Past Due for Murder, by Victoria Gilbert

Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 3 in the series.

Oops. I didn't realize this was the third book when I requested it. I think I would have liked it more had I read the previous two.

I have to admit, that my main reason for rating this book only two stars was the main character, Amy. She seemed really impulsive and well, not real smart.

The mystery within the mystery, based on local folklore and past events, was more interesting to me than the modern day mystery.

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

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Death by Committee, by Alexis Morgan

Death by Committee by Alexis Morgan

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

Book 1 in the series.

I like the main character, Abbey, she's resilient, smart and empathetic. And I adore Zeke, the mastiff she inherits along with a house. Not sure how I feel about her love interest, Tripp. He comes off as a bit bossy, which annoyed me. And something I am seeing lately, the mystery takes a back seat to their budding romance and all the other things/people in the story. That said, I try to give first books a bit of a break, since the author is trying to introduce us to everyone. This was enjoyable enough, and a nice, light, quick read.

I look forward to more of Abbey and Zeke in book 2.

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

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Coffeehouse Knits, by Kerry Bogert

Coffeehouse Knits: Knitting Patterns and Essays with Robust Flavor by Kerry Bogert

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars, simply because most of the patterns aren't what I like to knit.

This book has lots of lovely sweater, cowl, and scarf patterns. I was a little disappointed though, because the intro claimed that these were patterns to sip and knit at your local coffeehouse, with or without a knit group. For me, that means portable patterns. And sweaters don't fit that description for me. The most portable project is socks, and there are only two patterns in the book. Both are okay, but nothing super special.

It still gets 4.5 stars because the patterns look well written, with clear directions and charts and really, the items are gorgeous. They just don't fit my personal preference. It's still absolutely worth a look.

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

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A Literal Mess, by J.C. Kenney

A Literal Mess by J.C. Kenney

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

Book one in a new series.

This was a nice, quick read. Readers are introduced to Allie Cobb and her family, along with her best friend, Sloan, as Allie goes home for her father's funeral and to clear up loose ends in his literary agency.

The book, like most first in a series books, spends a lot of time building relationships and characterization and not so much on the murder mystery. The mystery was fairly easy to figure out. The writing was solid though, and I really like Allie and her family.

I am looking forward to book two.

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

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The Coloring Crook, by Krista Davis

The Coloring Crook by Krista Davis

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

Book 2 in the series.

I loved Krista Davis' Wagtail series, and I wanted to love this series too, but I am struggling with it.

This book is another in a string of cozy mysteries that has way too much going on/way too many characters. I kept mixing characters up in my head and having to go back and re-read bits. The multiple mysteries fell a bit flat for me as well. There were too many distractions for me to really get in to the story.

I do like Florrie, and the bookstore, though. I will read the next book, and hope that Ms. Davis scales things back a bit and returns to her tight, fun, writing.

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

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Slay in Character, by Lynn Cahoon

Slay in Character by Lynn Cahoon

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

Book 4 in the series.

It's good to be back at a writer's retreat with Cat and her friends, but this wasn't my favorite of the series.

The setting for the murder is an old West town, set up as a tourist attraction. And this time, it's not just Cat involved in the mystery, but her guests that seem to get a kick out of putting themselves in danger. I think that's why I didn't like this one as much. It's bad enough when the main character has too stupid to live moments, but then you throw in a gaggle of women who seem to think the whole thing is a game, and I just kind of got annoyed.

My favorite part of the whole book was the end, when Seth's surprise project was finally revealed. That bumped it from two stars to three for me right there.

As always though, I am looking forward to more book retreats!

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley*

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Tied Up With a Bow, by Sheila Connolly

Tied Up with A Bow by Sheila Connolly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Novella in the County Cork series.

I didn't realize this was a novella when I requested it on NetGalley. I am still glad I did, though. It's nice to see Maura's softer side, since relationships/friendships seem to baffle her a bit.

I'm loving the group led by Seamus, as well and of course, The Thing across the road.

This was a nice, quick read.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley*

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A Crafter Knits a Clue, by Holly Quinn

A Crafter Knits a Clue by Holly Quinn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

First in the series.

I found myself torn with this book. I wanted to like it, because it's a crafting book, and the local crafters that were introduced in the book were interesting, but the author may have told us a little too much about at least two of them! That was one of the few times I actually agreed with Sammy, haha.

What I liked: 1. The shop itself. I'd like to know more about the handcrafts the shop sells. 2. The town setting. The people we meet are fun and I loved that they all came together to support others on multiple occasions. 3. The plot. It was decent enough, but over shadowed by the things I didn't like.

Unfortunately, my list of things I didn't like was hard for me to get past: 1. Sammy. She's not a crafter, so I thought that was a little disappointing, when you take in the title of the book and the name of the store. And she really came off as very young and immature, both in her attitude and her relationships. 2. S.H.E. It just rubbed me the wrong way. It was a childhood game, and the grown ladies are still acting like they're kids hunting down a lost pet or something (And honestly, the name just annoyed me. It's like the State Farm commercial with the she shed. It grated on my nerves). 3. The tentative relationship between Sammy and the detective. It felt a bit forced. 4. The pacing. It dragged a bit in places, and as a result I found myself putting it down for a while.

I may try book 2 in the series, but it's definitely a library read, not a must buy.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book given to me by the author.*

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Death and Daisies, by Amanda Flower

Death and Daisies by Amanda Flower

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

Book 2 in the series.

I love Amanda Flower, but so far this series has been just OK. I like the main character, Fiona, but I am not fond of her immature sister, Isla. And the way she was sneaking around especially annoyed me.

This mystery didn't hold my attention as much as the first book did. I feel like only the second book in, there's a lot more we could learn about the garden, and so I missed that element.

All in all, Ms. Flower's writing is solid and I did enjoy the book, but I'd like to see Isla grow up a bit.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.*

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Wreath Between the Lines, by Daryl Wood Gerber

Wreath Between the Lines by Daryl Wood Gerber

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

Book 7 in the series.

It's time for a Christmas visit to Crystal Cove! And Jenna and Crystal Cove go all out for the holidays. We also get to meet more of Jenna's family, as her sister and her family are in town for a singing competition.

Between the holiday hustle and bustle, family issues and of course, a murder, there's a lot going on in this book. It's not the strongest mystery, but it was a fun book anyway and a nice quick read.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley*


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Séances are for Suckers, by Tamara Berry

Séances are for Suckers by Tamara Berry

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

First in the series.

I thought this was a fun new twist on the usual paranormal cozy mystery. The main character, Eleanor, is not a physic at all, but pretends to be one to make a living and support her sister. Despite the fact that at heart, Ellie is a con artist, she's still incredibly likable and funny. And she does play "ghostbuster", getting rid of the rats in the attic or making sure that the plumbing is fixed.

Ellie is smart and observant, and the mystery unusual enough to keep me up late reading until the very end. And this time, Ellie's client knows she's fake and just wants her to get rid of the ghost that he's sure is fake as well, but that the rest of the family is positive exists.

I had several laugh out loud moments while reading, and I look forward to more of Madame Eleanor Wilde.

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

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Murder by the Book, by Lauren Elliot

Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott

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

Book one in a new series.

This book is very much focused on introduction and building relationships among the main characters.

There was A LOT going on in this book, and a lot more that I suspect will be followed up in additional books. The mystery the book centers on is a bit convoluted and complex and I felt as though all the relationship building was a bit distracting. It comes off more as a romance with mystery elements thrown in.

My biggest complaint though, is that there was too much unrealistic behavior going on for me to be able to completely suspend my disbelief and sink into the story. For instance, a brand new business owner who leaves her business almost entirely in the hands of her newly met and hired shopkeeper while she runs around solving a mystery. Most small businesses fail in the first year, as a result, most small business owners are pretty much shackled to their business, trying to keep expenses down. Even if the money came from an inheritance, it still seems far-fetched. Add in the chief of police having to arrest his own sister and not being ethically required to turn the investigation, at least officially, over to someone else and I just couldn't help but shake my head.

Hopefully now that a lot of the relationship framework is established, book 2 can concentrate on the mystery.

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

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Nipped in the Bud, by Sheila Connolly

Nipped in the Bud by Sheila Connolly

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

Book 12 in the series.

I am sincerely happy that this series got picked up by a new publisher, but this book is not my favorite in the series. In fact, since Seth and Meg got married, something has been a bit off for me. Part of it is that Meg and Seth are still in the slow season and still bored, just like they were in the previous book and Meg comes off as very whiney.

I will continue to read the series, but I sure hope things get a bit more lively in Granford soon and Meg and Seth are less bored.

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

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The Knitter's Dictionary, by Kate Atherley

The Knitter's Dictionary: Knitting Know-How from A to Z by Kate Atherley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars, A fantastic little resource.

Know how to knit? Want to go beyond knit and purl? Then you need to learn how to read those patterns! From k2tog to PSSO, this is the perfect little book to demystify knitting patterns. It's a sweet little reference book to have on hand when you're stumped by an abbreviation. It also has some handy techniques for things such as joining a new ball of yarn.

This is not the book for you if you're trying to learn how to knit, but if you're ready to tackle something harder than a hat or scarf, this book is for you. Intermediate and experienced knitters should still find this handy as well.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book received from the publisher, via NetGalley*

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The Trail of Terror, by Richard Estep

Trail of Terror: The Black Monk of Pontefract, Cripple Creek Jail, Firehouse Phantom, and Other True Hauntings by Richard Estep

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

I'm fascinated with ghosts and things that go bump in the night. I know myself well enough to know that ghost hunting isn't for me, (The closest I've come is multiple visits to the Stanley Hotel, but never actually looking for ghosts.). Knowing that, I live a little vicariously through books and tv shows on the subject instead.

Richard Estep has a gift for story telling that almost makes the reader feel like they are on the investigation with him and his team, which frankly, is rare these days. Most recent books on the subject are either poorly written or dry as dust.

In this book, Estep tackles multiple locations in the U.S. and Great Britain. He doesn't skimp on details, each location gets its own chapter. I love the fact that he details his team's investigation in each spot, including the fact that a lot of the time, nothing happens. Each location was interesting, and I always love getting a bit of the history along with the ghost hunt.

I am looking forward to Richard's next book, whatever it may be.

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

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Haunted Castles of England, by J.G. Montgomery

Haunted Castles of England by J.G. Montgomery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

I love reading about ghosts and haunted places, and I love history, so this was a good read. As an American, I did have to ask my English husband what the different property designations meant, though. Each castle had a bit of its history and where possible a link to the castle's website. I actually did find myself tapping on a link, just to learn more. It was the perfect read right before Halloween.

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

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Haunted World War II, by Matthew Swayne

Haunted World War II: Soldier Spirits, Ghost Planes & Strange Synchronicities by Matthew L. Swayne

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, this book was ok.

If you're a history buff, this is a book for you, as it's history with a few ghosts thrown in. But I found it a bit dry and repetitive.

It had some decent bits, and I learned more about WWII, so it gets 2 stars.

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

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Assault and Beadery, by Mollie Cox Bryan

Assault and Beadery by Mollie Cox Bryan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 4 in the series.

I keep wanting to like these books, purely because they're about craft retreats that sound so fun. But this one was especially slow to take off. I found myself skipping bits.

One good thing about this book is that Cora and Jane finally felt like separate characters, rather than interchangeable. But we're four books in, and I just don't know that I'll read any more.

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

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Premeditated Peppermint, by Amanda Flower

Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 3 in the series.

"Peppermint is much more than a Christmastime treat. It has a thousand uses. It has been used to freshen breath, flavor beverages, calm nerves and even grow hair. But as far as I could tell, it did not have the power to repel ex-boyfriends."

The very first paragraph made me laugh out loud, and pulled me right in to the story. It was well written, the setting interesting and I did enjoy it. But....

While I like Amanda Flower's writing, this isn't my favorite series. I'm having a hard time connecting with the characters. I'm not sure why, exactly. I just know that I found myself setting this one down a few times and reading something else. I much prefer her Magical Bookshop series, and her Amish Quilt Shop series, written as Isabella Alan.

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

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A Deadly Brew, by Lynn Cahoon

A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon

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

Novella in the series.

This was a short, fast, read that I enjoyed. I do like Jill and Greg and South Cove. The series is well-developed and well written. This is just a a quick pre-Halloween visit to South Cove as Jill and friends spend a weekend in a supposedly haunted house. Spooky happenings cause them to try to figure out the mysterious history of the house, about to be torn down.

I like this series a lot, and I highly recommend starting with the first book in the series. This short can be read as a stand alone, but why deny yourself the pleasure of the whole series?

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

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Shattered at Sea, by Cheryl Hollon

Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon

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

Book 5 in the series.

Not my favorite in the series, but it was okay. This book takes us away from Webb's Glass Shop and out on the High Seas. Despite that, some of the regular characters (the twins) make an appearance. But we get to meet Edward's family. I quite enjoyed his parents. Ian, not so much.

The mystery wasn't the usual cozy mystery, and it just missed the mark with me. Mostly, I think, because I really didn't care for Ian, so his disappearance just didn't matter to me. I wanted to learn more about glass blowing on a cruise ship instead. In the end, I liked learning a bit more about Edward. Also, I guess I just missed the usual background of the glass shop.

I will look forward to more from Webb's, mostly because I enjoy visiting the gang.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author.*

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Died in the Wool, by Peggy Ehrhart

Died in the Wool by Peggy Ehrhart

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

Book 2 in the series.

I like the characters in this series, but I would like to see a bit more mystery and less description of everything from plants to clothing to food. I know, it's called the Knit n Nibbles mysteries, so there's going to be food, but I can think of another knitting cozy series that has food that doesn't get quite so tedious.

All in all, the fun characters are what makes this series for me, and I will look for the next in it and hope that there's a bit more substance to it.

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

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To Catch a Witch, by Heather Blake

To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 8 in the series. This is another wonderful series that was saved by Crooked Lane Books when Penguin dropped most of their mysteries.

I love this series. It's fun and quirky, with likable characters. There's been kind of a secondary mystery running through the series, and it's been a little annoying, because so many things are being hidden from Darcy. But we finally get some answers in this book.

I honestly was more interested in Darcy and her family and all their secrets, than the murder, so I didn't put too much effort in to figuring out who the killer was. I was pulled in at the end though, and surprised at the way things went.

There's still so much that can happen and I going to be very impatiently waiting for the next book in the series.

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

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Toucan Keep a Secret, by Donna Andrews

Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 23 in the series.

I always love to read about Meg and her family. The plots are always entertaining and I had several laugh out loud moments with this one. Meg is the typical nosy protagonist, but she's not stupid about it. She doesn't deliberately blunder in to dangerous situations, even while she does her best to help the police figure out who is responsible. The cold case element to this book added another layer that was interesting.

It was a fun, fast, read that I pretty much didn't put down until it was done.

Being a long running series, I suggest starting with early books, not because you have to, but because they're FUN and it's always interesting to see how the main characters have changed.

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

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Death Over Easy, by Maddie Day

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I did like it, eventually.

Book 5 in the series.

I have enjoyed this series so much that when I saw this available on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it. But it definitely was not my favorite book in the series. I'm not sure why, but I just had a hard time getting into this book in the beginning.

I love Robbie and her Country Store, but maybe there was too much going on? Robbie's B and B finally open, a bluegrass festival, Robbie's dad and step mom visiting, plus running the store, so many characters, and I kind of felt tired just reading, haha.

And I really found it just way too coincidental that Robbie's dad just happened to know the victim when she lived in Italy and both of them just happen to end up in the small Indiana town.

I finally settled in to the story about halfway and enjoyed the rest of the book, and I will absolutely continue to look forward to more of the series.

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

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A Soufflé of Suspicion, by Daryl Wood Gerber

A Soufflé of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Book 2 in the series.

I didn't like this book as well as I liked the first book in the series. But it was still nice to spend time with Mimi and her friends. I would like to see Mimi fleshed out a bit more though, and some more time spent on the actual mystery, rather than just guesswork at the end.

That said, it was still an enjoyable, fast, read. I look forward to seeing more of Mimi's growth and adventures.

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

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Disorderly Conduct, by Mary Feliz

Disorderly Conduct by Mary Feliz

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

Book 4 in the series.

This wasn't my favorite book in the series. Maybe because it hits a bit close to home, since I live in a drought stricken area prone to wildfires (there were multiple fires burning in my state as I read this). The hints at the start of each chapter, while I still find them a bit distracting, were actually quite interesting this time.

I also kind of felt like the murder mystery kind of took a back seat in this book. But I still appreciate Maggie's quick defense of her friends, and her willingness to go the extra mile to help them out. Honestly, it's the characters that make this series fun. The writing is solid, but the characters make me want to keep reading with each new book.

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


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Killer Green Tomatoes, by Lynn Cahoon

Killer Green Tomatoes by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in the series.

I thought I had read everything by this author, but somehow the first book in this series slipped past me. But I honestly didn't realize that until I came to write this review. This book felt like it could have been the first. The characters still felt a bit flat to me, which was a surprise, because I like Ms. Cahoon's other two cozy series quite a lot.

I had a very hard time getting in to this book. It started off pretty slow, with only a brief glimpse of the farm-to-table restaurant the series is named for. After that we get a lot about the main character's personal life and, "is she cheating on her boyfriend with her sous chef?" speculation from small town busy-bodies.

In the end, the mystery surprised me a bit, so it ended up with an okay rating, but I don't feel like it's up to par yet with the other books by this author and I don't really have much incentive to go back and read the first book.

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

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Runaway Murder, by Leigh Hearon

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

Book 4 in the series.

This was not my favorite book in the series. Annie actually got on my nerves this time. I understand that she'd been on her own for a long time and was used to having to do everything herself, but she actually has help now. Help that she's paying to do the work, so when she got all snotty about having too much work to do to go on a working holiday, I got annoyed.

And her snobby attitude about dressage was obnoxious, especially since by the end of the book her attitude had done a complete 180.

That said, the mystery was interesting. This book was actually a bit more "cozy" than previous books, and I enjoyed learning a bit about dressage. For the most part, I still enjoyed this book, even if Annie's behavior did pull me out of the story on occasion.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley*

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Rough Justice, by Kelley Armstrong

Rough Justice by Kelley Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

A quick visit back to Cainsville!

I thought we'd seen the last of Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky after Rituals, but I'm so glad Ms. Armstrong decided to give us a peak into their world again. Rough Justice was a fast paced story, with a little bit of a twist as Olivia throws a monkey wrench into their first Wild Hunt. She's determined to prove the quarry of their hunt is indeed guilty before justice is served.

There's a little personal business thrown in with the mystery. It's interesting to see how Gabriel is still learning to love and be loved, and how Olivia reacts to it. I really enjoy those two.

I truly hope that Ms. Armstrong continues to gives us these short visits to Cainsville.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley*


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Murder at the Mansion, by Sheila Connolly

Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly

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

Book one in the series.

I love all of Sheila Connolly's books, so when I saw that she had a new series, I was excited.

She didn't let me down. I love the setting, the small town that's seen better days, and the characters, determined to save their town. The main character, Katherine, took me a bit to warm up to. At the start she was a bit snooty, feeling so superior to her old school friend. But as she began to warm up to the town, I began to warm up to her. Now I just want to see where things go and I am totally rooting for this little town!

I can't wait until book 2 comes out!

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley*

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Murder Made to Order, by Lena Gregory

Murder Made to Order by Lena Gregory

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

Book 2 in the series.

I didn't pay attention to the fact that this was book 2 when I requested it from NetGalley. As a result, I felt a little bit lost.

And I didn't really like Gia. She's a little bit high maintenance and scared of every little thing. And when she encounters something she's afraid of, she pretty much has a full blown panic attack. Often. And the more it happens, the more you want to slap her and tell her to calm the heck down. I am sure the author means for it to be amusing, but it's not funny at all after the first time. Seriously, why is someone afraid of the outdoors living in a house on the edge of the woods? And why does she hike in those woods? Spiders, bears, snakes. The woods are just one freak out after another.

I think this goes on my list to pass by next time around.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley*

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The Spook in the Stacks, by Eva Gates

The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 4 in the series.

I loved this series, and I was really sad when it was canceled in the Berkley Purge. I was thrilled to see the series picked up by Crooked Lane, and even more thrilled to find it on NetGalley for review!

Lucy and friends are as fun as always, the mystery was interesting and kept me guessing. Lucy hating Halloween was disappointing to me personally since in my opinion, it's the best holiday, haha. And I really dislike Louise Jane. To the point where she's become a major distraction from the story. There's not one single thing I can find to like about her, she's just flat out nasty. It'd be one thing if she were a minor player, but she's not.

Still, I will continue to read the series and hope that Louise Jane falls down a well. I am looking forward to more of the Lighthouse Library mysteries.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley*


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Flowers and Foul Play, by Amanda Flower

Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower

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

First book in a new series.

This was an intriguing start. I like Fiona and I already adore Ivanhoe the cat. Not a super fan of the squirrel, but that's because I'm not a rodent fan.

The plot moved along quickly and it was a fun, fast, read. I am looking forward to learning more about the garden, and hoping that Fiona gets over her bruised heart quickly. It will be interesting to see how Fiona works her way into village life, as she's still an outsider, come to care for the garden that everyone knows is "weird."

I am very much looking forward to more of this series.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher.*


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As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles, by Leslie Budewitz

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 5 in the series.

I absolutely adore this series. The small Montana town setting is fun, the characters are realistic, as are their relationships. So it's no surprise that not every family is happy at Christmas.

There was A LOT going on in this book, from the town's Christmas decorating and celebrations to planning for Erin and Adam's upcoming wedding. Add in home renovations and solving a murder and it's amazing anyone has any time to relax at the holidays, haha.

This book was a fast read that never lost my attention. I am thankful that Ms. Budewitz found a new home for this series with Midnight Ink and look forward to more.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.*

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Rocket's Dead Glare, by Lynn Cahoon

Rockets' Dead Glare by Lynn Cahoon

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

I love this series. This is a short and sweet entry in the series, with a bit of a twist. All of my favorite characters make an appearance. My only complaint is that this claims to be book 9.25, but really the events and relationships have to happen earlier than that.

Still, it's always a pleasure to visit South Cove and I am looking forward to many more.

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

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Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot, by Sarah Osborne

Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot by Sarah Osborne

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

Book 1 in a new series.

This book was a great start to the series. Ditie is a genuine, loving character, and the kids were a sweet addition that made me actually cry a few times.

Unlike most cozies, where you don't get too into the emotional effects of a murder on the family, this book was a bit emotionally heavy at times, with the young kids mourning their mother and afraid of what was happening to them. It was well written though, and wasn't too solemn, there were the usual lighthearted moments, as well.

I really liked that about this book, it felt quite realistic and I look forward to seeing more of Ditie, Lucie and Jason.

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

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Revealing the Dead, by Sheila Connolly

Revealing the Dead by Sheila Connolly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 6 in the series.

Ms. Connolly is pretty much on my Must Read list. This series is a bit different than her others, since most of the mystery is based in the past and involves a physic element. That difference is actually what makes them interesting to me.

That said, I feel a little bit like the series is moving glacier slow. Abby spends more time researching than doing anything and frankly I am a wee bit bored. I'd rather see her trying to make a difference in her life and other people's lives, rather than just trying to figure out how to figure out who has this gift, haha.

It's still interesting enough that I will continue to read, and if the idea proposed in this book actually becomes reality, I think that will help a lot.

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

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Better Off Read, by Nora Page

Better Off Read by Nora Page
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book one in a new series.

I know I should judge the book on its own merit, but I can't help but to compare it to another Bookmobile Mystery by another author that I love.

I didn't really care for the protagonist or really any of the characters in this book. That's mostly on me though, because I prefer my main characters to be closer to my age, it makes them more relatable for me.

The book was also a bit slow to get moving. It finally picked up a bit in the middle. The ending surprised me. I wanted it to be the mayor, because no nice person wants to do away with a library, haha.

All in all, probably not a series I will continue to read, again, purely because of my own character preferences.

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

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Bleeding Tarts, by Kirsten Weiss

Bleeding Tarts by Kirsten Weiss
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in the series

Cozy mysteries tend to have a cast of "kooky" characters, but this one is just too zany for me. There's Charlene, with her narcoleptic cat and out there beliefs; Heidi from the gym right next door and her "Sugar Kills," agenda, and a whole other cast of townspeople.

Val could quite possibly the worst business person ever. Brand new PIE restaurant, but no idea how to make a pie crust. Too many employees and not enough money coming in to pay them Nearly 60% of restaurants fail in the first year, most owners spend most of their time in their restaurant that year, so as to cut payroll costs. Honestly, I can give a cozy some leeway, but this just stretches things too far.

It was all just too over the top for me and I found myself putting my Kindle aside to do other things. This is the last visit to Pietown for me.

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

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Murder in the Locked Library, by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 4 in the series. Not the best place to start if you are new to the series.

I love the idea of this series, the book retreat concept is lovely, and I like Jane and her boys. However, this one left me kind of bored until about halfway through, and then rather annoyed at the end. I was not a fan of the additional plot/cliffhanger thrown in about Jane's lover, Edwin. I hate cliffhangers, they feel like a cheap way to ensure that someone reads the next book. Also, I'm kind of feeling that the plots are starting to become more convoluted and cloak and dagger-ish.

I will continue to read, because I love the setting, Jane, the twins and the Fins. It almost feel like they're family. I just hope the Edwin storyline doesn't get drawn out over multiple books.

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

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Natural Thorn Killer, by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley

Natural Thorn Killer by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley

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

First in the series.

I had read previous series by this author, and liked them. So when I found this book on NetGalley, I happily requested it. It honestly surpassed my expectations. For a first book in a series, the author did a wonderful job fleshing out the main characters. Britta and Elin are likable, and have a lovely relationship. Their floral design business is interesting and I love the Portland setting. Everything just jelled for me, making it a fun, fast read, with an interesting mystery.

I am absolutely looking forward to more books in this series.

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


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The Haunted Heart of America, by Logan Corelli

The Haunted Heart of America: In-Depth Investigations of the Villisca Ax Murder House, Myrtles Plantation & Other Frightful Sites by Logan Corelli

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

I love ghost stories and paranormal shows on TV. I didn't love this book though. The locations were interesting, but the writing wasn't. And I was completely turned off by some of the author's comments, especially in his first paragraph about their Waverly Hills investigation, "...and the talented Michelle (who was the most beautiful investigator I had met at the time)." Seriously?! I did a mental double-take. Absolutely unnecessary to comment on someone's appearance!

I struggled to get through the rest of the book, only plowing through the Villisca Axe Murder House and the Myrtles Plantation (The Myrtles actually tripped a pet peeve of mine, presenting Folklore as fact.) because both locations are fascinating to me, but they didn't really contain anything new.

I did like the fact that Corelli was up front about one ghost hunting trend, the pay to play locations. This is a good thing, so we can all look at any "evidence" a little more skeptically, since it's in the locations' best interest to be haunted.

All in all, the writing didn't really draw me in, and I didn't really feel like the book added any new information or evidence of the paranormal. It certainly didn't feel "In-Depth."

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

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Berried at Sea, by Peg Cochran

Berried at Sea by Peg Cochran
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 4 in the series.

I was glad to see this series saved by a new publisher, but it definitely was not my favorite in the series. I understand that this was the "long awaited wedding," but there was just too much relationship and not enough cozy mystery. And what mystery there was was kind of easy to figure out.

This was a pretty quick read, since it was a fairly short novel.

I still like the characters and the setting of the cranberry bogs, I'd just like to see Ms. Cochran go back to focusing on the mystery. I read romances when I want romance, and cozies when I want more of a mystery.

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

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Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart

Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart

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

First in the series.

I'm not usually a fan of the older Miss Marple type protagonist, because I have a harder time identifying with them. But Pamela is a fellow knitter so I gave it a chance. And of course the cover was adorable, so it pulled me right in.

I'm glad I gave it a chance. It was a cute, fun book and a nice light, quick read. A super cozy Cozy, haha. The protagonist is likeable and she and the rest of her knitting group sound like folks I'd like to knit with.

I will definitely look for the next book in the series.

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


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Carbs and Cadavers and Fit to Die, by Ellery Adams, writing as J.B. Stanley

Re-working of an older series by Ellery Adams writing as J.B. Stanley.

Carbs and Cadavers, book one of six.
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

It was okay. I had picked this book up several years ago, not realizing it was by Ms. Adams. It bothered me then, and it still bothers me now, that all of the characters except the victim are fat and pretty much filled with self-loathing. I get that the premise is a supper club to lose weight, but I just didn't care for the way the supper club members were pretty much portrayed as pitiful and shameful. I'd rather see a group supporting one another and helping improve self-esteem instead of all the body shaming. The mystery itself was fine, but the rest of the book just made me sad.  

Fit to Die, book two of six.
My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I didn't like it.

I picked up the second book, hoping that maybe the group had some success at losing some weight and it would be more positive. Sadly, it wasn't. This book wasn't any better than the first. A Supper Club group devoted to losing weight while fat shaming one another just made me sad. It feels a bit dated due to that. I'd rather have seen some body positivity or at least some acceptance.

I gave two books in the series a chance, but that's all the time I am willing to invest in this series, though I will be more than happy to read Ms. Adams' newer series.

*I voluntarily reviewed Advance Reader Copies of these books provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

It Takes a Coven, by Carol J. Perry

It Takes a Coven by Carol J. Perry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 6 in the series.

This series has been kind of hit or miss for me. I had a really hard time getting in to this one. It started off slowly and even when it picked up a bit, I kept losing interest.

I still like the characters and the setting, so I will keep reading, but this book was far from my favorite in the series.

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

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Witches Gone Wicked, by Sarina Dorie

Witches Gone Wicked by Sarina Dorie

My rating: 1 of 5 stars. Not at all my cup of tea.

This book had a fun premise and I expected to enjoy it but it really just wasn't my cup of tea. From the very beginning I felt as though I'd come in halfway through the plot with references to things that had happened before. And the characters were more caricatures. I really struggled to finish it and I eventually just gave up.

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

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Color Me Murder, by Krista Davis

Color Me Murder by Krista Davis

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

I love Krista Davis's Paws and Claws series, so I was happy to see she had a new series coming out. I had high hopes for this one, and happily, it lived up to my expectations.

Florrie Fox is a fun main character, who manages a bookstore and also creates unique coloring books for adults and I enjoyed her slightly eccentric boss as well. Why can't I have a boss like that? Haha.

The book was well plotted and fast moving. I pretty much devoured the book in one sitting. My only complaint was that as I had an ebook version, I couldn't color the cover!

I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

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


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Pressing the Issue, by Darryl Wood Gerber

Pressing the Issue by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I quite liked it.

Book 6 in the series.

I was thrilled to see a new book in this series, it's always fun to visit Jenna and Aunt Vera, as well as the town Crystal Cove, to see what event they're cooking up next. This time around it's a Renaissance Fair, complete with copious amounts of "Ren speak." I will admit that personally, I don't see the appeal, I know too much about how things actually worked in that time period to allow myself to fall into the romanticized version, haha.

However, the plot was solid, and I liked the characters enough to ignore the setting and just enjoy the folks of Crystal Cove and the solid writing.

This was a quick read for me, and had some nice twists and turns to keep me entertained and guessing for a while.

I can't wait for more Crystal Cove craziness.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by the author.*


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Murder on a Midsummer Night, by Kerry Greenwood

Murder on a Midsummer Night by Kerry Greenwood

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

Book 17 in the series.

I actually came to this series after watching the tv series on Netflix. And I'd not read any other book in the series. Each book is its own stand alone story. But, if you've come to the books after the TV show, be warned, they have many differences. It took me a bit to get past my preconceived notions and settle in to the mystery. Once I did, I enjoyed it and finished it in just a few hours.

I love Phryne, book and TV version. She's spunky, smart, observant and caring.

I will most certainly be reading more books in the series.

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




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