Book Review: A Call for Kelp by Bree Baker

Everly Swan is busy as a bee running her beachside iced tea shop, and the small island of Charm, North Carolina is abuzz—Mitzi Calgon, an iconic Hollywood actress, is in town! Everly's great-aunts are making a documentary about beekeeping and Mitzi has agreed to help. Aunt Clara and Aunt Fran are determined to save endangered honeybees but soon find themselves in a bind when Mitzi turns up dead. Soon, reporters and fans swarm the island, muddying the water and disrupting the peaceful lives of the townspeople.

Everly's never been good at minding her own beeswax, so she starts following her own leads and combing through the evidence. Then there's the mystery of Detective Hays—ever since their kiss under the mistletoe, he's been acting distant. And he's annoyingly determined to keep Everly away from the case. With her beekeeping aunts' reputations on the line, the sleuth will stop at nothing to crack the case. But when she receives a cryptic warning to "Bee Careful", Everly realizes that she's gotten herself into a really sticky situation...[summary via Amazon]

I'm back reading cozy mysteries and the first one on my list is the latest Seaside Cafe Mystery, A Call for Kelp. I always enjoy catching up with Everly and her aunts and seeing what is happening in the picturesque town of Charm.

In this adventure Everly's great-aunts have a few visitors in town to help with the documentary they are making about beekeeping. One visitor is a friend of Everly's grandmother, Mitzi Calgon. When Mitzi turns up dead, all evidence points to someone close to Everly and she must do all she can to find the real killer.

The Seaside Cafe Mysteries never disappoint and I'm so glad I picked this one up! The mystery itself was very intriguing, as I tried to solve it alongside Everly. Beyond the mystery, Everly manages to untangle some mysteries surrounding folks in Charm as well. It's these characters with such depth that has me coming back again and again. 

While I'm not an avid beekeeper (beyond enjoying honey!) I like that there is more than just the tea shop to interest readers. I'm definitely learning a lot reading this series.. well enough to know I don't want to tangle with a bee!

If you enjoy a light-hearted, intriguing mystery, with enough charming characters to fill a cozy town, then this series is for you. The absolutely icing on the cake (or lemon slice in your tea!) is the delectable delights that Everly cooks up. I absolutely can't wait to visit Charm again!

Book Review: Death by Coffee by Alex Erickson

On their very first day of business, Brendon Lawyer huffily takes his coffee…to the grave. It seems he had a severe allergy to peanuts…but how could there have been nuts in his coffee? And who stole his emergency allergy medication?

Fortunately, Krissy’s love of puzzles and mysteries leads her not only to Officer Paul Dalton, but also to many of her new neighbors, who aren’t terribly upset that the book is closed on Brendon. But one of them is a killer, and Krissy needs to read between the lies if she wants to save her new store—and live to see how this story ends…[summary via Amazon]

I'm a huge fan of books within books, and cozy mysteries set in bookstores and libraries are my absolute favorite!! I've been eyeing up the Bookstore Cafe mysteries for a while, and I recently took the plunge with Death by Coffee! Let me say... I can't believe what I've been missing out on. If this first book is any indicator... this is my new favorite series!

Krissy has moved to Pine Hills to open a bookstore cafe, with her best friend, Vicki, called Death by Coffee. Bookstore and a cafe... that's a recipe for a quiet life right? Not for Krissy, when a customer dies on her first day... after drinking one of her coffees. It's up to Krissy to stick her nose where it doesn't belong and find a killer, before they have to close the bookstore cafe!

What I absolutely love about Krissy... is that she completely owns her desire to stick her nose where it doesn't belong. She acknowledges that she's just being nosy and really shouldn't be getting involved, but she does!! She's an amateur sleuth to look up to. While some others are hesitant about getting involved, she doesn't waiver. She steps right up to the plate and is determined to find a killer! And, she does just that in her first adventure.

If that's not enough, there is also her cat... "Misfit". Misfit is part of a pair of cats, his sibling is owned by Vicki, whose name is "Trouble". Misfit may be my new favorite cozy feline. He's incredibly naughty and I loved reading about his little adventures, causing trouble for Krissy at every turn. Don't worry Trouble also lives up to its name as well. Let's just say "domino bookshelves"!

I simply adored Death by Coffee. The main mystery was interesting and kept me enthralled. I also like that we just learn a little bit about other residents of Pine Hills, but not too much. Just enough to know that I'm going to be coming back for the next book to find out about everyone else. Krissy's father is a best-selling mystery author, and I'm looking forward to seeing how his involvement plays out in future stories.

If you're crazy for biblio mysteries I strongly recommend reading the Bookstore Cafe mysteries. Luckily for me, there are currently 7 books in the series and I plan to read them all as quickly as possible!

Book Review: Murder, She Meowed by Liz Mugavero

Stan and Jake’s wedding will soon take place on the town green in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, followed by a reception at their beloved Irish pub filled with friends, family, and their four favorite canine companions. Stan just has to endure the traditional girls’ night out first. Male strippers jumping out of gigantic cakes aren’t her preferred entertainment. But the hired hottie never gets around to taking it all off . . . because someone takes him out first with one of Stan’s kitchen knives. A heartbroken Stan recognizes the victim as one of the delivery men from the local farm—who must have been moonlighting for some extra cash. Now the guest list has turned into a suspect list—and Stan’s making a vow to find the killer . . .[summary via Amazon]

I started reading the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries in 2014. Back then I had two less cats and I was enthralled with both the mystery and characters, but also the idea of making cat treats for my feline companions. Since reading Kneading the Die this has been one series that I haven't missed a new release for... and now Stan and Jake are getting married, but not without a murder to solve!

Stan is looking for a small, quiet wedding in Frog Ledge to the love her life, Jake. However, it seems her family has other ideas. Her sister, Caitlynn, is determined to throw Stan a wild bachelorette party. Unfortunately the party turns deadly when the stripper, that Caitlynn has hired, turns up dead. It's up to Stan to put aside the wedding plans and solve a murder.

I love every visit to Frog Ledge, but this one is extra special. Stan and Jake are getting married!! Of course we all know weddings are wonderful... and stressful! This time Stan has to not just solve a mystery (well she could mind her own business, but when is an amateur sleuth ever going to do that?) but also try to keep her mom and sister in check, and stop them from destroying her wedding plans. 

I really enjoyed the two plots twisting together in Murder, She Meowed. While the stripper's murder isn't directly related to her wedding, he died at her place of business and Stan's determined to solve the murder before she walks down the aisle. 

In her own subtle way, Liz Mugavero has been promoting animal welfare, feeding grain-free and adopting your furry friends, and I simply adore this. This series, and Liz herself, is a big supporter of animals and looking after them, and this is part of what makes it one of my favourite series! And Nutty, but don't tell the two Maine coons that live in my house!!

Together with a great mystery to solve, Murder, She Meowed hit all the high notes for me. With a first class mystery, adorable furry friends and some new animal treat recipes to try... you can see why this  seres is #1 on my most recommended series for animal lovers.

Book Review: Read to Death by Terrie Farley Moran

With their book club season wrapping up with The Florida Life of Thomas Edison, Sassy and Bridgy decide to take their group on a day trip to the beautiful Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Hiring driver Oscar Frieland, who’s known for his colorful stories and love of the café’s Robert Frost fruit tartlets, the bibliophiles set off for a day of sunshine and history.

After a lovely excursion, the club returns to the café for lunch and a book discussion, but the group falls silent after Oscar is found dead in his van. The sheriff’s deputies have some questions of their own for the group, and if the ladies don’t find some answers soon, the next book they read might be from a prison library.[summary via Amazon]

Read to Death is the third book in the Read 'Em and Eat Mysteries. Sassy Cabot and Bridgy Mayfield are on a field trip to visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. All is going well until their driver is found dead, after they arrive back at the cafe. With Bridgy discovering the body, the police instantly suspect her. It's up to Sassy to try to clear her best friends name.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, and the third (and final) book is no exception. It was a charming and fun mystery, surrounding the book club's read of The Florida Life of Thomas Edison. 

I read a lot of mysteries and I love picking up clues early on. When the victim teases about knowing "all the girls way back when", I knew that was the line that had sealed his doom. Of course, I was right! It was interesting to try to figure out which book club member was keeping a secret and who the murderer was.

Beyond the mystery and the wonderful characters, I love all the "book title" dropping that this series provides. The various book clubs that meet at the Read 'Em and Eat Cafe are always interesting. Quite often, after reading the mystery I want to head to the library to check out the other books mentioned in the book. This time, it was Julie and Julia, and other Julia Childs cookbooks. The bookclub made the books sound so interesting, so I will definitely be having some cookbook reading in my future.

Read to Death is the last book in this series, and I hope some time in the future it might be picked up for more stories. I really enjoyed visiting with Sassy and Bridgy (and their moms in this book) and I hope there are more adventures in the future.

If you love books about books about books, then definitely pick up the Read 'Em and Eat Mysteries. They are well worth a read. And, there are delicious recipes too!

Book Review: Carving Out a Path by Lorraine Bartlett

A young shoplifter not only swipes a couple of hand-carved figurines from Ray Davenport, owner of Victoria Square’s Wood U gift shop, but barrels into and injures Katie Bonner, manager of Artisans Alley. Upon his escape, the police are called, but before the ink is dry on the report, the boy’s grandmother drags the would-be thief back to return the purloined items. She’s got an agenda and great expectations? Can Ray come through in a pinch?[summary via Amazon]

Carving Out a Path is the first novella in the "Life on Victoria Square" series. For those that haven't read the Victoria Square Mysteries, I recommend starting with A Crafty Killing. These novellas fit between the books, and contain small spoilers for the earlier books in the series.

Carving Out a Path centres around Ray Davenport's back story and involves a young shoplifter. I really enjoyed this novella. As a big fan of the Victoria Square mysteries, I like learning more about the individual characters - in this case Ray and his daughters. Lorraine Bartlett also gives a little background into her own family history involving wood carving, which I find really interesting.

This was a fun, short read and I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the novellas in the Life on Victoria Square series. These are the perfect little mini stories, while I wait for Murder Ink to be released on December 31, 2019.

Book Review: The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis

Few can compete with local celebrity Natasha Smith when it comes to entertaining, but Sophie Winston is determined to try. Her childhood rival may have stolen the spotlight—and her husband—but this Thanksgiving Sophie is determined to rob Natasha of the prize for Alexandria, Virginia's Stupendous Stuffing Shakedown. She just needs the right ingredient.

But Sophie's search for the perfect turkey takes a basting when she stumbles across a corpse. And when the police find her name and photo inside the victim's car, Sophie will have to set her trussing aside to solve the murder—or she'll be serving up prison grub...[summary via Amazon]

Sophie Winston is competing in the Stupendous Stuffing Shakedown competition again amateur cooks, like herself, and local celebrities, like her rival Natasha Smith. Despite just being an amateur Sophie is determined to give it her best try and win. However things don't go according to plan when ingredients are tampered with, and she then uncovers the dead body of one of the organizer. As Sophie and her family and friends delve further into the police investigation, it looks like the murderer could have been anyone of them. It's up to Sophie to find the killer before she gets life in prison.

I've seen the "Domestic Diva Mysteries" around for the last few years, and as I'm usually in the middle of several long-running series I haven't picked them up. I finally picked up the first book in the series and all I can wonder is why I haven't started these earlier? 

The Diva Runs Out of Thyme blew me away with its complex mystery and intriguing characters. As the first book in the series I was instantly hooked, and I turned the last page feeling like I really need to binge the rest of the books immediately!

Sophie Winston lives with her dog, Daisy, in a old house that once belonged to her ex-husband's family. Marc, her ex-husband and Sophie have no desire to re-unite. Instead Marc lives with Natasha, Sophie's rival and local celebrity. I loved how the two families are still intertwined - to the point of having Thanksgiving together, even though it wasn't planned. Sophie deals with every situation with such tact and grace. I'd be banging my head on a wall, after downing a bottle of wine!! Sophie definitely deserves the title of "Domestic Diva" as she handles all the family and friends that descend on her house during the holidays.

The Diva Runs Out of Thyme is such a charming debut. I was particularly interested in all the little "Q&As" at the beginning of the chapters, from Natasha and Sophie's point of view, how to deal with the holidays, families and running a household. I'm certainly going to be looking forward to future books with more tips and tricks!!

And, because Mochie wouldn't allow me to write a review without mentioning him. Special cozy cat mention to Sophie's new kitten Mochie. I can't wait to see what trouble this ocicat gets up to in future mysteries. 

Great mystery, interesting characters... the Domestic Diva Mysteries are well worth a read!

Book Review: Read Herring Hunt by V.M. Burns

To the town of North Harbor, Michigan, MISU quarterback Dawson Alexander is a local hero. To Samantha Washington, owner of the Market Street Mysteries Bookstore, Dawson is more than a tenant—he’s like an adopted son. But to the police, he is their prime suspect after his ex-girlfriend is found murdered. It’s more than enough real-life drama for Sam to tackle, but her role as a mystery writer also calls. Returning to the English countryside between the wars, she finds Lady Daphne Marsh in quite the quandary. Someone has tried to murder the scandalous American divorcée Wallis Simpson, for whom Edward VIII so recently abdicated his throne. It seems finding a suspect is no small challenge when most of England has a motive . . .

While Sam’s lawyer sister Jenna rushes in to build Dawson's defense, Sam and her lively grandmother, Nana Jo, huddle up to solve the mystery and blow the whistle on the real killer. With the tenacious members of the Sleuthing Senior Book Club eager to come off the sidelines, Sam and her team just might stop a killer from completing another deadly play . . .[summary via Amazon]

Read Herring Hunt is the second book in the Mystery Bookshop series, and all our favourites are back for another murder mystery to solve. Dawson Alexander is a football player, college student and part-time worker at Market Street Mysteries Bookstore. Things are going well for Dawson, as he  becomes part of the "family" at the bookshop. However, it looks like someone has some trouble in store for Dawson when his ex-girlfriend turns up dead and the police are determined to pin the crime on Dawson. With the help of the Senior Sleuths, Sam and her family set about to find a killer and clear Dawson's name.

I was absolutely head over heels for the first book in this series, The Plot is Murder. My favourite sub-genre of cozy mysteries is books about books, and this series stands out because it takes it further with a mystery inside a mystery! That's right V.M. Burns delivers two fantastic, compelling mysteries within the same book.

This time we have the mystery involving Dawson, which I solved well before the Senior Sleuths and Sam. However, I still enjoyed watching it play out, especially as anything involving the Senior Sleuths is bound to be hilarious - and it was!! The second mystery continues on with the historical mystery series that Sam is writing and that one was a lot trickier to solve. Both plots kept me well glued to each page, and I was sad when each respective mystery was solved. Luckily for me there are two more books in this series for me to devour!

While Sam is a wonderful amateur sleuth and knows how to solve a mystery, it is her Nana Jo that has me coming back for each new book. Her Nana Jo is an absolute hoot and I wish she was related to me. Not only is she willing to dig into a new mystery, but she's a perfect marksman (and not afraid to take her gun out and prove it!) and she knows her mystery books!!

The Mystery Bookshop series is fast becoming one of my favourite series, and is well worthy of being on the top of even the pickiest reader's reading list. If you're not reading this series yet, you should be!

Book Review: Yule Be Dead by Lorraine Bartlett & Gayle Leeson

It's Christmastime, but not everyone is jolly--especially not Vonne Barnett. Her dead body has been found in Victoria Square. Katie Bonner, the manager of Artisan's Alley, happens to be at the tea shop Vonne's mother, Francine, owns when the news is delivered.

Vonne left a trail of men behind her so the suspects are many--but the clues are few. A broken teacup leads Katie to one of the suspects, but before she can investigate, she's attacked. Katie may be closing in on a murderer, but time is ticking because the murderer is definitely closing in on her.[summary via Amazon]

Yule Be Dead  is the fifth book in the Victoria Square mysteries, and sees Katie Bonner, the manager of Artisan's Alley, enjoying the Christmas season with the residents at Victoria Square. Not everything is jolly though, especially when local resident, Vonne Barnett, is found dead. What initially looks like a car accident could be something much more sinister... especially when it looks like someone is out to get Katie too.

I adore Lorraine's other series (the Booktown Mysteries, written as Lorna Bartlett) and the Victoria Square mysteries has always come a close second. However, after finishing Yule Be Dead, I believe this series is now my new favourite!!

I've been following Katie's adventures from the first book, A Crafty Killing, and I have to say that I absolutely love Lorraine's character development. Katie Bonner is a strong woman, and stronger than she ever thought she would be. She's turned the Artisan Alley into a success, which wasn't an easy feat - especially given that she didn't want to own it to begin with. On top of that she's made a life for herself in Victoria Square. That is... until her former mother-in-law shows up. I really liked the inclusion of her former mother-in-law, Margo. It showed the reader how far Katie has come, and by the end of the book I felt like I knew Katie even better.

Lorraine Bartlett writes strong, relatable female characters. Yes, they stick their nose into murder mysteries, but they're also someone that I wish I had next to me on the adventure that we call life. It's her ability to write such memorable amateur sleuths that has me coming back again and again.

I really liked the mystery. Francine and Vonne have a "interesting" mother-daughter relationship. It was a very compelling read, watching all the detail unravel, as Katie learns a lot of secrets - and maybe some she wished she didn't know.

Yule Be Dead is quite possibly my favourite book in this series. The riveting mystery coupled with the brilliant character development has me wanting more books in this series! I'm excited to see what new adventures are going to be coming Katie's way in the next book!!

Book Review: No Cats Allowed by Miranda James

Mississippi librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat Diesel are on their guard. Oscar Reilly, the new director at the Athena College library, is on a mission to cut costs and has set his sights on the archive and rare book collection. Reilly’s also out to replace Charlie’s fiery friend Melba with someone younger, but his biggest offense is declaring all four-legged creatures banned from the stacks.

With enemies aplenty, the suspect list is long when Reilly’s body is discovered in the library, but incriminating evidence throws suspicion on Melba. Charlie is convinced that his friend is no murderer, especially when he catches sight of a menacing stranger lurking around the library. Now he and Diesel will have to read between the lines, before Melba is shelved under “G” for guilty...[summary via Amazon]

Our favourite librarian and cat duo are back in the 7th book in the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries. There is a new director at the Athena College Library, and he's not making friends amongst the staff. In fact, Oscar Reilly, might be the most disliked man in Athena. When Oscar turns up dead, there is a whole library full of people that wanted to kill Oscar. It's up to Charlie and Diesel to hunt for clues and find a killer, before the killer strikes again.

I'm absolutely smitten with the crime fighting duo of Charlie and Diesel. I've been keeping up with their adventures from day one, and maybe it is because I'm also owner to a Maine Coon myself, but they're my absolutely favourite sleuth and cat pair!

In this adventure, they go up against a truly nasty man in Oscar Reilly. No one likes Oscar, even Charlie and Diesel. As a reader, I really enjoy a mystery where the victim is disliked. There is no surprise by the death, but there are lots of potential suspects. Aside from the enjoyment of reading a mystery, I absolutely love to try to find the killer before the sleuth! I managed to ferret out the killer before Charlie, but not quite connect all the dots. 

There is no mystery why this is one of my favourite series. As demonstrated in No Cats Allowed, this series is a well-paced mystery, with adorable characters (both in the human and four-legged variety), and the side plots of Charlie's life with his family always leave me wanting more. I'm currently a few books behind in the series, and for that I'm thankful as I now have more adventures with Charlie and Diesel right away!!

If you love cats and books about books, then pick up this series. However, it is best to do it justice and start with the first book, Murder Past Due.

Book Review: The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton

Never an adventurer, no one was more surprised than Delaney Nichols when she packed her bags and moved halfway across the world to Edinburgh, Scotland to start a job at The Cracked Spine, a bookshop located in the heart of the city. Her new boss, Edwin MacAlister, has given her the opportunity of a lifetime, albeit a cryptic one, and Delaney can’t wait to take her spot behind the desk.

The Cracked Spine is filled with everything a book lover could want, each item as eclectic as the people who work there; the spirited and lovable Rosie, who always has tiny dog Hector in tow; Hamlet, a nineteen-year-old thespian with a colored past and bright future; and Edwin, who is just as enigmatic and mysterious as Delaney expected. An extra bonus is Tom the bartender from across the street, with his cobalt eyes, and a gentle brogue—and it doesn’t hurt that he looks awfully good in a kilt.

But before she can settle into her new life, a precious artifact goes missing, and Edwin’s sister is brutally murdered. Never did Delaney think that searching for things lost could mean a killer, but if she’s to keep her job, and protect her new friends, she’ll need to learn the truth behind this Scottish tragedy.[summary via Amazon]

The Cracked Spine is the first book in the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries. Meet Delaney Nichols, an American from Kansas, who finds herself travelling to Scotland to take up a job at The Cracked Spine. Delaney is a book lover, and can't wait to start working at the Scottish bookshop. What she isn't expecting is to get thrown in the middle of a murder investigation. This is exactly what happens when Edwin's, her boss, sister is found brutally murdered. Together with her new "bookshop family" Delaney sets out to find the culprit.

Oh, this book!!! It was love at first page. There is everything to love in this debut. The Scottish setting, the kilts, the Scottish accents and the way they pronounce words, and the bookshop! Oh the bookshop. The bookshop is absolutely magical and it is the perfect place for Delaney, a book lover who can "hear" the books. 

The mystique of the bookshop very much reminded me of the television show, Warehouse 13. All is not as it appears with The Cracked Spine, and the bookshop family. I loved the mystery behind the bookshop, and I feel like there is still more secrets to be unfolded in future books.  

I adored Delaney Nichols, and her thirst for books and adventure. She throws herself headlong into the mystery, but she has a great cast of "partners in crime" along the way. Rosie and Hamlet, who work in the bookshop, and her new friends, Elias and Aggie, who she meets right away and help her get settled in Edinburgh. Not to mention her boss, Edwin, who has a lot of secrets, and may end up being the most fascinating of everyone in Edinburgh!

I absolutely loved The Cracked Spine, and if you love books about books, you need to be adding this series to your reading list! I can't wait to continue on with this series and see what kind of fun and mischief Delaney and her new bookshop family get up to next!

Book Review: No Farm, No Foul by Peg Cochran

On her blog, The Farmer’s Daughter, Shelby McDonald is growing her audience as she posts recipes, gardening tips, and her experiences raising two kids and running Love Blossom Farm in the small western Michigan town of Lovett.

Working the farm is demanding but peaceful—until that peace is shattered when the minister’s wife is murdered on Shelby’s property during a fund-raiser for a local church. But the manure really hits the fan when Shelby’s good friend veterinarian Kelly Thacker emerges as the prime suspect. Shelby decides to dig in and find the murderer by herself. As more suspects crop up, she’ll have to move fast—before someone else buys the farm. . . .[summary via Amazon]

No Farm, No Foul is the first book in the Farmer's Daughter Mysteries and features Shelby McDonald, farmer and blogger. During the pot luck barbecue, Shelby's life takes a turn to the dangerous when she discovers the minister's wife murdered. As she sets about trying to find clues, she discovers not everyone in Lovett is as they seem.

I wasn't expecting to like No Farm, No Foul as much as I did. It wasn't because of the author. I absolutely loved Peg Cochran's Gourmet DeLite mysteries. It is for the simple reason that I'm not usually a fan of farm girl settings. Having had my full of the All Creatures Great and Small as a child, I've been enjoying books with a more urban setting lately. However, that's the great thing about cozy mysteries... a great mystery, enticing characters and I'm hooked. Just as I was with this one!

I quickly got caught up in the mystery surrounding the small town of Lovett, where everyone isn't as they seem. Lovett is full of small town gossip, and murder aside, it seems like there is always something happening!!

I liked the mystery, but I especially liked the characters. Shelby is widowed, a single mom of 2 kids, and a blogger. Apart from the widow part I can completely relate. Especially trying to balance the kids and a full-time business. 

No Farm, No Foul was a great start to this series and I can't wait to read the next book. The romantic angle really drew me in and I can't wait to find out how Shelby's life unfolds in that department! And, of course, what kind of mystery she gets herself in the middle of!

Book Review: Eggs in Purgatory by Laura Childs

Suzanne, Toni, and Petra lose their husbands but find independence when they open the Cackleberry Club. Then their cozy cafe becomes the scene of a crime when a lawyer dies with a secret on his lips and egg on his face. What this all has to do with a religious cult and Suzanne's past could put her own life on the line.[summary via Goodreads]

Eggs in Purgatory is the first book in the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, and features a trio of friends, that find a renewed sense of life in their new business, Cackleberry Club. Life is going swimmingly for the three friends at their business, the Cackleberry Club, which is part cafe, part knitting shop, part bookshop. Life in Kindred takes a turn for the worse when the local lawyer, Bobby Waite, is found killed outside their Cafe. Suzanne sets to work, trying to find a killer, and at the same time clearing her deceased husband's name, when he is implicated in a scandal.

I picked up Eggs in Purgatory on the recommendation of a knitting friend, who described the Cackleberry Club as "my perfect place to spend hours on end". Her description very much fitted the Cackleberry Club, being part bookstore/cafe/yarn shop, this is my idea of a perfect place as well! Add in the element of afternoon tea, complete with fancy tea and scones, and you have my idea of heaven!

Along with a perfect setting, the mystery itself was pretty perfect too. With a dead body discovered early in the book, I was thrust headlong into a complex mystery, and it was fun trying to solve it alongside Suzanne. The mystery kept me guessing right until the end, as I had to keep re-evaluating my guesses, as each suspect got cleared. It definitely was a great twister of a mystery.

Suzanne's partners in crime (and business), Toni and Petra, are absolutely amusing and kept me in giggles the entire book. I especially loved when they kicked out a over-zealous cult leader, that came to threaten them. They are my spirit warriors!!

Eggs in Purgatory was a delight, and I definitely plan on continuing on with this series.

Book Review: Tangled Up in Brew by Joyce Tremel

Brew pub owner Maxine “Max” O’Hara and her chef/boyfriend, Jake Lambert, are excited to be participating in the Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival. Max hopes to win the coveted Golden Stein for best craft beer—but even if she doesn’t, the festival will be great publicity for her Allegheny Brew House.

Or will it? When notoriously nasty food and beverage critic Reginald Mobley is drafted as a last-minute replacement judge, Max dreads a punishing review. Her fears are confirmed when Mobley literally spits out her beer, but things get even worse when the cranky critic drops dead right after trying one of Jake’s burgers. Now an ambitious new police detective is determined to pin Mobley’s murder on Max and Jake, who must pore over the clues to protect their freedom and reputations—and to find the self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner.[summary via Amazon]

In the second book in the Brewing Trouble Mysteries, Max and Jake are setting up for a weekend of fantastic brew and food at the Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival. Things turn deadly when a nasty judge dies, while eating one of Jake's burgers. When a new police detective is determined to pin the crime on Jack and Max, Max needs to poke around to find the real killer.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, To Brew or Not to Brew. While there are a lot of "foodie" themed cozy mysteries, this was the first "brewing" themed mystery I had read, and it was a great debut. I was looking forward to picking up with Max and Jake's story again, and this second mystery didn't disappoint.

This mystery centres around the the Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival, and it was interesting to find out about different brews, and what a brewing festival entails. The competition between each brewmasters is fierce, despite them being friends. Joyce Tremel sets the scene so perfectly, that I could imagine walking through the festival, with the smell of ale and burgers in the air. 

In a love-to-hate kind of way I liked the inclusion of Detective Vince, or as Max calls him "Vince the Viper". He is young and cocky, and determined to pin the murder on Max and Jake, and it takes everything they've got to prove him wrong. I very much can't wait to see what kind of trouble Vince will try and cause in the third book.

With adorable adopted kitten "Hops"and the picturesque setting in Pittsburgh (Go Penguins!) this was a fun, intriguing second instalment in this series, and I can't wait for the next book.

Book Review: Death Among the Doilies by Mollie Cox Bryan

For thirty-something blogger Cora Chevalier, small-town Indigo Gap, North Carolina, seems like the perfect place to reinvent her life. Shedding a stressful past as a counselor for a women’s shelter, Cora is pouring all her talents—and most of her savings—into a craft retreat business, with help from close pal and resident potter Jane Starr. Between transforming her Victorian estate into a crafter’s paradise and babysitting Jane’s daughter, the new entrepreneur has no time for distractions. Especially rumors about the murder of a local school librarian . . .

But when Jane’s fingerprints match those found at the grisly crime scene, Cora not only worries about her friend, but her own reputation. With angry townsfolk eager for justice and both Jane’s innocence and the retreat at risk, she must rely on her creative chops to unlace the truth behind the beloved librarian’s disturbing demise. Because if the killer’s patterns aren’t pinned, Cora’s handiwork could end up in stitches . . .[summary via Amazon]

In the first book in the Cora Crafts Mystery, Cora Chevalier is setting up for her first craft retreat. This go awry when her best friend, Jane Starr, is accused of murdering the school librarian, Sarah Waters. Cora knows gentle Jane couldn’t possibly have murdered Sarah, and sets about trying to find out the real killer.

This is the second “crafting-themed retreat” mystery series I’ve read, and where the other one fell flat for me, this one was an absolute home run.

I quickly got engrossed in Cora’s back story, where she was a social worker at a women’s shelter, and that is where she met Jane. When the anxiety of the job became too much for Cora, she turned to crafting and blogging about crafting. In my own personal life of sewing, knitting and crocheting, I see this so often, and I’m glad to see this mentioned in the story. Crafting really helps us get through so much, and keeps our hands busy! Jane refers to Cora as a “creative warrior” and I absolutely love this phrase. It perfectly describes many group of crafters, both in the book and in my own crafting circles. We are all crafty warriors!

The mystery was very detailed. I liked that as I delved further into the mystery, I learned more about Cora, Jane and Ruby, who is a herbalist and lives with Cora and Jane. We also learn about other residents of Indigo Gap, and it gave me a feeling that I absolutely can’t wait to visit again.

Death Among the Doilies was such a great debut in the Cora Crafts Mysteries. I can’t wait to return to Indigo Gap, and pick up with the lives (and adventures) of Cora, Jane and Ruby.

Book Review: A Twinkle of Murder by Summer Prescott

Career moves can be murder…

Ever gotten yourself in over your head at work?

Barista Betsy Bergman feels like quite the poser when she’s promoted to the position of Image Consultant at a major department store. Things are kicking into high gear for the holiday season, and just when Betsy thinks she may succeed, despite the odds, she discovers that there’s murder afoot, and that she might just be a suspect.

Joining forces with her best friend, Arnold, entirely clueless to the fact that Arn would really like to be more than friends, Betsy puts her snooping powers to work to try to solve the crime, before she becomes the next victim.

Kick off your shoes and sit back to enjoy this tale of murder and mystery, set against the backdrop of a traditional Midwestern Christmas.

A Twinkle of Murder is a stand-alone mystery featuring part-time barista Betsy Bergman. For Betsy making coffee and baking is easy, but life gets a lot harder (and more interesting) when she takes on the job as Image Consultant at a department store. When one of her clients turns up dead, the police suspect Betsy and she must do all that she can to clear her name.

Despite it being Spring, I fell head over heels for this charming Christmas mystery. Betsy is clueless and smart at the same time. She's clueless over her best friend's, Arnold, feelings towards her. However, she shows her intelligence when quickly adapts to her new job and realizes she has a natural gift as an Image Consultant. The real question is what will her skills as an amateur sleuth be like?

The mystery itself was very interesting. With her rich client now dead, Betsy has to try to fit in with other rich people to try to solve the crime, and she manages this very well. Even her snobby boss is surprised!

A Twinkle of Murder is the first book I've read by Summer Prescott, but it won't be my last. I was absolutely smitten from the beginning to the end. By the time I turned the last page I had the toe-curling, warm and fuzzies that I get from finishing a great cozy mystery, with an adorable romantic angle.  

Cozy Pet Rating: 5 stars for Snoopy,  Betsy's ferret, who is just so adorable and made me wish I had a pet ferret!

Book Review: Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams

There is a hidden garden bordering the grounds of Jane Steward’s book-themed resort—a garden filled with beautiful but deadly plants such as mandrake and nightshade. Tucked away behind ivy-covered walls and accessible only through a single locked door, as described in the pages of Frances Hodges Burnett's classic novel, the garden is of special interest to Jane’s current group of guests, The Medieval Herbalists. But when one of them turns up dead, Jane must discover whether a member of the group has come to Storyton Hall to celebrate their passion for plant lore or to implement a particularly cruel means for murder.

With thousands of books at her disposal, Jane believes she has the proper materials to solve this deadly problem. If she’s wrong, however, she may lose something far more precious than the contents of Storyton’s secret library...[summary via Amazon]

I love reading books about books. Cozy mysteries that feature a strong book theme are my absolute favourite. For this reason, and so many others, the Book Retreat Mysteries are one of my favourites. They have an interesting mystery to solve, but there is also the story behind the "Fins", the organization that protect and preserve the secret library within Storyton Hall. Both of these storylines entwine together to create a delightful read, with each book being even more memorable than the previous one.

In Murder in the Secret Garden Jane Steward and her twin sons, Hem and Fitz, are caught up in the delight of the rubber duck race. The rubber duck race is the idea of the new Storyton Outfitters owners and the boys delight in being able to purchase a duck to race. Things turn deadly when one of the Medieval Herbalist turns up dead. 

I love the twists and turns of the mystery. Just when I thought I had it solved, it twisted around and left me clueless. Beyond the mystery, I absolutely love the concept of the Fins, the secret organization that protect the secret library. Add in the handsome, rogue Edwin Alcott, who is known as "The Thief" and you have a delightful story that will please even the pickiest reader!

Being a twin mom to boys, another reason I love this series is the inclusion of Fitz and Hem. These delightful, albeit mischievous, boys really bring this story alive. With their aversion to clean baths and their love of literature, I always enjoy hearing what they're up to and what they are reading. This time they're immersed in Harry Potter, and I loved all the Harry Potter references, and how they adapt everyday chores into Harry Potter-isms.

Murder in the Secret Garden is a delight to all bibliophiles, and if you're not reading this series yet you should be. Pick up book one, Murder in the Mystery Suite, and immerse yourself in this well-crafted book-themed cozy mystery series.

Book Review: Send in the Clowns by Julie Mulhern

Haunted houses are scary enough without knife-wielding clowns. Especially murderous knife-wielding clowns. So thinks Ellison Russell, single mother, artist, and reluctant sleuth.

Now death wears a red nose and Ellison is up to the blood-stained collar of her new trench coat in costumes, caffeine, and possible killers. Who stabbed Brooks Harney? And why? Money? Jealousy? Drugs?

With Mother meddling, her father furious, and her date dragged downtown for questioning, turns out Ellison’s only confidante is Mr. Coffee.[summary via Amazon]

It's Halloween in Kansas City, Missouri, and Ellison Russell is caught up in a Halloween mystery. When Ellison enters a haunted house looking for her daughter, she finds a dead body. Literally the body of Brooks Harney is thrown at her. As she investigates she finds more secrets than she wants to know!

I seriously love this series. I've now read three books in this series in three days. Needless to say my house is a mess, but I've been on a wild, wild ride with the Country Club members and Ellison Russell and I don't regret a minute of it.

Send in the Clowns spooked me from the very beginning. A haunted house with a clown being killed by a clown. Clowns scare the bejesus out of me (thank you Stephen King!). However, I put aside my fear of clowns because I knew this was going to be a great mystery, and I was right! 

All the regular crew were back in this mystery, Ellison's parents, her daughter, Grace, her housekeeper, Aggie, and of course Detective Anarchy Jones and Hunter Tafft. We also get introduced to new characters, and of course that means new secrets and more suspenseful mystery. The mystery was top notch and it left me on the edge of my seat, trying to unravel it, right up to the end!

Ellison's family is always full of drama, and this book was no different. Without meaning to, Ellison runs up against her mother, father and sister, as she doesn't always seem to do what they want. I love Ellison's mom, Frances, in a love-to-hate-her kind of way. She reminds me of Emily Gilmore from Gilmore Girls, as she tries to take control of every situation and run her family with a iron fist. Unfortunately Ellison has ideas of her own, how her life should be.

Send in the Clowns was another fantastic read, and if you're not reading this series yet, you should be! 

Book Review: Guaranteed to Bleed by Julie Mulhern

With his dying breath, Bobby Lowell begs Ellison Russell, "Tell her I love her." Unable to refuse, Ellison struggles to find the girl the murdered boy loved. Too bad an epically bad blind date, a vindictive graffiti artist, and multiple trips to the emergency room keep getting in the way. Worse, a killer has Ellison in his sights, her newly rebellious daughter is missing, and there's yet another body in her hostas. Mother won't be pleased.

Now Ellison must track down not one, but two runaway teenagers, keep her promise to Bobby, and elude the killer - all before her next charity gala committee meeting.[summary via Amazon]

In the second book in the Country Club Murders, Ellison Russell and her daughter, Grace, are piecing their lives together after the death of Henry, Ellison's cheating husband and Grace's father. When Ellison stumbles across an injured and almost-dead high schooler, Bobby Lowell, at a football game, she's thrown headlong into another mystery. Ellison must try to find the girl Bobby loved, and try to find a murderer too!

I absolutely devoured Guaranteed to Bleed. I finished it in less than a day. This juicy, fast-paced mystery was simply fantastic. I really enjoyed the first book, The Deep End, but this second book was even better. As the reader, we already know most of the main characters, and Julie Mulhern has added extra depth to them, as their story continues.

I love the setting of this series - the elite country club, with lots of juicy secrets, and everyone wants to know all the secrets! However, it seems Ellison knows most of the secrets and she has to work to keep them to herself.

Ellison is a very complex and interesting character. She's deeply hurt by the actions of her late husband, and definitely not ready to thaw out her heart and move on. Although it's clear when she does move on she has two men waiting in the wings. In the form of Detective Anarchy Jones (isn't that the best name?) and family lawyer, Hunter Tafft. 

The mystery was complex and interesting. I like how little side stories were woven into the main mystery, and it kept me flipping pages faster and faster.

Guaranteed to Bleed is simply delicious, and full of tantalizing gossip and drama, and I'm excited to find out what is ahead for Ellison, her love life, and further mystery and mayhem.

Book Review: A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander

Welcome to Torte-a small-town family bakeshop where the coffee is hot, the muffins are fresh, and the cakes are definitely to die for...

It's autumn in Ashland, Oregon-'tis the season for a spiced hot apple cider with a serving (or two) of Torte's famous peach cobbler. It's also the perfect time for Jules Capshaw to promote her family's beloved bake shop by competing in The Pastry Channel's reality show, Take the Cake. The prize is $25,000. But as Jules quickly learns, some people would kill for that kind of dough. Literally.

Then, just as Jules dusts off her Bavarian Chocolate Cake recipe and cinches up her apron, the corpse of a fellow contestant is discovered-death by buttercream. What began as a fun, tasteful televised adventure has morphed into something of a true-crime detective show for Jules and everybody else on set. Who could have killed Chef Marco, and why? Can Jules sift out the killer before someone else gets burned?[summary via Amazon]

A Batter of Life and Death is the second book in the Bakeshop Mysteries. The theatre season is winding down for Jules and the residents of Ashland, Oregan's prime spot for everything Shakespearian. However, that doesn't mean that life is about to get quiet. With the appearance of The Pastry Channel's reality tv show, Take the Cake, life is getting really interesting in Ashland. Especially since Jules is a contestant on the show! Things really heat up when one of the contestant's is found dead.

I love to bake and I love to read. However, I'm generally more interested in the cozy mysteries that feature around bookstores and libraries. However, with the underlying Shakespearian tone of this series, I absolutely love the Bakeshop mysteries. The mouthwatering desserts, the tantalizing mystery and the delightful characters in Ashland keep me coming back for more.

I liked that A Batter of Life and Death features around the chaotic world of reality tv cooking shows. I'm a big fan of cooking shows, especially Netflix's Nailed It!, and I liked reading about the drama behind the scenes. Of course there is bound to be drama with melodramatic chefs on board, but the drama turns deadly this time.

The mystery itself kept me on my toes. While I was reading I kept trying to guess who the murderer was, and I had to keep adjusting my guess with every twist and turn!! In the end Jules solved the crime before I did!

I love Ashland and the characters! I'm very much a character-driven reader, and there are so many interesting characters in Ashland, to get to know. I especially love theatre director, Lance. There is an edge to Lance, and every time I wonder if he is the murderer. He especially keeps me on my toes.

A Batter of Life and Death was a delightful and tantalizing mystery and I can't wait to go back for another helping of this series!

New Audiobook Releases - April 15 - 21, 2019

Check out new audiobooks coming week of April 15-21, 2019.

Braking for Bodies by Duffy Brown

Christmas, Criminals and Campers by Tonya Kappes

A Passion for Haunted Fashion by Rose Pressey

Steamed Open by Barbara Ross