speak for them; no one will.

What keeps you from writing?

 

 

Crafting and Reading!

Angela14 Comments

Well, mainly crafting; I don’t count all the Nancy Drew books I have been going through as heavy reading, as I can read one in a couple hours.

New Christmas ornaments are going into my store; slowly but surely. Yes: I said the naughty “C” word, and believe-you-me, I could wait about 11 1/2 more months for it to get here if it were up to me.

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I will have some baby onesies (bookish-themed, of course), in the next couple of days, as well as personalized book boxes for anniversaries and other gift ideas.

If I had more patience with my Cricut machine, I would be a lot farther along than I am. Luckily, my 17 year old is awesome at weeding vinyl letters 😉  I am also working on some more book bags, with a variety of images available.

There is not much in it at the moment, but you can find my Etsy store here: Books and Opinions Etsy Store

What is keeping you from reading at the moment?

Personalized Book Boxes

Angela47 Comments

Yes; this is what I am doing after working 10+ hours a day and not reading your books!

None of these are completed, and all need some alcohol ink and a whole lot of resin!

Another vacation is forthcoming, along with 4 book reviews for what I have read in the last 2 weeks.

What are you reading right now? I am missing reading my cozy mysteries as I am in the middle of writing two!

Judas 3…

Angela2 Comments

…do NOT miss this!

I cannot speak highly enough about author Roy Bright; and I apologize, but I am going to blow up my blog for a bit about him.

You can check him out here: Roy Bright Author

I randomly found the first Judas book from a search, and it is one of the best things I ever did!

Judas Book 1 cover image Roy Bright

I have let several friends borrow this book, and they have bought it as well as the second book!.

Tomorrow, I will have the links to get these books ASAP, and it is not often I get on here and rave about a series, but you will NOT be disappointed!

I Really Never Went Anywhere…

Angela3 Comments

…but it has been a helluva few weeks for me.

I am still writing, and reading. I am currently taking the week off from work because my youngest, my last high school freshman, has major pre-band-camp practices all week.

I know I don’t usually get too personal here, but I am pretty sure my followers know I am a single Mom of four daughters.

Last Thursday; I put my 2nd oldest, my 20 year old, on a plane to move to Colorado. All my girls and I were able to have a last night together and a sleep-over at my oldest daughters house, and I had a panic attack as soon as I walked in her apartment. It’s been a long time since I slept somewhere other than my bed, but we swam, hit 3 different drive-thru restaurants so we could all get what we wanted to eat, and played Mario Cart for hours.

my girls 8-3-18

My anxiety had been 150% this week coming up to her leaving, and I thought it would stop once she got there; but it has not…

So I’ve been working on stuff for my Etsy store.

Not impressed….

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Yes; I had a problem with the first W

Still working on the book boxes; trying to get the 3-D effect on the paint.

I haven’t given up on my cozy mysteries; but I have Stephen King’s Outsiders, and Bill Clinton and James Patterson’s The President is Missing. I officially got the diagnosis that my Nook has died; and honestly, I don’t care about the books, but I am really pissed about my Townspeople who are dying in my app….

As soon as I get caught up on Castle Rock, Shameless, and the Kardashians, I will be right on it!

Coming Out of The Writing Closet

Angela42 Comments

It is scary; painful, and putting yourself out there for everyone to judge.

I have been writing stories for 30 years, and have 4 different stories completely written.

Am I ready to share them? Hell NO!

But no one ever wrote the next great book by saving them in their Word file.

I wrote a letter to an author who captured me in 1987; and he encouraged me and helped me.

Yet I keep these stories hidden.

I have over 3000 followers on my blog where I review books. Am I strong enough to let someone review MY book?

How do you authors do it? I have to learn to do this. I have something to share, in many ways. Cozy mysteries, dramas, and fantasy.

I have gotten to a point in my life that I truly believe; it is now or never.

Fingers crossed; I am scouting an agent, and hoping for the best!

 

My Personal Library!

Angela38 Comments

Always a work in process, I have a few more wooden crates in my garage being spray painted; yes, this was my best option when buying a new house and building a library before worrying about any other room.

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I have books stacked on crates, items that need to be hung on the walls, and still have to put in my tin ceiling that Menard’s denied me over a year ago.

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Still unpacking books, and trying to make room.

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I love too many stories to make a theme in this library, other than reading books!

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French Fried – Kylie Logan

Angela5 Comments

I finished the second book in the Ethnic Eats Mystery series rather quickly, and am hoping that the 3rd book is available at my library.

French Fried cover image

This time around the theme for the Terminal restaurant is French food, and along with that is the murder of a very close friend of Laurel and her Aunt Sophie. There are too many suspects, and not enough clues, but with Laurel’s determination, the help of her boyfriend Declan, and asking the right questions, Laurel again helps solve the case.

I liked this book better than the first, Irish Stewed, but that may be because I am now familiar with the characters, and the writing style of the author.

I know I have a cozy mystery series in my library that I had started quite some time ago, with a couple books I have not finished, so I think instead of getting too many books from the library today (yeah, right!), I will go to my own library and see what is there to read!

 

What I’m Watching!

Angela33 Comments

Watching? Not reading? Yes; watching. I hate to admit it, but lately I have been spending more time watching tv than reading books. But in my defense; I have read 4 books this past weekend, so I think I’m winning!

It is too hot in Michigan right now to even think about leaving the house. Unless if the power goes out and your house warms up to those 110 degree heat indexes. Then just leave…

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Watching: Shameless. Two of my daughters have been raving about this show, and as I woke up before 4 am this morning and started coffee (yes, that is 23 hours awake right now), I caught about the first 5 episodes before I had to get in the car and drive all over West Michigan.

Side note: it was an awesome day with family and friends, so feeling good!

Also watched the movie Game night, with Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams. Loved it. The second rental from Family Video was Paul, Apostle of Christ. Watched it twice, and will be adding it to my collection.

Game Night Image redbox

Paul, Apostle of Christ Movie Image

Rewatching: Sons of Anarchy. Missed the gang, so I am back into the middle of season 2 and with this hot weather, I have plenty of inside time to make a dent in it.

Also rewatching Ozark (NetFlix), for the 3rd time. Anxiously waiting for season two on August 31st!

Always Watching: I have to sleep with the tv on; so I am always watching documentaries on Christianity, History, and various historical figures from Presidents, to artists, to anything I want to learn about. I also binge watch British game shows (they call them panel shows), and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Q1, and Would I Lie to You are my favorites. I cannot get enough of Jimmy Carr, Jon Richardson, Sean Lock, and David Mitchell.

When all of this stuff is not occupying me, along with chasing daughters around with everything they have going on, my two boys are always good for entertainment. In case if you have not met Benjamin (Bare Bottom Benjamin Blue), and Franklin (Furless Franklin), before; these are my two hairless cats that pretty much run the house, and my life.

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Do you have television favorites you cannot get enough of?