The Ninja Writer's Library: It's a Mystery

Hello my book loving Friends,

This is the final post of 2019 and the final one of the decade! The theme surrounding these books is one of mystery. I really got on a mystery kick for the last part of the year. So sit back and enjoy the ride through mysteries.

Some Enchanted Eclair (A Magical Bakery Mystery) by Bailey Cates

Here we have a woman named Katie Lightfoot who is a witch who along with her witch Aunt own a bakery where they work their magic on the peeps of Savannah. She's also part of a coven who call themselves the Spellbook Club. The bakery is hired to cater a movie that's being filmed nearby, but while on set the man who hired them ends up dead. Katie, who has been involved in other murders. and her coven are trying to solve it.
This book reminds me of the Witch City Mystery series in some ways, except in the south. The main character is close with her aunt, there's mystical pets, and a boyfriend trying to cope with their girlfriend's abilities. There's some magic, seances, and twist you don't see coming. I defiantly would add this to my books to get list.

Dead and Breakfast (A Merry Ghost Inn Mystery) by Kate Kingsbury

Melanie West has decided to go into the Bed and Breakfast business with her Grandmother Liza Harris. While renovating they come across a skeleton in their walls, which throws a monkey wrench in their plans. Soon they find themselves knee deep into a cold case mystery, new troubles, and a possible ghost.

This was a difficult read in the beginning, so it made for a slow read. I eventually got into it more as I was reading it during a battle heavy Critical Role episode. For some reason the Grandmother got on my nerves at times when she was pushing her granddaughter to do stuff surrounding the mystery. It's an ok story, even though one part of the story rehashed a fear I have, it was still ok. I also thought the romance blossomed out of nowhere.

So if you like mysteries or stories that take place in the Pacific Northwest that have nothing to do with sparkly vampires then check it out.

Perilous Poetry (A Book Barn Mystery) by Kym Roberts

Charlie Warren's cousin makes an app that is going to bring sales, and a big time mystery author to her store. Unfortunately a string of murders is linked to the app and author which could jeopardize everything.

This was a good mystery. It had me guessing till the end. I liked the bookstore setting and the pet pink armadillo, Princess. As with a lot of books lately took a while to get into it, but I'm starting to believe it's just me and not the works.

We have another story with a woman trying to figure out who to be with between two guys. It's just something I've come across in a lot of books I've seen over the years, and I'm not crazy about. Plus I really think her choice should be obvious and let the other guy go despite the history. Another thing that grinded my gears was the pushy people pushing Charlie to do things and people sticking their nose into her business. It's like maybe she doesn't feel like going to the bar on football night or doesn't feel right going to a funeral of a guy she hardly knew. I mean for story's sake she had to be at these places, but it felt like people were forcing her to go and she just gave in. Of course given it was family and friends I see how that can happen.

Charms and Chocolate Chips (A Magical Bakery Mystery) by Bailey Cates

Once more we have Katie Lightfoot and her magical bakery. In this novel she has been volunteering at a place that tries to help endangered wildlife, when she ends up finding the head of the group dead in her office. Unfortunately Katie also appears to be a target of the killer.

This book takes place before the previous one I mentioned, I didn't realize the library had more. The beginning of the book we have an Imbolic celebration which like the rest of the book seemed cozy as is said of the world on the website. Despite the murder and the danger our friends find themselves in, it is becoming a cozy world.

Now in this one there's also two guys competing for Katie's affections, but Katie done made her choice, so it doesn't bug me as much in this book, the other guy is just stubborn.
This was another good mystery that had me guessing till the end. If you love a little magic with your mystery check this out.

Antiques Maul (A Trash 'n' Treasure Mystery) by Barbara Allan

Brandy  Borne  has decided to open an antiques booth with her mother, the over dramatic Vivian. Sadly things go wrong when the building's owner is found dead seemingly killed by a pit bull. Soon Mom is trying to prove the dog's innocence while Brandy's son is visiting.

I decided to check this book cause it said it was funny, which it did have some funny. We have a cast of quirky characters which made for an interesting read once I got into it. There's "Trash 'n' Treasure" Tips for getting into Antiques. The main character is also found giving tips on other facts of life.
The murder is hinted at in the beginning of chapter one, then it's 97 pages of back story to get back to the murder. Then it seemed to move too quick to the reveal.

Death Overdue (A Haunted Library Mystery) by Allison Brook
Carrie Singleton who works at the local library gets a promotion and at the first event has the speaker die mysteriously. So she makes it her mission to find his killer.
Yeah I eventually DNF'd this book. I just felt myself forcing myself to read it. The first meeting with the library ghost was too abrupt. Then there was things that just grinded my gears. People assuming you hit thirty you have to settle down. Then the Character just giving in to her boss' demands to change her look just cause she got a promotion.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Deep Water by Laura Anne Gilman and Josepha Sherman

This isn't a mystery novel exactly, but the gang is having to figure out a mystery so it counts here. Plus I want to get all my reviews for the 2019 books in this last post. There's an oil spill on a beach near Sunnydale and Willow Rosenberg goes to help save the animals and finds a selkie in human form who is unable to change back. So Willow takes her to the Scooby Gang to see if they can help. The spill also forces to the surface a group of Merrows who want to get revenge and eat on the former prey of their people.

I'm biased but I love reading a Buffy tale I haven't seen or read before. I was reading the final book in Amanda Churi's The Twisted Trilogy for my thirtieth read this year, but it's lengthy so I knew I wouldn't finish it, so I decided to take a break from it and make this quick Buffy read my final finished book of 2019 and the decade.

Ok this section may contain spoilers, you are warned. I love we get an epic beach battle Merrows vs Vampires for the fate of the Sunnydale food supply of humans with the Scooby Gang in the middle trying to take them all out while trying to send a selkie girl home. I also like Buffy utilizing a sharpened peace of drift wood for a stake.

Whew that's a lot of books. Well I reach thirty books this year, that seems to be my average. I also DNF'd a bunch of books this year. I think next year I'll shoot for thirty and may start keeping a log of how many pages I read next year. Thogh it'll be tricky since I'll be finishing one I started in 2019 in 2020.

I hope you all have a good New Year, stay safe, and God bless you!

Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer

Artsy Fartsy Time: Gift for Jesus 2019

Happy Friday my friends,

It's the final Friday post of 2019 and the decade. Sorry for the radio silence. This holiday days ran together, there really wasn't anything to write about, and the Mental Health Hydra reared it's heads. But I am back with a couple posts to close out the new year.
Today we are gonna talk about my yearly Christmas tradition of making a gift for Jesus. I had thought of writing another poem, but inspiration was lacking. Well while diving in my craft drawer I found some CD art I never finished and was inspired to make an art piece:

I took a CD and traced around it on a piece of black construction paper. After cutting out the circle I hole punched various holes in it then glued it on the CD's rainbow side. Then I cut a circle of yellow paper and pasted it in the middle. I was gonna use the baby party favors I've been using for a while now for Christmas themed gifts, but I couldn't find them. so I had to make my own. I wadded up a couple balls of paper for the body and the head, and glued strips of paper around it till I got a babyish shape and let it dry. Then I painted it with brown with a water color set I have, the with a blue marker colored a "blanket" on. Then drew an ink face on him. After it dried I glued the baby in the center. With a blue marker I wrote Merry Christmas. That's how you make this years gift.

I had a good Christmas, visited, and was visited by, family. We had good food and had some good gifts. If you celebrate I hope yours was good.
Are you guys having a good holiday? What have you guys been up to? Let me know in the comments.
I hope you have a good week, make art, and God bless you!
Ninja <[0000]---------------[0000]> Writer