My Friday Five...

1. I'm still sick. Ugh. Go away flu! I now believe I have the flu and not a summer cold. Double Ugh!

2. I'm finally watching A Good Girl's Guide To Murder on Netflix. I remember reading the series awhile ago, but never watched the show. I like the music, but I'm hating Pippa. So, not sure I'll keep watching. 

3. I'm still reading. Right now it's:

I love Hallett's books, so I just knew I'd enjoy her children's book, A Box Full of Murders - it's the first in her series called, A Box Full of Murders. I'm halfway through and loving it to bits. I'm really having fun trying to figure out whodunit. It's so much fun getting to know Ava and Luke as they work together to solve the murder mystery that Luke stumbled upon in their dad's attic. Yep, he found an old box stuffed full of papers all having to do with a murder from decades ago and now the two siblings are determined to piece it all together and find out whodunit. And, it has been so much fun getting stuck in this case alongside these two sleuths - I am loving reading the diary entries, texts, documents, and illustrations. I keep thinking I have an idea of what is happening, but the next thing I know something new pops up and throws me off track - I love it! I'm exciting to read more later today.

4. My birthday is next week and I have no idea if I will even feel well enough to enjoy it. 

5. Wishing you all great health! Enjoy the weekend and enjoy some great reads!

City of Promises: A Counterfeit Lady Novel by Victoria Thompson with Ellen Thompson

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Elizabeth Bates must use everything she knows about the art of the con to stop a fellow scammer in his tracks in this first-ever thrilling crossover in the Victoria Thompson universe, featuring characters from her bestselling Gaslight Mysteries.

Famed former police detective turned private investigator Frank Malloy and his wife, Sarah, come to Gideon Bates desperate for legal guidance. The Malloys’ adopted daughter, Catherine, a burgeoning star of the stage, has announced her engagement to a man she barely knows. Catherine has recently gained access to her trust fund, and Sebastian Talbot appears very eager to marry her as quickly as possible.

As Gideon and his wife, Elizabeth, investigate, it becomes clear that Talbot may not be who he says he is. As a former con artist herself, Elizabeth suspects one may be in their midst. Undeterred by her pregnancy, she must pull out all the stops to out swindle a swindler and save another woman from ruin.

my thoughts:

19020s. New York City. Historical mystery. I mean, how could I not read this book, right? Sounds like the perfect novel to get caught up in on a rainy summer day. Plus, this is the first crossover between Thompson's series - how cool is that? Also, if you have not read any of the books in her series of stories, you can still read this great new one as a standalone. 

So, what is this is riveting new read about? Well, it's about Elizabeth Bates working on a case - a husband and wife are worried that their daughter may be getting swindled by her new paramour. And, apparently, Elizabeth used to be a con artist, so she's using her personal experience to sniff out the culprit. And, that is all I will share about this fun and thrilling story.  Except, to say that this story is a treat to read. Not only is the writing top notch, but the characters are unforgettable and the story itself is unputdownable. I loved every second spent with Elizabeth and her husband, Gideon. I would happily recommend City of Promises to fans of Thompson and to anyone looking for their next great read. You are going to LOVE this book to bits!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Séance Garden: A Novel by Juliet Blackwell

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

New book alert! I just started reading this paranormal mystery for Summerween and must say, I am intrigued. I am really enjoying getting to know Harper and the town of Monterey. I can't wait to find out what happens next! 

Anyhow, I just wanted to alert you to this great new novel by Juliet Blackwell and provide a bit of information about it so that you will be enticed to grab a copy of your own. Here goes:

"After a cheesy ghost tour in one of California’s oldest towns stumbles upon an actual haunting, a skeptical historian of the occult becomes entangled in solving a murder case.

When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family.

On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer.

As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles. 

What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?"

How exciting does that sound? I always love these sleuthing mysteries - they make for such a fun time. Anyhow, I'm off to continue reading more - I'm still feeling under the weather, so reading all day sounds perfect. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Monday Musings...

Oh my throat. I'm sick. A summer cold. My sister got it first and now I have it. Ugh. 

I have been reading. The first book was Shari Lapena's latest novel, Getting Away With Murder. 

I was looking forward to this one, but it wound up falling short for me. I didn't like the ending and just found myself rolling my eyes the majority of the time. Plus, the characters were all despicable, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Ugh.

So, of course, I read another Shari Lapena book. And thankfully, this one was way better. I gobbled it up in one sitting and absolutely loved chatting about it with my family. It was just too crazy and unbelievable not to chat about. A little girl goes missing in her small town and everyone is suspect. And, that is all I'll share. You have to check it out!

 

Up next, I'll be reading the new Lang Leav novel. I always enjoy Leav's poetry and her novels, so I'm excited for this one. 

Aside from reading, I watched the first episode of The Real Housewives of London - I love Juliet from Ladies of London and she's on this show. Unfortunately, she won't be on this show until episode 5. Oh well, it's still a fun watch. And, I started to watch Countdown with Jensen Ackles - it was canceled, but I'm a fan, so I'm excited to see this show. 

And that's all I have to share for now. I'm hoping to feel much better soon, so I can get back on track and catch up on everything. 

Wishing you all a lovely week. Happy reading!

My Friday Five...

1. Going away for a few days was just the ticket. I needed a break from the everyday chaos and my sister invited me and our mom for a mini-break in Orlando. She was there for work and we were there for rest and relaxation. I loved the hotel - felt like we were in a treehouse. Plus, it's always a great time when the three of us get to just hang out.

2. New Christmas movies on Hallmark are just not hitting the mark lately. I feel like the older movies were so much better. Oh well, they are still fun to watch.

3. The heat. It is HOT in FL and it feels stifling. UGH.

4.  I'm middle-aged and still getting guilt-tripped by my mom - how is that even possible? LOL!

5.  Iced coffees. I finally get the hype. I was never a fan and now I can't seem to stop craving them. 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. Happy reading!