“it's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine ... it's summertime!” ― Kenny Chesney Well, hello, July--let the second half of the year commence! This year for the 4th, the OH and I decided to venture out after dark (Gasp!) to watch the sunset and fireworks at the beach. We went to our fav, coastal hangout, the Ritz in Laguna for a bird's eye view of the sparklers exploding over the ocean. We haven't done this for a couple of years, but I felt compelled this year to venture o

"For me, finishing a book in a series is kind of like the day after Christmas. I can't help but start the count down and dreams of a new tale, pondering where my beloved characters will decide to take me on the next, cozy excursion." ---Veronica Cline Barton, author, My American Almost Royal Cousin Series It was interesting looking for an author quote to headline the mystery topic post this week---I couldn't find one, LOL! It seems the famous authors had no words to opine on

“Use that fluff of yours you call a brain.” ― Agatha Christie Whodunnit fun today--this month's mystery topic is Tropes and Themes for all things cozy mystery! Get those spy glasses ready as we hunt for the delightfully, deadly elements that comprise this beloved genre... First up, what is a cozy mystery you might ask? These are tales typically built around an amateur sleuth (usually female) main character who somehow gets in the way of law enforcement professionals, loveable

In today's post we'll catch up with one of my fav, mystery authors, Amy Reade, who is celebrating her new release, A Traitor Among Us, Book 2 in the Cape May Historical Mystery Collection! I've had the pleasure of knowing Amy for a few years now and have totally enjoyed reading her books and series. I can't wait to read this latest tale, let's chat with Amy: Q1: Amy, thanks for being my guest today. You're a prolific writer with multiple series and stand-alone books that have

“I busied myself to think of a story, a story to rival those which had excited us to this task. One which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling horror . . . to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart.” --Mary Shelley Well, hello December! What better way to begin this final month of the year than with a juicy, literary debate on the origins of the science fiction genre! Twitter went ballistic on November 20th when a book rev

"Wine and friends are a great blend." Ernest Hemingway Once again we ventured away from the confines of the family room and traveled to central California to the charming town of Paso Robles. Located in central California, Paso has become a hub for wine lovers and has multiple vineyards in the area---a perfect place for a wine tasting afternoon! For this trip, we stayed at the fabulous Allegretto Vineyard Resort just off Hwy 46 (yes, the infamous highway where James Dean met

💚“May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song, may each day bring you bright, happy hours that stay with you all year long.” 💚Irish Proverb ☘🍀Top of the mornin' to ya and a very happy #StPatricksDay! ☘🍀 This is a day to celebrate your #Irish roots and perhaps tip a sip of Guinness, or in my case, Irish coffee. #Yummo The feature pic today is of the Blarney Castle, which is located near Cork, Ireland. We were lucky enough to have vis

Happy Fall y'all, bring on the cool temps! Being back in the #writing zone for book 6 has had its ups and downs this past week. The good news is that I have loads of inspiring photographs to whisk me mentally to the streets and locales of London, the primary setting for my latest cozy mystery tale (BTW, does the scaffolding still surround Big Ben or are the repairs completed? Anyone, anyone?). I've been able to virtually traverse the locations with just enough detail as Gemma