Monday, August 31, 2020

Murder Come to Call By: Jessica Ellicott

Another thrilling adventure with Beryl and Edwina; taking the reader on a journey that entangles the census, a rash of burglaries and the fight for Irish Independence; all while Edwina tries to keep her hat on while Beryl motors her around town at top speed.  While set in the years after the Great War, Ellicott manages to make the topics in her stories current.  Lively characters, quaint village, prescient topics, and a corpse-really could a reader ask for anything more?!


Friday, August 28, 2020

The First To Lie By: Hank Phillippi Ryan


SO many twists and turns you'll get whip-lash reading this thriller.  Who is who? Who's lying? This thriller will grab you from the start and not let go until the final moments; and just when you think you've figured it out...Another stellar addition to Ryan's growing collection of superb thrillers!

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill By: Abbi Waxman

This is one of the most delightfully funny and heartwarming books I've read!!!  Nina is a character I can root for 100%-she's very much like me!  Enjoying her time alone, reading her books, living her very planned life, Nina is abruptly thrust into an un-planned chaotic life, and we get to enjoy watching her navigate this new world!  This book is pure joy!


Monday, August 24, 2020

A Dark History: The Kings & Queens of England By: Brenda Ralph Lewis


I was recently reading another book which made several references to various kings and queens of England, but as the book was anecdotes, nothing was in chronological order.  I remembered I had this book and decided to re-read it to reacquaint myself with the timeline of English royals.  While this does give the timeline, as the title suggests, it is more a salacious look at the dastardly doings of the royal, and not much substance on what each really accomplished.  It served it's purpose for me at this particular time.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Theatrical Anecdotes By: Peter Hay

Re-reading this gem was an absolute delight!  Having read it 30.5 years ago, I didn't have a lot of knowledge of theatrical history.  Now I do, so a lot of the anecdotes in this book have a much deeper meaning with the full history behind them.


Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Broadway Anecdotes By: Peter Hay


A great read for any fan of Broadway, theatre or history!  Full of humorous tales, touching moments, biting wit and theatrical lore, Peter Hay's compilation is exquisite! 

Friday, August 14, 2020

Flesh and Fantasy By: Penny Stallings

A hybrid between Hollywood Babylon (without the salaciousness), and the great old filmdom magazines Photoplay and Confidential!  It may seem like a fluff piece about Hollywood, but it's actually fascinating the way the author looks at the history of Hollywood and all it's machinations, and it's effect on culture here and abroad.


Thursday, August 13, 2020

The Hall Ball By: Ralph Carhart


I was so excited to hear my friend had a written a book!  I was less than thrilled when I found out it was about Baseball.  After reading this fascinating book about the author's journey to unite the members of the Baseball Hall of Fame with one ball (The Hall Ball), I was enthralled.  The history of the game, the towns and cities that the game effected, and that effected the game, the history of the members themselves, and the author's journey are surprisingly moving and endlessly fascinating!  Congratulations, Ralph, and your amazing accomplishment!

Monday, August 10, 2020

Killer Chardonnay By: Kate Lansing

A tasty treat for cozy fans.  A winery in Colorado, a heroine with two Prince Charmings, a killer glass of Chardonnay and twists and turns a plenty!  Great fun!


Saturday, August 8, 2020

Book 2 in a new series. Publishing date unkown

Oh, the joy of knowing so many authors, who trust you with their book-babies!!!  When this one gets published, readers will snap it up and once they read the ending, they will be chomping at the bit for the third installment.  So privileged to have gotten this sneak peek at book #2!

Friday, August 7, 2020

Witch Hunt By: Cate Conte


Witch Hunt, is the first book in  Cate Conte's delightful new series.  This was such fun to read, and despite the dead body, and the 'witchy" happenings, it left me with a sense of joy after having read it. Vi (Violet Mooney), our heroine owns a crystal shop in North Harbor.  A relatively happy-go-lucky type of person, has her world turned upside down when North harbor's most reviled town councilor ends up dead, and Vi ends up in the police's cross-hairs as the main suspect.  Oh...and her mother, whom she hasn't seen since she was 5 suddenly appears (literally) to upend her life even more.  Seriously, one of the most enjoyable cozies I've read.  Can't wait for Book 2!

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Overture to Death By: Ngaio Marsh

Anything related to the theatre is a winner in my book...add an ingenious murder to the mix and you've definitely got my attention.  Marsh's ability to effortlessly plant seeds of doubt among every character without making it obvious is astonishing.  The ending is completely satisfying and all the clues are there and accounted for.  Roderick Alleyn's debonair bearing and unshakeable calm, coupled with Fox's sly nonchalance is a wonderful combination!


Monday, August 3, 2020

Spinsters in Jeopardy By: Ngaio Marsh


I have to say, I wasn't all that impressed with this one.  It dragged endlessly, the main mystery took a back seat for most of the story, such that it's easy to forget about it entirely.  This one didn't capture my attention like other Alleyn mysteries have.

A Grave Mistak By: Ngaio Marsh

A lovely village, quaint characters very concerned with their gardens, ad a couple of corpses-what more could one wish for in English mystery!  Take a delightful romp through numerous gardens, a shady character, histrionics and thick Scottish accents, mix well, a dash of the dashing Alleyn and the sly, wry Fox and you've a recipe for a classic Marsh mystery.