Top Ten Tuesday! Feb. 27

Good morning! It’s Tuesday and time for Top Ten Tuesday. This is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s TTT is ~ Books I could re-read forever!  I should say, I can read anything by Agatha Christie again and again. She’s a favorite and there are several books by George MacDonald I could read again and again, but I only included Malcolm in this list. Enjoy!  🙂

Without further ado ~

  

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Mitford Series by Jan Karon

        

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

  

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

     

This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart

Malcolm by George MacDonald

Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart

Happy Reading!!!  🙂

 

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In The Shadow of Agatha Christie

In the Shadow of Agatha Christie

Classic Crime Fiction By Forgotten Female Writers (1850-1917)

Edited By Leslie S. Klinger

I like a well written short story ~ I do. I think more authors should write good short stories. Short stories have a place in the literary world. And! this is a collection of good, well-written short stories that are also mysteries. They’re not all murder mysteries, but they are all mysteries. This book is a collection of sixteen stories written by various authors. I had only heard of one author ~ Baroness Orczy author of The Scarlet Pimpernel ~ but I had heard of a few of the sleuths in the stories.

If you enjoy mysteries and you like a good short story, I recommend this book. It was interesting, unique and sometimes puzzling.

Enjoy!

Ramblings and What Not ~

Dear Wind Chill, I don’t like you. Go away! That is all. Kathy  🙂

How is everyone??? Yay! March is almost here. Of course, this far north we will see more cold temperatures and snow. *sigh* I am so ready for spring. Ok, everyone who is ready for spring raise your hand. Oh yes! I see you. Oh my. So many! Yay! We are all ready for spring.

*my awesome photography*

I went shopping this morning! *gasp* I know. I don’t like to shop. Nope. Not me. I ‘m not a shopper at all. Just entering a mall makes me tired. But! This morning I went shopping and had a good time. I talked to the cashier’s who worked at the shops I visited, bought a few items and then came home. Now I’m ready to eat.

I’ve been making DIY journals. I’ve made three so far. The first journal I made, there were plenty of mistakes, so I kept it for myself. And yes, I am using it. I’ve been writing deep thoughts in it everyday. *ahem* I have learned so much about making journals and I am going to keep at it. As I make them, I’d like to give them away, as gifts.

~ Your Favorites, At the Cottage, In February ~

~ The House On Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright ~ February 2nd

~ Classic Movie Friday Sherlock Holmes, Dressed To Kill ~ February 2nd

~ Happy Valentine’s Day ~ February 14th

~ When A Heart Stops by Lynette Eason ~ February 17th

BIG EVENT ~

It’s my blog’s birthday/anniversary!!! YAY! That’s right, this month, this incredibly deep and insightful blog is the BIG four (4) years old! In honor of this festive occasion I am giving away these adorable notecards! There are twelve (12) note cards and envelopes in the one box and I am gushing they are so cute.  There are two (2) designs with coordinating envelopes. So cute. I especially like the cuppa hot chocolate with the whipped cream on top. Although the donut with the pink frosting is cute too. Yum.  🙂

All you need to do is leave a comment below and I will enter you in a drawing to win this box of notecards. My incredibly talented and good looking hubby will draw the winner on MARCH 1st!!! 

I am sorry, but because postage is so costly, this drawing is for United States residents only. And! please check and make certain you are following my blog.  🙂  Thanks.

  

Much Love ~

Kathy

 

Classic Movie Friday!

Penny Serenade (1941)

Cary Grant

Irene Dunn

Beulah Bondi

Edgar Buchanan

Our internet is acting strange, so I’m posting Classic Movie Friday on Thursday evening.  🙂

This is a sweet film. Touching. At the beginning of this film, Julie (Irene Dunn) is leaving Roger (Cary Grant). Before she departs, she decides to listen to some records on her now vintage table top Victrola. As she listens to the music, she reflects on the years they’ve been together. Roger and Julie meet in the music store where Julie works. Roger is smitten, purchases a stack of records and walks her home. And! Of course there is a courtship. When Roger learns he is to be transferred to Japan as a foreign correspondence, Roger and Julie marry and travel to Japan separately. Shortly after Julie arrives, the area where they live experiences a massive earthquake. Julie is injured and miscarries a baby. This is a story of the joys and sorrows this couple experience throughout the early years of their marriage.

Heartfelt film.  Enjoy!

The Winter People by Phyllis A. Whitney

Dina Blake was working in a museum when she met Glen Chandler. They had a whirlwind romance, married and Glen took her to his family home known as High Towers. Soon after they wed, Glen’s twin sister arrived at High Towers and Dina soon discovered Glen and Glynis had a creepy relationship. Glynis had a power over her twin brother that was chilling. I shiver when I think about it.

I didn’t read three chapters in this story. It was to much for me. When I read the book I stopped, put the book down and had to walk and shake off the feelings I was experiencing. Glynis was a villain! I did read the last chapter and I can say it wasn’t a happy ending, but it was the ending I expected.

Eerie, creepy, suspenseful, chilling and frightening. I didn’t give it any stars because I didn’t read the entire book.

When A Heart Stops by Lynette Eason

Hi! This morning it was snowing ~ a sloppy snow. This afternoon it’s sunny and cold. I spent my day reading When A Heart Stops. This was the first book I’ve read by this author. It’s not the first in her series. I was at a used book sale during the summer, I saw it at the sale and I bought it. I’m glad I did. It was good. I’m going to read the third book in the series and then I’ll read the first one. I thought When A Heart Stops was a good stand alone, even though it is second in the series.

Serena Hopkins is a medical examiner. She’s called to the scene of a murder and discovers she knows the victim. Serena is soon working with her childhood crush, Dominic Allen. As the two investigate the crime, they soon discover there is a serial killer committing the crimes and they work hard to try to catch the killer before he or she kills again. 4.5 **** stars!

This is a good fast paced book, creepy and it held my attention. It was difficult to put down.  And! There is a gentle romance in the story.  🙂

Have you read any books by Lynette Eason??? Do you enjoy suspense??? I’d like to hear from you.  Enjoy!

Classic Movie Friday!

High Noon (1952)

Gary Cooper

Grace Kelly

Katy Jurado

Lloyd Bridges

High Noon is my favorite western. Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) on his wedding day, receives a telegram that a convicted murderer he sent to prison has been released and is arriving on the noon train. The ex-con has nefarious purposes! Three men with evil intent are at the train station waiting for the ex-con to arrive on the noon train. The Marshal, although he attempts to get support from the townsmen, soon realizes he will face the murderer and his three nefarious friends alone. I like the word nefarious.  🙂   The Marshal’s lovely wife (Grace Kelly) wants to leave town immediately and let the new marshal handle the miscreants. However, the new marshal won’t arrive until the following day. So, Will Kane , even though he did resign as marshal, puts on his badge again and meets the villains alone.

Really good film. If you like westerns and you haven’t seen this one, you should see it. 🙂 

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer

A Bread Shop Mystery

Ivy’s mother is tragically killed in a hit and run accident. As a result of her mother’s death, Ivey comes home to Santa Sofia, California. So, Ivy and her family are trying to find their way without Mom.

Ivy, shattered from her mother’s death joins a bread baking class at Yeast of Eden, where she meets Olaya Solis the owner of the bakery. Shortly after the class begins, a member of the group is discovered murdered and thus begins the sleuthing.

This book is not only a cozy mystery, this story is about grief. I thought this was a good cozy, it certainly kept me thinking! While Ivy was baking bread and sleuthing, Buck Masterson is causing trouble in the historic district. Penny Bradford (an elderly woman living in the historic district) convinces Ivy to assist her in spying on Buck to determine what he is skulking around about. Penny and Ivy were quite a pair of detectives!

This cozy isn’t funny but it does have a message. I liked it and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

4.5 **** stars!

Top Ten Tuesday!

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is a Love Freebie (romances, swoons, OTP’s, kisses, sexy scenes, etc.) This meme is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. 

I’m going to list ten favorite couples. There are so many more than these ten, but these couples are definitely some of my favorites! I don’t read a lot of romance novels, so not all of these couples are from romance novels.

~ The Lady and the Lionheart  by Joanne Bischof

Charlie Lionheart and Ella Beckley.

~ The Greatest Showman

P.T. Barnum and Charity Barnum.

While this wonderful couple aren’t in a book I read, I wanted to include them. I love this film and I love this extraordinary couple!  🙂

~A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander

Rebekah Carrington and Nathaniel Whitcomb. 

~ The Moon Stands Still by Sibella Giorello

I love Raleigh Harmon and Jack Stephanson. When I’m not reading one of their books, I miss them. 🙂  This is the Raleigh Harmon Series and I recommend you start reading at the beginning with the first book.  🙂

~ Seeking Refuge by Ruby Mae O’Dell

Isaac Sawyer and Joyce Watson.

~ The Cottage by Michael Phillips

Loni Ford and David Tulloch.

~ The White Feather Murders by Rachel McMillian

Gem Watts and Ray DeLuca are in the Herringford and Watts Mysteries. Once again I recommend you start reading at the beginning. Although they are not a couple, I think Jasper and Merinda would make a great couple. Just saying!  🙂

~ Finding Promise by Scarlett Dunn

Parker Sinclair and Jake McBride.

~ The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

Sarah Hollenbeck and Pastor Ben.

~ Murder at the Vicarage

Griselda and her husband the Parson are a hoot!  🙂  I love this fictional couple.

“She is not in the least meek.” ~Agatha Christie

Happy Reading!!!