It’s time for our Sunday morning chat. On Sundays, I ramble about what’s been going on, what the rest of the family and I have been reading and watching, and what I’ve been writing. Some weeks I share what I am listening to.
This week I’m joining up with Kimba at Caffeinated Reviewer, Deb at Readerbuzz, and Kathyrn at The Book Date.
What’s Been Occurring
I wrote about what’s been going on in yesterday’s post so I won’t repeat it. You can pop over to that post if you want to catch up.
What I/we’ve been Reading
Currently:
I was looking for a comfort read last week and looked to see if I had any The Cat Who books on Kindle that I hadn’t read yet. I ended up finding one – The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts – and I think I never read it because I started it and it started in first person and I am used to the books in the series being in third person so I put it aside. The POV actually switches back to the third person and so far has been one of my favorite books, even though one of my favorite characters was killed off. There are some very funny lines in it and more of Qwill’s personality of being wary around children and women who talk to their pets like children.
I absolutely laughed out loud at these parts:
Before he could reply with a stiff “How do you do,” the parents had spotted the Lanspeaks and descended on them, leaving him with Baby. She looked up in wonder at his moustache and said in her clear, precise speech, “What’s that thing on your face?”
“That’s my nose,” said Qwilleran. “Doesn’t your father have a nose?”
“Yes, he has a nose.”
“How about your mother? Does she have a nose?”
“Everybody has a nose,” said Baby with disdain, as if dealing with a dolt.
“Then you should recognize a nose when you see one.”
Baby was not fazed by his evasive logic. “Where do you work?” she asked.
And
All of this he could understand, and he could handle it, but her gushing over the kitten was more than he could stomach. There would be no more relaxing country weekends at Polly’s cottage with just the two of them— reading Shakespeare aloud and playing music—not while Bootsie diffused her attention. Bootsie! It was a vile name for a Siamese, Qwilleran insisted.”
Qwill can be such an elitist and in his case I love it.
I’m also reading The Secret Garden but I’ve paused my own reading of it and have started reading it with Little Miss. So far she’s really enjoying it.
I started The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliff as well. I just started it but it’s okay so far.
Just Finished:
Last week I finished The Divine Proverb of the Streusel by Sara Brunsvold and I really enjoyed it. I will have a review of it up next week.
Soon to be read:
Murder Always Barks Twice by Jennifer Hawkins
Death At A Scottish Christmas by Lucy Connelly
What We watched/are Watching
This week I watched some Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, All Creatures Great and Small, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
What I’m Writing
I am working on the latest Gladwynn Grant mystery and having fun trying to figure out what direction I want to take the story. I’m hoping for a subplot related to Gladwynn’s ancestors.
I let my daughter in on the brainstorming and she suggested that someone in the Grant family line be an assassin. I was a bit stunned since I write cozy, light mysteries and told her that.
Then The Boy got in on the action and suggested that her ancestors be involved in human trafficking.
Needless to say, I will not be taking any more advice from my children.
This week I also announced that Cassie, the book that is part of the Apron Strings Book Series is up for pre-order. You can find it HERE.
Here is a description:
One cookbook connects them all…
Cassie ~ Book Eight in a string of heartfelt inspirational stories, featuring different women throughout the decades from 1920 to 2020.
Cassie Drake starred in a popular sitcom over a decade ago, but she hasn’t been able to find a job since the show ended five years ago.
Now it’s 1995 and fired by her talent agency, Cassie decides to accept her sister’s offer for an extended visit in their hometown. Back in Coopers Grove, she’s just Cassie Mason, sister to Bridget Martin, the local volunteer extraordinaire with the handsome husband and three wonderful children.
When an accident at the site for the Martin family’s new café and farm store leaves Bridget frantic for help with the community center open house she’s planning, Cassie feels forced to step up—even though it involves something she’s clueless about.
Cooking.
Even with Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book, Cassie fails at every attempt. Fortunately, her sister’s handsome neighbor, Alec Alderson, steps in.
As a former chef, he’s more than capable of giving her some tips. Will his charming smile during cooking lessons be too distracting though?
Watching others use their talents leaves Cassie wondering if God, whom she’s barely spoken to in the last few years, is telling her she was made for more than the career that became her identity.
What I shared on the blog this week:
- Saturday Afternoon Chat: relaxing week, reptiles, pizza, some sun, and cozy mysteries to read
- Fiction Friday: An interview with Jenny Knipfer, author of Priscilla.
- Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot April 18
- ‘Cassie’ is up for pre-order
- Do you live in a small town?
- The weird and sad truth of classic romance authors
- Why I leave book reviews
What I’m Listening to
I am currently listening to Watership Down and Around the World in 80 Days on Audible.
For music, I am listening to a variety of artists from Needtobreathe to early Mumford and Sons, The Civil Wars, and Danny Gokey.
Now it’s your turn. What have you been doing, watching, reading, listening to or writing? Let me know in the comments or leave a blog post link if you also write a weekly update like this.
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I enjoyed Sara Brunsvold’s book as well, but not as much as the first one. Did you read it?
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I read part of it and laid it down because it came at a rought time in my life. The subject was too much. However, I am going to finish it soon here. Probably after a couple of other reads this month. I am looking forward to reading it.
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Struesel is tasty 🙂
Wishing you a happy reading week
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Thanks! You too!
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Lisa,
Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers for me, joe and my family…Joe passed away peacefully and comfortably at a Hospice unit on April 16th…. We live in Wilkes barre and I worked for the Geisinger Health System….
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
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Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry. I live about 90 minutes from you which I figured out when you said Geisinger. I’m just so sorry.
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Pingback: This week’s small pleasures #384 – Thistles and Kiwis
I love your kids’ suggestions…but I agree they may not be the best for your books! I’m going to have to check out Lillian Braun’s books again. I’ve been stuck in such dark books lately; I need something to brighten up my days!
Have a wonderful week, Lisa!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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I heard of a movie called P. S. I Love You and after streaming it this weekend I found that it was based on a book so I downloaded the book to try.
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I’ve heard of the book and movie but haven’t read it or seen it. Let me know if it is good or not.
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Congratulations on your new book. It must be wonderful to be a writer.
I am not a reader but I definitely need to try.
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It’s not always wonderful to be a writer. lol. It’s hard sometimes and sometimes I feel silly because I don’t have a lot of readers but it can be a lot of fun too.
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My writing group has been very patient with the characters in my story as they walk aimlessly across Texas. Perhaps I should encourage them to offer some suggestions since my book has yet to develop any plot. I don’t think your children’s suggestions would be helpful for me either.
I’m finally getting back to fiction this week. I’m not sure why, but I seemed to only be successful at reading nonfiction. I never realized that The Cat Who books could be so amusing!
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They were having fun with the suggestions but were just a bit darker than I needed for my book so I suggested they can write their own. Ha!
I don’t usually like reading non-fiction but I’ve found some good ones (I liked Anthony Bourdain’s first one and want to read more)
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