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Featured Author - Sep 2011 - Earlene Fowler
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This series is probably my absolute favorite cozy series! I liked THE SADDLEMAKER'S WIFE, too, and LOVE MERCY made my top 10 list the year it came out. SPIDER WEB, the newest Benni Harper book, is the only book I've given a 10 to in my personal grading system this year. There's a passage in it where a nurse who was in Vietnam talks about it to some smart-ass college girls at a Memory Festival that I found very powerful. Hope anyone who hasn't tried this series yet and decides to, will also love the books!
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ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ, Cozy Mysteries Group Owner
(last edited Sep 01, 2011 09:12PM)
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ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "Melodie, do they have to be read in order? I have several, but not the whole series and don't think I have the first one (although the library probably does.) Just checked, I have #2, and #10-#13."I'm not a big stickler about RIO, but this is one series I did start from the beginning. There were 8 out at the time and I read them all back to back to back. You wouldn't have to read them that way probably, but the 1st one gives you a lot of info about Benni and also gives the beginnings of her relationship with Gabe.
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ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ, Cozy Mysteries Group Owner
(last edited Sep 02, 2011 10:55AM)
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I made a mariner's compass once, that I dearly loved. I was using it as the center of a Round Robin. Unfortunately some little old lady in Oregon never returned it, so all I have is the photo. I made it in 2000, so the cream background fabric has a white print of 2000 printd across it for millenium fabric. The center and border were handdyed fabric, and some of the points were blue fabric with little white anchors on it, since it's a "mariner's compass. :) I'd love to make another one, but I don't think it could measure up to this one which I loved so much but lost, so havn't braved making a replacement yet.
[image error]
To see a bigger pic of it, click here:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/p...
ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "Thanks Melodie. I have the second, but can see if my library has the first. I just havn't stumbled upon it at used book sales or thrift shops yet, which is how I got my collection of 5 other books ..."@I clicked & saw the bigger picture: totally awesome. So beautiful & how terrible that someone kept it. It really is breathtaking-I'm in awe of people who have talents & skills to create such a work. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I think the choice of Earlene Fowler is extremely cool: I haven't read any of her works but recently bought
. Now I have an excuse to read it right away!I have no skills in quiltmaking but I love other people's work (like Briansgirl's). Maybe this way I can at least in fantasy be creative. :D
Thanks for the choice.
ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "Thanks Melodie. I have the second, but can see if my library has the first. I just havn't stumbled upon it at used book sales or thrift shops yet, which is how I got my collection of 5 other books ..."I'd be really pissed at whoever kept that if I made it! It's really nice and the color choices are so pretty! I have often wished I had the patience to quilt. My mother has a friend who quilts all the time and she makes such beautiful things. I've got a couple of things she made for me and they are some of my favorite things. You should do another one and it might come out even better than the one you lost. As an aside, MARINER'S COMPASS, is my favorite in the Benni series.
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ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ, Cozy Mysteries Group Owner
(last edited Sep 02, 2011 04:44PM)
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One thing I never understood was that the woman who never returned it, even when I offered to pay all postage, etc. was a little old lady 70-something that lived in Oregon. You don't expect that kind of behavior from someone of that generation usually. I left the photo up in case anyone ever saw it somewhere and recognized it, in hopes that one day it might eventually find it's way home. Unlikely, lol, but ya never know...
I read and enjoyed Arkansas Traveler
.I was sent it by a friend in a online quilting group.
I like to read series in order and I managed to collect this series, mostly by scouring the shelves of UBS for months. Earlene Fowler has been nominated for (and won) the Agatha award several times. As of last month, I have all but the newest so this choice comes at a perfect time for me. Once I start with Bennie Harper in Fool's Puzzle I may not stop until I've read them all! Can't say Melodie hasn't warned me ;-)
ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "Thanks Melodie. I have the second, but can see if my library has the first. I just havn't stumbled upon it at used book sales or thrift shops yet, which is how I got my collection of 5 other books ..."The larger picture really shows your quilt's beauty and your artistry and skill. You did a great job blending the colors. Having it lost or stolen must have been heartbreaking. Sounds like you made this 11 years ago. Do you still quilt?
I think I saw some of these at the library.Looks like a great series.
I really enjoy these books, I think I'm up to the 5th one now.
I saw her books for the first time in B&N today. I see that you all like her writing so I am going to give them a try.
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I havn't been quilting lately. My sons are 7, 11, and 14. When they were smaller, it was easier to cross stitch and put it up then to take over whole rooms with fabric to cut, quilt squares, the frame to quilt it in, etc. I made baby quilts for them then stopped. I need to finish at least the one superhero quilt I started before they all outgrow it! lol I have alot of misc quilt blocks I want to finish sewing together. I just have to get back into it again.
I have not read any of Earlene's books but now at your urging this month I will pick up Fool's Puzzle.
Wonderful author. I haven't read all of her books and will find one I haven't read yet.
I lucked out and my local library had her first, Fool's puzzle. It's the large print edition, so I won't be suffering eye strain! lol But this way I can at least participate in the monthly author. Normally I can't get the book online in time to read it that month.
Ok - just finished
and enjoyed it! The large print was a bit distracting for me but the plot was good and the characters interesting enough that I want to read more about them. I'll definitely keep reading this series.
Jennifer E. wrote: "Ok - just finished and enjoyed it! The large print was a bit distracting for me but the plot was good and the characters interesting enough that I want to read mor..."Glad you liked it! The series just gets better and better. The characters feel like family to me, especially Dove who reminds me so much of my Mamaw.
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has been at my TBR for a lot of time, so I think it's going to cover two goals ;) I hope to like it.
Melodie - books 2 and 3 are already ordered! :)
I finished
and really enjoyed it. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment!
Just finished
. Excellent mystery - 5 stars! I love the characters and enjoyed reading about the part of California that's ranches and small towns.
Valorie wrote: "I finished and really enjoyed it. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment!"I finished this one yesterday as well. It had a great ending didn't it?
Jennifer E. wrote: "Valorie wrote: "I finished and really enjoyed it. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment!"I finished this one yesterday as well. It had a g..."
It really did! I'm excited to find how their relationship grows in the next book!
I'm so happy that so many of you have fallen in love with this series just like I did a few years ago! These characters have become like family to me!
Melodie - I'll be honest, I'd heard of Benni Harper mysteries but I always thought the protagonist was a man and I prefer female characters, so I never even gave them a glance. :P Between your great reviews and Briansgirl making Ms. Fowler the AOM, I was prodded to take a look, and now I have to make lots more space on my bookshelves! :) Great series - I'm up to Goose in the Pond...
I just started this series a few weeks ago with Delectable Mountains which I enjoyed. I don't think I realized how far it was in the series when I bought it (can't resist those sale bins at the used book store). I found Tumbling Blocks to be fairly good but Benni's relationship with her husband is really intense at times. I realize I am missing a lot of back story so maybe that is why their relationship kind of bothered me. Other than that it was good. A question for those familiar with the series, is this relationship always like this?
Kimmie
Kimmie wrote: "I just started this series a few weeks ago with Delectable Mountains which I enjoyed. I don't think I realized how far it was in the series when I bought it (can't resist those sale bins at the us..."Gabe & Benni's relationship goes through many changes and ups & downs through the series. They have few dull moments.
Do we know who our author is for next month?
Not yet. With Briansgirl getting married in the next week or so, she's been very understandably distracted. Hopefully we'll hear soon - otherwise Ms. Fowler might just get a second month! :D
Just finished Irish Chain
. Liked the mystery and the way the story unfolds. Mixed feelings about how Benni treats Gabe - withholding information, confronting possible suspects on her own. Most of this story focuses on Benni with Gabe making cameo appearances. There were hints to Gabe's personal history - at the murder scene he and another character greet each other by nicknames, he leaves town to visit his son - but both are dropped perhaps for future novels. The next one promises to be different with more focus on their developing relationship.
Jennifer E. wrote: "Not yet. With Briansgirl getting married in the next week or so, she's been very understandably distracted. Hopefully we'll hear soon - otherwise Ms. Fowler might just get a second month! :D"Thanks Jennifer! I hope her wedding goes well!
So upset I was too busy to get a read for this month. hope Fowler gets the 2nd month. I still want to give her a try.
I just finished Irish Chain by Earlene Fowler and really enjoyed it. I am really looking forward to the next book.
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just today. I've liked it (after a slow beginning) and I feel I'll get more of her books but I, too, have mixed feelings about her behavior with police.
I finished Fools' Puzzle on Friday and I really enjoyed it. Although my copy was a really old one from the library and it had been badly edited the first time. Someone went through and edited it in pencil which always amuses me.
Cozy Mysteries
Books mentioned in this topic
Fool's Puzzle (other topics)Irish Chain (other topics)
Fool's Puzzle (other topics)
Irish Chain (other topics)
Fool's Puzzle (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Earlene Fowler (other topics)Earlene Fowler (other topics)
Benni Harper Mysteries
(listed below in order of publication date)
Benni Harper is a folk art museum curator and amateur sleuth in (fictional, though based on San Luis Obispo) San Celina, California. The series titles are taken from quilt patterns.
#1 Fool's Puzzle
#2 Irish Chain
#3 Kansas Troubles
#4 Goose in the Pond
#5 Dove in the Window
#6 Mariner's Compass
#7 Seven Sisters
#8 Arkansas Traveler
#9 Steps to the Altar
#10 Sunshine and Shadow
#11 Broken Dishes
#12 Delectable Mountains
#13 Tumbling Blocks
#14 State Fair
#15 Spider Web
Other Works:
The Saddlemaker's Wife
Love Mercy (Love Mercy Johnson Mystery #1)
Benni Harper's Quilt Album: A Scrapbook of Quilt Projects, Photos & Never-Before-Told Stories