My friend Nan of Letters From A Hill Farm...

I learned a few days ago that one of my dearest friends, Nan, had passed away.  Nan was the author of the blog Letters From A Hill Farm, which I know several of you have visited and enjoyed over many years.  I have been so sad the last few days and will miss her more than I can really communicate in words.  She had not been posting for several months, but she has been missed tremendously.  I wanted to let people who check in here know what had occurred.

Nan and I met on a book site many years ago (like over 25 years).  There were others that we talked with, one of them Les who authors Coastal Horizons, and also Teri who does not write a blog.  The four of us just connected and we have kept up with each other through many years.  We've shared our book love, our love for our families and our children, and the ups and downs of our lives.  Our kids are all grown.  The other three have grandchildren.  Stuff has happened - wonderful things and sad things.  We supported each other through all that life tossed at us.  We have seen each other in person only a few times because we live spread out across the US.  And we have remained close friends.  Nan will be missed so, so much.

Les has written a wonderful, touching post about Nan on her blog here.  I encourage you to read it.  She said so many great things about Nan and has some lovely pictures as well.  Please do read it.  Nan and I met in person 3 times - once in 1998 at a bookstore in my area, once in 2017 in her part of the world that I wrote about here, and the last time in 2018 when she travelled again to Texas.  My thoughts on that are here.  Some may wonder how friends could know each other so well without being together face-to-face.  Well, it can happen.  For sure.       

I'll leave you with a quote from A.A. Milne that describes my feelings for Nan in the past and for the future.  And I'll encourage you to reach out to old friends, make new friends, and practice gratitude every day.  You won't regret it.  Take care, book friends!

Waiting on Wednesday - The Girl From Devil's Lake

 

'Waiting on Wednesday' is an event where I feature an upcoming book that I am extra excited about.  I love doing this, letting the 'word' spread about authors and series that I enjoy.   Hope you'll stop by often and see what I'm 'waiting' on.

The book I'm 'waiting on' this week is the 21st in one of the mystery series written by J. A. Jance.  I read the first book in the series, Desert Heat, back in 1995.  Since that time, I've read 6 or 7 others and then, after a gap of quite a while, have read the latest two books.  These books are set in Arizona and the main protagonist is Sheriff Joanna Brady.  Joanna comes to that profession after her husband, Andy, who had been the sheriff, is killed.  In the first book, Joanna and Andy have a daughter who is 9 years old.  This latest book relates that the daughter, Jenny, is graduating from the police academy.  Time has past for sure.  As you guys know, I love mystery series.  I have not been able to keep up with all the ones that I sample though.  Lately, I have been trying to catch up on several.  Some I've reread the previous books and am now current.  Some, like this one, I'm just skipping ahead in order to get current.  Have you ever read any books by J.A. Jance?  As I said, she has more than one series.  See what you think about this one.  

The Girl From Devil's Lake

by J.A. Jance

Publication Date: September 30

Arizona County Sheriff Joanna Brady solves her biggest case yet, from a body in the desert to crimes spanning decades and countries, in the thrilling latest installment in the New York Times bestselling suspense series.

Sheriff Joanna Brady is looking forward to the holidays with her busy family, and to celebrating her daughter Jenny’s graduation from the police academy. But the family is interrupted when a body is discovered beneath a flooded bridge in the Arizona desert, and Joanna is called onto the case. A young boy was murdered, and the details of the crime scene tell Joanna two things: This was not the killer’s first murder. And it’s only a matter of time before he kills again.

As Joanna digs deeper into the case, she begins to understand this murder is just one piece of a much, much bigger puzzle. She uncovers unlikely connections between cases of mysterious deaths and missing persons, having long since gone cold, that extend far beyond the confines of her small town and include the discovery of a body near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. To get justice for the victims and to save the town of Bisbee from a predator, Joanna must chase down every dangerous lead.

Meanwhile, as a dogged journalist is circling the case and privileged information is leaked, Joanna can’t be sure who to trust. Could a prolific killer be hiding in plain sight? And how far will that person go to keep his many crimes hidden?

Vacation shots in Ruidoso, New Mexico - did you know that bears read?

Good morning all!  Hope you have had a nice weekend and are looking forward to fall.  We don't have any 'fall-ish' things in our area as yet, but honestly, we don't get a lot of lovely turning leaves, etc.  Too far south.  Just happy that the 100-degree temps seem to be done for this year. 

I thought I would share a few pics from our July vacation to New Mexico.  We have loved visiting the Ruidoso area of that state for many years.  We were in that part of the world just after the 4th and unfortunately heard about the flooding in Central Texas during our trip.  Put a bit of a damper on things.  Also, this area of New Mexico had big fires and flooding in 2024 and it was our first time visiting since that.  They have worked so hard to get things mostly back to normal, but are still struggling with flooding exacerbated by the burn scars and debris that continues to flow into their river.  In fact, we ended leaving a couple of days early because there was severe flooding during that July week.  I'm afraid their recovery will be slow for quite a period of time.  

However, on to happier notes.  The picture below was one I took on a walk around the outside of the golf course that is in town.  It's called 'The Links'.  It was a lovely morning and my husband was enjoying the golf and I was loving my walk. 

This next shot is of the golf course at The Inn of the Mountain Gods resort.  Another lovely course with walking trails all around.  And another lovely morning.  Crisp and cool.  

The Ruidoso Public Library can be found along the walking trail that I shared in the first picture.  I, naturally, stopped by that library on my walk and also took a couple of pictures to share.  It's a lovely little library with some cute sculptures outside of it.  Those pictures are below and I ask you - did you know that bears can read?  No?  Well, they certainly can in Ruidoso.  Thought those were very sweet.  

Yes, bears can read!  Think both of these are fun and I had to wait a bit because there were kids around playing with the bears and getting their pictures taken with them.  LOL

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back later in the week with a 'Waiting on' post and also, hopefully, a post to share a little about what I read this summer and hope to read this fall.  Have a good week!!

Waiting on Wednesday - The Librarians

 

'Waiting on Wednesday' is an event where I feature an upcoming book that I am extra excited about.  I love doing this, letting the 'word' spread about authors and series that I enjoy.   Hope you'll stop by often and see what I'm 'waiting' on.

I wanted to especially feature this new book by Sherry Thomas, The Librarians.  I had attended an author event back in the early spring where I got to see Sherry and hear her speak.  I shared that experience here.  She talked about her writing, especially her 'Lady Sherlock' mystery series (which I love).  She also told us about this new standalone book that she had been asked by her publisher to write.  Sherry lives in the Austin area and she visited my former workplace, one of the branch libraries of the Austin Public Library, for inspiration.  I had been told about her visit by one of my former work colleagues and he said they took her all around and let her discover the 'secrets' - ha!  I asked him, what secrets??  Anyway, Sherry used the Spicewood Springs branch as her setting in the book and I've gotten to read a bit of the beginning of the book.  The description of the library - yep, she's got it right - ha!  The mystery book group I attend is at this library and as we talked about 'waiting' on this book, it was suggested that we not have a 'mystery-themed' game night.  After all (if you read the description below), you never know what might happen!!  Ha!

The Librarians

by Sherry Thomas

Publication Date:  September 30th

Sometimes a workplace isn’t just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge....

In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff and leave rave reviews on Yelp don’t always realize that their librarians are human, too.

Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won't be enough anymore.

When two patrons turn up dead after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians’ quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library—and themselves—is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together....

All in a day’s work.

It's September and I'm back...

Hello book friends!  I have missed all of you and sharing my reading journey, but I also have enjoyed time away.  We've been on a couple of vacations (and I'll share about those later this week and next) and I've had a good summer of reading.  Mostly rereading books, but I've caught up on a couple of mystery series and attended some book group meetings.

We went to Ruidoso, New Mexico in July and I have some pics of their library and the 'bear' reader statues that welcome patrons to that nice facility.  We also went with another couple to Yellowstone National Park in late August and enjoyed that very much.  Our first time there.  We saw amazing sights and amazing animals.  The picture I've shared below is of a 'Little Free Library' that's located outside a cafe/coffee shop in Gardiner, Montana.  Gardiner is located just a short bit from the North Entrance to Yellowstone (which is all in Wyoming, by the way).  I was delighted to see this little library and so naturally took a picture of it. 

 

As I said, I'll be back later this week with a new 'Waiting on Wednesday' post and also some pictures of the Ruidoso Library.  I'll also try to share a bit of what I've read this summer and do a couple of Yellowstone posts.  Missed you all.  Tried to comment fairly regularly, but I'm back to 'normal' now.  What have you been up to?  Any 'can't miss' book suggestions?  

Summer Break - 2025 (and a little update...)

 

Hey my nice book friends!  Hope you are all doing well and enjoying your summer.  Is it hot where you are?  It is in my part of the world and very, very humid.  This is partly because we have had quite a bit of moisture, but it still feels sticky, sticky.  I have been going back and forth about when to take my 'official' Summer Break.  I usually do this most years.  Decided that it's about time for this year's 'break'.  Nothing is wrong and we are doing well.  We will be taking a couple of vacations in upcoming weeks and I find it tough to do blogging away from my computer.  Anyway, I think I'll take July and August off and try to be back after Labor Day.  I will hopefully have a bunch of pretty pictures to share and also books that I've completed to talk about.  

My reading has been going well, but I have been rereading a couple of mystery series (yes, I decided to do a couple more of those) that I have already talked about here in past years.  Enjoying my 'comfort' reads.  I'm also trying to decide whether to reread The Stand by Stephen King.  There will be a book published in August entitled The End Of The World As We Know It.  This is a 'return to the world of The Stand'.  King has authorized for the first time a short story anthology where other authors will take those characters and that time period and give us more.  I read The Stand in 1978 right after it was published.  I was still in college and that whole good vs. evil (which also included a pandemic) tale kind of blew me away.  I revisited it back in 2013 when I listened to it on audio.  We'll see what I decide about this new anthology.  Honestly, short stories are not my favorites normally, but one never knows.  Have you read The Stand?  Would you revisit an old favorite through new stories?  Do tell!

Hope you all have a nice July and August.  Take care.  Read a bunch of good books.  I'll likely still be commenting some on blogs, but even if I'm not commenting, I'll be reading them.  See you in a few weeks! 

Waiting on Wednesday - Forget Me Not

 

'Waiting on Wednesday' is an event where I feature an upcoming book that I am extra excited about.  I love doing this, letting the 'word' spread about authors and series that I enjoy.   Hope you'll stop by often and see what I'm 'waiting' on.

I have enjoyed all of Stacy Willingham's books that I've read.  The one I'm 'waiting on' this week is her fourth and I think the cover is lovely and a bit creepy.  Beautiful colors, but there are some thorns and other hidden things pictured.  I first discovered Stacy when a friend that I made when we lived in Kerrville told me that her daughter's husband had a cousin who had her first book being published.  She told me a bit about it and I thought it sounded like one I'd love to try.  That book was A Flicker In The Dark and you might know that it would be noteworthy because the author comment on the cover is by Karin Slaughter (I love her books!).  That debut book sold a lot of copies and was nominated for a number of awards.  Book #2 was All The Dangerous Things and #3 was entitled Only If You're Lucky.  Can't wait for this new one!  Have you read any of Stacy's books?  What did you think?      

Forget Me Not

by Stacy Willingham

Publication Date: August 26th

A pulse-pounding new Southern thriller from the author of the runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark.

Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an investigative journalist... until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come back home and face it all anew.

With the entire summer now looming ahead—a summer spent with nothing to do in her childhood home, with her estranged mother—Claire decides on a whim to accept a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard in coastal South Carolina less than an hour away from where she grew up. At first glance, Galloway is an idyllic escape for Claire. A scenic retreat full of slow-paced nostalgia, as well as a place where her sister seemed truly happy in that last summer before she vanished, it feels like the perfect plan to pass the time. However, as soon as Claire starts to settle in, she stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard's owners, and what at first seems like a story of young rebellion and love turns into something much more sinister as it begins to describe details of various unsolved crimes. As the days stretch on, Claire finds herself becoming more and more secluded as she starts to obsess over the diary's contents… as well as the lingering feeling that her own sister's disappearance may be somehow tied to it all.

Galloway was supposed to be a place to help her move forward, but instead, Claire quickly finds herself immersed in her own dark and dangerous past.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Poppy Fields

'Waiting on Wednesday' is an event where I feature an upcoming book that I am extra excited about.  I love doing this, letting the 'word' spread about authors and series that I enjoy.   Hope you'll stop by often and see what I'm 'waiting' on!

The book I'm waiting on this week is a bit out of my wheelhouse.  However, the cover caught my eye and the description was also interesting.  Plus, the author, Nikki Erlick, is also the author of The Measure, which I have not read as yet, but it's one of the books that the afternoon book group I'm a part of is considering reading for the second half of 2025.  We'll see if it gets voted in.  I do think that I will read The Measure regardless.  Have you read The Measure and/or discussed it with other readers or a book group?  And, what do you think about the description of The Poppy Fields?  Oh, The Poppy Fields is also going to be one of those books that has the sprayed edges and illustrated end pages.  That seems to be such a big things these days.      

The Poppy Fields

by Nikki Erlick

Publication Date: June 17th

From the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit The Measure—a runaway bestseller and a Read with Jenna TODAY Show pick—comes a stunning speculative story of healing, self-discovery, forgiveness, and found friendship.

Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.

Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain...and keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects.

On a journey to this mystical destination are four very different strangers and one little dog: Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ. As they attempt to make their way from the Midwest all the way west to the Poppy Fields—where they hope to find Ellis, its brilliant, enigmatic founder—each of their past secrets and mysterious motivations threaten to derail their voyage.

A high-concept speculative novel about heartache, hope, and human resilience, The Poppy Fields explores the path of grief and healing, a journey at once profoundly universal and unique to every person, posing the questions: How do we heal in the wake of great loss? And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed?

It's now June and summer has come...

Hey there everyone!  How are all of you doing and did you know that it is now June?  Summer is here.  I will say that our weather people in this area have been a bit obsessed with saying our temps are way too much like summer and reminding everyone to watch out for the heat.  A lot of people have moved into Central Texas from other parts, places that late spring/summer takes a longer time to appear.  I say, welcome to Texas.  Be sure you have your hat, your sunscreen, and your water.  Those are my warnings to newcomers.  Ha!

I decided it might be time to share what I've read in May and also talk a little bit about what I'm planning for summer reading.  I read 9 books in May - several of them in Julia Spencer-Fleming's mystery series that I had mentioned in my post here.  At that time I had read the first 4 books in the series and was working on #5.  May saw me 'catch-up' on that series by finishing #5-9.  Enjoyed them very much.  The tenth book in the series will be published in mid-November.  It's titled At Midnight Comes the Cry and I 'can't wait' for it.  As you can see by the cover and the snow, it's set close to Christmas time and takes Russ and Claire further along in their life journey together.  Julia is an author that writes fairly slowly (the previous book was published in 2020) and so her fans are quite eager for this new book.  

My other reading for this month included a couple of books for the afternoon book group that I attend.  The theme was 'books and libraries' and I reread Anne Bogel's book of essays called I'd Rather Be Reading.  I've linked to my review of that one from several years ago.  I again enjoyed reading her thoughts.  I also sort of skimmed Ann Hood's book, The Book That Matters Most, which I also read in 2018.  Again, I linked to my review from that time.  It's a tale of a book group that talks about 'the book that has mattered most' to them, one member shares each month.  I liked it again as well.  The last book I finished was the second book in Kristen Perrin's new series, How to Seal Your Own Fate.  I had shared that one as a 'Waiting on' book back in February here.  The first book in the series was discussed at our mystery book group in February.  I did like this second book, but I think maybe not quite as much as the first.  I'll be curious how the author will continue the series.  This new one was good, but I just didn't find it quite as absorbing.  

I think that's it for May.  It's now June and summer reading is here.  I have enjoyed hearing about all the plans that so many have for 'summer reading'.  I thought about joining in on some of the events, but....no.  I've been going a bit back and forth about working on catching up on another mystery series that I've gotten behind on (there are several of those!) or even doing a reread or two of some longer books that I enjoyed a number of years ago.  We'll see what works for me.  I know I've talked about how I really like to do 'free reading' - no rules, no musts, no 'gotta's'.  And I have so, so many books that I haven't even begun as yet.  Ah well.  Books and reading make me happy and 'take me away'.  

Hope everyone has a nice week!  I will have a 'Waiting on' post on Wednesday and have several books that I am excited about that I will share in that way this summer.  Take care - stay cool - enjoy your summer reading!!      

Waiting on Wednesday - Rage

 

'Waiting on Wednesday' is an event where I feature an upcoming book that I am extra excited about.  I love doing this, letting the 'word' spread about authors and series that I enjoy.   Hope you'll stop by often and see what I'm 'waiting' on!

I am excited every single summer about a new entry to a favorite mystery series of mine.  It's written by Linda Castillo and features Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police in Painters Mill, Ohio.  This new book, Rage, is the 17th in the series.  It's set in Amish country and Kate herself was Amish at one time.  Her husband, John Tomasetti is an agent for the State Police.  After such a long time, other characters in these books have grown and changed and Kate and Tomasetti have certainly done so as well.  I look forward to hearing about what's been going on with all of them.  Kate's team of police officers is really good, but it sounds like they will all be challenged with the situation that occurs in this book.  Have you read any of this series?  Oh, I also will say that I've not been able to attend an author event with Linda as yet, but I'm still hopeful that time will come.  She lives in the Texas Hill Country and I just keep thinking...one day, one day.

Rage

by Linda Castillo

Publication Date:  July 8th

In this gripping installment of the Edgar Award winning series, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a brutal double murder that takes her into the dark underbelly of society and exposes the dangers of Amish lives gone wrong.

Summer has arrived with a vengeance in Painters Mill, and a macabre discovery by three Amish children brings the quiet to a grinding halt. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Eicher, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business. What twisted individual murdered him in such a sadistic way?

The investigation has barely begun when, miles away, a second body is found, stuffed into a barrel and dumped in a ravine. The deceased is 21-year-old Aaron Shetler, Samuel Eicher’s best friend. What could these two young Amish men have been involved in that led to such violent ends?

With a heat wave bearing down, Kate learns quickly that, for reasons she doesn’t understand, no one is willing to talk about what happened to the men. Just as she begins to fear the case may be hopeless, a mystery woman comes forward and reveals that fun-loving Aaron and Samuel had recently befriended some very unsavory characters—individuals who may have ties to a larger, more sinister, black market.

To solve the case, Kate must delve into the most sordid corners of her community, but when she gets too close, the killers target Kate herself. Will the secrets simmering beneath the surface of Painters Mill take another life before she can expose the truth? Or will Kate be the final victim?