Where did the year go? Here is the last post for 2019, wow!

Here is the last in A Markham Sisters Collection: MNOP, the short stories by Diana Xarissa: The Patrone Case. William Chalmers (owns an antique store) is interviewing for an assistant and one of the sisters is helping out. The applicants seem, well, less than qualified and he puts them off with ‘I’ll be making my selection this week’. Then a brick is tossed through the window at the front of the store. Is there a connection? And what about the two couples staying at the B&B? What’s going on with them? As I’ve said before, these are charming little mysteries that are just fun to read.

No More Dead Dogs, by Gordon Korman, comes from a recommendation by Constant Reader. It’s a juvie read, so won’t take you long. There are great characters here, the main one being a student who wrote a scathing review of a teacher’s favorite book (it won an award). One argument being that any time a dog book had an award sticker on the cover, you know the dog will die. He was given detention when he refused to change his review, which lead to him being assigned to help out with the drama club’s presentation of (you guessed it) that very book! The changes he makes should make you chuckle. :-)

Happy New Year everyone!

Reading Hermit With Dog

What’s it like to be married to an equine practitioner? One who can be called out at all hours, in all kinds of weather, weekdays, weekends, holidays? Justin B. Long found out, and wrote about it in Adventures of the Horse Doctor’s Husband. Yes, he keeps the books for the business, but also drives the truck (often pulling a trailer), shuffles the equipment over muddy pastures, holds IV lines and so on. There are other animals from time to time, but it’s mostly horses here. Do note: these are sick and/or injured animals so there’s not always a happy ending. (I promised no spoilers, but I don’t want any sad surprises, either). All in all, a good read. :-)

Do you remember the kitchen from your childhood? If you are (ahem) of a certain age, you will enjoy The Midcentury Kitchen: America’s Favorite Room: From Workspace to Dreamscape 1940s - 1970s, by Sarah Archer. A nice look at appliances and workspaces designed to make things easier for the cook. Loved the pictures of the kitchens of the various eras, the pamphlets used to promote them and so on. Some friends of my folks had the big pink refrigerator with the foot pedal to open the door. It didn’t take their dog long to figure that out! Worth a look!

Reading Hermit With Dog

We’ve all seen Santas in a department store, or mall, perhaps even took children to see him. Yes, pets go see Santa, too, but this book is about kids. ;-) The first time the author played Santa he was surprised he got the job … he was 19 … and skinny! He would continue it for the next 25 years (needing less padding as time went on). Santa Clause Confidential: 150 Laugh-Out-Loud Stories From a Professional Kris Kringle, by Kevin Neary was a most enjoyable holiday read about what just does happen when a child reaches Santa’s lap. What questions do they ask (and how might Santa answer)?

A reunion of college housemates from forty years ago seemed like such a good idea, after all, they had all kept in touch over the years. It’d be fun, yes? Turned out to be a horrible idea what with all the bickering, innuendos, and eventually (of course) a body. Silent Night, Deadly Night is another Year Round Christmas Mystery by Vicki Delany. Add to this the preparation for the annual Christmas parade, and a smarmy new resident who is determined to ‘upgrade’ the floats to bring in more business and corporate sponsors. (I’ve been taken to task for this, but not everything is a business that needs to make money!)

And, for something to read on Christmas Eve, try Sherlock’s Night Before Christmas: a Mystery, by Julie Petersen and illustrated by Sheryl Dickert. It won’t take long, it’s about as long as the poem that inspired this delightful spinoff! Watson keeps saying he has spotted Santa, but Holmes never does … is Watson lying? (That’s not like him, after all). Clever and fun!

Happy Holidays!

Reading Hermit With Dog

I’m glad Canadian Reader will be here for a visit soon as Kittens and Killers, by Diana Xarissa is the last Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy books on my shelf! When a dog starts barking at an old shed, Fenella (given her history) is fearful of finding another body. She calls Inspector Robinson to come check, but it’s just an injured mother cat and her kittens. She takes over their care, and with helping the Inspector with a cold case he’s working on. Since it happened some fifty years ago the few possible witnesses are elderly, some with memory issues. Following along as they try and solve the mystery makes for a great read.

This time of year I frequently read mysteries of a seasonal theme, but Hark the Herald Angels Slay is actually a summer mystery! It’s one of the Year-Round Christmas Mystery books by Vicki Delany and features Santa arriving for some beach time. The small businesses are expecting lots of customers but instead there is a murder (naturally), and it’s someone with connections to one of them. Add an obnoxious magazine diva and the entourage that comes with her and you have a ‘warm read’ for a chilly winter day. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

Here’s a book that is full of nostalgic pictures, party ideas, and quirky recipes for all the major holidays: Holiday Jubilee: Classic & Kitschy Festivities and Fun Party Recipes, by Charles Phoenix with Kathy Kikkert. The author loves to do odd things with meatloaf, and Moms who’ve raised boys tell me the rat would have gone over big time! Don’t miss the lamb, either, with mashed potatoes for fleece, or the gelatin Christmas tree, complete with lights. This was a hoot!

This all started when Constant Reader told me about Jolabokaflod, or Yule book flood. Seems it is a tradition to give books as gifts in Iceland this time of year, in fact, publishers time their schedules around it! I love it! To learn more, I found The Little Book of the Icelanders at Christmas, by Alda Sigmundsdottir. It explains what, why, and how various traditions got started, including jolabokaflod. They sound like a lot of fun!

Reading Hermit With Dog

For a quick read on a rainy autumn afternoon, go for The Osborne Case, one of the stories in A Markham Sisters Collection - MNOP, by Diana Xarissa. Aunt Bessie and Doona (from the Isle of Mann mystery series) are visiting and are eager to help the sisters track down someone who can tell them more about the B&B they own and run. Turns out, that person is missing … but for how long? The somewhat confused and bewildered flat mate is of little help, but can she tell them enough to find Gretchen Falkirk?

Owl be Home for Christmas, by Donna Andrews is a fun twist on the ‘snowbound’ mystery. There has been a murder at an owl convention. No one can leave, but no one (such as CSI folks, etc.) can arrive, either. Cell phones are down, there is no internet connection. The victim was not well liked, which seems to be a theme in the mysteries I’ve read recently … or is it just me? Anyway, there are lots of possible suspects and an abundance of motives. And what about that black widow spider found in the bathroom? The Meg Langslow Mystery series is a lot of fun, don’t miss this one!

The Flaw in All Magic, by Ben S. Dobson was a recommendation from Seattle Reader. Just how does one survive with no magical capabilities in a world of magic? At one point, by sleight of hand, and misdirection … until he is caught out and expelled from school that is. Tane Carver, however, has excellent powers of observation and can recognize clues and so on when others cannot. When a student is murdered at the university, he is (reluctantly) called in to help. It’s the first in the Magebreakers Series, and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of book #2!

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Dogs can search for the missing, find buried remains, sniff out drugs and bombs, and offer comfort after traumatic events. Read about many of them in Extraordinary Dogs: Stories from Search and Rescue Dogs, Comfort Dogs, and Other Canine Heroes, with photographs by Liz Stavrinides and essays by John Schlimm.

Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes, by Jessica Pan was a strange read, at least to me. I was interested because I too, an am introvert, but it seems, one very different from the author. She started this project, of saying yes to getting out and about, because she felt like she was missing something. I have never felt this way! She does not like talking to strangers, or public speaking and yet, she challenged herself (took some classes, too) to do both … and much more. And while I seem to feel differently about these things, I do admire her courage. :-)

I never had Lego bricks when I was young, but I will admit, it’s been fun watching them evolve, and all the amazing things can be done with them. For some wonderful winter time ideas, take a look at Holiday Ideas, by Elizabeth Dowsett. There are instructions for animals, and elves, santa (of course) and even the family dinner! My favorite might be the chapter on ‘cozy holiday sweaters’ … all from Lego bricks!

Reading Hermit With Dog

Finally! Another of the Kopp Sister novels! Thanks to County Reader for telling me that Lady Cop Makes Trouble, by Amy Stewart was available. It’s 1915, New York City, and lady cops are not common, in fact, they are often not even wanted other than serving as matrons on the women’s floor of a prison. Constance Kopp is good, though, and has been appointed as one of the first female detectives. Will she be able to hold on to that position? Based on real sisters, this is a grand historical mystery.

Here is the second in a new series I mentioned not too long ago: Lord James Harrington and the Spring Mystery, by Lynn Florkiewicz. It’s time for the spring fair and Lord James and his wife, Beth, have a lot planned for the celebration. To their surprise, an elderly recluse has asked if she can come, and then ends up dead. What is the connection with the rest of the villagers? And who is the young man with amnesia? This series is off to a great start!

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English can be a hard language to learn. Part of this is due to our use of idioms. I was thinking Watch Your Tongue: What Our Everyday Sayings and Idioms Literally Figuratively Mean, by Mark Abley was going to be fun … and it was, but it was also a rich and detailed read and I found reading it in chapters in-between other books the best way to go. The author explains the origins of an idiom, how it might have changed over time, and those that are now obsolete. What was fun was that it was written with idioms! There were many chuckles here.

We all age, there’s no getting around it, but, how do you know when you are actually, well, old? Romney S. Humphrey takes on that challenge in her book for Baby Boomers titled How I Learned I’m Old. Some I laughed at, others not so much since they involved shopping or parties, neither of which I do much, but it’s worth a look to see what you will find funny. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog