Book ~ "Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate" (2007) Kyra Davis

From Goodreads ~ Sophie Katz's relationship with the irresistible and occasionally insufferable P.I. Anatoly Darinsky is on the fritz when a friend recruits Sophie's investigation skills to decode her possibly two-timing husband's strange behavior. When Sophie shows up in a short red cocktail dress and her friend's hubby winds up dead, the loveable would-be sleuth can't help but take on the job.

Suddenly plunged into a crazy world of campaign mudslinging, dirt-digging and cover-ups, Sophie begins to uncover some pretty dirty secrets involving a conservative congressional hopeful's involvement in the Furry community, a group of people who dress up in mascot-size stuffed animal costumes. Sex and politics, wouldn't you know?

Way in over her head as usual, Sophie reluctantly or not-so-reluctantly enlists the help of her two-time sidekick and ex-Anatoly. Together they set out to determine who killed Eugene and why, and in the process can't resist falling for each other again?

Sophie Katz is a mystery writer. Melanie, her friend and former mentor, suspects her husband, Eugene, is having an affair so asks Sophie to put the moves on him at a bar to see if he bites. He doesn't and they end up having a nice chat. Minutes after they leave the bar, he is shot and killed. Melanie knows that Sophie's ex-boyfriend, Anatoly, is a PI and wants to hire him to investigate. Sophie is feeling bitter about their recent break-up so tells Melanie he is too busy and offers to check things out. Eventually Melanie hires Anatoly and Sophie is forced to work with him to stay involved. 

I wasn't crazy about this one. I'm not into politics and because Eugene worked for a congressional candidate, there was a lot of talk of American politics, which was boring. It was a convoluted story that ended up involving furries and fluffies. When the whodunnit was revealed, my thought was "HUH?!" ... I wasn't buying it. Sophie's obsession with Anatoly was annoying and she stayed on investigating Eugene's death primarily so Anatoly couldn't which was selfish and juvenile of her considering it's what he does for a living. 

This is the third in the Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series (there are seven books in the series and I read the first two in the last week). It is written in first person perspective in Sophie's voice. It was published in 2007 so is a bit dated ... for example, Kanye West was still relevant and Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins are still together. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Book ~ "Passion, Betrayal And Killer Highlights" (2006) Kyra Davis

From Goodreads ~ Sophie Katz has just offered a man $12,000 for his services ... is she desperate or just meshugeneh?

Considering the kind of disasters that usually befall the half-black, half-Jewish mystery writer, probably both. Because the last time Sophie saw sexy P.I. Anatoly Darinsky, he practically danced a jig when she waved goodbye ... a normal reaction for a man who'd nearly bought the farm trying to protect her from her own foolishness. What are the chances he'd agree to take incriminating pictures of her sister's philandering husband? Or that he'd let her tag along ... you know… for research?

But when her brother-in-law turns up dead and her sister becomes the prime suspect, Sophie's priority is finding the real killer. With or without Anatoly's help. Her brother-in-law's secret life yields plenty of suspects but the San Francisco police aren't taking any of them seriously. So Sophie does what comes naturally to her: she stirs up trouble (to lure the killer out, of course).

But if her crazy plan works, will Anatoly be there to protect her this  time?

Sophie Katz is a mystery writer who lives with Mr. Katz, her cat with lot of personality. Leah is her sister and Bob, Leah's husband, told her he was leaving her for a younger woman. Leah enjoys her role as a wife and a mother and is determined to fight for him. When Leah arrives home later that day, she finds Bob murdered and their house trashed a bit. 

Leah immediately turns to Sophie ... Sophie, in turn, hires PI Anatoly to investigate and find out who murdered Bob since Leah is the number one suspect. Sophie and Anatoly have a history ... because of her, he'd gotten shot and arrested (in the first book) ... but he takes the job. As Sophie and Anatoly start digging, they discover that Bob not only had one girlfriend on the side but a few more. Did one of them get jealous enough to kill him?

This is the second in the Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series (there are seven books in the series and I read the first one earlier this week). It is written in first person perspective in Sophie's voice. It was published in 2006 so is a bit dated with references to floppy disks and an address book that you actually write names, address and phone numbers (and cross them out when they move!). As a head's up, there is a lot of swearing and adult activity.

I liked it enough to move on to the next book in the series. 

Book ~ "Sex, Murder and a Double Latte" (2005) Kyra Davis

From Goodreads ~ Thriller scribe Sophie Katz is as hard-boiled as a woman who drinks Grande Caramel Brownie Frappuccinos can be. So Sophie knows it’s not paranoia or post-divorce, living-alone-again jitters, when she becomes convinced that a crazed reader is sneaking into her apartment to reenact scenes from her books. The police, however, can’t tell a good plot from an unmarked grave.

When a filmmaker friend is brutally murdered in the manner of a death scene in one of his movies, Sophie becomes convinced that a copycat killer is on the loose - and that she’s the next target. If she doesn’t solve the mystery, her own bestseller will spell out her doom. Cursing her grisly imagination (why, oh, why did she have to pick the ax?), Sophie engages in some real-life gumshoe tactics. The man who swoops in to save her in dark alleys is mysterious new love interest Anatoly Darinsky. Of course, if this were fiction, Anatoly would be her prime suspect.

Sophie Katz is a mystery writer. She is excited that a filmmaker is interested in turning her book into a movie ... until he is found dead in his bathtub of an apparent suicide. His death is very similar to a death in one of his movies but that was a murder not a suicide, which leads Sophie to suspect that he has been murdered. When strange things start happening that mirror her book, Sex, Murder and a Double Latte, Sophie suspects she may be the next victim so starts investigating.

Around this time, Sophie meets and starts dating Anatoly, who has recently moved to town, and her friend, Dena, has recently started dating Jason, who is a vampire wannabe. Sophie starts to wonder if they have come into her life just make her the next victim.

This is the first in the Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series (there are seven books in the series). I like reading series so I thought I'd check it out. I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times. It is written in first person perspective in Sophie's voice. It was published in 2005 so is a bit dated with references to things that were relevant 20 years ago. I liked that she had a cat named Mr. Katz, who was full of personality. Sophie has three good but diverse friends who she leans on ... outspoken and sometimes mean Dena, dumb Mary Ann and Marcus, an overly stereotypical gay hairdresser. The whodunnit was a bit of a stretch. As a head's up, there is a lot of swearing and some violence.

I liked it enough to move on to the next book in the series. 

Turtle Jack's Muskoka Grill, Mississauga, ON

I had supper this evening at Turtle Jack’s at Erin Mills Town Centre with friends.

Me, Franca, Linda and Ann

I had Chicken Parmesan (Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, pappardelle, tomato pesto cream sauce), which was good. The garlic toast was $3 extra and not worth the cost as it was cold and hard (I wouldn't get it again).

“Elvis: Wonderful World of Christmas”, Meadowvale Theatre, Mississauga, ON

This afternoon I attended Elvis: Wonderful World of Christmas at the Meadowvale Theatre with Linda, Ann and Franca. It was a fun and festive way to spend the afternoon. 

Join us Sunday December 15 for a magical experience filled with the iconic songs of Elvis Presley, performed by the talented internationally acclaimed Steve Michaels.

His performance brings to life the classic hits of Elvis Presley, including his beloved holiday tunes. Enter a realm of joy and enchantment, celebrating the most wonderful time of the year!

Start your holiday season in style with this spectacular show that will surely bring joy and wonder to your heart.

Me, Linda, Ann and Franca

Island Foods, Toronto, ON (Gladstone Avenue)

Trish and I had lunch today at Island Foods at Gladstone Avenue/Queen Street W.

Trish ordered a potato and channa roti.

Float Toronto, Toronto, ON

My pal, Trish, and I went for hour floats today at Float Toronto (on Queen Street W at Gladstone). It was Trish's first time. I find floats very relaxing ... today I fell asleep! They are having their annual sale this month so it's a great time to stock up.

Book ~ "The Paris Widow" (2024) Kimberly Belle

From Goodreads ~ When Stella met Adam, she thought she had finally found a nice normal guy - a welcome change from her previous boyfriend and her precarious jetsetter lifestyle with him. But her secure world comes crashing down when Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square. Unable to reach him, she panics. 

As the French police investigate, it’s revealed that Adam was on their radar as a dealer of rare and stolen antiquities with a long roster of criminal clients. Reeling from this news, Stella is determined not to leave Paris until she has the full story. Was Adam a random victim or the target of the explosion? And why is someone following her through the streets of Paris?

Stella and Adam have been married for four years and she tags along with him on a business trip around Europe. A couple hours before they are due to fly home to the States, they check out a cute spot for a snack. As they are heading back to the hotel in Paris to pick up their luggage before they leave for the airport, Adam forgets his sunglasses on their table and goes back for them as Stella carries on to the hotel. Moments later there is an explosion at the restaurant where they just were and Adam is missing. Not giving up hope, Stella stays on in Paris until she can find out if Adam is alive or not. 

During the investigation of the explosion, the police inform Stella that Adam wasn't just a regular dealer in antiques ... he had a secret life and was actually selling stolen antiquities to the rich around the world who could afford them. Was Adam in the wrong place at the wrong time or was her a target of the explosion and why.

I've read many books by this author but I thought this one was okay. It's written from two perspectives which bounce back and forth (the chapters are labeled) in Stella and Adam's voices during their travels. After the explosion, I thought it was farfetched with Stella investigating what happened to him (she works for a caterer back home) and I found the details a bit draggy and confusing at times. It was lucky that Stella had someone from her past who was coincidentally connected to the stolen antiquities market she was able to tap into for info (!!). I wasn't buying the ending. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Casa Loma, Toronto, ON

Casa Loma has their Christmas at the Castle event happening until January 8 and I headed there this morning. I'm glad I did as there was so much to see and it was done very well.

The Great Hall

Fresca Pizza & Pasta, Toronto, ON

I had a slice of pepperoni pizza for lunch today at Fresca Pizza & Pasta on College Street (just west of Spadina). It was a busy spot! 

I got here just as the pepperoni pizza came out of the oven so my slice was fresh and hot. And it was a tasty slice! Yum!

Garter Stitch Scarf

I finished knitting a scarf. I cast on 25 stitches on a 6.5mm needles and the pattern is garter stitch. I used 3/4 of a skein of Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles Lite super bulky (#6) and the colour is coral dot. It’s almost feet long and warm and snuggly. 

Book ~ "The Personal Assistant" (2022) Kimberly Belle

From Goodreads ~ When Alex first began posting unscripted family moments and motivational messages online, she had no intention of becoming an influencer. Overnight it seemed she’d amassed a huge following, and her hobby became a full-time job - one that was impossible to manage without her sharp-as-a-tack personal assistant, AC.

But all the good-will of her followers turns toxic when one controversial post goes viral in the worst possible way. Alex reaches out to AC for damage control but her assistant has gone silent. This young woman Alex trusted with all her secrets, who had access to her personal information and front row seats to the pressure points in her marriage and family life, is now missing and the police are looking to Alex and her husband for answers. As Alex digs into AC’s identity - and a woman is found murdered – she’ll find the greatest threat isn’t online but in her own living room.

Alex is a successful social media influencer, married to Patrick and has 12-year-old twins. She wakes up after a night of too much tequila to discover she had thrown shade on a 16-year-old actress in a post the night before. After years of her posting about encouraging positivity, Alex's fan base turns against her and her social media blows up with comments about her being a hypocrite. She turns to her assistant, AC, for help but AC had disappeared. When the comments get more dangerous with threats of violence and AC is reported missing by her roommate, the police look at Alex and Patrick with suspicion.

I've read many books by this author but I thought this one was okay. It's written from two perspectives which bounce back and forth (the chapters are labeled) in Alex and Patrick's voices. In the end, we find out what happened to AC and it was an interesting twist but not a big surprise. I found it odd that with all the threats (online and physical) they received, though Alex and Patrick eventually had changed the locks and upgraded their security cameras, they didn't seem overly concerned about any danger. to themselves or Alex's children. I thought it was irresponsible of Alex as a mother to expose so much of her life (she posted pictures of her daughters, Patrick, their house, etc.) in her quest to become a successful influencer.  As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books" (2024) Kirsten Miller

From Goodreads ~ Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books - none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The "Girl’s Guide to the Revolution" is wrapped in the cover of "The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette". A jacket that belongs to "Our Confederate Heroes" ends up on "Beloved". One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch - including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer and the former DA - all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town ... and change it forever.

Growing up, Lula's family was well-to-do but that changed when her father lost his company (and the family lost their lavish lifestyle) because of  his questionable business practices, which is something Lula never got over. When Lula's husband died young, she received a large insurance payout and she became intolerable ... so much so that as soon as her two children were old enough to leave home, they did and Lula never heard from them again. Lula was cut from the cheerleading squad in high school by Beverly and never forgave her. Now the two are running for mayor of their small town and Lula will do anything to win. 

As Lula has gotten older, she has gotten worse ... her latest mission was to rid the town library of what she deems to be inappropriate books. She creates a small free library in front of her house filled with what she feels are more wholesome books. Lyndsay, Beverly's daughter, doesn't think this is right so as a prank removes those books and refills the library with the banned books but with the dust jackets of the books that been approved by Lula. People in the town are borrowing books from the library, surprised once they start reading them that they aren't actually the books they were expecting but continuing to read them. The books start changing the lives of the readers, with some of the residents becoming more tolerant of others' races and sexual orientations but others becoming increasingly more militant.

I thought this book was okay but there was a lot going on ... the back stories included racism, slavery, homophobia, Nazis, rape, terrorism, spousal abuse and more. The writing style was okay but I thought it dragged a bit in the middle. It's written in third person perspective. I liked the beginning because it seemed like the chapters were devoted to a specific banned book and how it changed the reader's life for the better. I found there were a lot of characters and I had to keep going backwards to remind myself who they were and what their story was again. Some of the characters a bit unbelievable. For example, there is a woman who met and married her husband very young and had a child right away. Twenty or so years later, she has no life other than serving her husband and son but miraculously changes once she read a book. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Beertown Public House, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had a late lunch/early supper today at Beertown Public House (Wellington Street/University Avenue) with our pal, Darlene. It's been a while since we've gotten together so it was fun to catch up!

 

Darlene had plant-based nachos (it was a big serving and she took half home).

Garter Stitch Scarf

I finished knitting a scarf. I cast on 25 stitches on a 6.5mm needles and the pattern is garter stitch. I used 3/4 of a skein of Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles Lite super bulky (#6) and the colour is lemon drop dot. It’s about 4 feet long and warm and snuggly. 

Book ~ "Happy Accidents: A Memoir" (2011) Jane Lynch

From Goodreads ~ In the summer of 1974, a fourteen-year-old girl in Dolton, Illinois, had a dream. A dream to become an actress, like her idols Ron Howard and Vicki Lawrence. But it was a long way from the south side of Chicago to Hollywood and it didn't help that she'd recently dropped out of the school play, "The Ugly Duckling". Or that the Hollywood casting directors she wrote to replied that "professional training was a requirement."

But the funny thing is, it all came true. Through a series of happy accidents, Jane Lynch created an improbable and hilarious path to success. In those early years, despite her dreams, she was also consumed with anxiety, feeling out of place in both her body and her family. To deal with her worries about her sexuality, she escaped in positive ways such as joining a high school chorus not unlike the one in Glee but also found destructive outlets. She started drinking almost every night her freshman year of high school and developed a mean and judgmental streak that turned her into a real- life Sue Sylvester.

Then at thirty-one, she started to get her life together. She was finally able to embrace her sexuality, come out to her parents and quit drinking for good. Soon after, a Frosted Flakes commercial and a chance meeting in a coffee shop led to a role in the Christopher Guest movie "Best in Show", which helped her get cast in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin". Similar coincidences and chance meetings led to roles in movies starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and even Meryl Streep in 2009's "Julie & Julia". Then, of course, came the two lucky accidents that truly changed her life. Getting lost in a hotel led to an introduction to her future wife, Lara. Then a series she'd signed up for abruptly got canceled, making it possible for her to take the role of Sue Sylvester in "Glee", which made her a megastar.

Today Jane Lynch has finally found the contentment she thought she'd never have. Part comic memoir and part inspirational narrative, this is a book equally for the rabid "Glee" fan and for anyone who needs a new perspective on life, love, and success.

I like reading bios/memoirs and had put this book on my Goodreads to-be-read list ten years ago and then forgot about it. I recently found it there so even though the book was written 13 years ago, I thought I'd check it out.

I haven't seen Lynch in any TV shows nor have I ever watched Glee but I have seen and liked her in many movies. I always find it interesting to read about how people "make it" and I liked getting the behind the scenes scoop in show business. 

Once she realized she was gay and embraced it, Lynch was searching for a relationship but ended up sabotaging them (most of her relationships never lasted more than two months). She would do the same with friendships but her true friends saw through this and stuck with her. The book is written about a year after she marries Lara, her first wife, so it was weird reading about how much in love they were and how settled she'd become knowing they would be divorced just a couple years later and she is now married to someone else.

I liked the writing style and that there were pictures along the way. As a head's up, there is swearing.