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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Feb 12, 2021  
Check out this awesome playlist (and the sweet inspiration for it) for the cozy mystery GRAND OPENINGS CAN BE MURDER by Amber Royer Author on my blog. Come view the book trailer, and enter the giveaway to win a signed copy of the book as well as a $25 gift card to Dandelion Chocolate!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/02/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-grand.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
Felicity Koerber has had a rough year. She's moving back to Galveston Island and opening a bean to bar chocolate factory, fulfilling a dream she and her late husband, Kevin, had shared. Craft chocolate means a chance to travel the world, meeting with farmers and bringing back beans she can turn into little blocks of happiness, right close to home and family. She thinks trouble has walked into her carefully re-built world when puddle-jump pilot Logan Hanlon shows up at her grand opening to order custom chocolates. Then one of her employees drops dead at the party, and Felicity's one-who-got-away ex-boyfriend - who's now a cop - thinks Felicity is a suspect.

As the murder victim's life becomes more and more of a mystery, Felicity realizes that if she's going to clear her name in time to save her business, she might need Logan's help. Though she's not sure if she's ready to let anyone into her life - even if it is to protect her from being the killer's next victim. For Felicity, Galveston is all about history, and a love-hate relationship with the ocean, which keeps threatening to deliver another hurricane - right into the middle of her investigation. Can she figure it out before all the clues get washed away? FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!
     
Dog Share
Dog Share
Fiona Gibson | 2021 | Humor & Comedy, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This novel is told from a dual perspective. Suzy is a woman in her late forties, that is left on her own to deal with her partner’s “project”, a failing whisky distillery on Hebridean island. I really liked Suzy, she is a strong and hard-working woman, who is ready to take responsibility to save people’s livelihood. Ricky is our second protagonist, he is a single father to an eleven-year-old boy, who really wants a dog. 😀 Ricky brings funny relationship stories and single parenthood woes to this novel. But all the characters in this book are connected by Scout, a stray dog that Suzy adopts.

The narrative of this novel is pretty easy flowing, and most of the time the characters are sharing their past and present lives and thoughts. The topics discussed in this novel are parenthood, compatibility in relationships, love for dogs, and life in general. I really liked how the author incorporated her life in York and Glasgow in the novel.

The audiobook I listened to was narrated by Cathleen McCarron and Robin Laing, and they have done an amazing job in bringing this book to life. I loved the northern accent, it gave this book a completely different feeling compared to my reading style. I love Scotland, and to hear all the details about nature and the island itself made me want to go there asap. 😀 The ending of this book rounded up the story very nicely.

So, to conclude, I enjoyed listening to this book, It is set in a beautiful environment with very realistic and believable characters, that make me want to have a pet of my own. 🙂 I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great place to travel while reading and who loves dogs, because in this case, Scout brought people together.
  
Shield of the Rising Sun (Path of Nemesis #3)
Shield of the Rising Sun (Path of Nemesis #3)
Adam Lofthouse | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the third book in a series of historical fiction novels set in the Roman era. Even though I haven’t read the first two books, I had no problem at all in understanding what was going on in the Shield of the Rising Sun. Although that now doesn’t stop me from wanting to read the first two books!

The story is told by three characters: Albinus, his son Faustus, and Faustus’ uncle, Calvus. The battle scenes, mainly from Albinus’ point of view, were gory (I like this - I know, probably a bit odd!) and the politics with all the infighting and back-stabbing was fascinating. How did anyone ever feel safe at this time? I’ll answer that: if they were clever, they NEVER felt safe!

This story shows the true reach of the Roman Empire - there are scenes in Britain, Germany and Egypt, as well as in Rome. It frankly amazed me how quickly Roman soldiers seemed to be able to travel - and mostly (if not solely) on foot!

The main characters were all three very likeable men, who had me rooting for them throughout - even though it was pretty obvious what would happen to one of them from the start )I’m giving nothing away here!).

I enjoy reading a lot of historical fiction, and it’s not often that I read books set in the Roman period. I don’t know why, there’s no reason I can think of, and this makes me realise that I really should read more! If, like me, you’re a fan of historical fiction, then you’ll enjoy the rich descriptions and history packed story within the pages of this book.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book, and to Adam Lofthouse for joining in and commenting in the margins!
  
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu
2016 | Horror, Mythology
Cthulhu (1 more)
Pandemic
Hard (0 more)
Cthulhu Madness
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu- is a stand-alone pandemic game within the pandemic franchise. It mixes pandemic with cthulhu and its excellent.

In this version, players are investigators who must work together to seal four gates, thereby keeping the area from being overrun with cultists or Shoggoths, and hopefully preventing Cthulhu from awakening. Experience the classic Pandemic gameplay with a horrifying twist as you contend with twelve Old Ones who threaten the world with their unique powers. Keep your wits about you, ward off insanity, and save humanity!

In Reign of Cthulhu, players work to shut down cults and ward off monsters while attempting to seal the gates. Travel between key locations in four cities central to the Cthulhu Mythos as you make use of your investigator’s unique ability to stem the tide of evil. But be warned: Investigating the depths of chaos and madness will stretch your sanity to the limit. Encountering unspeakable monsters and using powerful Relic cards will lead you to the brink of insanity. Go over the edge and you’ll have fewer actions and a weakened ability. Only by working together can you save the world from the unspeakable horror that lurks beyond the portals.

Instead of curing diseases like in the original Pandemic, players seal portals and shut down cults in the classic New England fictional towns of Arkham, Dunwich, Innsmouth, and Kingsport. Can you and your fellow investigators manage to find and seal every portal in time? Hurry before you lose yourself to insanity and the evil that lurks beneath your feet...

Its a excellent fun game and if you like the pandemic series than you will like this one.
  
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002)
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002)
2002 | Animation, Family
10
9.2 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The Thornberry's were the ultimate family goals. I wanted to be Eliza when I grew up. This film is very close to my heart.

The Thornberry's are a family that travel the world while the parents film their nature documentary.

In the tv series, Eliza, the youngest daughter, saves a warthog who was actually a shaman in disguise. For saving him, he grants Eliza the power to talk to animals but she can't tell another human about her powers.

Along the way, she finds Darwin, a chimpanzee, who quickly becomes her best friend and ends up living and traveling with the family.

In the film, while they are in Africa, Eliza is playing with three cheetah cubs she knows. While playing, one of the cubs, Tally, is taken by poachers. Eliza tries to get Tally from the poachers, who are in a helicopter but they cut the rope ladder and Eliza falls (fortunately safely, onto the family's RV).

Eliza blames herself for all of it and as the film goes on, Eliza does everything in her path to save Tally.

This film was made in 2002 and today is still so important. The storyline shows how important it is to protect our wildlife, no matter what country you live in, and to stop poachers.

I first watched this film as a kid, watching it countless times through my childhood. Watching it now as an adult was a whole new experience. You can appreciate the maturity of the storyline and even though I haven't watched the film in years, it's a film that has stuck with me. Even now, while rewatching it, I could still remember every detail, just this time I truly felt the story.

And yes, I cried. Sad tears and happy tears
  
If You Could Go Anywhere
If You Could Go Anywhere
Paige Toon | 2019 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So we meet Angie who lives in the outback in rural Australia, a mining town called Coober Pedy--famous for its opals. Her grandmother has just passed away after years of struggling with dementia and as her only living relative it's hit Angie hard. Her friend comes over and they decide to drink some of her grandfathers wine and behind one of the bottles they find a letter written by Angie's dead mum addressed to a man in Italy. Reading the letter she finds out that her dad is the man the letter is addressed to and that he never knew about her. Angie is thrilled at the idea of having family back in Italy and flies out to meet them.

The people she meets in Italy welcome her with open arms, ready to accept her into their large extended family. They're a nice bunch of people who want to hear all about her life in the desert and living in a "cave". They show her how to make Italian cuisine and she shares her own recipes with them.

Then there's Alessandro. He's related but not by blood and there's a connection between the two of them. Both want to travel; both lost parents at an early age. But Alessandro had a rough start to life and doesn't want any sort of commitment with anyone or anything.

I loved some of the secondary characters like Stefano and Cristina. They were fun; there arguments over the music that played and their nights out/nights.

I like that this is set in Rome, a city I have visited myself so I understand some of Angie's joy at seeing some of the famous sites. And a little time in Venice, too. Another city I've had the fortune of visiting.

And lastly, cover love! How cute is this cover? I love it!
  
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