Tayogo Bone Conduction Open Ear Headphones with Microphone Bluetooth

My first experience with the Tayogo company was a waterproof MP3 player that I absolutely adored. It comes with a memory stick that you download your tunes to and then slip back into the headphones, which wrap around your head and the buds are on a short wire so they can reach your ears. 

This set is even better and not just because I don't make it to the pool all that often anymore but because I can hear my tunes or Audible selections while I walk or (attempt to) run but also because I can hear the world around me.  Before my new headphones, I would use the typical wired earbuds and leave one out for safety reasons. I like to be able to hear the traffic especially downtown Raleigh. 

The other aspect of these headphones besides just for listening is that I can take a call and thanks to my Fitbit Charge 2, I can glance at my wrist to see who is calling without having to take my phone out of pocket and with a simple tap to my head I can take the call. Which also makes this a safe choice for when driving so that I am not messing with my phone while in traffic. 

These come with a standard charging cable with the same end as is found with most accessory electronics such as a Kindle and I often charge them while at work thanks to the USB cable aspect. Since I have about 50 of the same type of cord, I have placed one at my desk, in my car, in my husband's car and in the house. I even have one for the suitcase just in case I want to use them when we go on vacation or travel.

I was asked to give an impartial review once I received my headphones which I was most happy to do given the quality and performance of these headphones!

Bibliophile Cozys

A Scandal in Scarlet (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery)
By Vicki Delany
Published by Crooked Lane Books

Gemma Doyle, relocated Englishwoman, proprietress of the Sherlock Holmes bookshop located at 222 Baker Street, West London, Cape Cod area of Massachusetts and quite possibly a distant cousin of Sir Doyle is a modern day She-rlock  Holmes. Being extremely knowledgeable about all things Sherlock including the Great Detective's modus operandi, Gemma is ready to find the facts. Gemma has a great personality, very British and straight to the point. Jayne, her best friend and owner of Mrs. Hudson's Tea Shop (the scene of the strangling) makes a perfect Watson by always going along with Gemma because she would "hate to think what trouble" Gemma might get into without her. It looks like there is plenty of trouble to go around. From the mysterious fire that devastated the local Museum to the death by teacup swag followed by an additional murder and the rehashing of an unsolved murder from years before. Not to mention that regardless of how logical Gemma may be it won't stop someone from violently warning her to mind her own business, much to the chagrin of Gemma's guy, Detective Ryan Ashburton. Poor Ryan, he appreciates her wit and ability to size up a situation as well as a crime scene but he would much rather she not do things to endanger her life. While some people do not do well with Gemma's style of questioning you have to admit that she gets the job done and done well and in a very proper fashion. An excellent story with excellent characters but I do wish there were recipes for those tasty tea related treats that Gemma goes looking for at the daily partners' business meeting.

Can't Judge a Book by it's Murder
By Amy Lillard
Published by Poisoned Pen

This is the first of what I hope to be a long series. Book store/coffee shop owner Arlo Stanley must was planning on selling some extra books when a hometown hero/author returns for a multi-class high school reunion. Arlo didn't plan on him jumping out of her third story window after meeting with Chloe Carter for coffee. Chloe is Arlo's best friend and business partner as well as the mother of Jaden, the jumper's son, whom he gave up rights to before Jaden was even born 9 years prior. Wally, the bad dad and best sellers' list writer had a big ego, perhaps too big to have taken his own life and now Chloe is suspect #1 and is stuck in jail until Arlo and her book club mavens. Arlo  is a very personable character and you can't help but like the way she works so hard on behalf of her friend Chloe. The book Club mavens are a hoot, between their fully accessorized fashions to their perfectly colored and coiffed hair. It's not only Chloe's past love that comes into town, Arlo deals with the memory of her high school sweet heart whom she pushed away to protect herself from his dreams of leaving small town to head to college and a football career only to come back as the local law enforcement. The reunion brings another blast from the past as Arlo's other beau, the boy who broke her heart when he left to go to college, Sam Carter, who has decided to rent her third floor office space and stick around to care for his sick Mom. Arlo is a great character, the idea that the child of hippie parents would decide at a young age to stay put and set down roots. Her relationship with the book club ladies is a nice aspect of the story as well. I see a triangle on the horizon that should prove entertaining for many mysteries to come.

Death on the Page (A Castle Bookstore Mystery)
By Essie Lang
Published by Crooked Lane Books

Shelby Cox thought she was doing her aunt a favor by taking a leave of absence from the publishing business. She did not expect to be butting heads with  the Castle volunteer coordinator nor did she expect to find her dead in the grotto. A "haunted grotto" that legend says was a meeting place for rum runners. Shelby is sure that there is a smuggling connection and her aunt is sure that groundskeeper Matthew Kressler couldn't possibly be the culprit. The last thing Shelby wants is for her aunt to be worrying while she is recovering from surgery. So what is a girl to do but start investigating much to the chagrin of Coast Guard Special Agent Zach Griffin, handsome Special Agent Griffin that is. Shelby is an engaging character who, much like myself, has an excellent sweet tooth and knows that that books go better with chocolate. The local sweet store is a great place to get the gossip and a truffle or two. Shelby is fitting right in and I could see how this small stint as a bookshop owner could be a full time gig if she was to decide to make her old home her new home, or boat that is.

Prologue to Murder (A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery)
by Lauren Elliot
published by Kensington Books

Addie Greybourne, owner of Beyond the Page Bookstore and recent Boston transplant is once again involved in a murder and this time is might just involve pirate treasure. This time the local paper's gossip "gal" is pointing fingers and causing Addie trouble in connection to a local librarian's death. Seems that the local gossip isn't the only isn't the only trouble brewing. Police Chief Marc's manipulating ex fiancé and reporter Lacey is back in town and Addie just isn't sure what she feels or where she stands, not to mention that Serena, Marc's sister and Addie's new best friend and shop neighbor seems to have been effected by Lacey's machinations as well. However the new local Doc Simon is doing his best to keep her mind elsewhere are the two of them work together to clear Addie's good name, ascertain the real killer, and possibly locate a priceless treasure. Looking forward to see where these possible romantic strings go as the next storyline involves Addie's almost father in law which means she will have to deal with her grief and see if she has room in her heart for someone new.

Murder in the Reading Room (A Book Retreat Mystery)
by Ellery Adams
published by Kensington Books

Welcome to Storyton Hall, found in the Village of Storyton. Storyton Hall is known for it's incredible library and grasp of literary history and the end point for any bibliophile's pilgrimage. What people don't know is that it is also a repository of some the most amazing works of literature that is overseen by Jane Steward the Resort Manager and Keeper of the great works. Works that many people and even a secret society known as the Templars would like to get their hands on and are willing to kill for. Jane's twin boys were kidnapped in the previous story and now the Templars are holding Jane's lover Edwin in the famous Biltmore Estate of North Carolina. Jane and one of her Fin protectors, Lachlan, head to the grand estate full of secret passages and countless places to hide a captive. What Jane doesn't anticipate finding is her dead husband. Thought to have drowned one cold winter's night before her boys were even born, Jane must now figure out how to save the Storyton treasures, Edwin her love, and the man she once called husband. All of this while a group of WWI centennial reenactors make use of the grounds of Storyton Hall. But there is much amiss at Storyton Hall and it is will take all of Jane's will and wit to keep her family, friends, and fellow bibliophiles safe. Great story line and an interesting take on the Knights Templar. Jane is an amazing character full of life and a moral compass that is like no other.

Buried in the Stacks (A Haunted Library Mystery)
by Allison Brook
published by Crooked Lane Books

Have you ever wished that someone would just go AWAY? Maybe an annoying coworker, like Carrie Singleton's coworker Dorothy. Carrie is above that sort of thing being the quintessential Sunshine Delegate she goes and visits Dorothy in the hospital following bad fall on some ice. After recovering from the fall, Dorothy is involved in a fatal car accident. Or was it an accident? Dorothy is not short on enemies. The library's own ghost, former librarian Evelyn, and Dorothy's aunt who is only visible to Carrie, implores a little sleuthing on Carrie's part. Carrie is trying to help but is also having to deal with a few of the locals who are cold and homeless and without a place to spend their daytime hours. She finds herself on a planning board that is setting up a shelter that may or may not be the site of some nefarious dealings. Great story line and the solving of not one but two mysteries before the story is finished and who wouldn't like a story that has a library cat named Smokey Joe.

Read on Arrival (A Bookmobile Mystery)

by Nora Page

published by Crooked Lane Books

Miss Cleo, librarian with 50 years experience and the captain of the Book It bookmobile is after the one that got away. Or rather the library book entitled Luck & Lore, that is being held hostage by Dixie Huddleston for 40 years not to mention that Dixie "stole" Cleo's birthday wish. Dixie swears that it is the root of her luck as well as the stolen birthday wish. All of a sudden Dixie decides she needs to make amends as her doom looms on the horizon. Well it looks like Dixie's luck has run out when she is found locked in her own pantry, murdered, death by bee sting. It looks like Miss Cleo is the main suspect, seems like everyone thinks she is obsessed with getting the MIA book back on the library shelf. So many suspects, better suspects than Ms. Cleo who is a true delight as a prim and proper bibliophile who is not about to let Belle Beauchamp and her shiny monstrosity of a disco bookless mobile, who is also a suspect. 

Abbey Glenn Wiskey Series of Cozys

Died in the Wool (A Whiskey Business Mystery)
Written by Melinda Mullet
Published by Alibi

This is number 4 of the Abby Glen Whiskey Business Mysteries and I think it is the best one yet! Abbi finds herself on the board of a women's shelter and embroiled in a suicide or is it murder? There is something not quite kosher amongst other board members making Abbi's journalistic qualities come out in full force. On top of it, the cook at the shelter turns up missing, leaving behind her young daughter. The cook is terribly devoted to her daughter and would NEVER willingly abandon her. So many questions to be answered and so many people are keeping too quiet. Which turns out to be a great distraction to the possibility of her business partner Grant's slow recovery and possible loss of career from the previous novel and her finally acknowledging heart's longing which might be too late. To think this mystery started out by Abbi trying to relieve her flock's over abundance of fleece. No good deed goes unpunished and Abbi will have to be careful as digs into things that some would rather she left well enough alone. Multiple plots and subplots and I was riding that emotional roller coaster right along with Abbi especially with regards to Grant!

Deadly Dram (A Whiskey Business Mystery)

Written by Melinda Mullet

Published by Alibi

Melinda Mullet does not disappoint! This is the 3rd installment and Abi just keeps getting better and better as she works her way into the Barley Boys club on her terms. A merry cast of characters at the annual awards night including Grant's former girlfriend, Brenna,  who makes it quite clear that she would like to pick up where things left off. Between the ex-girlfriend making Abi second guess her decision regarding Grant, the possibility of discrimination amongst the judging and last but not least murder of the judges. So many possible culprits but how are the victims connected? So hard not to spoil so just let me say that while it can stand alone as far as the story goes, you will want to read this series in order to follow the time sync for Abbey and Grant.

Death Distilled (A Whiskey Business Mystery)

Written by Melinda Mullet

Published by Alibi


Abi Logan is back in Balfour to check in at Abbey Glen and this time she is hobnobbing with a former rock star who may or may not be a murderer of his own band members. The town of Balfour is beside itself with the rock n roll hoopla and her head distiller doesn't trust the Rebel for one second. Is it distrust or jealousy? This was a great follow up to the Single Malt Murder as Abi becomes more of a local and less an outsider as she stumbles upon some old history that made history while her terrier Liam is tending a lost flock of sheep and solving a murder with ever trustworthy companion Patrick.

Single Malt Murder(A Whiskey Business Mystery)

Written by Melinda Mullet

Published by Alibi

Abigail Logan is no wee lass, she is a photo journalist who has seen the grit and grime as well as the bold and beautiful but she has not seen the inside of the whiskey barrel.  That is not until her uncle dies and leaves his distillery to her. Set in a small town, Abigail is an outsider and she knows nothing about the fine art of making whiskey. To complicate matters it turns out that her uncle has made quite a name for his distillery so it is much sought after by numerous buyers and someone will stop at nothing to sabotage the distillery, including murder. The only person Abi can trust without a doubt is her best friend and adult beverage connesuire, Patrick. This was a great read and I couldn't wait for the follow up!