Book Review - Wine Tastings Are Murder - a Poppy McAllister Mystery - by Libby Klein

  *Disclaimer: I have been provided this book free of charge by the publisher Kensington Publishing for the sole purpose of reading and reviewing this book for NetGallery.com, along with my YouTube Channel as well as this blog. All reviews are completely my own thoughts and opinions*

Libby Klein has some AMAZING opening lines.

For Example - this is is the opening line for this book:

“Kale Frittata is proof that I’ll eat anything if it has enough cheese in it.”

I don’t know about you, but that cracks me up, and as someone who is trying to loose weight, I RESONATE with that!

Poppy is currently departing  a delema that most girls would be THRILLED about - 2 men are competing for her affections - it makes me think of a medieval princess in a tower or Maid Marian at the competition. When we meet up with Poppy at the beginning of the book, she is trying to get her body in “Lingire Shape” which I think that most of us ladies can relate to. 

Poppy, along with her Aunt GInny, have been remodeling their home into a bed and breakfast, which is called the Butterfly Wings B&B. Have you every stayed in an B&B? I have not, but it is on my bucket list!

When Poppy gets home from her workout, Aunt Ginny and Figero (Poppy’s Cat) are celebrating that the cleaning lady has not only quit working for them, but retired from cleaning all together. Knowing Aunt Ginny’s anticits....you can ONLY wonder what she did to the poor lady to make her retire COMPLETELY! This stresses our Poppy becuase they have people coming to the B&B for a Wine TOur and weekends leading up to the Memoral Day Weekend.

Poppy has a busy day ahead of her - she is going to Tim’s Restaurant, Maxine’s (Now - Tim is not only her ex-high school sweetheart, but one of her current suiters) to make Nutella Creme Brûlée and Pina Colaeda Cake for him to serve. After greeting Tim, they head to the kitchen where there is a mock-fight going on about sports. (I am not a huge sports person - i just don’t see the point in it) Tim has gotten her a present! Her own pink Chef’s Coat!! Like all women who worry about their weight, she has the mantra going through her head saying that is not going to fit, and she is mostly correct - its a little tight over “the girls” and she considers unpadding her bra...but wants to be a little “farther out” than her tummy is - LOL

After a busy day making all kinds of sweets and treats and worrying at the same time (we women are good multi-tankers) she heads home to conduct new maid interviews and she finds that her worry’s are not in vain. Aunt Ginny is trying to “drill Sargent” the 6 applicants she has find and they are all sitting on the count in various degrees of terrified ness. (Yes - I am officially making that a word). WHen Aunt Ginny asks if anyone wants to leave - 5 of the 6 run for the hills. Not going to lie - if I had been in that house, I would have headed for the hills myself if given the option! 

We fast forward a few days, and we find that Poppy has overslept and is running late to make pastry’s at the La Dolce Vita Espresso Bar. She walks in, and Gia is not waiting for her like normal; he is with a younger girl (another redhead) named Sierra and she is going to be working in the espresso shop as well. Poppy developers a pretty sour attitude and heads to the kitchen area that she has deemed “the lair” to make some Paleo Blueberry Scores. Gia eventually brings her her daily latte and tells her that Sierra needs some more practice and that he didn’t want her to have to wait all day. 

Poppy is feeling Jealous, even though really, she hasn’t staked a claim officially on Gia. She finishes making some cookies (the macadamia nuts were almost decimated in the course of this) and heads to the bathroom to “freshen up” - she has officially declared war.

Poppy now has to play “Lady of the Manor” for her B&B for a newlywed couple so she rushes home, cleanse up, and they (Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and FIgero) are lined up in the entry way waiting to invite them in. Poppy is expecting a pair of 20somethings, but finds a Middle-Aged Man with a MUCH younger bride! 

Well, the problems have just started for poor Poppy. Aunt Ginny has made a change to the website so that it states :Pet Friendly” and the newlyweds have brought along their Pom, which Figero is NOT ok with! 

Poppy is at her wits end and she has just offered to show the new couple to their room when Aunt Ginny set’s off her new Alexa and it is telling her what a “Golddigger” is - OMG - I started CRACKING UP at that while reading!!

So a little while later, 2 people show up, and it ends up that it’s Vince (the groom) children!! Can you saw Awkward??? So while she is trying to figure out how to handle this NEWEST crisis, Sunny (the bride) arrives and is trying to figure out what is going on, but when Vince asks that, Ryan (Vince’s son-in-law) says it was all Sunny’s Idea!! Umm..........#weirdfamilyvacation (No ages of Vince’s daughter or bride are given until later in the book, but it is revealed that Alyce; Vince’s daughter was a year AHEAD of the new bride in school and they were enemys even in school.......)

So FINALLY, its time for the wine tasting portion of our day.... I’m sure that Poppy is wondering if she is even in the SAME DAY that she started with with all of the drama that has happened!!  Poppy’s friend Kim, who owns Laughing Gull Winery has arrived!! Kim informers Poppy (while snitching food while Poppy is trying to wash maple syrup out of Fig’s fur) that Lilly (who is in charge of the wine tour) will be arriving in about 15 minutes and that she isn’t allowed to pour wine until Daniel is there to talk about the nuances of wine....I just feel for Poppy at this moment. 

So finally, Poppy is bringing food into the room, and there are 4 total couples on the tour with Lilly Snow from the Pink Sandals Boutique Tours, and they have all finally arrived. They spend a few minutes intruding themselves to the group, and then the tasting starts. 

After some stressful beginnings, between the good food that Poppy has prepared and the wine that is flowing, people are starting to mellow out (is it ok that I’m kinda thankful on behalf of a book character??)

After the tasting is over (with promises of extra tastings the following day due to Daniel’s delay) everyone goes their separate ways to dinner....and we get some more drama.......Daniel is KISSING Alyce Finch behind the garage.......umm.....WTH??? The following morning, Poppy is NOT wanting to wake up since the drama has continued until 2AM!! (Maybe I DON”T want to stay at a B&B.....is that where people go to air their dirty laundry?) To make the day even BETTER to start with (is there enough scarcam there?) she has a text from Gia that Sierra has an idea for a muffin....Poppy just CAN’T catch a break and its not even 7AM yet. 

So after breakfast, Poppy is out with her friend Sawyer getting supplies and she gets a phone call from Kim out at the Laughing Gull Winery....one of the tour guests is DEAD!!!

Care to take a guess of which one it was...........

Yup - it is our friendly neighborhood newlywed groom Vince Baker!!

So when they arrive, everything is in chaos. Apparently Vince has had a heartattack and traumatized everyone on the tour......or was it a heartattack?????

The police arrive on the scene shortly after Poppy and Sawyer and Poppy’s archenemy from high school who is now local police has arrived - Amber. 

Amber confronts Poppy asking if she was part of the wine tour and she sates that no that she arrived after he has passed away and then Amber accuses Poppy of contaminating her crime scene....wait. I thought this was a heart attack?? Now its a crime scene?? What is going on here??

The funny thing about enemy’s - sometimes you are emery’s, sometimes you aren’t. Amber is actually, in MY option, NICE to Poppy! She tells Poppy that there were some questionable finding by the paramedics and so it was called in. Poppy’s first thought is of the new widow, while Amber is pointing out that most of the time the widow has done it....thought she isnt’ sure about Sunny in this instance. 

SO finally, the police gather everyone and tell them that anyone that is not on the tour is free to leave, but the rest of them have to stay in the area in case they have any other questions - typical for a murder investigation but not a heart attack! 

As everyoene leaves, Kim PLEADS with Sawyer and Poppy to figure how what happened - she has cashed in her 401K that her husband doesn’t know about and if the winery goes under, they will have nothing!!

OS when they get3 home, Aunt Ginny of course wants to be involved and Poppy is trying to Duane her from it. You know that excentric aunt that you have that wants to be 15 instead of 59?? that is how I imanige Aunt Ginny!

Sunny has arrived back at the B&B and is at this point sad and numb - she said that Ryan and Alyce have been horrible to her and after he was dead, Ryan was in contact with lawyers to contest the will - and I agree with Sunny’s question - how do THEY know what. Is in the will when Sunny doenst even know what is in it?? Hum........

The police then show up and want to search Vinny and Sunny’s room - Poopy wants a search warrant but Sunny ok’s it, so he searches the room and her purse and takes some pills that he says will be returned later....hum.....wat COULD the police have found!!!

So awhile later, Poppy is back at home and in the pantry to check on peaches to make breakfast the following morning and she overhears the Finches talking about the will - Ryan also makes this comment  

“ It might be our only option. You’re in line to get everything if she is gone.”

How OMNINOUS IS THAT!! I Mean - REALLY???

SO Office Amber shows up shortly after with more questions for Sunny. After questioning her, she calls Poppy into the room and once again confides in her about the case - I’m REALLY confused about this personally since I’ve read the other books and she does NOT like Poppy - its like the “Popular” kids in high school all of the sudden likening me and wanting to hang out with em - SO not going to happen....WHAT is Amber’s agenda under all of this....?

SO Who is the Murderer> Is it the Young Widow? The Son-In-Law? The angry Daughter? Or is it someone that you would never expect??

To find out, you will need to grab a copy of Wine Tastings are Murder - a Poppy McAllister Mystery by Libby Klein from Kensington Publishers and its available December 1st, 2020!

Book Review - A Page Marked for Murder by Lauren Elliott

*Disclaimer: I have been provided this book free of charge by the publisher Kensington Publishing for the sole purpose of reading and reviewing this book for NetGallery.com, along with my YouTube Channel as well as this blog. All reviews are completely my own thoughts and opinions*

This is Book 5 in the Series, so if you have not read the other 4 Books, that is ok - it can stand alone and you can still understand and follow the story, you just might not be as familiar with the main characters in the story.

Addison Greyborn lives in Greyborne Harber, which is a quaint New England Town; (or Addie to her friends) is the owner of a bookstore and is getting ready for the Fire and Ice Event in her local town - its a fun after-Christmas event where they have an ice carving competition and burn the Christmas Trees in a community bondfire and have midnight fireworks!! (Just saying - this sounds like an amazing idea and I would love to see this event happen in my local community!)

Addie has been outside with her assistant Paige, when she literally stumbles over Pippi, her friend Gloria’s little dog! This is a PROBLEM because Gloria doens’t go ANYWHERE without Pippi. Soon, they find Gloria at the festival grounds injured, and before Addie knows it - she is now dog-sitting!!

You can’t have a holiday without some family drama, right?? Paige’s daughter’s father Brett Palmer has re-entered the picture wanting custody and rights to see Emma after walking out on them 4 years before. Umm.......no. On top of that - Martha (Paige’s Mom) ex-husband Ken has re-entered the picture as well, AND they are causing very public scenes which is making things hard on both Martha and Paige. 

Addie goes into work the morning of the Bonfire, and she sees who she thinks is Old Bill (a homeless man in town) huddled up against a heating vent. She goes over to talk to him, BUT.....ITS NOT BILL!! It is Brett Palmer and he is DEAD!!!! 

Let’s Complicate things more shall we?? The Chief of Police is ADDIE’S Ex!!! They have a.....strained relationship at best. Simon, Addie’s currently boyfriend whispers in her ear that she needs to tell Marc what Martha said to her the previous day. After relaying that information, Marc has Jerry pick up Martha, Paige, and Ken to question them about Brett. Poor Paige - things just keep getting worse.

After leaving the scene, Addie takes Pippi to visit Gloria in the hospital and they have a VERY touching reunion. (Insert Hearts and Rainbows Here - LOL)

Gloria tells Addie a little that she can remember about the accident and she tells her that she felt something shake the ladder and someone stand over her making sure she was ok before they ran off! (Insert scary music here...becuase why would someone run off instead of calling for help, and why woudn’t they stay unless they were guilty...)

So Gloria asks Addie to bring her the book on her nightstand - The Secret Garden - that they are reading for book club. Addie knows where it is since she and Martha had been in Gloria’s home right after she was admitted so that they could get things for Gloria and Pippi’s bed, toys, etc... but when she gets there, the book is nowhere to be found! She goes back to the hospital and they search through the whole suitcase that Martha packed and it wasn’t there......

Addie goes to the police station (where Martha and Paige are now being held) and asks to speak with Martha, which of course they cant’ do becuase they are under arrest. Addie BEGS a really...........temperamental former female FBI Agent named Ryley to ask Martha if she picked up the book. When she comes back and relays that it was left in Gloria’s house......Addie informs the police officer that there is now a problem....becuase that book is worth over Twenty Five Thousand Dollars. 

That is ALOT OF MONEY for a book!!!! Do we have a motive now of why Gloria ended up injured??

After basically pleading and begging with Ryley, the police officer makes the decision to check to see if anything is really wrong. She sends out a VERY PREGNANT police officer - with Addie as her “partner” to check on Gloria’s house.

After they do a walk-through of the house, Carolyn, the police officer there doing the investigation, asks Addie if there is ANYTHING that is dffferent than when she was in the house on Friday....and she thinks of something! There was a photo album that she had looked through on Friday and left open on the coffee table....but when she came in that day......it was closed! 

So that evening she makes a list of the information that she has before Simon comes by. He is SO TIRED from work (he is a DR.) that he ends up falling asleep on her couch. The next morning, he gets a phone call from Marc that they have found something in Martha’s Bakery......

Addie drives down but can’t find a parking spot, so she parks farther down from her shop, and she walks up and the sign is OPEN - she is SURE that she turned it to CLOSED before she left the day before....she walks in and Paige is working! Paige is worried that she no longer has a job, to which Addie dispels those nerves ASAP. Paige reveals some very personal information to Addie about her and Brett’s relationship which sends Addie for a spin. 

When Paige broaches the topic of redecorating the windows in a “The Secret Garden” theme, Addie is forced to tell her about the book and its value and right away, Paige says that she is positive that her father, Ken, has stolen it from Gloria’s home!

While Paige is in the back of the store getting things out for the new display, Addie takes a copy of The Secret Garden to Gloria in the hospital, where Gloria proceeds to inform her that the first person on the scene was none other than our murder victim Brett Palmer! Gloria is then informed by Addie everything that has been going on and why Martha hadnt’ been by to see her lately. Gloria is like, well, let’s solve a mystery!! She kinda reminds me of Fred from Schooby Do at this moment! LOL When Addie starts asking questions about who has a key to Gloria’s home and explains why she wants to know, Gloria actually comes up with the same answer as Paige did - that Ken took the first edition book that he had left with her when he left Paige and Martha all those years ago...

So do you want to know who the Murderer is and who took the book, and if the two cases are connected???

Well, make sure to check our A Page Marked for Murder by Lauren Elliott available from Kensington Publishing Available on October 27th!

Book Review - A Waffle Lot of Murder by Lena Gregory

 *Disclaimer: I have been provided this book free of charge by the publisher Kensington Publishing for the sole purpose of reading and reviewing this book for NetGallery.com, along with my YouTube Channel as well as this blog. All reviews are completely my own thoughts and opinions*

It’s getting towards fall and Gia, owner of the All Day Breakfast Cafe is missing New York and the changing of the seasons where she could TELL that the seasons are changing. I get that - I lived in Washington State where it was just rainy and drizzly all the time and I wouldn’t know the change of seasons if it smacked me in the face! Gia has recieved, once again, a letter form the City Council, and has been putting off opening it. As any TRUE friend would do, her friend Savannah opens it and has her read it. It isn’t BAD NEWS! It is an invitation to participate in the annual Haunted Town Festival that supports the Animal Shelter by having a Haunted House and a Table to promote her business!

Gia’s Feelings - Neves and not too into it.

Savannah (her best friend), Cole (her employee), & Earl (a customer and friend) all convience her to do it. Ok - they really don’t give her much of an option when Savannah takes it into HER hands to call and confirm that GIa will be participating!! (Sounds like something one of MY Friends would do!) While Savannah is on the phone, Cole and Earl are coming up with food ideas for her table - along with a pet friendly option as well as a trial run!

So, later that evening, Savannah and Gia are on their way to see their “house” for the haunted house and meet up with one of the organizers, Barbara. Barbara is always on time, and she is late. Eventually Savannah starts to call her phone and the find the phone outside in the bushes where they also run into one of the other event organizers Ginny who offers to go ahead and give them the tour that Barbara was supposed to do. 

As Savannah and Gia are walking through their house and making plans to do a Dormitory theme, they are approved on the spot by Ginny who thinks its an amazing idea, but then as they are leaving.....they are met by emergency red and blue lights........

Police Captain Hunter Quinn (who also happens to be Savannah’s cousin and Gia’s Boyfriend) arrives on the scene and tells Gia she is a magnet for trouble and a bad influence on Savannah. As the questions keep coming at the two, finally Gia gets what’s happening. There was no accident, Barbara didn’t die of natural causes - Barbara was murdered.

Suspects in the Case:

Ginny - An Associate of Barbara’s

Jeb - Security

Allie - A Friend of Barbara’s

Mike Smith - Year-Round Maintance of the Festival Grounds

Kayla Claybourne - A Friend of Ginny - also was Jealous of Barbara’s friendship with Ginny

So the town of Boggy Creek, NY is buzzing with the latest murder and wondering if the Haunted Festival will even be allowed to proceed and Gia’s All Day Breakfast Cafe is at the center point for gossip. I mean, doesn’t good food and gossip go hand in hand? I remember growing up there was a saying - ‘Your parent’s will know what you did before you can even come up with a cover-story’ #smalltownliving AND on top of that - Mike Smith, who is considered a suspect, is now missing....

So as the investigation is continuing, every time Gia and Savanah turn around.....there is Kayla Claybourne....spewing that the Festival should be allowed to continue no matter what, as well as Kayla continues to bash the police department for continuing to ask questions!! (I mean, they HAVE to ask questions, right??)

THEN, Gia and Savannah go to check on Ginny one evening, and Ginny rushes them off the phone, then a few seconds later.....she is rushing Jeb out of the house.....and he is telling someone...”She Doesn’t Have It”.....what could it be???

Do you want to know what happens next??? Then you will JUST have to read the book!!

Huge thanks again to NetGallery, Lena Gregory, and Kensington Publishers for the opportunity to review this book

Book Review: The Titanic Sisters by Patricia Falvey

 *Disclaimer* I have received this book free of charge for the sole purpose of writing a book review. I received the book through NetGallery.com direct from the publisher.

When I first looked at the title - I THOUGHT I knew how the book was going to go: Two Sisters board The Titanic - one doesn’t make it, the other assumes her identity.....and that DOES how it seems to start...

Two Sisters - Delia & Nora live in the small town of Donegal, Ireland. The book begins in the year of 1911 where you meet these two women - who couldn’t be more different if they tried. Delia loves the land and her “Da” (Father) and had a very difficult relationship with her “Ma” (Mother) - Delia was a twin and her bother died at birth and Ma believes that Delia is a changing (a fairy baby) and treats her very badly - you wouldn’t even believe she was her daughter if it didn’t specifically say so in the book. Nora, the older sister is DOTED on by Ma - only the finest of everything will do. Here is the “2020 Breakdown” - Nora is part of the Popular Crowd, while Delia is part of the Loser Crowd. 

At the beginning of the book , a letter arrives for Ma from America - which is a VERY big deal. The letter states that a cousin has passed away leaving behind a husband and young daughter. The husband is looking for a Governess for the young girl. (A Governess is like a Nanny) Ma is ECSTATIC - the gentleman has sent a ticket for first class passage the following April onboard the Titanic. Ma of course puts Nora ahead of Delia, even though of the two sisters, Nora has problems with school work and Delia is the more scholarly of the two due to her time spent in books. Delia leaves the home and goes to the fields, where Da finds her and asks if she wants to go to America. Of course she tells him yes and he contacts the local Parish Father who finds her work as a servant at a home in America in New York City, and then sells the first class ticket for two tickets in steerage. This INFURIATES Ma and Nora who think that Delia is trying to sabotage this opportunity For Nora.

Finally the time to board the Titanic has arrived. Delia and Nora board The Titanic where they both are headed to start new lives. Nora - who will live in luxury and Delia - who will become a servant. (But really, for Delia, isn’t it the same as being at home, just a different atmosphere?)

Their journey is easy, up until that fateful last day.

Nora has many admirers on the ship, including one of the First Class Stewards who takes Nora up to have breakfast on the first class deck before anyone else really is awake. She then goes back down to lay in her room . Delia hears a strange noice, and all at once Robert (the First Class Steward) is there with lifejackets and is ushering them up to the lifeboats - telling them there isn’t enough to save everyone and to get into one now! Nora rushes off with Robert while Delia has the presence of self to grab her small bag that has their identity papers along with some money in it. 

So here is where the sisters end up separating in the story.

It seems that Fate is trying to help Delia and correct the wrong that was made. (Because really, Delia should have been the first thought for Governess, not Nora)

After a series of events, Nora is presumed dead and Delia is taken aboard The Carpathia. A Kindly steward tells her to tell the man when leaving that she was in second class so that she didn't’ have to stay longer on the ship. She by-passes the sign that has her name on it, instead going to tell Nora’s employer of her demise, but says that SHE is Nora. 

Unknown to Delia, Nora IS saved, however she is injured and she has no memory of who she is/was/family, etc... AKA - She has Amnesia along with her mind blocking out the terror of the events that happened with the sinking of The Titanic.

While Delia is settling into the life that was not supposed to be hers, (or really, was it??) Nora is dealing with no memory but learning so much, thanks to her rescuer, Mrs. Shaw. Mrs. Shaw is a widow who has taken Nora on as her current cause, and Nora starts to learn that there is more in the universe and world than herself.

The situation takes a turn when Delia is found NOT to be Nora and Nora makes the decision to go to Ireland. 

Delia ends up staying on as Lily’s Governess ONLY because Lily speaks! (She has been mute since the death of her mother) and heads to Texas where the family has a home due to being in the Oil Business.

Nora has returned home to Ireland where she is welcomed by her Da and Ma, and Ma has 5000+ questions for her. 

After awhile, Nora goes back to New York in search of her sister, when she is recruited by Lily’s Grandfather in a huge oil scheme. 

Want to find out how it ends?? You will have to read the book!!

The book releases on January 26th, 2021!

In Collaboration wtih The Pickup Line in Hillsboro, KS

 I am Proud to Annouce that I am Officially in Collarboation with

The Pickup Line in Hillsboro, KS!

    This was NOT something that I was expecting when I walked in yesterday to grab dinner - NOT at all! I have done a little mini series (that is still in progress - there are a few more places I want to video that are just opening up) and I included The Pickup Line. I did a tour and a mini food review. They LOVED IT!! The owner put it on their official facebook page and it gained me ALOT of views on that video - I think its in my top 5 over all since I started the channel last July!

    So I was thanking the owner's mom for the kind words when Analisa (she co-owns the restaruant with her husband) came out and approached me about doing food reviews/photos/etc... in exchange for free food! Umm...YES PLEASE! So instead of taking it home, Sam and I sat in the restaruant, did the food review, and rolled out. It felt like we had just eating a Thanksgiving Dinner we were so full!!

If you haven't had a chance to see the video yet, here it is! The Pickup Line - Bento Box Review!

There will be more videos coming up in this series and they have their own little playlist on the channel!

Thank you to The Pickup Line and to the DeFiesta Family for this amazing opportunity!

WOW! It's Been Awhile!!

 WOW! It's been awhile since I have done any blogging!! To be honest, I had forgotten I WAS blogging for the Channel!!

Alot has happened since my last post - Sam's job went to 3 days a week, but paid for 4, so he was home Friday - Monday, and worked Tuesday-Thursday - it was SO CONFUSING for awhile!! THAT is what probably threw me off since it was abotu that time that I stopped blogging!

School was postponed for starting, and it just started back on the 9th of this month (which is also my birthday) - since i am a substitue, I kinda figured that I would be called that day - nope - they gave me my birthday off but called me the next day - its been BUSY for me ever since!

There is alot going on behind the scenes that I can't tell you about quite yet - things are still being worked on and sorted out, but you WILL get to know as soon as they are!!

Weight Watchers Recipe! Emily Bite's Balsamic Beef

For alot of people, Weight Watchers means cutting out x or cutting out y or limiting z.

I'm here to tell you - IT'S NOT!!

A few years ago - I was searching Pinterest for Weight Watchers Recipes that I thought that would be "Husband" approved - AKA "Sam" Approved and I stumbled across a website called Emily Bites .

Since Sam works a HARD 5AM to 4PM Job, I needed to find something that would fill him up when he was off work and BAM!! I found this recipe and the rest is history!