Mug Shot: The Turteley Awesome Mug

Did I need another turtle mug? No. Of course not. Did I get one anyway? Why, yes. Yes, I did. Because this one is Turteley Awesome. And also because Green Sea Turtles finally made it off the Endangered Species List. Huzzah!

Mug Shot: Sicilian Mug

 

I picked up this mug in an antique store recently. And by recently I mean at some point during the last six months, or so. I don't think it's actually an antique, but I recognized it as being Sicilian right away. 

A gazillion years ago, my parents had an ice cream/gift shop (that morphed into a candy and toy shop--but that's neither here nor there) and one Easter they sold candy eggs in brightly decorated ceramic egg cups that I believe was manufactured by the same company that made this cup. 

My father's family is Sicilian and to be honest, as a kid I was not enamored of the busy designs and all the bright colors. Now I'm older and nostalgic and I love it. 

This mug is big--almost soup bowl big. It puts me in mind of a sunny, summer morning in Italy. 

Flashback Friday: A Sight to Dream Of

ICYMI: I've made A Sight to Dream Of free for the next few weeks. You can download it here:  https://books.bookfunnel.com/OberonFirstFour

Or, if you don't want to download the whole book, I've made an Excerpt booklet that you can locate here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5dpdov0sge

What I'm Reading: Night Light (Jennifer Bernard)

So, a funny thing happened to me on my way to download Jennifer Bernard's newest book (Just My Luck) from her newest series, Accidentally Yours. I realized that I'd MISSED an earlier release, Night Light from her (completed, I think) Sea Smoke Island series. So, of course, I had to buy and read them both. 

NIGHT LIGHT

Jennifer Bernard

https://www.jenniferbernard.net/night-light
On Sea Smoke Island, secrets never stay buried—and the truth is never safe.

Every time Detective Tina Chen comes to Sea Smoke Island, two things happen. One, criminals get busted. Two, she nearly loses her lunch on the boat ride over. This time, maybe things will be different. She’s on vacation, for one thing. But what kind of vacation would it be without an investigation to keep her busy? Enter Marigold Olson, who hires her to locate the mystery man who ditched her at the altar. His trail takes Tina to the Lightkeeper Inn and a head-on collision with … her longtime TV crush? 

Jack Finnegan is no detective, though he plays one on a long-running crime series. But since no one will believe him that his sister Jessie’s in trouble, finding her is on him. Why has she disappeared from their grandparents’ old cottage on Sea Smoke? Who was the man she was seeing? And why can’t he shake the feeling that something has gone terribly wrong? Teaming up with the hot badass cop Tina is a no-brainer, at least for him. He’s not the one with the crush…not yet. 

On Sea Smoke Island, the connections go deep and the mysteries go deeper, and soon Tina and Jack are dodging bullets and getting drawn into a notorious unsolved murder. And that’s before they discover they’ve stumbled onto a secret more dangerous than they ever imagined. What is the truth behind Night Light? Can they unbury it before it buries them?

NIGHT LIGHT is an opposites attract, reverse grumpy-sunshine romantic suspense set on the hauntingly beautiful coast of Maine.

Mug Shot: Don't Worry Dishes

I found this in a cute little shop in Lockhart and I couldn't resist. I adore fun mugs. Other than that, there's really not much more to say. It's a good size and it's funny. 

OTOH, I recently found out that Sentient Object Romance is an actual sub-genre. I don't think I'm going to end up writing any, but I've learned never to say never. 

And, not to yuck anyone's yum, but REALLY?

What I'm Reading: The Carrot Marmalade Murder (Meg Benjamin)

Who doesn't love a good wedding story--even if it's actually a cozy mystery? Well, maybe even ESPECIALLY if it's a cozy mystery! I've really enjoyed this series--even if I suspect that Meg and I may have very different tastes in jam. Not that Roxy's carrot marmalade recipe doesn't sound luscious (see what I did there? No? Then go and read the series, STAT!) but personally, I would have gone with grated carrots. Also ginger and raisins.  

But anyway, if you're looking for a cozy mystery series and you haven't looked into this one yet, why not celebrate National Bookshop Day with a reading binge?

The Carrot Marmalade Murder

Meg Benjamin

https://www.megbenjamin.com/the-carrot-marmalade-murder/

Roxy’s getting married, but murder may send the wedding off the rails.

Roxy and Nate are finally getting married, but murder wasn’t on the program. In the midst of her wedding prep, Roxy has to deal with Nate’s trouble-making ex who thinks she can rekindle their romance. But things get serious when the ex ends up dead in a Shavano back alley. Now Roxy needs to clear Nate’s name, sell her customers on her carrot marmalade, and find herself a wedding dress. All before it’s time to take a deep breath and confront her own wedding jitters.

Mug Shot: Beach House Mug

This is an old mug. And an old picture of it. Because, sadly, I don't think I still have this mug. I bought it because it was cute not because I agreed with the sentiment. I've lived in a lot of cool, touristy-type places--the Jersey Shore, Midtown Manhattan, Los Angeles, California wine country (twice) and the San Francisco Bay area and never noticed any uptick in my friend group. 

Which is actually kind of a shame. I think I'm a great hostess.