Book Review: Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier

For Lucy Stone, Halloween in Tinker’s Cove, Maine, the treats aren’t just sweet and delicious. Sometimes they’re also deadly . . .

Trick or Treat Murder
While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes for her town’s annual Halloween festival, an arsonist is on the loose in Tinker’s Cove. When arson turns into murder, a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke . . .

Wicked Witch Murder
Not everyone in Tinker’s Cover is enchanted with newcomer Diana Ravenscroft and her quaint little shop offering everything from jewelry to psychic readings. But a gruesome murder of Diana’s friend has Lucy Stone uncovering a deadly web of secrets—and a spine-chilling brush with the things that go bump in the night . . .


MY REVIEW:

Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book has 2 books in 1. Both are Lucy Stone series.
Trick Or Treat Murder is set at Halloween time and there is an arsonist on the loose. I read this a long time ago so don't really remember to much about it.

Wicked Witch Murder I just read. Tinker's Cove has a witch in town and she owns a store. Diana Ravenscroft seems really nice but a family moves into town and the husband wants to drive her out. A friend of Diana's is found dead and Lucy wants to find out what happened. Lucy works as the local newspaper reporter and she always finds out things to put her in harm's way. Diana tries to teach some recipes that are like spells to Lucy's daughters. Then we find out that the new family has religious reasons why they don't want her there and the daughter starts hanging out with Diana.

I received this from NetGalley for an honest review.

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October Kiss by Kristen Ethridge review

October Kiss: Based on the Hallmark Channel Original Movie by Kristen Ethridge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Poppy’s tried a lot of things. Yoga instruction. Pizza making. So far, none of them have seemed like her thing. Still, she doesn’t have to know where her life is headed to live it with enthusiasm.

Ever since his wife’s death, Ryan’s thrown himself into his work. Launching a successful new app will secure his children’s future…even if it means he can’t spend much time with them now.

As a short-term nanny for Ryan’s children, Poppy brings some much-needed fun and laughter. She’s never been one to commit, so why is she feeling so attached to these children…and even more, to their dad? Could it be she’s found her place at last?

Poppy is such a fun character and how she makes the kids feel is a warm feeling. But as she starts falling for Ryan and he starts falling for her things get complicated by Ryan's associate who is very interested in Ryan. This story made you want to be there and be a part of all the fun shopping for Halloween decorations and pumpkins. Putting up all the decorations and making costumes. I do remember watching this Hallmark movie and enjoying it.

I received this from NetGalley and Hallmark for an honest review.


View all my reviews

Book can be bought from Amazon

Drac

Well I stitched on Drac on January 31 and watched Halloween cartoons.

I was hoping to have more done but I kept falling asleep. Plus I am mad because I ran out of 209 and when I pulled out what I had they are a lighter shade of this purple and I went to Michaels, today, and theirs is a lighter shade of purple so I must have started using an older color dye lot. So I am going to have to frog all that 209 and use the new dye lot. Grrrr!

I bought a 50" TV for the family room and that is hooked up today. Plus I bought a small one for Scott in his room. Can't wait to watch the super bowl on the big TV. Plus at noon on Hallmark is the Kitten Bowl and at 2pm is the puppy bowl on Animal Planet.

Today I will start on L&L Fairy Grandmother. I went to Michaels for floss. They have been out of one color for over a month. I asked when they order floss and she said every Friday. I looked at her and said oh really, then why have you been out of the same color for over a month? She said well we can order it for you. I said no, not if you send in an order every Friday then it should be here right? She didn't answer me. I looked at Walmart last time and , even though I am thrilled that Walmart brough back floss, why don't they carry all the colors? So of course they didn't even have a spot for the color I wanted. Oh well, next Saturday I will be by Joanne's and will get it there.

Dylan had asked me to help him and Amber scrapbook for the baby pics. So today I bought a bunch of baby stitckers and some paper, at Michaels , that were all on clearance.  The other stack of paper that I want was $19.99 and I didn't have a coupon so next weekend I will get a coupon for Joannes and get it there.

I have had a headache all day so once the ibuprofen kicks in then I will stitch. Not sure what I want to watch though. I have all The Fast and Furious DVDs, that I got for Christmas, so I may watch those.

Oh and by the way. GO SEAHAWKS!!!

Crazy January Challenge #11 & #12, and a UFO

I have been stitching, honestly. But I had to take a break from the CJC. I did stitch 2 more and then switched to a UFO over the weekend. I just did not want to stitch what I picked for day 13. So I put it back with what I chose for #14 and #15 and in its places I picked up something else. So starting tomorrow night you will find out what it is.
Anyways here is #11

JCS Halloween 2011 - Brittercup Witchy Kitty
32 ct Silkweaver Lugana, WDW, GAST
I didn't have any of the other threads needed so this was all I could do.

JCS Halloween 2011- Ursula Michael Little Witch
28 ct Silkweaver Lugana, DMC

Now onto my UFO:

SamSarah Design The 1892 Pledge
Weeks Dye Works 30 ct Havana Linen, Crescent Colours
started March 2010
This pattern was for a Cross Stitch retreat that I went to in Syracuse, NY. Sponsored by A Stitcher's Garden LNS. It was small of about 20 of us.

After the next 3 starts for the CJC then I will be focusing on this piece as well as the Christmas Angel and then LK Halloween Rules. Since all the CJC pieces are all Halloween they will be stitched on Sundays.

Thank you everyone for continuing to read and leave comments. I appreciate you all.
Shelleen

finished Halloween Streamer and a WIP

Last night I did finish Little River Designs Halloween Streamer

and I pulled out The Drawn Thread's It's Halloween. Both of these pieces were from the Crazy January Challenge.

I watched movies also
The Blind Side was awesome!!!
Inglorious Basterds was good

This week I will be stitching on HAED QS Fragile Heart.

Thanks for all the comments, I appreciate them very much!
{{{hugs}}}
Shelleen

Productive week

I have wanted to post all week but everytime I came on here the internet would go out. The other night I had typed everything in and as I hit publish post the internet went out :-( . We have had storms all week. Looks like it will be a nice weekend though.
I finished a Crazy January Challenge

JCS 2002 ornament issue - The Sampler House- Symbolic "X"

32 ct dirty linen

NN Razzle Dazzle Red

1/5/11 - 4/26/11

Then I pulled out a Up For a Challenge piece - UFO, and finished it

Stitchy Kitty Heart Paw

28 ct cashel millenium blue

dmc, kreinik

5/21/10 - 4/28/11

So then I decided to pull out Little Rivers Design Halloween Streamer and TRY to make this a finish for the month. I don't think it will happen but I will come close.

Little River Designs - Halloween Streamer

28 ct tea Monaco

DMC

I finished the audiobook Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson and am now listening to I, Alex Cross.

I also am trying to watch a lot of movies:

Tron-Legacy (very good)

Burlesque - awesome

The Switch - funny

Eclipse - good

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part I - very good

I am hoping to stitch on Halloween Streamer all day and watch Elizabeth Taylor movies that I DVRd  a couple of weeks ago.

Thank you for the comments and reading my blogs.

(((hugs)))

Shelleen

a little of this and that

I haven't been posting like I want to.
Last weekend I went, with Dylan's girlfriend,  and visited Dylan in PA. He took me to Philly for a real Philly Cheesesteak. It was good and I fell in love with Philly. The buildings were gorgeous and drove by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is huge!! I want to visit it next time and also want to go to the zoo. He took us to The King of Prussia Mall, which is huge and we only walked through a small part of it. I took my stitching with me and did get some stitching time in.
This past week I put in more stitches on HAED QS Fragile Heart

Dylan is home for 3 weeks and will be going with me to work as we need help and he needs money. Today we went grocery shopping, came home and cleaned a little. I finally got to stitch for about 2 hours tonight. I watched the movie Date Night with Tina Fey and Steve Carell, Funny movie. Then watched Desperate Housewives. I stitched on Halloween Streamer by Little River Designs.

Thank you for visiting and leaving comments. I appreciate them.

Shelleen

movies, TV and stitching

Yesterday was my birthday. I got a card and money from my in laws. Lots of facebook comments and a few txt messages. As for DH, well still nothing by bedtime. My own mom didn't remember to call me.
I fixed Mexican lasagna for my inlaws and boy was that good. I made it mild so it wouldn't bother them and it seemed to be a hit. I stitched for an hour on HAED QS Fragile Heart so I didn't take a pic.
Today I caught up on some laundry and watched all last week's episodes of Live with Regis and Kelly. I sure will miss it when Regis leaves. I have been a huge fan of his show around the time Kathie Lee had joined. When I went back to the work force in 2007 I had missed it. So when news of Regis leaving had hit the news, then I started DVRing it. Friday's episode was their 10th anniversary and showed all kinds of past episodes. Some I remembered and a few I had missed. But it left me with bittersweet tears. I know Kelly is staying on but it won't be the same without Regis. No telling how I will be on the last day he will be on.
So while watching them I pulled out Halloween Streamer by Little River. I then sat in my comfy chair and watched 2 movies , which I highly recommend. The first one was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The next movie was The Book of Eli. Both great movies.
Here is my progress on Halloween Streamer. I am hoping to finish it this month.

This week I will be stitching on HAED QS Fragile Heart.
I forgot to mention. When DH came home from work at 3, this afternoon, he had a birthday card and shrimp for me. I told him thank you and I appreciated it but yesterday was my birthday. He apologized. He knew it was my birthday and even told me Happy Birthday. But he said he didn't know what to get me. Well gee a card on my actual Birthday would have been nice.

Thanks for all of the comments, loved them all.
Shelleen

Halloween Sunday - Poof Hat

While stitching I was doing laundry and then went grocery shopping.
I stitched on Poof Hat by Ursula Michael.

I started listening to Under The Dome by Stephen King. It is 34 hours long.
I also watched Aliens In The Attic which was a silly movie. Then I watched Desperate Housewives. Hmmm so who did shoot Paul?
This week I will be stitching on HAED QS Fragile Heart.

Crazy January Challenge #15

This is the last day! Now to finish them all this year :-) This has been fun and am hoping to do it again next year.
This is By The Full Moon - Ink Circles, out of the JCS 2010 Halloween issue. It is stitched on 40 ct and let me say, I have no idea how those of you stitch on this. It is crazy lol. I do have an eye appointment on Wednesday and it will be the first pair of glasses that I have ever needed. Last year my eye sight started going a little.

I used my new vacuum today and loved it! Just take the canister off and dump it. I dumped it after I vacuumed each room and then when done I washed it out. No more bags!
I ordered the parts for a new gaming computer and have someone building it for me. Can not wait :-)

Fixed Pulled pork for my in laws tonight. I have been asked to fix them their dinner every Saturday night. I can just warm up what is in their fridge/freezer but since I have to cook for Scott and I then I might as well cook it and then take it to their house and eat with them. They said they like everything so not sure what is next weekend, yet.

Tomorrow I will be stitching on an Halloween piece. Not sure if I want to work on Poof Hat or finish something that I started in December and would be from the Up For a Challenge category. I am thinking finish the one and then work on Poof Hat.

night all,
Shelleen

Crazy January Challenge #10

I didn't get much stitched on this. Tonight was stitching at the library and I started it there. Came home and planned on getting in a couple of hours but a friend called and we talked for 2 hours.
So here is It's Halloween by The Drawn Thread

I am having a lot of fun with this challenge and love all the comments that I have been getting, You are all great friends.

Crazy January Challenge #8

This morning I went to Lovin' Cup for my Book Cross meeting. Good food, and good friends. Then went grocery shopping. I had planned on a turkey dinner but by the time I got home it wouldn't have gotten in the oven til 4 so I will fix it tomorrow.

Tonight I started Poof Hat by Ursula Michael

Time for bed, Good night to all my readers and commenters.

A WIP and a finish

I had a hair appointment today and also got my eyebrows done. I was scaring people thinking I had a Caterpillar on my forehead.
Came home and stitched for quite a bit on Happy Halloween by RoseMary Peddie

I watched a couple of Christmas shows like Rudolph's Shiny New Year and Twas The Night Before Christmas. Then I watched 2 movies. Home By Christmas - Lifetime movie. The Time Traveler's Wife-awesome!!

I finished up the Tinkerbell bookmark as well.

 Dylan also was home for the weekend. And brought a friend from school, who is from New Jersey. They seemed to have a great time. I haven't cooked big meals in a long time. Usually it is just Justin and I that eat here. Scott always orders out or we go somewheres to eat, on the weekends. Dylan has class on the 23rd and then has off til January 3. So he will be home the whole time.

Thank you all for the comments that you leave. They mean a lot to me.

(((hugs)))
Shelleen

Playing catch up

I thought I have been posting but obviously not. Today I had a stitch in at my house and 4 stitching friends all showed up. Karen, Jill, Char and Laurie. None have blogs but I have known them for 11 years thanks to The Cross Stitch Pals. We had a great time and can't wait to do it again.

So I started a new halloween piece since it is Halloween SAL Sunday. I am thinking , starting in January, to also do Fall and Thanksgiving on Sundays. Anyways here is Witchy Boot by San man Originals. Done on 28 ct jubilee Mint Green.

Thursday is Weight Watchers , after work. I always go to Coffee Culture and get a cup of tea and a muffin but this time I wanted to try their Ultimate Grilled Cheese sandwich. Since I eat lunch at noon and don't get out of the WW meeting til 6 I do have to eat something. Anyways when I was done there I headed to the parking lot and still had 10 minutes, til the doors opened. So I started a new Zentangle. I started with a few hearts. I then pulled it back out last night and finished it. I think it is cute. I started a new one today and forgot to scan a pic so will do that when I finish it. By the way I lost .8 lbs so I have an average of a lb a week.

All week I stitched on HAED SK Sunny. I got one column done and started working on another one. I am hoping to finish this page this month.

Monday night my local library has knitters and crocheters come in and sit at the table to work together and I was told I could bring my stitching. So I finished Quaker Halloween by San Man Originals. I don't know what is up with the San Man freebies but I have stitched a lot of them and still have quite a few more.

Thank you all for looking and appreciate the comments.

{{{hugs}}}
Shelleen

Another finish

I was busy at the beginning of the day. Went grocery shopping, organized my cotton fabric, and did a couple loads of laundry. Then sat and stitched. I finished Cat and Pumpkin 2.

Cat and Pumpkin 2 - RoseMary Peddie
32 ct linen, oyster DMC

Then started LHN JCS 2009 Winter Sampler. Didn't get much done on it.
I would have started another Halloween piece but tomorrow is the 25th and I try to stitch an ornament every month. This year has not gone well with that goal :-)

While stitching I watched TV:
General Hospital
Supernatural - 10/8, 10/15
Smallville - 10/15
Nikita - 10/21
Desperate Housewives

Tomorrow night House is not on so I am going sew up the Halloween smalls that I did all week. Plus, hopefully, stitch some more on the Christmas ornament.

Tuesday update

Stitched some more on One Eyed Jack.
Dh had worked a little bit in my craft room so my file cabinet is now where I want it to be and I put some files in it, of my charts and patterns. Then I found everything else that I have had kitted up, and put them in the rightful bins. I will have to take pics this week.
Sat down with One Eyed Jack and an audiobook. I am listening to The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer and so fair it is really good. I would have liked to have stitched more and listened more but I kept nodding off for a second and so I gave up. Going to bed now.


Thank you for all the comments, they mean a lot to me.

{{{hugs}}}
Shelleen

Halloween Sunday SAL

I had a really good day. Did some laundry and cleaned the kitchen. Got a lot stitched on Cat-O-Lantern while listening to Hold Tight by Harlan Coben. Awesome book! Than watched Desperate Housewives.
Sunday is Halloween SAL with my Stitching Sisters Yahoo group. Anyone out there in blog land want to join me on Sundays? This is getting put away til Friday. It is HAED freebie SAL through Thursday so I will be pulling out HAED SK Sunny.


Thank you to everyone who has been reading my blog and leaving comments, I appreciate it all.

Halloween Sunday

I cleaned up the rest of the craft room. Added a few things in there, to get out of the way from where they were. Spent some time on the computer looking up more Zentangle. Then sat and stitched on Cat-O-Lantern. Love this piece.

I watched a few movies as well:
17 Again - really good
Land of the Lost- sucked
The 19th Wife- Lifetime Movie and really good

Tomorrow will be back to stitching on the RR.

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate them

Night and {{{hugs}}}

Halloween Sunday

Today is Halloween SAL with Stitching Sisters Yahoo group. I got some more backstitching done on the left side and more stitching on the right side. I watched Life on the DVR. It was from 4/18. Then I watched a movie from LMN. It was called Ring of Deceit and was on my DVR. Also watched tonight's episode of True Blood, on HBO. Only 3 episodes left for the season.

Springberry Creek - Cat-O-Lantern
28 ct white evenweave

This weekend was busy. I forgot to scan what I did on HAED SK Sunny, on Friday night. I watched a few episodes of General Hospital and the finale of Pretty Little Liars.

Saturday I had my bookcrossing meeting but my mom was the only one who showed up. I had a mexican salad, very good and within my WW points. Then when I got home Scott and I went to the Erie County Fair. The company I work for is a sponsor plus we did work for the forage feed that was there. Because of that I got free tickets. We spent 3-4 hours walking and enjoying it all. I had my yearly Gyro, mmm and used 15 WW points and so I used some of my weekly WW point allowance. I did real well this weekend with WW.

Today Dylan and I went grocery shopping. Buying healthy sure is expensive but will be well worth it.

Halloween SAL

Today is Halloween SAL with the Stitching Sisters Yahoo group. So I pulled out Cat-O-Lantern by Springberry Kreek. This seems to stitch up quick in the hours that I work on it.

This morning I went to Wegmans and got groceries for the week. Dylan wanted to sleep in and I couldn't wake up Justin so I went by myself.
Got some things done online and played a little bit of Sims2.

While stitching I listened to a couple of chapters of Hand of Evil by J.A. Jance. Then I watched a Lifetime Movie Network and the movie was The Devil's Teardrop. I think it was based on a book by Jeffery Deaver. I am also pretty sure that I read the book a few years ago. It was a good movie.

WW:
worked out with the Wii Fit for 30 minutes. That is including the free jogging for 10 minutes , which had me sweating up a storm.