Bubble, Bubble, Tea & Trouble Book Review

Book Number 7 in the Vicky Delany’s “Tea By The Sea” mystery series

Vicky Delany returns with book seven in her fun ‘Tea by the Sea' cozy mystery series, bringing back her well-loved characters who have populated the pages of these cozy mysteries throughout books 1-6. 

Since the theme of this installment ‘supposedly’ involves a bit of the paranormal, using a play-on-words reference to the old ‘witch’s’ chant of "Double, double toil and trouble; / Fire burn and caldron bubble" from Shakespere’s MacBeth for the title, ‘Bubble, Bubble, Tea & Trouble’ fits in well with the main character’s Cape Cod Tea Room, a standard in the whole series.

Synopsis of Bubble, Bubble, Tea & Trouble

Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble (Tea by the Sea Mysteries)Check Price

Book seven begins with Lily Roberts, the Cape Cod tearoom owner, discovering a group of guests at her grandmother’s Victorian B&B conducting a seance. The group of five middle-aged women called it a meeting of their ‘book club’, but holding it in the dark while using ritualistic candles, with no ‘books’ in sight, makes Lily question what is going on. Nevertheless, she chases them outside if they must use the candles, because the Inn has a no-smoking policy. Not to mention the fire hazard. The ladies leave, while complaining that they seem to be having nothing but bad luck and chalk it up to the mysterious absence of their leader, Katya.

The next morning, Lily finds what they are really trying to do when they begin grilling her about any past paranormal activity in the old Inn. Their attempts to contact spirits are not working and they are blaming the missing leader they paid to come along and guide them. Lily rather thinks the real reason they are failing is that there is no such thing as ghosts! 

Bernie, Lily’s best friend, has found what she believes is another explanation ~ the fact that these ‘so-called’ spirit-seekers have the wrong house! That the haunted reputation belongs to the place next door where Lily’s gardener boyfriend is currently staying.

But before Lily and Bernie can inform these luckless ladies of this development, the missing medium shows up. Trouble is, she is found dead on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff.

Summary

It seems Lily now has two jobs - serving afternoon tea at her tearoom, and solving a murder before someone else gets sent to the great beyond . . . 

Related Reviews: 

• Book Reviews of the Tea by the Sea Cozy Mystery Series
• Tea Reviews on Review This Reviews.
• For more Book Reviews, check out ReviewThisBooks.com. 

*Book Review of Book #7 in the Tea by the Sea cozy mystery series was written by Wednesday Elf

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Easy and Delicious Marinara Sauce Recipe Served on Rotini Pasta

My inspiration for this recipe is very surprising!  I spent several days and nights at the hospital with a family member that didn't need to be left alone.  The food served to the patient was ghastly.  In the hospitals defense, I do realize they are cooking and serving hundreds of people with a variety of preferences.  That is not a job I would want.  It is unlikely anyone is happy with their food.  Because I was staying around the clock with my family member, I was able to ask my husband to bring food to us.  Therefore, the hospital food most often went uneaten.  

Surprisingly, on the last day we were there, they served spaghetti, which happens to be the patient's favorite food.  It smelled delicious!  After sampling a few bits, it was declared a good meal.  Before they took the tray away, I also tasted the sauce so I could replicate it once we got home.  It was very easy to identify the ingredients in the simple sauce.  It truly made me wonder why I had not considered making something like it before.

Two nights later, I made my version of that marinara sauce and served it to my family.  Would you believe my husband said it was the best he had ever tasted?  I was shocked.  My entire family loves it and we have eaten twice since then.  I have tweaked it slightly, but it is a very basic and easy to make marinara sauce.  

 

Diced Tomato Marinara Sauce on Rotini Pasta

At the hospital, they served the sauce on top of rotini pasta.  What a great idea!  Rotini pasta is shaped to hold the sauce within its twisted spirals.  That makes it perfect for a thin sauce.

Topped with a bit of mozzarella cheese and basil, we hit perfection.  A simple sauce almost anyone can enjoy because it is not heavily "flavored".  Of course, you can add garlic, onion, or other typical ingredients if desired, but we like it simple.

 

Ingredients 

• 2 cans of 14.5 oz petite diced tomatoes (we prefer Good & Gather brand) 

• 2 small cans of Hunts tomato sauce (8 ounces)  

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano 

• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 

• freeze dried basil 

• Salt and black pepper to taste 

• 1 Tablespoon Butter 

• Pinch of sugar (to balance acidity)  

 

Instructions 

1. Heat 2 small cans of tomato sauce covered for 10 min to thicken  

2. Stir in the diced tomatoes along with their juice

3. Add oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper 

4. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then turn the heat to low. Partially cover the pot with a tilted lid and let it simmer for 20 - 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

5. Stir in a pinch of sugar and the butter for flavor.  Stir together until butter is completely melted

6. Sprinkle with Mozzarella Cheese & Basil as each dish is prepared

Ready to serve!   

 

 

Check Out More Recipe Reviews at
ReviewThisRecipes.com

 

Easy and Delicious Marinara Sauce Served on Rotini Pasta Written by:

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

A Visit to The Haunted House Hallmark Halloween Pop-Up Book Reviewed

Did you know that Hallmark has quite a few discontinued but sought-after Halloween-themed items? One of them is this fun pop-up book called A Visit to The Haunted House. It is not just a nostalgic children’s picture book but also a collectible vintage item that is sought after because of both the Halloween theme and the Hallmark brand. Read my complete review here.

THE FACTS

It is a hardcover Hallmark Children’s Editions book that is often dated to 1972, with other copies or editions dated 1985 and 1987. It may also have been reissued in other years. It was written by Dean Walley, intended perhaps for children aged 4 to 8 and illustrated by Arlene Noel.

THE STORY

The charming story is both whimsical and spooky, sharing a visit to a haunted house with characters Tommy Tribble and Stephanie Pepper via various pop-ups and pull tabs. The text on the back reads, "Are there really such things as ghosts and witches and monsters? A Visit to The Haunted House shows that these horrible creatures may not be what they seem to be at all. Children will enjoy sharing the scary adventures of Tommy Tribble and Stephanie Pepper as they unravel the mystery of Halfway House. The story offers plenty of thrills and chills, plus the comforting reminder that it’s fun to be scared when you know it’s just pretend."

REVIEWS

This is a book that people own and pass onto their children or that people owned and now want to have for their children. Those who already own it report that their children love it. One review that I read said that the writer and her children read the book at least four times a week. I can understand that; Halloween and pop-up books are just so, so very popular.

Adult readers like the vintage illustrations and the pop-ups. Some of them find the plot predictable but most say that is okay because they like the way the book was made and its nostalgic charm.

WHERE TO BUY A VISIT TO THE HAUNTED HOUSE

Looking for a copy of A Visit to The Haunted House for your family? Click here to see what is available on eBay. Shop carefully by reading the full descriptions and taking a good look at all of the photographs so that you will know what you are buying. Naturally, copies in excellent condition are hard to find and sell for more than copies that were much beloved and handled by young children. Expect to pay between US$20 and US$100 depending on the condition of the book. Originally, some of these books were sold wrapped in cellophane. If you hold out for a new copy of the book you may want to look for one that is still sealed. However, I can see that only three new copies have sold on eBay in the last three years. Waiting for a new one to be available may mean waiting for quite a while to buy this book.

Happy Reading!
Boo-renda
Treasures By Brenda

MORE HALLOWEEN READING:

When Witches Go Riding and Black Cats Are Seen: The Halloween Poem That Inspired These Spooky Finds

Pumpkin-Themed Gifts for You and Your Kids

Disney's Halloween Treat Reviewed (1982)

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Cement Yard Decor of Frogs

I had originally written about my various painted yard decor; they consisted of cement items that were solid, one that wasn't solid, and a rock. If you'd like to see that first, you can check that out here:  Yard Decorations, Rock and Cement Yard Decor

Since then, I have painted colorful bunny rabbits, a blue meditating frog, and most recently, I purchased a solid cement figurine of three frogs to paint.

I looked around at several stores before finding the frogs figurine at Rural King. It is a pretty good size, quite heavy, and is rough textured. I was not looking forward to applying sealer, painting it, and then coating it; besides my time, it would be way too much wear and tear on my brushes.

So I checked out the label on the Patio Paint from DecoArt, that I had on hand. It said that it seals itself, and they did not mention doing any sealer prep work. Yay! So I went for it. I did mainly one coat of paint, other than where I added some highlights and or darker shades to added interest.

I think it looks pretty cool. My daughter commented that they were wearing toes socks. It does indeed look like they are. I have been wearing brightly colored toe socks myself lately.

Anyway, I was real impressed with basically the one coat coverage without using any additional sealant for prep or varnish at the end. We shall see how well they hold up.

The bottle says to wait 72 hours before putting the painted work outside. I will probably set them out at the end of the week and see how well they do. We're into autumn now and winter will be coming soon. I will keep an eye on them and add an update sometime in the spring.

If you are interested in checking out the paint that I used for this project, you can view it here on Amazon: Patio Paint by DecoArt. This one is an assortment pack of 18 of two ounce bottles.

If I do any more projects that I'm going to place outdoors, I would definitely check out getting the assortment pack. They are quite reasonably priced and include a variety of colors. I wish I had had some yellow on hand for the frog project!

I would recommend checking out your local garden centers for any cement decor that you might want to paint. They do have a quite a bit of weight to them and might not hold up in shipping very well. After I got my frogs figurine home from the store, I noticed a couple of toes were missing. I didn't want to return it. That was the last frogs one and it was my favorite of the ones available. Fall is actually kind of late in the season to find these figurines, so not as many to choose from. However, they were at a much better price than if I had gotten this in the spring.

Hope you enjoyed this and found some helpful tips.

Cheryl Paton

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

The Five Pound Gummy Bear Review

Are you asking if you read the title correctly? Five pounds? A five pound gummy bear? Yes, five pounds. This is a gummy bear sure to make any celebration memorable. And whose life isn't really complete without at least one party with the five pound gummy as its' conversation gummy. (Yes it is a true edible gummy.)

Gummy Bears are the third most popular candy in the U.S. and many fans seem to have a fondness for certain colors and flavors.

Friend to kids, foe to the dental work, gummy bears remain extremely popular
Gummy Bear Flavors

Not every Gummy is created equal. And the color of the bear does not necessarily equal what your taste buds 'think'.

In the United States, five flavors and colors by the original Haribo are:

Orange flavor = orange color

Strawberry flavor = green color

Pineapple flavor = colorless

Lemon flavor = yellow color

Raspberry flavor = red color

Haribro Gummy Bear System

I had no idea there was a 'system'! The Haribo system can be used by other manufacturers, but they do tend to change things up by changing colors and adding flavors. Gummie aficionados probably have their favorite brand and flavors memorized. Those who like sour flavored gummies will notice the sour gummies tend to be larger and flatter due to the ingredients necessary to produce the sour taste.

History Of The Gummy Bear

Originally called dancing bears
The senior Riegel founded the candymaker in the 1920s
Haribo is the initials of Hans Riegel and Bonn, Germany
Gummies are produced in a machine called the starch mugul
The gummy bear got a redo in 2007, a smile was introduced as the expression
What Is The Cost and Where to Find the Five Pound Gummy Bear

A five pound gummy bear is available online retail approximately $35.00. The five pounder is alleged to equal 1400 regular sized gummy bears.

Surprise your favorite gummy bear lover with a Five Pound Gummy Bear gift this year and they will be sure to remember you fondly!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Do Old Houses Remember Us? The Stories Hidden In 100 Years of Walls

 

The Story Behind "This 100 Year Farmhouse"

Every time I drive past an old, weathered house sitting quietly by the side of the road, my mind immediately starts to wander. 

I can’t help but picture all the generations of souls who have walked through those front doors over the decades. I think about the sheer weight of life contained inside those four walls: quiet morning moments, bursts of laughter, deep love, and even the sorrow and regret that build over a century of living.

I’ve wanted to write a song about this exact idea for a very long time. I’ve always been drawn to music that explores the passing of time, especially songs that capture the vast scope of a hundred-year lifespan. 

For this project, I wanted to tell the story from a unique perspective: the farmhouse itself as the living, breathing keeper of everyone's memories. 

The song follows the home across its journey: watching a young couple build a life in 1920, sitting abandoned and falling into sad disrepair by 1985, and finally being lovingly renovated in 2005 to shelter a whole new family.

Part of the inspiration for this perspective actually goes back to an old Christmas cartoon called Noel that has stayed with me my whole life. 

The Christmas Cartoon "Noel" tells a beautiful story from the perspective of a simple Christmas ornament watching time pass, and it has always been one of my absolute favorites. The idea of an inanimate object holding onto a family's emotional history has stuck with me over the years. In the end, this cartoon has a deeper spiritual meaning.

Why This History Feels So Personal

This sense of history and physical place hits close to home for me.

My mind often drifts back to my parents' home, the very house my father built. It isn’t quite a hundred years old yet, but it remains in our family today, packed with irreplaceable memories. 

I often wonder where that house will stand a century or more from now, and I like to believe a small part of my spirit will always remain tied to that land, enduring through the changing years.

I feel that exact same profound connection right here in my current home. As the original owners, we raised our family here, filled every room with childhood memories, and built our everyday lives. 

At the same time, I know we will eventually have to pass the torch to someone else. I catch myself thinking about the future families who will walk these same halls long after we are gone, and the brand-new stories these walls will collect a hundred years from today.

"Every room truly remembers what the living so easily forget." Beneath all that old wallpaper are the real human stories that stayed behind, whispering their secrets if you take a moment to listen closely. 

I hope when you give "This 100 Year Farmhouse" a listen, it makes you pause and think about the walls that have sheltered your own journey, your family, and those you love.

*********

"Drageda Lyrics" on all Platforms, including Streaming Platforms**

YouTube:  Follow Me on YouTube - @dragedapoemslyrics

Spotify:    Stream Drageda Lyrics on Spotify

Subscribe: Join the Journey: Get New Songs and Stories in Your Inbox

My Website: Drageda.com

How I Put My Lyrics to Music and Create Songs - A Basic Introduction

*********

🎵 I write and produce story-driven lyrics. Vocals and music are digitally produced (I am not the singer). I digitally direct and arrange the video and recording.🎵 ©2026 DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - All Rights Reserved - Original Lyrics Authored | Sound Recording: Produced With Digital Assistance (Vocals and Instrumental) 2026. Licensed digital composition (Commercial Rights Held). The visual artwork may include AI-assisted digital elements. SOCAN Member.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Candy Corn Day - An October Holiday

Candy Corn Day is held each year on October 30, the day before Halloween. 

Candy Corn is one of those foods in the “love it or hate it” category. Like putting ‘pineapple on pizza’, candy corn is one of those things which produces strong opinions from people, leaving no neutral reaction. Nevertheless, it is a candy that has become associated with the Halloween holiday and popular with many. 

National Candy Corn Day History

A man named George Renninger, working as a confectioner at a candy company (Wunderle) in Philadelphia, invented the candy corn recipe in the 1880s. It is a soft and chewy candy made with sugar, corn syrup, water, marshmallow and fondant. It was originally called “Chicken Feed” because it was shaped like a corn kernel and corn was used mostly as animal feed back in the 1800s. The candy was sold with the logo of a ‘rooster’. 

This candy corn was sold year-round as ‘penny candy’ and did not become a holiday-specific snack until around the 1950s. About then, confectioners began heavily promoting candy corn during October due to its Harvest colors of yellow, orange and white. Plus, about this same time, Halloween traditions saw the rise of ‘trick or treating’. Thus, candy corn now appears to have become one of those standard Halloween treats.

Other Classic Halloween Treats

Other standard treats which find their way into trick or treat bags include:

• Popcorn Balls
• Mass-Produced Chocolate Bars
• Caramel or Candy Apples

Summary

So, come October 30 each year, you know what candy day is celebrated:

National Candy Corn Day
October 30

Check out our collection of Candy Reviews here:

Review This Reviews: Candy

Click Here For More Holiday Reviews

On ReviewThisReviews.com

*Candy Corn Holiday Review was written by Wednesday Elf

Candy Corn Halloween Treats:

Brach's Halloween Classic Candy Corn, Fall Treats, 34 ozCheck PriceCandy Corn, Classic Halloween Candy, 1 Lb BagCheck PriceBrach's Mellowcreme Autumn Mix, Halloween Candy, Fall Treats, 2 lb BagCheck Price

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON:

Fudge Made With Baking Chocolate Recipe Reviewed

This is a quick and easy fudge recipe that anyone can use to make a foolproof fudge.  Using baking chocolate bars ensures success.  I also love the taste of Eagle Brand Condensed Milk.  Eagle Brand combined with proven name brand chocolate bars, makes this recipe a real winner and it is, indeed, delicious!

Normally I use Baker's brand baking chocolate bars, but I most recently tried making this fudge with Ghirardelli Premium Bittersweet Baking Chocolate Bars (shown in the photo below).  Because I like the Ghirardelli brownie mix, I thought I would probably like their chocolate bars too.  Bittersweet chocolate has more cacao and less sugar than semi-sweet.  I could tell a slight difference, but that might simply be because I was looking for a difference in taste. Therefore, I would say either brand is excellent.

Everyone in our home loved the fudge.  I added nuts to half of it for the nut lovers and left the other half plain.  

This fudge takes about 20 minutes to make and another 2 hours to set in the refrigerator.   

 

 T-fal Specialty Nonstick Double Boiler 3 Quart Check PriceBaking Bars Fudge Recipe

A double boiler is required for this fudge to keep it from burning while cooking.  A double boiler is a set of 2 stackable pans, one sits inside of the other and is very easy to use.  It cooks with steam instead of direct heat.  

Simply add about 2 inches of water to the lower saucepan, bring it to a boil then turn down to simmer.  Place the upper saucepan filled with ingredients on the top and cook until melted, stirring continuously.

 

Ingredients 

• 20 ounces (5 - 4 oz bars) semi-sweet bakers chocolate – broken into small pieces 
• 1 - 14-ounce can Eagle’s Brand sweetened condensed milk 
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature) cut into pieces
• chopped nut, if desired 

 

Instructions

1. Set out butter an hour ahead of time to bring to room temperature 
2. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, allowing the excess paper to hang over the sides. 
3. In a top pan of double boiler, combine the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, butter, and chocolate pieces. 
4. Fill the lower saucepan with 2" of water and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Place the ingredients (top pan) on top of the bottom pan.  
5. Using a rubber spatula, stir until the chocolate is almost fully melted, about 4 minutes.  
6. Remove the top pan from the heat and stir until the mixture is smooth and the chocolate is fully melted, about 2 minutes.  
7. Add nuts, if desired and spread into the prepared lined pan 
8. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.  
9. Remove the fudge from the pan using the edges of the parchment paper to lift it out and cut into serving squares. 

 

You can leave the fudge out at room temperature for 1 or 2 weeks or it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. You may also freeze the fudge for up to two months.

 

Check Out More Recipe Reviews at
ReviewThisRecipes.com

 

Fudge Made With Baking Chocolate Recipe Reviewed Written by:

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON: