Review: Finding Justice

Finding Justice by Kathi Daley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Kathi Daley’s Finding Justice. It is the first book in the Rescue Alaska Mystery series.

I live in Alaska and I thought the author did a good job depicting life here. I live in Southeast and Rescue is set farther north so a bit of a difference weather wise. The dangers of cold, snow and wildlife, though, are well known throughout the state. They are a part of everyday life no matter where you live. Pretty much, unless you live close to Anchorage or in Anchorage, your choices of entertainment, restaurants and shopping are limited. All of that was presented well. As was the opposite end. No matter how small the town, drugs can be located. Dogs, (as well as cats), aren’t always taken care of the way they should be. Matter of fact the local dog shelter might be housing any number of other household pets. I once came across ferrets..for weeks. And occasionally murder happens.

I love the way the author incorporates the paranormal into the story. It is, for me, believable. It isn’t all just put out either. It is unfolding. As Harmony learns more about her power so do we. I like that a lot. It gives us a chance to grow with Harmony. I absolutely loved the fact that an animal shelter is part of the series. Reading about its development is going to be wonderfully refreshing. The mystery was well done in my opinion. Their were suspects, investigations and surprises. There was even the possibility of romance..though exactly with whom may be as intriguing as the mysteries as this series develops.

I am looking forward to reading more of this series and more from this author. Kathi Daley has numerous books and several series going on. I found no objectionable language or sex scenes. The drug use, while accepted by the people, was not graphically or gloriously depicted. I personally would have no problem with an older teen reading it. This is, of course, my opinion.

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Review: Secrets and Pies

Secrets and Pies by Jenny Kales
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. I love cozy mysteries so I may be biased. It is set in the Midwest close to where I use to live. Every time Greek Fest was mentioned, I just wanted to be there! There was also a lot of Greek food talk which, honestly, kept me hungry. I made a few of the recipes from the back of the book though and that helped my hunger. The recipes I made were Avgolemono, Melopita and Rizogalo. Greek chicken and lemon soup, cheese honey pie and rice pudding. They were easy peasey and delicious. The Avgolemono has become a favorite.
But back to the story. This is the third book in the series but the first I read. I had no trouble at all following the story. Actually if it weren’t for references to previous murders, I might have thought it was a stand alone or first book. The mystery had some nice twists to it so it wasn’t too easy to guess at. Things flowed very nicely. I loved the characters. I felt like I was visiting with friends. I thought the author did an excellent job creating and maintaining the Greek ambience.
The only downside I had was how much I missed the Greek place, (and owner,Gina), that I use to eat lunch at in downtown Chicago. This book totally took me back there and made me ache with homesickness. I am definitely reading the first two books in this series and will be watching for the next book.

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Review: Krampus

Krampus by Brom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this book! Who is the villain...Krampus or Santa? I personally found the narration to be excellent and Kirby Heyborne truly brought the story to life for me. I have been fascinated by legends and folklore since I was a teen. Having Odin, Loki, Hel and others included in this story just made it so much more entertaining for me. I want the illustrated version now. I know I will be listening to this book again.
For those who want to know. Probably not a book you want to listen to with children. It is scary and the f-word is used.

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Review: The Christmas Town

The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the message that family doesn’t have to be the one you are born into. I loved the characters. Yes the story was kind of sappy but I love that at Christmas. I enjoyed it. I didn’t know it was a part of a series so definitely worked as a stand-alone. I laughed out loud several times.

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Review: Lies She Told

Lies She Told by Cate Holahan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to this on Audible intending to only listen for an hour or so while I was doing things at home. I ended up listening to it completely. The narration was excellent. I was absolutely caught up in the crazy story.
I did get a bit confused with the characters of Liza and Beth. You really need to pay attention when listening to/reading the story. It will get a bit complicated and if you are only half listening you will most likely miss key pieces.

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Review: The Chalk Man

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The end. Omg. I’m so messed up.
This was an amazing story. All the twists and turns it took. Never assume. Very true words.
The story had the feel of The Body, (Stand By Me). Perhaps because of childhood friends being in both. The story phases from past to present back to past all through the book. It is all clearly marked so you are never lost but I mention it as some readers would rather know.
A huge thank you to Read It Forward and Crown Publishing for the advance copy I won. It is one of my favorite reads of 2017!

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Mixing with Hamilton Beach

The holidays have been in full swing for weeks now. Starting the week of Thanksgiving cooking and baking we’re slowly cranking up. Now we are days from Christmas and baking is an everyday happening. My hand mixer died before Thanksgiving. I went through that holiday the old fashioned way. My arms were getting a good workout but I live with pain as a constant companion. I knew I needed a mixer. The search was on. I asked friends and family what mixer they preferred and why. I received various responses with the majority of younger family members telling they just get what is cheap and then replace, replace, replace. That is not for me. Hopefully that is going to change for them too.
A good mixer is definitely worth paying for. Here in my part of Alaska, a cheap mixer runs in the $30-40 range. Replace, replace, replace was going to get expensive, fast. I started looking at what Hamilton Beach had to offer. I really love this company. I can honestly say that over the years my Hamilton Beach products held up for a long time. I tend to look at what they have when I need or want to buy a small appliance. I still ask friends and family for their opinions. I like to compare products. I want to be certain to get the product that does what I need it to do. I definitely want a good price. As I was researching my options I received an email inviting me to review another Hamilton Beach product. (If you are looking for a food processor, please check out my review here.)
The Hamilton Beach ErgoMix Hand Mixer was one of the products offered.

 It caught my interest because of the design. Pain has made baking difficult. This mixer is designed to be easy on the hand and elbow. When I took it out of the box, it felt heavy. I was worried about that. I thought my arm would tire quickly. However when I used it, I adjusted to the weight of it. One thing that I wasn’t expecting was how quiet this mixer is! I frequently wake in the night and am unable to fall back asleep. I enjoy baking at this time but always hand mixed everything because the noise disturbed others sleep. I am now able to mix cakes, cookie dough and other things using the mixer without anyone waking. This was a bonus for me. I also like the way I can stand this mixer on the counter. It was super easy to let the batter drip of the beaters into the bowl. I was able to let the batter drip off the beaters cleanly into the bowl while I got my pans ready. My old hand mixer could not stand as this one does. Here are the photos: 

 out of the box 

the speeds and burst button

whisk and beaters that come with

mixing up the cake 

testing the stand position

 look how the beaters don't make a mess

I am in love with the mixer. Now I know you may be skeptical because I was sent the mixer to review. I would like you to know that I am not paid for my review though I do keep the item. My review is honest and based on the following things that I look for in products I buy. 

Is it easy to put together?

Is it easy to use?

Can it be easily stored?

If it has to sit on my counter, does it take up a lot of space? 

If it is on my counter, does it look good?

Does it perform well?

Is it easy to clean?

Is it durable?

How does it improve my life?

If I need parts replaced, is it possible?

What is the company reputation for customer service?

The Hamilton Beach ErgoMix Hand Mixer was very easy to put together. It comes assembled except for the whisk or beaters you will choose to use. These attached easily, stayed put and then popped out at the push of the button. It is very easy to use with the guide very conveniently placed. You can see the guide as you are mixing and easily change it or give it burst. It is a heavy mixer but I adjusted easily. I do have arthritis in my shoulder and hands so I was concerned. I think the design helps with the adjustment. If you are getting this for someone with hand/arm strength issues, you may want to have them try out the feel at the store. It is easy to store as it fit on my shelf, in the standing position.
I love the performance. This is another area of concern for me. I have purchased hand mixers in the past that died an early death. This is the reason why my review was held a bit. I wanted to be able to tell you if it died. I have used this everyday. It's the season. I have made eggs, mashed potatoes, an amazing amount of cookies, cakes and cupcakes. I have mixed sauces and even made meringue, (I can't begin to tell you how terrified I have been to make that. Now, I wonder what was wrong with me). The ErgoMix has held up beautifully and my hand and shoulder did not ache like it did with the other hand mixers. It performs well, is durable and has certainly made my holiday season easier. It is very easy to clean. Wipe the main part, (do not immerse in water),  and wash the whisk/beaters normally. As for the company reputation, I have used Hamilton Beach products for years. My mom used Hamilton Beach. I did not need to call customer service so I did not try speaking with them. Their reputation with me is solid from 40 years experience. Honestly, this is my favorite company. I check out others and am always interested in what people have to say, but I have never been disappointed with Hamilton Beach. 
If you are looking for a gift for someone who enjoys cooking and baking, the ErgoMix would be a good selection. It looks nice, works fabulously and is easy on the hand/arm. A huge plus is that while it looks pricey, it is not expensive. Go for it. You might get some tasty treats out of it. 

Thank you for stopping by today. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will answer them to the best of my ability.