Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: A Few Happy Memories from My Life

 

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews requests that you share your link in their weekly post on their website (which will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Visit the other bloggers participating to see what they discuss that week. Comments are appreciated. 

Say hello to Wednesday again. It creeps up so quickly. In this week's post, we are sharing a few happy memories from our lives. There are many I could share, but here are three that are in the top five highlights:

• Marrying my best friend. There is no one I would rather go through this crazy life with than my husband. We have known each other since high school, and began dating when we were 21. Yeah, it's been a few years. :)  He is the kindest, most loving person I know.
• Seeing my children through to adulthood. Each experience was different. I was barely out of high school when I had my son. The two girls came along after I was married. I've been a single parent, a working parent, a stay-at-home mom, a work-from-home mom, a pet mom, and probably a few other things during the last 39 years. With the youngest on the cusp of graduating, I am a mom in transition. It is all good and such a blessing. 
• Signing my first book contract. There is something special about that first contract. It's like proof that what you've been doing for likely years, maybe decades, is worth sharing with the world. Admittedly, I never get tired of signing them. I've been blessed to do that five times so far. Maybe next time I will be signing a contract for agent representation. We will see what the future holds. 

What are some happy memories from your life? 

Book Review & Giveaway: Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst

 

Amateur sleuth Valerie Corbin returns in the third installment of Leslie Karst's Ochid Isle Mystery series, Murder, Local Style.

Valerie and her wife Kristen have settled into life in Hilo, Hawai‘i, with their dog Pua. Val has even joined the neighborhood orchid society so she can meet new people. So she is eager to help out when she is asked to cater their latest event at the last minute. 

But when the orchid society's president is poisoned by food at the event and subsequently dies, Valerie finds herself a suspect. Determined to discover the truth, she learns that not everyone liked George, and the list of suspects and potential motives grows. Can she find the culprit before she becomes their next target?

While I didn't know this wasn't the first book in the series, I don't feel like I skipped a beat starting with Murder, Local Style. This cozy mystery blends a beautiful setting, a rich culture, engaging characters, and the twists and turns you expect in this genre. Having visited Hawaii, I appreciated how the author knows how to paint a picture and make the reader feel like they are there. Murder, Local Style finds Val coping with nasty neighbors and family stress while working at a local hot spot and trying to track down a murderer. The glossary of terms and the recipes were a bonus. 

If you enjoy a cozy mystery in a fun place, Murder, Local Style is for you. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FVLW3ZL8
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 7, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2.1 MB
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 239 pages 
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448316571

 

I received a copy of this book from the author through Partners in Crime Tours. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win!

Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

Orchids, Alibis, and Awesome Prizes

This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Leslie Karst. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

MURDER, LOCAL STYLE by Leslie Karst | Gift Cards

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

Top Ten Tuesday & Tell Me Something Tuesday: How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

Tuesday is here again, and I am still trying to catch up from last week. Two more unexpected real estate blessings came my way yesterday, so it is 1:00 am on Tuesday morning, and I still haven't finished my work. 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday sounds like a fun topic: April Showers. I just don't have time to participate. Hope you all enjoy touring the blogosphere to visit others. 

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you can leave your comments in the weekly post when you participate. Check it out if you're interested in joining.

How do I celebrate my birthday? Usually, we are in the Outer Banks or driving home from the Outer Banks, so it involves a meal out, maybe a small treat, and gifts from the family. We should be home for this birthday, so I don't know if anything will be different. Either way, it's good to make it through another year with good health, a wonderful family, and all my wits about me. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Apr 20

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

Oh, my goodness. It is Monday again! I am still catching up with last week's comments, so please know I will visit you soon. 

As I look ahead to this week, it is a bag of mixed emotions. My father-in-law passed away six years ago today, on Easter Monday. We lost him in the early days of COVID in a way that made national headlines. 

With the opening of the new Veterans Home in Holyoke expected this fall, it is my hope that the memory of those horrible days can finally be laid to rest. 

Yet we have joy as we plan to visit the Lil' Princess in North Carolina. She will be graduating from college in less than three weeks. We are so proud of her! She has already secured a job and will be moving back to the Northeast. For this, we are thrilled. 

As far as books and reading go, I attended the grand opening for The Wicked Press in South Windsor this weekend. Run by the spouse of one of my home inspectors, this store combines coffee, tea, and books. They already have some great events lined up. 

I finished Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst. Look for my review this week. 

I continued with This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman. I have around three hours left. 

I continued with Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luann Castle. This is for a June review. 

These are next:

The Ledger by Steven Manchester, which is a companion to his novel, The Menu

Staged by Caitlin Rother, which is the sequel to Hooked

The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller is a NetGalley download

Co-Created: The Cultural Strategy That Redefined Pacsun by Brieane Olson is also a NetGalley download.

Photo credit: Freepik

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

Thanks to my visit to The Wicked Press, I picked up these two books:

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

Upcoming Events

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst - Apr 20 (Review)

A Change in Plans: A Sgt. Windflower Mystery by Mike Martin - May 13 (Guest Post)

Scrap: Salvaging a Family by Luanne Castle - May 21 (Review)

The Ledger by Steven Manchester - May (Review)

Fighter Pilot's Daughter by Mary Lawlor - June 10 (Guest Post)

Staged by Cailtin Rother - June (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and the Key by Bill Cusano - July 1 (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Widow Murderess by Bill Cusano - July 8 (Review)

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Sparrow and the Crow by Bill Cusano - July 10 (Review)

Christmas Year Round

The Christmas Year Round blog's latest "Journey through Christmases Past" post takes a glimpse at Christmas traditions, including my family's traditions. You can find it here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Nothing new.

Laura's Little Houses

Nothing new, but I will post my favorites from Seasons 7 - 9 soon. 

Looking for your thoughts: have these Monday posts gotten too long? Your feedback will not offend me. Thanks!

Book Review & Giveaway: Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel

 

If you are a lover of Agatha Christie's work, then you need to run out and buy Agatha Christie, She Watched by Teresa Peschel. 

Peschel opens this engaging and informative movie guide by explaining how it came to fruition. She already enjoyed Christie's novels, but it wasn't until her husband Bill annotated some of her early novels that the obsession began. Years later, they had an amazing project that is now in the hands of readers everywhere. 

This well-thought-out guide is filled with black-and-white photos, fun rating icons, general information about each film adaptation, and the author's insight into the actors, how a particular adaptation might compare to others, and more! 

I feel I was similar to Teresa before she edited Bill's annotations of Christie's books: I knew about the author, and I'd read some of her stuff. Then something happens, and you find yourself diving in to read/watch everything out there. From the moment I opened Agatha Christie, She Watched, I was immersed in Peschel's insights into the films adapted from her books. Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, and even Tommy and Tuppence all get their time in the spotlight. One section is dedicated solely to And Then There Were None, which I was reacquainted with when my daughter's dance team performed to the novel's plot. 

Any person who wants to know more about movies featuring Christie's characters and based on her work will be eager to dive right into Agatha Christie, She Watched. There is even an international version using the same format that explores films from around the world, using Christie's writing as source material. 

Pick up your copy of both books here.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peschel Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 7, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 438 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950347397
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950347391
• 
  

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peschel Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 29, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 364 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950347427
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950347421

I received a copy of both books from the author through Partners in Crime Tours. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win!

Click here to view the Tour Schedule 

 

A Mysterious Little Giveaway

This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Teresa Peschel. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

AGATHA CHRISTIE, SHE WATCHED by Teresa Peschel |

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: My Unusual Hobbies/Interests

 

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews requests that you share your link in their weekly post on their website (which will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Visit the other bloggers participating to see what they discuss that week. Comments are appreciated. 

Happy Wednesday! How is your week going? Mine is crazy, but it is all good real estate stuff, and getting ready to head to North Carolina next week to see our girl. 

I am really stumped by this week's prompt. Yes, I am an odd bird, but I don't think I have any unusual hobbies or interests. I am just too boring for that. 

Here are some things I would do if money were no consideration:

• Buy historical homes and restore them, then rent them out as Airbnbs or sell them. 
• Help an acquaintance create a toy museum in town.
• Open an independent bookstore in town. We used to have one, but it went out of business years ago. 
• Would like something else to go with that bookstore. I was thinking of vinyls or maybe even a fro-yo shop. We already have enough coffee shops in town.
• I want to start a small indie publishing house.

I am sure there are other things I would do if the budget were limitless. How about you? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life & Tell Me Something Tuesday: What do you still love doing that you loved as a kid?

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. 

Golly gee! It is Tuesday again. I am out doing Tuesday morning things today, but I can't wait to see what you all come up with for this week's topic: Top Ten Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life. I'm not sure I want to give anyone this much insight into my life. It might frighten you. LOL! Just realize, you have been warned. 

Top Ten Book Titles That 

Describe Me/My Life

I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman by Nora Ephron: As I sit here, hunched over my keyboard, praying for someone to put together the standing desk I bought in November, I realize getting old is not for sissies. 

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling: If you have lived your life feeling like you fit in absolutely nowhere, you begin to wonder if people are somewhere else having fun without you.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson: If it is embarrassing, it has probably happened to me. Awkward, scrawny, and unathletic, I tell you, I have tons of stories. Aging has not improved this situation much. 

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes: In my bravest moments, I feel like I am on the cusp of this. Training myself to set boundaries is a work in progress that I feel is setting me up to embrace a year of yes. I was not, however, brave enough to finish reading the book. SMH

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay: I would not mind inheriting a bookshop, and envisioning a new path for yourself can bring unexpected surprises. 

Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris is a book I would likely never read. I do, however, connect to the whole working in retail during Christmas frustration. One day, after listening for hours to the same music coming from the animated Santa doll near my department, and nursing a headache, I turned it off. A customer reported me to my supervisor. Really? And don't even get me started on the day that I grabbed a shoplifter in a headlock and dragged her back to the office in my dress and heels after she punched my manager in the face. 

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh might be too close to my world than I would like to admit. I stumbled upon Brosh's website and wished I had half her humor and talent. That said, her sense of humor also reminds me of Aj at Read All The Things!. If I ever meet Allie or Aj in person, I hope we will be great friends. 

Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Ashley Keller shines a light on things like my inability to feel talented in any crafty sort of way, and how I constantly feel guilty for not being talented or even being able to do anything special with my daughters' hair when they were little. I was the kid who, when we made a craft for charity, the nuns didn't like it enough and "fixed" it. I will never have an influencer house, because I can't decorate to save my life. Cooking and baking, that I can do. Forget the rest of it. 

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist is the book I needed two decades ago. It is, however, something I am working on now. These days, despite being a domestic failure in therapy, I do find myself saying more often, "It's not perfect, but it is done."

My Father's List by Laura Carney is about one woman doing an amazing thing and how it transformed her life. Laura and I have connected online. I admire her so much. Grief is a deeply personal experience, one I am all too familiar with. Some of my most vivid memories of my childhood are surrounding grief. Listening to Laura's story reminds me that there is a way to move forward after loss. 

Thanks to Freepik for the image

Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you can leave your comments in the weekly post when you participate. Check it out if you're interested in joining.

Welcome back to Tell Me Something Tuesday. Considering we just talked about our lives, it seems fitting that we chat about things we love doing now that we used to love doing as kids. I don't believe there are many of these things for me:

• Counted cross-stitch, which I learned from my mémère
• Cooking/baking--self-taught with some help from a summer Bible school cooking class and home economics in high school
• Writing for enjoyment since I was a teenager

What are some things you have enjoyed doing since childhood?