Crimes and Covers, by Amanda Flower

Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower 

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

Book 5 and the final book in the series.

I've read every book in this series and enjoyed them. But this one, let's just say the series went out with a whimper instead of a bang.

I found it to be super repetitive and strangely stilted. It also didn't help that my personal opinion of Thoreau is that he'd never have really survived in solitude, since everything was done for him by family members and he was really a weanie, haha.

The plot seemed to plod along, with way too much wedding minutia and not enough mystery. In fact, for once, I picked out the killer right away. And darn it, I'd have liked to have seen more of Emerson and Faulkner! I adore the cat and crow.

All in all, it was a disappointing end to a series I loved.

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

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Cajun Kiss of Death, by Ellen Byron

Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, it was an okay read, with a nice wrap up to the series.

Book 7 and the last of the series. As the last in the series, it's not a great starting point for new readers.

I didn't go into this book knowing it was the last one, but as I read I very much got the idea that it was the end of the road for the series. The author was tying everything up. The mystery actually felt like it was taking a back seat to all of the wrapping up.

As a series long reader, I am glad to see it, and the big occasion that the books have been leading towards, but I'd have liked a stronger mystery. The dead man wasn't very likeable, and I didn't much care who offed him.

I'm sad to see this end though, I very much enjoyed my visits to Cajun Country and Crozat, along with Maggie's slightly crazy family.

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


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Chocolate a la Murder, by Kirsten Weiss

Chocolate a la Murder by Kirsten Weiss
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 4, and possibly last book, in the series as the publisher has closed.

I've read all of the books in this series, and I had high hopes for it, I mean a Paranormal Museum sounds fun! I had a hard time getting in to this one, it felt a bit slow, despite the fact that Maddie stumbles over another body almost immediately. And Maddie is really just a nosy busy-body, snooping where she doesn't always belong, and doesn't seem to really think things through. Makes it hard to like her sometimes.

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

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Silk Stalkings, by Diane Vallere

Silk Stalkings by Diane Vallere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Ms. Vallere comes close to designing the perfect murder.

Polyester Monroe is certainly busy these days, between helping transform Genevieve's tea shop into a Paris nightclub for the town's Midnight in Paris party to helping the young ladies competing in the local Miss Tangorli pageant design their own dresses. Oh, and finding the dead body of the pageant's founder makes her even busier!

I really like Poly, she's a take charge kind of gal, who cares about her friends and even complete strangers. It's that caring about her best friend, Charlie, that has her sticking her nose in to this murder, as it seems to be connected to Charlie's past.

The books in this series just keep getting better. This one had a nice, solid plot and interesting action that kept me reading long after I should have gone to bed. It had twists enough that it took me almost as long as Poly to figure out who the killer was, haha.

I do have one small complaint, and that is that Charlie's "poor me" attitude is starting to get old. Hopefully, some of that is lessened with the ending of this book.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

ETA:  As of 9-30-16, it looks like this will be the last book in the series :( 

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And so it begins.

Well, soon anyway.  Because the @SaveOurCozies #Readathon starts at Midnight!  I will be all over the place, Twitter (@Morticia_Hills), Facebook, and here.  No idea what I will have to say, but I will be reading (and listening) to some old favorites who have all been impacted by the recent Berkley cuts:
Melissa Bourbon - Magical Dressmaking series
Molly MacRae - Haunted Yarn Shop series
Christy Fifield - Haunted Souvenir series
Paige Shelton - Farmer's Market series

and more, maybe?  I have more ready to go, if needed.  I have a sock on my knitting needles to knit while I listen (or not, knitting while tired is a bad thing for me!), snacks and plenty of water.  There is always coffee to be had if necessary, and I'm about to start a pitcher of iced tea brewing, though that will likely be what keeps me moving tomorrow during the day.

Edited to add: Ok, so I won't really be all over the place.  I am mostly doing Twitter & a few posts here.

For Cheddar or Worse, by Avery Aames

For Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Definitely not my favorite in the series, but I did enjoy it and the previous books. I'm very sad to hear that the publisher has canceled it. We don't even get a final book to tie things up. Boo, PRH! Bad form :(

ETA: This series was a Write for Hire, so the publisher owns the rights. There's no way for the author to take it to a new publisher.



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