{Yarn Along} New Toes

I gave up. I quit. I said that I couldn't do it. Basically, I did all of those things we're told not to let our kids do. And I'm much happier as a result. I think. After so many months of waiting for Sock Madness, I wish I'd made it farther than the warm up round.

Maybe I could have finished the Twisted Madness socks. Hundreds and hundreds of other knitters did finish theirs. Instead, I made the decision to rip out hours of work and cast on for something new. And to cast on another pair of socks. And to finish those second socks I posted about earlier this month.

Like I said, I think I'm happier as a result. And even if I didn't make it far enough to get assigned to a team, I did manage to do colorwork.



For Whom the Bread Rolls by Sarah Fox

When the Flip Side pancake house is targeted by vandalism and prank calls, new owner Marley McKinney decides to confront the woman responsible. Instead of the peaceful resolution she hoped for, she finds the older woman's body and becomes a suspect herself. My reaction to this one was kind of lukewarm. The vandalism was intriguing, but the other elements of the mystery weren't. Or maybe it's just because I live in the neck of the woods were that sort of thing is more expected than surprising.

Disclosure -- I was provided with an advance review copies by the publishers. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along, Crazy Mom Quilts , Wrap up Friday  

Plenty of Time...

I keep hearing that we've got plenty of time to knit this pair of socks before the deadline, but each round takes absolutely forever. I've got it down from twenty minutes a round to a little over ten minutes. That's an improvement, but I'm not sure it's enough of one.

On the bright side, I'm loving this yarn -- Knitpicks Hawthorne, Sauvie Island. It looks questionable in the skein but in this stitch pattern it's gorgeous and completely lives up to the manufacturer's description of "woodsmoke drifting over a pumpkin patch."

And speaking of green trees and pumpkin patches, if I was trying to match up yarn and a book I couldn't do any better than combing this one with Bitter Harvest by Wendy Tyson.



I picked this book to read because of its gorgeous cover. The first few paragraphs immediately pulled me into the world of Megan Sawyer and her farm, Washington Acres, and I didn't read the rest almost straight through. The characters are fully developed and their conflicts are believable. I haven't read the first book in the series (yet), but I didn't feel at all lost.  There's one reference to Megan's land that's obviously from the first book, but not knowing what was going on there didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of this one. I highly recommend Bitter Harvest.



The Trophy Child by Paula Daly promises a glimpse behind the scenes in a family dominated by an obsessive tiger mother type. But Karen Bloom is really only focused on the success of one of her children. Even before tragedy strikes, things in the Bloom household aren't as perfect as they appear on the surface. The plot twists and turns in some mildly entertaining but improbable ways, concluding with a revelation that still has me puzzled. I enjoyed the author's previous book, Just What Kind of Mother Are You? more.



Based on the book's description, I was hoping that Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer would help me learn more about the Mexican pastries our family has been enjoying so much lately. (I probably need to find myself a cookbook.)  It's the background that motivates me to pick up a new cozy series. There is a lot of focus on the cooking classes, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. The mystery is complicated, but it all manages to tie together. I'm hoping that a couple of characters who really intrigued me will make an appearance in future books.

Disclosure -- I was provided with an advance review copies by the publishers. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along, Crazy Mom Quilts , Wrap up Friday  

Second Socks

Well, I apparently blew it this morning! If you're looking for my finish from the Finish it up Friday linky party, it's the Incan Clay Socks. The same ones shown at the top of this post, but they're finished now. 

The issue here isn't second sock syndrome...or that I've been sick... It's that there's too much fun to be had right now when it comes to the sock yarn.

This is the project I'm working on when I have other things going on and can't count or follow a chart:

This is Longing for Spring, the pair I was working on while I waited for the first round of Sock Madness. I'd forgotten that there was a warm up pattern, so once that became available I set these aside. (I think I'll need those dpns for Round One.)

And this is the warm up pattern, Invitation to the Dance. I'm almost ready to start the second heel flap.

Bad Little Girl by Frances Vick

Claire Penny can't shake her concern for a disheveled student, Lorna Bell. The little girl's older brother had quite a reputation at the school and the others teachers expect Lorna to follow in his footsteps. What else could they expect of a child from that family?  The stories that Lorna tells her fill Claire with concern, but there's just not enough solid information for the school to take legal action. She knows that with the right care and encouragement, Lorna would grow into a lovely young lady. The book took a while to pick up speed but once things got going I was holding my breath. It's a thriller that will keep you wondering what's next.

Disclosure -- I was provided with an advance review copy by the publisher. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along, 

{Yarn Along} Two Brand New Pairs

Remember the Laburnum stitch socks I showed you last week? There was a mishap and I wound up pulling one needle loose from the stitches. I was already wishing I'd seen the pattern for Longing for Spring before casting on with the Laburnum stitch...so now I'm making Longing for Spring and rethinking my choices yet again. 

The stitch pattern shows up  better in real life than it photographs. And, except for a mishap when I didn't realize that there was a separate chart for the leg and instep, it's been fun to knit. This far in, I'm realizing that the yarn would've made nice stockinette socks after all but I'm not planning to start over a third time.

And because I can't read charts while watching television with Hubby, I cast on these --

I'm having a lot of fun with my yarn while waiting for Sock Madness to start.




Playmates by Eva Hanagan

For their entire lives, Lucy has been the one to take care of Biddy. The two elderly sisters live alone and get along just fine, until Lucy falls ill and dies in her bed. Biddy understands just enough about their finances and situation to realize that she won't be able to stay in their home if anyone realizes that her older sister is gone, so she keeps up the pretense that Lucy is feeling poorly and doesn't want visitors. The book was originally published in 1978 and it definitely reads like something that was written almost forty years ago. With more than one unreliable narrator, I've still got some questions about what actually happened. That that didn't keep me from enjoying the story, at least not until the very end.



Every Part of the Animal by Duncan Ralston

An off-the-grid hunter and her young son cross paths with an anti-hunting activist. The description promised lots of conflict and I'd already enjoyed Salvage, another book by the same author. But when it came down to it, I didn't really care for either of the two women to win. It's a fast paced thriller and well-written, but I didn't sympathize with the characters.  According to the author's Facebook page, you can get a free copy of this one by signing up for his email list.

Disclosure -- I was provided with advance review copies by the publishers. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along 

{Yarn Along} Laburnum Stitch

The color changes in this yarn are subtle enough that I decided to add some kind of pretty stitch. This is Laburnum from Sensational Knitted Socks. I was hating the whole knit three together thing, but I've got that worked out. Now I'm iffy about knitting into the front and back of a yarn-over. And I've seen the Longing For Spring pattern, which has me tempted to rip the whole thing out and start over because that is so much prettier than what I'm doing! (Just to clarify -- my sock is pretty, but Longing for Spring is gorgeous. And this is not the only pink yarn in my stash so I can definitely have both if that's what I decide I want.)




I absolutely love the Auction Block mystery series by Loretta Ross. The chemistry between Death and Wren is just so perfect it makes me swoon a bit. And the mysteries are always interesting. In Death and the Gravedigger's Angel, there are two. An unidentified body has been discovered wearing an authentic civil war uniform that's stained with "dead guy juice," and Death has been hired to help a former army medic accused of murdering the leader of a local hate group. I can't tell you my favorite part of the plot without including spoilers, but it's a whole lot of fun. This series keeps getting better and better.



"When we're done, even your skeletons will have a place." Unfortunately, Tobi's ad slogan is far too accurate and the closet system  designed by her client are perfect for hiding a dead body.
After reading the first couples of pages, I really liked Tobi Tobias, the heroine of Death in Advertising by Laura Bradford. How could I not like a character who quotes The Amazing Mumford? Halfway through the book, I was liking her a lot less. She borrows cars from her friends and returns them later than promised. She complains about her wardrobe of thrift store clothing and has some definite sour grapes when it come to the widow of the deceased. I think Mitzi's poor taste would have come across just fine without Tobi's opinions.  The writing is good, though, and I didn't even come close to figuring out who the murderer was, even after Tobi started to put it together. I'll definitely be looking for the second book in the series and hoping that Tobi is a little less pouty about her financial condition.



Rush of Blood by Mark Billingham sounded like it would be right up my alley. Three British couples become friendly at a resort in Florida and continue to get together after the vacation ends. The vacation was wonderful, except for the incident with the fourteen-year-old girl who went missing on the last day of their trip and was later found dead. After a second girl is murdered much closer to home, the couples begin to wonder what their new friends are hiding. The book shifts back and forth between "what happened then" and "what's happening now" with occasional first person sections written by the killer. I wasn't worried about what would happen to any of the characters and I barely cared who the murderer was. The whole reason I'm drawn to thrillers is that I want to see what's going to happen to the people involved, but this book just didn't pull me in. And there was way too much complaining about portion sizes.

Disclosure -- I was provided with an advance review copies by the publishers. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along, Crazy Mom Quilts , Wrap up Friday  

{Yarn Along} Blue and White Mystery Socks

I didn't know what this skein of sock yarn was supposed to do, but I'm happy with the way it turned out. They're pretty, and different than the dozens of other pairs of socks I've knit over the past few years. 

There are a bunch of great new cozy mysteries out this week --



Larissa Reinhart has a new series out and I'm loving the heroine, Maizie Albright. (She's even more fun than Cherry Tucker!) A former child star who wants to become a private investigator just like the one she played as a teenager, Maizie is determined to get her life in order. It doesn't help when her former manager shows up with the cast and crew of her reality show, insisting on another season even though participating would violate Maizie's probation. And it really doesn't help when  the woman Maizie is supposed to be following vanishes without a trace. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Maizie and her new friends are entertaining, the chemistry between her and her reluctant boss is fantastic, and her father made his money by inventing deer pee-scented hunting gear. What's not to love?



Storage auction? Carousel horse? Those two elements were more than enough to inspire me to pick up Murder Go Round by Carol J. Perry. Thinking it will be fun, Lee Barrett and her aunt go to a storage auction and buy an abandoned locker that turns out to be filled with some terrific antiques. Beyond their historical interest, something about the items makes them desirable to kill for. I didn't realize that it was the fourth book in the series, but it was easy enough to figure out who the characters were and what was going on in their lives.  The mystery is complex and entertaining. I'll definitely be going back to read the rest of the series!




Unlike the first two books in the series, A Palette for Murder by Sybil Johnson doesn't motivate me to take up tole painting. It did keep me guessing about Rory's homeless friend Kit and what had happened to him. The mystery wasn't what I expected from this series, but it kept me turning pages and guessing until the end.

Disclosure -- I was provided with an advance review copies by the publishers. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along, Crazy Mom Quilts , Wrap up Friday  

{Yarn Along} Winter Night Socks

I'm doing my Yarn Along post a few days early this week, since I'll have a guest post from author Larissa Reinhart on Wednesday. She'll be showing you how to do Japanese tie-dye and there's a giveaway too, so make sure to check back then. 

The Winter Night socks are done.  I still wish they had the spectacular contrast that the Fall Night pair did. Other than that,  they're socks, I'll wear 'em, and they kept my fingers busy for a couple of weeks. Which was their intended purpose.

Not every pair is going to be my favorite.



The Girl Before by JP Delaney

The house at One Folgate Street is an unusual property. The application for renting it is even more unusual, starting with the request to list every item you find essential to your life. Most applicants don't make it through the grueling application process, but Emma and Jane, two women who live in the house at different times, are both determined to make One Folgate Street their home.  That application is only the beginning. Life as a tenant comes with an incredibly restrictive set of rules. The idea of minimalism has always made me a bit uncomfortable and this book takes it, and the issue of privacy, to scary new levels.  I really loved this one. It alternates between two characters living in the same house at different times and once or twice I lost track of who was when...but in this case I think that was a deliberate move on the author's part. I definitely didn't see the ending coming. If you're looking for a domestic thriller that's a little bit different from all of the others, give this one a shot. You won't regret it!

Disclosure -- I was provided with an advance review copies by the publisher. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along, Crazy Mom Quilts , Wrap up Friday  

{Yarn Along} A Mystery Skein of Opal

I've been wondering what this skein of sock yarn would do when I finally got around to casting on. The label was intact, but I couldn't figure out which part of it would give me the information I needed, beyond the fact that it's Opal. If I'm remembering right, this is one of the skeins I picked up for a buck at an estate sale back in 2009. If it's not from that estate sale, it's from the box my great-aunt gave to me and Teenage Daughter about the time we were moving down here. Either way, it's been in my stash for a long time and I'm happy to be knitting it up.




Someone is Watching by Joy Fielding

Bailey Carpenter has always been confident and determined. Until that night when, crouched in the bushes to gather  incriminating evidence against a deadbeat dad, she is brutally attacked from behind.  After her physical wounds begin to heal, she can barely bring herself to leave her condo. Every man she comes into contact with is a potential suspect. The police have no physical evidence and are making no progress towards finding her rapist. She lives in constant fear, barely to separate nightmares from the actual events of her day. As her condition deteriorates, her half-sister and niece move in with her. Watching Bailey unravel and lose control of her own life  is sad and unsettling. Her reality-television niece is way too curious about the attack and watches 1000 Ways to Die constantly. (I saw two minutes of that show once and apparently just the mention of it is still enough to make me uncomfortable.) Someone is Watching is one of the most intense thrillers I've read in a long time, and one of the gloomiest, but it's also one of the best, especially the ending.



Scheduled to Death by Mary Feliz.

When a client's fiance is found electrocuted in his home laboratory, Maggie is determined to help the professor clear his name. There's no shortage of suspects or motives -- a lot of people are after Lincoln Sinclair's property and whoever was responsible for the murder doesn't seem likely to stop with only one victim. I absolutely loved the first Maggie McDonald mystery, but this book is missing the strong focus on Maggie's family that drew me to the series in the first place.

Disclosure -- I got Someone is Watching from the library. I was provided with an advance review copy of Scheduled to Death by the publisher. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along, Crazy Mom Quilts , Wrap up Friday  

{Yarn Along} Winter and I Aren't Getting Along

Winter Night yarn doesn't have the same spectacular effect as the yarn from the same line did in my Fall Night or Summer Night socks. The pretty designs are there if you look hard enough, but so far I'm not too impressed. 

In The Elusive Elixir, the third Accidental Alchemist mystery, Zoe Faust travels to Paris in search of a second living gargoyle. Her mission becomes complicated when she's recognized by someone from her past, an old woman who refuses to believe that Zoe is the granddaughter of the woman she once knew.   I love this series, with its likable characters and interesting settings. This time we learn a bit more about Zoe's past as she becomes closer to unraveling the secrets of backward alchemy, a dangerous art that may prevent her gargoyle friend from returning permanently to his original stone form. Gigi Pandian's books are perfect fans of quirky cozy mysteries.



The River At Night by Erica Ferencik is a straight forward thriller. Four women set out on their annual vacation. This year's adventure is a rafting trip through a remote wilderness area. Their guide has made the trip a handful of times and they'll be among the first paying customers to venture into the area. The setting is ominous and the locals unwelcoming, making it clear that the women are where they really don't belong.  A couple of days into the trip, the friends find themselves stranded without their guide or supplies and without any real survival skills to draw on. Unlike most of the thrillers I've read lately, none of the characters are harboring deep dark secrets. You learn more details about their lives as the book progresses, but there's no big reveal. The book is an interesting way to spend some time, but not a "must read."

Disclosure -- I was provided with advance review copies by the publishers. All opinions are my own. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along 

{Yarn Along} Love, Die, Neighbor

My hands were getting cranky about the cotton/elastic blend so I decided to cast on with my Arne & Carlos Winter Night, which I knew would be easy knitting. As soon as I had that done, my hands decided they didn't mind the Esprit anymore. That works -- once I'm through this ribbing I've already got the toe of the next sock done!



Love, Die, Neighbor by Joanna Campbell Slan

I've really missed Mert. She was one of my favorite characters in the early books of the Kiki Lowenstein series and although I enjoy reading about Kiki's new friends, it's not the the same without her. As soon as I saw the description of this latest book, I clicked the order button. This is a prequel, set years before the first book in the series. I'd forgotten how much Kiki has grown and changed since the first book and this is a glimpse at how she was years before that. You can see the beginnings of the fantastic wife and mother that she becomes in later years.  The mystery is great, but it's the characters I'm most excited about. I hope we'll get to see more of Kiki as a young mother!

Disclosure -- I bought the book myself. This post is linked to Patchwork Times, Yarn Along