Friday, November 15, 2024

BOOK: A Dilemma for Daisy, The Monday Mystery Society by Carol Ann Kauffman


 
Daisy Mazlo faces a dilemma. She’s met the man of her dreams in Cooper MacNeill, a gentleman in every sense of the word, tall, handsome, wealthy, witty, and very interested in her. But Daisy can’t accept his love, so she runs away, moving back to Oakville where she grew up to sort out her feelings. Will the small loving community of her past help her find herself? Will Cooper come after her? Will a letter be pivotal in resolving Daisy’s dilemma? 

Will love win out?




Excerpt:

 

Chapter One

The Date


Oakville


“Want to go watch the soccer game with me on Friday after school?” asked Jeanne Bartell, the guidance counselor at Oak Grove, Oakville’s Middle School. “My cousin’s playing and I promised him I’d go.”

“No, thanks,” said Daisy. Her lustrous brown curls bounced as the girls walked the trail in beautiful Riverside Park after school.

“Are you sure? Watching Oakville’s best-looking guys beat the crap out of each other on the soccer field is a great release after a long week at work.”

“I’m sure it’s very cathartic, but no thanks.”

“Got other plans? Got a date maybe?”

“No, Bailey hates being left alone on Friday evenings. There’s nothing for him to watch on Animal Planet. Saturday and Sunday dog TV is much better. Honestly, Jeannie,” continued Daisy, “only date I’ve had since I’ve been back in Oakville was with my grandmother’s insurance agent.”

“I don’t think that counts.”

“Well, I think it might,” Daisy said with a hint of excitement in her big blue eyes. “Matt picked me up at my house, and he paid for dinner.”

“Matt? Matt Corcoran? Corky? Really?” Jeanne eyed her friend with a silly grin. “He’s a hunk.”

“We went to Manzano’s Italian Restaurant. We sat in the lounge near the fireplace under those big, beautiful paintings of the Italian countryside. Yes, he bought me dinner, we talked and laughed a lot, and had a good time. But no, it wasn’t romantic. It was financial.”

“I’ve known him since kindergarten and I’ve never known Corky to do that,” Jeanne said. “He usually conducts business meetings in his office. Wow, Daisy! I think it might have been a romantic overture.”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “But I told him straight up I wasn’t interested in anything more than my job, my house, and my dog right now, and he was very understanding. We did have a few meetings in his big, beautiful office first to deal with Gram’s life insurance and to work out all the details of my homeowner’s insurance policy. Then we went to dinner to get everything signed and sealed. Homeownership is a big responsibility. 

“Tell me about it.” Jeanne laughed.

“It seems my grandmother knew Corky pretty well. She mentioned how much she liked him. She said he was ‘an honest, caring, good-hearted young man.’ He’s a really nice guy. He’s knowledgeable and very professional―and kind of sweet, maybe.”

“I think it was a real date, and you sound interested. I thought you weren’t ready yet.”

“I’m not―interested or ready.”

“But Matt Corcoran is such a terrific guy! He’s smart, good looking, and athletic. He’s got a great sense of humor and runs a successful business here in town. All those muscles and great blond hair. And he’s so cute.”

“If you like him so much, then you go out with him. I’ll put in a good word for you,” Daisy said.

“Believe me, I’ve tried, along with half the town.” Jeanne sighed. “Tall, plain, and skinny just isn’t his type. He likes them pretty and perky and bosomy. Hint, hint. But if you’re not ready to move on from whatever happened in Chicago, you’re not ready. I get it. What was his name?”

“Cooper. How did you know?”

“Everybody in town knows something happened to you in Chicago and you’ve sworn off dating.”

“I may never be ready to move on,” Daisy said. “And that’s okay. I’ve been on my own for a while and I’m fine by myself. I have a great job, a beautiful home with wonderful family memories, and I have Bailey, my wonderful shelter dog. And it’s good to be back in Oakville.

“But what I am ready for is book club, Monday Night Murder Club, the Monday Mysterians, the ‘Monday is Murder in More Ways than One’ Group,” she said, on a dramatic roll.

“The Monday Mystery Society,” Jeanne pronounced it distinctly.

“That sounds so chic. I’ve never belonged to a book club like this one in my life, with so many members and such a diverse makeup. In Chicago three or four people showed up, all women, all lonely women, looking for love and cookies. This book club is entertaining before you even open the book. I can’t wait for Monday!”

“Are you ever going to tell me what happened in Chicago?” Jeanne asked as they walked back to the car. “With Cooper, I mean. Daisy, if you’ve been attacked…”

“No, no, nothing like that. He was always the perfect gentleman. He…he misrepresented himself to me.” Daisy sighed, her usual upbeat demeanor vanishing. “He made me believe he was something he wasn’t.”

“Nobody’s perfect. Of all the rotten things men do these days, that’s not so bad. Maybe he just wanted to make a good impression on you.”

“Yes, that is bad.”

“But, Daisy, did you love him?”

Love him?” Daisy whispered. “I don’t want to talk about it right now, okay counselor? Let’s go home.”










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Thursday, November 14, 2024

TV TIME: Time Trap (Netflix)


 A group of students go looking for their lost college professor who went missing while searching the caves for his lost parents.

This started out like one of those “students go on an archaeological dig with their professor” movies that have curses and mummies. But it veered in a total different direction. It is a science fiction action adventure.

The critics did not care for this one. Of course, they want all these movies to be Oscar-worthy masterpieces. I liked it. It was a pleasant evening’s diversion with Ave men and space men and family members. And a dog. 









 












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Tuesday, November 12, 2024

BOOK REVIEW: The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani


 

Adriana Trigiani does not disappoint. 

And The Supreme Macaroni Company is not about pasta. 

It’s about love and family and shoes. 

If you have any Italian heritage in you at all, you will enjoy Trigiani’s tales of wild, wacky Italian family relationships and life, love, excellence, and stubbornness. And food. 

The Supreme Macaroni Company will make you laugh and make you cry. 

Brava, Adriana. 





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Monday, November 11, 2024

ART: The Beauty of Goldfish



 I love goldfish. I have them in the pond. They are beautiful creatures. And smart! I go out there and shake the fish food container. I yell “Oh, Fishies!” and they all come swimming toward me.

Goldfish get there color from the fish food. Many of our older goldfish are white. It is not their color that makes them beautiful. 











Sunday, November 10, 2024

SCHEDULE: November 11-15, 2024

 


Mon., November 11 - ART
The Beauty of Goldfish
Tues., November 12 - BOOK REVIEW:
The Supreme Macaroni Company
by Adriana Trigiani
Wed., November 13 - INTERVIEW:
Historical Fiction Author
Parker J. Cole
Thurs., November 14 - TV TIME:
Time Trap
(Netflix)
Fri., November 15 - BOOK:
A Dilemma for Daisy,
 Monday Mystery Society
by Carol Ann Kauffman 










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Note:

Vision and Verse does not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.