2019 Book 27 | The Cat of Christmas Past jumped started my #cozychristmas read. This is the 6th book in the #whalesandtails #mysterybooks . This is a modern take on Charles Dickens' Christmas classic but set on the fictional Madrona Island. The series include a magical non-talking cat or cats which provide clues. In this story is a magical cat named Ebenezer who lead Cait Hart, co-owner of Coffee Cat Bookstore to help solve a 20 year old mystery of a missing baby. Cait was tasked to save the residents of an apartment complex from being evicted by the scrooge of the story. If she could find the son of the ornery and reclusive land lord whose son disappeared when he was just an infant, he would not evict the residents. Mystery was solved. No one became homeless. Christmas was festive and cozy on the island. Cozying up during snowy evenings at the cottage, cats, dog, love story, delicious Christmas feast, family, community, faith, fire at the hearth... This book is for lovers of the holiday season, mystery and animals. I also love all the books in this series where different cats appear in each story. #cozymystery #bookstagram #holidayread #christmasreads #kathidaley #hotcocoa #hotchocolateandcookies #booksandhotchocolate
2019 BOOK 26 | I came across a 1948 copy of a Nancy Drew Mystery, #theghostofblackwoodhall for a $1. I was happy to find such old copy and eagerly read it. I devoured Nancy Drew mysteries when I was a kid. I think this explains my love for #cozymysteries. My parents would allow me to buy as many books as I wanted as a child. I also remember when I received 3 books in the series from my Aunt one Christmas Day along with a Hello Kitty jewelry box. I left my cousins and went to my room to start reading!
Decades later, as an adult I was curious to know how it would be for me to re-read one of my childhood's favorite books. I read it no longer with the innocence and eagerness of a child but as a mature and cynical adult.
Re-reading Nancy Drew was not like a reunion with an old friend. To me, Nancy Drew as an enigma. I could not relate to her unbounded freedom to my very much protected childhood in the Philippines. But how I longed to be her-- free, independent, drives a car as a teenager and most of all, adults listened to her and valued her opinions!
Now I enjoy what Nancy enjoyed back then. I am an independent career woman with my own car, well-traveled and with a post-graduate degree. I wonder if Nancy Drew went to college?
I read the much recent editions of Nancy Drew in the 80s. I cannot recall the political tone of the books that I read. Plus being a child in the Philippines, I was not aware of issues of racism and flights of African-Americans as well white privilege. Now I read the book as someone who is informed, aware and educated. In this edition, it was compelling to read the subservient position African-American people were placed in the 1940s.
The plot itself was fun and I could see how an innocent child before cellphones and the internet could have found her adventures fascinating. Lastly, I really do not care much for Nancy Drew. She was a spoiled wealthy girl and not a good friend. She kept the prize and glory to herself despite the hard work of her friends in solving the mystery. If I come across another old Nancy Drew book, I will gladly read it again. #nancydrewmysteries #nancydrew #antiquebook #oldbook #classicmystery #hardbound
2019 BOOK 25 | If you love Chicago, Food Network, HGTV, Sex And The City, architecture and culture, then you might enjoy #recipefordisaster. It was a light fun #romcom and #chicklit but well-written and with good substance.
PLOT (Warning-- minor plot reveal but there are many fun twists and turns in the story.) Anneke's current life was perfect. She was engaged to a celebrity chef, living at an apartment in Chicago that she designed herself and enjoying her career as a builder despite working in a male-dominated firm with chauvinistic, a$$hole of a boss. She and her fiance also invested in a stately house circa 1800s that they were planning to flip when it was finished. Anneke really enjoyed working on it during her spare time.
Anneke's world shattered completely in one day. She decided to quit her job without first royally telling her boss and co-workers exactly what she thought of their character, cars and genitalia. (This part was hilarious!) When she got home she found her celebrity fiance in the shower at their apartment with (?). Anneke had to learn how to fend for herself after the break up and job loss. She has 3 loyal girlfriends who loved and spoiled her despite her flaws. Anneke was crass, insensitive and ungrateful at times. Given her unhappy childhood, it was almost understandable.
As someone who loves to eat and cook, I enjoyed the foodie aspect of the book from Anneke's kitchen, her friend's gourmet cooking and the foodie girls' nights out all over Chicago. The home decor and renovation parts were nice but the details made it a little tedious to read.
I also really liked the magical addition of finding Gemma's diary. Gemma was the cook at the old Victorian mansion that Anneke was renovating. She provided Anneke with wise and practical advice and taught her how to cook. Nothing supernatural but just pure serendipity. A cute #lovestory as well. It was a great #holidayread as the story concluded around the holidays with the expected drama, bombshells and delish feast.
I finished the book today and really enjoyed reading it. It was a great way to spend my Monday off. #fallread #bookstagram #bookreview #stacyballis #cozyread
