So much for sleeping in.
My six a.m. alarm hasn’t gone off yet, but I’m wide awake at four forty-seven, not long after I’d wake up any other day.
But today’s Sunday. I hoped I could get some extra sleep this morning, especially considering I’ll be out past my bedtime tonight. My buddy Reece is hosting a Comedy and Cocktails event at his literary lounge, Subplot. He hired a hilarious up-and-coming comedian to perform. Maybe you’ve heard of her: Meghan Spencer. A few of her crowd work clips and book-themed skits have gone viral on social media in recent months.
I’m attending the show to support Reece, but I’m also helping him out with some odd jobs earlier in the afternoon—rearranging furniture, setting up his new P.A. system, and installing some new lighting that arrived yesterday, right in the nick of time.
Though I’m always happy to help my best friend, it’s what I do. I’m the owner and sole employee of Nate Of All Trades, my handyman business. From painting to landscaping to repairs to easier plumbing jobs, I do it all. Need someone to install floating shelves in your kitchen? A TV mounted in your living room? I’m your guy.
In my line of work, every day is an adventure. I usually have a few jobs lined up on any given day of the week, but I always keep some time open in my schedule for unexpected emergencies. You never know when a local restaurant’s bathroom sink will spring a leak. While some might be stressed when last-minute requests like that arise, I see them as exciting challenges to be conquered.
Once I’m awake in the morning—regardless of the time—I get antsy to start my day. Even before five, I have energy to burn.
Nothing in Hope Mills is open this early on a Sunday morning, so I think I’ll go for a run along the River Promenade, a walkway that parallels the Delaware River. If I leave soon, I’ll catch the sunrise.
Riverside Roastery, my favorite coffee shop in town, opens at six-thirty today, so I’ll probably swing by for a cold brew on my way home—as if I need the caffeine.
At ten this morning, I have an appointment to assemble furniture for a couple who recently moved to town. Unless someone needs urgent help between now and then, the rest of my morning is free. As great as watching TV or reading a book sounds, I think I’ll deep-clean my microwave instead. Oh, how glorious it must be to sit still.
Today is going to be a great day, and I can’t wait to get it started. Adventure awaits!
POUR CHOICES
Series: A Mixology Lounge Mystery, Book 2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: June 2026
Format: Print, Digital
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
When a comedy show takes a deadly turn, there’s nothing funny about it…
As a humid August heat wave descends upon the cozy town of Hope Mills, Pennsylvania, mixologist Reece Parker hosts the first-ever Comedy and Cocktails event in Subplot, his bookish speakeasy.
The evening’s talent, comedian Meghan Spencer, shakes up controversy when she takes a joke too far during her crowd work segment. But when she’s found floating in the nearby Delaware River the next morning, it’s no laughing matter.
With his best friend stirred up in the investigation, Reece takes a shot at solving Meghan’s murder. But as he sniffs out clues on his quest for justice, will he end up on the rocks himself?
About the author
Adrian Andover is the Lefty and Agatha Award-winning author of the Mixology Lounge Mysteries series. When he’s not reading, writing, revising, or publishing a story, he enjoys long walks, attending live music events, and spending quality time with friends in his chosen hometown of Asbury Park, NJ.