Prologue to Murder, by Lauren Elliot

Prologue to Murder by Lauren Elliott
My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I didn't much care for it.

Book 2 in the series.

This series should be fun, but I didn't enjoy this one very much. The townspeople are nasty, the boyfriend is a dope, and throw in a love triangle and it's not at all my thing. It seemed a little slow as well, with too much catty junior high school type crap going on throughout.

I think I am done with this series.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*


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Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong

Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

This is a novella in the series. It takes place after book 5, and another novella. This one sees Olivia settling into her life with Gabriel and into her place as Mallt-y-Nos. It also sees the culmination of Olivia's dream of seeing her father freed from jail.

I liked this visit back to Cainsville. Like previous novellas, this one is a fast read, short and sweet. I really hope Ms. Armstrong continues to revisit this series, even if it is only with this short glimpses.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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The Diva Sweetens the Pie, by Krista Davis

The Diva Sweetens the Pie by Krista Davis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 12 in the series.

I've read a few Domestic Diva books here and there, but not all of them. This one absolutely stands on its own. I requested this one on a whim from NetGalley and I am glad I did.

I didn't want to put it down and read it in one go on a day off when the rest of the family was busy with other things. Sophie gets herself caught up in not one, but two murders, one of which already has a potentially innocent person in prison.

I love Sophie (Natasha, not so much, but that's the point), Mochie and Daisy, along with most of their friends.

Both mysteries were well plotted and interesting and both had satisfying resolutions. I am so glad I decided to request this book. I'm now going to go back and read the series from the beginning. I'm looking forward to more fun with the Domestic Divas.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Sifting Through Clues, by Daryl Wood Gerber

Sifting Through Clues by Daryl Wood Gerber

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 8 in the series.

I love this series, but this wasn't my favorite. I had a hard time getting into it, and kept putting it down in favor of other books. I did finally finish it, and ultimately I liked it. The plotting is strong as usual. I have to admit, I have never really been a fan of Pepper, so maybe that's why I just couldn't really commit to this book.

And there's also this little niggling hint of reality growing in my mind that the Book Nook in real life would never be capable of supporting so many owners. That seems to be interfering a bit with my enjoyment as well. But that's purely a "me" problem, cozy mysteries are never meant to be realistic, after all.

All in all, it's a good entry in the series, maybe a bit slow to start.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Murder in the Reading Room, by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Reading Room by Ellery Adams

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 5 in the series.

I love the premise behind the series, turning an old country pile in to a book retreat. But the whole Guardian of a secret library full of unknown treasures complete with a group of bodyguards and spy gadgets galore has had me rolling my eyes all along. Throw in a group of rogue Templars willing to kidnap and kill to get their hands on their treasures and it just got to be too out there for me in the previous book. Now in this book the author adds in Jane's supposed dead husband (who has amnesia, of course!) and I almost stopped reading.

However, the characters are all mostly likable, and I still love the setting of Storyton Hall. And the ending may have saved the series for me. So while the series certainly stays on my library / NetGalley only list, I will read the next in the series.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Mother's Day Mayhem, by Lynn Cahoon

Mother's Day Mayhem by Lynn Cahoon

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I didn't like this one.

Yet another novella in the Tourist Trap series.

Truthfully, I'm over them. And considering how short this is, that it failed to hold my interest long enough to finish is really a sad thing. I did finish it, but days later and I still felt "meh" about it.

We haven't had a full length story in this series since July 2017, so I guess this is the new normal for the series. Meanwhile, the author left us with a cliff hanger in the last full length book, that still has not been addressed.

As much as I once loved this series, the novellas just aren't enough to keep me reading.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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