Blog: Books/Series/Binge watch

Over the weekend I finally went out of town. This is a big deal for me as I usually can't ride in a car because of my vertigo and it did make me feel not so hot a couple of time.
However, my daughter and husband helped by keeping my mind on other things.
Now on to what books I bought: ALL MURDERS FINAL by SHERRY HARRIS, KNOT WHAT YOU THINK by MARY MARKS, FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT by LYNN CAHOON and last but never least: TIGHTENING THE THREADS by LEA WAIT.
Series: Now I want to jump ahead for a minute and tell you I watched the most terrific new series show tonight. It's called MIDNIGHT TEXAS and it's by Charlaine Harris. It is amusing, thinks outside the box and very funny.
Great lines, actors, I am hooked and I usually do not care for this type of shows. It's so original and the perfect blend of entertainment.
Okay back to my scheduled words of wisdom. 
I wrote a review on our blog but in case you missed it. I enjoyed the "law and author mystery" by Erika Chase. Such a good series and a great book
Now I've been binge watching many shows.
First I have watched many Hitchcock Movies. First STRANGERS ON A TRAIN,  REAR WINDOW AND ROPE.
Now shows I have binge watched lately are Midsomer murders, Perry Mason, Columbo, Vera, Shetland, Murdoch Mysteries, Harry Potter and Crocodile Dundee Movies.

The new show I want to see in the fall is the one that stars Jeremy Pivin.  I don't remember the title but it looks interesting and I am happy to him in another series.
 I'm currently reading is MURDER HAS NINE LIVES by LAURA LEVINE. 
KILLER CHARACTERS by ELLERY ADAMS 
I will write reviews and post them on our blog.

Tonight at the library I picked up one mystery and it is titled: BOOKED 4 MURDER by J.C. Eaton. 

Summer plans involve family. We have a grandson getting married on August 12th so is the next big deal to attend.

Meanwhile, I stay in and only go places (such as walks) in the evening and morning hours.

Okay until the next blog post this is all I have for now.

I will add that I am close to finishing a couple of cross stitch samplers and to add to my cross stitch hobby I'm collecting buttons. I decided this the way I'm going to finish a lot of my sampler projects.
I think I stated this before but anyway I am stitching an hour every morning and then on Saturday and Sunday I stitch in the morning while I watch my quilt shows.
Goodnight all,
Pamela

Blog: Updates and more.

This week I have been to the library. I had them order me The Maltese Falcon that has larger print so I can see the type better for the cozy armchair group discussion. I am still reading it but only have read thru chapter three.

Now I have watched Agatha Raisin & The Quiche Of Death. This is new on acorn and I have to say I enjoyed this movie so much that I have watched and re-watched it. 

Tonight husband is mowing the lawn. it needs it since we have had a lot of rain. Plus his mower broke down, then something else went wrong with it and so on. 
Baby daughter is back from vacation. her vacation is ill-timed as this put them behind for moving, buying a car, enrolling the grandsons in school which starts very soon and of course she is behind in work. I guess they are all happy they took the vacation. She said she needed it and her daddy agrees that she did need it.

Now for more fun stuff such as books. I am happy to report "A DARK and STORMY MURDER by Julia Buckley is an above average cozy mystery to read. it's the first in a new series and it's must read if you like authors, books and page turner mysteries. This one has mystery upon mysteries. 
It's a Writer's Apprentice Mystery.

Now I also have to brag on "Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody." It's wonderful historical mystery that will put you in history, the moment and is rich gentle description. It has everything a village mystery should have and "Dying in the Wool" is an escape you can't miss. It is worth losing a little sleep to finish this book.

Moving on I am now caught up with the "Father Brown Mysteries that my library has the Father Brown I watched is Mark Williams.

I also watched "New Tricks Series" 
DMobed that has Martin Clune in it on acorn.

Re-watched all the "Garage Sale Mysteries" that I had DVRed. I also re-watched all the Hannah Swenson "Murder She Baked Series" I am thrilled with all of these. I sure miss the Mysteries and More channel on the Hallmark Movie Channel. 
This means I also watched the "Auroa Teagarden Mysteries Series and the Flower Shop Mystery series.
I loved Brooke Shields in the flower shop mysteries. 
Alison Sweeney is also great in the "Murder She Baked Series Movies."
What I did in the past week while watching the shows and more movies.
I baked a lot, I did laundry, I wrote (as they are inspiring), I colored a lot of pictures. 
I daydreamed and last week I cross stitched.

What else I have been up to let's see... I walked my neighbor a time or two. Frank cooked for several of our neighbors and I baked for them. 

it is now too hot to walk but I am still checking on everyone.
I have spent a lot of time watering plants, flowers, and of course making sure our pets are well kept in this heat. 
This week has either been a comedy of errors or anything but funny. 

i am excited to make out a book wishlist of authors whose books I want to read. 
There are some great new series being released.
I also wanted to read MURDER IN THE SECRET GARDEN. 
Anyway you get the idea that I am keeping myself amused with books, pets and hobbies.

How is your summer going and what has you amused?
Hugs,
Pam

Review: Wedding Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen is getting married. Hannah thinks that marrying Ross Barton is long overdue since he was her college crush.
Hannah is also going to New York City for the food Channel's Dessert Competition. This is all very exciting and when Ross can join her in New York City she can't think of anything fulfilling and wonderful to happen to her. What's even better is that her little sister Michelle will be joining her as her assistant in the competition.
To top all of this off Hannah's Aunt Nancy knows one of the judges and is quick to give Hannah and Michelle the inside scoop on what he likes and doesn't like in the food and presentation.
Better yet Mike and Norman like Ross and have known him as long as Hannah has known Ross Moishe her cat even loves Ross although everyone knows that Moishe also loves Norman and his cat.
Life couldn't be sweeter and Hannah is finally happy to take her slice of life and happiness.
However sooner rather than later the judge and Chef Hannah was happy to get kudos from is murdered. Michelle finds the body and Hannah knows on many levels and for many reasons she has to solve this murder.
She doesn't want her honeymoon haunted by nightmares and visions of murder.
Everyone in Lake Eden Minnesota knows Hannah can win the competition and solve the murder. She doesn't know how but Hannah is a multitasker and will find a way to solve the murder and whip wonderful desserts.
Did I mention the shows, the wedding and Lake Eden is being taped live?
There is not room for anything to go wrong/.
At least Hannah doesn't have to worry about the wedding, her mother, other sister Andrea, Lisa her business partner and a few close friends are seeing to the wedding. Hannah does have to try on wedding dresses and make time to follow the scent of murder.


I have to say this is a very fun book in the series to read. this has been the book I have waited on and it doesn't disappoint anyone.
So many fun tidbits and I love Hannah's clothes.
If you want a cozy to fit the month of June, a wedding mystery and a culinary delight of a book you can't miss reading this book.
The recipes are to die for and I have to say I am going to try to make a couple of these no fail recipes.
Joanne Fluke knows how to keep me turning the page on murder, mayhem and family.
Reviewed by Pamela James
Library copy --hardback.

Review: Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron

I want preface this mystery series review with a few words. If you have ever stayed in a bed and Breakfast in the south, or visited Louisiana, lived in Louisiana then you know that colorful characters are as common as sweet tea. That hospitality is right up there with gumbo and you probably in one form or another have met characters like the ones in Plantation Shudders (A Cajun County Mystery), in other words you will enjoy every word and every character in this wonderful series.

The Crozat Plantation Bed and Breakfast was once just a plantation but it cost a lot of money for upkeep of any southern mansion. Hence why it is now a bed and breakfast with charm, sweet tea and wonderful rooms.

Maggie Crozat returns home to help her family with the bed and breakfast. This week will be a busy one as the food festival is one of many events that are happening of course this means everyone is booked to the hilt.

The guest checking in are Georgia frat boys to which Maggie named them  one two and three, the Cajun Cuties a fan club of sorts who usually stayed at another bed and breakfast but that mansion had flooded so the Crozarts were happy to help,  plus a stranger to die for who was from Texas his name is Kyle, if this isn't colorful character enough then a family arrives complete with children in tow and the couple are celebrating their fifth anniversary.
An elderly honeymoon couple is supposed to arrive and eventually do arrive late.

The elderly couple has everyone's attention because the husband is a tad more than grouchy but the wife has a smile on her face. I mean this smile is kinda scary, a little grotesque and much like a train wreck you want to look away but cannot not look at this face.

The first thing that happens the elderly honeymooners Bud and Beverly Clabber arrive late he complaints and the room access and stated they were supposed to be on the first floor. Maggie corrects Bud as they had not booked the first floor.
The rose room is beautiful but Bud went into the bathroom came out and had Maggie follow him into the bathroom. He told her the toilet paper roll was put on all wrong and this would not do that it should unrolled from the top not the bottom. There are some days nothing but the middle finger comes in handy. But Maggie never gives the middle finger that would not show a proper upbringing, or good manners, instead she just fixes the toilet paper role while keeping her middle finger out of sight.
Anyway this is just one example of colorful characters. 

Maggie's own family has gran whose accent becomes even more thick when she doesn't like someone and has to be nice and sweet as sliced pie to them. Her father Tug is a wonderful delightful man who is a hard worker and loves his life more than the south. Her mother will not be found idle, sprinkle in here and there a few cousins and you have a rich and wonderful family history, one of their history is that when you shudder it means something and not always in a good way.
Long story short this is a book full of mystery, just like it's southern setting it has something for everyone.  Murder is also on the menu and so is secrets.
Everyone has a secret or two the trick is to figure what secrets are worth killing for and of course finding in order to find this out Maggie must get her hands dirty.
In other words she has to clean to find the dirty secrets, she also has a little help along the way from a new Deputy who is the Sheriff's cousin.

I have never laughed, loved and wanted to solve a crime more than I did in this mystery.
I think Plantation Shudders should be in every creative writing class as a study of character, humor, plot and setting. I can see this series one day becoming a made for television movie or a Hallmark Movies and Mystery Series.
It might just become a classic series.

With every turn of the page the you will lose track of time and be transported to a southern bed and breakfast you won't soon forget...