Dying for Strawberries, by Sharon Farrow

Dying for Strawberries by Sharon Farrow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

A bit darker than the usual cozy, I still enjoyed it. It's a good first in the series, with characters I mostly liked and would like to see more of. The one character I didn't really like (besides the murder victim, who was just awful), was Ryan, the main character's fiance. Something about him grated.

I'll definitely give book 2 in the series a chance.

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

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Frontier Grit: The Unlikely True Stories of Daring Pioneer Women, by Marianne Monson

Frontier Grit: The Unlikely True Stories of Daring Pioneer Women by Marianne Monson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

I live in the West, so stories about life on the Frontier fascinate me, especially stories about the women who braved long, hard, travels. The women in this book were all new to me, and I enjoyed learning about them and in fact may see if I can find out even more about a few of them.

What I did NOT enjoy was the author chiming in at the end of each chapter and blathering at me about why each woman was important and what she felt I should take away with me. It totally read like a high school essay, with the student trying to explain to the teacher why their essay was so good it deserved an A. After the first one, I just skipped them and moved on.

The author's style is a bit dry and academic at times, rather than that of a true storyteller, but for the most part I learned a lot about these women and enjoyed reading about them.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from the publisher, via NetGalley.

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Cast in Flight, by Michelle Sagara

Cast in Flight by Michelle Sagara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 12 in the series.

I LOVE this series. I read this book in one go, I didn't want to put it down. The only negative is now I have to wait another year for the next book!

In this book we finally get some progress, in both Kaylin and plot. We get the promised dinner with the Emperor, and I loved it. Kaylin is growing as a character, but she still has relatively few filters and doesn't think before she speaks, which is often amusing for the reader, if not for her.

This book focused on the Aerians and Kaylin is forced to actually see them as the not perfect individuals that they are, rather than the perfect beings she's pretty much placed on a pedestal until now. I love seeing Kaylin's fierce loyalty to her friends/family.

I have to admit though, that I'd like to see an end to the Nightshade and his brother's squabbling, it's not going anywhere and it's just annoying. Frankly, I would be okay if Nightshade didn't appear for a few books.

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

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Saddle Up For Murder, by Leigh Hearon

Saddle Up For Murder by Leigh Hearon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in a series.

This book just didn't hold my interest. I found myself putting it down and doing something else instead of reading it. The mystery was ok, it was more of Annie and her personal life that bugged me. I like strong women characters, but Annie seemed too determined to go it on her own, even to the point of getting involved in a long distance relationship. I found it sad that she really only seems to care about her animals and really only tolerate most people. By the end of the book she seems to have softened a little, which made her a little more likeable.

I would read the next book in the series, but only if I can get it from the library.

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


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All I Want for Christmas, by Jenny Hale

All I Want for Christmas: A feel good Christmas romance to warm your heart by Jenny Hale

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

Single mom Leah's future plans are messed up by her dead match-making grandmother when the home/business she expects to inherit must be split with a man she barely knows.

I felt bad for Leah when the plans she'd made with her grandmother to reopen a wedding venue in her childhood home fall through when David inherits half the house.

The story was a little slow moving, but still sweet, if predictable. David was a bit stiff, and even a little entitled, but the ending was satisfying.

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


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Killing Thyme, by Leslie Budewitz

Killing Thyme by Leslie Budewitz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars, the best yet!

Book 3 in the series.

This is truly one of my favorite cozy series! I love visiting Pepper in Seattle and the Pike Place Market, which is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. And I don't have to deal with Seattle traffic to get there!

In Killing Thyme, always busy Pepper has even more on her plate, with a visit from her mother and a blast from the past that ends in murder. Pepper vows to stay out of it, but with her mother connected to the victim and secrets from Pepper's childhood coming to light, she feels she has to find justice for the dead woman.

I read this book in one sitting, because I did not want to put it down. One thing happens after another, keeping things moving at a satisfying pace. The mystery within the mystery was intriguing, and I loved the resolution of everything. The characters are strong and well developed, and most importantly, likeable!

As always, the recipes in the book sound delicious. I really want to make the Herbed Black Bean Pasta Salad, which sounds both yummy and EASY, haha.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review*


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Pocktbooks and Pistols, by Dorothy Howell

Pocketbooks and Pistols by Dorothy Howell
My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I did not like it.

Book 9 in a series.

Being book 9 should have been my first clue that this book wasn't going to work for me, there's too much history that I am missing here, and it was obvious.

And I really couldn't connect with the main character. Haley felt ditzy, shallow and materialistic. I am not at all about fashion, so the constant shopping and handbag babbling just got on my nerves. And working a crap retail job just to get an 80% discount at a sister store? Umm, have you ever worked retail? Crap job for sure, but you're lucky if you get any discount, and 80% off to a high dollar store (that isn't even the store you work at?)? NOPE. Never going to happen. Honestly, that point was so hard for me to get past.

That, and the blurb, which sounded ok, really had nothing to do with the storyline. "With the extra duties she’s taking on, Haley’s positioning herself to be Employee of the Month." Haley spends more time dodging work than taking on extra, and she certainly isn't willing to put in the kind of work to get to be employee of the month!

Maybe if I was more of a fashionista, or had never worked retail so I could ignore all of the inconsistencies in this book, it would have gone down better. As it was, I ended up feeling as though an interesting mystery got lost in too much trivia and annoyed by too much, "me, me, me," from the MC.

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

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The Purloined Poodle, by Kevin Hearne

The Purloined Poodle by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Novella in the Iron Druid series.

Thank Oberon! Pure praise for the Purloined Poodle's perspective! This book was all Iron Druid and sidekick. Or maybe Atticus was the sidekick this time around, but who cares! Clever Girl made only a very small appearance and Owen is only briefly spoken of.

I adored the puns, Oberon's silly dog sense of humor, Doctor Who Wibbly Wobbley Timey Wimey quotes, and even a reference to Seanan McGuire's Tybalt, King of Cats. Even the other dogs' names made me giggle.

Honestly, the last two full length Iron Druid books have been packed with so many other characters and differing points of view that it was lovely to see just the man and his dog again, solving a light mystery and not running for their lives like the majority of the series has been.

And I totally want to see more of Starbuck, haha.

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

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Unlucky Charms, by Linda O. Johnston

Unlucky Charms by Linda O Johnston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book 3 in the series and much better than the previous two. To be completely up front though, I have to say I would never have read it had I not received a review copy from the publisher, via NetGalley.

The mystery was a bit slow to develop, but at least the characters didn't prattle on forever about superstitions this time. They were there, just not as overwhelming as the last books. Rory still tends to be repetitive at times, and certainly has her "too stupid to live moments," but it truly was a better story this time around and I am glad I read it.

One thing I still find annoying is the mayor's pronouncement that anyone who speaks of anything bad happening in the town will have bad luck. It's a small town, gossip happens, and as long as the merchants know not to talk about stuff like that in front of the tourists, who cares what they talk about? And it's not like you can force bad luck on someone, so it just comes off as silly.

I think after this book, I just might be willing to give the next book a try, since the superstitious fun is there, without being so over the top, and I do like the characters.

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Death of a Toy Soldier, by Barbara Early

Death of a Toy Soldier by Barbara Early
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book one in a new series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it in one sitting, after surgery and it kept me well distracted from the pain. Why only 4 stars? The dreaded Love Triangle Trope raises its ugly head again. If not for the Jack-Liz-Ken triangle shaping up, it would have been just about perfect.

I truly hope we see more of sisters Irene and Lenora, because they just made me laugh out loud. I loved the whole shop crew, from Cathy's terrible cooking to Dad's terrible puns and everyone trying to one up him.

The idea of a vintage toy shop and game nights sounds like so much fun, even with games I hate, like Monopoly, haha. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the shop crew's adventures.

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

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Apprentice in Death, by J.D. Robb

Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars, I freakin' loved it!

The 5 star rating is based on the fact that this got me distracted through some heavy pain from surgery in the morning, and allowed the pain pills to kick in! If it's good enough to make me forget about pain, it's good enough to rate the 5th star, haha. Seriously, the only time I put this down was during surgery. It was just that good.

This time around, Dallas and crew are up against a long distance serial killer (LDSK) who strikes seemingly random targets.

Dallas and the friends get things done, even with threats of baby birthday parties and new home office designs. And as the LDSK hits close to home, the team buckles down to track down their suspect.

I'm always amazed that Nora Roberts/JD Robb can go 40-odd books in a series and still be an into the characters as she was at the start. So many authors of long running series lose interest, or worse start writing for themselves and change their characters some the dedicated fan doesn't even recognize them anymore. But Eve Dallas is still Eve, a little softer maybe, but still kicking ass and I adore her.

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It's Your Party, Die if You Want To, by Vickie Fee

It's Your Party, Die If You Want To by Vickie Fee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 2 in a series, though I didn't even realize it until I looked at the title on Goodreads.

As if Liv McKay didn't have enough to do planning multiple parties, now she has to help solve a murder as well.

Busy party planner Liv is a smart, capable and likeable main character. The murder victim, not so much. As a result, multiple people had reasons to want Morgan Robison dead. I enjoyed most of the characters in the book, though a few of the characters were a bit too quirky and frankly, annoying. If I had been Lucinda, I'd have called the cops on Sindhu and Nell and that would have been that.

Without giving any spoilers, I absolutely loved how Liv plotted a way to make the murderer(s) reveal themselves at the end of the book.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. The main characters were well written and the plot full of little twists and turns that kept things interesting. I am definitely going to get book one in the series, and looking forward to the next.

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

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The Murder of a Queen Bee, by Meera Lester

The Murder of a Queen Bee by Meera Lester
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in a series. I definitely felt at times that I was missing information that I probably would have gotten if I had read the first book.

This book just wasn't my cup of tea. I had a hard time getting into the story, and in fact kept putting it down to read something else. Lots of little things that just added up to a big, "Nope." for me.

The entire "farmette" thing. It's a freaking farm, even if it's a small farm. For some reason the word "farmette" grates on me.

And I know this is a cozy, and therefore you have to be prepared to suspend your disbelief, but I just couldn't manage it in this one. Yes, Abby is a retired police officer. But retired is the active word, and there's absolutely no way they'd have let her on a crime scene, friends of another cop or not.

The relationship between Jack, Abby and Clay bugged me too, since I am not at all a fan of the love triangle trope and even a hint of one is a huge turnoff to me.

I really struggled to get past my first impressions of this book. I can't say I would recommend it, or rush out and buy the next in the series.

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

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Death by Pumpkin Spice, by Alex Erickson

Death By Pumpkin Spice by Alex Erickson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 3 in a series.

I started reading this book and had major deja vu. It took me a while to realize that I had read the first chapter at the end of the 2nd book in the series.

This series had a lot going for it, in theory, a bookstore/coffee shop is the perfect combination. And this one had pumpkin recipes too! Unfortunately, for me this book just never lived up to the potential. In fact, the whole series has been a bit of a dud. I gave it three books, but I doubt I will read any more in the series.

The main character just is not likable. She's so obsessed with finding a man that I just couldn't take it after a while. The only thing that saved the book from getting 1 star was the fact that almost the entire book took place at a Halloween party, and the pumpkin recipes.

Hopefully next time a book in this series comes out I will remember that I read the previous entries and give it a pass.

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

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Body on the Bayou, by Ellen Byron

Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 2 in the series opens with Maggie juggling helping heavily pregnant bridezilla Vanessa pull together her wedding, work, a new relationship and her art. When another B&B guest is murdered and Vanessa is the main suspect, Maggie has to add solving the murder to her to-do list.

I love the Louisiana setting, the glimpse into the old plantations and modern day life in the bayou. I like Maggie and her family (and most of her friends). I don't particularly like Vanessa. I strongly dislike Rufus. It all combines in to one great setting with fun characters and an interesting murder mystery.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Cajun Country and the Crozats.

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

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America's Most Haunted Hotels, by Jamie Davis Whitmer

America's Most Haunted Hotels: Checking in with Uninvited Guests by Jamie Davis Whitmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

I love ghost stories, and I used to live in Estes Park, CO, home of the Stanley Hotel, which is widely known for its hauntings (and one of the hotels in this book). Because of that, when I found this book, I jumped at the chance to read it.

I do tend to be a wee bit skeptical about ghost hunters. Especially when they have something happen to them every place they go, but this book didn't disappoint. Jamie Davis Whitmer flat out tells her readers that hauntings aren't like a light switch, you can't turn them on when you want to. She admits it when nothing happens.

She can be a bit heavy on the "feelings" side, but not enough to make me do much more than roll my eyes. And I'm not a huge "flashlight as communication device" fan, since I've seen how easy it is to fake. For the most part, though, Jamie and her husband Bob are pretty straight forward.

One of the things I love about ghost stories is learning some of the history about the haunted location. The author gives a brief history of each hotel, especially as it relates to the alleged hauntings, separating what people can be verified through research and what is unsubstantiated tale.

I definitely recommend this book if you want a little something a little spooky with a bit of a history lesson, rather than something that will scare your pants off.

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

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Silk Stalkings, by Diane Vallere

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

Ms. Vallere comes close to designing the perfect murder.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Unraveled, by Jennifer Estep

Unraveled by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book 15 in the series. It can be read as a stand alone, but I don't think I would recommend starting here. Read the previous books, they're fun anyway.

This book carries on right after Bitter Bite/Unwanted. It starts off a bit slowly, as Gin keeps an eye on her best lead to the Circle, and nearly witnesses an assassination attempt on the guy, only to find out he knows next to nothing about the Circle.

She gets a call from Finn after he inherits a Wild West themed resort and park from his mother. Gin, Owen, Finn and Gia decide to check it out for a much needed vacation and maybe a chance to get more info about Finn's mother, Gin's mother and the Circle.

What follows is a wild west romp with traps tripped, assassins thwarted and information uncovered. And all while on vacation, ha.

Once they hit the resort, I read the rest of the book straight through. There are a few moments of predictability, but plenty of action to keep things moving.

For long time readers of The Elemental Assassin series, I highly recommend it. New readers, do yourself a favor and go back to the beginning and binge read, haha.

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

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Death of a Pumpkin Carver, by Lee Hollis

Death of a Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 8 in the series, though I didn't realize it until later. Definitely can be read as a stand alone mystery.

Hayley Powell's ex, Danny, is back in town, leaving Hayley wondering what he's up to this time. When the uncle that Danny is staying with is found murdered in the local cemetery, Danny becomes the prime suspect. Now Hayley has to prove what she knows in her heart. Danny is trouble, but he's not a murderer.

This was a fun, fast read that kept me entertained all the way to the end. Hayley and her crew are amusing.

And, there are pumpkin recipes throughout the book! Yum!

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

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Death Among the Doilies, by Mollie Cox Bryan

Death Among the Doilies by Mollie Cox Bryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

First in the series.

New crafts, new friends, new murders...

Cora and her friend, Jane, are looking forward to starting a new life in a small town running a crafting retreat business. But just as they are gearing up for their first retreat, Jane is accused of murdering the school librarian.

With the local police certain that Jane is guilty, it's up to Cora and her crew to prove that Jane is innocent and to save their new business. Suspects abound and the story has several fun twists and turns.

I enjoyed the characters and I am looking forward to more of Cora Crafts.

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

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The Secret Ingredient of Wishes, by Susan Bishop Crispell

The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will love this book. It was a sweet story of a woman with the power to grant wishes, whether she wants to or not.

Rachel Monroe tries to run from her questionable gift, and ends up in Nowhere, North Carolina, where lost things have a habit of turning up and magic isn't really considered all that unusual.

In Nowhere, Rachel learns that maybe she can have a normal life after all, with friends, and even a possible romantic relationship with the cute guy next door.

This truly was an absolutely lovely story about second chances that I could not put down.

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

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Pumpkin Picking with Murder, by Auralee Wallace

Pumpkin Picking with Murder by Auralee Wallace
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was just okay. This book took me a lot longer to get through than usual. I kept having to put it down because something in it just pulled me out of the story and it was frustrating.

Honestly, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I expect cozy mysteries set in small towns to have some eccentric characters. that's how it is with small towns. What I don't expect is that they will ALL be that way. Every last character seemed to be "quirky," the main character, Erica, still rebelling against her childhood, she claims to care for Grady and then keeps information from him; her rich, immature and annoying best friend, Freddie, who jumps from plan to plan with no common sense and way too much money; Erica's mother, Summer Bloom, the stereotypical hippy-dippy flower child, who at this point and time is refusing to speak because she's running a silent retreat for more hippy-dippy wannabes.

And then there's Tweety and Kit Kat. They're people by the way, not dogs or cats. Tweety and Kit Kat nearly made me mark this book as DNF, just because the names made me say to myself, "Who's trying too hard to be cutesy, then?"

I finally managed to slog through it, to a decent resolution of the murder mystery. It did have some funny moments, but for the most part, it tries too hard to be funny. Sadly, I will not be looking forward to anymore books from this author.

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

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Grilling the Subject, by Daryl Wood Gerber

Grilling the Subject by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

5th in the series. A rare 4 out of 5 stars for me, I really liked it.

Cookbook Nook store owner Jenna Hart and all of Crystal Cove, CA are celebrating with a Wild West Extravaganza this time around, complete with rope jumping, trick riding, horse racing, lots of food and of course, a murder. When Jenna's dad is named a suspect, Jenna jumps in to clear him and find out who really killed the victim.

I have really enjoyed this series. Jenna has grown a lot since the first book and has truly come into her own, running the store with her aunt, learning to cook (at least a little bit) and falling in love again. All the usual characters are well developed, likable and fun. Though it is the 5th in the series, the book stands on its own, with enough back story here and there to keep the new reader from being too in the dark.

Grilling the Subject has plenty of suspects and a twisty little plot that will keep you enthralled all the way through. I also like that Jenna is a capable, quick thinking woman (even if she can't lie worth a darn, haha) who manages to take care of herself. My only complaint is that by the time I was done with the book I was hungry for all the yummy food described in the book! Conveniently, there are multiple recipes at the end for the reader to try.

*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

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A Story to Kill, by Lynn Cahoon

A Story to Kill by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

A great start to a new series.

Cat Latimer is back in Colorado after surprisingly inheriting the home she used to share with her cheating ex-husband. Cat and her friend Shauna work to turn the house in to an inn of a sort, hosting writer's retreats one week a month.

In this book, the past really can come back to haunt you.

When Cat finds a guest murdered in his room, she has to dig in to his past to figure out who killed him. While Cat has to deal with the murder of a guest, there's also a mystery within the mystery. Cat also starts to come to terms with her ex-husband's cheating ways, while finding out new information about her ex. Was he really the cad he acted at the end of their marriage? Why did he have a secret room in the attic? And who is messing with Cat?

Normally, I am not a huge fan of the ongoing mystery within a mystery deal, but the mystery of Cat's ex is a subtle strand woven through out the book, rather than an in-your-face cliffhanger designed to get you to buy the next book. It didn't detract from the main whodunnit, and in this case, actually gives the reader more insight into Cat.

I'm ready for the next book in the series. I'm curious as to how Ms. Cahoon plans to continue the series without turning the writer's retreats into the Murder Inn!

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

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Practice Makes Perfect, by Sarah Title

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Title
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

This was a short and sweet novella about research librarian turned erotic romance author, Helen, and her co-worker/best friend, historian Henry.

Helen finally gets a rejection letter with a reason for the rejection, and a suggestion for fixing her novel. Turns out Helen's story is great, except her sex scenes are boring. So she decides to do what she does best and research writing a good sex scene.

She's so into her research she doesn't notice Henry reading over her shoulder. Then Henry offers to help Helen with some one on one research.

It was quite short, and I wish it had been fleshed (no pun intended) out a bit more. The characters moved so quickly and suddenly I was 95% through the book and I never really felt like I got to know them. Henry's side-plot felt a little bit shoe-horned in there, just to give the story a conflict that the characters have to overcome. Despite that, it was a fun read and I found myself amused a lot.

Even though the main character was trying to write erotic romance, there was very little detail into her "research" with Henry, making it the cleanest "erotic romance" I have ever read, haha.

*I was provided with an ARC of this story by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Grace Sees Red, by Julie Hyzy

Grace Sees Red by Julie Hyzy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 7 in the series. Not my favorite in the series, but an all around fun, quick read.

I love the relationship between Grace and Bennett and the fact that Grace is there because she loves him, (and did so long before they did the DNA testing that proved their relationship) and not his money.

I enjoyed finding out more about Frances, it's easier to see where her attitude comes from, though I still don't care for her much. I do hope we see more of Percy and Kyle. I also would like to see more of Bruce and Scott again. They've been in the background long enough.

I like that Grace's personal life seems to be getting a boost, but that it's almost an afterthought, and not a major plot point.

I will admit to not being excited to see more of Liza. And I really don't like the way Grace seems to be sticking her head in the sand and hoping Liza won't find out about the blood relationship between her, Grace and Bennett. Grace has always seemed to down to earth for that kind of wishful thinking.

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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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