Hello Peoples! It’s a beautiful morning. We’re having a barbecue today. Our neighbors are joining us and I’m so looking forward to the potato salad. I like potato salad. It’s my favorite. Speaking of favorites ~
Your Favorites At the Cottage in May ~
May 21, 2023 ~ A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs
May 4, 2023 ~ Hello Peoples!
May 24, 2023 ~ All the President’s Menus by Julie Hyzy
I don’t know how many books I will be reading this summer. I’m not reading as many books as I was in the past, but there are a few I would like to read.
I am looking forward to reading Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe. I’ve read her books in the past and I always enjoy them, and I know this one won’t disappoint. YAY!
Oh my word! Who doesn’t love Hope Harbor??? I am looking forward to old friends and meeting new ones.
Windswept Way by Irene Hannon
I will also be reading the current book for the monthly book challenge in June. For more information, click on the link below ~
Executive Chef Olivia Paras is back and I must say, there is never a dull moment at the White House. Our talented author creates a fictional country she titles Saardisca. A candidate running for office in Saardisca, her dog and four chefs arrive at the White House for a visit. The chefs at the White House and the chefs from Saardisca are to work together ~ make nice. Well! Olivia is sensing something is not what it should be. Then her pastry chef Marcel passes out. Tensions are high, problems mount when a Saardiscan chef also loses consciousness. Not good.
Olivia and Gav have been married six months now. I really wanted him to be included in the story more than he was, but it’s ok. I still enjoyed the mystery. This series seems so different from others I have read. The reader is able to see the inner workings of the White House and our author includes Blair House in this mystery! I think she has a great series here! Highly recommend!
Theodosia, Drayton and Haley are back in another Tea Shop mystery. This time there is a serial killer on the loose. Not good.
At the very start! The very very start! Theodosia witnesses two hooded individuals struggling, in a tussle, as she dashes through a violent storm. She cries out and hurries to assist. One hooded figure disappears, the second lies dead in the graveyard. As she scurries to call the police, she realizes she knows the victim.
I thought this was a good mystery. I didn’t solve it. I usually don’t. Footsteps in the dark nights, plenty of suspects, warnings from Theodosia’s boyfriend, and a second murder!!! Theodosia perseveres to discover the identity of that person or persons unknown. And! To add to the dark, macabre setting, Theodosia, Drayton and Hayley are hosting a Murder Mystery Tea at Chillingham Manor, at the tea shop. I liked that. The murder mystery tea was such a nice touch to the story! Well! There is never a dull moment at the Indigo Tea Shop.
The day we arrived in Grand Forks, we went straight to the used bookstore. She had thousands of books. In the back of the store, she had miles of mass market paperback books. I felt like I was in a type of wonderland. We were at the bookstore for about an hour. I bought six books, Rick bought two books.
Then we checked into our motel. I didn’t care for the motel; however, our room was wonderful. We stayed in a suite. We had two tv’s, a fireplace. the incredible jacuzzi and the list goes on and on.
We got a map of Grand Forks from the front desk; however, we were still lost most of the time. We were trying to find the art museum on the University of North Dakota campus, but we just couldn’t find it. Finally, Rick stopped a police office and asked for directions. He did give us directions, then he followed us to the museum. He wanted to know for sure we arrived.
It is a beautiful art museum. High gloss shiny wood floors, pristine, clean walls. The artwork was displayed perfectly. It was definitely my favorite place to visit in Grand Forks. The museum has a great cafe with yummy food. I had a vegan sandwich. It had peppers, cabbage, onions and a plethora of veggies. It was delicious. The cafe was artistically decorated. When we were there, fabric was decorating the walls, similar to a large tapestry.
The woman who greeted us at the art museum was wonderful. She talked and talked. We liked her a lot.
We also visited a vintage, antique village. I can’t remember the name of the village, but they had several well-kept buildings and many antiques inside the buildings. There were two homes, a carriage house, a gas station, post office, and a school. The Red River flows through Grand Forks. They’ve had problems with flooding, so they built a wall. I noticed the wall was protecting the village.
Still pondering the question ~ Why don’t I have a jacuzzi???
We discovered a great candy store. They make the candy right at the store! We bought several types of candy. We kept the place busy! 😉
I really enjoyed that trip. It will be with me a long time. On the return trip home, we drove through smoke. Canada was having problems with wildfires and the Dakotas were getting the smoke. The radio station was keeping us informed.
Hello Peoples! It’s raining this wet morning. I heard thunder earlier, but the thunder seems to have passed us.
In May, for the monthly reading challenge, we are to read a book with a one-word title. I chose, Faithful by Kim Cash Tate. This author was new to me. I did like her book.
For more information on the monthly reading challenge, click on the link ~
Cyd is almost forty years old and has never been married. Her sister is getting married on Cyd’s fortieth birthday and Cyd is the maid of honor. The best man at the wedding is definitely showing an interest in Cyd. And! He has a reputation.
Cyd’s friend Dana appears to have the perfect marriage and family. Watch out! There’s a problem, to be sure. Dana discovers her husband is having an affair. Not good!
Phyllis has been praying for her husband for six years and nothing seems to have changed. When she meets a old friend, who happens to be widowed, she sees in him the Christian husband she yearns for.
Three women facing possible life changing choices.
It was a good book. The characters were likable, and the author clearly revealed their pain, especially in Dana. I wanted to hug her and never stop hugging her.
I think this book would be great for a book group. There is a LOT to discuss. And! There are discussion questions in the back of the book. This is a book for adults. It’s not graphic and here isn’t any profanity, however, the subject is an adult issue.
Hello Peoples! It’s a beautiful day. Rick and I walked downtown and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city enjoying a lovely spring day. We stopped at the French pastry shop. I was so hungry. I had a croissant and Rick had a coffee. We wondered over to the candle shop and I purchased a new candle. We arrived home and discovered visitors at our humble abode. After our visitors left, I had a great nap/ Whilst I was sleeping, Rick went to a soccer game. He hasn’t returned home yet.
So, here I am. I thought I would stretch, get something to drink, boot up my computer and share a couple of favorite reads with you.
Favorite Read In March ~
The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J. Mondragon
Margaret, Rose, Jan and Fran have been praying and knitting together for a long time. Well, one day the Preach tells them they are to leave the church and go pray somewhere else. The ladies end up at the mall and what happens as a result of their praying and knitting, at the mall, is many things but I would say it’s mostly inspiring! Highly recommend.
Favorite Read In April ~
Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham
What a fun story! 🤗❤ Sadly, Izzy lost her parents when she was young, however, her aunt and uncle took her in and raised her. So, Izzy and her cousins are more like siblings than cousins and it is a joy to read this book. If you enjoy a funtastic family, books and romance, this might be the book for you. I’m still smiling when I think about this great read.
Yesterday was a beautiful day. It started out a little chilly, however, it warmed up nicely as the day progressed. Rick started a fire in the firepit for me. He can start a fire quickly, without any effort. And! It never smokes! My fires start slowly, and they smoke like a smokestack! I’m terrible with firepits. 🙄 I kept the fire going though and it was wonderful. I love wood fires.
In the afternoon, I sorted through all my books. I filled a box with books to sell and give away and Rick took my books to the bookstore to sell and the little free library. I still have plenty of books. I’m sorting through all of them and putting them in rational order. Well. I hope it’s rational. 📚
Today is another warm, sunny day. I’m going to the bakery to read for a couple of hours. I think in the afternoon, I’m going to make cookies. However, I hear there is a big yard sale in town. I might go to the yard sale.
Hello Peoples! Where is the heat??? I am cold. Brrr.⛄ The grass is green, I can see flowers peeking their heads above the ground and the bushes have buds, so, I ask, where is the heat??? 😉 I’m still wrapping myself up like a warm enchilada.
Charlie Chan in Reno (1939)
Sidney Toler Victor Sen Yung Ricardo Cortez Phyllis Brooks
Slim Summerville Kane Richmond Pauline Moore Kay Linaker
This is such a fun movie and Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung) is great in this mystery. I probably should start at the beginning.
Mary Whitman has traveled to Reno, Nevada to obtain a divorce. Shortly after her arrival, she is accused of murder. How rude! It was obvious to me; Mary was not the killer. The headlines on the newspapers have Mary’s photo and the story is splayed out for all to read. Her husband (Kane Richmond) brings the newspaper to Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler). Charlie agrees to travel to Reno with Mary’s husband and help the innocent Mary.
This film had an interesting collection of suspects. The deceased was not liked, at all. Everyone had motive, and everyone had opportunity and could easily obtain the weapon. Of course, number two son, Jimmy is all over the investigation and he’s finding romance while he is sleuthing.
This is one of my favorite Charlie Chan movies. I highly recommend it.
You Favorites At the Cottage In April ~
April 13, 2023 ~ The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine
April 24, 2023 ~ Murder On “B” Deck by Vincent Starrett
Hello Peoples! This chilly morning, I woke early, I didn’t want to but I did. I drove to see our mechanic. I need two new tires on my car, and I was hoping he could change them today if I arrived early enough. He said, he could do the job on Monday at 8:00. I said ok. The conversation did not end there.
Me unexpectedly: How much would it cost to put glass packs on my car?
Mechanic shocked silent. Recovering he said: It depends on what you want.
There is a second mechanic in the office space, who is strangely remaining silent.
Me: I want to rumble, growl.
Mechanic: He then proceeded to explain how this could be accomplished.
Hello Peoples! I’m not sure what I want to say about this mystery??? So, I will try to start at the beginning and hope to have pearls of wisdom for you. 😉 The “Latakia” is a ship taking passengers from New York to Cherbourg. The beginning of the story was amusing and entertaining. It was all about the hustle and bustle of passengers boarding the ship and visitors saying, good-bye. One poor character forgot to give his sister a book and hustled back to give it to her. What a time it was for everyone involved in sending a ship off to sea! Such excitement! Until! An Italian baroness is discovered dead in her stateroom.
Walter Ghost is our sleuth. That’s right his name is Walter Ghost. The captain asks Ghost to investigate the nefarious deed. Dunstan Mollock, a mystery writer, joins Ghost in his sleuthing endeavors and the two work together to reveal the identity of the person or persons unknown. Time is short. They need to solve the mystery before they reach said destination or the guilty party will leave the ship and get away.
This author is new to me. With the exception of the ending, I did like the mystery. It was a puzzle. I didn’t solve it. One problem I did have was with the killer. He was a shadow in the story. I would have enjoyed the mystery more if he had been a character I was getting to know alongside the other characters. I didn’t like Miss Harrington and her irrelevant babbling opinion at the end of the book. Mollock was equally difficult.
katiescottagebooks 