Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from Florida!

Good Reads: Santa 365

Santa 365: A Chet and Bernie eShort Story by Spencer Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Santa 365 is a fun Christmas romp with Chet and Bernie. It is a well written and professionally edited novella.

This is a quick, fast paced mystery that is swiftly solved and remains upbeat throughout the story.

Definitely a must read for Chet and Bernie lovers.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Math Rant and Other Stuff

This is the first year in which Dear Daughter (DD) has had Common Core math.  I had noticed that her algebra book had Common Core on the front, but didn't really give it much thought.

One evening I noticed her writing line after line of incorrect answers for a problem that she could easily do in her head.  Five lines in I asked what she was doing and why didn't she just write the correct answer?  At this point DD huffed and said she knew it didn't make sense, but her teacher told them to do it this way to get full credit.

For the past few months I've watched her learn fairly simple algebra in such a convoluted way that I've been gob smacked (as my English friend says).  After a bit of research I've realized that I am witnessing Common Core in action.  And it's really, really scary.

If an employee of mine tried to solve problems the way Common Core does, they wouldn't work for me very long.  I want to see efficiency, correct answers and swiftness when making decisions.  Not a list of wrong ways to solve a problem, then finally the big reveal of the best solution.


Sigh.  What are we allowing our government to do to our children?  Why aren't our leaders listening to the teachers and parents that have been very vocal about the Common Core system of teaching.
Massachusetts recently opted out of the Common Core system and we should push our representatives to do the same.

So, write a few letters and make some noise.  Teach your child the streamlined way to solve math problems.  Become a member of the Math Underground (not a real thing) and prepare your children for the real world.

Thanks for letting me rant.

God Bless,
Pam

Good Reads: Diner Knock Out

Diner Knock Out by Terri L. Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Diner Knock Out is the fourth book in the Rose Strickland Mystery series. It is a very well written and professionally edited full length novel.

I love this series; the heroine, Rose, is smart and determined to make it through life as an independent woman. The secondary characters are complex and fully part of the plot.

The plot is a fast paced mystery intertwined with the romance between Rose and her underworld boss boyfriend.

I would suggest that this series of mysteries be read in order; this book wouldn't read well as a standalone novel. It does end with a satisfying HFN.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Guaranteed To Bleed

Guaranteed to Bleed by Julie Mulhern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Guaranteed To Bleed is the second book in The Country Club Murders series. It is a well written and professionally edited, full length mystery novel.

The heroine is a widow (the first book was about her husband's murder) and part of the Kansas City country club set. She has been programmed to deny her feelings and hide any unpleasantness in her life by her controlling mother and promiscuous late husband.

In Guaraneed the h stumbles upon the body of a teenager under the bleachers at a high school football game. She finds herself and her daughter embroiled in a murder investigation, while she dodges the lawyer her matchmaking mother has decided should be her next husband. And there's the handsome police detective that keeps getting drawn into her life by the murders she stumbles upon.

The mystery was complex and fast paced; and the characters well developed. I was disappointed to see that the h was still allowing her mother to manipulate her. With everything she's been through she should have developed the strength to break free of outside influences.

All in all, Guaranteed To Bleed is a satisfying read with a HFN ending. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

The Frugal Kitchen: Baked "Hard Boiled" Eggs

I had read about baking eggs to make "hard boiled" eggs the easy way.  All I had to do was pop some whole eggs in a muffin tin and bake them for 30 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit.  The eggs were supposed to be easier to peel than boiled eggs, but have the same consistency as traditional hard boiled eggs.

I followed the baking instructions.

Then I popped the eggs into iced water.

After they were cool I peeled them and they did peel easily.  Unfortunately, the whites had a rubbery texture and had at least one brown spot per egg.

Maybe I should have baked them for a shorter period of time, but every article I read said 30 minutes.  I think I'll stick with the traditional boiling method, but if anyone has some tips please let me know.

God bless,
Pam

Good Reads: Sky High

Sky High by Susan O'Brien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sky High is the second book in the Nicki Valentine mystery series. It is a nicely written, full length novel.

Nicki has been a self employed private detective for a year with a home based business doing background checks. She has two small, school aged children and a budding romance with, Dean, one of her past instructors from the PI school. Nicki's character has been fleshed out in this novel, with more information on her past and her philandering late husband. She was a much more well rounded character and I enjoyed her interactions with her best friend.

The Dean character wasn't my favorite. Nicki seems to have well founded reservations about him, but she never openly communicates her concerns. As a result I didn't relate to their relationship.

The runaway groom/murder victim plot was fun and fast paced. The culprit wasn't evident until the end of the book. I like to be kept guessing.

One big problem I had was with a contradiction in the plot. We are told that the woman Nicki's late husband was having an affair with thought that he was separated and didn't know about the children. But toward the end of the book Nicki finds a letter that indicates that she did know about Nicki and the kids. It blows one of the big plot devices out of the water.

Overall, this is a decent read, a good mystery with a so so romance. It ends with a HFN.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Up Your Grilled Cheese Game

Grilled cheese sandwiches make for a quick and easy meal on nights when I don't feel like cooking.  Sometime I decide to switch out the type of cheese I use, instead of cheddar.  Last weekend I grabbed a few random ingredients from my fridge and came up with a delicious version of grilled cheese.

INGREDIENTS

brie cheese, sliced thinly
bread
butter
Brimstone Originals jalapeño jelly

Make as you would any grilled cheese sandwich with the addition of spreading the inside of the bread with the jalapeño jelly.

The result is a rich, creamy, sweet and spicy sandwich.  Very tasty and unique.

Enjoy!

God bless,
Pam

Good Reads: The Scam

The Scam by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Scam was truly a fun read in so many ways. It is the fourth book in the Fox and O'Hare series. It is very well written and professionally edited.

Fox is a male con artist that was pursued and finally caught by the female FBI agent O'Hare. They are now partnered together as a secret FBI team tasked with conning criminals that have never been caught by traditional (legal) means. In The Scam they set out to run a con on a casino owner laundering organized crime money through his casinos.

The plot was fast paced and creative. We see more of O'Hare's retired black ops father and the relationship between Fox and O'Hare continues to develop. The ending was a shocker and made me wish that this series put out more than one book a year..

Overall, this is a great read. Lee Goldberg is doing a good job with this series. The Scam ends with a cliffhanger instead of the usual HFN.

Good Reads: Chasing Daylight

Chasing Daylight by Carey Heywood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chasing Daylight is the third book in the Carolina Days contemporary romance series. It is a very well written novel, but the ARC I was sent had a few spelling errors. Since it was an ARC these errors are not reflected in my rating.

This is a love story between two people with traumatic pasts that are understandably reluctant to get involved in relationships. He is a man haunted by his military experiences and she is running away from a bad relationship. This is the story of how they overcome their past mistakes and forge a new life for themselves. Oh, I can't forget the Hero's dog; he is a pivotal and loving character.

I love reading a novel that has intelligent, mature characters. The main characters are well developed, easy to identify with and act like adults. Their relationship overcomes many hurdles due to their maturity and ability to communicate.

CD contains domestic violence, amputation/prosthetics, and PTSD. The author did thorough research before tackling these difficult subjects. Her writing is compassionate and sensitive.

Can you tell that I loved Chasing Daylight? It is a standalone novel, even though it is part of a series. It ends with a satisfying HEA.

ARC provided by the author.

Chasing Daylight will be released September 21st.

Good Reads: Wake-up Call

Wake-Up Call by Amy Avanzino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wake-up Call is a very well written and professionally edited, full length novel.

The heroine wakes up one morning to find herself living a life she doesn't recognize. Due to a head injury she doesn't remember the last five years of her life; she's no longer a fit, executive, but is an overweight, stay at home mother of three. She struggles with adjusting to this life she doesn't remember or want and learning to love her husband and children again.

The plot of this book is refreshingly original. I empathized with the heroine on many levels; including being shocked by her appearance. After raising children many of us don't recognize the reflection in the mirror. I also enjoyed the heroine's intelligence and loving nature as she dealt with readjusting to her new (to her) life.

I highly recommend Wake-up Call. It ends with a satisfying HEA.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Decorating with Junk

I am not a buyer of new furniture or knick knacks for my home.  Most of our things have been handed down from family or purchased second hand.  I've never wanted to own something so precious that it would be a tragedy for it to become damaged.  I don't want the pressure, nor do I want my family to feel they can't be comfortable.

This doesn't mean that I don't want my environment to be attractive,  but in my search for items for my home I have always overlooked those that are damaged or kitschy.  Recently, while researching American folk art, I've seen some wonderfully eclectic and comfortable homes decorated with what I would consider junk.  Really beautiful and attractive junk.  Junk that is chipped or worn, yet is visually appealing.

One of the best books I have found about using junk to decorate with is "American Junk" by Mary Randolph Carter.  She describes her junk finds, where she bought them, how much it cost, and how she uses them in her home.

I will say that I think some of her junk was overpriced, but I live in the southeast where prices are considerably lower.  Also, we have a large number of retirees that are downsizing their homes and must sell what won't fit in their smaller apartments.

So, now when I'm out scouring the thrift stores for finds, I won't turn my nose up at an attractive, but flawed, piece of junk.

God bless,
Pam

Random Acts of Kindness or Frugal Charity

First of all I have to say that I know that this post is going to make me sound ungrateful.  I get that, but my feelings are so strong on this subject I have to get them out or my head will explode.

Yesterday when I stopped at McDonalds to grab my family's weekly treat, the lady in the car in front of me had paid for my meal.  Apparently she wanted to do a random act of kindness and that was very nice of her.  My feelings about it were unexpected; I felt as though she had wasted her money.

I was by myself (no carful of kids), in a fairly new car that I paid for with cash (because I live frugally), and buying dinner for my daughter that attends a private school (also paid for with cash because my mother left a nice sum of money in her will for my daughter).  Frankly, I am blessed, lucky and I know it.

So, thank you nice lady, but there are people that really need your generosity.  I would rather see you save your extra money and donate it to a women's shelter, or a food bank or any charity with low administrative costs.

This post is about using your money wisely.  Doing the research and donating your money wisely.  Making sure that your money donation is used to help people, not to pay for a CEO's salary.  Helping people that truly need our generosity.

Here are some simple random acts of kindness that don't involve money:

Once again, thank you sweet lady for your generosity.  I really do appreciate your kindness.

God bless,
Pam

Good Reads: Double Mint

Double Mint by Gretchen Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Double Mint is the fourth book in the Davis Way Crime Caper series. It is a well written, professionally edited and hilariously funny mystery/comedy novel.

Davis and her new husband now both work for and live at the Bellissimo Casino. Davis' instincts are screaming to her that something is seriously wrong with the Bankers convention they are hosting. But her ideas are so far fetched that no one believes her. Davis, being Davis, decides to investigate anyways and chaos ensues.

This was one of the rare books that had me laughing and snorting (with dignity, of course) out loud. It is just incredibly witty and funny.

I highly recommend this novel, but read the series in order to understand the story's nuances.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Scents and Sensibility

Scents and Sensibility by Spencer Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Scents and Sensibility is the eighth book in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. It is a very well written and professionally edited full length novel.

Chet and Bernie are concerned about their elderly next door neighbors and set out to find the couples' son. A son that has just spent fifteen years in jail for kidnapping. What seems like a straight forward case soon turns into a murder and police corruption investigation.

I love Chet's, the dog, narration of the plot with his free form way of thinking. Bernie is struggling in this story and I deeply identified with his need to help the weak and helpless people in this world.

Scents and Sensibility is a fun and poignant read. I highly recommend this entire series.

Good Reads: Beyond A Doubt

Beyond A Doubt by Nancy Cole Silverman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beyond A Doubt is the second book in the Carol Childs mystery series. It is a very well written and professionally edited, full length novel.

Carol, while working as a radio station's investigative reporter, is sent to cover the murder of a young woman. She soon finds herself delving into the world of missing women, sexual slavery and organ harvesting. The perpetrator of these crimes is a powerful man, entrenched in local government and charity circles. It is up to Carol to prove his guilt to law enforcement and to the public.

I fully enjoyed the fast paced plot and detailed investigation in BAD. And thank goodness (and the author) for an intelligent heroine and her equally intelligent female friend. Add that Carol is middle aged, a parent, with a normal body type and I was in Happy Reading Land.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Where's My Gas Tank Access

Have you ever bought a new car or rented a car and when you pull into the gas station you had no idea which side of the car the gas cap is on?  Well, wonder no more.  Next to the gas indicator on the dash, most cars have a small arrow pointing to the side of the car that has the gas cap.

Maybe I'm clueless, but I never knew this.

Well, at least I'll be good to go the next time I rent a car.

God bless,
Pam

Good Reads: Scheduled To Die

Scheduled to Die by Alan Cupp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Scheduled To Die is the second book in the Carter Mays mystery series. It is an extremely well written and professionally edited full length novel.

The beginning of this book just sucked me in and the plot wouldn't let me go. The transition from a perfectly normal, even fun, situation to horrifying was shocking (in a good way).

Characterization was so well done; the bad guy was frightening, the victims vulnerable, but ultimately strong and the Hero calm and determined. I would like to know more about Carter Mays though; his appearance and background are only lightly touched on.

Scheduled To Die can be read as a standalone, but reading the series in order will bring better understanding of the H. If you like mystery/suspense you will love the Carter Mays series.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Dying Brand

Dying Brand: An Allison Campbell Mystery by Wendy Tyson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dying Brand is the third book in the Allison Campbell mystery series. It is a well written and professionally edited full length novel.

Allison Campbell, an image consultant, is surprised to hear that her ex boyfriend has been murdered during an apparent drug deal gone wrong. She is horrified when photos of their love making, that she was not aware of, are mailed to her friends and relatives. With her professional and family relationships endangered, she is determined to investigate the murder.

Wendy Tyson writes deliciously complex plots that keep me interested from beginning to end. There are also several sub plots involving secondary characters which add to the book's depth.

I did have a problem with the relationship between Allison, her ex mother in law, Mia, and her ex husband, Jason. Despite their protestations of love neither Mia or Jason seem to trust Allison. Neither relationship seemed promising or convincing to me.

Overall, I highly recommend Dying Brand and I look forward to reading future books in this series.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

The Frugal Kitchen: Swanson Thai Ginger Broth

If you've always wanted to make Thai soups, but didn't want to search for the complex ingredients; your day has come.  Swanson has a Thai Ginger broth that makes cooking Thai a breeze.

Add some poached chicken, sliced green onion and rice or rice noodles to this broth and you have a restaurant quality Thai soup.  It is delicious, easy and quick.

Or substitute this broth for water when making rice and you have a unique side dish.  Enjoy!

God bless,
Pam

The Frugal Kitchen: Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)

Oyakodon is a Japanese comfort food.  Just like we think of home when we eat chicken noodle soup or macaroni and cheese, the Japanese turn to Oyakodon to return them to their grandmother's home.  It is a very easy dish to make and well worth buying a couple of special ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken thighs, skinned and boned
1 onion
2 cups dash stock or vegetable stock
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp. mirin (Japanese rice wine)
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
4 eggs
1 Tbsp. flavorless cooking oil

Start by cooking enough rice for four people.  I used a long grain white rice.

Cut the chicken into one inch pieces (bite sized).  Add the oil to a large skillet (one with a cover), heated to medium.  Add the chicken and cook until all the pink is gone and it is starting to brown.

Cut the onion in half, then slice thinly.  Add to the chicken and stir until onion is soft.

Add the stock, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar.  Stir well, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cook, uncovered, for about ten minutes.  You want the stock to reduce to concentrate the flavors.

Whisk the eggs in a bowl until well beaten and pour over the ingredients in the pan.  Do not stir.  Cover and cook until the eggs are done, about five minutes.

After cooking it will look like this:

Place the cooked rice in the bowls, then spoon up the egg and chicken mixture.  Make sure to include about a 1/2 cup of the liquid.

This is so good; it's hard to describe the flavor.  Slightly salty, slightly sweet chicken goodness,  Enjoy!

God bless,
Pam

Good Reads: With Vics You Get Eggroll

With Vics You Get Eggroll by Diane Vallere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With Vics You Get Eggroll is the third book in the Mad for Mod series. It is a well written and professionally edited mystery/romance novel.

The mystery element was nicely done with possible and plausible suspects popping up here and there. As soon as I thought I had the murderer figured out I was proven wrong.

Unfortunately, for me, the romance and romantic leads left me unimpressed. The two love interests are washy washy and not passionate about the heroine at all. Instead of committing to her they move in and out of her life without much regard to her well being or needs.

Overall, I enjoyed WVYGE and I look forward to reading future books by this author.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

A Plague of Flies

Last week was a real doozy.  Something must have died somewhere in the attic (we never smelled anything) because on Monday we were overwhelmed by flies in the house.  They were located in the living room and kitchen; attracted to the large windows in those rooms.

We tried spraying with a less toxic flying insect spray, but that didn't keep up with them.  So then we tried a sticky trap which worked, but not real well.

Finally after much online research I went out to buy what ended up being a wonderful product.

It costs $3.98 for two decals which you place on your windows.  They can't be used where pets or children might touch them.  Once they are applied they last 7 months inside or 3 months outside.

They are a contact poison with an attractant.  They work so well that within a day the number of flies were drastically reduced and the ones I see now are dead.  Once the insect touches the decal they die within 1 minute.

This is what they look like:

Basically, a semi transparent square.

I thought I would share this with you, even if it is a disgusting subject.  Someone out there may find it helpful.

God bless,
Pam

Good Reads: Bridges Burned

Bridges Burned by Annette Dashofy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bridges Burned is the third book in the Zoe Chambers mystery/romance series. It is a well written, professionally edited, full length novel.

Zoe finds herself embroiled in a series of murders and mysterious fires while working as an EMT. Her relationship with the chief of police, Pete, was moving forward until they disagree about likely suspects in the murder cases.

The plot is fast paced and the mystery interesting, but I thought that Pete's handling of the investigation and dealing with Zoe was unprofessional. It did add needed conflict to the plot.

Secondary characters were well developed and added diversity to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed Bridges Burned and I recommend it to mystery lovers. It ends with a satisfying HFN.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Lowcountry Boneyard

Lowcountry Boneyard by Susan M. Boyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lowcountry Boneyard is the third book in the Liz Talbot paranormal/mystery series. It is a very well written and professionally edited full length novel. There are a few misspellings in this ARC, but I am assuming they will be corrected prior to publication.

Liz, her boyfriend/partner Nate, and her spirit guardian Colleen are hired by an influential family to investigate a missing persons case. Soon it becomes apparent that evil and disfunction run rampant in the family of the missing girl. I enjoyed this complex plot, both for the interesting investigation and the growing relationship between Liz and Nate.

LB can be read as a standalone, but I suggest that the series be read in order to fully understand the characters and the plot nuances. The ending is a satisfying HFN. I look forward to reading more of this author's books.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

The Frugal Kitchen: Easy Southern Biscuits

This morning I had a taste for biscuits.  This is an easy quick recipe and so good.


INGREDIENTS

4 cups white self rising flour
or
4 cups white flour with 6 tsp. baking powder and 2 tsp. salt

1/4 cup lard or Crisco

1 1/2 cups buttermilk
or
1 1/2 cups milk with 1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice


Sift flour into a large mixing bowl.  Push flour to the side to make a well in the center.

Add shortening to the well.

Then add one cup of the milk to the well.

Squish the shortening and the milk together with your fingers.

Until the shortening is broken into pea sized pieces.

Slowly start adding the flour from the sides into the milk mixture; adding the reserved milk if needed.  The dough should be soft and sticky, but not wet.  Pinch off a golf ball size piece of dough, roll in some flour and form into a ball.

Pat into a flattened biscuit shape.

Place in a greased pan or cast iron skillet.

Bake in a 500 degree fahrenheit oven for 8 minutes.  At that point check at 2 minute intervals until biscuits are golden on top.  I made mine large, so I had to bake them for a longer time.  Remove the pan from the oven carefully (the pan will be super hot).  Brush the tops with melted butter.

Allow to cool slightly.

Serve with the toppings of your choice.

Yum!  Enjoy!

God bless,
Pam

Home Remedies: Vicks Shower Bombs

My daughter is fighting off a head cold, so I decided to make some Vicks shower bombs to give her some relief.  They are easy to make and use.

INGREDIENTS

2 or 3 heaping Tbsp. Vicks Vapor Rub
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup corn starch
candy mold or mini muffin pan

Melt Vicks in a bowl in the microwave (only took 20 seconds).  Add the corn starch and baking soda, then mix with a spoon until it forms a thick paste.

Pack tightly into a flexible mold or into a mini muffin pan lined with paper muffin cups.

Place into freezer for an hour, then remove by popping them out of the mold with a table knife.

To use lay a shower bomb on the floor of the shower where the water will hit it, but away from where you will be standing or walking.  The bombs fill the shower with a nice menthol vapor that helps to ease a stuffy head or cough.

I store my bombs in a labeled zip lock bag in the freezer.

God bless,
Pam

Good Reads: Dollar Daze

Dollar Daze: The Bottom Dollar Girls in Love by Karin Gillespie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dollar Daze is the third book in the Bottom Dollar Daze chick lit series. It is an adequately written and professionally written full length novel.

This book tells the story of relationships and how rigid ideas can negatively effect them. The characters are endearing and delightfully human. I did feel that the use of multiple POVs was a bit confusing and made the story seem disjointed.

Dollar Daze can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the first book in the series, where the characters are introduced, before reading this one.

I can recommend recommend Dollar Daze to anyone looking for a light romantic read involving mature women.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Quicksand

Quicksand by Gigi Pandian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quicksand is the third full length novel in the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt series. It is a well written and professionally edited mystery.

Jaya has settled into her professorship and has just started a new semester of teaching when she receives an invitation to travel to Paris to reunite with an old love. She finds herself being blackmailed by a master criminal who insists on her becoming his assistant.

With a complex plot and interesting characters, Quicksand is a fun read. It can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series in order. The book ends with a satisfying HFN.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.