Thursday, October 22, 2020

Where Is Your Bookmark? (Then & Now: Witches & Ghosts, Anyone?)

As October winds down, I am not quite ready to jump into a Christmas themed book yet. I recently finished Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education (thank you to all who voted for it in my TBR poll!), and decided to settle in with a cozy mystery next. Mrs. Morris and the Ghost, the first in the Salem Bed and Breakfast series, has been calling my name for awhile now, and I decided to give in.

Charlene Morris knew Salem, Massachusetts had a spooky reputation. But when she decided to open her B&B there, she expected guests--not ghosts...

A grieving young widow, Charlene needed a new start--so she bought a historic mansion, sight unseen, and drove from Chicago to New England to start turning it into a bed-and-breakfast. On her first night in the house, she awakens to find a handsome man with startling blue eyes in her bedroom. Terror turns to utter disbelief when he politely introduces himself as Jack Strathmore--and explains that he used to live here--when he was alive. He firmly believes that someone pushed him down the stairs three years ago, and he won't be able to leave until someone figures out who. If Charlene wants to get her business up and running in time for the Halloween tourist rush, and get this haunting houseguest out of the way, she'll have to investigate. Though truth be told, this ghost is starting to grow on her . . .  [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.

Charlene Morris may be impulsive sometimes, but crazy she was not. Yes, buying an 8,000-square-foot estate in Salem, Massachusetts, sight unseen, might seem extreme, but she'd needed a clean break after her husband's tragic death, something new to take her mind off the pain and loneliness of losing her soul mate. [opening of Mrs. Morris and the Ghost]

My initial thoughts: That does seem extremely impulsive, doesn't it? Buying such a large property sight unseen. Just what has she gotten herself into, I wonder?




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.


Ernie fled to the front door, but he couldn't open it. Jack was concentrating and keeping it closed, leaning his body against it. "What's going on?" Ernie asked panicked.

"You need to tell me everything. The truth will set you free," Charlene said, walking calmly toward him. [excerpt at 56% from Mrs. Morris and the Ghost]
My thoughts: I have just about reached this section of the book, but am not quite there yet. I kind of read a spoiler pulling out this quote (no spoilers here though), but I already suspected it, so all is not lost. Given what I know of Ernie up to this point, I am not surprised Jack and Charlene had to corner him to get answers. And I really need answers! I can't wait to see what he has to say.


Have you read Mrs. Morris and the Ghost? If so, what did you think? What are you reading today?

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.


From witches to ghosts, these both seem fitting reads for this time of year. Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler is a household favorite, and definitely one of my favorite Halloween stories. It's the story of a witch who is constantly dropping things, from her hat to her wand. Each of the items are picked up by different animals whom she invites for a ride on her broom. Mouse and I read it every year around this time. The movie is cute too. Quite a bit different from the cozy mystery I am reading right now, although both books have a big reveal near the end . . . 



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 Room on the Broom? If so, what did you think? 

*                    *                    *

A glimpse into what I was reading 5 years ago: 

Hidden by Karen E. Olson

 










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


© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

32 comments:

  1. Mrs. Morris and the Ghost seems like a unique story. I like the quotes for it. Thanks for mentioning it! :-)

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    1. Breana - It's a fun read. Perfect for this time of year. Thank you for stopping by!

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  2. Yea!! Mrs Morris and the ghost sounds like just the cozy mystery I need to read. I am going to shelf it right now!

    Hope you will have a wonderful, cozy weekend. Here's my Weekend Book Friends #12

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    1. Elza - I hope you enjoy it if you read it! There's a great cat in it too. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  3. Enjoy your timely read. I agree that it's too soon to think Christmas books--or the holiday itself. Have a stress-free weekend!

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    1. Catherine - I hope you have a great weekend too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  4. Now I definitely want to read this one! And I don't usually read ghost stories, lol. But her impulse buying and the other interesting little details drew me right in. Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “INVISIBLE GIRL”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I really like the premise of this series. It's a fun read. Thank you for visiting!

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  5. Mrs. Morris and the Ghost sounds like fun...and a perfect read for this time of year! :)

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  6. Sounds like a different kind of ghost story! Happy weekend!

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    1. Freda - I'm really enjoying it! Thank you for visiting. :-)

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  7. Lots of ghosty themed books to check out this time of year. My Friday Post

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    1. Anne - Very fitting for this time of year. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. Sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Mrs. Morris and the Ghost sounds like a fun read! Hope you've a great weekend, Wendy!

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    1. Melody - I hope you have a great weekend too! Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. Salem Bed & Breakfast sounds like a great series, and I want to go stay with Mrs Morris :) We read or watch Room on the Broom every year, even though my kids are definitely getting too old for it (at 9 and 13). Thanks for sharing and enjoy your week!

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    1. Becki - I want to stay at Charlene's bed and breakfast too! My daughter is nine, but she enjoys our family tradition of reading Room on the Broom. Same with a lot of the children's Christmas books we break out during the winter holidays. Than you for visiting!

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  11. I've been so curious about this one. It sounds really good and those snippets pull me right in. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend! :)

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    1. Ashley - I hope you give it a try! Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. Mrs. Morris and the Ghost sounds wonderful. I have to add this to my wishlist right now.

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    1. Yvonne - I hope you enjoy it if you read it! Thank you for visiting!

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  13. That sounds seriously impulsive but I am here for it in fictional form! This sounds like a fun read and I'm glad the spoilers weren't too spoiler-y!

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    1. Katherine - I guess that's the risk of sharing a quote from 56% in when I haven't gotten there yet. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. I'm not ready for Christmas but am certainly ready for Christmas books and movies. Somehow, I need my holiday fix much earlier this year but I don't really want to put up the tree and the trains yet, does that make sense?

    Good bunch of books here - I haven't read anything spooky yet, going to give the Halloween a miss this year.

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    1. Athira - I drove by a house this morning that has Christmas decorations up already. It's starting early this year. Which I completely understand.

      I am not sure any of my Halloween reading was actually spooky, but I can understand wanting to keep things light, especially right now.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  15. Mrs. Morris and the Ghost sounds fun. it would be interesting to be able to interact with a ghost.

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  16. Oh my gosh, Room on the Broom was one of my kids' favorite books when they were little! I love seeing it here, I'm having flashbacks:-)

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    1. Tammy - We love Room on a Broom. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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