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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Knot in My Backyard in Books
Feb 5, 2020
Murder Hits Close to Home
Martha Rose’s neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California used to be peaceful and quiet until a local private school built a baseball stadium in the open space that used to boarder her street. She and her neighbors have tried to fight it, even after it was built, but no one is willing to listen to them. While out for a walk one morning, Martha finds the dead body of Dax Martin, the school’s baseball couch. The police begin to quickly focus on her neighbor Ed Pappas, who had a fight with the victim recently, but Martha doesn’t believe he is guilty. Can she prove it?
Quilting doesn’t play as big a part of this mystery as it did the first in the series, but it is still an active part of Martha’s life, as are her quilting friends. It’s hard to complain since this book is filled with a strong mystery. Martha strikes out early, which only adds to her drive to solve things, and makes the solution more satisfying for us when she does. Some of Martha’s attitude and actions early on were a little frustrating for me, but it made me appreciate the character growth we saw in her later in the book. The rest of the cast are great, and I enjoyed spending time with them, returning characters and new characters alike. When I read the first book in the series, I found some needless political comments off putting, but they were absent in this book. The plot does bring up a few political issues as a natural part of the plot, but they are kept in the background here – the book never stops to peach and they only come up very briefly. As a Los Angeles resident, I enjoyed seeing places I know pop up in this book, especially a few key scenes that took place near where I played ultimate Frisbee for years. Overall, this is a fun second mystery that will please cozy mystery readers.
Quilting doesn’t play as big a part of this mystery as it did the first in the series, but it is still an active part of Martha’s life, as are her quilting friends. It’s hard to complain since this book is filled with a strong mystery. Martha strikes out early, which only adds to her drive to solve things, and makes the solution more satisfying for us when she does. Some of Martha’s attitude and actions early on were a little frustrating for me, but it made me appreciate the character growth we saw in her later in the book. The rest of the cast are great, and I enjoyed spending time with them, returning characters and new characters alike. When I read the first book in the series, I found some needless political comments off putting, but they were absent in this book. The plot does bring up a few political issues as a natural part of the plot, but they are kept in the background here – the book never stops to peach and they only come up very briefly. As a Los Angeles resident, I enjoyed seeing places I know pop up in this book, especially a few key scenes that took place near where I played ultimate Frisbee for years. Overall, this is a fun second mystery that will please cozy mystery readers.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Coconut Layer Cake Murder in Books
Mar 23, 2020
Clearing Lonnie
Hannah Swensen, owner of The Cookie Jar, has been ordered to rest – it came straight from Doc himself. But a trip to California to help a friend pack up is cut short when Hannah’s younger sister, Michelle, calls in a panic. There’s been another murder in Lake Eden, and Michelle’s boyfriend, Lonnie, is the prime suspect. After a night out with friends, Lonnie took a drunk woman home only to pass out on her couch. The next morning, he wakes up to find her dead in her bedroom with no memory of anything after he passed out. Since Lonnie is a detective with the police department, most of them can’t investigate since they are friends with the suspect. Naturally, Hannah immediately flies home, but can she figure out who is the killer?
If you haven’t read the last few books, be aware this one spoils some pretty major things by necessity since they had a major impact on Hannah’s life. Those up to date on the series will be happy to learn we get an answer to the cliffhanger from the last book early on. This book is a return to the status quo of a few entries ago. After a slow start, the pacing gets better once Hannah returns home. There is still plenty of talk about cooking, however, but we get clues and red herrings until we reach the climax. The characters are all here, and I enjoyed seeing them, but there is little in the way of actual character development. That includes the love triangle, which is back in play here. We get another nineteen recipes, and I think I gained weight reading about them. They certainly sound delicious. Fans who have stuck with this series will enjoy this outing. If you are new, don’t jump in here but go back to the beginning to see why we love these characters.
If you haven’t read the last few books, be aware this one spoils some pretty major things by necessity since they had a major impact on Hannah’s life. Those up to date on the series will be happy to learn we get an answer to the cliffhanger from the last book early on. This book is a return to the status quo of a few entries ago. After a slow start, the pacing gets better once Hannah returns home. There is still plenty of talk about cooking, however, but we get clues and red herrings until we reach the climax. The characters are all here, and I enjoyed seeing them, but there is little in the way of actual character development. That includes the love triangle, which is back in play here. We get another nineteen recipes, and I think I gained weight reading about them. They certainly sound delicious. Fans who have stuck with this series will enjoy this outing. If you are new, don’t jump in here but go back to the beginning to see why we love these characters.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Chasing Mavericks (2012) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
Can surfing teach you about life and how to live it? Can it drag you out of yourself enough to figure out just what it’s all about? That all depends on the surfer: Chasing Mavericks is based on the true story of Jay Moriarty (played by Jonny Weston), an accomplished surfer, and amazingly positive kid from Northern California. The story begins with a young Moriarty counting the time between wave breaks. He is with Kim, a staple in his life, and future wife. While saving her dog, he gets knocked into the water by a wave and is pushed down. He is saved by a surfer (Gerard Butler as Frosty) who just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and tells Jay that he has used up his allotment of dumb luck for life. Jay is bit, and finds an old surf board in his garage.
Skip ahead seven years and Jay is an accomplished surfer outperforming everybody on the water. He watches Frosty, who still lives across the street, and follows him early one morning. This is Jay’s introduction to Mavericks; a set of big waves that roll into the Northern Californian coast each winter. Waves can reach as high as 50 feet and surfers can reach speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour. Jay is instantly attracted to the challenge, and in his excitement gets caught by Frosty.
Somehow Jay convinces Frosty to train him how to ride Mavericks, and his tutelage in both surfing and life begin.
This was a great movie; it was beautifully shot, and shows how determination, skill, and a willingness to go beyond oneself can help achieve any goal. There aren’t any amazing surprises, but the story doesn’t need them; Jay is a great character and his struggle to become a part of something so much bigger than himself is worth watching. The soundtrack is also amazing! For anyone familiar with the music of the time; it will be love at first listen. This is one movie not to miss.
Skip ahead seven years and Jay is an accomplished surfer outperforming everybody on the water. He watches Frosty, who still lives across the street, and follows him early one morning. This is Jay’s introduction to Mavericks; a set of big waves that roll into the Northern Californian coast each winter. Waves can reach as high as 50 feet and surfers can reach speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour. Jay is instantly attracted to the challenge, and in his excitement gets caught by Frosty.
Somehow Jay convinces Frosty to train him how to ride Mavericks, and his tutelage in both surfing and life begin.
This was a great movie; it was beautifully shot, and shows how determination, skill, and a willingness to go beyond oneself can help achieve any goal. There aren’t any amazing surprises, but the story doesn’t need them; Jay is a great character and his struggle to become a part of something so much bigger than himself is worth watching. The soundtrack is also amazing! For anyone familiar with the music of the time; it will be love at first listen. This is one movie not to miss.
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