Christmas – Carol's Notebook

2024 Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge

November 25, 2024November 21, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

The Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge starts today even if my own Christmas reading started a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to Michelle at Yuletide Spirit and Seasons of Reading for hosting. Head to either place to join in and to check out the rules and prizes. The challenge will run from today through December 31. These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and a children’s Christmas books level! The hashtag is #YuletideSpirit. I’m aiming for the Christmas Tree level, which is 5 or 6 books. I may also watch a couple of Christmas movies, for the Fa La La La Films level. And I'l be filling out this year's bingo card. It’s also the start of the Yuletide Spirit Readathon. For the readathon, you do not have to read only Christmas books, but she asks that you try to read at least one. Books/ Novellas Finished: Movies Watched:...

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

November 12, 2024November 12, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

In this Christmas novella, which is the third book in the series, Ern once again finds himself on the case of a murder. This time the victim is the current partner of his ex-wife Erin. And of course Erin's been arrested. Ern doesn’t think she's guilty, but can he prove it? I don't usually like meta-fiction, but this series is an exception, mainly because it's fun and funny and knows exactly how hard it's trying. I listened to the audiobook which is the perfect way for me to read it. The story is told in the first person, which works super well for audiobooks. It's like Ern, who is likable as always, is telling us how events unfolded and it even has some minor nods to the listener. The set-up goes along with the season - and the story- 24 chapters, one for each day leading up to Christmas, one for each door in an advent calendar. The murders are clever...

A Merry Little Murder Plot by Jenn McKinlay

October 23, 2024October 23, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

I am a sucker for Christmas cozies. So, even though A Merry Little Murder Plot is the 15th in the series and I haven't read any of the others, I picked it up. It worked fine as a stand alone for me. I'm sure reading them all in order would have given me more background on the returning characters, but I never felt like I was missing out on something I needed to know. This winter, the Briar Creek library is hosting a a writer-in-residence, thriller author Helen Monroe. She's a bit stand-offish, but writes in the library daily and participates in talks required by her contract. Lindsey Norris, library director and our amateur sleuth, starts to get concerned when another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, is overly interested in the author, maybe even a bit stalkery. When Jackie is found dead, electrocuted by Christmas lights and holding Helen's manuscript, Helen becomes the main suspect. Lindsey isn't sure she's guilty, but she...

A Killer Christmas by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

I don't read Murder, She Wrote mysteries often, but I always enjoy them. I grew up watching Jessica Fletcher and the other characters on tv and still turn it on occasionally. It's Christmastime in Cabot Cove and everyone is gearing up for the holidays. This year, the town is going all out as it tries to be named the state's best holiday destination. Eve, however, is more concerned with selling the old Jarvis place. Her job gets more difficult by the minute, First, missing, presumed dead, Kenny Jarvis shows back up. Then, the potential buyer's wife dies, possibly murdered. This one takes its time getting to the killing, but it's fun to get caught up in all the town drama and Christmas planning. I loved the small Thanksgiving dinner and all the Christmas events, but if you're here solely for the murder mystery you might be disappointed. The mystery was fine. There were several suspects even if it was rather...

I’ll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

Poor Holly. It's Christmastime again at Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm and, for the fifth December in a row, someone is killed. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The setting is wonderful. Mistletoe, Maine sounds like such a cute place. I love how close Holly and her family and friends are. They have fun together and work together and they're people I'd like to hang out with . Holly and her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, have a good relationship. The plot was put together well and it moved along at a good pace. We have several potential suspects and the whodunnit wasn't overly obvious. The book and the series are so Christmassy. From the town to the food to the way the man was killed, it just screams Christmas, which I enjoy. It would be a perfect December read. And it has several touches of Christmas magic that set it apart....

Rockin’ Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews

September 13, 2024September 13, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

Rockin' Around the Chickadee is #36 of the Meg Langslow books, a series I dip in and out of. I think that's part of my problem with it. Andrews does a good job with the characters growing and changing, but I only catch bits of it. But it's way too long a series for me to go back to the beginning. Meg is a blacksmith, wife of professor/ actor Michael, mother of twin boys, assistant to the mayor, and a member of the quirky Hollingsworth family, and, of course, our amateur sleuth. She wears a lot of hats and in each book one or the other seems to be at the forefront. This time, being a member of the Hollingsworth family is at the top of the list. Her grandmother is hosting a conference highlighting the Presumed Innocent organization and several of the family members are helping by being on panels or making sure it all runs smoothly. While most attendees...