Out of Nowhere, by Susan Dunlap

Out of Nowhere: A Zen Mystery Set in San Francisco by Susan Dunlap

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.
#7 in a Series.

Darcy is back! This time, trouble has come after her newly returned brother Mike. What was Mike up to in the 20 years he was missing? How well does Darcy really know the brother she adored?

This story is as full of twists and turns as the streets of San Francisco as Darcy digs into Mike's past to find out who wants to hurt him, and why.

It did take me a few chapters to get into, but then I was hooked. From hit and run attempts to gas leaks to actual murder, this book's got it going non-stop.

Hopefully, Ms. Dunlap won't make us wait too long for the next book!

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


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A Tough Nut to Kill, by Elizabeth Lee

A Tough Nut to Kill by Elizabeth Lee
My rating: 1 of 5 stars, Did not finish.

First in a series. Pen name for Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli.

"I was already steeped in the heavenly smell of baking pecan pies and pecan drop cookies when I hurried down, worried, from my apartment over the Nut House, the store our family owned, to find my meemaw, Amelia Hastings, known to everybody in Riverville, Texas, as Miss Amelia, behind the counter, embroiled in her weekly tussle with Ethelred Tomroy."

Holy run-on sentence, Batman! Take a breath! That's your introduction to the book. The very first sentence. One word to describe this book? Wordy.

That first sentence/paragraph set the tone for the entire book for me. I just couldn't get past it. Or the very next one, which was almost as long. It only stopped to tell you that the speaker stopped to take a breath, haha. The entire book was like that. Loooooooooooong sentence, short sentence, looooooooooooooooooooong run-on sentence. Distracting. Enough so I couldn't get past the first chapter, so I never did get to the mystery.

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Reining in Murder, by Leigh Hearon

Reining in Murder by Leigh Hearon

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


First in a series.

Horse trainer and rescuer, Annie Carson gets called to a fatal traffic accident to take care of a horse that survived. A horse that ends up being the only witness to a murder.

I love the animal aspect, Annie obviously really cares about them. My one complaint is that like a lot of animal activists, she tends to treat animals better than she treats the people around her. For a 43 year old woman, Annie comes off a bit immature (her reaction to the murder victim's husband was a little bit high school, haha) and a little thin-skinned.

The mystery part was interesting enough, and Annie's attitude improved toward the end of the book, though she was still a bit... smug, I guess is the best word.

Hopefully in book 2 the author will round out the characters a bit, smooth off some of the rough edges, make Annie a little bit more likable. Luckily, I won't have that long a wait, since book 2 comes out in October.
 



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Kernel of Truth, by Kristi Abbott

Kernel of Truth by Kristi Abbott

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


First in a series.

I was skeptical about this book. The cozy market is flooded with books about any tiny niche you can think of, and a popcorn shop was never on my radar. And I confess, I don't like popcorn. But this book surprised me.

The Whodunnit was a bit predictable, I had that part figured out from nearly the beginning, but I didn't completely know the why, so it was still a fun read. I love Sprocket and his human, Rebecca, isn't bad either, though she did come off as a bit immature. But I will say that if we never see Rebecca's ex again, that will be fine with me.

I will definitely be waiting for the next book in the series.



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Reading binge

I've been on a bit of a binge lately.  I'm going to have to stop soon and get my thoughts down for some reviews.

Reading List:
Reining in Murder, by Leigh Hearon
Kernel of Truth, by Kristi Abbott
Hearse and Gardens, by Kathleen Bridge
A Story to Kill, by Lynn Cahoon (NetGalley)
Out of Nowhere, by Susan Dunlap (NetGalley)

And those are just the ones that I have read (or am still actively reading) in the last week!  The TBR pile on my coffee table doesn't seem to be getting any shorter.  And we won't talk about all the books waiting on my Kindle...

There are a few more books on NetGalley I would love to request, but I have 3 more books on my new shelf to read, so I am holding off on requesting anything more until I have at least finished a few and left reviews.

By the way, the sock I was knitting on during the Readathon?  It's about to hit the frog pond.  After 2.5 repeats, I realized that the blasted chart in the pattern is not only upside down, but reads from right to left as well.  *Sigh*  This is why I usually hate charts. I shall be stealing a sheet of graph paper from my daughter and re-writing it before I start again.

Success!

I may not have made it all 24 hours, but the hourly Challenges I could join in on were great fun, and I did get a lot of reading done (a dead washing machine and a trip to the laundromat helped a bit there, even if I am still not happy about the washing machine part!).

I got finished:
Last Wool and Testament, by Molly MacRae
Dead End Street, by Sheila Connolly (review to be posted soon-ish, it's already up on Goodreads).
Pleating for Mercy, by Melissa Bourbon

I started Kernel of Truth, by Kristi Abbott and Hearse and Gardens, by Kathleen Bridge (What?  They're in different rooms of the house, bedroom versus living room reads, haha).

I did NOT finish knitting my sock  Knitting and being tired does not mix, so I just read more instead.

Thanks very much to Franz Chapman for pulling the Readathon together and to all the authors who donated both items and their time for things like Q&As.  You all ROCK!

Hour 12!

Challenge: find cozies that have certain attributes:

a cozy set in a beach town- Lynn Cahoon, Tourist Trap mysteries

a cozy that includes recipes- Cleo Coyle, Coffeehouse mysteries

a cozy that has a ghost in it- Molly MacRae, Haunted Yarn Shop

a cozy where the protagonist is a business owner- Duffy Brown, Cycle Path Mysteries

a cozy that has a color in a book title or series name- Blood Orange, China Bayles series, Susan Wittig Albert

a cozy with a cat(s) that have special abilities- Sofie Kelly, Magical Cats

Readathon

They're still going strong @SaveOurCozies #Readathon! 

Me, I took a bit of a nap around 3:30 am, but I was back at it by 7.  But now I have to put the books down and deal with a broken washing machine for a bit.  *Crossing my fingers that it's an easy & reasonable fix*

I'm in the middle of Dead End Street, by Sheila Connolly.  It feels more cozy then mystery at the moment.  Nell was involved in a drive by shooting in which one woman is killed, but so far she's more focused on the epiphany she had after her near death experience than on finding the shooter.

Despite that, I am enjoying the book.  The characters are always fun to visit with.

Hour 3

I'm still listening to Molly MacRae's Last Wool and Testament, "The colors and textures displayed in the windows and the enticing glimpses of more skeins and fibers farther in lured even the most resolute," and any one who knows fiber crafters knows, we're not all that resolute, haha.

That sentence is actually what first hooked me on the Haunted Yarn Shop series, I wanted to move into the Weaver's Cat, lock, stock and barrel ;)

I love books that combine crafts with mysteries, and if that craft has to do with yarn?  I'm all over it! 

Hour One

Listening to Molly MacRae's Last Wool & Testament as I knit on my sock.  Up next (when I am too tired to knit and in danger of dropping stitches) is Melissa Bourbon's Pleating for Mercy on my Kindle.

My companion for the night is Mortimer Moose.  He's soft, and he doesn't hog the couch!

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.

Unwanted, by Jennifer Estep

Unwanted by Jennifer Estep

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


Novella, #14.5 in the Elemental Assassin series, follows after the events in Bitter Bite. Not a stand alone story, as it's full of spoilers if you haven't read Bitter Bite.

This short is told from Finn's point of view. He's feeling extremely guilty for falling for his mother's con in Bitter Bite and the events that happened as a result. His co-workers blame him as well, leaving Finn feel unwanted.

Finn's boss puts Finn in the path of one of the victims' widow and he realizes that something is off and he owes it to her and her late husband to fix it.

This was a good, quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's always fun to see things from another character's point of view, and I, like many readers, love Finn.

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

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A Dark and Stormy Murder, by Julia Buckley

A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was OK.

First in a series.

I had high hopes for this book, looking at all the 5 star reviews (though frankly there are some reviewers out there who seem to give everything 5 stars...), so I am kind of disappointed.

What I liked: The main characters. I like Lena and Camilla. They clicked for me.

What I didn't like: We were threatened with a love triangle.

What I did like: It was resolved at the end of the book, rather than left to drag on, and on, and on...

What I didn't like: This was a big one. Enough that I bumped the rating to a 2 star. The mystery within the mystery was interesting, but the ending pissed me off. Mystery partly solved, but now it's a bigger mystery and it might as well have, "To Be Continued" at the end of the book.

I'm sorry, but I find "cliff-hanger" endings to be a cheap money grab. Worried your series might not continue? Need to insure that the reader picks up the next book? Leave the ending open! The reader won't mind waiting nearly a year to find out what happens next, right? Yes, yes, I will mind. A lot. Previous series that have done this have lost me for good, (I'm looking at you, Debbie Macomber!) doing exactly this.

This series has now been relegated to my library list. I will pick up the next book, and give it a chance, but I'm not paying for it.

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Éclair and Present Danger, by Laura Bradord

Éclair and Present Danger by Laura Bradford

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

Book 1 in a new series.

Was this a mystery or a romance? There was a murder at the start, though it really gets swept under the rug for the most part, as the main character spends most of her time pulling together a new business and keeping her friends from pushing her at the first man available. And can I say for the record, the attitude of her friends, that she couldn't possibly be happy without a man in her life, really bugged the crap out of me the entire book?

I liked the premise (though starting a home baking business pretty much overnight seems a stretch, and if Winnie couldn't afford to keep her bakery open, where'd she get the money to kit out her ambulance?), it's a fun idea, even if most of the names of the desserts were on the corny side. And I liked Winnie. I mostly liked the rest of the characters, but found them to be a bit behind the times, shall we say. Even Renee, a young divorced mom, pushes men at Winnie, constantly. And we get that Lovey the cat doesn't really like Winnie. Enough already.

All in all, it's better than the previous book I read by the author, the first in her Amish mystery series, which was all too predictable, stereotypical and implausible. I will give book 2 a chance. But the mystery really needs boosting. Even if it's a cozy, the mystery still needs to be front and center. Less about Winnie's dating life and more "who done it?" And I didn't figure out who the killer was until the very end, purely because the killer was barely a blip in the book! And then Winnie has one of those too stupid to live moments that made me want to slap her.



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Kilt at the Highland Games, by Kaitlyn Dunnet

Kilt at the Highland Games by Kaitlyn Dunnett

My rating: A rare 4 out of 5 stars


Book #10 in the series. 

I've missed a few of the previous books in the series, so I'm going to say you can read it as a stand-alone story without feeling lost. The author gives enough background detail to allow the new reader to feel at home, without being repetitive for long time readers.

I absolutely enjoyed this one. The Highland Games are back in Moosetookalook and Liss MacCrimmon Ruskin, owner of the Scottish Emporium shop, is getting ready for it when the bookstore across the street from her home burns down and the family that lives there disappears. More mayhem follows, and the family's disappearance has to take a back seat to murder.

It's always nice to visit Moosetookalook and check in with Liss, her friends and family. The characters are well-developed and (mostly) likable. And the plot keeps the reader interested and anxious to find out what happens next.

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



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The Quilt Design Coloring Workbook: 91 Modern Art--Inspired Designs and Exercises by Thomas Knauer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm new to sewing, looking to get into quilting, so new quilting books always catch my eye.

This one even more so, as it has, "more than 90 full-page ready-to-color design prompts invite quilters to try new color combinations and pattern experiments," as they create their own modern quilt. I'm more of a traditionalist, but I loved the bright colors and the different use of space and shapes.

There's art history, color theory, how to use space and balance (or not) and most fun of all, a lot of coloring to do! If you want to try designing your own non-traditional quilt, this is the book for you.

This ARC was provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review



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Haunted Bridges, by Rich Newman

Haunted Bridges: Over 300 of America's Creepiest Crossings by Rich Newman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I love ghost stories, and this book didn't disappoint, in that it was filled with them. I kind of wish the author had presented fewer stories, in more detail.

I liked the layout, with each type of haunting receiving its own chapter, ie. hangings/lynchings, suicide bridges, crime scenes, etc. But there's only a short snippet about each bridge and the location. The book actually seems more like a haunted tour guide, encouraging the reader to go see the sites for themselves. The layout made it easy for me to put it down for a while and then come back to it when I had a little bit of time to read.

It was interesting enough, and I enjoyed the book, but don't go into it expecting a series of blood-chilling tales, it's more a factual reciting than a series of spooky stories.

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



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Shots in the Dark, by Allyson K. Abbott

Shots in the Dark by Allyson K. Abbott

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Book 4 in a series.

I like Mack and her buddies, and I like the premise that Mack has a little extra something that she uses to help solve crimes with her bar buddies. They make for a fun read.

This time around, Mack and her friends are trying to help a wrongly convicted man. It was an interesting plot, and moved right along. The secondary plot is more of a cliffhanger, designed to get the reader to come back for the next book(s). I'm not a fan, cliffhangers feel like a money grab and I've actually stopped reading series that try them in the past. The previous book annoyed the heck out of me and this one isn't much better.

My other issue with this book is that I have never been a fan of the love triangle trope. I need Mack to make up her mind, NOW. Mack either wants to be with Duncan (the guy she's actually dating) or she wants to be with Mal, the other guy she's attracted to. The waffling gets on my nerves and really detracts from the story for me.

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



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Die Like an Eagle, by Donna Andrews

Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars(4.5 stars, really!)

I have to start by saying, I love Ms. Andrews' Meg Langslow series. When I saw the book on NetGalley I was super excited. I honestly try to wait until closer to publishing date to read the ARCs I am given. Die Like an Eagle comes out Aug. 2, I was approved early on June 9. By the end of the day I had finished it, because I could not put it down! Lucky for me, Blogger allows me to schedule publication of this post to a little closer to publication date.

First off, can you believe this is book 20 in the series? And I still can't read one without laughing out loud. This time, Meg and her eccentric family are involved with a coach-pitch Summerball team. But before they and the rest of the Summerball league can enjoy opening day, the annoying league president's look-a-like half brother ends up murdered and stuffed in a porta-potty. Meg quickly figures out that more than that stinks, as she looks into the president's business practices and relationships.

As always, Meg's family provides amusement, if mostly in the background for this book. But the laughs were still plenty and the story kept moving, with never a dull moment. If you haven't read the series, this one can be read as a stand alone story. However, it's worth going back and starting at the beginning, Murder With Peacocks, you won't be sorry you did.

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

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The Bluebonnet Betrayal, by Marty Wingate

The Bluebonnet Betrayal: A Potting Shed Mystery by Marty Wingate

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Book 5 in a series.

An American ex-pat in England, Pru Parke, is temporarily tasked with over-seeing the Austin Rock Garden Society as they bring a Texas Bluebonnet themed display to the Chelsea Flower Show. Once the head of the ARGS, Twyla Woodford, can get there she'll take over. But when Twyla finally arrives, Pru's relief is short lived, as the next morning Pru finds Twyla dead in their display.

This book can be read as a stand alone, but I think I would have enjoyed it a little more had I read the previous books. However, the main characters are well developed and likeable. The Texas garden crew, not so likeable, as they don't really seem interested in the work involved setting up the display, but are more into playing tourist. They don't really seem to have cared much for Twyla, either. The small local crew set up by Twyla all seem to have a personal tie to the victim, giving them possible motives.

Pru and her husband, Christopher, a retired police detective, must work together to find out who killed Twyla and why.

All in all, a good read. All books in the series are only available as ebooks, but are very reasonably priced.

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



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Dark Spirits, by Stephen Lancaster

Dark Spirits: A Man Terrorized by the Supernatural by Stephen Lancaster

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I am fascinated by the paranormal. So when I saw this book available on NetGalley, I was excited.

Unfortunately, while the writer's experiences were interesting, the writing was too wordy for me. And repetitive. And wordy. It took me a long time to get through. I ultimately ended up skimming through each chapter/story, because the author took so long to get to the point! He would write one thing, and then a few sentences later say the same thing, a little bit differently. Then go on to describe something else, before finally getting to the point that there was a great big shadow creature growling at them from the rafters!

All in all, I liked the stories, once I could get to the heart of the matter and past all the rambling by the author. This author has obviously experienced some interesting things, but perhaps needs the help of a, haha, ghostwriter. Part of what makes ghost stories interesting is the art of storytelling, the set up, and then that little bit of tension, waiting to see what happens next. In this book, what happened next came so long after the set up, that it didn't feel as eerie or nerve-wracking as it should have.

I don't think I will be searching out any other works by this author in the future.

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



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Die Die Birdie, by J.R. Ripley

Die, Die Birdie by J.R. Ripley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


First in a series.

Die Die Birdie was a good start to a new series as Amy Simms gets ready for the grand opening of her new store for bird lovers and bee enthusiasts in her newly renovated old Victorian house. Then, she stumbles over a dead body and is found by her nosy tenant holding the bloody murder weapon.

Enter the former high school boyfriend, now local chief of police, and Amy's got bigger problems on her mind than potential profits. Especially since things didn't end well in high school and, predictably, the Chief holds a grudge.

Die Die Birdie was full of eccentric and fun sidekicks and small town folks. The story moved at a decent pace, with a few twists and turns that I enjoyed. And the slight cliffhanger at the end makes me want to read the next book to see what becomes of Amy and Birds and Bees.

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



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Midsummer Night's Mischief, by Jennifer David Hesse

Midsummer Night's Mischief by Jennifer David Hesse

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


First in a series.

This one took me a bit to get into and I found the prologue super repetitive. The whole "the intruder" this, "the intruder" that annoyed me. We get that the person being described is an intruder, you don't have to tell us every other sentence.

The main character, Keli, kind of starts off wimpy. She's unhappy as the Solstice approaches this year, (and her 30th birthday), longing for a man and unable to let anyone find out she's a Wiccan, including her family. Frankly, she annoyed me for the first several chapters.

But after the first few chapters things smoothed out a bit and I began to settle in to the story. It had a few twists and turns, but the prologue was a bit of a spoiler, since it made the intruder and thief out to be someone who knew the house, knew the deceased had the First Folio. That limited the real suspect pool.

All in all, I liked the book well enough to look for the second installment.

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



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Address to Die For, by Mary Feliz

Address to Die For by Mary Feliz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book 1 in a series. E-book format only.

I really enjoyed this story of a professional organizer moving with her family to a very unorganized, dilapidated old house, instead of the turnkey property they expected. Now they're faced with obvious vandalism, and even worse, a dead body in the basement.

I liked Maggie and her boys, though I felt like I didn't get to know Max very well because he was sent off to India for his new job almost immediately, leaving Maggie to deal with the kids, the moving in, the delays to moving in, the vandalism and eventually, the murders. That said, Maggie comes off a strong, capable woman who doesn't need to rely on others (and in fact might have a little trouble doing that) and she does just fine while Max is away.

It was fun meeting the locals (Silicon Valley, CA, they've got to be a bit eccentric, right?) and watching Maggie try to figure things out, despite being the newcomer who doesn't quite fit in yet. The vandalism did get a wee bit gory a few times, but over all, not too bad.

The who-dunnit came as a bit of a surprise (I was heading down the right road). I am certainly looking forward to seeing more of the family McDonald.

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

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Murder at Lambswool Farm, by Sally Goldenbaum

Murder at Lambswool Farm by Sally Goldenbaum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book 11 in the series.

Another fun outing with the knitters of Sea Harbor. Birdie has restored her beloved husband's family farm and is offering harvest dinners catered by local chefs. As a test of sorts, Birdie invites all her friends, family and a stray stranger to participate in the first meal. During the meal a friend and neighbor gets ill and is rushed off to hospital, where he dies.

The whole stranger aspect was transparent. I knew what Glenn was hiding from the very beginning, but I also knew he couldn't have been the murderer ('cause too obvious and how would he have access to the good doctor's food on a regular basis?).

The rest of the story kept me guessing and even though I did figure it out before the end, it was an enjoyable, light and fast read. I enjoy the main characters and their stories and will continue to drop by Sea Harbor whenever I get the opportunity.

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The Cracked Spine, by Paige Shelton

The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I tried two versions of this book, an audio version and a hard copy. The audio drove me crazy with the fake Scots accent and pronunciation, I had to stop listening. The hard copy took me some time to get into, but I did end up liking the story.

It was a slow read, and part of that was the over-usage of the Scots dialect. We get it, Delaney's in Scotland, we know they speak with a burr, every word they say doesn't have to reflect that. I know that, really, I don't need you to use "ken" every other sentence, I don't particularly want to spend the entire book translating, ye ken?

I think the other part of my problem was wrapping my head around the utter ease that Delaney got permission to work in a foreign country, and then once there everything just fell into her lap. Getting a work permit is a long, time-consuming process. Asking me to believe she got one in a snap just stretches my belief a wee bit too far, then add in the cottage for rent at a price Delaney can easily afford, and yeah, I was having a hard time suspending my disbelief.

But: all that said, I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the setting and I can't wait to find out more about Delaney's Bookish Voices. I think with a bit more character development, it is a first in the series, after all, that this could be a fun series. I will be reading the second when it comes out.

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Marriage, Monsters-in-Law, and Murder, by Sara Rosett

Marriage, Monsters-in-Law, and Murder by Sara Rosett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Number 9 in A Mom Zone Mystery series.

This is the first book in the series I have read. There's obviously back-story, because the character relationships are well developed. That said, I never felt lost while reading, and I liked this book enough to go out and get book 1, Moving is Murder, so I can start from the beginning!

Weddings, and wedding planning, are crazy enough without dealing with two soon to be mothers-in-law who despise each other. Ellie Avery, a professional organizer and sister-in-law to the bride, is tasked with keeping the moms apart before and during the wedding.

Things start happening right away, as nasty pranks occur, accidents happen and a body turns up. The story is fun, with an interesting mystery and slightly crazy characters.

My only complaint is about the tips stuck at the end of some of the chapters. They're a bit jarring. I think I would rather see them in italics at the start of the chapter, where I know that they're a bonus to the story but not a part of it.

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


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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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