Killer in the Carriage House, by Sheila Connolly

Killer in the Carriage House by Sheila Connolly
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in the series.

I liked the first book a bit better but, I'm not liking this series as much as I usually like Ms. Connolly's other work. Kate isn't super likable, and in this book, the mystery seems more like filler in the story of the town's history.

However, it took me a few books to warm up to Mara in Ms. Connolly's County Cork series, so I am willing to give the next book a chance.

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

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A Thread of Darkness, by Sally Goldenbaum

A Thread of Darkness by Sally Goldenbaum

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

Book 2 in the series.

Book 2 was more engaging than the first, but I am still having a little trouble connecting with the characters. I thought Po was going to be the "main" character, but really, it's coming off as though the whole quilting group is at the center. That's... different and a little confusing. I don't feel as invested in them as I do the group in Ms. Goldenbaum's other series.

I have book 3 in my queue, so I'm ready to give it another go, and wait until I've read it to decide if I'm going to continue on with the series.

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


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Strangled Eggs and Ham, by Maddie Day

Strangled Eggs and Ham by Maddie Day

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

Book 6 in the series.

Maddie Day's series is always a fun read, and this one didn't disappoint. It was a fun, fast read with an interesting mystery at the heart of it. And I still love the fact that Robbie actually runs her business as she solves the mysteries, rather than spending most of the book snooping elsewhere.

I enjoy spending time in South Lick, with Robbie and her friends and look forward to more.

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

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Down in Flames, by Cheyl Hollon

Down in Flames by Cheryl Hollon

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

Book 6 in the series.

While the story in this book could be a stand alone, there are so many personal turning points for the main characters in this book, I'd suggest not starting here.

I was glad to be back in St. Pete's with the whole group after the previous book in the series. As usual, the glass working information in the book was interesting. For me, the mystery took a backseat to all the personal issues of the main characters, and I was okay with that. This book is about growth, and is high on emotion.

The murder itself is charged with emotion, the victim being personally known to all of them. It comes off looking like an accident at first, but eventually it becomes apparent that the victim was targeted. After that, the mystery takes off, woven smoothly throughout all the other happenings in the book.

I enjoyed this book, and look forward to more from the Webb's bunch.

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

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Murder's No Votive Confidence, by Christin Brecher

Murder's No Votive Confidence by Christin Brecher

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

First in the series.

This was a good start to the series, but I definitely think the main characters need to be developed a bit more. And it annoyed the heck out of me that this one seems to be falling down the love triangle hole of doom.That's an automatic lost star for me.

I liked the mystery, and I loved the candle making part of the story.

All in all, I enjoyed this book, and will look forward to the next book in the series. I just hope the author wraps up the love triangle pretty darned fast.

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

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Manor of Dying, by Kathleen Bridge

Manor of Dying by Kathleen Bridge

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

Book 4 in the series.

This is another series that was saved from the Berkley purge by a new publisher. It's good to see some of these series that I thought were dead coming back.

This is actually probably my favorite so far in the series. I loved the setting, the spooky old sanitarium on an island in the middle of a snow storm. And I really love Meg. The fact that she's hard of hearing makes her all the more real to me.

The only thing that keeps this book from being perfect is the love interest. Or should I say love interests? I don't like Cole, the constantly gone boyfriend, who obviously cares more for sailing then Meg, but I really dislike the hinted at love triangle. That needs to be resolved one way or another (Although I admit, I favor Patrick over Cole). Either way, the dreaded love triangle trope results in an automatic 1 star downrate from me.

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

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Digging Up History, by Sheila Connolly

Digging Up History by Sheila Connolly

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

Book 8 in the series.

I was so glad when I saw this book was coming out. I was afraid that the series had succumbed to the big Berkley purge.

Sheila Connolly did not disappoint. Nell and Marty are still nosy when it comes to preserving the history of Philadelphia, and this time they're handed not one, but two of Philly's history mysteries.

James is as always, a bit of a steadying influence and I enjoy his relationship with Nell. The new intern, Dylan, is sweet and obviously loves history.

The story was fast moving and fun, and full of history this time around. There's no modern day murder to solve, no real danger to Nell and her friends either, just kind of a gradual reveal. That's one of the things I really enjoyed about this book. There were no, "Wow, I can't believe she was that stupid!" moments in this book for me.

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

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A Crafter Hooks a Killer, Holly Quinn

A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn

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

Book 2 in the series.

First off, the description on Goodreads was so hokey with bad crafting puns I almost gave the book a miss. And then the S.H.E. thing that annoyed me so much in the first book was back, and the grown women were still acting like children. It still feels like Liam and Sam are mismatched.

All in all the pace felt slow, and I finally gave it up and left it as a DNF. This series and I are just not a good fit.

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


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The Black Cat Steps on a Crack, by Kay Finch

The Black Cat Steps on a Crack by Kay Finch

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars, I quite liked it.

Book 4 in the series. It's nice to see Sabrina and Hitchcock picked up by a new publisher.

This book started off a bit slow for me, but once the pace picked up, I didn't want to put it down. The story was well written and I love the cast of characters. Hitchcock is, of course, my favorite character and helpfully sneaks out of the house to dig up clues for Sabrina.

Looking forward to more Hitchcock and Sabrina.

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

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A Plain Vanilla Murder, by Susan Wittig Albert

A Plain Vanilla Murder by Susan Wittig Albert

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars, I mostly liked it....

Book 27 in the series. Please, don't start here! Start at the beginning of the series.

I love this series. That said, this was not at all my favorite book. It was a lot heavy on descriptions and veered in to tedious at times because of it. Also, the switching points of view, as well as tense changes with each POV, were weird.

And could Smart Cookie just have the baby already?

I will keep reading the series, and hope that this one was just an experiment for the author.

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


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A Patchwork of Clues, by Sally Goldenbaum

A Patchwork of Clues by Sally Goldenbaum

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

Book 1 in the series.

I enjoy Ms. Goldenbaum's knitting series, so I decided to give this new series a try. As the first book in the series, she does a good job introducing all the characters, but it slowed the pace of the book down so much that I really struggled to maintain interest. I ended up putting this book down several times. before finally the characters started actually working on solving the mystery.

Once it got going, things moved fairly quickly and I enjoyed the story. I will look forward to the next book, and hope that all the long intros are out of the way.

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

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Sconed to Death, by Lynn Cahoon

Sconed to Death by Lynn Cahoon

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

Book 5 in the series.

I am absolutely loving this series. Of course, I might be a wee bit biased, since it takes place in my home state, Colorado!

This book kept me hooked from the beginning, and was a fun, fast read. I loved the retreat characters this time around, and of course the recurring characters, Cat, Shauna, Seth and Uncle Pete, are always good to see again.

My only complaint is that the whodunit was relatively easy to figure out, since the author set her up as the villain immediately.

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

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Murder by the Sea, by Kathleen Bridges

Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge

Book 3 in the series.

No stars. Did not finish.
I just couldn't get into this one at all. I struggled to get about 1/4 way in before I finally gave up. Just not my cup of tea.

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


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Spirited Away, by Lena Gregory

Spirited Away by Lena Gregory

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Book 4 in the series.

I've read the first book in the series, but none of the others. I am thinking I need to go back and read the other two books, because I felt like I was missing a bit in this one. The plot and characters are well written, I just need a bit more background, I guess.

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


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Field Guide to Urban Gardening, by Kevin Espiritu

Field Guide to Urban Gardening: How to Grow Plants, No Matter Where You Live: Raised Beds - Vertical Gardening - Indoor Edibles - Balconies and Rooftops - Hydroponics by Kevin Espiritu

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

I have a tiny balcony and have been trying container gardening for several years with some hits, some misses along the way. When I saw this book on NetGalley I jumped at it.

This book was filled with gorgeous photos and step by step instructions. It offered many interesting tips, and handy ideas for things like self-watering pots as well as upcycling things like plastic soda bottles and milk crates into containers.

I'm intrigued by the vertical gardening idea and may try that next year.

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

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Knit One, Die Two, by Peggy Ehrhart

Knit One, Die Two by Peggy Ehrhart

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

Book 3 in the series.

This one was almost too cozy. There was so much repetition of mundane, every day things that it got old fast. I ended up skipping parts where once again, Pamela was baking, eating, or talking about her wedding china. Don't get me started on her obsession with her neighbor's whereabouts.

The mystery took a back seat to all the boring stuff and I found myself skipping large chunks and putting it down for even larger chunks (of time).

Too bad, I liked the concept but I don't see myself reading anymore in this series.

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

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Prologue to Murder, by Lauren Elliot

Prologue to Murder by Lauren Elliott
My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I didn't much care for it.

Book 2 in the series.

This series should be fun, but I didn't enjoy this one very much. The townspeople are nasty, the boyfriend is a dope, and throw in a love triangle and it's not at all my thing. It seemed a little slow as well, with too much catty junior high school type crap going on throughout.

I think I am done with this series.

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


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Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong

Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong

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

This is a novella in the series. It takes place after book 5, and another novella. This one sees Olivia settling into her life with Gabriel and into her place as Mallt-y-Nos. It also sees the culmination of Olivia's dream of seeing her father freed from jail.

I liked this visit back to Cainsville. Like previous novellas, this one is a fast read, short and sweet. I really hope Ms. Armstrong continues to revisit this series, even if it is only with this short glimpses.

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

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The Diva Sweetens the Pie, by Krista Davis

The Diva Sweetens the Pie by Krista Davis

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

Book 12 in the series.

I've read a few Domestic Diva books here and there, but not all of them. This one absolutely stands on its own. I requested this one on a whim from NetGalley and I am glad I did.

I didn't want to put it down and read it in one go on a day off when the rest of the family was busy with other things. Sophie gets herself caught up in not one, but two murders, one of which already has a potentially innocent person in prison.

I love Sophie (Natasha, not so much, but that's the point), Mochie and Daisy, along with most of their friends.

Both mysteries were well plotted and interesting and both had satisfying resolutions. I am so glad I decided to request this book. I'm now going to go back and read the series from the beginning. I'm looking forward to more fun with the Domestic Divas.

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

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Sifting Through Clues, by Daryl Wood Gerber

Sifting Through Clues by Daryl Wood Gerber

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

Book 8 in the series.

I love this series, but this wasn't my favorite. I had a hard time getting into it, and kept putting it down in favor of other books. I did finally finish it, and ultimately I liked it. The plotting is strong as usual. I have to admit, I have never really been a fan of Pepper, so maybe that's why I just couldn't really commit to this book.

And there's also this little niggling hint of reality growing in my mind that the Book Nook in real life would never be capable of supporting so many owners. That seems to be interfering a bit with my enjoyment as well. But that's purely a "me" problem, cozy mysteries are never meant to be realistic, after all.

All in all, it's a good entry in the series, maybe a bit slow to start.

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

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Murder in the Reading Room, by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Reading Room by Ellery Adams

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

Book 5 in the series.

I love the premise behind the series, turning an old country pile in to a book retreat. But the whole Guardian of a secret library full of unknown treasures complete with a group of bodyguards and spy gadgets galore has had me rolling my eyes all along. Throw in a group of rogue Templars willing to kidnap and kill to get their hands on their treasures and it just got to be too out there for me in the previous book. Now in this book the author adds in Jane's supposed dead husband (who has amnesia, of course!) and I almost stopped reading.

However, the characters are all mostly likable, and I still love the setting of Storyton Hall. And the ending may have saved the series for me. So while the series certainly stays on my library / NetGalley only list, I will read the next in the series.

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

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Mother's Day Mayhem, by Lynn Cahoon

Mother's Day Mayhem by Lynn Cahoon

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

Yet another novella in the Tourist Trap series.

Truthfully, I'm over them. And considering how short this is, that it failed to hold my interest long enough to finish is really a sad thing. I did finish it, but days later and I still felt "meh" about it.

We haven't had a full length story in this series since July 2017, so I guess this is the new normal for the series. Meanwhile, the author left us with a cliff hanger in the last full length book, that still has not been addressed.

As much as I once loved this series, the novellas just aren't enough to keep me reading.

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

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May Day Murder, by Jennifer David Hesse

May Day Murder by Jennifer David Hesse

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

Book 5 in the series.

I like the characters, I like that Keli has her own law practice now. The story was interesting and quick moving. But I felt like Keli acted a bit out of character with Erik.

My biggest complaint about this book was the secondary mystery that was slyly slipped in and left unsolved at the end. I feel like that's the new version of a cliffhanger, done to make sure the reader comes back to read the next book and it really annoys me. As a result, I dinged it a full star. I am curious about how things will end, but not enough to overcome my annoyance.

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


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One Potato, Two Potato, Dead, by Lynn Cahoon

One Potato, Two Potato, Dead by Lynn Cahoon

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I wasn't a fan.

Book 3 in the series.

I have struggled with this series. And this one flat out bored me enough that I put it down for quite sometime and read other things. There's too much mundane stuff described in way too much detail (I take showers, I don't need to have one described for me!).

Really though, it just boils down to the fact that I don't like the main character, Angie. She doesn't come off as a nice person. In this book she volunteers to cook at a mission, not out of any altruism, but because she wants to get a look at someone's boyfriend, and really resents actually having to leave her work and go cook. So she uses the guys at the mission as guinea pigs for a meal she wants to serve in her restaurant but her boyfriend didn't like. She comes off as selfish and jaded.

Pretty sure this will be the last in the series for me.

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

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Something Read, Something Dead, by Eva Gates

Something Read, Something Dead by Eva Gates

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

Book 5 in the series.

I've really wanted to like this series. And I was thrilled for the author when she got the rights back and was able to find a new publisher after the massive Berkley Purge. But I really just don't like the characters in the series enough to like the books. Louise Jane needs to be the next murder victim, and then maybe I will read them again. She's just too distracting and annoying.

In fact, the only thing I really liked about this book was the fact that we didn't see much of Louise Jane!

This series is for sure relegated to my library list, if I remember it.

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

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Chocolate a la Murder, by Kirsten Weiss

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

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

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

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

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Trouble on the Books, by Essie Lang

Trouble on the Books by Essie Lang

Book one in a new series.

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

I really wanted to love this book. A bookstore, in a castle? Sounds perfect, right?

But I found myself losing interest in it, it was so slow. It starts off with a murder pretty much right away, so I thought it would be fast paced. It dragged. And I really had a hard time connecting with Shelby, though I don't know quite why. It's also pretty laughable that people in a small town would tell a newcomer like Shelby anything more than they would tell the actual people in charge of the investigation.

I'd be interested in giving book 2 a chance, but it certainly goes on my library list.

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

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Murders and Metaphors, by Amanda Flower

Murders and Metaphors by Amanda Flower

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I honestly did not like this book.

Book 3 in the series.

Sadly, I found this book entirely forgettable. As in, I got an ARC of it from NetGalley and read part of it, then put it down and forgot about it. Then, I requested it from my local library, started reading it and it clicked that I'd already started reading it once before. I did finally finish reading it, but it was a huge disappointment to me, as I love the Magical Bookshop. I just didn't like this one.

The killer was easy to figure out, there were multiple distracting typos/errors that remained in the final published work and things felt... off.

All in all, I just hope the next book in the series is more of a return to the author's earlier writing.

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


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The Whispered Word, by Ellery Adams

The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars, it was fantastic!

Book 2 in the series.

I LOVE this series and this book was possibly even better than the first one. It's got just enough different going on from other cozy mysteries to make it stand out. The main characters, bookstore owner Nora and her friends, are well fleshed out and interesting. They each have secrets and emotions and aren't always likable or smart because of that, just like real people.

I read this with a friend and co-worker that I introduced to the first book in the series, and we both spent all our breaks reading, and maybe even accidentally extended our breaks as a result, not wanting to put it down.

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

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


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Corned Beef and Casualties, by Lynn Cahoon

Corned Beef and Casualties by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Another holiday novella in the Tourist Trap series and another quick visit to South Cove.

I like these quick check ins, but I will admit that the timeline bothers me. All of these novellas are set earlier in the series, and I want to know what's going on NOW. We were left with a bit of a mystery about Aunt Jackie at the end of A Killer Party, and I want an explanation.

This one seemed a bit sad to me, and I wasn't a fan of the abrupt ending. It felt rushed.

I am waiting very impatiently for more than a novella in this series.

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


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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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