REVIEW: In Hot Water

 In Hot Water
Author: Kate Kingsbury

This series has been on my "I want to read this'' list for several months. I was at the library a few days ago and saw the second book on the shelf. I didn't see the first one so I pulled out my phone and looked it up. Yes...library has a copy it...but checked out and one other person in line waiting. Drat. Went to speak to a librarian to see if another library in the system had it. None available. But then the librarian smiled and said the magic words -  "It is available through our inter-library loan system from another nearby library though!" Huzzah! Hold placed....and I picked it up the following Friday. I told you that lengthy library saga just to add these next sentences:  I had to wait a week to get my hands on a copy of this book, and I'm glad I did. This story was worth the extra effort and the wait time!!

The basics: Following the death of her husband, Vivian Wainright fulfills a life-long dream and opens a British style tea shop, the Willow Pattern Tearoom, in Misty Bay, Oregon.Vivian is living her best life and doing her best to deal with her grief and loss. Problems arise when the ex-husband of her assistant is found dead on the beach. Apparently he fell from a balcony of a nearby hotel. And it wasn't an accident. When suspicion falls on her employee, Vivian and her staff jump in to do some amateur sleuthing. After all, they can't let Jenna go to prison for a murder she didn't commit!

This cozy mystery is entertaining and fun to read. I like the characters, the setting, and the plot. There is plenty of action, investigation, and suspects. The plot moves at a nice pace and the tearoom setting is an enjoyable background for a cozy mystery. I'm a huge fan of tea, so I loved the title and the premise.

Glad I finally got around to starting this series! It is a relatively new series..as I write this, there are only two books. I already have book 2, In Too Steep, on hold at the library!

REVIEW: Baxter - K9 Hero

 Baxter: K9 Hero
Author: Jodi Burnett

When a 10-year old girl disappears while on a school field trip, FBI Agent Kendra Dean and her K9 partner Baxter immediately jump into action to find her. This novella is a short, but action-packed introduction to the FBI K9 series by Jodi Burnett.

This is the first book I've read by Burnett. I was thrilled to discover the story is set where I live. I love reading stories that have places, roads, landmarks that I recognize! The story is paced perfectly and has plenty of action. I like Kendra as a main character. She is intelligent, skilled, trusts her K9 partner 100%, and knows just how to circumnavigate issues with other law enforcement officers. The story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. Favorite character? Baxter, of course! What a good boy!!

I'm a sucker for K9 thrillers, so I will definitely be reading this entire series and Burnett's Tin Star K9 series as well! Looks like I'm set for dog action/adventure thrillers for a little while! Yay!

This prequel story to the FBI K9 series is available for free through the author's website: https://jodi-burnett.com/  Navigate to the Giveaways tab and you can download 3 books, including a cookbook.

I already have the first book in this series downloaded to my Kindle. I can't wait to start reading Avenging Adam!

REVIEW: Maus II - And Here My Troubles Began

 Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began
Author/Artist: Art Spiegelman

The story of Vladek and Anja Spiegelman as told through their son's artwork continues in Maus II.The book not only tells how the couple survived in Auschwitz and Birkenau during WWII, but also depicts the author's complex and oftentimes frustrating relationship with his aging father and his emotions/struggles following the success of the first Maus graphic novel.

This second volume deals with the time Vladek and Anja spent in concentration camps. The story outlines what they endured -- violence, starvation, heavy labor, punishment, and witnessing deaths/murder on a daily basis. Their experiences are hard-hitting and dark. But I see no reason why this book is so often found on banned book lists. The reasoning I saw explained in several articles was language, violence and nudity. There are very few illustrations in this book that involve nudity in any way. It is never graphic and the characters are depicted as animal caricatures not human beings. Violence -- yes, it's there. By nature of the subject it can't be avoided. But again, it is not graphic. Language - there are no words in either volume of Maus that teenagers don't hear on television, while playing video games or from their own peers, family members and parents. There are a few minor curse words, but it is not overused or over-the-top. No F-bombs at all.
   
So why do some schools/libraries choose to ban this book?  Subject a bit too raw, or real??? I can't think of one solid reason to stop teenagers or anyone from reading this book. If a particular parent wants to restrict their child's access to this book -- then that is their personal choice. But I will state this fact -- nobody has a right to restrict or limit MY child's right to have access to this book. My teenager has my full permission to read whatever books he wants to read, and nobody has the right to stop him from doing so. I do not support banning books. And after reading both volumes of Maus, I have no clue why these books would be banned from any middle, high school or public library.

These events happened. We can't ban history. Stories like this one need to be told, or horrible atrocities like the Holocaust can happen again. We have to learn from the past, and keep the knowledge present in our schools.

REVIEW: Maus - A Survivors Tale

 Maus: A Survivor's Tale
Author: Art Spiegelman|

I have been fighting an inner battle over reading this book for years. On the one hand I wanted to read it because books don't win the Pulitzer Prize for no reason. But, I always stopped short of actually picking up a copy because the idea of a Holocaust graphic novel where nationalities are depicted as different animals bothered me. I guess I felt like it would somehow demean or belittle the deaths of my family members at the hands of the Nazis? I'm not even completely sure, to be honest. I just know I was very conflicted.

Turns out my aversion to book banning is even stronger than my qualms about a Holocaust graphic novel.

Banned Books Week 2022 is September 18 - 24th. Leading up to it, I'm reading several books that have been banned by schools and libraries for being too graphic or too controversial. Apparently Maus ends up on many banned book lists for language, nudity, and subject matter.

I'm glad I finally decided to suck it up and read this book. My preconceived notions about Maus were completely wrong.

Maus tells the story of Vladek and Anja Spiegelman, a Jewish couple that survived the Holocaust, and also includes some insights into the relationship between the author/artist Art Spiegelman and his elderly father.  It's a rough and raw subject to read about by its very nature, but this book tells the Spiegelman's story beautifully. It tells a very human story. Vladek talks about people he knew. He recounts stories of people who survived and many who did not, memories of his now deceased wife, and recollects betrayal, fear and persecution. Outside of sharing his recollections of the war and the Holocaust, Vladek also fusses about his new wife, stubbornly attempts home repairs, and has little tiffs with his grown son. The author/artist also depicts his struggle to get his father to tell his stories, the difficulty in understanding and tolerating some of his father's behaviors, and his deep emotions and even anger over his mother's suicide.

While the Holocaust is a difficult subject, I didn't find anything in this book that made me agree in any way with those who pushed to ban it from school libraries. Teens hear stronger language from television, video games, and their own peers. The topic does include war, violence, and genocide, but it isn't depicted in an overly graphic manner. There are more graphic descriptions of war and its effects on people in books frequently used in classrooms like The Things They Carried and even The Book Thief.

This book is wonderful. I understand now why it won a Pulitzer. I highly recommend everyone read it -- including teens. The events described actually happened. This isn't a made up, over dramatized war story. People endured these events. Millions lost their lives in horrible ways. And their stories should continue to be told. It is the only way to prevent this from ever happening again.

I was wrong to form preconceived notions about this book before I even looked at it. That was an error in judgement. The artwork depicting people as different types of animals just brought the story into better focus. Jews were forced to hide or try to blend in by pretending to not be Jewish. The mouse characters in the book sometimes are shown wearing masks of other animals to try and hide in plain sight.

Can anybody in first world countries today really understand what this was like? Even down to the poorest citizens of most nations, we live a life of privilege and relative safety in modern times. I can't even imagine what it would be like to watch my neighbors, friends and even my children rounded up by the military and police and to never see any of them again. I have never had to hide from the police in a hidden bunker because they are rounding up people to kill them. I have never spent months or years starving because the government imposed severe food rationing for people like me. I've never had to live in a government restricted ghetto where dead bodies are frequently laid out in the street, most naked because others scavenged their shoes and clothing.

We can't ban the teaching of history. These things happened. And I believe teenagers should have access to this book. But, if I'm completely honest, I believe everyone should have access to all books. I am totally 100% against book banning or restrictions of any sort. If parents want to restrict what their children or teenagers read, then that is their choice. But, nobody has a right to restrict MY son's access to books at school, at a public library, or anywhere else at any time. My son can read any book he chooses to read. We might talk over certain subjects or books before, during or after he reads -- but I do not restrict my son's access to books. Period.

I'm moving on to the second book, Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began.
 

REVIEW: Dark Waters

 Dark Waters
Author: Katherine Arden

 Dark Waters is book 3 of the Small Spaces series. I enjoy this series -- and middle grade books in general -- because they are a wonderful escape from adulting. For just a little while I can escape into a story that has that sense of innocence and adventure that is so fleeting and elusive once life brings responsibilities, children, bills etc. Small Spaces is middle grade spooky/horror as well. I love being able to enjoy a creepy/spooky story that doesn't involve adult themes, gore, sex, etc.

The basics: Brian, Coco and Ollie are stressed from constantly worrying about The Smiling Man coming back. They have fought his evil twice now, and they all wish they could just defeat him and be free from his threats. So far though they can't figure out a way to destroy him. When their parents plan a day boating on Lake Champlain it sounds like a wonderful escape from their worries. But, it turns out Lake Champlain is home to a monster.....

I feel sorry for these kids. They just want to spend a day boating on the lake with their parents, but they end up fighting monsters again. The Smiling Man just won't give them a break. Very creepy story with a cool shipwreck/ghost/supernatural vibe to it. Very entertaining and perfect for my spooky reading season. Every fall I read as many ghostly/spooky/dark stories as I can fit into the weeks leading up to Halloween. This book was perfect! And, I have the next book, Empty Smiles, on hold at the library! Thankful for the awesome library system here! This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'm glad to know the next part of the story is waiting at the library for me to pick it up. I don't have long to wait before I can find out what happens next for Brian, Coco and Ollie!

Great series. Very age appropriate for middle grade readers. Spooky story with a bit of scary -- but not too much. Perfect! And, the front cover art is awesome!!

I am definitely reading this series until it reaches its conclusion! 

REVIEW: Murder, She Knit

 Murder, She Knit
Author: Peg Ehrhart

Murder, She Knit is the first book in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series. I first read this book in 2018 ahead of its initial publication, and then with life, family, going back to full time work, etc I lost track of the series. Saw the cute cover at the library the other day, along with several other books in the series, and grabbed it right up to check out! Glad I did -- I enjoyed re-reading this book!

Murder, She Knit is definitely a cozy mystery -- cute cat, a knitting group, dead woman in the bushes with a knitting needle embedded in her chest, and an amateur sleuth determined to solve the case. And, this one is romance free, which I found to be a nice change. No main characters falling in love with a detective on the case, no love triangles, no kissy-face moments with suspects....just a middle-aged woman who doesn't appreciate someone stabbing a person to death in her bushes. Understandable, right? Knitting needles are meant to knit, not murder (especially when it's just outside the home where the Knit & Nibble knitters group is meeting!).

I enjoyed Pamela Paterson as a main character. She is a widow and her daughter has left home to attend college. She keeps herself busy by editing articles for a fiber crafts magazine, and she enjoys meeting with her knitting group. Her fellow knitters are great side characters...all different and quirky in their own ways. The characters all worked well together.

The mystery moves along at a nice pace. There were plenty of suspects and a few twists along the way. I felt the reveal was a bit abrupt, but it made sense. The plot is not complex, but that's ok since this is a light, cozy mystery. All in all, an entertaining story and a nice start to a new cozy series. The cover art is SO cute! The cover definitely drew me in and made me want to read this book!

I will definitely be reading the rest of this series! I have book 2, Died in the Wool, on  hold at the library. And just requested a review copy of book 7, Irish Knit Murder, which is coming out in February. 

REVIEW: Deadly Traditions (Christmas Card and Feathered)

Deadly Traditions: Christmas Card and Feathered
Author: Mollie Cox Bryan

This review is really just a place holder for when I get my hands on this complete Christmas themed cozy anthology. I have read one of the stories - Christmas Card and Feathered from Mollie Cox Bryan - and can't wait to read the rest!! I will add the list of other stories and authors once I have my hands on the full book!

When the weather starts to cool off each  year and it edges to Halloween season and straight through to Christmas, I find myself binge reading cozy mysteries. Not sure why other than I enjoy them and there are so many with holiday/season themes. Each year I grab the Halloween and Christmas cozy anthologies and get introduced to so many new-to-me authors and series I haven't read yet -- plus many favorites that keep me coming back for each new book or short story.

Mollie Cox Bryan's story that will be in Deadly Traditions is part of her Victoria Town Mystery series. Victoria Town, VA brings in tourists for all things Victorian. It's like a trip back in time. I read the first book in this series when it came out, but after reading this new short story I'm going back and reading through all 3 books in this series. Adding it to my cozy reading list for this year! I like the setting, the characters and the basic premise, plus I enjoy all of Mollie Cox Bryan's books. Woot! See? An anthology found me a series to read by a fav author -- and I've only read one of the stories so far! I'm sure the rest of the anthology will have me adding other authors/books/series to my list! Can't wait!

I love the cover! So Festive!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this upcoming short story from the author. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**