A Tiny Dickens Village Grew My Grinchy Heart
In my young adult homemaking days, I turned up my nose at frou-frou things that lacked purpose or function.
December Book Club: Death by Fountain by Jennifer S. Alderson
If you’re like me, you read to escape reality and live vicariously through exciting adventures. Jennifer Alderson weaves a tale that will transport you from your cozy armchair straight to the heart of Rome – complete with murder, love triangles, and gelato (because what’s a trip to Italy without gelato?).
What George Bailey Taught Me About Cozy Mysteries
It’s that time of year when I snuggle up to watch It’s a Wonderful Life. You know that heartwarming tale of George Bailey, the man who learns that his existence matters more than he could have ever imagined. Did you know the town where the movie was filmed is actually the real-life Seneca Falls, New York? The local museum hosts an annual It’s a Wonderful Life festival and it’s totally on my bucket list to attend someday.
November Book Club: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Remarkably Bright Creatures is an imaginative mystery at its core. Not only does it have an original story arc, but it has the added bonus of having an octopus as one of the narrators! Talk about next-level creativity.
October Book Club: Empty Promises & Crowded Caskets by Ana Bisset
Her life turns upside down in one horrible no-good day. Empty Promises & Crowded Caskets follows Libby Foster, an investigative journalist who has to move back to her hometown in Maine to lay low from the mob. Her day goes from bad to worse when she discovers her boyfriend is a bum and she nearly gets plowed over by a ghost.
September Book Club: Raining Men and Corpses by Anne R. Tan
Raining Men and Corpses is a delightful mystery with a healthy dose of romance. When graduate student Raina Sun’s luck turns sour and her advisor is found murdered, she has no choice but to put on her thinking cap and go sleuthing.
Recipe: Butternut Squash Bowls
My friend gave me a medium-ish sized butternut squash from his garden and I wanted to use it for an easy, quick dinner.
Death 101: Extra Credit (or How I Learned to Stop Stewing and Finish My Fourth Novel)
You might think that Death 101 was an easy A for me.
After all, it’s my tenth book and fourth novel – piece of cake, right? Nothing could be further from the truth, and now I’m finally ready to heave a sigh of relief.
August Book Club: Antiques, Artifacts, & Alibis by Sally Bayless
The moment Libby Ballard arrives in Dogwood Springs, Missouri, she knows it’s the perfect place to start her new job as a history museum director. But her excitement is short-lived when she finds that the previous director hasn’t left the building. Because she’s dead.
July Online Book Club: Mystics and Murder by Julia Koty
Darla Damian is a reluctant psychic.
The seaside town of Stoneport, Massachusetts is the home of Darla, an ex-famous psychic whose recent traumatic experience has made her doubt her visions.