On My Table and In My Cup December 29th-January 6th

A week has gone by and what a week it has been, new year, new tea and new teacup rescue for me. I was finally feeling better this week and headed to my local Murchie's Tea shop to stock up on my favorite blend and discovered their Balmoral Blend which is such a lovely blend of black teas with a soft malty flavor which is perfect for afternoon tea.

The tea shop is near two second hand stores so I stopped into both having no car with me and was delighted to find a long sought after toast holder, silver and only $5! The china shop that I go to had a half price sale as well and I got the lovely Royal Albert Cup, Saucer and bread and butter plate for $16! A truly great find, and a fun way to spend some of my Christmas money!

I have bought the Witches Spell-A- Day Almanac for about 5 years now, I love reading this book, some lovely sentiments in this book, something I find apply and some don't but I enjoy the read and the history in this book year after year. Happy to have found it just before the new year again.

Just arrived on my table Friday is two of the books in the Terry Lynn Thomas series The Spirit of Grace which I have been looking forward too for so long! I have a few more to get through before I can start these but I am delighted to have them peaking out at me from my TBR pile.

Tomorrow I have my review of Tonya Kappes upcoming cozy Six Feet Under, this is a series that I really enjoy and I am looking forward to sharing this with you tomorrow.

I had a very busy week of reading and I read and shared my review of The Cat of The Baskervilles by Vicki Delany another great story in this series and my favorite so far! This one is out in a few weeks and I recommend it!

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell was a first in series I read earlier this week and loved! I like where this story went and I cannot wait to see where it goes next! One to watch for! 

One of two cozy shorts I read this week. I bought myself this one from Lorraine Bartlett earlier this week and read it. I love it when you find just the right book for the moment and it makes your spirit soar! I loved this book and the Lotus Bay mystery series. I hope we see more from it soon!

All I wanted was a Drink by Michelle Ann Holstein was the other holiday short I read. This was funny, smart and very well done. A great way to end the holidays on my end. 

Monday I will have for you the review of Class Reunions are Murder, I really did not want this one to end. Very well done and I am anxious to share the review with you all on Monday. I still have book hangover from it! Such a great read.

Thank you so much for joining me for a cup of tea and a look back at what has been on my table and in my cup this week. 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 

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell

I started A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell on December 30th and I could not put it down. I read into the wee hours just so I could finish it. I was attracted to this series because I had read a wonderful series about a funeral director by Janice J. Richardson, which changed the way I felt about Funeral directors and funeral homes in general. Having lost my mother a few years ago and my brother not long after I normally would shy away from something like this, however I am glad I did not. I loved this story. The idea the family dynamic of running a Funeral Parlor. Main character Desiree returns home, tail between her legs after her her on air career as a reporter comes to an end. Home again and adjusting to the mysterious death of her father, a job that feels natural but just is not quite the perfect fit and a curious mind that will not stop turning Desiree is a great character. I found I could relate to the fact that she was balancing family duty with trying to find her own way in the world, a world that seemed much smaller now than ever before.  This story is about family, about roots, about finding yourself, about getting lost, about making changes and being true to yourself. I loved it and I cannot wait to hear what you think in February.  This one is put out buy Crooked Lane Books. 

After an on-air gaffe goes viral and jeopardizes her career, journalist Desiree Turner retreats home to Verbena, California for some peace and quiet. She begins working one of the quietest jobs around: presiding over funerals for her great-grandfather’s funeral parlor. But the action seems to follow her as a fistfight breaks out between neighbors Rosemarie Brewer and Lola Hansen at one of the first funerals she’s in charge of running. It exposes a nasty dispute and Rosemarie’s husband, Alan, is found murdered shortly after.Lola’s husband, Kyle, is immediately arrested. Desiree, whose own father’s death was devastating, has always viewed Kyle as a second father. Determined to clear his name, Desiree jumps head first into the investigation and quickly discovers that Alan had several unsavory habits at his job and in his personal life, including putting assets into his mistress’s account to hide them from Rosemarie. People murder for money and love all the time, and there’s no telling who he offended just enough to push them over the edge.Desiree is looking in all the right places, but she better catch the killer fast before they come for her next in A Grave Issue, the clever series debut by Lillian Bell.

You can pre order this cozy on Amazon by clicking here
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com