Book Review and Giveaway - Eggnog & Evidence: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery by Nikki Weber

My Review

Noelle Cooper is busy hosting a big Christmas in July festival at Babbling Brook Campground in Maine (with the help of her beagle Corny, of course!).  When the festival's event planner, Holly, dies during the tree lighting, Noelle sets out to find out what happened.

I wanted to read Eggnog & Evidence because I have enjoyed previous books in this series.  I like the campground setting, and as a dog lover, of course I love reading about Corny too.

This was a fun addition to the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series.  The Christmas in July theme was fun, and the festival was an interesting setting for a murder mystery, given all the vendors, personnel, and campers that attended.

I enjoyed following along as Noelle detects, looking carefully at who was there the night of the tree lighting.  I appreciate the maps of the campground and the town at the beginning of the book;  they were fun to see and nice for reading reference.

The mystery aspect was well done.  The killer caught me by surprise!

This is a fast paced, fun read.  I recommend Eggnog & Evidence - and this series - to other cozy mystery readers.

Book Synopsis

Some secrets are like Christmas lights: they get worse the more you try to untangle them.

Noelle Cooper is teaming up with her family to launch a festive new venture: a holiday extravaganza complete with Santa, gallons of eggnog, and a spectacular tree lighting guaranteed to make the season merry and bright.

There’s just one problem: Holly Winterbourne, the abrasive holiday consultant Noelle’s father has hired to help pull it off. Holly insists on holding a practice run at Babbling Brook Campground—in the middle of July—and she rubs everyone the wrong way.

When an incident at the tree lighting turns deadly, the festivities come to a shocking halt. Noelle feels partly responsible for the tragedy, but then the police determine that it was no accident, and Noelle’s guilt turns to suspicion. She sets out to discover who tried to pull the plug on the festival.

Author Bio

Nikki Weber grew up reading in unconventional places: the backseat of a car, the top of the monkey bars on her backyard play set, and the corners of the quietest hallways in her elementary school. She was born and raised in Maine and spent her childhood summers camping with her family and their beagle. She loves dogs, nachos, coffee, and ice cream, and so far, she’s managed to work three of those four things into the books in the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series. She’s working on her next book right now, so grab a copy of whatever you haven’t read yet and get started!

Author Links

Website: https://nikkiweberbooks.com/

Sign Up for Nikki’s Newsletter:  Join the Cozy Book Club! | Nikki Weber

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/nikkiweber

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/nikkiweberbooks

Purchase Links  – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – Kobo –

Giveaway

Book Review and Giveaway - The Ghost and the Dead Librarian (A Haunted Bookshop Detective Mystery) by Cleo Coyle

My Review

The Ghost and the Dead Librarian is set in a bookshop in Quindicott, Rhode Island.  Penelope (Pen) lives with her young son and runs a small family bookshop.  She communicates, via thoughts, with 1940's detective Jack Shepard.  When Pen hosts local author Dory McKenna for a book signing, she has no idea what will happen.  Dory is a retired librarian, known as the Dead Librarian because she also writes obituaries.  She has written a book about their hometown that raises the ire of some of the community.  And then she is discovered dead in the bookshop - with her own obituary in her lap.  Pen and Jack set out to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read this mystery because I enjoyed earlier books in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series.  I have not read the series in a while, but I was able to catch up quickly.

I love older hardboiled mysteries (especially Raymond Chandler) so particularly love the character of Jack.  His voice is absolutely perfect.  I really enjoy the back and forth between Jack and Pen;  it's snappy and so smartly written.

This is a clever, well paced mystery.  I'm excited to be reading this series again and look forward to the next book!   I recommend The Ghost and the Dead Librarian for fans of old detective novels and also readers who enjoy a light paranormal twist.

Book Synopsis

A LIBRARY JOURNAL “MYSTERY PICK OF THE MONTH” In an utterly charming new mystery from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle, a small-town Rhode Island bookshop owner investigates the death of an eccentric librarian with the help of a wisecracking, 1940s gumshoe ghost.

As a young widow, Penelope moved back to her quaint Rhode Island town to give her young son a safer home and her aunt’s dying bookshop new life. Using her late husband’s insurance money, Pen polished the store into a local treasure. But her updates did more than attract new customers. They roused a dead private eye from his big sleep.

With Pen’s affection for hardboiled detective stories, it’s no surprise she’s developed a fondness for the wisecracking yet oddly likeable spirit. Sure, Jack’s cold spots are exasperating, along with his proclivity for putting noir fiction in the cozy section. But murder was Jack’s business in life, and his PI skills come in awfully handy when the body of an eccentric librarian is found amid the bookshop’s aisles.

For years, Dory jokingly called herself “The Dead Librarian” because of her hobby of collecting and writing local obituaries. Now, in death, she’s discovered with her own eerily pre-written obit. Was it a suicide note? Jack and Pen say no and their certainty takes them from a ghost town’s ancient cemetery to a posh Newport mansion. When another body drops, a mysterious stranger makes Pen a shocking offer, one that may change her life—and Jack’s afterlife. But unless Jack can help Pen prove who “checked out” the librarian, a ruthless killer may close the book on her.

“This spin-off of Coyle’s ‘Haunted Bookshop’ series blends cozy mystery, supernatural intrigue, and classic noir influences into a suspenseful small-town murder mystery….Combining humor, literary references, ghostly interventions, and layered community drama, the novel explores how hidden truths from the past continue to haunt the present.” —Library Journal (*Starred Review)

Author Bio

CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries, now celebrating more than 20 years in print, and the national bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. With more than one million books sold, their works have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech; received multiple Best of Year selection honors from reviewers; and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together, wrangle their rescue cats, drink a lot of java, and cook like crazy. Connect with Cleo at CleoCoyleBooks.com

 Author Links

Webpage: https://www.cleocoylebooks.com/

Free Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/cleocoylerecipes/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleoCoyle/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleocoyle_author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CleoCoyle

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cleocoyle.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cleo-coyle

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51488.Cleo_Coyle

Purchase Links:
Amazon     Barnes & Noble      Kobo    Google Play     Apple    Bookshop.org

Giveaway 

Book Review and Giveaway - The Summer of '76 by Penni Justice (An Orchard Grove Mystery)

My Review

Piper Landry lives in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she has an antique shop.  An older acquaintance shares the story of a friend who disappeared 50 years ago during the Summer of 1976.  When the older lady passes away, she leaves a trunk full of memories behind for Piper, who works to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read The Summer of '76 because I have loved the earlier books in the Orchard Grove mystery series.  The 1976 mystery was especially appealing to me.

This was such an interesting mystery!  I read the book late into the night because I enjoyed the storytelling so much that I couldn't put the book down.

The story centers around a young woman named Linda, who wanted to be a folk singer (or folk rock singer) in the 1970's.  During a festival in 1976 she vanished, never to be seen again.  Her father and her best friend missed her terribly and desperately tried to find her.  

Piper talks to people who knew Linda and who were in Orchard Grove in the 1970's and also does archival research into old newspapers, an old festival directory, etc.  I found this research to be fascinating!

One of the men Piper interviews tells her:

"Piper, I know you aren’t from here, but I’m sure by now you can understand this small town. We all went to the same school. Same church. Same festivals. Kids rode bicycles all over town. People left their keys in their cars. After Linda went missing, the whole town changed. It seemed like a cloud hung over the entire town. People were scared and wondering what happened to her. People started looking at each other differently, and everybody had a theory” (p. 118).

Piper actually works with the town sheriff on this investigation.  He grew up in the area and knows the case well.  At one point he tells her: "I think memories get polished over time" (p. 111).  I love that line and the idea of memories getting polished with time and with retelling.   That line sums up a lot of the book for me.  This is a mystery not just about a missing girl but also about memories and the way they shift over time.

As always, I enjoyed the cozy Orchard Grove setting.  I like Piper's detecting and her friends and found family - especially her sweet Aunt Violet, her boyfriend Mike, and her Great Pyrenees Maddie.

The Summer of '76 is my favorite book yet in the Orchard Grove series.  The mystery from the past was so well crafted.  I enthusiastically recommend The Summer of '76 and this book series.  Five stars!

Book Synopsis

When Piper Landry sets out to fulfill one final request, she uncovers a faded photograph, long-buried secrets, and a fifty-year-old cold case that has never been solved.

As Piper searches for answers, she discovers that the summer of 1976 left behind more than memories, and some secrets refuse to stay buried.

Author Bio

Penni Justice McDaniel is a lifelong book lover and storyteller at heart. An Atlanta native, she now lives in the scenic North Georgia mountains with her husband in a certified wildlife sanctuary. Surrounded by nature and inspired by the charm of a nearby tourist town, Penni crafted her debut cozy mystery, Blueprint for Murder. The beauty of mountain living, along with cherished memories of traveling across the country and hearing true-life stories from family and friends, often sparks ideas for her writing.

Her love of books began early, nurtured by frequent trips to libraries in Atlanta, Decatur, and Tucker, Georgia, where her mother introduced her to the magic of reading. She fell in love with fiction after discovering Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. As the church librarian, her mother also provided a treasure trove of young adult fiction and mysteries that further fueled Penni’s passion.

An avid reader, Penni devours around 70 fiction books each year, favoring cozy mysteries, historical fiction, and spy thrillers. In May 2023, she earned her second college degree, graduating with honors from Southern New Hampshire University with a B.A. in Creative Writing and English, concentrating in fiction writing. Her coursework included numerous fiction workshops that helped her hone her narrative style and voice.

For the past 24 years, Penni has owned and operated a music entertainment agency, specializing in public relations, writing, ghostwriting, and marketing. In addition to her fiction, she is working on a historical novel set in South Georgia during the 1940s and overseas during World War II.

Penni and her husband are the proud parents of three grown children, a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law—each inspiring her with their humor, intelligence, and love. They are, in her words, “the absolute joys of my life.”

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of The Summer of '76.  Your prize will be mailed directly from the author.  

You can enter the giveaway by leaving a comment below.  BE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!  If you prefer, it is fine to write your email out, i.e. myname (at) gmail (dot) com.

Questions for entrants:   What interests you about this mystery?  Do you have any questions for the author, Penni Justice?

U.S. entrants only please.

A winner will be drawn after 10/29/26 and notified by email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond, or a new name will be drawn.

Thanks for reading and good luck!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Thanks to Penni Justice for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review and Giveaway - Murder on Flesher Pass (Montana Animal Rescue Mystery Series) by K. L. Borges

My Review

Kelly Boyd works for RogerDog Rescue in Montana.  When a fellow dog rescuer dies on a transport mission for the group, Kelly gets involved looking into what happened along with her friends and fellow rescuers, Betty Mills and Cici Vargas.  This turns out to be a complex case involving some dogs being shipped in from Mexico and a number of criminals who are up to no good.

I wanted to read Murder on Flesher Pass because I am an avid mystery reader.  I love dogs and support dog rescue, so the rescue storyline appealed to me.

I found this to be a unique book.  The rescue storyline is strong here.  My favorite part of the book is the story of the hard working animal rescuers and the dogs they save.  I found the day to day rescue group operation details to be both interesting and realistic, emphasizing the behind the scenes hard work of actually taking care of a rescue full of dogs.

Kelly, Betty, and Cici are all dedicated to animals and they have a strong friendship bond.  Cici is former military and both she and Betty are tough characters who use some strong language.  I would consider this book to be a mainstream mystery instead of a cozy for that reason.

The characters are well drawn with distinct personalities.  The book focuses on the three women and two teenagers who work for the rescue as well, and I felt like I got to know them all as a reader in this book.  

The mystery aspect of the book was well done.  The perpetrator was clear to me mid-way through the book, and I enjoyed watching this trio of friends unravel the mystery and solve the crime.  Their dedication to the dogs they take care of and their friend who was lost in transport was palpable - and admirable.

The personalities of the dogs - and a big, feisty cat named Butch - brought a lot to this novel, and I enjoyed reading about them.

Murder on Flesher Pass is a mystery that will appeal to animal lovers, pet rescue supporters, and readers who enjoy a lively mystery.

Book Synopsis

RogerDog Rescue of Helena, Montana, is operated solely for the benefit of Montana dogs, no transported outsiders allowed.

When a fellow rescuer dies while completing a transport for an infamous Butte operation, Betty Mills, Kelly Boyd and Cici Vargas don’t believe it was an accident. They infilter the Butte group, just in time to partake in a rescue flight from Mexico. Plans go awry and they unwittingly wind up with something that multiple suspicious characters want to get their hands on. Is it the foreign dogs themselves or something else? The body count begins to grow and the danger spreads to other RogerDog workers.

Can they solve the mystery before it is too late?

Author Bio

K.L. Borges, an Agatha Award-nominated author, moved to Montana thirty-five years ago with her husband to raise their three children alongside a series of herding dogs. Prior to becoming an author, she taught math at a private Billings high school (Go, Rams!). Borges is a member of the Billings Gem and Mineral Club and Sisters in Crime. She and her husband are often found enjoying the Montana outdoors with their two blue heelers.

Author Links

Author website: K.L. Borges – Home

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profilr.php?id=61557406862657

Buy links:    Amazon       B&N        This House of Books  

Giveaway

Book Review - Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova

My Review

When Jay Turner's mother dies unexpectedly, he takes some time off from teaching to clear out his family home and decide what to do next.  He discovers a scrap of paper mentioning a Gilded Age actor named Gael Brogan.  He also receives a mysterious delivery of a book that belonged to Vlad Tepes (the real life Dracula).  As he looks into these items, his life changes and becomes dangerous.  He meets Riley (Rhiannon), a grad student who joins his quest and encounters a series of other people who knew his mother or who are connected to the mystery in some way.  

Mystery Play is the long awaited sequel to The Historian, which is one of my favorite books of all time.  Jay Turner's mother in Mystery Play is the young woman who was the protagonist in The Historian.  There is a definite link between the books and the mystery that Jay encounters.

Mystery Play is situated in New England and the dangerous, mysterious figure from the past is Gael Brogan, an acclaimed Irish actor working in America during the 1890's.  The story is told from various viewpoints, including Jay, the diary of Gael Brogan's leading lady (and real life love) Fern Quinn, an older librarian and researcher named Helsa Grace Dubose-Cummings, and the diary of Jay's mother from her younger years.  It is a big, sprawling story and a long read at 592 pages.  I enjoyed the "big book" aspect of Mystery Play because I felt fully immersed in the storytelling.  Since the characters from both books (Mystery Play and The Historian) are historians, narratives from different people - and different times - added a great deal to the story.

I liked Jay and Riley and felt invested in their story.  They are both intelligent, warm, sensitive characters.  I liked their friendship and romantic spark.  I also really liked Helsa, who helped them with research as they went along.

The long passages from Fern's diary were a bit more languid and leisurely for me, and I felt the book lost some momentum with these sections.  (I do see Fern as an important character but I would have liked shorter passages from her story.)

The writing is beautiful, as I expect from Elizabeth Kostova, with vivid descriptions and fully rounded characterizations.  There are passages like Helsa's memory:

"One of the more startling things about being alive, I’ve thought since I was a teenager at the Leaf School for Girls, is the way a day can change in the space of a moment— a day or a life. For example, that morning, when I was sitting in class at Leaf, a privileged high school student at an old Charleston desk scratched with sixty years of other privileged girls’ initials and unrequired crushes. One minute just smoothing my navy skirt on my thigh, twiddling my pencil over a quiz: Why does Huck finally decide to return home, and how does he feel about it? That was when they were still teaching Huckleberry Finn there. Then the classroom door opening with a fast click, and everything different forever after." (eBook location 5339).

The mystery aspect of this story was well done, with a number of twists and revelations throughout.  I guessed the big reveal earlier on, but found it very effective in the latter part of the book.

This is a very dark story and the violence is at times quite graphic.  (Dog lovers - skip chapter 43!)  There is also a stronger paranormal emphasis in this book than in The Historian.  I am not a horror reader and found some of the violent passages hard to read.  (I continued because I wanted to know what happened with Jay and Riley).

I am left with conflicting feelings about Mystery Play.  It's so well written, so unusual, with a compelling mystery . . . but at the same time, much darker and more visceral than my usual reads.  

Thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review - Evie Walters Takes the Wheel by Kathleen Fox

My Review

Evie Walters finds herself, at 71, a recent widow, adrift, and not sure what to do next.  Her children conspire to get her to move from their family home to assisted living.  Evie receives an orchid that reminds her of her first love, back in 1972.  She impulsively purchases a camper van with the plan to travel back to Montana to visit her first boyfriend Novel.  On the way there are several twists and turns, a lovable stray dog who adopts her, and a charming, eccentric cast of characters from the road.

I wanted to read Evie Walters Takes the Wheel because I am fascinated by van life, to the extent of watching van life videos on Youtube.  

Evie is a very sympathetic character:  caring, intelligent, and looking for more than her straight laced life.  It was wonderful reading about an older female protagonist.  I enjoyed her van adventure, starting as a newbie and then getting more comfortable with life on the road.

Of course I loved her encounter with the little dog who adopted her, Mrs. Brown.  I also enjoyed the colorful characters she met on the road.

The book is told in two storylines - present day and Montana, 1972.  Although there are certainly romantic overtones in this book, both with Evie's first love Novel in the past, and the feeling that Evie is moving toward something in the future, this is more a book about Evie.  It is, in many ways, a coming of age novel about an older character!   Through Evie's travels, she discovers herself.

Evie's daughter Melony is thoroughly unlikable and bent on controlling her mother.  We are told that she is exactly like Evie's late husband Royce.  From the glimpses we have of Evie's life with Royce, I found him very unsympathetic too ... meaning that any life she chose to have in the future would be a great improvement.

I found Evie Walters Takes the Wheel to be a leisurely, interesting read, and I would recommend it to other readers -- especially to anyone who has an interest in van life or more mature female characters coming into their own. 

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review - Whom Shall I Fear? by Christine Caine

My Review

Whom Shall I Fear? is a devotional book about living fearlessly.  There are 100 devotions in this book.  I love the introduction:

"In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, where we have ample opportunities to feel afraid every single day, I want to reassure you that you don't have to live in fear.  I know that may seem hard to believe, and harder yet to do, but it's true.  Over and over again, God tells us in His Word to 'fear not' or 'do not be afraid.' And 2 Timothy assures us that 'God has not given us a spirit of fear.'" (p. v)

There are 25 devotions on each of these topics:

The Call to Rest

Fighting the Good Fight - With Prayer

In Spirit and In Truth

His Joy, Our Strength

Each devotion is a short two page format:  a Bible verse, a narrative that is personal or a Bible story, and a prayer.  This short format would be perfect for bedtime reading - or reading at night if you can't sleep.

There are some practical suggestions too.  For instance, in "Make Time," the author talks about how she unwinds with word search puzzles and then she suggests looking for things that relax you:  "What gives you genuine rest?  What provides you pleasure, leisure, and relaxation?  Running? Walking? Reading a book?"

There is a ribbon bookmark in this book to keep your place.  I intend to keep it at my bedside to read at night.

I recommend Whom Shall I Fear? for anyone who is looking for a reassuring devotional book for letting go of anxiety and fear.  The gentle tone and helpful stories and suggestions are very reassuring.

Book Synopsis

Learn to live to the life you are called to with the courage and joyful endurance that come from fully trusting in the God who fights for you.

What would you do if you woke up each day without fear? What wouldn’t you do? Today is the day to stop giving power to fear and start living the life you are called to.

Whom Shall I Fear? by bestselling author and internationally acclaimed speaker Christine Caine is your 100-day devotional journey to trade in your fears, overcome your doubts, and discover a life of courage and joyful endurance.

Christine Caine knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by the path in front of you. But the God we serve reminds us hundreds of times in Scripture to fear not, and Christine wants you to know that you, too, can overcome your doubts and fears, and you can live in confidence in the God who fights for you.

Whatever you’re facing, and whatever you’re called to, you can live an overcoming, enduring life of joy and purpose. Discover how:

• Your call to rest is more important than you think
• Fighting the good fight starts with prayer
• Worshipping in Spirit and truth helps you overcome
• God’s joy is your strength, and He wants you to live a life of joy too

Whom Shall I Fear? is a perfect gift for anyone who is:

• Seeking confidence and courage in God
• Starting a new chapter in life
• Working to overcome fears and doubts
• Facing challenges
• Needing to be infused with God’s strength, joy, and endurance

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? —Psalm 27:1 NIV

Author Bio

Christine Caine is a New York Times bestselling author and an internationally acclaimed speaker whose message of hope and resilience has inspired millions. Along with her husband, Nick, she founded the A21 Campaign, a global nonprofit dedicated to combating human trafficking, and Propel Women, an initiative committed to activating women globally to fulfill their God-given purpose. Christine’s impactful work is also shared through her weekly podcasts, Equip and Empower and Life and Leadership with Propel Women. To learn more about Christine, visit www.christinecaine.com.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and TLC Book Tours for a copy of this book. 

Book Review: Galinda: A Charmed Childhood by Gregory Maguire

My Review

Galinda: A Charmed Childhood is a prequel to Wicked.  It tells the story of Galinda's childhood.  She is the youngest child and only daughter of a high born family who are facing some challenges.  Galinda believes she was born for more.  She dances in competitions and dreams of tiaras and pursuing her dreams - although she isn't sure what they are yet.  

I wanted to read Galinda: A Charmed Childhood because I love Wicked.  It's one of my top 10 favorite novels.  Learning about Galinda's childhood was intriguing!

This is a very interesting novel.  Surprisingly, it took me a little bit to get into the story but then I was immersed and really enjoyed the read.  It's a leisurely paced book with a lot about Galinda's family - her father, who is a businessman, her mother, who is often absent, and her grandmother, who may or may not have some magical powers.  Her brother Ham also has a subplot that runs through the story as well.

I have always been an Elphaba fan, but this novel gave me more empathy for Galinda.  Her childhood was definitely not a completely rosy picture.  I loved her flights of fancy when she had an imaginary playmate, when she dreamed big, when she wondered "what if."

The writing is, of course, vivid and lovely, with descriptions like:

"She was a fluster of pretty impatience, that child. She arrived at any doorway prepared to deliver a full sentence, an opening line, as if conversation was always stalled until she sailed into the room to initiate it. (eBook location 160)

and

" . . . interfered with the sealed globe of her own private Essence of Galinda. Which was like a bespoke perfume— it announced her and it completed her at the same time. If her father’s hand rested on her head, she could think about his hand, but when it withdrew, she’d waft on, forgetful, even oblivious. She was eight." (eBook location 193)

I recommend Galinda: A Charmed Childhood for readers who enjoyed Wicked and the other books in this series.  This novel brings something unique to the Wicked narrative that I think you will enjoy.

Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books - Vintage Advertising Postcards

I am still going through the big estate of postcards I found last year.  They are so much fun to research and to list!   The postcards featured today are all advertising cards - you'll find them in my shop.

This 1907 Stanley Steamer car postcard is an advertisement for Citizens and Southern Banks in Georgia and their available car loans.

I have two Ken Holmes illustrated postcards with a little cartoon about old timey service stations.  On the back of each card you will find an ad for the Big Bend Service Station in Van Horn, Texas ... with a listing of how far different travel destinations are from Van Horn.  Card 1 ... Card 2

Another Mid-Century card is an advertisement for National Awnings in Atlanta.  

I have many more unique postcards to list, and will post more updates here!

Book Review - Love Felt Like This by Julie Olivia

My Review

Love Felt Like This is the story of Beverly and Griffin.  Beverly is a sunny puppeteer.  Griffin is a gruff musician who is a single dad to a two year old daughter, Ava.  They come together, unexpectedly, over work and discover they work surprisingly well together.  Griffin travels to Beverly's small North Carolina mountain hometown with his daughter.  They stay with Beverly's family so he can work on some children's songs for the TV show she is working to revive;  Griffin also is working on original music after a long writing block.  They begin to connect personally, despite many obstacles.  What happens next is their story.

I wanted to read Love Felt Like This because I loved the author's If It Makes You Happy last year.  The characters in this story sounded appealing and unique.

I am now putting Julie Olivia on my list of authors that I always look for.  I have absolutely loved her last two novels.  Love Felt Like This is such a fresh and utterly original love story.  Beverly and Griffin felt so real.  Their story is warm and sincere.  They meet while working on their respective careers - which are both in a challenging place.  A relationship is the last thing either of them is looking for.  

Olivia had a long and difficult relationship with her high school sweetheart turned musician.  Griffin's priorities are getting his songwriting back on track and taking care of his young daughter.  I loved the friendship that sparks first between them, with sparks they both resist.  These are characters I genuinely liked.  Olivia's work was fascinating;  I have to say I've never read a book about a puppeteer before, especially with a lot of behind the scenes work details.  I also really loved her family, who are an important part of this story.  (And Pudge the Basset Hound!)

I enthusiastically recommend Love Felt Like This for anyone who wants to enjoy a heartfelt back and forth love story between two quirky and likable characters.  Five stars!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Company and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - One of Our Darcies is Dead: A Hawthorne Cove Mystery by Grace Caldwell

Book Synopsis

The residents of Hawthorne Cove are determined to prove their seaside town deserves a place on every literary lover’s travel list. With a brand-new Jane Austen Festival, charming boutiques, and enough Regency flair to satisfy even the most devoted Austen fan, they’re ready for their grand debut. But when opening night ends with a dead Mr. Darcy, literature professor Chloe Sinclair, in town to escape a life that hasn’t gone to plan, learns that the most captivating stories aren’t always the ones written in books.

Author Bio

Grace Caldwell writes cozy mysteries for people who’d bring a book to a murder. An award-winning screenwriter and a professor of creative writing and literature, she’s published across more genres than she can reasonably list at a dinner party, but cozy mysteries are where she feels most at home. She lives in Central Florida with two fluffy feline assistants, Elsa and Anna, who supervise every page and approve of none of her deadlines.

Author Links

Website https://www.gracecaldwell.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590292063669

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gracecaldwellbooks/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@gracecaldwellbooks

Purchase Links: https://www.gracecaldwell.com/shop  AMAZON 

Giveaway 

Book Review - 'Tis the Season to Be Scary by Vicki Delany (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery)

My Review

Merry Wilkinson, who owns a Christmas shop in Rudolph, New York, is excited about a big Halloween season fundraiser at the local inn.  Her best friend, Vicky, is providing baked goods for the event - all from her new cookbook, which is about to be published.  Unfortunately, a guest dies - after eating one of Vicky's cake pops.  As danger (and spooky happenings!) increases, Merry tries to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read 'Tis the Season to Be Scary because I love cozy mysteries and enjoy the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series.  

As always, I enjoyed the holiday theme in this book -- with Halloween as well as plenty of Christmas references, thanks to Merry's shop.

I like Merry as an amateur detective.  She's smart and resourceful, even in the face of danger (and there is a scary car chase in this book).  I also like her boyfriend Alan, her friends, her family, and - of course - her Saint Bernard dog Matterhorn.

This is a well written, lively paced mystery.  There were several strong suspects and I enjoyed sleuthing along with Merry.  (I was suspicious of the killer!)

I recommend 'Tis the Season to Be Scary for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for readers who enjoy small town settings and holiday themes.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review and Giveaway - Eat, Drink, and Get Buried (A Coffeehouse Mystery) by Cleo Coyle

My Review

Clare Cosi is hosting a special party at her coffeehouse, Village Blend, in NYC.  It's a birthday party for Ava Welsh's boyfriend Ryan.  Ava grew up with Clare's daughter Joy and is like one of the family.  Ryan is planning to propose to Ava at the party, so it looks like a joyous occasion ... until a mysterious woman is thrown off the balcony by someone who looks like Ryan.  Ryan takes off running and Clare works to solve the mystery and clear his name.

I wanted to read Eat, Drink, and Get Buried because I enjoy cozy mysteries and love this series.  The Village Blend setting feels like a visit with old friends.

This is such a strong mystery!  It has so many elements I enjoy in cozies.  The mystery is set up very early on when Ryan is almost the victim of a hit and run accident before the party.  The chapters are short but full of drama and developments, so the book has a lively pace.   With Ryan on the run (and with Ava and Joy in danger) the stakes are very high.

I have suggested this series several times to friends and enthusiastically recommend Eat, Drink and Get Buried.  It is such an enjoyable, fast paced read - sure to please anyone who enjoys NYC or restaurant settings.

Book Synopsis

When the Village Blend caters a glittering rooftop party, their creative coffee concoctions are eclipsed by a shocking murder in this thrilling new Coffeehouse Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Years ago, when master roaster Clare Cosi was a newly divorced mom raising her daughter, Joy, Ava Welsh became Joy’s best friend. Now the painfully shy girl next door has grown into a successful New York businesswoman, and Clare is delighted to be catering Ava’s coffee-themed party, especially when her boyfriend, Ryan, confides his plan to propose that very night.

Then a scream shatters the celebration. A woman is thrown off the balcony to her death, and Ryan–who abruptly flees the party–is accused of murder. Clare vows to help Ava clear his name.

Her digging uncovers suspicious connections to a deadly event from which a teenaged Joy and Ava barely escaped with their lives. The stakes rise ever higher as a ruthless killer attempts to keep the ugly truth buried–even if it means sending Clare and her caffeinated crew six feet under.

Author Bio

CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries, now celebrating more than 20 years in print, and the national bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. With more than one million books sold, their works have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech; received multiple Best of Year selection honors from reviewers; and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together, wrangle their rescue cats, drink a lot of java, and cook like crazy. Connect with Cleo at CoffeehouseMystery.com

Author Links

Webpage: https://www.coffeehousemystery.com/

Free Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/cleocoylerecipes/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleoCoyle/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleocoyle_author/

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CleoCoyle

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cleocoyle.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cleo-coyle

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51488.Cleo_Coyle

Purchase Links:

Amazon Barnes & Noble   Kobo   Google Play    Apple    Bookshop.org

Giveaway

Thanks to Berkeley Publishing Group, Netgalley, and Great Escapes Book Tours for a copy of this book.