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Spot: 63
Jennifer: The Sign of Death by Callie Hutton (Cover Item: Book: Post 197)
Melanie: Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas (Lady Sherlock #6: Post 204)
☘Mǰ徱�: Essays In Love by Alain de Botton (Cover Item: Book: Post 205)
Theo: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss #3: Post 201)


Book: Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas
How it fits?: #6 in Lady Sherlock series
Date finished?: 3/17/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Miss Moriarty, I Presume? was a fantastic read following Charlotte as she finds herself working for the enemy.
Charlotte Holmes has taken on all manner of clients in her work as the renowned detective Sherlock Holmes. But when her newest client appears on her doorstep, Charlotte will have to watch her every move as the client is Moriarty himself. Moriarty is worried something has happened to his daughter who resides in a remote community with ties to the occult. Tasked with gaining entrance to the community and ascertaining Miss Moriarty's well being, Charlotte will have her work cut out for her if she's to complete this job without alerting Moriarty to her past endeavors against his organization.
Miss Moriarty, I Presume? picks up a few months after the events of Murder on Cold Street. The book opens with a series of letters Charlotte has written and received including one where she talks about receiving a request for an appointment from one of Moriarty's men. The tension at the start of the book is very well done as we don't know what Moriarty wants with Charlotte or if he's learned of how she's thwarted him in the past. After Charlotte, Mrs. Watson, and Lord Ingram arrive at the Garden of Hermopolis we quickly learn that not all is as it seems with Miss Moriarty. The investigation goes into several directions I didn't see coming and the presence of Moriarty in the background causes quite a bit of tension for our characters as they work to resolve the case to his satisfaction while not endangering themselves in the process. The ending was a complete surprise and I'm looking forward to seeing the implications of what happened in future books.
Charlotte continues to be a fantastic main character with an incredible ability to puzzle out information. The way she manages to connect all of the small clues we get throughout the book and resolve the case is simply remarkable. Charlotte primarily works with Mrs. Watson and Lord Ingram on this job with her sister Livia working almost parallel in her own investigation into clues left by Mr. Marbleton. At this point in the series the group works together flawlessly and I love how much they trust each other to get the job done. Charlotte clearly has a unique gift but were it not for the help of her friends, she wouldn't be able to use that gift the way she does. Charlotte and Lord Ingram's relationship has continued to develop and I'm loving watching these two enjoy each other.
Overall Miss Moriarty, I Presume? was an excellent addition to the series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, A Tempest at Sea, when it releases later this year.

Book:

How it fits: a whole library on cover, books included
Date finished: Mar 17
Rating: 5
Review:
Here goes a treatise (of sorts) on the vagaries of love and its highs and lows.
This is actually a reread but each time the narrator feels to be more of a piece of work, to tell the truth. He's a very much self-aggrandising at times, at times thinking much to much about stuff that hardly merits all the effort (well, it seems he's doing much too much effort), at times is plain borderline crazy and self-absorbed.
Chloe is quite another piece of work. She's uh, not deep, if I may put it like that. Probably it's all down to the writer not bother to make her more than a female prop.
Q:
... we found ourselves calling one another every day, sometimes as many as five times a day, not to say anything in particular, simply because both of us felt we had never spoken like this to anyone before, that all the rest had been compromise and self-deception, that only now were we finally able to understand and make ourselves understood � that the waiting (quasi-messianic in nature) was truly over. I recognized in her the woman I had clumsily been seeking all my life, a creature whose smile and whose eyes, whose sense of humour and whose taste in books, whose anxieties and whose intelligence miraculously matched those of my ideal. (c)
Q:
Do we not fall in love partly out of a momentary will to suspend seeing through people, even at the cost of blinding ourselves a little in the process? If cynicism and love lie at opposite ends of a spectrum, do we not sometimes fall in love in order to escape the debilitating cynicism to which we are prone? Is there not in every coup de foudre a certain wilful exaggeration of the qualities of the beloved, an exaggeration which distracts us from our habitual pessimism and focuses our energies on someone in whom we can believe in a way we have never believed in ourselves? (c)
Q:
Most people would throw away all their cynicism if they could. The majority just never get the chance. (c)

New Spot: 68
You can read a #6, #8, or #68 in a series, or a book set sometime before 1600 AD.


Barbara Ross
Read: 3/18
How it fits: #8 in Maine Clambake Mysteries
This mystery starts as two mysteries -- a hidden room in an old building that Julia and Chris are involved in refurbishing, complete with the belongings of the prior occupant and some journals from the late 1800s, and a present-day murder of someone who turns out to share an unsavory past with Chris' brother. Suspicion immediately falls on the brother, and it's up to Julia to clear him.
These mysteries are fun because they really take advantage of the Maine sea-faring atmosphere, the small-town ambiance, and the exposure to ways of earning a living that are little known to me. Julia doesn't really have a sidekick per se unless you count Chris, but their relationship has so many trust issues and has built so slowly that it doesn't really feel like a partnership yet. However - counter to many series - Julia has a great relationship with the local cops. They don't like their scenes being mess with etc., but they have come to know that Julia quite often gets good information. So they work together more than amateurs and professionals in many other series do.
The geography also works well for the stories. Because they're dealing with islands and water, there are natural delays built in to the landscape that cause suspense to build -- which keeps the author from having to rely on instances of Julia being TSTL and getting saved at the last minute. She has a good head on her shoulders: being stupid wouldn't fit her character.
The ending was surprising and satisfying except for one unexpected loss. But they can't all be fairytales.
Off to book 9!

Spot: 68

Book: Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
Qualification: Mercy Thompson #8
Finished: 3/19/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Mercy is used to fighting a number of different kinds of monsters, but this time, her biggest threat may be her husband and mate's human ex-wife. When Christy needs to escape her stalker, Adam allows her the protection of the pack, but she seems to want to take up her original place by Adam's side as well. It also doesn't help that her stalker seems to be not human. And then there's the Gray Lord that comes to visit looking for his father's walking stick, which leads her on a trip to meet another Coyote shifter. As always, lots of action, excitement, and fun!




Book: Renewed for Murder by Victoria Gilbert
How it fits?: #6 in Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series
Date finished?: 3/19/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Renewed for Murder was another amazing addition to the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series with an intriguing plot.
Taylorsford Public Library director Amy Webber is settling into married life with her new husband Richard Muir. With a local arts festival coming up, Richard is set to judge the dance portion of the festival while Amy has been providing background on the source material that inspired the dance. But when the body of an unknown woman turns up in Zelda Shoemaker's backyard, the celebrations ground to a halt. After Chief Deputy Brad Tucker places Zelda under arrest following the discovery of a blackmail note in the deceased's pocket, Amy decides to use her research skills to help clear Zelda's name. But after Amy finds a connection in the distant past between the dead woman and Zelda, she will have her work cut out for her to uncover the truth before Zelda spends the rest of her life behind bars.
A dead woman turning up in Zelda's yard made for an interesting plot. At first we don't know if there's any connection between the deceased and Zelda which leaves us wondering how the woman ended up in Zelda's garden. Then after Amy uncovers a connection between the two, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seemed. Add in the fact that their connection goes back fifty years and that made Amy's research a bit difficult. With so few avenues to explore, Amy has to work the investigation from a different angle. Her search is definitely more research heavy in the library as opposed to interviewing this time around although she does manage to track down a few people who were around back then. Ultimately I was surprised by the identity of the killer as I had a different suspect in mind. The ending was fantastically done with a great final showdown with killer.
Amy is an excellent main character who has grown a lot throughout the series. Amy's research skills are an incredible asset as she manages to track down leads the cops may have overlooked. I like that she verifies all information she learns and doesn't take things at face value. One thing that's nice about this series is that Amy actively keeps the sheriff informed of her leads and avoids going off on her own as much as possible. A lot of cozy mystery leads are reckless, so it's a nice change of pace to have a lead who knows when to involve the authorities. Amy and Richard's relationship continues to be fantastic and I like that he trusts Amy to know where her limit is in investigations. While he expresses worry, he's supportive of what she does.
Overall Renewed for Murder was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Death in the Margins, when it releases later this year.

Spot: 68
Jennifer: Sealed Off by Barbara Ross (Maine Clambake Mystery #8: Post 209)
Melanie: Renewed for Murder by Victoria Gilbert (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #6: Post 213)
☘Mǰ徱�: The King's Favorite by Tanya Anne Crosby (Set before 1600 AD: Post 216)
Theo: Night Broken by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #8: Post 210)


Book:

How it fits: set in 1200s
Date finished: Mar 21
Rating: 5
Review:
Another book with a cringe-worthy cover... *shudders*
I have to say, I was extremely irked with the author's portrayal of the nobility as people who just went about making deals with each other for the sake of making deals with each other. I'm sure this was not the author's intent but it came across like that and I can't help but think that probably, likely, sure the motivations were much moreprofound and meaningful and were a necessity in those times, since had there been no ties that we could've called prediplomatic today, it would've been total war nonstop, then.
Another thing that paradoxically was irritating, was the sprinkling of real life, historical heroes along with the make believe ones. I love the period, the empresse Matilda, the whole shebang of the tie for the throne and all the real woes that went package with it but... BUT seeing Elspeth and the rest of her sisters as Matilda's halfsisters made me want to roll my eyes so much more. I was like, of and so it was the threefold law that precluded them from getting their sis on the throne and getting rid of competitors? I don't believe that.
The characters were quite a bit immature and irritating and their antics left much space for improvement but then again that's just me not being in the right mood for the genre. Overall, it was a swift read with a lot of entertainment value.

I posted.
☘Mǰ徱� wrote: "Theo wrote: "We won't be able to roll tonight since we're missing a review and we've already used our free pass. I'll roll first thing on Thursday!"
I posted."
Unfortunately you missed the deadline. Reviews need to be in by midnight Central Time, your post came around 1am.
I posted."
Unfortunately you missed the deadline. Reviews need to be in by midnight Central Time, your post came around 1am.


G.A. McKevett
Read: 3/24
How it fits: #7 in Savannah Reid
Review:
Savannah heads back to her childhood home for a wedding, and winds up investigating a murder instead. It's interesting to see Savannah interacting with people who are familiar to her but new to the reader, and interesting to watch Tammy and Dirk, her two sidekicks from California, as they interact with Savannah's grandmother and siblings. I got totally sucked in by one of the red herrings and was a little irked because the mystery solution just seemed too easy. I quickly found out how gullible I am! I especially liked the scene with Granny Reid at the end. Everyone should have a Granny Reid. 4 stars.


Here we go for this week!
Completion Post: Week _ - Spot 73
Book:

How it fits: #7
Date finished: Mar 26
Rating: 5
Review:
Noir and magic, the golden Trio traipsing around, Voldy getting socio-savvy (who would've guessed)... Interesting, how this book reflected the fake news thingy that has gone amok since then: you know, all the glorified papers doing reprints of verified fakes, not caring about the truth in the slightest, people believing certified bullshit... Gotta give Rowling kudos for showing all of that in a kiddie book.
I love this series entirely too much! It's so incredible! I have read it in multiple translations and loved most of them, though I must say that most languages editions don't match the original Rowling's quality of wording, linguistical crispness and magical pull this series emanates.
This is a series for all ages and all times. Whenever I need a comfort read, this is a book to go to!

Spot: 73

Book: A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole
Qualification: Reluctant Royals #3
Finished: 3/27/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Using the fake engagement trope, this romance focuses on Nya, a cousin to the royal family in Thesolo (a fictional African country), and Johan, the stepson of the king of Liechtienbourg (a fictional European country). While we all know how a romance novel will end, it's about the journey, not the destination. I enjoyed Nya and Johan's romance and the ties back to the previous stories in the series. And, a subplot involving Johan's half-sibling, and heir to the Liechtienbourg crown, was a nice addition. This one was my favorite of the series!

Spot: 73
Jennifer: Peaches and Screams by G.A. McKevett (A Savannah Reid Mystery #7: Post 220)
Melanie: Killer Words by V.M. Burns (Mystery Bookshop #7: Post 227)
☘Mǰ徱�: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #7: Post 223)
Theo: A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole (Reluctant Royals #3: Post 224)

Life happens to all of us, M. No worries! :)


Book: Killer Words by V.M. Burns
How it fits?: #7 in Mystery Bookshop series
Date finished?: 3/26/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
Killer Words was another fantastic installment in the Mystery Bookshop series following our characters as they work to clear the name of the cop they've worked with in the past.
After the excitement of solving two murders while in England, mystery bookshop owner Samantha Washington is happy to be home while she anticipates the publication of her first book. After attending a breakfast with their family, Sam and Nana Jo see Detective Bradley Pitt deck mayoral candidate John Cloverton. When Cloverton later turns up dead, Detective Pitt is arrested for his murder. There's no love lost between Sam and the detective who arrested several members of her family, but she doesn't believe he's a murderer. With the help of Nana Jo and the Sleuthing Seniors, Sam works to uncover who framed Detective Pitt and clear his name.
The mystery in Killer Words was well done and I enjoyed how the author put a well known character at the center of the case. Sam and the Sleuthing Seniors have always found Detective Pitt to be a bit lacking when it comes to solving cases which is in part why they became involved in so many murder investigations. For all his faults though, the group doesn't believe Detective Pitt would murder someone. Working to clear a police detective made it so the group had to come at the case from a different angle. With no one inside the police department to pass on information, they had to rely on other sources. I love how many connections the Sleuthing Seniors have and how great they are at chasing down leads. Overall I was happy with the way the case was resolved and how Sam managed to figure everything out in the end.
Sam's writing career has really taken a step forward in this book with the publication of her first book inching closer and closer. I enjoyed watching Sam as she learned there was more to publishing a book than just writing it such as the use of social media. Like the previous books in this series, Sam writes another installment in her British cozy mystery series throughout the book. She continues to use her writing to work out her theories for the real-life murder which is a great way for the author to get across Sam's ideas for the case. In this book, her novel doesn't as closely resemble the real murder as it has in the past which I thought was a nice change of pace compared to the previous books.
Overall Killer Words was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author in the future. I highly recommend this series for readers looking for a fun cozy mystery series.

New Spot: 79
You can read a #7, #9, or #79 in a series, or a book set in South America.


G.A. McKevett
Read: 3/28
Fits: #9 in Savannah Reid
I skipped #8 in order to read this today (reading this particular series out of order isn't that big a deal) and wound up with another volume featuring Savannah's unbelievably irritating sister Marietta. As a result I now feel like slapping someone. If Marietta ever actually finds a man dumb enough to marry her again, I'm sending him flowers weekly, and he's a fictional character! I really wish Savannah had kicked her out.
Savannah gets embroiled in the seemingly accidental death of a plus-size model she admires. When a second one dies the next day, "seemingly accidental" fades into the background. Suspects range from an angry agent to people involved in a cereal account that's crashing and burning to creepy stalker guys. Dirk, the cop investigating the homicides, comes off looking like prince charming next to these other creeps, for all his rumpled clothes, overweight body, and Neanderthal leanings. Savannah's ability to appreciate him for the genuinely decent guy he is is one of the primary reasons this series is so much fun to read. The murderer coming out of left field is another..... Now, back to read #8 before I move ahead!


Book: How to Catch a Bad Boy by Cat Schield
How it fits?: #7 in Texas Cattleman's Club: Heir Apparent series
Date finished?: 3/28/2022
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:
How to Catch a Bad Boy was an excellent read featuring a great second chance romance between a private investigator and the man she's investigating.
After being accused of embezzling millions, Asher Edmond has no idea where to start to clear his name. That is until his onetime lover Lani Li, a private investigator based out of Dallas, bails Asher out of jail with the goal of using him to find the money for her client. The pair agree to work together to find out who stole the money. With everyone around them suspicious of Asher, the pair have their work cut out for them if they're to find the true culprit. But as Asher and Lani work closely, old feelings come back to the surface.
Second chance romances are some of my favorites, so I was excited to pick up this book. Asher and Lani have amazing chemistry despite their past issues from their first relationship. At first, Lani believes Asher to be the embezzler due to the evidence against him as well as the fact she has some resentment against him due to how their relationship ended five years ago. Reluctantly she agrees to work with him as it's the only way she can get the information she needs. I enjoyed the scenes of Lani and Asher investigating the embezzlement as they actually work well together despite their differences. The case proved to be quite interesting and I enjoyed the direction the author took things. Asher and Lani's relationship deepens as the book goes on with the attraction between them building until they inevitably give in to that attraction. Ultimately I was happy with the way their romance played out.
The Texas Cattleman's Club: Heir Apparent series is a sub-series of the larger Texas Cattleman’s Club series that in total includes over 100 books. Each story works as a standalone with the connection between them being the club and side characters. In How to Catch a Bad Boy there is only one scene that actually takes place at the club when Lani takes an interview there. A number of the side characters in this book make up the main couples in the other books in the series and I definitely plan to pick up other books in the series in the future.
Overall How to Catch a Bad Boy was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series to find out how some loose plot threads are tied up.

Spot: 79

Book: To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
Qualification: Stephanie Plum #9
Finished: 3/30/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Stephanie Plum is always good for ridiculous shenanigans. In this one, she's tasked with helping find a guy who has skipped out on his visa bond, one that guarantees he will leave the country when his temporary visa runs out. But in the midst of working on her more traditional bounty hunter duties, moving in with Morelli (at least temporarily), trying not to flirt with Ranger, and even a trip to Vegas, Stephanie finds herself in even bigger trouble. There's a psychopath sending her flowers, but she has no idea who it is. The gang's all here, and it's another wild ride!

Book:

How it fits: #7
Date finished: Mar 29
Rating: 5
Review:
Destiny gives Reacher another go at business left unfinished. Sometimes, of course, it could be the best thing to let the old dogs sleep but then again, if you are a PTSD-suffering loner who has no better things to do with your time, and it bites you in the ass, well, then it could be justified. So,,,, getting old patterns closed or worked out or whatever it is we do when we are deep in trouble? So... this is what Reacher gets up to: going undercover and doing, frankly, other people's jobs. Nice for him. And for them since they get to sit on their asses and getting their paychecks while he's going all detective gaga.

Spot: 79
Jennifer: Cereal Killer by G.A. McKevett (A Savannah Reid Mystery #9: Post 230)
Melanie: How to Catch a Bad Boy by Cat Schield (Texas Cattleman's Club: Heir Apparent #7: Post 231)
☘Mǰ徱�: Persuader by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #7: Post 233)
Theo: To the Nines by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum #9: Post 232)

New Spot: 82
You can read a #2, #8, or #82 in a series, or an award-winning book (you must list the award and when it was received).


G.A. McKevett
Read 3/31
How it fits: #8 in Savannah Reid
Savannah and co. go after the killer of a TV cooking show star who's all sweetness and light on her show, and a right bitch everywhere else. The mystery was good but takes a back seat to the seeming impatience and taking for granted between Savannah and Dirk (she's a little shorter and less pleasant to him than usual..... something to contemplate) and a visit from yet another one of Savannah's tiresome relatives. (She has about 8 siblings.) The two we've gotten to know best so far are both irritating, even to Savannah, and she raised them. I'm hoping we can get one decent one out of the bunch before it's over. So far, Savannah and her grandmother are the only two with any redeeming qualities. If the others aren't any better, I'm going to hope Savannah wises up and changes her locks.
One thing I consistently like about these books is that Savannah and Dirk bring in the bad guy without ever having to be "too stupid to live" in order to pull off the final scene. They always go about it carefully and smartly.
Another is when they stumble onto something (like a bank robbery at the beginning of this book) and using their wits, dismantle it completely. That's always hilarious.

Spot: 82

Book: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Qualification: Ascendance #2
Finished: 4/3/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: Jaron is adjusting to life as a king after years of living in hiding, but with assassination plots, the threat of war from pirates and bordering countries, and suspicions about his own advisors, things are not going to be easy. With few to trust, he makes a daring plan to confront the danger head-on, which may look like running away, but will his bold moves work? This is a political thriller wrapped in a high fantasy guise, sort of like Game of Thrones for the middle grade set.


Book: The Introvert's Guide to Speed Dating by Emma Hart
How it fits?: #2 in The Introvert's Guide series
Date finished?: 4/2/2022
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review:
The Introvert's Guide to Speed Dating was a delightful read featuring a romance between a single mom and her son's soccer coach.
London Stuart doesn't have time for dating between her job and taking care of her six-year-old son. When her cousins sign her up for speed dating, London figures this may be her best chance of putting herself back out there. That is until one of her dates is Oliver Hayes, her son's soccer coach, and she connects more with him than anyone else. Oliver is everything London is looking for except he's not sure if he plans to stay in America. But as London spends time with Oliver she finds herself falling for him and unable to resist him.
London and Oliver have known each other for a while as he is her son's soccer coach. I enjoyed the friendship these two had and I thought they had some great banter. After the speed dating session, the pair began spending quite a bit of time together. At first it was just Oliver coming over to give her son additional goalie training which led to sharing dinner together several times. From there the pair progressed to an actual date and I really enjoyed the chemistry that developed between them. The issue of Oliver potentially moving back to England does slow things down a bit between them but I was happy with the way the pair worked that out. One thing I will say I didn't love is that there are no explicit scenes between the couple outside of a handful of kissing scenes. Personally I prefer my romances to be on the steamier side but readers that like less steam would like that aspect of the romance. My one other complaint is that I don't generally enjoy romances with kids in them so I knew as I read through this series that I wouldn't enjoy that part of this book.
Overall The Introvert's Guide to Speed Dating was a cute read and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, The Introvert's Guide to Blind Dating, in the future.

Spot: 82
Jennifer: Death by Chocolate by G.A. McKevett (A Savannah Reid Mystery #8: Post 237)
Melanie: The Introvert's Guide to Speed Dating by Emma Hart (The Introvert's Guide #2: Post 239)
Theo: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Ascendance #2: Post 238)
Looks like Misericordia has missed the deadline again. This being the second time means she's disqualified. Though it looks like this is the last roll anyway, team 4 is above 100. Anyway, go ahead and roll!

You can read a #2, #9, or #92 in a series, or a book with a three word title (excluding articles like a, an, the).



P.G. Wodehouse
Date read: 4/5
How it fits: 3 word title
I first discovered Bertie and Jeeves in my late 20s. It's been years since I read them and this one contains one of my all-time favorite scenes -- i was ROLLING. I was laughing out loud. I was shaking. Wodehouse's turn of phrase is both clever and hilarious. Wooster's relatives and friends are some of the funniest creations I've ever encountered, but it's the Wooster voice that makes the book. (Wodehouse strayed from this winning formula once, and wrote a book from Jeeves' point of view instead. Not even close to as funny as the others.) "Right Ho, Jeeves" is Wodehouse at the top of his form.
I just love this guy.
Five Glorious Stars!

Books mentioned in this topic
Right Ho, Jeeves (other topics)The Introvert's Guide to Speed Dating (other topics)
Death by Chocolate (other topics)
The Runaway King (other topics)
The Introvert's Guide to Speed Dating (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
P.G. Wodehouse (other topics)Emma Hart (other topics)
Jennifer A. Nielsen (other topics)
G.A. McKevett (other topics)
Emma Hart (other topics)
More...
Spot: 63
Book: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Qualification: Anna and the French Kiss #3
Finished: 3/17/2022
Rating: ★★★★
Review: This one was tough for me to rate. I'm still bouncing back and forth in my mind. I loved Anna and Lola so much. Stephanie Perkins has a way of capturing characters and places and making them incredibly relatable and real. Isla has that too, but the story here felt like it was missing something, like the fact that there is so little conflict. I'm going with 4 stars mostly out of my intense love of the first two books (and the fact that we get cameos!).