I have downloaded the Kindle app for our iPad and searched through for some free books. After all, with a library card in hand (free here in our area of Minnesota) buying more books in a digital form just isn’t reasonable. Well… I finished one of the freebies… Opal Fire, A Stacy Justice Mystery – #1. This is written by Barbra Annino. The description on Goodreads calls it a paranormal mystery with a splash of romance and a helping of humor. 

I have to say I had the feeling reading this one that there was a whole story or two that I was missing BEFORE this book, though it is a first novel for this writer. The main character Stacy Justice is a decedent of witches and an unwilling practitioner of the art. The book starts with a fire in her cousin Cinnamon’s bar. When the insurance adjuster decides it is arson Stacy starts to dig deeper. 

Not only does she have to contend with a quirky extended family, a current boyfriend (the police chief) a dishy ex boyfriend but also her job at the town paper as a reporter. This is definitely not a book that takes itself overly seriously and honestly for me the solution to the murder was a big surprise.

So if you are looking for a good giggle, a mystery to solve, some magic to experience and lots of witty banter… check out this first in a series! Even with the feeling that I needed a prequel I really enjoyed this one. 

Opal Fire

Definitely less stressful, tiring and frustrating taking the drive through text message updates. We went to bed with the menfolk in Montana and proceeded until a little after lunch with them at the border. We are told the line was long but the process relatively painless. That is until they hit Calgary traffic… in rush hour (poor guys). I look forward to hearing their tale first hand. I am sure Ken will be more than willing to spin us a good one. 

Way to go Daddy and Baba!

So instead of go go go with 5 kids and 2 ladies we did a more relax, unwind and sit around sort of day. Wrote a letter or two, coloured in colouring books… you know, restive things.

Colouring Angry Birds

The kids did spend SOME time outside. Those neighbour boys (Billy, Jimmy and Charlie) while older than the boys are absolutely a godsend. Whenever they are out in the back so are ours running and playing and hopefully not making nuisances of themselves.

Gotta love a sunny day (Zander left)

We ended our evening with another movie – Anastasia, after watching a trip video of Nana and Baba’s from way back of them swimming with the sting rays. I think Echo preferred the fishy show. It was so quiet last night, going to bed without Ken sitting in the room typing away… and dark with the monitor and his usual ONE LIGHT turned off. It is so surreal, yesterday morning we were talking about Saturday with the Novaks and Friday afternoon walk around the blocks to check for garage sales… and here we are – guys in Canada packing up our long awaited personal items so that we can close down the storage unit. It feels like one more tie cut to our old life and I am unsure if that is a positive or negative. 

Pre movie supper

Emanuel’s creative endeavor

Anyway tonight there is more time to work on the cross stitch I have been doing. And of course work on the book reviews for the books I have read. Goodreads and my Kindle apphas been great to me lately. BUT I really want to make my way to the library soon! So be sure to check back for more reviews!  

Who IS that cute baby in the window?