Weekend Wishes

 

Writerly Wednesday AND Did You Know Thursday

 What's your synonym, definition, sentence or example for:

 

 Solo and radar are examples of palindrome words.  

AND 

Did you know, that during battle, the pirate Blackbeard would light his beard on fire to intimidate his enemies?

 

75 Incredible Pirates Facts 

Ketch-Up Day

 

How are you? Watcha been doing?

Do those of you outside the U.S. get scammer calls, texts and emails like we do? We are inundated with them. One of those malfeasantes called me at 5:00 a.m. yesterday. And I was on my way to eight hours of sleep, something that seldom happens. AND We've had a couple of weeks of rain. The gauge shows seven inches. Everything is saturated, including the crab grass. It took me three days to get the backyard mowed. The body was willing but the mower was not. It would cough and sputter till it finally stopped and no amount of coaxing, outside of a good long rest would get it started again.  Hopefully, we can keep it from getting in that condition again, even if it means mowing in the wet:)

The flowers are still a bit sparse, but gearing up again:

The butterflies are still a delight.

 

 

AND

 

AND 

The white irises are still blooming. Who'd a thought? Oh yes, and my grape hyacinths are coming up.  The flowers are so confused.

AND

From California

Thanks, Denise

 

From Florida 

Thanks, Shane.

 

That's it from here. What about you, blogger buds?  Do you need to build an Ark yet? Mowing a challenge? Has the weather confused your flowers?

Hope you aren't in the path of Hurricane Erin. 

Your Weekend Read: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN MONEY

 

 

Book Title: Blood is Thicker than Money: Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles, book 38

Book buy link: https://bit.ly/4lF8s5a

My Amazon page: https://amzn.to/3AaI8xf

My blog page / Joe Congel Fiction Stories: https://bit.ly/3H60Da2

 

Blurb:

Ronnie Spatch Senior, brutally murdered. An empty safe. What warranted the murder of an old man?

Retired New York City police detective Brandon Turner is just trying to enjoy time with his girlfriend, her sixteen-year-old son, and his dog, Max. They are his priority.

But he has a nagging feeling that something is missing. An itch that needs to be scratched. He misses the action his former job provided. It was an adrenaline rush retirement just can’t fill.

So, when Ronnie Spatch Junior asks for his help with finding the person who killed his father on their family farm, Turner uses it as an opportunity to scratch that itch. Which he does by starting his own private detective agency and launching himself straight into a murder investigation.

While searching the farm for clues, Turner discovers Ronnie Junior lying unconscious on the barn floor with a hunting knife sticking out of his stomach. It quickly became clear to him his client’s father’s death was much more than a simple robbery gone wrong.

Austin PD Sergeant Investigator Palmer Kraus is on loan to the Magnolia Bluff Police Department. When he shows up unannounced at the crime scene, Turner realizes he’ll have to deal with Magnolia Bluff’s finest once again. Only this time, he can do it on his own terms.

Follow the breadcrumbs left behind in Joe Congel’s most compelling mystery to date. Blood is Thicker than Money, book 38 in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series, is a mystery not to be missed as Turner tries to balance everyday life while going all in grappling to solve a crime that doesn’t stop at murder.

 

Bio:

 

Joe Congel grew up in Syracuse, NY, and currently lives in beautiful Charlotte, NC. He got his first break in the world of publishing when he illustrated the humorous book, Housetraining Your VCR, A Help Manual for Humans, published by Grapevine Publications back in the early ’90s.

A few years after Housetraining set the world on fire, Joe decided that he was better suited as a writer rather than as an artist, so he began crafting stories that allowed the reader to use their own imagination to add the visuals to the narrative.

Since he’s enjoyed reading murder mysteries and PI detective stories all his life, he felt he had a pretty good grasp on how to create an engaging character in the world of private detecting. DEAD IS FOREVER is the first book in the Razzman Mystery Crime Files series, featuring Tony Razzolito, PI. The book is set in Syracuse, NY, and Charlotte, NC, with upcoming books in the series concentrated more in and around the Charlotte area. Joe is uniquely qualified to write about both areas of the country since he lived in Syracuse for 36 years and Charlotte for the last 25 plus years.

When he’s not writing, you will most likely find him spoiling his three grandchildren.

 

Three Foodie Facts about Brandon Turner (Main Character):

Even though he’s living in Magnolia Bluff, Texas, Brandon’s favorite foods reflect his New York roots –

Nothing like the taste of biting into a good New York hotdog. Brandon’s favorite place to indulge when he’s in the city is Gray’s Papaya. The crisp snap of the skin when you take that first bite is the hallmark of a flavorful all-beef Sabretts quality dog eating experience.

A pepperoni slice from Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village. He loves to grab a couple of slices, a drink and sit in the park and watch the people go by while enjoying one of the best thin crust pizza slices in the city. Always a long line at the door – always worth the wait.

Chicken Riggies. When Brandon was a detective with the NYPD, he spent the holidays at his girlfriend’s (at the time) parent’s home in Utica, NY. They introduced him to this wonderful blend of chicken breast (cut into small bites), mushrooms, green peppers, and onion, mixed with a creamy tomato sauce and poured over rigatoni pasta. Since moving to Texas, he’s been cooking up his own version and enjoying this distinctively northeastern dish in the southwest. 

 

AND

 

I'm over at Cowboy Kisses posting on Judge Roy Bean who held his court cases in his saloon.  He was quite a fascinating character. If interested stop by and say hey.

Writerly Wednesday and Did You Know Thursday

 What's your synonym, definition or sentence for:

 My sentence: It was a flyspeck stain, but bothersome none the less. 

AND

Did you know, that like your fingernails, a rhino's horns are made up of keratin? 

 

 https://factanimal.com/animal-facts 

 

 

Ketch-Up Day

 

How are you? Is Mother Nature being kind?  We've had about 5.5" of rain over the past couple of weeks which we can definitely use. And I'm hoping we've seen the last of the 100 degree days. The butterflies continue to delight.  There's been about a dozen or so hanging around the butterfly bushes, but I can't get a good group pic of them with my phone. They refuse to cluster together and smile or say cheese.

 

We celebrated friends' birthdays this month.  The garden is between blooms and wouldn't cooperate on floral arrangements so I had to get creative.   And now you know what kind of wine I like:)

 

 Has anyone tried the cake bites? We've all decided this is our new go to for bday cakes. They come in a tray with a mix of lemon, strawberry, chocolate and vanilla bites. We found them at at Lowes Foods.

 

AND

Louie and Maisy

 

AND 

 

 

That's it for our excitement for the week. Butterflies and cake bites.    What about you, blogger bud? What have you been up too?

 

 

Weekend Wishes

 

AND

 

IWSG Wednesday and Did You Know Thursday

 

 

The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

 

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG  

Hashtag: #IWSG 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the August 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

August 6 question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

I'm not answering this question, but I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on it. 

 

July/August Reviews in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

 

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN MONEY by Joe Congel

This is #38 in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles.

Brandon Turner is a retired New York police detective who has moved to Magnolia Bluffs for peace, quiet and fishing, but somehow always seems to find himself embroiled in a murder.  

When Ronnie Spatch’s father is brutally killed, the young man turns to Brandon to solve the crime. Brandon decides to make it official and becomes a PI. Ronnie being his first client.

Once again, the fishing has to wait  while Brandon throws all his energy and formidable skills into catching a killer.

If you’ve followed this series, you’ll meet old and new characters alike as the former police detective, with the help of new pal Sergeant Investigator Palmer Kraus, track twisty-turny clues that lead not only to murder but other crimes as well.

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN MONEY is classic Joe Congel who is a master at developing gumshoes that have an edge to them and a kind heart. A great read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with an HEA ending. I certainly do😊

Available at Amazon 

 

APEX by Tanweer Dar

I don’t normally read horror, but this one captured and held my attention.

Nikki, our protagonist takes a much-needed weekend getaway with her significant other and a couple of friends. What could go wrong on a camping trip in the English countryside? Turns out plenty.

As the story progresses the tension ramps up, with some unexpected twists.

In a horror story, there’s not going to be a happy ending for all the characters. One death in particular I found difficult and wasn’t sure how the author was going to get around it, but he did in a most satisfying way, ending the heroine’s portion of the story on a positive, hopeful note, while still leaving some spook for the reader. I’d easily recommend this story for Dar and horror fans or readers who just love a great yarn.

Thumbs up for a well-told tale.

Available at Amazon 

  

A BOUNDARY OF STONES by Millie Thom

In this historic story, the author takes us back to the 1600s where the plague is killing villagers and religious leaders rule.

Rector William Mompesson has been sent to the village of Eyam in the Derbyshire countryside. He has been tasked with turning the villagers from their Puritan ways to the Anglican faith. The rector finds himself fighting on several fronts: antagonist villagers that have no notion of turning from their true faith and an embittered Puritan reverend. If that’s not enough, the plague hits. No one knows where it started in the village or how it is transmitted. Now he and the Puritan Reverend Stanley must join forces to keep the plague from spreading.

This book is a study in Puritan beliefs, the plague and how it was dealt with. A BOUNDARY OF STONES is recommended for readers who enjoy European and religious history. Followers of Millie Thom will not be disappointed 😊

Available at Amazon 

 

WEEPING BOUGHS DON’T BREAK by Staci Troilo

This women’s fiction drama is about a woman who always tries to do the right thing but has reached a crisis of faith.

Ms. Troilo excels at her craft. The characters are well-developed and the world-building outstanding. She expertly takes the reader from one challenge to another while continuing to ratchet up the tension.

Highly recommended for readers of Women’s Christian Fiction and Contemporary Christian Fiction.

Available at Amazon 

 

 

AND

 

Did you know, William Faulkner wrote the outline for A FABLE on his office wall?

 

 

150 Interesting Facts About Our Favorite Authors [Infographic]