This is the first book in a new mystery series. The cover art is cute. 😊
Sage Caplin and her partner own a coffee cart in Portland. Sage is excited about her new business and eager to work to make it succeed. However, yup, that’s right she discovers a dead man in front of her cart with a slash across his neck. Of course, the Detective is a lug head and Sage is a suspect. So, Sage tries to discover the identity of the killer as soon as possible.
There is a lot happening in this story, except sleuthing. Sage’s mother is a criminal and in hiding, so, Sage’s mother was a suspect in my humble opinion. Her brother Jackson, is an attorney. Her dad is a detective and then there is Uncle Jimmy. The area has quite a few homeless people, protesters and the deceased did have enemies. Overall, the book was good, but slow at times. I didn’t have a favorite character, but all the characters were fine. There was a considerable amount of information about coffee and life in Portland was interesting. Overall, the book was good, but I thought it needed more sleuthing. I will probably read the next book in the series.
Hello Peoples! The end of April is upon us. The weather is great right now. It’s in the low 70’s. That was a fast month. Rick and I went out for breakfast this morning. I enjoyed hot chocolate, caprese benedict and café potatoes. Rick had coffee, corned beef hash and toast
It didn’t take much time at all, but we did find the unabridged Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I thought we were going to search high and low for it. Nope. We found it quickly. I have a mystery to finish reading today, then I’m going to start reading The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s a big book! Have you read it?
Favorite Books In April ~
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Checking Out Crime by Laurie Cass
A Bookmobile Cat Mystery
Your Favorites at the Cottage In April ~
April 11, 2021 ~ CC Spin #26 The Classics Club
April 11, 2021 ~ Fishing For Trouble by Elizabeth Logan
Hello Peoples! Welcome to my blog and Wondering Wednesdays, a weekly post to learn more about me and other bloggers. If you are a blogger, please join in every week.
As I sit here and reflect on the past several months, I think I will start at the beginning. I’m a walker. I walk almost everywhere. In the beginning, I continued to walk, the difference was the empty streets and the quiet. I don’t have a problem with silence or quiet at all, but this was a little different. I thought I had stepped into an episode of The Twilight Zone. I was the only person outside. Yes, it was strange. Fortunately, my favorite bakery remained open, but for take-out only. So, I missed the many friends and acquaintances at the bakery and then my friend Gwenda passed away.
Jesus guarantees us, He is with us always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) So, even though I was not alone, human companionship was gone. That was a very unusual place to be. People are everywhere. Then unexpectedly, people were reduced to the employee at the bakery and Rick. However, I have a constant companion, I have a friend who is with me, even in the midst of unwanted isolation. When I gave my heart to Jesus, He became my constant. My always. As an introvert, I was a little surprised at this continuing lesson. Jesus guarantees us He is with us to the end. Not just during trauma, difficulties or injury, but also during isolation.
Oh the choices, the choices! I chose three different families. The Vanderbeekers by Karina Yan Glaser, are such a sweet family of children. They have so many adventures together ~ a loving family!
I also chose the March sisters by Louisa May Alcott. Need I say more??? I think not.
I did not want to omit the Penderwicks. Such adventures! They do face challenges, but they face them together.
Siblings Who Hate Each Other ~
My! My! My! Scarlett O’Hara and her sisters in Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Whew!
Favorite Friends Who Should Have Been Sisters ~
Without a doubt, Anne Shirley and Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Siblings Who Are Complete Opposites of Each Other ~
Branigan Powers and her brother in The Cantaloupe Thief by Deb Richardson-Moore.
Saddest Sibling Death In A Book ~
Oh my word. Beth in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Most Annoying Sibling In A Book ~
I shake my head. Lydia In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Your Favorite Book Featuring A Big Family ~
I’m thinking. 😕
Flurry Sibling – Your Favorite Dog/Human Siblings ~Flurry???
Barnabas and Timothy in The Mitford Series by Jan Karon. Timothy is an adult, so, maybe I should chose another dog/human pair, however, I can include Dooley. He’s a boy when he meets Timothy.
Tom Canty lives in poverty with his mother, sisters, grandmother and abusive father. He spends his days begging and lives in a hovel. However, Father Andrew taught Tom to read and write and Latin. Tom loved hearing Father tell stories of princes, knights, dwarves, fairies and enchanted castles.
Prince Edward lives in luxury, his every need met. The boys meet, change clothes and their lives are changed forever.
In this story, we meet Tom and Edward on the day of their birth.
“In the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him. On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him. All of England wanted him too.” (p. 11)
Interesting and ironic the boys were born on the same day, and when they met, they looked alike!
“Thus hast the same hair, the same eyes, the same voice and manner, the same form and stature, the same face and countenance, that I bear.” (p. 23)
So, Tom Canty is living the life of Prince Edward and Edward is living on the streets. Oh my! What an adventure. Again and again Tom Canty and Prince Edward tell the people they meet who they are, but no one believes the boys. Everyone thinks the boys are addle brained. What an uproar at the palace! The prince is addle-brained!
I really enjoyed this book. It’s full of adventure and it’s amusing, shocking, disgusting, horrifying and satisfying. Of course, my favorite character is Miles Hendon.
“He was tall, trim-built, muscular. His doublet and trunks were of rich material, but faded and threadbare and their gold-lace adornments were sadly tarnished, his ruff was rumpled and damaged; the plume in his slouched hat was broken and had a bedraggled and disreputable look; at his side he wore a long rapier in a rusty iron sheath, his swaggering carriage marked him at once as a ruffler of the camp.” (p. 64)
Miles is our swashbuckling hero! He is returning home, after a lengthy absence. He meets and likes Prince Edward and plays the royal game with him. He makes the Prince his ward and Miles is soon knighted by the Prince, although, Miles believes he is “a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows.”(p. 76)
Once again there is irony in the tale. Miles and Prince Edward have much in common! They’re both suffering the same lot in life.
So, we read of multiply adventures! Highly recommend it!
Angela Lansbury Michael Horton Brian Keith Anne Francis Arthur Hill and a whole lot more!
We are very excited. We discovered the first season of Murder, She Wrote and it was on sale! YAY! Apparently, The Murder of Sherlock Holmes was the Pilot Episode. How fun!
Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) wrote a book. She really had no intention of having it published. She wrote the book to have fun. Well! Her nephew Grady (Michael Horton) read the book and sent it to a publisher and the book was published. So, Jessica soon finds she is traveling to New York for interviews on television and radio. After being jostled, misunderstood and frankly ill-treated she has enough of New York City. She is so nice, respectful and polite, she does make friends. Her publisher Preston Giles (Arthur Hill) invites her to his country home for the weekend and she accepts. After she arrives at Preston’s home, she learns there is to be a costume party. Shortly after she arrives, in a lovely costume, someone in a Sherlock Holmes costume is murdered. She soon finds herself investigating the nefarious crime.
This episode was fun, witty, charming and a good mystery. We enjoyed it very much. There were actually two crimes in this episode. I solved one crime and Rick solved the second crime. I guess we work well together. 😊 We have seen Murder, She Wrote on one of the retro channels, however, I don’t think we had ever seen the Pilot episode.
Good morning Peoples! Well, this tag was something nice to wake up to and find on my blog. Millay’s Musings tagged me. Thanks so much Millay! 😊 You can take a look at Millay’s blog. I highly recommend you do just that! Just hop on your bike and pedal on over to meet Millay. She has a very fun blog!
~ Thank and link to the blogger who nominated you.
~ Include the tag graphic in your post.
~ Answer the ten questions the blogger asked.
~ Nominate between five and ten bloggers.
~ Ask your nominees ten book-related questions!
~ Don’t feel bound to these rules.
~ (Most importantly) Have fun!
Here we goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!🏍
What is your favorite childhood book?
There were so many. I had a teacher in elementary who read books out loud to the class every Friday. I loved every story. I especially remember a story about a horse and a boy who were friends. I also loved the story of Helen Keller and Pocahantas.
Where do you find the most comfortable to read?
Away from home, I love reading at the bakery. It’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Some days it’s quiet and I can read for hours and not be disturbed. Other days, it’s busy and someone will visit with me for awhile. Occasionally, someone will stop by and ask me what I’m reading. When I’m at home, I have a comfy spot on the sofa where I snuggle up and read.
Book or ebook?
BOOK! ☺
Which author do you believe to be the most poetic in his or her books?
I’ve always felt JRR Tolkien had a poetic quality to his writings.
What was the grittiest and raw book you’ve read?
I honestly don’t know. Mmmm???
What is a turn-off in a book for you?
Triangles! Oh my word! I don’t like triangles. I don’t like profanity either. 😕
Hello Peoples! The Classics Club announced the spin number and it’s number 11. That’s a good number. I will be reading The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. I’m looking forward to it. We’re suppose to read it by May 31, 2021.
Have a great day everyone. I’ve been working in our backyard. Happy Reading!
Minne Hamilton, Eddie the cat, Rafe, Kristen, Aunt Frances, Otto and friends in Chilson, Michigan are back in another fun and puzzling cozy mystery.
As my neighbor was known to say, never in all my born days!
This book is hilarious, with plenty of sass. But, let me start at the beginning. Minnie Hamilton is out and about in her bookmobile with Eddie the cat and her trusty part-time help, Julie, when they discover a dead body in the road. Well! That’s not good. 😉 Minnie, our intrepid librarian/part time sleuth soon discover she is mired in another murder mystery, however, she has a great helper in her investigation! Yes, she does.
I laughed out loud as I read this mystery, full of sauce. The mystery, not me! 😉 I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. Minnie talks to her cat throughout the book, which is amusing and charming, to say the least. Of course, winter is closing in on the community and Minnie, who lives on an unheated boat during the warmer months in Michigan, is worried as to were she is going to live during the frigid winter months. Kristen will soon close her restaurant and travel to the warmer climate of Florida. Rafe is one busy guy working as a middle school principal and trying to finish his house.
I decided to make a list, for your reading pleasure!
Things I have In Common With Minnie ~
1.) Minnie is short. I am short. I am taller than Minnie, but I am still short.
2.) She is a librarian. I like to read. ~I do believe that counts!~
3.) Minnie drives a bookmobile. I drive a car with books in it! Hey! Close enough.
3.) She is engaged to Rafe. I am married. ☺
4.) Minnie has a cat. I like cats. 😺
5.) She has a sense of humor and plenty of sass. I have a sense of humor . . . sass??? I’m not sure??? I will ask someone who knows, if I have sass. I asked. He grunted. 🙄
6.) Minnie owns and lives on a boat. I would live on a boat, if I owner one! ⛴
7.) She has fun friends. I have fun friends!
8.) Minnie is cold in the winter. I am cold in the winter.
There you have it. I hope you read and enjoy this mystery as much as I did! 5 ***** stars!
Hello Peoples! Welcome to Wondering Wednesdays. You might ask, what is Wondering Wednesdays??? Thank-you for asking. It’s a weekly post to learn more about me and other bloggers. To learn more, click on the link below ~
This week, the question is ~ What is your dream job?
I would love to work in one of our National Parks! I would hike the trails and talk to visitors, answer questions, share with guests the history of the park and answer any questions about wildlife and plant life. I would carry maps with me, so I can direct visitors to their desired destination. I would even work in the gift shops. I would read the books and other literature in the gift shop, so I can be informed, answer questions and direct visitors to the book they require. Sigh.
katiescottagebooks 