Where Is Your Bookmark? (A Year Ago & Today - A Peek Into 15 Minutes of Flame)

After hemming and hawing over what to read next (because sometimes having too many choices makes it hard to choose), I settled on Christin Brecher's 15 Minutes of Flame. It seems a fitting choice given the Halloween theme. 

As Stella Wright's Nantucket candle store thrives, her knack for solving mysteries burns equally bright--especially when a Halloween haunted house uncovers evidence of a centuries-old murder . . . 

When Stella's friend inherits a creaky, abandoned home in Nantucket, she knows it's the perfect setting for the town's annual Halloween fundraiser. A deserted, boarded-up building on the property--once used as a candle-making shop--adds to the creepy ambiance. But as Stella explores the shack's dilapidated walls, she discovers a terrible secret: the skeleton of a Quaker woman, wrapped in blood-soaked clothing and hidden deep within a stone hearth . . . 

While police investigate, Stella wastes no time asking for help from friends with long ties to Nantucket's intricate history. The key to the murder may lie within a scorching 18th century love triangle that pit two best friends against one another over a dubious man. But before the case is solved, another life will be claimed--leaving Stella to wonder who in Nantucket is friend, and who is foe . . . [Goodreads Summary]

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

Saturday morning, I was lounging in my backyard and enjoying a little sun. My chaise for such luxury was a fold-out chair, the kind with plastic straps across a metal frame where one or two bands always seem to be missing in crucial places. Even though my rear end sank a little lower to the ground than I'd prefer, I was deeply engaged with the clouds rolling above me on this late October day. [opening of 15 Minutes of Flame]

My initial thoughts: Boy, does this bring back memories. I used to have fold-out chairs like that and would lay out and watch the clouds roll by, picking out shapes and sometimes making up stories to go along with them. And late October is the perfect time as the temperatures finally begin to cool off to a comfortable temperature. As you can see, this opening makes me feel a bit nostalgic. Given this is a cozy mystery, I imagine this is the calm before the storm so to speak! 

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

I pulled a tissue from the box by her bedside and handed her one. 

"Thanks," said Leigh.

Rather than wipe a tear, she blew her nose. The action seemed to give her strength.

"So here it is," she said. "I think I saw a ghost."

She looked at me as if expecting me to laugh or call the cops. Instead, I nodded. [excerpt from 56% of 15 Minutes of Flame]

My thoughts: I have not reached this point in the book yet, but I can tell something must have happened to Leigh to upset her so. Did she see a ghost? Or is there a rational explanation for what she saw? And what exactly did happen?!

Have you read 15 Minutes of Flame? If not, does it sound like something you would like to read? Have you read any of the earlier books in the series?

A weekly meme in which readers look at what they were reading 

last year at this time and compare it to what they are reading now.  

Hosted by the great Maria from ReadingMaria.

I tend to think of cozy mysteries as making great autumn reads, so it isn't surprising that I am reading one going into October. 15 Minutes of Flame by Christin Brecher has the advantage of being set around Halloween time. I love that it delves into the history of its Nantucket location. Although I am still early into it, I can already tell I will enjoy it. 

This time last year, I read Rose Pressey's Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece (Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries #1), which had a paranormal element running through it. So another good choice for this time of year!  While I found Pressey's mystery entertaining and enjoyed it overall, it was not a particular favorite. Read my bookish thoughts here. 

What was the last book you read this past year around this time? How does it compare to what you are reading now? Have you read Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece? If so, what did you think?

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A glimpse into what I was reading 5 years ago: 

On the Road with Del & Louise: A Novel in Stories by Art Taylor

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do you read books that have an autumn theme? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

In a round about way, the answer to this week's question is yes. I sometimes like to read books set around Halloween and  Thanksgiving in the fall to correspond with the holidays. Does that count? 

What about you?

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

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