Death of a Toy Soldier by Barbara Early

I finished Death of a Toy Soldier by Barbara Early at 9:30 pm last night.  I have my friend Doward to thank for the wonderful gift of this book through our Halloween Book Exchange, he  kindly ordered it for me and I delighted in devouring it. The cover I would like to start with first and tell you it is one of my favorites for its simplicity and perfectly cozy and yet mysterious look. Its whimsical and fun and still spooky, quite like the book. I do love it when the book cover works so well with the story. Then there is the story, and it is a good one. I love the relationship and complicated history of a Police Chief who has had to retire after being injured in the line of duty, and he opens a store filled with vintage toys. I myself am a huge fan of dolls and toys vintage or just well loved and I have been known to rescue dolls, ponies and so much more from yard sales, and thrift stores alike, only in my world the My Little Ponies I loved don't seem to multiply as they do in this series (okay that line is from book two which I read earlier this year and loved!) There are some great lines in this book. I laughed out loud more than once and I did not want to put the book down. I was thinking about it when I was not reading it and anxious to get back to it, more to learn about Liz and her Dad, and just more about the store as well. The mysteries I also enjoyed and yet had not figured out before the reveal. As much as I wanted to find out who did it, I was enjoying the book so much that I did not want to know, because then it would end. But when I got to that part I was thrilled the book had a few more chapters to go and I finished the book feeling like I had been part of the community and maybe even a minor staff member at the store. 

This was a great read and I am so thankful to Doward for ordering this one for me. Put this on your holiday to be read list for sure! 

Liz McCall grew up in a playful winter wonderland but it was never her dream to manage her father's vintage toyshop. However, after he sank his entire police pension into the business, someone needed to help him turn his dreams into reality―and keep him from sneaking off to patrol the not-so-mean streets of East Aurora, NY.The mood goes from nice to naughty when a nervous man, who was trying to have his antique toys appraised, is found in the shop with a lawn dart through his chest. Suddenly, Liz's business plan is plunged into deep freeze, while she and her father find themselves toying with a cold-blooded killer who's playing for keeps.Now, it looks like Christmas might be cancelled for the neighborhood kids if Liz can't wrap up the case in Barbara Early's delightful debut Death of a Toy Soldier.

You can find Death of a Toy Soldier by Barbara Early on Amazon by clicking here. 
Thank you so much for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table and In My Cup November 11-18th

A week of surprises for sure and a wonderful assortment of reading on my table this week. My partner from the Halloween Swap kindly sent me Barbara Early's Death of A Toy Soldier which I have had on my wish list for quite sometime I am so looking forward to reading and reviewing this one!

On that same day I also received an order from Berkeley with three December titles I am very excited to add to my TBR list.

I have just finished Escape Claws and am thrilled and excited to share my review of this first in series that is coming out on December 26th! I am also very excited that I am hosting the release day party on my Beyond The Bookmarks Page during our Booked For The Holidays Event.

Find the Booked for the Holidays Event Page by clicking here.

The month long event I have planned is going to be one I hope is a highlight of your holiday plans. Spend some time each day with us, more than 35+ authors, recipes, games, tips, crafts and so much more. Come make new friends, find exciting reads and be able to honestly tell people you are "booked for the holidays" Click here to RSVP to the event,  also I have already started to post daily teasers, I hope you will check in and join us.

This week I read and very much enjoyed A Late Frost, its plot twist and characters make it easy to understand why this is such a much loved series. It is out now and a very good read.

Rhys Bowen, wowed me with The Ghost of Christmas Past, this is the first I have read in the series and book 17. I loved it could not put it down and read well past my bedtime. Perfect holiday mystery!

I publish daily as you know and it weighs heavy on me somedays when I think I am going to be very behind, however somehow I managed to publish twice on Thursday! I only released this last night. I also reviewed Potions and Pastries, the same day as The Ghost of Christmas Past, here I was worried I would have nothing for Thursday and I ended up double posting. Sorry if this caused any confusion and no one let me know!

I bought and loved and still love flipping through this book from the Irish Countrywomen's association Book Of Christmas. Great recipes, stories and more.

  

Sunday I reviewed A Murder for the Books. All and all a very busy week of reading and writing. 

I hope you have had a wonderful week. Thank you for joining me for this weeks look back at what was on my table and in my cup!

I would love hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

On My Table and In My Cup September 23rd-30th

Welcome back to the weekend, I hope you are getting some much needed rest and reading this weekend. Speaking of reading, I am reading through Delia James Familiar Motives right now and was so pleased to find on the first page a quote I wrote about By Familiar Means, I am so excited to find in print the quote I gave about a book and a series I really enjoy!

Familiar Means is proving to be quite good also! I am very excited to be reading this one right now!

A great many books have passed over my table this week, Fixing to Die by Miranda James, A Southern Ladies Mystery made for an excellent read this week!

Double surprises this week in the book department, I feel very much blessed! Karen K you spoil me and Random House, Thank you!

Also a very lovely surprise from a lovely Facebook Friend! I am so thrilled to have this Christmas Ornament on my table! It says "It's always Tea Time!" and I am so touched by this lovely surprise and beautiful penmanship of the sender, my friend Cherry Trimble.

I reviewed Canal Days Calamity this week a true dog lovers delight,

Laughed my way through Ring In The Year with Murder, this is one of the funniest books I have ever read, a cozy that left me with a smile and one I can not wait for you to read.

I powered through A Room with A Brew, by Joyce Tremel, this one is out on Tuesday and I am hosting the release party on Tuesday!

I hope to see you there! Simply click over to the Beyond The Bookmarks Event page on Facebook, click discussion and join in the fun!

I also had reviews up on Murder on the Toy Town Express, a toy lover like me, was overjoyed to find this series!

Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander was truly special and one of the books I think should be up for first in series this year. One of the best I have ever read and one I am looking forward to seeing continue!

A week ago Friday I shared this lovely teacup I found on Etsy and I am so thrilled to report that it is now at my house and ready for my table this holiday season, it arrived and it is stunning!

Thank you so much for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review, it has been a very busy one and one I am so thankful to have you join me here. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Murder on the Toy Town Express by Barbara Early

I finished Murder on the Toy Town Express by Barbara Early on September 16th.  This is a first in the series for me and boy is it ever a fun one! I love toys, vintage and new and I love trains so I could very easily picture the setting and plot of this cozy murder mystery.  While I was reading it I felt like I was walking the Train show with my friend Sheryl, a fellow toy and doll enthusiast as we followed main character Liz and her father around for the investigation. This series touched on a number of themes that actually related to my own life and I found this to be a very touching and relatable cozy! I did not clue into who the murderer really was until the reveal, maybe not wanting to just a tiny bit, lots of smaller twists and turns that keeps you wanting more! I am excited to see where this series goes next! Murder on the Toy Town Express comes out October 10th.

Liz McCall has come to love running her father’s vintage toyshop back home in East Aurora, NY, so when the Train and Toy Show comes to town, she’s all aboard for a fun toy-filled weekend. The only hitch is that her childhood bully Craig McFadden, now local business rival, has set up a booth next to hers. But the fun and games are over when Craig falls from the ceiling in a publicity stunt gone wrong.What was initially thought to be a fatal accident proves much more sinister. Pulled into the case by her feelings for both Ken, the police chief, and Jack, her high school sweetheart whose brother is one the prime suspects, Liz dives headfirst into the investigation. But as she digs deeper, she’s shocked to learn her father may have been the intended target.The trouble train is barreling down and Liz may have just bought herself a first class ticket in Murder on the Toy Town Express, Barbara Early’s delightful second installment in her Vintage Toyshop mysteries.

You can find Barbara Early's Murder on the Toy Town Express on Amazon by clicking here. 

On My Table and In my Cup September 16-September 23rd

First chapter, hook line and sinker, wishing I could put the world on hold to have read this one in one sitting. Still working my way through it, wishing time would stand still, knowing when I finish it I will have to wait that much longer for the next one. Ellery Adams is one of my most favorite authors and this subject  is right up my alley!

This book by Linda Lovely is out near the end of October and I finished this one and dreamed all about it, review for this one will be out October 1st. 

Oh what fun to have had Barbara  Early's book to read and finish this week, review coming up soon. Loved this toy themed cozy.

I read and enjoyed Canal Days Calamity this week by Jamie M. Blair, a dog lover's delight for sure.

I got a sweet surprise in my mailbox from Karen K this week, I love Doctor Who as you may know and she kindly sent me the above books! My kids were as excited as I was! I also got to break out my Doctor Who themed Teacup I had made...see the tiny tardis on the saucer.  Each cup of tea is really like a Tardis, the flavor is so much bigger on the inside....Tea in the cup is Carrot Cake by Murchie's...

In my cup this week I have had my lovely Murchie's Black Tea but I have also had their new Rooibos Tea called Carrot Cake. I went in store to get more of the Black tea and while there they were sampling the Carrot Cake one which I normally would not go for but it smelled so nice and it had full flavor, it tasted to me more like a coffee cake my mom used to make and I loved it.

Great flavor, color and taste, this one really surprised me. Find out more by clicking here. 

If you missed my post on Wednesday, it is the one where I shared my photos from my annual witches tea. I really am so grateful to my friends for joining me year after year and making this such a fun event. You are never too old to have a fancy dress party and I hope that next years will be even larger and include more friends!

Thank you for joining me for this weeks look back at what has been on my table and in my cup. I love having you join me and hearing from you. Please leave me a comment below or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On My Table and In My Cup September 9th-16th

This is a week that has flown by, a one foot in front of the other week. I found out over the weekend that a friend, mentor and author I worked closely with, passed away suddenly. Jessica Simon was a fellow Sister in Crime member and our membership secretary at Sisters In Crime Canada West, it was a shock and we are deeply saddened with the news of her sudden passing.

At this time I am looking at still holding the event we had planned on September 24th, but will proceed after consultation with her husband Mike. To all who knew and loved Jessica, my heart is with you as we mourn this incredible loss to our community.

My Witchy Wednesday book this week was Crystal Magic, a book that is coming out in October and a book I felt I really learned with. This is a book that would make a great gift to those who love the stones and crystals. 

I was surprised to find a mystery in my mailbox, a book I have had on my wishlist and am excited to read! Midsummer Night's Mischief, arrived from a mystery sender and I wish to thank them and hope they will let me know who they are! #buyafriendabookdaymystery. 

I finished Donna Andrews How the Finch Stole Christmas, this is a lovely holiday cozy and a review I will share in the next week or so. Keep your eye out for this one!

Oh boy did I love Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander, I have so many things I want to share about this book . To start with I will share a cautionary tale with you about Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander, you are going to want to clear your schedule to read it and if you are reading on a device, make sure it is fully charged before you start! The only reason I did not finish this in one night is my ipad battery died, this is a very good binge worthy book and I am delighted it is on my table! I love it when a first in series captures me in this way! 

I am almost finished Murder on the Toy Town Express by Barbara Early! This one is a great story and easy to picture for me, I would love to go to a toy fair like the characters do in this book, more to come with the review. 

Thank you so much for joining me this weekend for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery week in review. I look forward to sharing more with you tomorrow. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com