Is the word "compassion" used in any version of the Bible in English?

Yes, the word "compassion" (or "compassionate") is used in several English versions of the Bible.  For example:

Philippians 2:1 = "If there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation of love, any sharing in the Spirit, any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete" (ESV).

Colossians 3:12 = "As God's chosen people, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (NIV).

1 John 3:17 = "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need, but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" (NIV).

Matthew 14:14 and Luke 7:13 describe Jesus feeling compassion for crowds and individuals.

Word of the Day

Compassion = a feeling of deep sympathy and care for others who are suffering, coupled with a strong desire to help alleviate their pain or misfortune.  It goes beyond simply feeling empathy — which is understanding and sharing another person's feelings — by adding a motivation to take some action to help others by showing kindness or providing support.  Practicing compassion can be beneficial for both the giver and receiver, fostering happiness and well-being.

Added later because the Crown Center showed a documentary on Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday and this is something I learned about his thinking:

In his pluralistic and universal view of religion, Mahatma Gandhi believed the pursuit of God was more important than the specific religious text one followed.  His philosophy suggests that it is not the words of a book that are holy, but the faith and devotion a person brings to their worship.  He felt that all major religions were derived from the same truth and were equally valid paths to God.

Two subjects = a book and a word

How to Speak Midwestern ~ by Edward McClelland, 2016, linguistics and cultural anthropology, 199 pages

In this book on Midwestern accents and sayings, Edward McClelland explains what Midwesterners say and how and why they say it.  He provides humorous definitions of jargon from the region.  The glossary even has a section about St. Louis (pp. 53-57), where I currently live, roughly two miles from"the Loop."  Did you know that people here call St. Louis "the Lou"?  Actually, I live among people from all over the world:  Vietnam, Russia, China, Britain, Germany,, and many parts of the United States.  I have been told I have a Southern accent, so I wanted this book when I came across it recently.

Word of the Day

lin·guis·tics /liNGˈɡwistiks/ noun = the scientific study of language and its structure, including the study of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics.

Do we live in a simulation?

Question:  Do we live in a simulation?  According to THIS ARTICLE, we do.  Okay, some of you are wondering what I'm talking about, so here's a definition:

sim·u·la·tion /ˌsimyəˈlāSH(ə)n  / noun =  (1) imitation of a situation or process.  Example:  "simulation of blood flowing through arteries and veins."  (2)  the action of pretending; deception.  Example:  "clever simulation that's good enough to trick you."  (3)  "the production of a computer model of something, especially for the purpose of study.  Example:  "The method was tested by computer simulation."

The opinion article that says we do was published on April 1, 2021, with the title "Confirmed!  We Live in a Simulation."  It was written by Fouad Khan.  Here's part of the article, quoted:

Ever since the philosopher Nick Bostrom proposed in the Philosophical Quarterly that the universe and everything in it might be a simulation, there has been intense public speculation and debate about the nature of reality. ... Recent papers have built on the original hypothesis to further refine the statistical bounds of the hypothesis, arguing that the chance that we live in a simulation may be 50–50. ...

The claims have been afforded some credence by repetition by luminaries no less esteemed than Neil deGrasse Tyson, the director of Hayden Planetarium and America’s favorite science popularizer. Yet there have been skeptics. ... Why would a conscious, intelligent designer of realities waste so many resources into making our world more complex than it needs to be?

... To understand if we live in a simulation we need to start by looking at the fact that we already have computers running all kinds of simulations for lower level "intelligences" or algorithms. For easy visualization, we can imagie these intelligences as any nonperson characters in any video game that we play, but in essence any algorithm operating on any computing machine would qualify for our thought experiment. ...

Pretty much since the dawn of philosophy we have been asking the question:  Why do we need consciousness?  What purpose does it serve?  Well, the purpose is easy to extrapolate once we concede the simulation hypothesis.  Consciousness is an integrated (combining five senses) subjective interface between the self and the rest of the universe.  The only reasonable explanation for its existence is that it is there to be an "experience."

The simplest explanation for the existence of consciousness is that it is an experience being created, by our bodies, but not for us ... [It is] mostly likely for the benefit of someone experiencing our lives through us. ... All we can do is come to terms with the reality of the simulation and make of it what we can.  Here, on earth.  In this life.

 

Books ~ and a repeat

Zen Happiness ~ by Jon J. Muth, 2019, sayings for ages 5-18, 26 pages, 10/10

This beautiful, small-format gift book contains twelve inspiring and affirmational sayings that take on deeper meaning when paired with Jon J Muth's beautiful art, featuring Stillwater, the panda bear.  Every saying pictured is worth a thousand words!  Here's are three examples from the book:

Words, both true and kind, can change the world.

We are born again with each new day.  (See also HERE.)

With our thoughts, we create the world.

The Ponder Heart ~ by Eudora Welty, 1954, fiction (Mississippi), 156 pages

Daniel Ponder is the amiable heir to the wealthiest family in Clay County, Mississippi.  To friends and strangers, he’s also the most generous, having given away heirlooms, a watch, and so far, at least one family business.  His niece, Edna Earle, has a solution to save the Ponder fortune from Daniel’s mortifying philanthropy:  As much as she loves Daniel, she’s decided to have him institutionalized.

Foolproof as the plan may seem, it comes with a kink — one that sets in motion a runaway scheme of mistaken identity, a hapless local widow, a reckless wedding, a dim-witted teenage bride, and a twist of dumb luck that lands this once-respectable Southern family in court to brave an embarrassing trial for murder.  It’s become the talk of Clay County, and the loose-tongued Edna Earle will tell you all about it.

A comment on Amazon warns about the way two Black servants are "depicted as simple-minded, ill-spoken, child-like figures in the worst tradition of black people as comic relief. ... Also be advised that the n-word is used once in the book, in dialog spoken by an unpleasant character."

Zenned out?

Tomorrow's post will be a rerun.  I have recently posted books about Zen, so tomorrow I'll share something I first posted in 2011.  The content will be the same, but I'll format it differently.  So check back and see a fellow so focused on his "device" that he is unaware of what's happening around him.  To be "zenned out" may not be exactly "zoned out," but the illustration I used in 2011 makes it seem the same.

Deb at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon.

My sign-up post for TBR 24 in '24

This challenge is hosted by Gilion at her Rose City Reader blog.  This is a challenge aimed at reading books from our TBR shelves.  The idea is to read 24 books in 2024, which means one book for each year of the century.  If you're interested, the sign-up page is HERE.  Oh, you want to know what "TBR" means?  To Be Read, books you have on your shelves, but still need to read.

Gilion says we don't have to decide when we sign up, so I won't try to guess which 24 (or more) books I'll read from here forward.  But here are a few possibilities from what I once called my Teetering Towers of TBR Books (I've had the first one since 1976):

1.  Window to the Past: Exploring History through ESP ~ by Hans Holzer, illustrated by Catherine Buxhoeveden, 1969, history, 247 pages

2.  The Way to Rainy Mountain ~ by N. Scott Momaday, illustrated by Al Momaday, 2019, Native American literature, 104 pages

3.  House Made of Dawn ~ by N. Scott Momaday, 1986, 2018, historical fiction, 224 pages

4.  The Way to Rainy Mountain ~ by N. Scott Momaday, illustrated by Al Momaday, 2019, Native American literature, 104 pages

5.  To Love As God Loves ~ by Roberta Bondi, 1987, religion, 111 pages

6.  The Gospel of Thomas: Discovering the Lost Words of Jesus ~ by John Dart and Ray Riegert, introduction by John Dominic Crossan, 1998, religion, 122 pages

7.  I and Thou ~ by Martin Buber, 1923 (translated and with a prologue by Walter Kaufmann, 1970), philosophy, 185 pages

8.  Our Town: A Play in Three Acts ~ by Thornton Wilder, 1938, (Foreword by Donald Margulies, 2003; Afterword by Tappan Wilder, 2003), drama classic, 204 pages

9.  One God: Peoples of the Book ~ edited by Edith S. Engel and Henry W. Engel, 1990, religion, 146 pages

10.  The Teacher of Warsaw ~ by Mario Escobar, 2022, historical fiction, 368 pages

11.  Girl Country ~ by Jacqueline Vogtman, 2023, short stories, 200 pages

12.  In the Image ~ by Dara Horn, 2002, fiction, 302 pages

Word of the Day

duvet (doo-VAY) = A duvet is usually called a comforter or (down-filled) quilt in American English.  It is a type of bedding consisting of a soft flat bag filled with either down, feathers, wool, cotton, silk, or a synthetic alternative, and is typically protected with a removable cover, analogous to a pillow and pillow case.  The term duvet is mainly British and is rarely used in the United States.

I wrote about duvets last year, HERE.  And I posted a pun about the word HERE, that says:  "My friends and I have named our band 'Duvet.'  It's a cover band."  But why am I talking about that word now?

A few days ago, as I was going toward the elevators to go home, I passed a group of folks I know in the lobby.  I had not heard anything they were talking about, but one woman turned to me and said something about a "duvet."  I frowned, trying to figure out, "What about it?"  She took it differently, though, and said, "I'm glad somebody else doesn't know what a duvet is!"  And she laughed at those around us.  I wanted to say, "But I *DO* know what a duvet is!  I have one on my bed upstairs, as a matter of fact."  I chose not to say those words, even though her remark left all of them assuming I had no idea what a duvet is.

Looking at it from the peaceful and caring point of view, I could have saved myself from looking like I didn't know the word by making HER look dumb and feel worse.  I walked away, even though I hate looking stupid, too, so I knew how she felt.  Saying nothing can be "words of peace" (peace in Hebrew is "shalom").  If I had "taken sides" and said I knew it, that would have made her feel even worse.  So I chose to say nothing.  (By the way, I know she does not read my blog and won't see this.)

Bloggers gather in the Sunday Salon

to share what we've read and done during the week.

Deb at Readerbuzz hosts the Sunday Salon

I'm wearing RED today

National Wear Red Day is the first Friday in February.  That's today, so I'm wearing red.  People wear red on this day to show their support for the awareness of heart disease.

Why focus on hearts today?  Because February is American Heart Month.  Join me in wearing red today to bring greater attention to heart disease as a leading cause of death for Americans.  Let me know in the comments, if you do it.

And we wear red on National Wear Red Day to raise awareness about the #1 killer of women.  Crown Center is having a special Coffee Break from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. with heart-healthy breakfast foods.  I hope to see you there.  Wearing red, of course!

Another coincidence to share with you.  When I had quadruple heart bypass in 2009, the date was February 19th.  February!  Heart bypass in the middle of heart month!  The hospital gave me a big red HEART pillow to hug.  It's a big pillow, similar to this one.  When I hug it, the pillow sticks out beyond my shoulders on both sides.  I still have it, and it's RED, so I may take that pillow with me to the Coffee Break.

What's up with "UP"?

(What's Bugs Bunny UP to now?)

The English word UP has more meanings than any other two-letter word and is listed in the dictionary as:

adjective
adverb
noun
preposition
verb

We all know UP means toward the sky, but why do we say we wake UP in the morning?

Why does a topic come UP at a meeting?

Why do we speak UP?

Why are officers UP for election, and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?

People stir UP trouble, line UP for movie tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

George Carlin

And some people are stand UP comedians.

To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP has a completely different meaning.

After an argument, we kiss and make UP. 

We seem to be mixed UP about UP!

A clogged-UP drain must be opened UP.

We open UP a store in the morning, but we close it UP at night.

And what could she be UP to?

I could go on and on, but my time is UP, so I'll wrap UP this post.

If you want to continue this list, it's UP to you!

===================================================================

This was also written UP more than a decade ago and posted on this blog.  Hmm, counting the title and illustrations, how many times have I used UP in this post?  I love words, especially this one!

Oh, wait!  I just thought of another example!  Have you ever told a horse, even a pretend horse when you were a child, to "Giddy UP"?

Word of the Day

giddy up <gid·​dy·​ap ˌgid-ē-əp> = a command to a horse to go ahead or go faster.

What's in a word? Be creative, folks!

Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step ~ by Edward de Bono, 1970, education, 300 pages

The underlying argument of the book is that there are two kinds of thinking — vertical and lateral.  Most of us are educated to think vertically, to go from one logical step to the next, moving all the time towards the one correct solution of our problem.  We are not usually educated to be creative, to generate idea after idea.

DeBono argues that the function of vertical, logical thinking is to argue what is wrong.  It is a very useful way of thinking, but it is not the only useful way.  To claim it is, is the sort of intellectual arrogance that makes creative thinking unlikely.

Word of the Day

lat·er·al /ˈladərəl,ˈlatrəl / adjective = of, at, toward, or from the side or sides; relating to the sides of something, or moving in a sideways direction.  Example:  "He estimated the lateral movement of the bridge to be between four and six inches."  Synonyms = sideways, side, flanking, edgeways.

In trying to find something to illustrate this lateral thinking, I found a puzzle that intrigued me and followed up on it.  This illustration has a question about eggs in a carton; I'll put the answer in the comments.  Can you think of a way this is possible?  Go for it!  (Just for the record, the answer did NOT occur to me, but it is so simple.  Yes, it really is!)

The O Word

I laughed when I read this on page 127 of Nora Ephron's book I Remember Nothing:

I'm old.

I am sixty-nine years old.

I'm not really old, of course.

Really old is eighty.

Why did that make me laugh?  Because I was in my eighties when I read it recently.  Today is my 83rd birthday, an age that is apparently older than old.  I googled "older than old" and found out a few things:

• "What is a fancy word for old?  senior, geriatric, senescent, unyoung, over-the-hill."
• "Forms of ageism in language:  old fogey, old man/old woman, geezer, dinosaur."
• "A person between 60 and 69 is called a sexagenarian.  A person between 70 and 79 is called a septuagenarian.  A person between 80 and 89 is called an octogenarian.  A person between 90 and 99 is called a nonagenarian.

Any way you look at it, I'm old.  More and more people are living into old age.  I look back and see that my maternal grandmother died at 62.  My youngest child is nearing that age, and my other two have already reached it.  Thanks to medical science, folks are living longer.  By the way, Nora Ephron's chapter is entitled is "The O Word."  Old age.

Here is a photo of me in my early twenties, with my three children and my husband.  It was taken about 1964, when my son was about a year old and I was 24.  I wasn't old yet.

A word and a coincidence

Trying to be funny, I asked my friend Risé about her "druthers" the other day.  I had even looked up the word before I called her, to be sure I was using it correctly.

===================================================================

druth·ers (informal, North American), noun = a person's preference in a matter.  Example:  "If I had my druthers, I would prefer to be a writer."

Origin of the phrase = When a person says, "I'd rather," it sounds like the word "druther."  Therefore, it's a shortened way of saying "I would rather."

===================================================================

Hours later, when I sat down to read, I decided to go back to a trio of books I'd barely gotten into months ago:  The Herland Trilogy on my Kindle.  I knew I'd need to start over.  I searched my Kindle, found the trilogy, and opened it to where I'd stopped reading.  That's when I was startled to see these words on the very top line of the last page I had gotten to:

". . . can't always have your 'druthers' . . ." (p. 22).

I stopped reading after those five words, just to jot all this stuff down.  What are the odds?  I haven't used "druthers" in ages, probably not in years.  And there it was, in the book I picked up to read.  A book I'd been reading long ago, not even recently.

16 years of blogging

Today is my blogiversary.  Here's the definition, using several variations that I found online:  A blogiversary is a term used to designate the anniversary of a blog.  It is my blog birthday, the yearly anniversary of my blog.  I started blogging on January 30, 2007.  That's 16 years now, and I'm still going strong.  Sweet?  Hmm, I don't know about that.

Thirteen Thoughts for Thursday

1.  Word of the Year 2022

gas·light /ˈɡasˌlīt / verb (gerund or present participle: gaslighting) = to manipulate some-one using psychological methods so that they question their own sanity or powers of reasoning.  Example:  "He was gaslighting me into thinking I was crazy."

2.  In July 2021, I tried to download the free companion to this book and couldn't.  I even asked for help on my blog, HERE.  Last week, I was looking through my Kindle and ran across Am I Alone Here?  It showed as unread.  I thought, "But I DID read this book."

3.  Upon investigation, I discovered it was the unread COMPANION that I once-upon-a-time couldn't figure out how to download.  So help me solve the mystery, folks.  How is it that I now have this "free companion" book?  I have no idea.  The world is a mysterious place, especially with our devices doing their own thing.

4.  So I now have both the book and the companion on my Kindle, and they were NOT together.  Yes, the book itself shows as "read."  But not the companion.

5.  Next question:  Do I want to read that companion-book now, long after I finished the book?  No, because I don't remember details from the book 17 months after reading it.

6.  What if?  

Liz at Laws of Gravity used this image to ask:  "What if you found that $10 million was mistakenly deposited into your bank account due to a computer glitch?"  I'm not the only one who can't imagine NOT immediately informing the bank of the mistake.  Lisa commented, "Someone would be missing it, so they'd probably already have contacted the bank."  Exactly!

7.  Last week, I thought I'd see the Little Women movie on Friday, but it was cancelled because of bad weather and temperatures below zero.  St. Louis got nearly 3 inches of snow on Thursday, but my suburb to the west got more than that.  No, I didn't go out.

8.  I corrected the grammar book I was reading (a book I don't recommend at all).  Click HERE for the story, but basically the author called "Hindu" a religion.  Nope!  That should be "Hinduism" like the "Paganism" she had on the list.

9.  Word of the Day

pa·gan·ism /ˈpāɡəˌniz(ə)m / noun = (1) a religion other than one of the main world religions, specifically a non-Christian or pre-Christian religion.  (2) a modern religious movement incorporating beliefs or practices from outside the main world religions, especially nature worship.  Example:  "Paganism includes respecting mother earth."

10.  Do you order things online?  Or do you prefer to shop in person?  Because of Covid, I've been purchasing much more online.

11.  This chair also has eyes.  These photos give you an indication of how hard it is to see Clawdia when I walk through my apartment.  However, she's smart and knows I don't always see her.  As I approach, she says, "Mewp."  (Neither photo is of Clawdia.)

12.  Higher math?  I saw an ad for a charger that was on sale for $25.  It had been $38, so according to them, you save $12.  I guess I really am old.  In my day, a $12 savings on something that once cost $38 would then cost $26.  If all they are charging is $25, then it's an even better deal than what they are advertising.

13.  Speaking of math, whatever happened to that "new math" from the 1960s?  Click HERE to read all about it.

 

Correcting the grammar book

Kiss My Asterisk: A Feisty Guide to Punctuation and Grammar ~ by Jenny Baranick, 2014, English language, 178 pages

I have this on Kindle, which shows "location" but not "page" numbers.  The error I'm about to correct is found at "loc. 1420" in the chapter on capitalization, where it says:

We also capitalize religions:

Christianity, Judaism, Hindu, Islam, Paganism

I didn't add any punctuation to that quote because I want you to see what's actually in the book.  Look at those religions she's listed.  Oops!  "Hindu" is NOT the religion, but a person who follows the religion called Hinduism.  Those three little letters are needed to make that distinction.  People don't follow the religion of "Christian" or "Pagan" or "Hindu."  Thus, the third word in that series of five should be Hinduism.

Yeah, it's important to know when to add "-ism."

(Click HERE or the title above to read what I wrote about the book when I bought it.)

A word and a new book

Word of the Day

chak·ra /ˈCHäkrə / noun = (in Indian thought) each of the centers of spiritual power in the human body, usually considered to be seven in number.  (It sounds like:  shaa·kruh)

I found this chart online from Yogapedia, so it isn't from the book.  The list actually starts at the bottom (with the root chakra) and ascends to the crown chakra at the top:

1. Root Chakra
2. Sacral Chakra
3. Solar Plexus Chakra
4. Heart Chakra
5. Throat Chakra
6. Brow Chakra
7. Crown Chakra

Chakras and Self-Care: Activate the Healing Power of Chakras with Everyday Rituals ~ by Ambi Kavanagh, 2020, self-care, 218 pages

Kavanagh says we should embrace the timeless teachings of the chakra system for peace of mind, better physical health, and a sense of alignment, fulfillment, and purpose.  Why?  Because the key to optimal health and well-being is within us, in powerful energy centers called chakras.  Ancient cultures understood the sacred healing power of chakras and that self-care aligned with nature.  This book helps us engage in a series of meditative exercises that activate and balance each of our seven main chakras, offering daily and seasonal rituals to show us that true prevention not only comes from the ways we care for our bodies, but the ways we spend our energy.  It's been a long time since I read about this idea from India, so I'm curious to learn about these features:

• Affirmation, visualization, and activation exercises to align and balance each chakra for improved energetic flow.
• A comprehensive guide to the seven main chakras plus astrological and elemental correspondences and goddess archetypes.
• Essential oil blend recipes and sacred stones to open and support each chakra.
• Daily rituals to recharge and restore your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
• Seasonal energy rituals to reconnect with nature's rhythms and lunar cycles.

Musing about probiotics

Word of the Day

pro·bi·ot·ics (noun, plural) = a probiotic substance or preparation; a microorganism introduced into the body for its beneficial qualities.

The most commonly used probiotic strains include the lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Gram-positive microbes that have been used for centuries in food production processes (yogurt, cheese, pickles).

I usually choose vanilla yogurt, but last night I had peach yogurt and noticed (for the first time ever!) the words along the top (see up at the left?):  BILLIONS OF PROBIOTICS.  I first learned about probiotics when my doctor brought up the subject a few years ago.  Wow!  I love yogurt and cheese and pickles, so I've been eating probiotics all my life.

A chatfest and a mystery series

Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View ~ by Ramin Setoodeh, 2019, nonfiction, 336 pages

When Barbara Walters launched The View, network executives told her that hosting it would tarnish her reputation.  Instead, within ten years, she had revolutionized morning TV and made household names of her co-hosts:  Joy Behar, Star Jones, Meredith Vieira, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.  But the daily chatfest* didn’t just comment on the news; it became the news.

Based on unprecedented access, including interviews with nearly every host, journalist Ramin Setoodeh takes you backstage where the stars really spoke their minds.  Here's the full story of how Star, then Rosie, then Whoopi tried to take over the show, while Barbara struggled to maintain control of it all, a modern-day Lear with her media-savvy daughters.  Read about how so many co-hosts had a tough time fitting in, suffered humiliations at the table, then pushed themselves away, feeling betrayed ― with one nearly quitting during a commercial.  The director, meanwhile, was being driven insane, especially by Rosie.

Setoodeh uncovers the truth about Star’s weight loss and wedding madness, Rosie’s feud with Trump, Whoopi’s toxic relationship with Rosie, Barbara’s difficulty stepping away.  Plus, all the unseen hugs, snubs, and tears.  This book shows why The View can be mimicked and mocked, but it can never be matched.

This is one of Donna's hardback books that her sister let me have.  It has eight pages of color photos in the middle, like this one of Michelle Obama fist bumping Elizabeth when she was a guest co-host on June 18, 2008.  I'm about to read it, so I don't know details yet.  However, it seems telling to me that these are the three sections between prologue and epilogue:

• Prologue:  Out, Damned Cohost
• Part One:  Barbara's View
• Part Two:  Rosie's View
• Part Three:  Whoopi's View
• Epilogue:  Trump's View

Word of the Day*

Chatfest is short for "chatting festival," where two or more people engage in constant conversation for a long period of time.

The Jennifer Marsh Mysteries

Dying to Remember #4 ~ by Jennifer Fitzwater, 2000, mystery, 272 pages

Twelve years ago Jimmy Mitchell disappeared the night of Jennifer Marsh’s prom, and now her good friend Leigh Ann is desperate for Jennifer to accompany her to their high school reunion.  Nothing could make her go back to confront Sheena Cassidy, the backbiting, mean-spirited, boyfriend-stealing junior squad cheerleader who made her life a living hell — nothing except a note from Sheena’s now husband Danny Buckner, Jennifer’s first love and prom date, who is pleading for her help with something that happened on that horrendous prom night. But when she gets to the reunion, Danny barely has a chance to speak with Jennifer before he’s drawn away by one of his in-crowd. Less than an hour later Danny’s dead in the parking lot, an apparent suicide. And Gavin Lawless, budding singer/song writer and the love of Leigh Ann’s life, has returned to dredge up exactly what happened to Jimmy Mitchell that dreadful night twelve years ago that left Gavin with repressed memories and war hero Ben Underwood under a cloud of suspicion in Jimmy’s disappearance.

Dying to Be Murdered #5 ~ by Jennifer Fitzwater, 2011, mystery, 199 pages

Mary Ashton is convinced someone is going to murder her, and that there’s nothing she can do to stop it. But what she can do is hire unpublished mystery writer Jennifer Marsh to record her final days, so her killer won’t get away with it. Mary may seem a little loony, but she’s one of Macon’s leading socialites, or at least she was until the competency hearing. AND she’s offering Jennifer $1,000 a week to stay in her home, the historic Ashton mansion, reputed to be haunted by a Civil War heroine. The money’s too good to turn down, especially for a starving writer, so Jennifer agrees. And what’s the harm? Why would anyone want Mary Ashton dead? But the first night at the mansion, Jennifer’s awakened by blood curdling screams coming from Mary’s room, which is directly beneath her own. Trapped in her room, Jennifer is helpless. When she finally escapes, she finds a blood-soaked bed straight out of a horror movie but no sign of Mary’s body. Old family secrets and grudges, mysterious deaths, and ghostly lights that move about the mansion lead to a mystery fraught with danger and intrigue.

Dying to Get Her Man #6 ~ by Jennifer Fitzwater, 2012, mystery (Georgia), 332 pages

On the coldest day in Macon, Georgia’s recent history, Suzanne Gray dressed herself in white, tied a blue ribbon in her hair, gathered a bouquet of white roses, typed a suicide note, lay herself down on her lover’s grave, and froze to death.  Or did she?  Suzanne's niece doesn't think so.

Neither does mystery writer Jennifer Marsh.  Not only was the note not signed, but, well, honestly the whole thing sounds fishy to Jennifer and she can't let it go.  Sam Culpepper, the reporter on the case and Jennifer's boyfriend, not only appears to be hiding some of the details from Jennifer, but seems more interested in taking their relationship to the next level than discussing work.  So why, then, does an engagement announcement for Sam and his ex-girlfriend appear in the paper the next day?

Did Suzanne commit suicide or was she murdered?  Did Suzanne’s lover really die from a slip on the stairs?  Does Sam have another relationship that Jennifer knew nothing about?  What will it take to solve these mysteries?  When the bullets start to fly, Jennifer knows that she’d better figure out what's happening, or she'll be paying with more than her heart ... she'll be paying with her life.

Deb at Readerbuzz hosts the Sunday Salon.