But I Smile Anyway...

Dashiki by Florence Wetzel #BlogTour Plus a #Giveaway! #RachelsRandomResources @rararesources

12 Jan 2025 2 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Dashiki, Florence Wetzel, Rachel's Random Resources

Please join me on the blog tour for Dashiki by Florence Wetzel

A cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz.

During an interview with reclusive jazz singer Betty Brown, journalist Virginia Farrell is shown priceless tapes from the iconic 1957 Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane gig at the Five Spot. When Betty is found murdered, Virginia is determined to recover the tapes and uncover the truth behind Betty’s death.

In the spirit of Nancy Drew, Virginia teams up with her six-foot blonde roommate to investigate the various suspects. Detective Robert Smith from the Hoboken Police Department joins the case, quickly becoming absorbed by an unsolved murder possibly linked to Betty Brown’s death, as well as an undeniable attraction to Virginia.

Dashiki is a cozy mystery laced with romance, immersing readers in the captivating world of jazz, where musicians, journalists, scholars, and enthusiasts intersect in an entertaining whodunit.

My Review

Dashiki: A Jazz Mystery by Florence Wetzel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An intriguingly written murder mystery set in Hoboken, US, centring on some little-known jazz musicians and a woman whose interest in Jazz finds her amid the investigation.
Virginia Farell is a journalist, and she’s just conducted the most amazing interview of her career after locating Betty Brown, a jazz singer who turned into a recluse.
Brimming with exciting news, she looks forward to helping the singer set things straight, but then is shocked to find out about her death, shortly after their interview.
An interesting story, which taught me a good bit about jazz, as well as a compelling mystery surrounding the sudden death of Betty Brown.

Giveaway to Win a Paperback copy of Dashiki by Florence Wetzel (Open to UK / US / Canada only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK / US & Canada entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494603/?

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DS1R2KNQ/

Author Bio – Florence Wetzel was born 1962 in Brooklyn, NY. Her novels include the thriller The Woman Who Went Overboard and the Swedish mystery The Grand Man. She has also authored horror short stories, a book of poems and memoir essays, and co-authored jazz clarinettist Perry Robinson’s autobiography. In July 2024, she published Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss.

Social Media Links – Facebook

Florence Wetzel (@florencewetzel108) • Instagram profile

(1) Florence Wetzel | LinkedIn

#SoCS & #JusJoJan January 4th, 2025 – In Front/Behind

11 Jan 2025 21 Comments

by Ritu in #jusjojan, #SoCS Tags: #jusjojan, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Cats, Minnie Kaur, Poetry, Socs, Sonu Singh, writing

Linda’s SoCS prompt…

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 11th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “it’s the little things.” Take whatever the phrase “it’s the little things” brings to mind and use it in your post. Have fun!

It really is the little things in life that bring you joy.

A smile from a friendly face, a cup of tea brought to you as you are busy working. The sound of a giggle from a child, a pet sitting by you as you stroke its fur.

All these things can really make life a better place.

Currently, one of the little things in our life, Minnie Kaur, causes as much joy as strife, as she builds her relationship with our senior, Sonu Singh.

They fight, they chase after one another, but they also search one another out all the time. It’s a love hate thing, 100%.

He’s intrigued by her, but equally annoyed, but then again, he is nearly 11, now and that is roughly 60 in human years!

She is not 1 until February, so is still young, a kitten who is inquisitive.

He’s definitely getting more exercise now she’s in his life, I tell you!

We get the chase, the fight, the inevitable hissing, then a period of calm, where they sit together, sometimes warily staring at one another, sometimes at peace, sitting almost together, but not quite.

Sonu Singh approaches her more than he used to, now. Before it was always her coming up and tentatively playing with his tail, until he swiped her away!

It’s cute watching their relationship develop, and though the fights can be a bit stressful for them and us, ultimately they do like having each other around.

We do love our kitties!

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2025 Daily Prompt for Jan. 11th

#JusJoJan 10th – (Oops, I’m late, again!) Echo

11 Jan 2025 8 Comments

by Ritu in #jusjojan Tags: #jusjojan, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, echo, Life, Linda G Hill, smart-home, Technology

Yup it looks like I am going to be constantly chasing my tail here, this month, but I am determined to get to each prompt, somehow!

Today, the prompt is brought to us by our very own dapper Dan. Thank you, Dan! Please be sure to visit Dan’s blog to read his posts and say hello. And follow him while you’re there if you’re not already.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 10th, 2025 is “echo.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Is. it time to go rogue with the prompts?

Maybe.

I have several versions of the Amazon devices around the house, from the original tall tower first gen Echo in the kitchen, to a third gen Echo Pop and several newest gen Echo Pops which are in bedrooms and the laundry, and we have an Echo Show in the hallway. And I can’t forget the Fire cube in the Bedroom and Firestick in the living room.

I do love the convenience of these devices, being able to listen to whatever music I want, the playlists on Spotify, as well as Apple Music, and favourite Podcasts.

Then there are the random questions we ask Alexa. Lil Princess, particularly, loves to get Alexa’s wisdom!

Most of the time your choice of whatever you want to listen to is contained to the room you are in, though I can’t help but giggle when doors aren’t shut, or Alexa is feeling mighty sensitive wherever she is, and the choice of one person echoes through the house as all devices decide to play loud AfroPop or Bhangra!

Technology is fun, isn’t it?

Thanks, Dan!

#JusJoJan 9th Jan – Shy

09 Jan 2025 10 Comments

by Ritu in #jusjojan Tags: #jusjojan, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, Shy

Day 9, and here I am! On the right day!

Today, our prompt comes from the divine Di. Thank you, Di! Please be sure to visit Di’s blog to read her posts and say hello. And follow her while you’re there if you’re not already.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 9th, 2025 is “shy.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

I don’t think I am shy at all if I am honest.

From when I can remember, I have been quite confident to talk to people I didn’t know, stand on a stage and perform, and more recently, just be me, unashamedly.

There was a short period in my life when I lost confidence for a while. I think it was my early glasses era, as I hit puberty. I think that was a bit of shyness, then if we were at a party or function, I’d hear music, and I’d be one of the first on the dancefloor! Seeing videos back would make me cringe (it was the 80s, of course, we looked cringe!) but I was happy.

Sometimes, now, when I am asked to do a talk, or something, I may be a bit nervous, but I don’t think that is shy, because I don’t think I would even agree to put myself out there if it was shyness.

I’m that one who will approach you, chat to you and say Hi!, if I recognise you from somewhere.

I also like to try, and make people feel comfortable.

My Pops has never been shy. I’m like him.

My Mum is quietly confident. She’s not interested in putting herself out there. She doesn’t feel the need. It’s enough having a husband who everyone knows because of his good nature, dancing and yoga, a daughter who always enjoyed entertaining people with her singing and dancing, and is now an author, and a son who is well-known in the cricket world!

Hubby Dearest is not shy, just a bit quiet. (Not so) Lil Man is like his grandma, quietly confident, and Lil Princess is definitely not shy, she just talks to who she wants and blanks the rest – typical modern teen!

So, yeah, that’s shy, for you!

#JusJoJan – 5th/6th/7th & 8th #OneLinerWednesday

08 Jan 2025 15 Comments

by Ritu in #1linerweds, #jusjojan, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #jusjojan, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, One Liner Wednesday

I apologise for the delay in posting my last few days’ worth of jots, as I started back at school, and it has been a veritable whirlwind, lol!

Anywho, I shall try and add my musings for all four of the last days, including today in this post, and then, I shall go and visit some others with their entries, too! (I can’t believe I even missed my own prompt day yesterday! SMH!)

Prompt 5, Frustration, was from Barbara. Please be sure to visit Barbara’s blog to read her posts and say hello.

I tell you what, not finding the time to even jot just a few words down is a cause for frustration for me! I was so geared up to get writing every day, then the weather, school, and all manner of other things kicked in, and now, here I am, four prompts actioned, and four missed!

Prompt 6, Invigorating, is from Wendy. Thank you, Wendy! Please be sure to visit Wendy’s blog to read her posts and say hello.

I long for something that is invigorating, if I am perfectly honest, right now. Energy levels are at a low, and with the first day of school under my belt, also comes the fact that I had a sleepless night on Sunday, and another night of restlessness the next day due to anxiety about going back to school. I took a Magnesium supplement last night and I think it helped me sleep a bit better. I was more invigorated than the last couple of days, but I feel I still need more rest!

Prompt 7, Pernickety, is by the lovely me! If you’re reading this, you are already over for a visit, so, Hello!

I’ve never been pernickety, or so I think, anyway. Perhaps I have specific ways of doing things, but that isn’t a bad thing, is it? I used to be a fussy eater, growing up. Maybe a tad pernickety?

And so, to today, day 8, which is One Liner Wednesday with Linda herself! So I shall put a comment about the current weather we are having today…

“I wonder if the snow falling, right now, is the right kind of snow?” (Image below. Tell me!)