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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