Show Time, by Suzanne M. Trauth

Show Time by Suzanne M. Trauth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First in a series.

Dodie has moved inland after her beloved Jersey Shore was hit by Hurricane Sandy, wiping out her place of employment. She's taken over management of another restaurant and "volunteered" to help with the local theater's production of Romeo and Juliet.

Between planning a "dinner and a show" themed special for her restaurant to help boost sales, (with a romantic theme even though Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy that ends in a double suicide, but that's a whole different review...), and helping with casting for the play, Dodie's got her hands full.

Then a friend is murdered and there are suspects aplenty. The town seems to be full of people that are a little shady, not very nice or just a little eccentric. It was a light, fun read.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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Tail & Trouble, by Victor Catano

Tail & Trouble by Victor Catano
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a book that maybe tried to be too many things at once: Paranormal romance, Urban Fantasy and a mystery all in one. All it really ended up being was a light, easy read. Don't get me wrong, it had some fun moments. If a beach read is all you're looking for, I say go for it.

It starts off with Gabriel and his girlfriend's familiar, on a road trip to find the missing witchy girlfriend, Sheila. Sheila's been doing errands for her coven, errands that were making her uncomfortable. And now she's missing.

It had a cute premise, but for me it hit a bit short of the mark and felt a bit formulaic and even the dark bits felt too light and fluffy. Good Guy's gf is missing, GG sets out to find her with no help from her friends, because hey, they're part of the reason she's missing. Good Guy runs up against Very Bad Guy and his psychotic wanna-be girlfriend. Good Guy finds Good Girl and tries to save her, but the rescue goes wrong. This is where the formula stops because *gasp* Good Girl saves herself and everyone else!

The ending actually got me to give the book a 2 star rating, rather than just dismissing it entirely as light and fluffy. Strong female characters still seem to be a rarity in fiction. Of course, Good Girl was a bit loony at the time, but that's ok, we'll give her a pass since she does come to her senses and remain Good and everyone lived happily ever after, except for the Very Bad Guy, 'cause he was dead. The End.

*I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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Chaos Choreography, by Seanan McGuire

Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Verity, Dominic and the Aeslin mice are back! Does anyone else feel cheated that we didn't get invited to the Vegas wedding? Waking Up in Vegas (available free on http://www.seananmcguire.com/), stopped just short. Hopefully, there will be a short story about the actual wedding.

But I digress. Verity & Dom have finally made it to Portland and are settling in with the rest of the Price clan when she gets an email. Now Verity is dusting off her Valerie personality again and putting on her dancing shoes to get some personal closure. Instead, she and Dominic end up caught up with another snake cult, and this one is eliminating the competition, and real magic is involved.

I love Verity and Dominic, but I have to admit to being a bit disappointed. I saw the cover and thought it was Verity's little sister, Antimony, with them. Instead, Verity's grandmother has come to back V & D up.

This book had magic and mayhem, dancing and drama and of course the one thing you can always count on Verity for, violence. It was an enjoyable tale, but one that I felt was maybe missing a little something. I can't quite put my finger on what that something was, but it was enough that I walked away feeling a bit let down. And the snake cult do-over? Yeah, enough of that.

Of course, the ending points to a direct confrontation with The Covenant coming soon, so that will be interesting. (But I have one question after reading Waking Up in Vegas and now this book. If Vegas can repel The Covenant, why can't the rest of the big cites now? The American Cryptids know what's coming after all this time, just like the Vegas group did. Plot hole wide enough to drive a U-Haul through!)

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Death at a Fixer-Upper, by Sarah T. Hobart

Death at a Fixer-Upper: A Home Sweet Home Mystery by Sarah T. Hobart

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I found this book to be a bit too quirky. The main character is a new real estate agent, yet she dislikes people and the chitchat that agents really need. That said, I liked Sam and the humor in the book, most of the time.

What I am not sure I liked:
-It started off very slowly, and took me time to get into it.
-Everyone seemed either "quirky" and downright nasty.
-Who starts a relationship with their sister's ex-husband? It seems guaranteed to get messy. And Sam's ex showing up out of the blue seemed way too convenient.
-This is the first in a series, but in some places it feels like we are missing information that we should have had. Was something cut out for space?*
-Sam often feels a little over the top. For example, the whole license plate deal, while typical of any government office, felt like Sam was making a mountain out of a molehill. And sometimes, she really was too stupid to live, and she knew it, too!

*Another reviewer noted that if it feels like we're missing part of the story, it's because we are. If you Google "Sam Turner mysteries," you find out that there are two previous stories featuring Sam and her real estate adventures under a different author/series name. It looks like the previous books were self-published. That clears up one "mystery" and creates another: Why is this being touted as the first in a series, when it's not?

After thinking about the book and my review for a few days, I've revised my rating back to 2 stars, because it really was just ok, and I don't think I will be seeking out any further books in the series (or going back to read the mysteriously unmentioned first two books about Sam Turner).



*I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*


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Something's Knot Kosher, by Mary Marks

Something's Knot Kosher by Mary Marks

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book was just "knot" for me. I love books about crafting, but I just found myself unable to get into this book. I couldn't relate to the characters, and really, that may be because once again, I've managed to pick up a book that is number 4 in a series that I have not read. The relationships and friendships feel like there's some back story here, and I never really felt caught up.

The mystery was interesting and well thought out, and I did finally finish after a lot of picking it up and putting it down to read something else.

I am thinking about picking up the other books in the series, to see if that makes a difference. My recommendation is, read the books in order. If you've read the rest of them, I think you will like this book more than I did.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.



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Cracked to Death, by Cheryl Hollon

Cracked to Death by Cheryl Hollon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book 3 in a series, but absolutely an enjoyable read even if you haven't read previous books.

I'm loving this series. Savannah Webb is settling in to life in Florida, running and expanding her family's glass shop, Webb's. Professionally and personally, her life is happily moving right along.

In this entry, Webb's Glass Shop is having upcycling classes. Savannah's friend and employee, Amanda, is teaching the students to make their old glass bottles into cheese platters, or decorative glass flowers, as well as other fun ideas. Who knew you could do such cool things with empty glass bottles? I wish we had a glass shop near me, this would be so fun to do!

Meanwhile some very old glass bottles show up and trouble follows, with a body washed up on the beach. With Amanda keeping secrets and acting strangely, the Webb's group must come together and find out who killed the man and why.

This book is well written, with well developed, likable characters and an interesting mystery. I loved the treasure hunt aspect. My only regret with this book is we didn't see as much of Jacob and Suzy. I love that young man.

I can't wait to see what the future holds in store for the entire Webb's crew.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review



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Braking for Bodies, by Duffy Brown

Braking for Bodies by Duffy Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am absolutely enjoying this series. I totally adore how each murder ends up an island festivity, haha. With this one, Evie ends up convincing the hordes of tourists that the murder victim they've seen is actually part of a special murder mystery weekend put on by their hotel. Crews of arm chair detectives roam the island trying to find who done it. The islanders play along to keep the fudgie dollars from drying up.

But when Evie's best friend ends up the prime suspect, Evie goes in to action to keep Fiona from being locked up, all why trying to live up to her role as maid of honor in a wedding that seems doomed.

An absolutely enjoyable romp over Mackinac Island. I heartily recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted, amusing, cozy mystery.



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Fixin' to Die, by Tonya Kappes

Fixin' To Die by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


After two years of little to no crime, Sheriff Kenni has to solve two serious crimes and prove that she has what it takes to be sheriff.

This book was a good first in a series. I enjoyed the touch of paranormal, with Kenni's ghostly gramps, the previous town sheriff, helping her out The sexy State Reserve officer on loan since Kenni's deputy just retired, was a nice addition as well. The small town feel is realistic and fun, full of the quirky (and annoying) characters found in so many small towns.

It was a fun cozy mystery, and I am looking forward to book 2.

*I was provided with an ARC of this book by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.



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Murder Most Fowl, by Edith Maxwell

Murder Most Fowl by Edith Maxwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book 4 in a series.

While this was book 4 in the series, I have to say that I never felt lost, having not read books 1-3. The main characters feel well developed, and most important, likable. The main character, Cam, is smart enough to save her own fanny as well, and I really like that.

The story was tight and fun, while still having some suspense about who is behind the vandalizing of local farmer's animal enclosures and who killed Cam's neighbor. I got so engrossed in this book that I read it straight through to the end.

Now I have to go find books 1-3, haha.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.



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A Bead in the Hand, by Janice Peacock

A Bead in the Hand by Janice Peacock

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the second in a series. It can be read as a stand alone, as I had not read the first book, and I didn't seem to be missing anything, plot-wise.

I really enjoyed this book. I love Seattle and Oregon, so the setting appealed as well as the subject. I consider myself a crafty person, but I knew nothing about glass beads, other than they sell them in the craft store and make really pretty stitch markers for knitting, haha. I like that Jax talks about making them without going in to too much detail, it makes the process sound interesting. And the description of the beads made me want to buy them.

I liked the other characters in the book as well, even the Goth twins, annoying as they were. I am looking forward to the next book, but...

My only complaint came at the very end of the book, when the author shoe-horned the dreaded love triangle into the book.

*I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.



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Clouds in My Coffee, by Julie Mulhern

Clouds in My Coffee by Julie Mulhern

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A bit of a wild and crazy romp with Kansas City's Country Club set (I'm getting a Mission Hills County Club vibe) full of multiple murder attempts on the main character, eccentric friends and family, and a hot detective. I found this book to be fun, if a bit outlandish.

I'll be looking forward to more of Ellison and company.

This is book 3 in a series.

*I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.



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Murder at the Mansion, by Janet Finsilver

Murder at the Mansion by Janet Finsilver

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


When I requested this book from Netgalley, I didn't realize it was book 2 in a series. I started reading and a few things here and there and I soon figured out I was missing some backstory. But it was still a solid stand alone read. The characters were fun and the story interesting. I'll be looking into the first book now.

*I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review



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Bright Blaze of Magic, by Jennifer Estep

Bright Blaze of Magic by Jennifer Estep

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I love Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series, but I had never looked any farther than that. So I saw this book on Netgalley and figured if it was anything like that series, I would love it. I did, but I came in on the last book of the trilogy! Oops.

But Estep is great at writing series books that can stand alone and so while I obviously was missing some relationship issues, she gives enough background to clue me in without boring her long time readers.

And there was nothing boring about this book. From start to finish it grabbed my attention and I had to finish it in one sitting. And now I really hate that this is the last book, because I want more! I will be going back and reading the first two books, for sure.

*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.



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The Obsession, by Nora Roberts

The Obsession by Nora Roberts

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I don't usually have weird dreams from things I read or watch. But I started reading this book before bed. At about the halfway point I had to put it down and go to sleep, though I didn't really want to, haha. It gave me nightmares! I dreamed of sexual sadist serial killers, just like Naomi's dad. And weird as it seems, that's a good thing. It made an impression on me, put me in the story, or I never would have dreamed about it. And having had those dreams, I picked it up again first thing in the morning as I drank my coffee. I didn't put it back down again until I read the last page.

I consider this book one of Robert's best books over the last few years.



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A Familiar Tale, by Delia James

A Familiar Tail by Delia James

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I highly enjoyed this book, once I managed to settle down enough to actually read it. I had a pretty bad case of book ADD this last week, caused by too many good books to chose from, an inability to sit still for long and itchy, watery eyes and sneezing fits making it difficult to see.

When the cold pills and allergy pills both finally began to get things under control, I finally managed to snuggle in to bed with this book for a sick day read-a-thon. And I proceeded to read it cover to cover in that one sitting.

I love Alastair and Annabelle, and all of their witchy friends. The one downside is that the author seems to be easing toward the dreaded love triangle trope, between Young Sean, who is definitely interested, and Frank, who is wrapped up in his newspaper. I hope that the triangle never develops, but it seems to be hinted at in this book.

I will be looking forward to book 2, By Familiar Means, in September.



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I didn't think it was possible

to feel so crummy you don't even want to read!  Blech!

Hearse and Buggy, by Laura Bradford

Hearse and Buggy by Laura Bradford

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

It's categorized as a mystery, but for me the only real mystery was how the main character was so quickly accepted by the Amish, especially after they'd already been burned by the previous shop owner. I'm sorry, but that just doesn't feel authentic to me.

And the mystery? The victim wasn't even dead yet and I knew who was going to off him and why. Characters were one dimensional and boring, and the Amish were very stereotyped. I ended up skimming through the book, past long bits filled with many gasps, googly eyes between star crossed teens, and of course, the crappy, trite love triangle trope. In fact, due to the use of TWO love triangles, I honestly would give this -1 star if I could!

Seriously, if you'e looking for an Amish cozy, go with Isabella Alan's Amish Quilt Shop series. I liked it a lot more.



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Tea Cups and Carnage, by Lynn Cahoon

Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've only recently found this author, but already I've devoured all of the books in this series. So far, this is my favorite of the bunch. The characters feel more rounded in this installment and I like that very much.

I also like that in this book, Jill, while still being Jill and poking her nose into things, shared more with Greg and really only stumbled in to danger this time around. I like that much better than when the main character stubbornly sticks herself in a bad situation because she can't just pick up a phone and call for help!

One thing I have to admit that has grated on me through out the whole series is the lack of manners that most of the characters display. There's talk about being polite to customers, yet no one seems to ever say "please" or "thank you" when they ask for or receive something. In an earlier book Aunt Jackie even chides Jill about not saying please. Seriously, are manners dead??

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.



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Murder at Morningside, by Sandra Bretting

Murder at Morningside by Sandra Bretting

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A nice first in a new series. I liked Missy, and I liked the Southern charm, although there might have been one too many exclamations of "gah-lee" for me!

She's a typical amateur detective though, nosy as heck and putting herself in to dangerous situations after swearing she'd do no such thing, haha. "Why, Lance. Do you really think I'd run off and do something foolish?" And Lance (the police detective in charge of the murder investigation) knows it's going to happen, too, but he's powerless to stop Missy.

And after reading the sneak peak of the second book, Something Foul at Sweetwater, I'll be looking forward to reading it, as well.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*



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The 1906 San Fransisco Earthquake and Fire: As Told by Eyewitnesses, by Charles Morris

The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire: As Told by Eyewitnesses by Charles Morris

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book wasn't quite what I expected it to be,. I'd expected more firsthand accounts, instead what I got was a very detailed news account written by the author (who was there and did witness the earthquake and aftermath himself, so the description was true, if a bit misleading) with a few quotes from others sprinkled in.

I think if I were a historian and San Fransisco my interest, I'd have found it a bit more to my liking. As it was, it was a bit too dry for an amateur history buff like me.


*I was provided an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*



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Grilled for Murder, by Maddie Day

Grilled For Murder by Maddie Day

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A decent second outing in the Country Store mystery series by Ms. Day. I was pretty sure who the killer was from the start, and I was correct, but it was still an entertaining read. The denizens of South Lick have definitely endeared themselves to me, and I want to read more. I will unfortunately, have to wait a year for the next installment. I will wait, impatiently, to read more!

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*



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April Reads

My "To Read" list for April (In no particular order):

Rest in Peach, by Susan Furlong

Reading Up a Storm, by Eva Gates

An Unhappy Medium, by Dawn Eastman

Breach of Crust, by Ellery Adams

Blood Orange, by Susan Wittig Albert

Crime and Poetry, by Amanda Flower

The Obsession, by Nora Roberts

Shadow Rites, by Faith Hunter

Fire Touched, by Patricia Briggs

The Cracked Spine, by Paige Shelton

Chaos Choreography, Seanan McGuire

Plus, I just received approval for 8 books to read and review for Netgalley, so they'll come first.

Nine Lives, by Wendy Corsi Staub

Nine Lives by Wendy Corsi Staub

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I liked the setting, I liked the "oddball" characters. I didn't like the present tense. It bugged the crap out of me. I finished the book, and even enjoyed most of it, but I just couldn't get past the present tense. That was just a deal breaker for me. There's a reason most authors don't use it, it's hard to pull off. Frankly, it didn't work here, either.

It was distracting and didn't feel natural, didn't flow well. As a result, it took me days to finish what should have been a quick read. Instead, I read a little, got annoyed with the writing, and then put it down to read something else or go do something else.

As a result, this book only got an "Ok" rating from me, because I barely made it through and I won't be checking out any more books in this series, or even from this author.



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A Turn for the Bad, by Sheila Connolly

A Turn for the Bad by Sheila Connolly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Absolutely improbable plot, but for some reason, quite entertaining. Totally marking it down a full star for the damned love triangle trope that seems to be so prevalent in cozy mysteries these days.



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Marked in Flesh, by Ann Bishop

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love this series and anxiously await each new book. Meg has certainly come in to her own, and I like that Ms. Bishop is giving the Cassandra Sangues an alternative to cutting to tell the future. And I love the relationship between Meg and Simon, even if it's not moving fast enough for some people.

The plot, on the other hand, moved plenty fast. When the Elders decide to move, they move! Though I do wish they'd managed to move before so many of the wolves were, shall we say, moved against by the HFL. The blood thirsty side of me is totally ok with the way the Elders retaliated in kind against the HFL, while still leaving the folks who kept their bargain with the Others.

It does annoy me that Lakeside is still considered a "human controlled" city, and the folks in the Courtyard are still trying to avoid upsetting the remaining humans, even when they're talking about putting Elliot in as mayor. The remaining humans should be upset and looking over their shoulder at every little noise and thanking their lucky stars that the Elders and the rest of the Others deigned to let them live. Yeah, there's still some bitterness over the HFL floating around in my head ;)



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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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Guilty as Cinnamon, by Leslie Budewitz

Guilty as Cinnamon by Leslie Budewitz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I thoroughly enjoyed book one in the series, but book 2 surpassed it, which is always a good thing!

I still love the Seattle setting and the Market. It makes me want to go back to Seattle and spend more time in the Market area, poking around (sadly, after my last visit and fighting with the awful Seattle traffic I swore I'd not go there again, because it would drive me completely around the bend, haha).

The story starts off a bit slowly, and I admit I put it down for a few days in favor of a few audio books so I could knit (I tried knitting and reading once, it didn't work out very well, resulted in multiple dropped stitches and a very frustrated knitter!). But when I picked it back up, it picked right up too, and I read it straight through.

By the way, I love Indian food, so this book made me hungry a lot. Conveniently my husband shares my love of spicy food and took me for a lovely Indian dinner on Valentine's Day (our 25th wedding anniversary this year). This book also made me wish Pepper's shop was real, or that we at least had something similar locally. We have a spice shop in the next town, but I wasn't impressed with either the freshness or the staff.

I can't wait for the nice Spice Shop installment!



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Brotherhood in Death, by J.D. Robb

Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Quite possibly the best book in the series for years. Lt Eve Dallas took a huge step in this book and it was nice to see her expose her inner self a lot more to the little family she's made.

I adore her little crush on Dennis Mira and how sweetly uncomfortable it makes Eve.

After 42 books, this series doesn't seem to be slowing down at all, thank goodness!



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Staked, by Kevin Hearne

Staked by Kevin Hearne

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


The time between novels is usually enough to blur details of the story anyway. This one was an especially long wait because Hearne decided to say to heck with his loyal fans and write something else instead. Then you add the money grab created by putting the first several chapters of this book into an ebook only anthology for $5.99 and it is BS.

The 3 separate points of view that I hated from the previous book are still here and as annoying as hell. Granuaile is an annoying whingy bitch and all together too preachy in this book, instead of the kick ass and take no names person she was before. And Owen is an arse that should have been left on the weird island in time.

I got 1/4 of the way in before I decided I just couldn't do it anymore. I skipped to the end where I discovered that even Oberon and the promise of puppies is not enough to make me read the last book in the series. Good-bye, Atticus. I loved you, once.



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Wynn in Doubt, by Emily Hemmer

Wynn in Doubt by Emily Hemmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

See what you did Maanika?? A chance post by a friend on Facebook, a look at Amazon and suddenly the afternoon was gone! I had to read it in one sitting. My poor neglected husband came home from work while I was still reading and never said a word when I told him we were scrounging dinner, as I finished my fried eggs and sausage links and then wandered back in to the bedroom with my Kindle, haha. In my defense, I did make Toll House Cookie bars before I got sucked into the book! So there was that, at least...

By the time I wandered back out my eyes were puffy from bawling my eyes out, which made him look at me and immediately ask, "Are you okay?" and be all worried 'til I told him it was just my latest book, haha.

Honestly, with this book you get two stories for the price of one, a story within a story, so to speak. There's not exactly the HEA I wanted for both stories, but I can live with that ;) It was definitely a mixture of happy and sad tears.

It took me a bit of time to get into, but once the Kentucky trip happened, I was hooked and I really did read it straight through to the end. I totally related to Wynn, when she couldn't stop reading the diary, and went out in to the hallway to read so as not to disturb Oliver, haha.


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Silver Linings, by Debbie Macomber

Silver Linings by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Ick.  Just ick.  The Jo Marie/ Mark saga once again drags on and on.  The guests at Jo's Inn were annoying as hell.  Seriously, you're 10 years out of high school and you still want revenge on a boy?  Grow up.  High school sucked, move on.

It was so bad, I couldn't wade through it and I finally skipped to the end, just to have it done with.

I've long been a Debbie Macomber fan, up until now, I've read every book in her multiple series.  The ending of this book ended that.  It pissed me off enough that I will probably never read another book by this author.

First there was the oh so convenient HAE for the stuck in high school girls.  But what really left a sour taste was the cliff hanger ending for Jo Marie and Mark.

What I have always liked about book series is the fact that we get to meet the same characters throughout, but each book is its own stand alone chapter that furthers the series.  With this series, not only has there been little to no progress with the main characters, now it feels to me that the author isn't sure enough of their appeal and her writing to believe that readers will pick up the next series because they want/need more, so she had to forcefully create that need with a cliff hanger.

But as far as I am concerned, Jo Marie can continue being a wishy-washy widow, wringing her hands and Mark can fall off that cliff and stay/die in Afghanistan!  I won't be reading any further.


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Collared for Murder, by Annie Knox

Collared For Murder: A Pet Boutique Mystery by Annie Knox
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

First off, people who dress their poor pets in cutesy outfits annoy the crap out of me, so I really have no idea why I am even bothering with this series, I picked up the first book thinking it was a pet supply store that had outifts, not pet coutre, FFS. Books one and two weren't terrible, although I truly hate the love triangle trope that keeps showing up in cozy mysteries lately. Give it a rest already!

That said, I'm having a tough time getting into this book. It's starting off sooo slow. And the characters are starting to annoy me. Izzy is kind of blah (Ask me, Dizzy Izzy fits her to a T), the victim frankly deserved what he got, so I don't really give a damn who killed him, Dolly is getting on my last nerve (bringing a dog to a cat show, really?).

There are inconsistencies that are making me cringe. Three books in, and the author's lost track of the whole plot and timeline? What's going to happen when the author gets even farther in?? Let's see, Ama took in Daniel's dog at the end of book 2, and yet suddenly in book 3 Ama's kid is calling Packer "his" and Ama is saying she'll get him a dog when he can pick up the poop himself. What? And wasn't Pris' husband supposed to be building the conference center that the cat show was to be held in? You know, instead of the condos he started building? Argh.

And can we get rid of the damned guinea pig? Ghandi isn't really moving the story along, he's just become an annoying little rodent!

I think this may end up on my unfinished shelf. Life is too short to waste on inane characters and pet clothes...


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A Killer Maize, by Paige Shelton

A Killer Maize by Paige Shelton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book 4 in the Farmers' Market series. I really like this series, but this one feels like the weakest of the lot. The last quarter of the book dragged for me. (view spoiler)[After the big roller coaster "accident," I felt like the author was just kind of padding things to hit a specific length, instead of just tying the plot up. (hide spoiler)]

One thing I definitely liked about the book is that Becca finally resolves the annoying love triangle that she had been stringing along for way too long. the love triangle trope in cozy mysteries is seriously starting to get on my nerves. Authors ask us to suspend reality while reading their books, putting in convoluted plot lines, and then they throw in the love triangle, and it's almost too much for me to bare (most of us know that finding one significant other is hard enough, finding a potential second S.O., nope. Heading into Mary Sue territory there...)

All in all, I liked most of the book and I certainly like the series well enough to continue on, with help from my local library.</["br"]></["br"]></["br"]></["br"]>

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Killer Jam, by Karen MacInerney

Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked it, but I didn't love it. I'm willing to give the series a chance, because I enjoy the author's Gray Whale Inn series and this was the first in a new series.

It has a little bit of romance thrown in, and lots of likable characters (though some were not so likable, deliberately, of course). The main character, Lucy, seems a bit naive, rushing to buy her grandmother's farm and jumping into homesteading. Then she's broke and trying to figure out how to pay her legal fees, mortgage, etc.

The biggest thing that bugged me about this book was just how petty, lazy, useless and vindictive the Sheriff was. Bet he turns up dead in another book, haha.

I will definitely read the next book in the series, because I think MacInerney has a solid start here and I liked the main characters.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making: From Color to Quilting: 10 Design Workshops by your Favorite Teachers

Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making: From Color to Quilting: 10 Design Workshops by your Favorite Teachers by Editors at Lucky Spool
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Though the patterns in this book were a bit too modern for me, the basics that this book provides makes it a winner. The principals of color and building a color palette, as well as troubleshooting tips are perfect for a quilting newbie like I am. The chapters on prints and solids are also very helpful.

All in all, even though I didn't care for the patterns, this book has so many helpful tips it's absolutely worth having in your library.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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Handbag Workshop: Design and Sew the Perfect Bag, by Anna M. Mazur

Handbag Workshop: Design and Sew the Perfect Bag by Anna M. Mazur
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Craft level- Intermediate to advanced sewing skills required.

These are not your basic quilted bags! The patterns in this book are clear, with lots of photos showing the how to do things, step by step. There is a technique section that is helpful, if a bit short.

The majority of the bags seem to be intermediate to advanced, and frankly even the "beginner" bags require more than beginning sewing skills.

To sum up, this book is for a more experience sewer, who is truly interested in making their own handbags on a regular basis, not a one off, as the amount of specialized supplies needed will require a decent investment. The projects in this book use materials such as leather, and involve way too too many steps and too much $ for specialized tools, for this beginner sewer to even contemplate at this time.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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Haunted Ontario 4: Ghostly Estates, Museums, and Other Sightings, by Terry Boyle

Haunted Ontario 4: Ghostly Estates, Museums, and Other Sightings by Terry Boyle
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I usually love books about ghosts and hauntings, but I had a real hard time getting through this book. It felt really choppy to me, and frankly, boring. It actually felt like I was back in journalism school and had half an article edited out for space. It was obvious something was missing by the way it read, but it's sort of readable. It truly surprised me, because it's book 4 in a series, yet it reads like a self-published first book.

For me, a book about ghosts has to have a great story teller, because that's what they are, a story teller, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. These anecdotes feel grating and stilted, and well, weird. For example, this sentence in the Emma's Back Porch bit just bugs the snot out of me, "They delighted to take it as an omen of prosperity." Huh??

I can honestly say, had I not agreed to review this book, it would have ended up on my Unfinished shelf on Goodreads.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship, by Robert Kursan

Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship by Robert Kurson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ultimately, I was kind of frustrated with this book. I'm one of the people that is fascinated by the Whyduh pirate ship since seeing a special on TV about it, and I went to the exhibit when it came to Denver. The fact is, the Whyduh is still the only 100% proven pirate ship ever found.

This book is about the search for another pirate ship, The Golden Fleece. And while the clues and circumstantial evidence all point to this being the GF, the proof is not 100% there, since there is no real identifying item on the wreck (the Whyduh was identified by the ship's bell. Merchant ships, which is what the Golden Fleece originally was, don't typically have bells, and being a pirate ship in her final days, she's not going to have her name blazoned on much of anything else) that has been found to date. And since the wreck and all of its treasures are tied up in court proceedings due to financial and contractual differences between the 3 main players, if anything is there, it's not likely to be found. The fact that I got all the way to the end of the book before I found that out, left me feeling very let down. I was expecting pictures, or at least some description of what was found, but pictures are few and far between and the entire wreck wasn't even explored before litigation got in the way.

I also felt as though the author padded the book with a lot more background info on the main characters, in hindsight, maybe because the end of the story can't really be told yet? But really, I skipped through a lot of the padding, wanting to get to the wreck and what it held. Which again left me feeling let down, since THERE IS NO ENDING TO THE STORY!

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How to Knit Socks That Fit, by Donna Druchunas

How to Knit Socks That Fit: Techniques for Toe-Up and Cuff-Down Styles. A Storey BASICS® Title by Donna Druchunas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a straight forward book. I think if you were new to sock knitting, this would be a great book for you. It's a straight forward how to knit socks book. But, for more comfortable knitters, there are no real full patterns, just knitting stitch patterns you could use to design your own socks. Which if you're an advanced knitter, and comfortable with putting the pieces of a pattern together yourself, this book will appeal. But personally, that's a wee bit out of my comfort zone. I fall into the "comfortable" category, but not quite adventurous or advanced!

One of the major cons for me was there are no photos. For me, one of the things I like best about knitting books are the photos of finished projects. No finished projects means no pretty photos.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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If You've Got It, Haunt It, by Rose Pressey

If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying, I usually love cozy mysteries with a touch of paranormal...

I'd read one of Ms. Pressey's self-published books on Amazon, because it was free. When I saw this book at my local library I decided to give it a try. The combination of vintage clothes, cats, ghosts and psychic gifts was after all, a proven winner for two other authors....

Yep, this book felt like a combination of Annette Blair's Vintage Magic series, which I love and Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries, which I like. Ms. Pressey's book, not so much. This one felt very much like a first novel, when Pressey has quite a few self-published titles out there. I can usually get through a good book in less than a day. This book took me almost all of the three week check out period to slog though.

Pros: Funny characters, but they were over-powered by the cons.

Cons: -Cookie Chanel. Really?? What were your parents thinking? It's not cute, it's cruel, especially when the villain says, "You're a smart Cookie," at the end of the book. Blech.
-Too much vintage. I felt like Ms. Pressey went on and on and on about each item of clothing.
-The cat. *Sigh* I usually like animals in books and I truly believe that animals can sense things we don't, and may perfectly well see ghosts. But don't ask me to believe they can use a Ouija board! The cat spells better than most people I know, for crying out loud.
-The Ouija board. The one thing I agreed with Cookie about was not wanting to use it. Put it away.
-Plot holes. There were several that kind of made me crazy (the author can't seem to add to 3, for example, coming up with 4 hankies in a package of three).
-Weak mystery.
-And did I mention too much vintage and too much description of said vintage??

I see that this author has 12 different series on the go. Maybe she should settle on a few for a bit, and see if that helps tighten up her writing. Whatever, I'm glad this was a library book, and I won't be searching out anymore titles by this author.

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Spider's Trap, by Jennifer Estep

Spider's Trap by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is book 13 in a long running series, some of which I have read, many of which I haven't. Spider's Trap has made me want to go back and read them all!

Gin is now in charge of Ashland's Underworld, having bumped off the previous supreme overlords ;) She doesn't seem too happy about it, but she's dealing. Unfortunately, the underbosses, aren't happy at all having Gin in charge and she has been the target of several assassination attempts herself.

(view spoiler)[The book pretty much starts right off the bat with another assassination attempt, but this time the target isn't Gin.

This book kept me interested throughout, with plenty of fun characters surrounding Gin to balance out the Big Bad, who just happens to be related to a Very Bad Man that Gin ran into many years before as a young girl. (hide spoiler)]

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In Search of the Paranormal: The Hammer House Murder, Ghosts of the Clink, and Other Disturbing Investigations, by Richard Estep

In Search of the Paranormal: The Hammer House Murder, Ghosts of the Clink, and Other Disturbing Investigations by Richard Estep
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"When other kids my age were running around kicking a soccer ball, I was far more likely to be found curled up with a spine-tingling book about ghosts and haunted houses..." -Richard Estep, In Search of the Paranormal, Ch. 2.

This description could be me. Unlike the author, while I am still fascinated with the paranormal, ghosts and hauntings, especially, I don't particularly want to meet one! So when I saw this book was available on NetGalley, I requested it and was pleasantly surprised to be given a copy.

I totally enjoyed this book. It helps a little that Mr. Estep is "local," as in, he lives, works and investigates paranormal happenings here along the Colorado Front Range, so I was actually familiar with many of the places in this book. I'm always interested in reading about the history of the front range, and really all of the west. And I can relate to the expat Brit, since I've been married to one for nearly 25 years ;) Some of the English locations are places that I've been or at least heard of, as well.

All in all, I found the cases well recounted, with Mr. Estep being completely honest that in a lot of cases, they just don't get much of anything. There's no padding or embellishing the actual "ghost hunt" to make things more exciting. The investigations are as scientific as you can get when you're looking at something defined as "events or phenomena such as telekinesis or clairvoyance that are beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding." -Oxford Dictionaries, emphasis mine. When something does happen, an explanation is looked for, rather than automatically assigning something to paranormal activity.

For me, an amateur history buff, a lot of the appeal comes from the local history, tales and lore given about each location. If you're interested in ghost hunting or the paranormal, as well as a bit of history, pick up this book for yourself.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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Reading List for June

1. Spider's Trap, Jennifer Estep. Sci fi/Fantasy. ARC.
2. In Search of the Paranormal, Richard Estep. Paranormal. ARC.
3. If You've Got It, Haunt It, Rose Pressey, Paranormal Cozy Mystery
4. Dark Debt, Chloe Neill. Paranormal, Sci-fi/Fantasy
5. Spelled, Betsy Schow. Sci-fi/Fanstasy

That's just what I've got lined up to read right now. The first three are in progress, but I keep getting sidetracked by life and haven't been able to finish even one! And when I do manage to run away and read, I tend to hide in the bathtub, and welp, can't take my Kindle in there ;)

The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer, by Krista Davis

The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer by Krista Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Second book in the Paws and Claws series. Holly Miller is back in Wagtail for good, helping her Oma run their bed and breakfast.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, but I loved this one. For one thing, there's a lot less Ben (though he's in there). I do see this book going down the typical love triangle path eventually with Ben and Holmes, but for now the men are just secondary characters with bit parts to play.

This book is set during Howloween in Wagtail, and is full of fun activities for pets, their people and everyone else too. A group of ghost hunters is in town to film a TV pilot, and one of their hangers-on is popping up and being a pain in the rear. Mallory is obsessed with the leader of the ghost hunters, Mark, claiming they're going to be married, when really he wants nothing to do with her. Mark just wants to get back together with his ex-fiance, Eva, a ghost debunker.

When Mallory ends up dead in what seems to be an accident there seem to be a lot of people who aren't upset about it, and both Holly and Officer Dave have a gut feeling that it wasn't an accident.

The plot is fun with a nice cast of characters. I'm looking forward to book 3. I have enjoyed these two books sooo much more than Ms. Davis' Domestic Diva series! So far there's no obnoxious anti-heroine in the middle of everything!

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A Sliver of Shadow, by Allison Pang

A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

2nd book in a trilogy.

I can't say I hated this book, it had some redeeming features, but they were few and far between. And the ending.... I really had a tough time finishing this book. I have to admit to skipping around, because I just couldn't deal with all the jerks.

Jerk #1 Ion
Jerk #2 Robert
Jerk #3 That Damned Unicorn, Phin
There are even more, but 3's already a crowd.

Ion was an ass in the first book, using Abby and abusing her trust, yet for some reason Abby thinks he's all that and a bag of chips. Umm, no. He's a Incubus, who eats your dreams and really treats you like crap.

Robert, cheating dirt bag and yet Charlie stays with him, blaming Moira for the whole lot. Takes two to tango, sorry Charlie.

Phin just freaking makes me crazy. Blech.

I HATED the end with a fiery passion, I HATED the love triangle (because frankly I hate the entire concept of the love triangle trope! Please, make them stop) and actually yes, quite frankly, can say, I HATED this book.

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The Diva Wraps It Up, by Krista Davis

The Diva Wraps It Up by Krista Davis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was ok. A whole lot better then the other one I picked up at the library at the same time, The Diva Paints the Town. I can't seem to get past the first 50 pages in that one! Yes, I know I am reading them out of order, but when I couldn't get into one, I moved on to another. I will likely try and read more in the series, because I did enjoy the book over all, once I gripped a bit out loud while reading it, haha.

It's Christmas, the neighborhood is out in full force, decorating for the holidays and swapping cookies (by the way, I made the Famous Pinwheel recipe, and it was flat out GROSS! I took one bite and spit it straight in the trash. My husband and daughter did exactly the same! What a waste of time and ingredients. Don't let the simplicity of the recipe fool you, it has NO redeeming qualities and I can't even think of ways to fix it so that the taste matches the lovely way these cookies look! Unless of course you like the taste of flour, then go for it...).

The cast of characters seemed a bit much, sometimes it was hard to keep them all straight, and the plot a little (lot?) convoluted. Sophie seems nice, as in a bit of a doormat. I don't care if they share a dog, what the heck is with her and her ex? He & Sophie divorce and then he hooks up with the Wicked Witch of the West (the complete opposite of Sophie, really) and still wanders back to Sophie on a regular basis. In this book he seems to spend more time with his Sophie than he does with Natasha.

Which brings me to my next point, get rid of Natasha. She's a stone cold bitch (and I think one reason that I can't get into the 1st book I tried) and a domestic diva with her own show?? Really, decorating for the holidays in pink and orange and then silver and black, why would anyone listen to her??

(view spoiler)[The victim is a lying, money grubbing bitch in her own right, trying to kill her husband's boss and make his wife look nuts, all so she can have money to spend again. Frankly, her death seemed like a gift to everyone.

And is it just me, or did Luis' wife Liza seem all too calm and collected at the end, for someone who discovered he'd been cheating on her with the victim, tried to kill her and then tried to kill Sophie too? I mean, if I discovered my husband was such a rat, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be in a holiday mood. (hide spoiler)]

My biggest gripe? The whole freakin' love triangle (although in this case it's more a square) between Sophie, Mars, Wolf, Alex. I am getting utterly sick of author's using this super formulaic plot device. I don't read a cozy for the romance, I read it for the mystery. And I would rather the mystery not be who the protagonist is going to end up with!

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Gateway to Freedom, by Eric Foner

Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad by Eric Foner
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

What should have been a cool book about a subject that interested me was too full of New York and not enough of the Underground Railroad :( It also came off very dry and academic feeling. I get it's non-fiction and history, but there's absolutely no reason it needs to be so dry.

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Marked Fur Murder, by Dixie Lyle

Marked Fur Murder by Dixie Lyle
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I love paranormal books, but I have to be able to suspend disbelief by falling into a decent plot and getting caught up in the characters. This series, at least in this book, has gotten a bit outlandish (and by a bit, I mean absolutely crazy wack-a-doodle!).

Cast of characters in this book:
-Foxtrot, seemingly normal PA. Can see and interact with spirit animals.
-Sidekick 1: Whiskey, ghost dog who can change shape at will.
-Sidekick 2: Tango, reincarnated pet cat from Foxtrot's childhood, who speaks multiple animal languages.
-Love Interest/sidekick 3: Ben, a Thunderbird
-Kooky Employer: Wealthy old hippy who spends money like water
-Kooky Employer's Deadbeat son, who seems to exist merely as filler when things get dull.
-Secondary employer, an enigmatic Spirit Crow, seemingly the overseer of the Animal Crossroads.
-Mysterious animal graveyard with an important role in the animal afterlife.
-More Thunderbirds, another reincarnated cat, more spirit animals, a pet "psychic" with a painting pooch, a crazy writer with imaginary friends and on and on and on.

The previous book was a little over the top, but in this one the author is just trying way too hard. This book was just too out there even for me! If there's another book in the series I will borrow it from the library and give the WTF trio another try, but I'm not sure where in the heck the author could possibly go from here!

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To Die Fur, by Dixie Lyle

To Die Fur by Dixie Lyle
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The first book in the series wasn't bad, but I'm starting to feel as though this series is getting a bit preposterous. Yes, it's fiction, yes, it's paranormal fiction, which means it's going to be a bit out there, but this one goes beyond just "out there."

Cast of characters in this book:
-Foxtrot, seemingly normal PA. Can see and interact with spirit animals.
-Sidekick 1: Whiskey, ghost dog who can change shape at will.
-Sidekick 2: Tango, reincarnated pet cat from Foxtrot's childhood, who speaks multiple animal languages.
-Love Interest/sidekick 3: Ben, a Thunderbird
-Kooky Employer: Wealthy old hippy who spends money like water
-Kooky Employer's Deadbeat son, who seems to exist merely as filler when things get dull.
-Secondary employer, an enigmatic Spirit Crow, seemingly the overseer of the Animal Crossroads.
-Mysterious animal graveyard with an important role in the animal afterlife.

(view spoiler)[The entire mob boss plotline seemed to be reaching, and the lions, tigers and bears, oh my, made me smh. (hide spoiler)]

I'm to the point where I'm not really even liking the characters. *sigh* But apparently, I am a glutton for punishment, as the next book in the series is waiting for me to pick it up. Maybe in a few days...

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Vision in Silver, by Anne Bishop

Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed this book, though the series is moving a bit slow for me. Maybe I am just impatient, but we know the confrontation between the Others and humans is coming, make it happen already! These little teasers/ clashes that are happening now just make me want to see the end of HFL! And now we know there are at least 5 books to the series, so I am just going to have to dial it back and enjoy the ride.

I like the relationships between Meg and the residents of The Courtyard, and I would have liked to see a bit more interaction between them. I flat out love Tess! Meg's human pack is finally learning just how dangerous the Others can be, but also learning that thanks to Meg, they're fair, unlike their other human neighbors.

I also liked the glimpse of the other Blood Prophets, and only wish more good had come for most of them. We are now getting a wider glimpse of the world and the more dangerous, elusive Terra Indigenes and I want to see more, NOW. Haha. March 2013 seems sooo far away.



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Gossamer Ghost, by Laura Childs

Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Thank god it's over! I'm done with this series. And really, who scrapbooks anymore, anyway? Lol.

I was barely two chapters in and I wanted to smack Carmela. Oooo, I heard something spooky so I am going to use my key and enter someone else's dark, spooky shop ALONE instead of calling for help. And then when she really should call for help, all she does is scream and figuratively wring her hands! Blech.

By the time I hit page 21 I already knew who the killer was. The rest of the book was just a slog to get through. I feel as though Childs is just phoning it in lately on all of her series.

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February Fever, by Jess Lourey

February Fever by Jess Lourey
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I should have left this book on the shelf at the library. I missed the previous two books in the series, normally I would have looked for them first. Instead, I picked it up on impulse. This book just left me sad and unsatisfied, and wishing I had never read it.

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“DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING,"

said Death. "JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.” The world just became far less amusing :’( R.I.P Mr. Pratchett

Shaman Rises, by C.E. Murphy

Shaman Rises by C.E. Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had a hard time with this book. I was initially excited to bring it home, but then I just kept looking at it on the table, and walking away. Not because it was bad, but because I knew it was the last in the series, and I really didn't want it to end!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, once I made myself pick it up and start reading. I love Gary and Morrison and I was thrilled that they were back at Jo's side for everything. I'm thrilled to see Jo grow into her power.

(view spoiler)[I knew something was wrong with Coyote right after he showed up. He was too intent on Annie, and just not acting like the Coyote we knew and loved. I was pretty convinced he was the Raven Mocker before he managed to convince Jo to go into the Space Needle. (hide spoiler)]

All in all, it was a good end to a good series, and one that makes me want to go back and start all over again with Urban Shaman.

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