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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Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake, by Sarah Graves

Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves

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

First in a new series, BUT actually a spin-off from the Home Repair is Homicide series. This book is a stand alone story, but it helps (A LOT) to have read the previous series since characters have been around for a while.

I admit that when I saw this author's name on a book with a picture of cheesecake I was a little confused. I read most of her previous series, but toward the last few they started to get a little less cozy and the last one was published in 2013. I read the blurb and was happy to see that Jake was back, home repairs finally completed and ready to tackle a new business, a bakery, with her best bud, Ellie.

Things start off pretty quickly with Jake finding a body in the bakery. Ellie quickly becomes a suspect, so Jake jumps in to investigate and clear her partner.

This book was fast moving and it was fun to reconnect with what felt like old friends. I like that the author took an entirely new direction with her old characters and look forward to more.

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


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Survival of the Fritters, by Ginger Bolton

Survival of the Fritters by Ginger Bolton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 1 in the series.

An okay start to a new series. It was fun, and has a decent premise.

But... Main character Emily is a former 911 operator, the widow of a police detective and the daughter in law of a former police chief. Which would make you think that she's got some idea of how criminal investigations work. So it made it really hard for me to believe she would muck up a crime scene as badly as she did in this book! As a result, I found it kind of tough to suspend my disbelief as I read.

I liked the book enough that I'd read book two, if I could get it from my library. I think first in series tend to be the weakest, with characters just being introduced and relationships being explored. So I give this an "okay" rating, and I'll wait and see if book 2 improves.

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


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Biscuits and Slashed Browns, by Maddie Day

Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day

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

Book 4 in the series.

I love this series. Robbie and her friends are always fun to visit with. This time around there's a deserving victim. Professor Connolly is a jerk who makes enemies wherever he goes, so it wasn't surprising that he ended up dead. What was surprising is that he was killed with a knife belonging to Robbie's best pal. Suspects abound, many of whom are connected to Robbie, so she sets out to find out who did the Professor in.

This was a fun, fast read. I pretty much refused to put it down until I finished it. 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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Many a Twist, by Sheila Connolly

Many a Twist by Sheila Connolly

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

Book 6 in the series.

This is fast becoming my favorite series from Sheila Connolly. I love Maura and (most of) the pub crew. This book gets in to Maura's personal life pretty heavily, from introducing her long lost mother to her relationship with Mick. Maura and Mick both open up in this book, and as a result, see some pretty significant and well-deserved character growth. The mystery is interesting, but personal relationships really take center stage in this book. Maura also finally seems to make up her mind once and for all that she's staying in Ireland.

The other characters in this series really help make it the fun series it is. I love Billy, with all his knowledge of the area and the people in it. I am still waiting for Rose to get more time. I was kind of disappointed that Maura never followed through on an idea from the previous book concerning Rose.

All in all, this was a great step forward in the series, with an interesting mystery and a nice fast, read.

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



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Unbridled Murder, by Leigh Hearon

Unbridled Murder by Leigh Hearon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

3rd in the series.

I love Annie and her passion for saving horses. The story-line kept me hooked from the beginning. This series isn't quite as "cozy" as some of the other series I read, it's a little darker, and seems to be a lot focused on shining a light on some of the not so nice things that go on in the horse world. But I think that's what I like about it.

I love that Annie is a strong, independent female lead. That said, I also love that she's learning after years of hard work on her own, that needing help isn't always a bad thing. I also liked that we got to see more of her with Marcus.

I really hope we get to see more of Annie in the future.

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

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Crust No One. by Winne Archer

Crust No One by Winnie Archer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in the series.

I liked this book better than the previous one, Ivy wasn't quite so whiney this time around. But I don't like Miguel much at all. Or his nasty sister.

But what I find the hardest to swallow about the entire series is that Ivy says she's trying to build up her photography business, and then does everything but that. She ignores a potential client for two days, because she wants to do things on her terms? Umm, yeah that's not how work goes, even if the potential client is the guy who broke your heart years ago.

I'm not sure I will read the next book, just because I really don't care too much about any of the characters. Really, I'd like to see the author go back to her Magical Dressmaking series instead.

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

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Historically Dead, by Great Mckennan

Historically Dead by Greta Mckennan

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

Book 2 in the series.

I enjoyed this book more than the previous one. The characters are much more likeable here. The author combines history with modern day mystery, and some romance thrown in.

I'm still not a fan of Steve. I think he and Darla are kind of bland together. But the sisters, Ruth and Priscilla, more than made up for it. And the reappearance of Darla's thieving ex made things a bit more interesting as well.

This was an interesting and fun mystery and I am 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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Not a Creature Was Purring, by Krista Davis

Not a Creature Was Purring by Krista Davis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars, I loved it!

Book 5 in this fun series. It can be read as a stand alone, but do yourself a favor and read them all!

I love this series, set in the pet friendly town of Wagtail, Virginia and centered on the Sugar Maple Inn. And this one is my favorite, so far, of the series.

Holly and her pals are making spirits bright in Wagtail this Christmas season, playing secret Santa to Wagtail's less fortunate. Meanwhile, the Inn is playing host to one great big dysfunctional family for Christmas. A family who just happens to be the soon to be in-laws of Holly's longtime crush, Holmes.

Filled with lovable people, as well as pets, this series never fails to lift my spirits and make me laugh, even while murder is happening. All my favorite characters make an appearance in this book, and some long-running themes get wrapped up in time for the holidays.

Not a Creature Was Purring is a fast, fun read that I didn't want to put down. So take a trip to Wagtail for the holidays this year, you'll be glad you did.

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


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