Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Murder, Plainly Written (The Plain Order Ink Society) by Mindy Steele

 

Book Description:  Sadie Lynch thought inheriting her late Amish aunt’s candle shop was a blessing—a chance to leave her stalled writing career behind and find a fresh start. But running a Plain business when she's not Amish isn’t exactly filling her store with customers—especially when the local minister insists she sell out.

Sadie, who doesn’t want to leave, thankfully meets Wanda—an Amish woman with a secret obsession. As Wanda continues to visit the candle shop, an unexpected partnership blooms when Wanda agrees to help Sadie’s shop in exchange for writing advice.

But the grand reopening of the candle shop takes a deadly turn when the body of the Amish minister is discovered behind the counter. Now Sadie is the only suspect, prompting Wanda and the Plain Order Ink Society to try helping her solve the mystery.

My Thoughts:  This new series by Mindy Steele is Oh.So.Good!
Amish writers are cracking the cases of local mysreries...The Plain Order Ink Society!
Sadie Lynch is incorrigible.  She's so lovable and down to earth even though she isn't Plain.
After inheriting her Amish aunt's candle shop it seems that being Plain is ever so important in the community. The local Amish minister suggests she sell out and leave. 
Poor, Sadie!  She wants to stay. After all it's not like her career was exactly up and going.
Then enters Wanda, with an interesting and secret obsession, at least for an Amish woman.  Wanda loves to solve mysteries. Not exactly Amish woman stuff. 
And then Sadie makes a discovery....the Amish minister is dead behind her counter on the Grand Reopening of her candle shop. 
So, Wanda and The Plain Order Ink Society are out to solve the mystery since Sadie is the only suspect.
It's a fantastic story. 
I love the way Mindy Steele pens a story.  
It's like the reader is right there in the Plain community. And Wanda is hilarious.  You can't help but love an Amish woman who solves mysteries.
Don't miss this great read!

*This book was provided for review by Barbour Publishing*

Grab your copy Here

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

 


Recipe Ingredients

16 chocolate wafer cookies (such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers)

1 tube orange frosting with piping tips

16 small peanut butter cups

Recipe Preparation

Place cookies on work surface; squeeze a dime-size dot of frosting in center of each

Unwrap and invert peanut butter cups on frosting, pressing down gently

Using the round piping tip, pipe a "hat-band" with frosting around peanut butter cup and a square "buckle." Let frosting set before storing. 

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Don't Close Your Eyes by Mary Alford

 


Book Description: Seven years ago, FBI Profiler Megan Iluak tapped into the mind of a serial killer—and nearly became his last victim. Her FBI colleague and then husband, Jack, put everything he had into finding the killer, but the case took its toll on Megan and Jack and destroyed their marriage. With her heart in shambles, Megan fled to the small Inuit village where she was from in remote Alaska, but vivid nightmares of the killer won’t let her go so easily. And soon, her dreams take a fresh and frightening twist from nightmare to reality.


Jack thought he’d made the right decision by letting Megan go and not fighting for their marriage. He believed she was better off without him after he’d almost gotten her killed. Now, with a new set of murders matching their closed case, there’s only one person who understands this killer enough to bring him in, and that’s Megan.

Jack wasn’t expecting all the old feelings he thought he’d buried down deep to resurface when he sees Megan again. Nor is he prepared to come face-to-face with Megan’s secret. The one 
that raises the stakes impossibly high.
My Thoughts: THIS book! If you love suspense this is the book for you!
Do you believe in second chances?  We serve a God of second chances.  Sometimes second chances are what makes us more clear in our love and our purpose for living.
Megan Iluak is an FBI profiler.  She tapped into the mind of a serial killer and it nearly cost her her life.  It seems that everything began to fall around Megan as this nightmare thrust her into a flee from the nightmare mode.  
She feels her marriage is over and runs to the village in remote Alaska where she used to live. But the nightmares get worse and it seems that her nightmares are becoming her reality!
Jack, her husband/ex-husband, thought he should let Megan go.   He realizes it was a mistake.
Lots of suspense!  A fantastic read!  Don't miss this story!

Monday, November 9, 2026

The Catch (US Marshals, Book 3) by Lisa Harris

 

 

Book Description:  After a harrowing attempt on a judge's life at the courthouse, Deputy US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are tasked with finding a missing woman and an endangered child in connection to the murder of the judge's wife. What seems like a fairly straightforward case becomes hopelessly tangled when the marshals discover that the woman they are searching for is not who they think she is.

Madison and Jonas are forced into a race to find the woman and the child before the men who want her dead discover her location. And in a final showdown that could cost her everything, Madison will come face-to-face with the person who murdered her husband.

My Thoughts:  I enjoy/love stories penned by Lisa Harris.  
This is the third book in the US Marshals trilogy.  I loved them all but this story really brings it all together and answers all this questions the reader has from books 1 & 2.
It would be best to read the first two books.  So much information and all the history of what is going on will make the story in book three so much easier to understand.
This is probably my favorite read of all the three.  The story line is intriguing and quite mysterious. I had a difficult time deciding and guessing the whodunit part.  Actually the story is so well written that I didn't guess.
Oh!  And the action and adventure was incredible but, yet, so believable.  I felt like I was on the run with Madison and Jonas.  Who by the way, are the most absolute best couple.  
The romance is well played and not over done.  Just good to the core people who like each other without all the gooey junk.
What a read for suspense lovers!

Friday, November 6, 2026

Fun Friday!

 

 


Anything is possible when you have the right friends to support you.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 


Creamy Chicken and Rice Bake...Another great recipe from Pinterest!

Ingredients:

  • 1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
  • 1 pkg. (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can (10 3/4 fl. oz.) cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 bag (16 oz.) frozen broccoli, cauliflower and carrot medley, thawed
  • 2 cups cubed, precooked chicken
  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked instant white rice
  • 1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking dish. 
COMBINE evaporated milk and cream cheese in baking dish with wire whisk until smooth. Add soup, water, garlic powder and pepper; mix well. Add vegetables, chicken and rice. Cover tightly with foil. 
BAKE for 35 minutes. Uncover; top with cheese. Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbly. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. 

FOR FREEZE AHEAD:
PREPARE as above; do not bake. Do not top with cheddar cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
PREHEAT oven to 350° F.
BAKE, covered, for 45 to 55 minutes. Uncover; top with cheddar cheese. Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbly. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

The Terrible, Awful, Dreadful Idea: A Rowdy Raccoon Story by Donna C. Braymer

 

Book Description:  Not all bright ideas are sensible... But your child can learn a lot from their mistakes - and it's even better if the mistakes are made by a loveable raccoon instead of themselves! Rowdy Raccoon is never short of creative ideas… But they aren’t always the best.

This captivating picture book is perfect for any child who likes to let their imagination run wild, and they’ll find
 a delightful cast of characters
 they’re sure to relate to.

There’s slow and cautious Tanner Turtle, sensible Savannah Squirrel, and loveable Rowdy, whose excitable nature sometimes lands the Harrison Hollow animals in deep trouble.

When they meet a scissor-tailed flycatcher, the animals are awe-struck. Surely they can fly too if they could just fashion some wings out of leaves and vines.

Uh-oh … !

My Thoughts:  I'm always on the look out for great children's stories.  A friend posted this book the other day and I just had to check it out!
It's such a good story for children.  
I immediately fell in love with Rowdy Raccoon.  He's smart and has great ideas that lead him to trouble.  
His friends Tanner Turtle and Savannah Squirrel are Rowdy's friends. They are just as lovable as Rowdy.  
This book is kid tested.  My sister's seven year old twins love this story!  
The illustrations bring this story to life.  
I know your children will love this book!  
It makes a great birthday or Christmas present.