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Christmas in Harmony–fun seasonal novella
Christmas in Harmony
by Philip Gulley
This sweet novella will put just the right touch on your Christmas season. Author Phillip Gulley returns his readers to the fictional town of Harmony to join the citizens celebrating Christmas. Even if this is not a return visit to Harmony, readers can quickly jump into the nostalgic small town feel. The narrator is a Quaker pastor, and he infuses his tales and reminiscences with both humor and gentle inspiration. Probably the most interesting (stunning?) idea that his congregation tries is a progressive Nativity scene, kind of like a progressive dinner but harder to wrap your mind around! You really should read this novella to find out how parishioner Dale Hinshaw’s money making Nativity scene idea pans out. What a great start to the Christmas season!
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Humor, Christian
Notes: #2.5 in the Harmony Novels, but could be read as a standalone
Publication: October 15, 2002—Harper One
Memorable Lines:
Every Christmas she would send the cards she’d received the year before back to the very people who’d sent them. She’d add her name below theirs, and write, We return your greetings and wish you a Merry Christmas. She’d written up the idea and sent it to Heloise as a hint, under the pseudonym Cautious Christian.
“I want you to know I love you, son. I’m proud of you, awful proud of you. Have been since the day you were born.” Then he hugged me. It was the best Christmas present he ever gave me, those words.
The old-timers walked in, saw the hordes of people sitting in their pews, and were appalled. Pews, which had been in their family for generations, now occupied by total strangers!
Frank and Red–healing tale
Frank and Red
By Matt Coyne
Frank is a curmudgeon and a recluse. Red is a precocious six year old. Both have had a rough life in the last few years, but they approach their situations from very different perspectives. Frank is in such pain when his beloved Marcie passes away that he creates a dysfunctional relationship with his son. Red’s parents divorce causes upheaval in his life with a new home, new school and new neighbor Frank. Red faces life with enthusiasm despite the tough times. When Frank’s advice to Red about bullies has some unfortunate consequences, Frank finds himself taking on caregiving responsibilities for Red. Frank has a lot to learn from Red. Although some may initially find the plot predictable, the last part of the book is anything but predictable with lots of adventure and humor.
Frank is the ultimate grump, and Red is totally lovable. Together they make an interesting pair. The book is replete with crude language, but being British English it somehow doesn’t seem as offensive to the American ear. Short chapters are entitled “Frank” or “Red” with alternating perspectives moving the story along quickly. Red’s interactions with his new classmates are both sad and funny; it’s hard to be a new student. Red’s mother is a hospice nurse, a very caring woman who is devoted to Red and tries to shield him from an indifferent father. A fence separates Frank and Red, but its physical toppling brings about a metaphorical destruction of the barriers between Frank and Red and between Frank and the outside world that he fears.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Fiction, Humor
Notes: Offensive Language
Publication: February 1, 2024—Wildfire
Memorable Lines:
He had once heard a saying that went something like: “You don’t need a parachute to skydive once.” That’s what he was thinking about: that falling in love with someone, and allowing yourself to do so, was like falling without a parachute. And that’s okay when it’s the love of your life, because you only intend to skydive once.
And Jake, of course, whom he had absolutely no intention of playing with, inside or outside, on account of him being a dangerous cycle-path.
“You’re comfortable being miserable. You wear it like a pair of slippers.”
Home to Harmony–gentle, inspirational humor
Home to Harmony
By Phillip Gulley
Some readers compare the Harmony series to Jan Karon’s Mitford books with their gentle humor, others to Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon with a dry-humored look at a small town, and still others see the folksy Mayberry in this collection. I glimpse some of all of those attitudes in Gulley’s novels along with a lot of emotion from passages that are laugh out loud funny to others that are so touching they will bring tears to your eyes.
Phillip Gulley is a Quaker pastor, thus giving some authenticity to his main character Sam Gardner who is a Quaker pastor in Harmony, the little town he grew up in. The author peoples Home to Harmony with some extreme characters living out their ordinary lives in unspectacular ways. Despite the ordinariness of the events in the book, Gulley manages to pull all the plugs of human emotions. There is Dale Hinshaw, the tight-fisted elder who has a firm opinion about everything. Miriam Hodges is a leader who manages to get church business accomplished despite elders who would rather discuss things than get them done. Topics range from plumbing to spelling bees and lots in between. The characters manage to get into some hilarious situations and certainly are not perfect. But they try, and Sam Gardner works at being his best and guiding his flock with the kindness and gentleness of Jesus while standing up for what is right in day to day decisions. As Jesus taught through stories, Gulley tries to instruct in the same way using characters we can relate to even if they are somewhat exaggerated. We get to know the characters through various anecdotes that compose the chapters and which generally end with an inspirational line or two that sum up the take aways that Gulley is aiming for.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Fiction, Humor, Inspiration
Notes: 1. #1 in the Harmony Series
2. Audiobook narrated by Norman Dietz. I listened to the book and also read some of it. Dietz is a good narrator for Home to Harmony.
Publication: March 16, 2004—Harper One
Memorable Lines:
There’s danger in thinking joy is a matter of location. If we can’t find joy where we are, we probably won’t find it anywhere.
When love takes you by the hand and leaves you better, that is home. That’s the place to stake your claim and build your life.
In the end, that is what we all must do. Stand where we feel led. Stand straight, stand tall, and try hard to remember that other folks might be led to stand elsewhere.
Pinned 4 Murder–mystery in the bowling alley
Pinned 4 Murder
By J.C. Eaton
Sophie Kimball, an accountant for an investigative firm, is now Sophie Kimball Gregory as she and private detective Marshall Gregory are now married. An informal sleuth, Sophie excels at listening in on conversations and passing along information to her husband and the local authorities. Most of the time what she does is legal, but she did step over the line once in this book. It’s one of those cases of suspending reality and judgement because it is, after all, fiction. Sophie’s mother and her friends have some hilarious responses when a crime occurs or someone tries to put through a policy in their community that they don’t agree with. They always turn to Sophie to solve the crime or straighten out the situation.
In my review of #12 (Revved up 4 Murder), I explained that I had loved this series, but #12 just fell flat for me. The humor was down, and the emphasis on the foods the characters ate was just too repetitious. Pinned 4 Murder was the chance I gave to the Sophie Kimball Mystery series before I decided to abandon it or stick around for more of the cozy mysteries. My judgement of Pinned 4 Murder is that the husband and wife writing team has somewhat redeemed themselves, and I will continue on to the next book they publish in this series. This recommendation, however, comes with a caveat. The humor level is back up in this book with the chiweenie Streetman on top of his game and the Sun City West Book Club ladies and the Pinochle Crew of men creating gossip and mayhem as usual. The crafting of the mysteries (murder, vandalism, and cyber-crime) is excellent. Where Pinned 4 Murder lets me down is the focus again on all the foods they consume—takeouts or deliveries from restaurants and coffee and pastries to share. Those repetitive passages do not entertain or move the plot forward.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Humor, Mystery
Notes: #13 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. I think it is too far into the series to be enjoyed as a stand alone, but the authors do include a very helpful “Cast of Characters” at the beginning of the book.
Publication: July 16, 2024—Beyond the Page Publishing
Memorable Lines:
“That’s where nosing around comes in.”…“Please don’t suggest the dog park. You have no idea how stressful it is to take Streetman there. He doesn’t listen. He rolls in smelly stuff on the ground, pees in the water bowls, and worst of all, goes after female dogs like a sailor who hasn’t been to port in a year!”
Too bad my mother forgot that her dog had selective hearing and a total disregard for obeying commands. I looked on in horror as that sneaky little chiweenie raced after the bowling ball, only to find himself slipping and sliding on the freshly oiled lane. Still, it didn’t prevent him from following the ball and knocking down all the pins.
Within seconds, people scrambled to spread the rumor like hair lice in a kindergarten, and I knew if it reached my mother’s table, the book club ladies would waste little time circulating and embellishing it.
Revved Up 4 Murder–dangerous auto restoration
Revved Up 4 Murder
By J. C. Eaton
I have read a lot of the cozy mysteries created by the husband/wife writing team called J.C. Eaton. I have enjoyed most of the ones in the Sophie Kimball Mystery Series, but Revved Up 4 Murder lagged a bit for me. The predictability is what got to me. Sophie (Phee) constantly frequents fast food restaurants picking up food for herself and her husband or her co-worker Augusta. Although Augusta can be counted on to get treats like donuts for the office, Phee often purchases their lunches or brings home meals for her husband, a detective in the Williams Investigations firm they both work for. As a reader, the repetition quickly became old.
There are other aspects that were funny in the earlier books, but fell flat for me in this one. Sun City West is a retirement community and Phee’s mother lives there. Both men and women there don’t have enough to do in their retirement years and spend a lot of time stirring up trouble, gossiping, and dramatizing events. Phee’s mother Harriet has a chiweenie dog, Streetman, who is spoiled and neurotic. Harriet brings Streetman along when she ventures out on escapades, and Harriet expects her daughter to solve crimes even though she is an accountant/bookkeeper for Williams Investigations. Despite the predictable phone calls from Harriet to Phee demanding outlandish investigations, there are admittedly some funny scenes with the “book club ladies” and their dogs.
In spite of my hesitations about Revved Up 4 Murder, I must “confess” that there are a lot of credible suspects for the crimes which include murders and the theft of a valuable object from a museum. I didn’t guess the solution to the mysteries which were fairly complicated. The investigative team of two private detectives and a duo of less than stellar detectives from the local police force are aided by Rolo, a computer genius with access to the dark web. His expertise is not cheap, and he insists on being paid in expensive kitchen appliances to support his current food craze.
My conclusion is that the core mystery is much more interesting than the context and setting, but it could be a fun diversion if you need a break from other genres or the news cycle.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery, Humor
Notes: #12 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery Series. There are a number of characters who are introduced in previous books, but don’t stand out as individuals in this book. They function more like a Greek chorus to this plot.
Publication: February 20, 2024—Beyond the Page Publishing
Memorable Lines:
Gossip at the beauty parlor rises exponentially at rates not even seen by mathematicians.
Going to sleep at my normal hour was never going to happen. More thoughts crossed my mind than ants on a watermelon.
When I ended the call, I was certain my mother and her crew of yentas would be camped out across the street from Betsy’s house. Nothing ensures that someone will do something like telling them not to. It’s like a law of physics, only with human nature.
A Whyte Christmas–a wintery tale
A Whyte Christmas
by Michele Brouder
Taking a little break from my Advance Reader Copies and my Book Club books, I got wild and crazy as February turned to March and read a Christmas book. I’m glad I did. A Whyte Christmas is clean; no need to worry about language or open bedroom doors. The main characters have lots of misunderstandings during their slow burn romance. Both of them work hard to NOT be attracted to the other, but as you might guess, that doesn’t work well. Kate O’Connor is an extremely likable protagonist. Originally a copywriter for an advertising firm, she is demoted to receptionist during a downturn for the company. Gavin Whyte is close to the top of his pharmaceutical company in Ireland and is sent to supervise the ad campaign for their latest drug.
Kate and Gavin are thrown together in multiple situations that always seem to end up with humorous to hilarious endings. Sometimes involving police authorities. Both had bad luck in their previous relationships and neither is particularly happy in their jobs. It does not seem inevitable that an American who gets herself into situations from falling off a ladder to being stuck in a snowstorm with no place to spend the night and an Irishman, unaware of his good looks and delicious Irish accent, will end up together. But can it happen?
Rating: 4/5
Category: Romance, Fiction
Notes: #1 in The Happy Holidays Series that is comprised of standalones.
Publication: September 30, 2021
Memorable Lines:
“Dieting is the only thing where losing is everything.”
Butterflies flew around like kamikaze pilots in her stomach and she still had no idea what she was going to say.
Jumping to conclusions was the only exercise she got.
Caught in the Traminette–NY winery mystery
Caught in the Traminette
by J. C. Eaton
I am by no means a wine connoisseur and had never heard of “traminette.” Learning new things is part of the fun of reading. Traminette is a variety of a grape hybrid and also the name of a type of white wine made from that grape. It is popular among wine growers in the northeast of the U.S.
In Caught in the Traminette there are a head spinning number of plot threads. The setting is Seneca Lake and Penn Yan in New York. Norrie, a screen writer, is part owner of Two Witches Winery and at her sister’s request is managing the winery while her sister Francine is in the Philippines with her entomologist husband. While reading this fun series you’ll find a lot of information about how a vineyard is managed and the wine is made and marketed. Hint: it’s a lot more involved than squishing some grapes and bottling the juice!
Norrie can jump into an investigating mode at the drop of wine bottle, and she does just that when a body is found wrapped in a tarp at a neighboring winery. To help Madeline, a fellow winery owner who has been arrested for the murder, Norrie puts on her detective hat. There is some self-interest (OK, a lot of self-interest) involved because neither Norrie nor any of the other winery proprietors want to take on Madeline’s role as facilitator of WOW (Wineries of the West), the promotional group for the wineries in their area.
On Norrie’s to-do list, besides discovering the murderer, is protecting the traminette at her own winery, improving the security at the winery and at her house, and stopping a developer from bringing high rises to the lake ruining the popular view currently part of the attraction of the area. Some days just getting from her house to the tasting room on the same property is a challenge given all the snow and ice storms.
On a professional level, Norrie has a rocky relationship with Deputy Hickman because of previous encounters where she just won’t leave mysteries alone. She has even caused Eugene, a technician in the forensics lab, to get a prescription for anti-anxiety medicine.
On a personal level, Norrie has lots of friends including her next door neighbors, Don and Theo, who own the Grey Egret Winery next door. Theo frequently gets roped into sleuthing with Norrie into illegal, dangerous, and sometimes disgusting adventures including “mud” on a cow farm. She has a great and supportive staff at the winery. One of her employees, Glenda, is involved in the paranormal and invites her friend Zenora to ward away evil. When this happens there is a lot of eye rolling at the wine tasting room. Zenora’s “day job” is research librarian at the University library and in that role she can provide some valuable information.
Norrie is dating a lawyer who frequently has to travel. When Bradley is away, she finds her eyes wandering to her dismay. So far, she has controlled her impulses in that area although she does manage to keep all of the men who want to date her content to be friends and serve as resources in her investigations. She is always upfront with potential suitors about her exclusive relationship with Bradley.
One important thread involves entomologists who are devoted to their research in a nerdy sort of way. Another focus is evidence of a break-in at Norrie’s house. Why would anyone rummage through her refrigerator without eating anything? Norrie sometimes does outlandish things, but this is a fun mystery with a lot of humor. Everything gets sewn up with a surprise ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Mystery, Humor
Notes: #9 in the Wine Trail Mystery Series. Like many series, you’ll want to read more if you read this one,but it could be enjoyed as a standalone.
Publication: November 7, 2023—Beyond the Page Publishing
Memorable Lines:
Every winter day is a bad hair day in New York’s Finger Lakes. And those cute little snowflakes weren’t as adorable as they were back in November. By the beginning of January with the holiday decorations down, the dreariest part of the season was about to unfold.
“I’m eighty-six years old. I don’t act fast,” Rosalee said. “I only move at two speeds—slow and slower.”
“You snooped on the chitchat ladies?” “Didn’t have to snoop. They spread the gossip like fertilizer on a field.”
Finlay Donovan is Killing It–dark, comedic mystery
Finlay Donovan is Killing It
by Elle Cosimano
Normally a cozy mystery/Agatha Christie reader, I decided to see what all the buzz is about with Finlay Donovan is Killing It and the other books Elle Cosimano has written in this series. The author has created a protagonist that many women can related to. Finlay finds herself in a morally shaky and sticky situation. Her happily ever after has disintegrated under her feet. She is divorced from her ex-husband who is a philanderer and a manipulator. She is deeply in debt to so many people including her ex who has become her landlord.
When a private conversation at Panera is overheard and misunderstood, Finlay becomes entangled in a scheme to murder a serial date-rapist who drugs and then blackmails his victims. He also works for the mob.
I don’t want to give away more of the plot. I can share that despite the dark nature of the predicaments, the author includes many humorous situations and twists and turns that are truly unpredictable. Characters are a big part of this book. Finlay is motivated to keep her two preschool age children safe and retain custody of them. To do that she needs reliable childcare and financial independence from her ex-husband. She is a writer and her profession plays a large role as fiction and non-fiction intertwine. There are two romantic interests, a detective and a law student. She is supported in many ways by her sister Georgia, a cop, and by Vero, her babysitter and partner in crime.
I did enjoy this book. It has lots of women-focused themes and ethical issues. It addresses practical concerns—nosy neighbors, malfunctioning alternators, and inoperative garage doors—and issues that we hope we will never encounter like hitmen, affairs, and date rape drugs.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. very insightful discussion questions
2. a fair amount of swearing
Publication: February 2, 2021—St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books)
Memorable Lines:
If you’ve never had to wrestle a two-year-old slathered in maple syrup into a diaper while your four-year-old decides to give herself a haircut in time for preschool, all while trying to track down the whereabouts of your missing nanny as you sop up coffee grounds from an overflowing pot because in your sleep-deprived fog you forgot to put in the filter, let me spell it out for you.
Patricia withered, clearly mistaking my mom face for something else…some callous expression worn by contract killers and hit men. Maybe they’re similar. I wouldn’t know.
Theresa was all about social cachet and prestige. If there was a chance to flaunt a high-profile client like Feliks by sticking her head out of the roof of his slick black limousine and shouting it to the moon, she wouldn’t miss a chance to do it.
My Family and Other Animals–adventures of a young naturalist
My Family and Other Animals
by Gerald Durrell
Ready for a boring book about animals? You won’t find it in My Family and Other Animals. Since the author Gerald Durrell (Gerry) was a naturalist from the age of two, there are plenty of animals in this book. He observes them and collects them when his family (Mother, brothers Larry and Leslie, and sister Margo) move from England to the Greek island of Corfu. Both the family and Gerry’s collection of animals are a continual source of humor for the reader with responses ranging from smiles to raucous laughter. Each of the family members is a unique character, but they argue and discuss issues until they arrive at a group “family” decision and act on it.
The story is told by Gerald as an adult looking back on Gerry’s adventures of which there were many. Ten year old Gerry was allowed to roam the island with his dog Roger exploring flora and fauna at his leisure. Occasionally, to Gerry’s dismay, the family would decide to rein him in by providing a tutor. They procured several knowledgeable men at various times, but it was apparent that Gerry’s passion for animals would dominate any efforts at education. When they arrive, Spiro, a local taxi driver and fixer, adopts them and helps them during their stay with any needs they might have. Gerry meets a lot of the locals during his roamings and they always welcome him and offer him refreshment as they chat.
Durrell is a wonderful author whether he is describing natural beauty, the mating of turtles, the parties hosted by the Durrells, the quirks of his siblings, or his observations of small, black scorpions living in the crumbling garden wall. As they are want to do, there were often animal escapes resulting in family meetings to decide what they were going to do about that particular animal’s housing. Occasionally animals were banned from the house, but at no time did the family try to stop Gerry’s proclivity for cultivating interactions with nature. They seemed to understand that it was as much a part of his nature as writing was to Larry, shooting to Leslie, romance to Margo, or cooking to Mother. Their adventures and interactions will keep you turning pages to see what they will do next.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Memoir, Humor
Notes: #1 in the Corfu Trilogy.A 4 season TV series, The Durrells in Corfu, was made by Masterpiece Theatre.
Publication: 1956—Penguin Books
Memorable Lines:
The cypress trees were whipped like dark pendulums against the sky, and the olives (so fossilized all summer, so still and witchlike) were infected with the madness of the wind and swayed creaking on their misshapen, sinewy trunks, their leaves hissing as they turned, like mother of pearl, from green to silver. This is what the dead leaves had whispered about, this is what they had practiced for; exultantly they rose in the air and danced, whirligiging about, dipping, swooping, falling exhausted when the wind tired of them and passed on.
By the time a certain amount of order had been restored, all the baby scorpions had hidden themselves under various plates and bits of cutlery. Eventually, after impassioned pleas on my part, backed up by Mother, Leslie’s suggestion that the whole lot be slaughtered was quashed…Roger and I went and spent the afternoon on the hillside, for I felt it would be prudent to allow the family to have a siesta before seeing them again.
The hill-top seemed to have its own breeze, albeit a baby one, for no matter how hot it was below in the valley, up in the three olive groves the tiny wind played constantly, the leaves whispered, and the drooping cyclamen flowers bowed to each other in endless greeting. It was an ideal spot in which to rest after a hectic lizard hunt, when your head was pounding with the heat, your clothes limp and discolored with perspiration, and the three dogs hung out their pink tongues and panted like ancient miniature railway engines.
Mischief Nights are Murder–another murder at Poppy’s B & B
Mischief Nights are Murder
by Libby Klein
Halloween themed Mischief Nights are Murder is a fun cozy mystery. At first glance it might appear to be a paranormal book because it is set in the Halloween season with a large group of inns and restaurants participating in ghost tours to attract tourists.because it is set in the Halloween season with a large group of inns and restaurants participating in ghost tours to attract tourists. Poppy runs a B & B and to her surprise finds that her 80 year old aunt signed a contract that obligates Poppy to be a part of the events. Poppy, who frequently discovers dead bodies, has been nicknamed the Murder Magnet and the B & B is being publicized as the Murder House. She is expected to make statements like “some have said they heard unusual noises” or “rumors are that someone was killed in this room a hundred years ago” to attract interest without actually saying there are ghosts or not. The B & B attracts several university professors and students who study paranormal activity, a team of 4 participating in the discovery and filming of ghost activity, a duo who don’t seem to quite fit, a tabloid writer, and a pet psychic who wears a colander on his head to enhance his connections and says he can tell what animals are thinking.
Poppy stays busy when a guest is murdered. She has to cooperate with the event planners and the police. She tries to keep peace with a temporary cook who used to bully her in high school and a new male housekeeper with designs on the acting field. Her aunt Ginny and her friends “The Biddies” keep things hopping and the reader laughing. Poppy also has to deal with her handsome Italian boyfriend and his mother who hates her.
My favorite part of the books in this series is the humor. It is woven throughout the book as we see in italics what Poppy is actually thinking and then in quotes what she says. Humor is integral to the text, and it comes in the form of the various characters and Poppy’s responses to them. Her Aunt Ginny and her cat Figaro are two of my favorites. Both are always up to shenanigans in this definitely not paranormal mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery, Humor
Notes: 1. #8 in the Poppy McAllister Mystery Series. It could be read as a standalone especially since there are new characters introduced in this book, but there is a lot of background information in the previous books that could make this book more enjoyable. I certainly recommend the whole series.
2. Poppy can not eat gluten which makes life hard since she is a trained baker. She specializes in gluten-free recipes and the author has included 7 delicious sounding recipes.
Publication: July 25, 2023—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
“You can’t believe anything she says. She’s the worst kind of liar. Lower than a politician.” Aunt Ginny clutched her pearls and gasped. “Good God. A telemarketer?”
The man grinned at his wife, then turned the wattage on me. It was the kind of smile that made you come out of menopause and lower your hair from a tower to be climbed.
“Somehow we need to keep the paranormal people away from Gladys, Gladys away from the pet psychic, and you away from murder victims.” Kenny blew out a breath. “We can do this. It’ll only last a week.” So did Hurricane Katrina.
education pathways 