Showing posts with label Book Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Reviews. Show all posts

Monday, December 21, 2020

Finders Keepers - Maggie Tideswell, Author

 




My dearest Miss Hastings,

It is with impatience I await the moment of meeting you in the flesh again. I wish you well until our wedding day on October 31 and I hope an All Souls’ celebration would augur many happy years with your presence gracing my humble home as my wife.

Forever yours,

Henry Du Pré

Your betrothed husband.



Lenora Hastings has just arrived at what will be her new home. There are no lights in the windows, no fire on the hearth, causing questions to pop into her head. If the wedding had been arranged for tomorrow, she had seen no evidence of it. Where were all the servants Henry was supposed to have? It didn’t seem like a bride had been expected at all. And after meeting Henry himself there were even more questions.  Henry himself worried her. He didn’t seem to be old enough. She had expected a man at least twice her own age. This man certainly didn’t look close to forty.   Then, after being shown to her room for the night, a spine-chilling scream not even the weather could diminish filled the night.  Henry explained it as being the wind telling her not to let it distress her and to lock the door behind him opening it to no one but him. 

After a light meal Lenora was able to doze off.  The next morning, though, brings another surprise.  The man that appeared at her door made a statement that brought shock even more shock to her mind.  The voice sounded grating, husky, like that of an old person, and his statement was “I am your husband, Henry Du Pré.”  So, who was the man from the night before, who was screaming, and how is all of this connected to Lenora and her husband to be Henry?

If you think the suspense ends there, think again.  This book is full of surprises from the living and just maybe the non-living.  If you like a good suspense, ghostly book with some romance thrown in, you’ll love Finders Keepers.


Thursday, October 29, 2020

Dead To Life (Sara Mason Book 3) - Mary Deal, Author



Huli-Huli Chicken

 

3 lb. bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (about 6 thighs)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. low-sodium soy sauce 
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. ketchup
1/4 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp. Sriracha
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. freshly grated ginger
1 pineapple, cut into wedges
2 green onions, thinly sliced
 

DIRECTIONS

Season chicken all over with salt and pepper and place in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk to combine pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, chicken broth, Sriracha, garlic, and ginger.Pour marinade over chicken and cover with plastic wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 6 hours.Heat grill or grill pan over medium heat. Add pineapple and cook, turning occasionally, until charred on all sides, 10 to 15 minutes.Meanwhile, remove chicken from marinade, then bring marinade to a boil in a medium sauce pan over high heat. Boil until it is the consistency of a thin barbecue sauce, about 9 minutes.When pineapple is done cooking, remove from grill and add chicken thighs, skin side down. Cook, turning occasionally and basting with sauce, until skin is crisp and chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes in total. Serve pineapple and grilled chicken together, garnished with green onions.

Serves 3-6

 
Dead to Life - Review by Martha A. Cheves

Sara Mason and Huxley Keane are still on the hunt for proof that his brother Rocky, who turned up as a MIA during the Vietnam War, was indeed dead.  After receiving a box full of letters from Huxley's mom, the two sit down to read the letters in hopes that the information would provide some of the most defining clues leading to verifying that the key that was found in the Vietnam jungle did belong to Rocky.  The key was one given to Rocky by his fiancee, Emma Ellis.  It was to the apartment she shared with her sister Evelyn in San Francisco and would give him access to a place to stay if he were to return unexpectedly.  But shortly after Rocky became MIA, Emma's sister Evelyn took her own life and Emma may have moved to Hawaii.  With this piece of information, Sara and Huxley begin their search in San Francisco in search of information that will lead them to Emma in Hawaii and the possibility that she will have the matching key that will confirm the one found in Vietnam was indeed Rocky's.  

As always, Author Mary Deal takes you through page turning tunnels as you join Sara and Huxley in their search for Emma and the key.  You'll see the life changing events that put Emma into an investigation by not only the Hawaiian police but also the San Francisco Police.  You'll find yourself trying to understand how and why such a level headed person could turn into what Emma turned into.  

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Dear Sugar and Other Sorrows - Irma Fritz, Author



Irma’s Quiche Baskets

Ingredients:

1 pkg Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry
4 oz Gruyere Cheese (approx. 1 cup)
6 slices of bacon
12 thin slices of red onion, with rings cut in half
4 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
A pinch each of pepper and nutmeg
Cooking spray 

Preparation: 

Preheat oven to 400  Thaw puff pastry (2 sheets) at room temp for about 40 minutes.
Spray 12 muffin cups with cooking spray
Cook bacon until crisp, blot on paper towel, let cool and crumble
Slice onion
Grate cheese
Mix eggs with cream and spices
On floured surface roll each sheet of puff pastry into a 9x12 rectangle
(be sure to press out the “fold” lines!)
Cut each sheet into 6 squares = 12 squares total
Place each square into a muffin cup – dough will extend over top
Divide cheese, bacon & onion among the 12 cups
Fill egg mixture to no higher than ¾ from top
Fold the overlapping corners of each square to make a “basket handle”
Bake about 10 minutes, switch position of pan, and bake another 10 minutes
Lower temperature to 375, bake until pastry is golden brown and wooden toothpick comes out clean

Yield: 12 servings

I like to serve the quiche baskets as a breakfast treat with fresh fruit, as a party appetizer, or with a simple mixed green salad for lunch or dinner.

Dear Sugar and Other Sorrows - Review by Martha A. Cheves

When I first started reading Dear Sugar and Other Sorrows I was captured by the first story which was made up of letters sent back and forth between to people who were very special to each other.  I couldn't wait to get to the end just to see how things came out between them.  Then I started reading the story about Lyzzie who was a recovering drug addict.  Would the person who got her there in the 1st place take her back down the same path?  And the stories went on with more stories of sorrow and heart wrenching pain.  Each one having me turning the pages just to see exactly how they would end.  

I will have to warn you, the reader, that the stories are 'dark' and somewhat upsetting at times, but they show us just exactly what life around us can truly be.  The stories are true eye openers to a those of us who are shielded from the gates of hell that some actually live in.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

What If? - Fran Lewis, Author



Creamy Vegan Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo

400 g fettuccine
1 1/2 C raw cashews, soaked for 20 minutes in hot water
1 C fresh water (1/2 a cup if using tofu instead of cashews)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
1 C finely chopped white onion
2 large portobello mushroom caps, thinly sliced
4 C thinly sliced cremini mushrooms
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 C dry white wine (vegan friendly)
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil
1 tsp dried parsley
4 C fresh baby spinach
1 C low-sodium vegetable stock

Vegan Parmesan (Optional – Can also buy a Vegan Parmesan Product)

2/3 C raw cashews
1/4 C nutritional yeast
1 tsp sea salt


Instructions

To make the vegan parmesan, combine ingredients together in a food processor until a fine crumb or meal is formed. Store in a jar or container in the fridge. This will last up to 3 weeks.  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles to al dente. Drain but do not rinse.  Meanwhile, rinse and drain cashews from the soaking water and add to a high-powered blender along with water, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. Blend until very smooth.  In a large pan over medium heat, sauté onion in olive oil for 2 minutes until soft and fragrant.  Add mushrooms and cook for 4 minutes. When mushrooms are half cooked and start to release some moisture, stir in minced garlic, sea salt, and ground black pepper and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.  Once mushrooms have shrunk and released all their water, add in white wine (or replace with an equal amount of low-sodium vegetable stock, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons of lemon juice) and simmer for 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir in fresh basil and dried parsley, and cook for another minute.  Stir in the cashew cream, spinach, and slowly stir in 1 cup of low-sodium vegetable stock. Stir for about 4 minutes.  Add noodles to the pan and toss to combine everything well, and coat noodles in sauce for 3 minutes.  Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of vegan parmesan and toss to combine. Serve with more vegan parmesan and ground black pepper as garnish.


Recipe notes

If you are reheating leftovers, heat in a pan adding small amounts of vegetable stock a bit at a time while tossing the noodles to thin out the sauce again.


What if? - Review by Martha A. Cheves

What if? - There were no more planes or trains.  All you needed to do was think about being somewhere and you were there.  There was only one race where your face may look a little different but your skin colors were the same.  Would the world be a better place?

What if? - You came to the edge of town and saw a sign that read "You are leaving the town of MUNDANE AND NO EXCITEMENT."  As you walk out of town you come across a crossroad.  One sign informs you that its road leads to the town of "NOWHERE - Keep Wandering."  The second road reads to the town of "Decisions.", The third to the town of "Surprises" and the fourth to a sign that tells you to "Just Walk in This Direction and You Will find Out..."  Which road will you take?

Through her short stories, Author Fran Lewis has given us a few situations to test our minds as we see where the stories lead to and end up.  Did the characters make the right decision?  Better yet, do we agree with their decisions?  What if?

Sunday, August 9, 2020

While You Slept - R. J. Parker, Author

 

Richard’s Dog Rolls
(This is my own invention and is a hybrid of a hot dog and a sausage roll (a British snack of sausage meat in puff pastry).  It’s great for parties and very quick and easy.

You’ll need:

Pack/tin of frankfurters
Packet of readymade puff pastry
Onion marmalade
Ketchup and mustard

Unroll sheet of puff pastry and cut off a strip just under the length of a frankfurter and enough to roll it around one.
Place frankfurter on pastry and using a knife, spread some onion marmalade the length of the frankfurter before rolling it up.  Leave a little of the frankfurter poking out from each end.
Repeat with other frankfurters and then place on a baking tray.
Bake in the oven on a high heat until puff pastry looks golden brown.
Serve hot and dip them in mustard and ketchup!


While You Slept - Review by Martha A. Cheves

He was wearing the smile of her daughter.  A cut-out mask of her five-year-old's laughing features with holes cut out of her eyes for his to look through.  Maisie's innocent countenance on his adult body resonated cold at Lily's core.  But she couldn't rush out into the garden.  She wasn't at home.  She was at work.  The intruder and her lawn were over sixteen miles away.  The motion detector in her garden had sent an alert to the app on her phone.

Lily Russell has just come face to face with a man via her security camera and phone.  Who is he?  What does he want?   And the questions in her mind continue to grow when one morning she and Maisie wake up in their own beds just to find out that they are no longer in their own home but in a place that has been duplicated.  The only difference between where they are and their real home is there is no way out. 

This book has kept me on my toes from the very beginning.  I raked my brain trying to determine who was doing this to Lily and Maisie and why.  The answer to those questions?  You'll find out at the end. I was totally, 100% shocked with the ending. Very intense book.  

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Butterfly Lake - Robert J. Saniscalchi, Author



Tex’s Favorite Chocolate Cake

1-3/4 cups All purpose flour 
1-3/4 cups of Sugar 
 ½ cup Cocoa
1/3 cup instant nonfat dry Milk 
1-teaspoon Baking Powder
1-teaspoon Salt
Nonstick cooking spray
½ cup Vegetable oil
3-Large Eggs
1-tablespoon
Vanilla extract

Cake Mix
In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, dry milk, baking soda, salt
Add 1-1/4 cup water, oil, eggs, vanilla and whisk everything together in large bowl
Line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper coated with cooking spray then added contents of bowl and Bake at 350 and let cool when done.

Icing for Cake

¼ cup butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup milk
3-1/2 cup Confectioners’ Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla

Sift Sugar and set aside, heat butter and mix in a large bowl with cocoa, milk, vanilla, then add sifted Sugar and whisk until smooth.

Pour Icing over chocolate cake and enjoy!

Butterfly Lake - Review by Martha A. Cheves

Sam and Bill McCoy were from Southern Georgia.  Sam, the oldest, smartest and tallest, might have been considered plain-looking, were it not for his tangled mop of hair and his scraggly beard; Bill, on the other hand, was not too bright, albeit not from lack of trying.  He had always been slow - he just couldn't help it - but he was intelligent enough to follow his big brother and do whatever Sam told him to do.

Tex is from Texas.  In the Fall, he had invited his best friend Rob to his ranch for fishing and riding horses.  Rob has returned the favor by inviting Tex and his family to his lake cabin in the mountains of Pinecrest, PA.  The two men, both in their mid-forties, had been close friends since their days in the jungles and villages of Vietnam.  Rob was a decorated Army field medic, and Tex a decorated Marine sniper.  

When the unthinkable happens, Tex, Rob, Sam and Bill will meet and that's when the suspense begins.  Their travels will take them through the mountains in their attempt to bring justice to the little town of Pinecrest.  But their task doesn't come without life threatening events that may make them missing in action.

This book is full of twists and turns that kept me wanting more.  It gave me admiration for not only Tex and Rob, but also for the author.  Looking forward to his next book of adventures with these two guys.

Saturday, July 4, 2020

Suddenly Psychic - Elizabeth Hunter, Author


White Chocolate Energy Blend

3 Pkg. (2.75 oz. each) Imperial Nuts - Energy Blend
1 pkg. white chocolate chips

Melt the white chocolate and stir in the Energy Blend.  Pour onto a baking pan lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until cooled.  Break into pieces.

Suddenly Psychic - Review by Martha A. Cheves


Glimmer Lake was a year-round vacation town.  In the summer, the cool waters of the lake attracted swimmers, boaters, and anglers from valleys at the base of the Sierra Nevada.  They came to escape the baking summers in the lowlands and to enjoy the crisp air.  In the winter, heavy snow made the lake town a destination for skiers, sledders, and those looking for the rare white Christmas in California.  The town that occupied the banks of Glimmer Lake had replaced the old logging and mining town of Grimmer, which had been flooded in the 1940s to create a reservoir that could serve the thirsty population boom in Southern California.  

Robin Brannon and her two best friends Val and Monica are on their way to Big Creek Lodge where they could enjoy karaoke and half-priced drinks.  The road leading to the lodge was narrow, twisted and had almost zero lights.  As Val and Monica sang "Always Be My Baby" Robin took her eyes off the road and looked into the rear-view mirror.  When Monica yelled, she glanced back at the road to see a massive white deer frozen in the middle of the road.  She swerved in the darkness to avoid the deer.  But her stomach dropped when she realized there was nothing.  No deer.  No road.  Nothing but the darkness and the moon over the water.

This book is more than a mystery.  It's a book of life both new and old, both dead and alive.  It's the life of 3 middle aged women who escape death only to find themselves with special 'powers' that they never had before.  One can see ghosts, one is a touch telepath and the other is a seer.  As they combine their powers, they're able to solve a murder that is half a century old, as well as give life to Robin's grandmother.  They also find that through their newly acquired abilities they find themselves and the lives they are meant to have.

This book is an enjoyable mystery but it's also a book that makes you stop and look at your own life.  A book well worth reading.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Dylan: The Flying Bedlington (Family of Rescue Dogs Book 6) - Brian L. Porter, Author


HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER DOG TREATS
(A recipe from the ‘Porter Pack’ Rescue Dogs)

2/3 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 large eggs
2 ½ - 3 cups whole wheat flour

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin puree, peanut butter and eggs on medium-high until well combined, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional 1/4 cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky.
Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

Let cool completely.

Dylan: The Flying Bedlington - Review by Martha A. Cheves

"I don't want Dylan's story to become a repetitive tale of loss and sadness.  I'll just say that each and every dog who has been a part of our family, some longer than others, has been a much loved, and now, sadly missed member of our rescue pack, and their presence in our home has helped to enrich our lives and our hearts, with their love, their faithfulness and their at times, hilarious antics.  Rescue dogs are definitely a special breed.  They seem to know when they've been given a second, often third chance of a happy life and they repay the faith and the love you give to them, a hundred times over."  Author Brian L. Porter

I agree 100+% to the statement above.  Rescue dogs are special.  Most of the dogs I've had throughout my life have been rescues.  I can only remember maybe 2 that weren't.  Every dog I've ever had was special but rescues just seem to have the knowledge that you are the one who saved their lives and you're the one they love the most.  My Jesse is a rescue.  He was due to be put down the very next day.  No way would I allow that.  He came home with me and we bonded from day one.  He shows me his love and faithfulness to me every day.  He doesn't want me out of his sight and when I do have to leave him, he lays by the door waiting for me to come home.  There aren't enough good words in the dictionary to express how special rescue dogs are.

I've read every one of this Author's series of Rescue Dogs and each one has made me laugh and at times cry.  I know how hard it is to watch your 'baby', and that is exactly what they are, start going downhill.  Jesse, like Dylan, has lost his hearing and most of his sight.  How old is he?  Don't know.  He was picked up on the streets before I found him, so there were no records of his age.  Best guess is that he's around 13-14 years old and I can only pray that he has many more years to go.

If you aren't a dog lover, read these books and I have a feeling you may become one.  If you are a dog lover, read these books and see what a difference rescuing a dog will make in not just their life but also in your life.  Either way, this is a group of books I highly recommend to everyone.  It's not only heartwarming but also educational.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Dream A Little Scream ( Dream Club Mystery Book 2) - Mary Kennedy, Author



Kahlua Brownies

(Author Mary Kennedy sent 200 pounds of these
to the troops in Iraq over a 3 month period)

½ cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup Kahlua

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.
Step 2
In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder and kahlua. Spread batter into prepared pan.
Step 3

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.  16 servings

Dream A Little Scream - Review by Martha A. Cheves

Ali and Taylor Blake are sisters.  Ali owns a candy Shop in Savannah, Ga called Oldies But Goodies.  Taylor arrived in Savannah a few months ago to find the vintage candy shop, just a couple of blocks off the Historic District, struggling.  Between the two sisters, changes were made, they invested in some marketing, added a cafe menu, and things were looking up.  They had bone from the red to the black and felt sure their changes would keep it that way.  That is until they agreed to host a book signing for cookbook author Sonia Scott.  The turnout was great and everything was going just as planned until Sonia starts complaining that her chest feels so tight she can hardly breathe.  Apparently she is allergic to cats, and Ali owns two.  But when Sonia's employee Olivia explains that it was something besides the cats, something much worse.  And when her EpiPen turns up missing, nine-one-one was called.  Apparently, Sonia is allergic to more than cats.  She is also allergic to nuts of any kind.  But everyone who made snacks for the signing knew this and would never have put nuts into their dishes, or would they.

Taylor and Ali are part of a group they call The Dream Club.  They meet weekly in the apartment above the shop, and they serve sweet tea, coffee, and a delicious array of pastries.  She calls the Dream Club members their "beta testers," and she adds the most popular items to the cafe menu downstairs.  With what has just happened to Sonia, it's time to call an emergency meeting of the club's members, which were all present at the signing anyway, to see if they could put their heads together and solve yet another mystery.

Dream A Little Scream had so many twists and turns that each time I thought I knew who the culprit was I found myself doubting my ability to determine the good guys, or gals, from the bad.  And I must say this is the norm for Author Mary Kennedy.  I've read just about everything she has written and am always hoping for more.

Monday, May 4, 2020

Vegas Lies ("Lies" Mystery Thriller Series Book 3) - Andrew Cunningham, Author


ANISETTE COOKIES
(Andrew Cunningham - My wife’s mother—the greatest baker in the world--used to make them every Christmas)

2 ½ Cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 eggs
½ cup milk
1 teaspoon anisette
1 cup sugar
½ cup shortening

Cream shortening, add eggs one at a time. Beat well. Add flour, salt, and baking powder (all sifted together). Add milk. Add anisette.

Put on greased pan (each one about a heaping tablespoon size). Cook 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Glaze:

Mix confectioner’s sugar and milk to make a thick glaze
Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze

While the glaze is still wet, cover with sprinkles or nonpareils

Vegas Lies - Book 3 - Review by Martha A. Cheves

Emma began to cry.  Lucy nuzzled up against her in an effort to comfort her friend, but there was no comfort, just abject fear.  If his hand being there had been so unpleasant, what would the other thing be like?  Slowly the crying subsided, only to be replaced with anger.  No, she wasn't going to let that happen to her.  It would be far worse than death.  She was going to find a way to escape, and if she couldn't, she was going to die.  

Five young teenage girls from the small town of Vista, Oregon disappeared in the same night.  At first it was thought that the five friends, who were coming home from a movie, had run away together, escaping the stifling atmosphere of small-town America.  But once it was determined that they were all reasonably happy, fairly well-adjusted young people, the focus shifted to the unthinkable.

Peep was Mo's partner.  Even though they didn't live together, they had been a couple for about five years.  Peep was in Las Vegas for a trade show.  Sabrina and Del are on their way to Las Vegas for a BookExpo.  Sabrina, a best selling mystery author, hates the publicity that follows her but had agreed to take the trip and had also promised Mo that she and Del would meet Peep for dinner the night of their arrival.  For some reason Peep never showed up.

As Author Andrew Cunningham combines the stories of the missing teenagers as well as the disappearance of Peep, the tension grows.  Where is the connection between the missing girls and Peep?  Can they all be found before it's too late?  And who is behind the disappearances?  These, plus many more questions popped into my head as I read, yet another, suspense filled book in this series.

So, if you enjoy a good page turner, full of twists and turns, don't miss out on this book.  It's one that kept me up late at night reading just to see what happens next.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Deader Homes and Gardens - Southern Ghost Hunter Book 4 - Angie Fox, Author


Roasted Chicken with Rosemary Gravy

6 pound whole chicken
1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Stock
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves

Roast the chicken according to the package directions.  Remove the chicken from the roasting pan. Pour off any fat. Stir the stock and flour in a medium bowl with a fork until the mixture is smooth. Add the stock mixture to the roasting pan. Stir in the rosemary. Cook over medium heat until the mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Serve the gravy with the chicken. 

Deader Homes and Gardens - Review by Martha A. Cheves

I tried to make light of the gossip, hoping that with time I wouldn't care, but deep down it hurt that my greatest fear had come true.  I was the town oddball, the flake, and nobody understood that I was really just a good Southern girl aught up with a 1920s gangster ghost.  It wasn't like I wanted to be this way.  it had happened when I'd accidentally tampered with the funeral urn of a cranky prohibition-era whiskey runner named Frankie.  His urn looked a lot like a vase, and his ashes like dirt.  So I'd dumped him out over my favorite rosebush and rinsed him in good.  Not knowing the dirt was...him.  It hadn't helped that I'd filled his final resting place with water from the hose and inserted a fat red rose.  But that was before I realized my error.  Or what rinsing his ashes into the ground would do.  My actions trapped Frankie on my property.  He couldn't leave unless I brought his urn with me.

My name is Verity Long.  I moved back to my home time with the plans of marrying.  That didn't quite work out but I did find myself spending much of my time chasing ghosts and in the arms of my ex-finance's brother Ellis who is also a deputy sheriff with the Sugarland Police Department.  Breaking off my engagement found me not only broke but I also had to sell off everything but the house my grandmother had left me just to make ends meet.  Now I've just been offered my first paying job.   With Frankie's help the task should be profitable and a breeze.  I simply have to rid an 1886 estate called Rock Fall of it's ghosts.  An easy task.  Yeah right.  No one really explained to me how evil these ghosts could be nor that there was also a curse attached to the house.  After all the whole family had died within days of each other.  How dangerous could this curse be?

Deader Homes and Gardens is Book 4 in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries.  I've read the three before this one and have had a hard time putting them down.  They hold my attention with a combination of humor as well as my mystery and suspense.  It is a fun series of books and I'm now looking forward to reading Book 5 - Sweet Tea and Spirits.  Each book stands alone but I don't think you'll want to miss reading them in order to keep you up-to-par on who is who.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Death in Paradise - J. E. Trent, Author


How to Boil an Egg That is Easy to Peel
  1. Don't put eggs in pot until water is boiling. This is key. If you put eggs in water and bring to a boil the eggs will be hard to peel.
  2. Boil water. 
  3. Put eggs in and cover. 
  4. Let boiled 11 to 13 minutes.
  5. Put eggs in pan of cold water and let sit 5 miniutes. 
Boiled eggs will be easy to peel now. 


Death in Paradise - Review by Martha A. Cheves


As Jessica walked up the stairs leading to the front door, she could feel his presence.  Even though he wasn't there, she felt his spirit, and a warm feeling rushed over her as she walked through the front door.  Jessica felt the mana to her core.  The house was like he always kept it.  Neat, but nothing fancy  It was typical Hawaiian style, with rattan wicker furniture and a canoe paddle hanging on the wall in the living room.  The decor was an early vacation rental, except for the front door, which had a Mako shark carved into it.  Since the mana of the shark was important in Hawaiian culture, her dad figured it was a good omen for the place.

Mike Murphy had taken his plane out only to have it crash in the lava pits.  His daughter Jessica went to work for the Los Angeles Police after leaving the islands.  The death of her father had her, as well as her two sisters Pua and Jasmine.  He was always one for safety and checked his plain from end to end before flying.  So, how could this have happened.

After going home to the island Jessica found there were several reasons that may have caused her father's death.  The biggest one was a man named Mr. Lau.  He was a Chinese billionaire from Macau and he had been buying up property all over Hawaii in the hopes combining his property Ming with Murphy's Aloha Village and creating a gambling casino when gambling became legal in Hawaii.  Problem was, Mike Murphy refused to sell.

This book is a fast moving novel that is filled with VERY believable and possible happenings.  It digs into corruption of not only the police but those higher up too.  The characters are believable due to Trent making them 'human' with problems of everyday life.  It also give you some of the history of the islands.  I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading book 2 in the Sam and Jessica Crime Novels.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction - Amy Metz, Author


Better Than Sex Cake

1
box chocolate cake mix
2 medium eggs
1/4 c water
3/4 c oil
1 pkg 10.5 oz tub caramel
4 pkg heath bars
1 pkg whipped topping

Directions
1. Bake cake as directed on box
2. Let set for 5 - 10 minutes or until warm
3. Poke holes with fork or knife
4. Cover with caramel, let set for 3 - 5 minutes
5. Top with cool whip and cover with Heath bars (crumbled) or Heath chips


Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction - Review by Martha A. Cheves


"But Squirt, the man had evidence.  He told me so, right before I killed him.  I laughed at him at the time.  Laughed right in his face; thought he was bluffing.  He said he took precautions and one day the world was going to know what a yellow-bellied coward I was.  It wasn't until after I killed him that I found the note in his pocket.  It said, 'Maye, if you're reading this I must be dead.  Look in the chest, Maye.  It's all there.' Of course I threw the note away and his woman never knew about it.  But I know he was telling the truth.  He had something, some kind of proof.  I'm afraid it's going to surface some day and ruin all y'alls lives.  Look in his house.  Promise me, Squirt, that you'll find and destroy the eidence before it destroys our family.  I don't want y'all saddled with my dirty deeds for the rest of your life.  Promise me...find the evidence John Hobb hid, and promise me you'll destroy it."  "I promise, Papa," the young man said, followed by a sob from his throat.

Tess Tremaine is a recent divorcee that was looking for a new place to start a new life for herself.  She found that new life in a small town called Goose Pimple Junction.  All goes well for her as she starts to get to know the people, with one exception and that exception is the language.  She found that just because you meet someone, which is called 'howdied' doesn't mean you've really met them until you 'shook.'  Or when someone tells you to 'get your straw out of my Kool-Aid' it means to mind your own business.  And you'll never guess what you ordered when the waitress calls out for the cook to 'Burn one, take it through the garden and pin a rose on it.'  That one is really quite simple.  It's a hamburger with lettuce, tomato and onion.  These are just some of the life changes Tess must get use to if she expects to find her life in Goose Pimple Junction.  She also has to solve a mystery that seems to revolve around a key that she found in her new home.

This book switches from the 1930's to the present with happenings way back then still taking a hold on the town and its residents.  The language, both past and present kept me laughing, as did some of the names but when I read the acknowledgements for this book I learned that the happenings from the 30's were actually true.  The present, not so much but both still made for a very enjoyable read.  I found myself hurting for some of the characters of the past but for the most part, laughing when it came to the now day characters.  Now I'm ready to read Book 2 in this series which is titled Heroes and Hooligans in Goose Pimple Junction.

Monday, February 17, 2020

Soul Food Spirits (Southern Ghost Wranglers Book 1) - Amy Boyles, Author


Quick Yeast Bread

2 tablespoons yeast (or 2 x 7g pkts)
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups warm-hot water
14cup cooking oil

Put 4 cups of the flour, yeast, sugar and salt into large bowl.
Pour in hot water and oil and mix until combined- it will be sticky.
Add the remaining flour in increments until dough is no longer sticky.
Knead for about 5 minutes until dough is elastic and smooth.
Place dough back into bowl and cover with a damp teatowel and let it rise until double its size- about 1/2 hour.
Punch it down and divide dough into two pieces.
Roll pieces long enough to fill two well oiled loaf pans and leave to rise until dough has reached the rim of the pan.
Bake at 400F for 40 minutes.

Rub hot breads with water and wrap in a teatowel to'sweat' to soften the crust.

Soul Food Spirits (Southern Ghost Wranglers Book 1) - Review by Martha A. Cheves

"Blissful, you're suspended."
My heart popped out of my chest and hit the floor with a thud.  "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
Then Anita, the woman who had bested me for my dad's job by sleeping with his superior, who spoke to me like I was three years old, who had the audacity to put a picture of her with my father on her desk, slowly opened her mouth and enunciated every single syllable.
"Blissful.  You.  Are.  Suspended."  Her eyelids popped open.  "I've got the paperwork already filled out.  You are now officially not a member of the Ghost Team.  You have been suspended."


My dad's death a few months ago left an oozing wound in the establishment he helped create - The Ghost Team.  With the help of secret funding from the government, my dad, Vince Breneaux, created a crew of highly capable, clairvoyant agents whose single mission was to seek out rouge spirits, those hellbent on attacking and plaguing the living, and sent them on to the other side - the light, as we call it.  Naturally, since my father had been director of said team, when it came to promotion time, I was a shoo-in.  But, as I said, Anita got the job instead of me and she has had it out for me from day one.  Now she has decided to suspend me.  And the only way I can hopefully prove my worth is to the beautiful town of Haunted Hollow and bring in one of the most feared spirits ever - Lucky Strike.  Even my father couldn't bring him in and send him to the light.

Blissful's first day there turns out to be a disaster when she decides to have lunch at the Soul Food.  It seems that one of the spirits in the establishment takes a liking to her and starts up a conversation.  Since Bliss can see her but the other customers can't she decides to carry on a very 'light' conversation with her. But as it turns out, the more they talk the more visible the spirit becomes.  This causes everyone in the restaurant to see her with most of them taking pictures of both Bliss and the spirit with many being posted to the internet.  So much for trying to stay in town without being noticed.

This book was a joy to read.  It's filled with humor as well as tons of ghosts - both good and bad, or so they appear.  And the same can be said for some of the living residents too.  I enjoyed Book 1 so much that I can't wait to read book 2.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Fatal Lies (Lies Mystery Thriller Series Book 2) - Andrew Cunningham, Author


ANDREW'S FAMOUS CARROT CAKE
His only claim to fame!
(and he stole it from his mother, who stole it from a neighbor…)

1 1/4 CUPS OIL
1 1/2 CUPS SUGAR
2 CUPS FLOUR
3 EGGS
2 tsp CINNAMON
2 tsp BAKING SODA
2 tsp VANILLA
1 tsp SALT
1 BAG COCONUT (7 oz)
2 CUPS GRATED CARROTS
20 OZ. CAN CRUSHED PINEAPPLE (INCLUDE JUICE)

MIX ALL TOGETHER AND BAKE AT 350 FOR 1 HOUR IN GREASED 9X12 PAN


FROSTING:

6-8 OZ PACKAGE OF CREAM CHEESE
CONFECTIONERS SUGAR
1 STICK MARGARINE/BUTTER
VANILLA

BLEND CREAM CHEESE AND BUTTER/MARGARINE, THEN ADD CONFECTIONERS SUGAR UNTIL IT'S SO SWEET YOUR TEETH DROP OUT (ABOUT 1/2 A BAG OF SUGAR).  ADD VANILLA TO TASTE.

**Walnuts can also be added to recipe, but since they make my ears tickle, I don't use them.

Fatal Lies (Lies Mystery Thriller Series Book 2) - Review by Martha A. Cheves

Sabrina, if you are reading this, I am dead, and it means they killed me.  I've spent my life having nothing to do with them, but if they finally put an end to this miserable existence they caused, then I want them to pay.  Maybe my last act in life will help provide Veronica with the life I was never able to have.  The key is for a safe deposit box in your name and mine.  The address of the bank is on the pouch the key is in.  The contents of the box will explain everything.  I'm sorry this is so cryptic.  I just want it far away from Veronica and her children.

Sabrina Spencer spent six years of her life in prison for killing her abusive husband.  After being released, she, with help from the love of her life Del, has become one of the nation's hottest mystery writers.  Her life in prison is the past and a life she no longer wants to relive nor deal with, but when the daughter of a woman from her prison days contacts her with a message that was to be delivered should she die, a whole world of deception and mistrust opens up for Sabrina and Del.

I have to admit that I read this book several years ago and loved it so much that I've just finished reading it again.  It keeps you on the edge of your seat as you try to determine who is out to kill Sabrina and Del only to find the plot twist like a winding road.  I loved it and am looking forward to reading Book 3 in this series Vegas Lies.  Author Andrew Cunningham has become one of my favorite authors!

Monday, January 13, 2020

Murder on the Menu - Silver Sisters Mystery - Morgan St. James & Phyllice Bradner, Authors


Vegan Tahini Brownies

2 flax eggs (2 tablespoons ground flaxseed )
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup dairy free chocolate chips

Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a loaf pan* with cooking spray. You can also use a larger pan, such as an 8x6 or even an 8x8 if you double the recipe.
In a small bowl, whisk together the ground flaxseed and water to create two flax eggs. Set aside to thicken.
In a mixing bowl, stir together the tahini, coconut sugar, maple syrup and thickened flax eggs until smooth.
Add in the cocoa powder, baking soda and salt and stir until combine.
Lastly, stir in the chocolate chips.
Pour the batter evenly into your prepared loaf pan and bake the brownies for about 18-25 minutes.

(Feel free to use whatever pan you have on hand or double the recipe for larger baking pans. Just be sure to adjust the baking time depending on the size pan you chose and whether you like your brownies more gooey or chewy!)

Murder on the Menu - Review by Martha A. Cheves

She spent the previous few days preparing for her move and getting psyched-up for her new career.  In between filming her last Flirting With Food episodes, hours were spend researching vegan and vegetarian recipes that she could tweak and propose to Chef Jambon.  Little by little Godiva and the oldsters had come around as her departure time drew near.  Everyone, including Caesar, wished her the best of luck in her Oregon adventure.

Chili Pepper has been offered a chance to apply for the job of her dreams.  Seems a childhood friend from Juneau, Roscoe Bean, has moved to Portland and become friends Chef Jordan Jambon who has just made Bon Appetite's list of the Top 20 Chefs in the country,  and he wants to interview her for his soon to open restaurant Herbivore.  And that's isn't all.  Chef Jambon has rented a beautiful, old house that has the kitchen of every chef's dreams.  The house also has 4 extra bedrooms which he rents out and one of them could be hers.  Chili's knew that Roscoe was one of the renters but was surprised to find that another old friend from Juneau - Ozzie was also a renter.  So, when she passes the interview and is offered the job, all she has to do now is go back to California and break the news to her Aunt, Grandmother, Uncle and her boss Caesar.

Ah, the good life, so Chili thought.  That was until one of the roommates was murdered, which brought the Silver Sisters to the rescue.  And as it turns out, there wasn't just one murder but several.

I've read all of the Silver Sister Mysteries and have loved every one.  I know murder isn't supposed to be 'light hearted' but with the characters in this series, you can't help but feel a touch of humor in the writings of Morgan and Phyllice.  Their character names are priceless.  You've just met Chili Pepper but you'll also meet her mother and aunt - Goldie and Godiva, as well as her grandmother Flossie Silver and her uncle Sterling Silver.  And then there's Chili's TV boss Caesar Romano.  So, like I said, this is a light hearted mystery that will keep you lightly on the edge of your seat while you try to help the sisters solve the murders.  I myself found the ending to be a surprise.

 
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