Small Business Saturday: Kenny’s Crafts & Kenny’s Clothing

From another blog of mine, a new feature I hope to keep doing!

parenthoodandotherhorrorstories

One of my favorite small businesses, Kenny’s Crafts and Kenny’s Clothing has been expanding and growing, and features handmade jewelry and accessories, zodiac journals, bookmarks, and the warmest, softest clothing you could put you body into! Make sure you check out both of her websites for all of her merchandise. Many items are currently on sale as well!

About the Artist: My name is Kendall Morrison and I am a multimedia artist based in Colorado. When I was only 4 years old I began making holiday and birthday gifts for friends and family. A creative tradition became a business in 2020 when I left my warehouse job to pursue art.
Through my work I explore my relationship with inspiration and mental health, putting effort toward what feels good that day. My goal is to create items that bring joy, whether that be statement jewelry, hair accessories, bookmarks, or a house…

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PHANTOMS AND FELONIES: A HAUNTED MANSION MYSTERY – LUCY NESS

This second installment in the haunted mansion mystery series was even better than the first! I hope there isn’t a long wait for the next book????

Avery Morgan seems to have a good handle on running the Portage Path Woman’s Club, and Clemmie Bow, resident ghost, is enjoying having a friend. The local theater troupe is doing a play at the club, and everyone is excited. Until Bob Hanover is killed, that is. Avery gets another surprise when her Aunt shows up to stay. Clemmie is not thrilled to have a psychic staying with her, especially one who asks a lot of questions. As Avery gets closer to the officer in charge, she has her own questions she wants answers to. There are plenty of suspects with motive to not want Bob around any longer. Can Avery figure it out in time?

Which cozy mysteries are you reading right now? I am in search of a new series!

Haunted Homicide: A Haunted homicide Mystery Series #1 – Lucy Ness

Hello to all my fellow readers, and welcome back! Well; welcome back to me, since I have not posted in forever. Sometimes life, family, and work have other plans of how one will spend their time! I will save that to post on my Parenthood and Other Horror Stories Blog!

As I normally do on my trips to the bookstore, I head for the cozy mystery section and look for a new series that I have not read yet, with a couple books in it to get started with. Currently there are only 2 books in this series, but I am hoping for more.

Avery Morgan is the new manager of the Portage Path Women’s Club (PPWC). She is also the only person who can see Clemmie Bow, the ghost that lives in the basement, a victim of an accidental shooting almost 100 years ago. As unnerved as Avery is at first at communicating with a ghost, Clemmie is excited to have a new friend she can communicate with.

A fire that damages one of the rooms in the house seems to be something much more than an accidental fire due to someone smoking in the room. With Clemmie’s help, Avery now has to figure out who killed the President of the club, and what the fire has to do with it. There are a few people who had good reason to want to be gone of Muriel, and there is more that one person who would rather Avery not be in Portage Path at all. Could she be the next victim?

I really enjoyed the first book in this new series, and plan on starting the second book, and hopefully finishing it as well, this weekend.

What books have you been reading lately? Do you have a favorite cozy series or author?

For more information about Lucy Ness, please click here: https://www.mystery-book-series.com/lucy-ness/

The Edge of Dreams: A Molly Murphy Mystery – Rhys Bowen

I found another great series while wandering up and down the aisles at my local library. Unfortunately, I did what I always do when starting a new series; I opened the front cover of one of the books, found the list of the books in the series, and grabbed the first 3 on the list. The books are not listed in order of release, as most series do, so I got 3 books in the middle of the series. I opted to read them anyhow since I had them, and on my return trip I will get the books starting from the beginning.

The story takes place in 1905, when transportation is trains, horse and carriage, as well as automobiles which are a rare site on the streets. I enjoy stories from this time period, reading about what food was eaten, clothes were worn, how homes were decorated, and how men and women behaved.

Molly Murphy Sullivan is from Ireland, living in New York City with her husband, police Captain Daniel Sullivan, and their 1 year old son, Liam. As Molly was a detective before marrying Daniel, she has a keen interest in his cases. In this story, she is the one who solves the mystery, with mush risk on her life.

Daniel is not 100% on-board with her help in his cases, but he is a loving husband who is concerned about his wife’s safety. He does ask for her help with a couple of things where she is more likely to get information than a police officer would.

Daniel has been receiving letters from a murderer both before and after the murder takes place, taunting him and the force for not being able to catch them. They know another is going to take place, and Daniel is determined to find the culprit before another life is lost.

I thought this story was great, and I really wish I would have gotten the first books in this series, where Molly was single, living in Ireland, and a detective. The book I am reading now is the one directly before this one, and the other book I got is the one right after this one.

Have you read this series? What do you think of series that take place in the past? They are some of my favorites! Let me know in the comments below!

Troubled Blood – Robert Galbraith

Troubled Blood is book 5 in the Cormoran Strike series. At 927 pages, there was a lot to unpack about this book. I really enjoyed the story, but to say it was confusing is a serious, HUGE, understatement.

The Detective Agency had numerous cases they were working on throughout the length of the entire book, other than the main case that the story centered on. It was difficult keeping all of these other characters straight when they were mentioned in the story. I finally stopped flipping back through what I had already read trying to decipher who was who. I just kept reading through it figuring I would either figure it out in the end, or not. Some of them I did, some I didn’t. It had no effect on the main characters in the story so I stopped stressing about it.

This is precisely the same reason I did not like the 4^th book of this series, Lethal White. It was like a bunch of characters and scenes were added just to increase the length of the book. I have read that she plans on 10-13 more books being written in this series. I am guessing this is in order to keep the television series going. I cannot imagine the length of the final book in this series if each one has to be longer than the last.

With that being said, I did like the story. I liked the development of Strike and Robin’s friendship? Relationship? Whatever they have going on, I am here for it. I will not say more about that since I try to avoid spoilers whenever possible.

I will gladly read the next book, and the one after that, and so-on. I just hope she can reign it in some and get rid of all the filler noise that is not necessary.

Did you read this book? What did you think of it? Let me know below!

The Life of a Pet…

… do you ever just look at your pet and think; really think 🤔

Do you think that they do not worship any God (except you); they are not republican or democratic;…

They don’t care if their teeth are busted up because they were abused and beaten and dumped at the end of a dead end street to die…

They just love you for the person you are…

And are you a person worthy of this pet? Do you hate others more than this pet loves everyone?

Are you as worthy and giving of love as your pet is? We all have it in us. If we could love others as much as we love and support animals 😬🤷🏼‍♀️

‘Til Dirt Do Us Part – A Local Foods Mystery Book 2 – Edith Maxwell

Cam Flaherty is hosting her first community dinner at the farm for all the members of her farm share program, as well as getting ready for the Fall Festival. What she hadn’t planned on was the murder of Irene Burr, a local businesswoman who had done her due diligence to get under the skin of more than one Westbury resident.

Her personal life brings Cam some comfort and she begins dating Jake, the chef at The Market restaurant.  But can she focus on her farm and relationship, and leave the detective work to the police? Will Cam find out who the killer is before she becomes a victim herself?

This is another fun read from the Local Foods Mystery series, and the characters from the first book are enough to keep you wanting more of their stories.

I try not to give away spoilers, which can sometimes be hard when reviewing cozy mysteries. This is a great series, with vibrant descriptions of not only the characters, but of the town as well. You will see yourself walking the town (or biking, as Cam so often does) of Westbury, Massachusetts as you read through this story!

A Tine to Live, a Tine to Die: A Local Food Mystery #1 – Edith Maxwell

Although this is not a new cozy series, it is new to me. The first book was published in 2013 and there are 5 books in the series.

Cam Flaherty has newly taken over her Uncle and late Aunt’s farm, growing organic produce for the locals in Westbury, Massachusetts. She has a co-op of subscribers who come weekly to the farm to pick up their share of fresh produce. Most also volunteer at the farm with the various chores that keep Cam busy every day.

Shortly after Cam had to fire Mike Montgomery, he was found dead in her yard with her pitchfork in his neck, which proves to be a serious situation for Cam and a couple of other suspects. Cam finds herself juggling her farm work, the police, and a possible new romance while trying to get her new farm up and running.

Can she find the killer in time to save her reputation, and the reputation of her farm? This is a quick, fun read that you will be glad you picked up!

You can read more about Edith and her books on her website here: Edith Maxwell Website

What books have you been reading over the past couple of months? Any favorite cozies you would recommend? I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

The First Week…

… of my being laid off (for 4 weeks to start) got off to a great start. These past 3 days? Not so much. I have gotten a lot of leaves raked, been cooking and cleaning, and crocheting. I have been trying to do something constructive every day and it is just too much.

I now have requests for 10 pairs of slippers. Don’t mind the scar and veins, breaking your ankle in 3 places can wreck a foot

My anxiety has been on fire since Wednesday, and our new Michigan orders have even the most basic things being restricted.

I have a duck pen and coop to get built, but the weather and my aching body are not cooperating these last couple of days. Snow? Really???

I have a stack of books to read, some from the library and some I bought last month. I have instead been binge watching Midsomer Murders for the past week when I am not outside.

I think not being able to celebrate Easter with my family and church is bothering me more than I realize right now. I am assuming when my youngest daughter and I are eating dinner Sunday it will hit me like a brick to the face.

I know so many others have it so much worse than I do, and I am trying to focus on how fortunate I am to keep my spirits up. And this too shall pass.

I am about to watch The Passion of the Christ. If that can’t fix my attitude, nothing will.

I hope you are all coping with whatever level of quarantine you are under right now, and staying healthy and happy!

I would love to hear what you are doing to feel good, and even what is getting you down right now!

Be well and I look forward to hearing from you!

Virtual Book Launch Party – Tonight — Frank Morelli

You’re invited to my virtual book launch party tonight!

via Virtual Book Launch Party – Tonight — Frank Morelli