Book Review: Ranch Dressing by Diane Vallere (Samantha Kidd #15)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Samantha in another fun mystery

Cons: All cons rounded up and driven out of town

The Bottom Line: 

A week on the ranch

Starts with finding dead body

Book’s fun as always

Murder Down on the Ranch

It’s finally happened. I’ve caught up with Diane Vallere’s books! Me being here at Ranch Dressing, the fifteenth in her Samantha Kidd series, represents the results of a lot of hours of pleasant reading, and this book was no exception. 

For those who haven’t yet met Samantha, she’s a former fashion buyer who has found herself caught up in a series of mysteries after returning to her hometown of Ribbon, Pennsylvania. Quite a few of these are related to the fashion industry in some way. Along the way, we’ve watched her fall in love and get married to Nick Taylor, a shoe designer. 

Although it’s her father-in-law, Nick Senior, who gets Samantha involved in this case. He’s interested in buying a dude ranch in New Jersey, and she and Nick Junior are going along to support him. The entire ranch lifestyle is so far outside of Samatha’s wheelhouse, she doesn’t even have any jeans to wear. But she is determined to keep a low profile and be supportive. 

Her resolve is tested their first night on the ranch when she finds the current owner’s body inside the horse barn. As she gets drawn into the case, can she find a way to get the staff to open up to her?

In addition to fun mysteries, Diane Vallere’s books include great character growth for her characters, especially her heroines. The arc Samantha has been on the last few books really plays into who Samatha is when this book starts. As a fan, I appreciated seeing that play out here. If you were to jump in with this book, you’d miss some of that payoff, but there aren’t any real spoilers for previous books. Still, I’ll always recommend reading a series in order. 

Since this takes place outside Samantha’s hometown, a couple of the supporting players are reduced to cameos. But that gave Samantha and Nick’s relationship a bit more time to shine, which I enjoyed. And it allowed us to get to know some of the ranch staff which was nice because they were an interesting lot. 

Of course, this is a mystery, and this book never forgot that fact. I was quite confused in the best way possible by what was going on as I read the book. Yet the clues and red herrings lead to a logical and satisfying solution. 

Author Diane Vallere is a huge Trixie Belden fan. Any other fans of that kids’ mystery series will very much enjoy the Easter egg she placed in this book. 

As always, this book was filled with humor. I get a few laughs, chuckles, and grins as I read. 

Fans of Diane’s books will be happy to know that her next release, the next in this series, will be coming in a couple of months. If you aren’t caught up yet, that means you’ve got time to read Ranch Dressing before that happens. You’ll be glad you went on this trip with Samantha. 

Enjoy more fashionable mysteries with Samantha Kidd. 

Movie Review: Mame

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Lots of fun

Cons: Rushed ending, Lucy’s uneven performance and weak singing

The Bottom Line:

Enjoyable parts

But ending is too abrupt

And the star is weak

More Mixed Than I Was Expecting

I’d heard the reviews for years – the movie musical Mame wasn’t that good.  But, being the I Love Lucy fan that I am, I’d still always been curious about it since it stars Lucille Ball.  I finally set down to watch it, and I can see flaws, but not that ones you usually hear.

The movie is set in the 1920’s and focuses on Mame Dennis (Lucille Ball).  Single and rich in New York City, her life is one carefree party until the day her orphaned nephew Patrick (Kirby Furlong) shows up on her doorstep.  She quickly falls in love with her ward, and does her best to raise him right.  However, her best and society’s standards are two very different things.  Will she be forced to change her lifestyle?  And what will happen when the market crashes in 1929?

Most of the critics pick on Lucille Ball, and they aren’t completely wrong.  Parts of the movie are comedic, and she is perfect at those scenes.  In fact, some of what happened would have felt at home in an I Love Lucy episode.  She pulls off some of the more serious scenes, but there are a couple of scenes that she can’t quite pull off.  The worst part of her performance is her singing.  While she can’t sing, she refused to let them dub her vocals.  The singing it patched together from many different studio takes.  While it isn’t bad, it isn’t nearly as strong as the singing of her co-stars.

And she has some impressive co-stars.  Bea Arthur and Jane Connell reprise their roles from the Broadway production.  Robert Preston plays Mame’s love interest.  And a young Bruce Davison plays Patrick when he reaches adulthood.

Mame lives a very wild lifestyle, and Patrick gets influenced by that at a young age.  This is a PG rated movie, but adults of young kids still might want to watch it first for a couple of scenes in the first half.

Honestly, I was mostly enjoying the movie.  There are some very funny scenes, and I was really growing to like the characters.  While the songs aren’t especially memorable, there are still some fun song and dance numbers.

Then I hit the final act.  Mame does something in the name of protecting Patrick that really crossed a line for me.  Yet, the ending is so rushed after that we don’t get to see any of the fallout she would have received.  We go from Patrick being furious with her to the final scene without any transition to show us how he forgave her.  It is very jarring.

Maybe if I had seen a stage production of Mame, I would see even more reasons why the movie is bad.  But judging it just based on the movie itself, it is a film with many fun moments ruined mostly by a very rushed ending.

Book Review: People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman (Leaphorn and Chee #4)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Meeting Chee, great plot

Cons: Set up requires a bit of patience, but it is rewarded

The Bottom Line:

New main character

Payoff worthy of set up

Becomes page turner

Introducing Jim Chee

I’ve been waiting to meet Jim Chee, the other main character in Tony Hillerman’s famous mystery series set in and around the Navajo Reservation. With book four, it is finally time for him to step into the spotlight. And People of Darkness is a great introduction. 

It seems an odd assignment. Chee is asked by a rich man’s wife to locate an old box her husband cherished. Only she doesn’t know what is in it. And she doesn’t want him to involve the local police. She’s even hiring him off the books. The more Chee begins poking around, the more questions he gets. And every person who tells him to stop just makes him more curious. What will he uncover?

This is one of those books that introduces several seemingly random storylines and characters. I’ll admit I was a bit annoyed as this was set up, even though I figured it would all come together. It was just that things were so far removed it was hard to care. But as the book reached its climax, I couldn’t help but be in awe at exactly how everything came together. The ride was well worth it, and it drew me in more and more the further I got into the book. 

I liked Jim Chee. There are similarities and differences between him and Joe Leaphorn. I know I have a few books to go before they start really interacting, and I’m looking forward to that. Having said that, I did enjoy the reference to Leaphorn we got here. 

The rest of the cast is interesting as well. I wish I thought a couple would come back, but I suspect they were only around for this book. I did think we spent a bit too much time with one character, and I’m not sure it really paid off. But that might just be me being nitpicky. 

As always, the Navajo culture plans a big part in the story. I really liked how that was incorporated. And I’m beginning to feel at home in that world after reading several of these books. 

Once again, I listened to the audio version of this book. I enjoy George Guidall’s narration, and he did a fine job here again. I did struggle a bit with one aspect, and it’s not the narrator’s fault. Chee is very close in narration to “she,” and there were a few times I got stopped by misunderstanding them. Again, that was minor. 

I know I have a long way to go with this series, but I’m happy to have finally met the other key player in the series. If you haven’t read People of Darkness yet, you are in for a treat. 

Check out the rest of the Leaphorn and Chee Mysteries.

March 2025's Reading Summary

It's the last day of March, so that means it must be time for another reading summary.  Just eight books in March, but here they are.  The links will take you to my full review.

Yes, the index has been updated this month.

All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great). The link will take you to my full review.

Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles (Molly Murphy #21) – 3

When Molly visits her friends Ryan O’ Hara on the set of an early silent movie, her adopted daughter Bridie winds up getting discovered and cast in the lead. So Molly starts spending time on the set herself, where she sees some suspicious accidents. But when one hits very close to home, Molly starts investigating. Can she find proof of sabotage before someone dies?

I’ve always appreciated that this series has given us glimpses into many different worlds of 1900’s New York City. As a fan of movies, this setting was very fun. Having said that, the pacing was really off here, which was disappointing. The climax is satisfying, however. I enjoy spending time with the characters, although some growth would be nice. I did feel transported to the time period as I read. Fans of the series will appreciate time with the characters even if this isn’t the strongest book in the series. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Running on Empty by Karin Fitz Sanford (Wine Country Cold Case #2) – 4

When Lino Pardini dies, Anne McCormack finds herself drawn into the resulting family drama.  Meanwhile, her uncle Jack is hoping for a fresh clue or two about what happened to Lino’s previous wife.  Then there are the questions around Lino’s death itself.  Can Anne help untangle it?

If you pick this book up expecting a typical mystery, you’ll be disappointed.  The family drama takes up much of the pages.  But that’s not a bad thing.  Thanks to the well-developed characters, the story is very compelling.  The multiple viewpoints are also used perfectly.  Still, the mysteries were wrapped up to my satisfaction.  There were a few details that were wrong and bugged me, but they are minor.  On the other hand, I am very familiar with the setting, and I loved seeing real places and roads I know popping up in the middle of the fictional locations.  Think of this more as a crime drama rather than a mystery and you’ll be pulled in, watching the pages fly by all too quickly.

Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early (Murder, She Wrote #60) – 4

When Jessica slips on the ice, her Caribbean get away turns into a stint at home in a wheelchair. But she still finds herself with a mystery to solve when a mysterious artist moves in across the street. His snow sculptures are drawing a crowd, but for the wrong reasons. Then a murder happens with potential ties to another case in town. Can Jessica figure out what is going on?

Those getting Rear Window vibes aren’t far from the setup, although Jessica still gets out quite a bit, which I was grateful for. While there is a lot happening here, I did find the pacing a bit uneven at times, but things come together wonderfully once the murder happens. I love how this book expertly captures the characters and community of Cabot Cove. Since that was the reason we loved those episodes so much, fans will love this aspect of things. With spring fast approaching, there is still time to enjoy some winter vibes with this fun book. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Shattered Sight by Liz Milliron (Jackson Davis Mysteries #1) – 5

Six months after an accident while pursuing a suspect injured his partner, Jackson Davis is returning to his job as a detective on the Niagara Falls police force.  He's assigned a new partner, a rookie who just got promoted.  And they've landed a confusing case.  A business CEO was found at the bottom of the falls, but was it an accident, suicide, or murder?  Even her family and co-workers can't agree on what might have happened.  Can they make sense of enough clues to solve the case?  Or will being back be too much pressure for Jackson?

Jackson's mental health is a major subplot of this book, and I'll admit it gave me some anxiety while reading.  Talk about great writing.  But I ultimately liked where that story ended and what it allowed us to learn about all the characters in the book.  I really did enjoy getting to meet them and am looking forward to spending more time with them.  The suspects were also strong.  The mystery was great since there were so many avenues to pursue, I had a hard time figuring anything out.  Yet in the end, things did make sense.  Since this is a police procedural, the content is definitely more than the cozies I often read, but the few scenes were obvious when they were coming.  This is a solid series debut, and I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Jackson.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Helpless by Annette Dashofy (Zoe Chambers Mysteries #12) – 4

With the remains of a tropical storm hitting the area, the last thing that Zoe Chamber-Adams and Pete Adams need is a criminal running around the area. But that’s just what they’ve got. They are called to a horrific scene on a neighbors’ farm. The wife has been shot, the husband left for dead, and their daughter kidnapped. As Pete tries to find the daughter before she is taken out of the area, Zoe tries to learn what she can from the husband. Will the storm help or hurt them?

This is more of a ticking clock thriller than a mystery, with the book taking place over the course of a day. As much as I love this series, this one was a bit of a letdown. I found Zoe’s portion of the story slowed the plot down, and I found it a very dark book, even by this series’ standards. On the other hand, the overall plot of the book was great and I was still always reluctant to set the book down. It was great spending time with Zoe and Pete, and I enjoyed seeing the updates we still got on the series regulars and some ongoing stories. Fans of this great series will still be glad they picked up this book. 

Homicide in the Indian Hills by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Jane Wunderly Mysteries #6) – 4

Jane and Redvers head to India. The trip is part honeymoon and part work as Redvers is supposed to attend political meetings. While there, Jane befriends a woman who winds up dead just a couple of days later. The death is ruled death by tiger, but Redvers has another cause – murder. Can they figure out what really happened. 

I enjoyed this trip to India in 1927. The country and time really came to life for me. Jane and Redvers are the only returning characters, and it was nice to spend time with them again. This also means you can jump in here if you want to. The new characters are a mixed bag, but they are strong enough to pull us into the story. The mystery kept me intrigued until we reached the logical and suspenseful climax. Those who missed the electronic only Christmas novella from a year and a half ago will be happy to see it included here as an extra. Anyone looking for some travel with their historical mystery will be glad they picked up this series. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

The Final Draw by Ridley Pearson (Kingdom Keepers Inheritance #3) – 4

Eli Finn and his friends are in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for the fireworks on Friday night.  But the fireworks all go off at once.  And then the kids make another discovery – all the villains and henchmen have vanished from the various rides in the parks.  Can they figure out the riddle they got from Tiana in time to save the magic?  Or will it be lost for good?

If this is your introduction to the Kingdom Keepers universe, you will be very lost since it is the wrap up to over a dozen books across several series.  But fans of the series will know what to expect here and will enjoy what we get.  It’s pretty much par for the course, with lots of great scenes with Disney characters and the parks in spooky circumstances.  The characters are thin, but that’s been true all along the way.  Having said that, I really loved a couple of scenes with Eli and his parents that break out of some of the usual interactions with parents in middle grade books.  If this does turn out to be the last adventure in the Kingdom Keepers universe, fans will be satisfied.

Waters of Destruction by Leslie Karst (Orchid Isle Mysteries #2) – 5

It’s been a few months since we last checked in with Valerie and Kristen, and in that time, they’ve completed their move to Hawai’i. While they are trying to settle into their new life, Valerie agrees to help out their friend Sachiko who needs a bartender at the restaurant she manages. The old bartender has disappeared, but when his body turns up, the police start looking at Sachiko as a suspect. Can Valerie figure out what really happened to him?

Since Valerie and Kristen were fighting in the first book, I had trouble buying into their relationship. I’m happy to say they were getting along better here, and I enjoyed spending more time with them. The rest of the characters were great as well, and I hope we see many of them again. The plot appeared to be wandering a bit at the beginning, but everything came into play on the way to the surprising climax. Some of the characters do use Pigeon English, but I didn’t have trouble following their dialog. There is a glossary in the back if you want to learn more as well as five recipes to enjoy after you’ve finished. The setting came to life, and it was the next best thing to getting to visit myself. This is a fun second book for when you want a tropical retreat filled with murder. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

March 30th's Sunday/Monday Post

It's the weekend, so it's time for another Sunday/Monday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

Sunday Post
Sunday Salon
Stacking the Shelves
Mailbox Monday
It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

As you may have noticed, I skipped this post last week.  I have a very good excuse, too.  I was out of town with family.  Heck, I even left my lap top at home.

My family all met up near Palm Springs.  We spent time at a trailer park we found decades ago, and I mean that literally.  We found it while I was still living at home.  It's got more mobile homes now than it used, too, and some of the family stayed in one of those while some of us stayed in Mom and Dad's trailer.  The group included my parents, my brother and his family, and my uncle and aunt.  We swam every day in the nice warm pools they have there.  And we played shuffled board and pickleball.  At night, we played games.  We did go into Palm Springs for a few hours one afternoon.  It was a very nice, relaxing time.

This past week, I've been back at work.  Month end close started on Friday, so I had quite a few things to catch up on when I got back, but I think we are in good shape.  As long as there aren't any surprises.

Saturday, I spent a few hours at Six Flags Magic Mountain.  First time I'd been this year.  Was fun to walk around and ride a few of the rides.  And I was productive since I wrote two reviews while I was in line.

Anyone else use email drafts on their phone to work on reviews?  It's not my favorite way to write them, but it's a nice option when I can't be on my laptop and have some reviews I want to get written.  I just give them a more careful edit before I post them.  That's what I was doing while waiting in line for the rides.

Pun of the Week:

Restaurant reviews for the new diner on the moon claim the food is okay, but there’s no atmosphere.

This Past Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Movie Review: Love in Zion National

Monday - Book Review: The Final Draw by Ridley Pearson

Tuesday - Movie Review: Following Yonder Star

Wednesday - Book Review: Waters of Destruction by Leslie Karst

Thursday - TV Show Review: The Right Stuff

Friday - Friday Post featuring Ranch Dressing

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

This Coming Week on the Blog:

Sunday - Sunday/Monday Post

Monday - March Reading Summary

Tuesday - Book Review: People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman

Wednesday - Movie Review: Mame

Thursday - Book Review: Ranch Dressing by Diane Vallere

Friday - Friday Post

Saturday - Weekly TV Thoughts

Book Haul:

Of course, I have new books to talk about.  Not as many as I might have if I weren't out of town for a few days.  My to be read pile is thankful for that.

Let's start with my Kindle deal for the last two weeks.  I'd bought books one, three, and four in the Ainsley McGregor series from Candace Havens last fall, but then the second went on sale.  It appears that A Case for the Yarn Maker is still only 99 cents as of my typing this Saturday afternoon, so it isn't too late for you to snag it, too.  (And the first is currently free.)

I also got a preorder - The Library Game by Gigi Pandian.  This is the fourth book in her Secret Staircase series, and I'm looking forward to diving in soonish.  Not quite sure when that will be, but it really is near the top of my to be read pile.

Then, I bought a couple of next books in series I have already started.  The Girl with the Dragonfruit Tattoo is the final Trouble in Paradise! series from Carrie Doyle.  As sad as it is that the series only lasted three books, it is nice when I finish a series I've started.  That might jump this one up my to be read list.

I also got Death Comes to Marlow, the second Marlow Murder Club Mystery from Robert Thorogood. I loved the first in the series, and I believe the BBC/PBS series is getting a second season.  I'm assuming it is based on this book, so I hope to read the book first this time.

What I'm Currently Reading:

As I'm typing this, I'm almost half way through Egg Drop Dead, the fifth Noodle Shop Mystery from Vivien Chien.  I'm hooked.  In fact, I'm about to sit down and read for a bit, so by the time you read this, I'll be further along.

If all goes according to play, I will be finishing that book up on Sunday.  So Monday, I will be starting a new book.  The dilemma is, what?  I'm leaning toward Death on the Golden Mile by Caleb Wygal.  This is the third in his series set in Myrtle Beach.  I'm leaning even more toward it because I just discovered it's been a year since I read book two.  I was thinking it was more recent than that.  So sounds like it is time for a return trip.

That's it for me.  Hope you have a great week.

March 29th's Weekly TV Thoughts

I was out of town for part of last week.  Could you tell with how little I talked about?  Okay, so some of my shows weren't on, which also helped cut things down.  But I'm making up for it this week.

Shifting Gears (3/19) – Usually, I’m in favor of characters sticking with their first love.  And I don’t like divorce playing a part in things.  But I was actually okay with things in this episode.  I liked the Riley realized having money wouldn’t solve their other problems.  And I liked how both storylines played out.  The show continues to tackle some serious subjects without losing the humor.  I hope the show does come back for more episodes next season because I’m really enjoying it.  And yes, I did love the couple of references to cast members past work.

Wild Cards (3/19) – Bomb episodes aren’t usually my favorite, but this one was fun.  And it gave us a nice insight into the captain, who we usually hardly see.  Nice overall.

The Challenge (3/19) – So.  Much. Drama.  I’m over it.  Can we have less of it going forward?  The actual challenges are interesting, but all the swearing and bleeping can just go away.

Survivor (3/19) – Normally, I’m all about the underdogs pulling off the blindside.  But I was actually worry it worked this week.  I think because Camille’s lying and sowing discord is getting to me, and I really wanted to see her voted out.  If they’d only voted for her, it would have worked.  Bummer!  At least Thomas’s steal a vote didn’t make any difference in the outcome.

The Amazing Race (3/19) – They seem to have this at least once a season where none of the teams can complete one half of a detour.  It’s a good thing this wasn’t a leg where someone had to do both sides.  Getting the express pass seemed easy.  And seemed like it didn’t cost you much to try, although the couple that didn’t try got first this leg.  As someone who had to do hacky sack recently myself, I felt for the teams during that.  It’s much harder than it looks.  Although the fact that they had to pass it to another person is different from what I was trying to do (a bunch of hits by myself).  No real surprise over who went home.  They probably would have only last another leg or two if they weren’t out this week.

Happy’s Place (3/21) – A very sweet season finale.  I hope they do lean into the romance a bit more next season.  And maybe give Dakota a storyline.  But I really love this sitcom.  The new season can’t come soon enough.

Tracker – A bit dark and out there again.  Not as out there as some of them have been.  And I would have been much happier if they hadn’t killed the priest.  We had enough dead bodies to know it was serious, why did they have to kill him, too?  I did like Colter not accepting the reward money and suggesting it be used in the community.

Suits LA – I was surprised we were at the trial already.  Now, I’m surprised at the twists we’ve taken, especially at the end.  I hate to see the prosecutor win, but now I want her to win.  And I’m upset about what is going on in the past.  I get why they broke up, but why did we have to kill off the impersonator.  (I feel like I was just saying that.)  And yes, I’m getting hooked.

Poppa’s House – Nice to see them working some family into the show.  But I’m not sure I laughed once.  Not especially funny and not that original.

Rescue: HI Surf – So much to unpack here.  I’m assuming the lawsuit is going to come back into play next week.  While Will is suspended.  I liked Em’s storyline.  And Kainalu’s reaction to Hina’s confession was perfect.  He’s complete right about things.  Glad his dad wasn’t harsh but still firm about cutting the lines for permits.  Finally actually liked his dad.

Night Court – That was fun.  Not only did they follow a case the entire time (which seems rare), but I’ve really enjoyed it when the Wheelers show up.  More like this, please.

Deal or No Deal Island – That took guts.  I really thought he was going to hold on to his case, and it’s a very good thing he didn’t.  Talk about a great deal!

The Challenge – It’s amazing how much more enjoyable the show is when you fast forward through the parts where everyone fights.  And you get through the show faster.  I think I missed something where the winners of the elimination got to steal a star.  Glad that’s not it for the team that got theirs stolen from them.  That would stink.  And it set up more drama for next time.  Probably fast forward through it again.

Wild Cards – That was a very clever murder method.  Not sure it could really be pulled off, but I loved it for the mystery plot.  Had some fun moments along the way, although not quite as many as normal.

Survivor – Lots of emotion.  Glad they took the time they needed after the challenge.  For a minute, I thought I was going to fast forward through that, but it turned out really nice and I’m glad I didn’t.  And then watching Bianca be voted out was hard.  It’s interesting who actually voted her out and who was the last one to figure out she didn’t have a vote (Sai).  So much for the master strategist.

The Amazing Race – Taxi problems are back.  I’m glad that didn’t eliminate the team.  But boy are they having bad luck along the way.  Felt a bit sorry for the team that missed the signs and so they got eliminated, but at least there, they were responsible for it, not someone else.  That ATV journey looked like so much fun.  I want to go!

March 28th's Friday Post

Time for another Friday Post.  As usual, I will be linking up to:

Book Beginnings
First Line Friday
Friday 56
Book Blogger Hop

This week, I'm pulling quotes from Ranch Dressing by Diane Vallere.

This is the fifteenth book in her Samantha Kidd series.  Diane is no stranger to my Friday posts or my blog in general.  She's written 42 mysteries, and I have now read them all.  Not as big an accomplishment as having written all of them, but I'm still very satisfied at the moment.

But let's talk about this book.  As you've probably guessed, Samantha is off to a dude ranch (or a guest ranch, if you prefer), which is definitely outside her wheelhouse.  Which gives us this great opening:

“I need to borrow some clothes,” I said. “Jeans,” I added then tacked on “Wranglers,” for further clarification. I finished with “please” to properly convey my desperation.

I was smiling by the time I finished that paragraph.

Normally, for the Friday 56, I'm trying to find something that captures a plot twist or teaser of some kind.  But this time, I've got a nice descriptive passage for you.

Loncar leaned back against the side of the building. He kicked his feet out in front of him and looked at the deep purple-blue night sky dotted with hundreds of stars. I shifted my attention from Loncar to the sky and, for the first time since we’d arrived, stopped to take in the beauty of the surrounding land. The light came from the moon, and it was full enough to make visible the tree line, the fence, and a family of deer that grazed about a hundred feet away. I pointed to the deer, Loncar nodded, and we sat there, allowing our murder-case recap to lapse into silence while we admired the beauty of the great outdoors.
After a minute or so, one of the deer turned and fled. The others followed. I watched their silhouettes disappear into the darkness, and moments later, there was no sign that they’d been there.

As expected, I enjoyed this book.  (I mean, I wouldn't read this many books by an author I didn't enjoy her.)  My full review will be up Thursday next week.

Let's switch over to the Book Blogger Hop.  This week has a hot question:

Do you judge an author's works based on their political stances?

I try not to, unless they infuse the book with their politics to the point that it overwhelms the novel.  However, it's been very hard to keep that true over the last six months or so.  Some of what I've seen authors posting on social media has been pretty nasty.  I can name three authors who said, essentially, "If you didn't vote my way, stop reading my books."  Two of them were authors I have read and reviewed for years.

It's something I've been struggling with a lot more in the past six months than in my entire previous 25 years of reviewing.  Which saddens me since this can be such a great way to form bridges and connections that can lead to understanding, common ground, and solutions.  But it is becoming increasingly hard to view this as an escape and hobby to build community.

And on that somber note, I'm out of here for the day.  Have a great weekend!

TV Show Review: The Right Stuff - Season 1

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Period details, acting, fun nostalgia

Cons: None of the men are likable by the end; sudden stop

The Bottom Line:

History, drama

An eight-episode mixed bag

Wanted to like more

“Every School Kid is Going to Know the Name of the First American in Space.  That’s Not Glory.  That’s History.”

Another series that captured my interest right away when I first got Disney+ several years ago was The Right Stuff.  Since I already knew two of the leads from their work on other shows and love American history, I figured I’d enjoy it.  Sadly, it’s wasn’t nearly as good as I expected it to be.

The show looks at the early days of the US space program, specifically the 7 fighter pilots chosen to be the first astronauts as part of the Mercery program.  Even among those characters, the show really focuses on three of them, John Glenn (played by Patrick J. Adams), Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman), and Gordon Cooper (Colin O’Donoghue).  The show follows the almost two-year period in which the men trained and the scientists worked on the rockets that would successfully and safely get them into space and back.  Who will get the historic first flight into space?

The show works in some ways.  The period detail is fantastic.  The acting from the entire cast is wonderful.  I got sucked into the story and enjoyed the episodes.  Considering there are only eight episodes in the first season, they cover a lot of ground, and focusing on the three astronauts makes sense, although I do wonder why they chose to focus on Gordon Cooper.

Maybe that is because the show is also part soap opera.  This is especially true for Gordon, who is trying to revive his shaky marriage while all this is going on.  The men in general don’t come across as heroes, which may be historically accurate, but is a bit of a disappointment.  Even John Glenn winds up coming across as sanctimonious by the time the season is over.  It’s frustrating because I found I didn’t like any of the men when I was done watching, and I wanted to like all of them.

And then the show just stops.  When I was watching it, I thought it was supposed to be an eight-episode mini-series.  I wasn’t aware they were planning on more seasons of the show.  But the show has now been cancelled, so that’s irrelevant.  My point is, none of the story arcs are wrapped up satisfactorily.  I get that real life doesn’t wrap itself up neatly at the end of a certain period of time, but I felt like almost everything, was left open.

This isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy the show.  I was caught up in the late 50’s and early 60’s.  The show does a good job of tapping into nostalgia and an important part of American history.  And maybe that’s what made my disappointment so much greater – I wanted to like this show more than I did.

If you are interested in a dramatization of this time period, you will want to check out The Right Stuff for yourself.  But unfortunately, this isn’t must watch television.

Book Review: Waters of Destruction by Leslie Karst (Orchid Isle Mysteries #2)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: characters and plot in a great setting

Cons: All cons destroyed in water

The Bottom Line:

Missing bartender

Suspects at the restaurant

A great getaway

Last Call for the Bartender

The timing for the second Orchid Isle Mystery from Leslie Karst is perfect, coming out as it does just as winter is giving way to spring. It was great to escape to Hawai’i virtually and enjoy the tropical weather. And Waters of Destruction adds a great mystery to the great location. 

In the first book, we met recently retired wives Valerie and Kristen, who enjoyed their vacation in Hilo so much they decided to move there. Now, it’s a few months later and they are trying to settle in and make new friends. 

When Sachiko asks Valerie to fill in as a bartender at the restaurant she manages, Valerie figures that’s a great opportunity to get out of the house a little. The bartender she’s replacing has just vanished, and it’s been a couple of days since anyone’s seen him. When his body turns up, the police start looking at Sachiko because the two of them had a fight recently. Since the bartender disappeared right after a retreat for the staff of the restaurant, Valerie thinks her new coworkers might be better suspects. Can she find a killer?

In the first book, I struggled to get behind Valerie and Kristen’s relationship because they were fighting quite a bit. Here, that’s been resolved, and I enjoyed spending time with both of them. It was also nice to see Sachiko and her boyfriend, Isaac, again as well. And we met several other new characters I’m hoping we will see again. Some of those were suspects this time around, so we will see if any wind up returning or not. This also means I found the suspects believable as I was reading. 

I thought the book was starting a bit on island time, meaning I thought it was getting sidetracked a few times with extraneous things. It turned all of those came into play as the mystery went along. By the end I was hooked, reading pages quickly to see how Valerie was going to solve the case. I didn’t see the ending coming, but the solution made perfect sense when we got there. 

As with the first book, some of the characters use Pigeon English words and phrases as they talk. While it slowed me down, I was always able to understand what they were saying. And I didn’t need to use the glossary at the end of the book to figure anything out. 

Speaking of the end, there are five recipes at the end to enjoy once you’ve finished reading the book. 

Getting to live in a place like Hawai’i is always a dream, at least when I’m on vacation. I’ve got to say, this book continues to make it sound appealing. We also get a bit of the culture of those who live on the island, which is fun. 

Waters of Destruction is another good mystery from the pen of Leslie Karst. If you are wishing for a tropical getaway, this book is the next best thing. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

Movie Review: Following Yonder Star

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Charming and thoughtful

Cons: Some elements on the meet cute didn’t work, but it smoothed out after that

The Bottom Line:

Abby gets away

Lands in Vermont and meets Nick

Charms yet serious

“Why Does It Always Have to Be Cookies?”

When I started paying attention to Christmas movies to potentially watch in 2024, I looked for premises that intrigued me or stars I recognized (or both).  Since I was already a fan of the two leads, I recorded Following Yonder Star to watch.  I’m glad I did because I enjoyed it.

Abby (Brooke D’Orsay) has spent years starring as a perfect wife and mother in a popular TV show.  Now that the show is over, she is trying to find what is next in her life.  Unfortunately, she gets a shock right before Christmas when she discovers that her ex-husband (and her former on-screen husband) is getting remarried.  The news causes her to have a meltdown, and she decides she needs an escape.

That takes her across the country to Vermont.  Through a mix-up, she finds herself taking the last room at a small inn in a town overwhelmed with people looking for a convergence of planets that will create a super star on Christmas Eve.

The owner of this inn is Nick (John Brotherton), a widower who is just trying to keep it all together.  The two begin to bond and open up to each other.  Where will it lead?

The first thing I appreciated about the movie is that it did a great job of balancing Abby’s meltdown.  It sets it up so we can empathize with her, but it is quickly apparent that this isn’t her typical behavior.  She even admits it wasn’t her at her best, but having a human moment.  (And, honestly, her frustration with the clerk was completely understandable even if her behavior was wrong.)  Then, of course, we got to see how this was spun in public opinion.  It was probably my biggest worry going into the film, but the movie does it perfectly.

On the whole, the movie is sweet.  It deals with some heavy subjects, but it never gets too maudlin or sad.  I also appreciated how they brought in others who weren’t caught up in the romance at first to give some perspective.  And the characters were realistic about what the future would hold.

And it isn’t all sadness.  Nick is supposed to be directing the local kids’ Christmas production, and that provides some comic relief.  There are also some romantic moments and beautiful Christmas decorations.

John Brotherton made some acting choices near the beginning that were a bit questionable.  I’m sure they were supposed to show how nervous his character was since he recognized Abby right away, but they just seemed odd.  Frankly, the meet cute of their relationship went on a little longer than I needed period.  But that’s a minor issue.  Once we got past that, the acting was okay, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between the leads.

Yes, the get the predictable third act complications, but they were handled fairly well, and I loved the climax.

One thing that I really appreciated was that faith, specifically Christianity, was a large part of the conversation, and not just in the Christmas pageant.  I didn’t expect this, and it was a refreshing touch to find characters talking about their struggles with that, especially given what life had sent them.

Following Yonder Star is a charming Hallmark Christmas movie.  If that’s what you are looking for, you’ll enjoy this one.