Book Review: Murder Gone A-Rye by Nancy J Parra

When Toni’s beloved—and eccentric—grandma Ruth is arrested for the murder of her archenemy, Lois Striker, it’s time for a senior moment of truth. Telltale tracks from a scooter like the one Grandma Ruth rides lead the police to suspect the outspoken oldster, but Toni knows her grandmother wouldn’t burn a cookie, let alone extinguish a life.

In fact, the case has Grandma more revved up than her infamous scooter. A former investigative journalist, she decides to solve the murder herself—with help from Toni—by digging up long-buried town secrets. But as Grandma scoots in where others fear to tread, Toni needs to make sure she not only stays out of jail but out of harm’s way…[summary via Amazon]

Having been diagnosed with Celiacs disease many years ago, I leaped on the first book in the Baker's Treat Mysteries, Gluten for Punishment, when it first came out. A mystery series that featured a gluten free bakery is my idea of heaven! Especially as it also included gluten free recipes!!

I was in need of another trip to Oiltop, Kansas, and dove into the second book in the series, Murder Gone A-Rye. It was every bit as delightful and enjoyable as the first book.

In Murder Gone A-Rye, Toni is trying to keep her Grandma Ruth out of jail, when she becomes a suspect in the murder of her archenemy, Lois Striker. Toni's grandmother is not the sweet, old lady variety. No she's the feisty, hellion on a scooter type and Toni has her hands full stopping Ruth, along with her Aunt Phyllis, investigating the crime and getting arrested again!

I love Grandma Ruth and all of Toni's family. They are a big, loud, fun family and there is never a dull moment!! For me, Toni's family absolutely makes this series. Grandma Ruth is a laugh a minute, and the kind of awesome grandmother you wish you had. She is eager to discover long-buried secrets and she's not afraid to get into trouble, or arrested either!! With Ruth at the helm of the mystery, it was never dull - not even for a second.

In my opinion, Murder Gone A-Rye was even better than the first book. The characters are fantastic, the mystery itself was intriguing, as it involved a long-ago murder, and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to pick up the third book in the series, Flourless to Stop Him.

Purchase Murder Gone A-Rye from Amazon.

Book Review: Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany

In Rudolph, New York, it’s Christmastime all year long. But this December, while the snow-lined streets seem merry and bright, a murder is about to ruin everyone’s holiday cheer…

As the owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, Merry Wilkinson knows how to decorate homes for the holidays. That’s why she thinks her float in the semi-annual Santa Claus parade is a shoe-in for best in show. But when the tractor pulling Merry’s float is sabotaged, she has to face facts: there’s a Scrooge in Christmas Town.

Merry isn’t ready to point fingers, especially with a journalist in town writing a puff piece about Rudolph’s Christmas spirit. But when she stumbles upon the reporter’s body on a late night dog walk—and police suspect he was poisoned by a gingerbread cookie crafted by her best friend, Vicky—Merry will have to put down the jingle bells and figure out who’s really been grinching about town, before Vicky ends up on Santa’s naughty list…[summary via Amazon]

Welcome to Christmas in Rudolph, New York! It's exactly what you would imagine a Christmas in the North Pole to be. The streets are alive with Christmas spirit, with Santa strolling down the street, gingerbread baking at the bakery and friendly people everywhere. Well that is what Christmas in Rudolph is supposed to be like, but this year there is a little murder on the menu as well!

I love Christmastime. I live in Canada, and the snow is falling, the stores are festively decorated, and it's the perfect time to cozy up with a warm cup of tea and a good book (a cozy mystery, of course!). With my love of the holiday season, it's no great surprise that I love to read Christmas-themed books during the holidays. With Vicki Delany's release of her Year-Round Christmas Mysteries, it's the perfect time of the year to catch up on this great new series.

Vicki Delany sets the perfect scene of the idyllic small town, where their business is centred around Christmas. The streets are packed with tourists, and it seems like it's going to be another perfect holiday season. That is until a murderer strikes, and panic amongst the residents starts to set in. For the residents of Rudolph, Christmas is everything, and Merry and her friends must try to solve this mystery, before they have no customers at all.

From the start to the end, I cherished Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen. It is the perfect Christmastime cozy mystery, with just the right balance between mystery and holiday spirit. I liked the sleuth, Merry, a lot. Her family is big on Christmas spirit, with her dad, Noel, playing Santa every year. Of course with a name like Merry, she loves it too!! Together with her friend, Vicky, they set about to solve the mystery - even travelling to one town over to see if they are involved in the murder somehow.

There is so much to love in the town of Rudolph, including Merry's Saint Bernard pup, Matterhorn, and I'm already eager to take another trip there to see what kind of mischief Merry, her family and friends will be up to next.

If you are looking for a great mystery, filled with holiday spirit, this season, pick up Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen. You won't be disappointed!

Purchase Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen from Amazon.

Book Review: Curtain by Agatha Christie

The house guests at Styles seemed perfectly pleasant to Captain Hastings; there was his own daughter Judith, an inoffensive ornithologist called Norton, dashing Mr Allerton, brittle Miss Cole, Doctor Franklin and his fragile wife Barbara , Nurse Craven, Colonel Luttrell and his charming wife, Daisy, and the charismatic Boyd-Carrington. So Hastings was shocked to learn from Hercule Poirot's declaration that one of them was a five-times murderer. True, the ageing detective was crippled with arthritis, but had his deductive instincts finally deserted him?

The novel features Hercule Poirot and Arthur Hastings in their final appearances in Christie's works. It is a country house novel, with all the characters and the murder set in one house. Not only does the novel return the characters to the setting of her first, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, but it reunites Poirot and Hastings, who last appeared together in Dumb Witness in 1937.[summary via Goodreads]

Since I discovered Agatha Christie's mystery novels as a teenager, I've been enthralled with her novels for decades. Regardless of the setting or the sleuth, she never fails to impress me with her ability to construct a delightful mystery, that has always left me guessing. While I've not quite read every mystery yet (but I'm working on it!), I have enjoyed re-reading some of my favourites. I've read Curtain several times, and decided to take in a re-read recently.

For those that have never picked up a Agatha Christie novel (and I think you should!), Curtain isn't a good place to start. This is a brilliant, well crafted mystery, but it pairs up with The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and while it is not required reading, I believe reading The Mysterious Affair at Styles first would be well worth it. It sets the scene of Styles and the relationship between sleuth, Sir Hercule Poirot, and his faithful assistant, Captain Arthur Hastings. 

Curtain is one of the very best mystery novels I've ever read (and I've read a lot of them!). Agatha Christie outdid herself with this one, providing a very interesting ending for Poirot. Of my initial read, I would never have predicted the outcome. On re-reads of the novel, I am more in awe of her talent and how she provided a perfect ending for Poirot. 

The mystery itself is very interesting, and I don't think even the most experienced mystery reader would guess on the first read. Even years later, on re-reading, I am still impressed. 

If you haven't read Curtain yet I strongly recommend picking it up. Even if you're like me and not a big Poirot fan (I'm more Team-Miss Marple!), you will be impressed by this mystery and the final denouement. Well recommended for Agatha Christie fans.

Purchase Curtain from Amazon.

Book Review: Off the Books by Lucy Arlington

The Novel Idea Literary Agency has planned a wedding-themed week for Inspiration Valley, celebrating not only North Carolina’s best vendors but also some of the agency’s most popular bridal books. The fact that Lila can use the event to plan her own impending nuptials is just the icing on the cake.

But wedding bells turn to warning bells when Lila finds a dead man facedown in the frosting. Soon it’s discovered that the victim was connected to several Novel Idea authors, all of whom quickly become suspects in the case. It’s up to Lila and her fellow agents to find the real killer before one of their clients winds up scribbling stories from behind bars...[summary via Amazon]

It's a bitter sweet world, we cozy readers, are currently living in. A lot of cozy mystery series are being cancelled and we are saying goodbye to much beloved characters, and towns. When you read you immerse yourself in the story and it can be very much like visiting family and friends. As is the way, when a series ends, it is sad to not have new adventures with those characters. 

I've been taking adventures with Lila and her family and friends in Inspiration Valley since her first adventure. The Novel Idea Mysteries quickly became one of my favorite adventures and it was very bitter sweet for me to pick up the last adventure. I'm hoping somewhere down the track there will be more adventures, but for now, I'm happy to have had one final adventure with Lila.

In Off the Books it's wedding fever, as the agency holds a wedding-themed week. Disaster strikes when someone turns up dead, and one of Lila's authors is a suspect. Together with other members of the agency, they look to find a killer before one of their authors ends up behind bars!

I really enjoyed this mystery. It kept me guessing right until the end, as I didn't solve the mystery before Lila. I also liked the wrapping up of several other character storylines. Even with murder abound, Lucy Arlington has managed to create a beautiful final book in the series, and give several characters their "happy ending", which as a huge fan of this series, I was so happy to see.

I thoroughly encourage readers to read this series. It's a fun, beautifully written series, with memorable characters and I'm looking forward to reading other books by the author in the future.

Book Review: Putting on the Witch by Jim & Joyce Lavene

In the latest mystery from the bestselling authors of Looking for Mr. Good Witch, the retired witches of Wilmington, North Carolina, are ready to kick up their heels...

With their coven’s spell book still missing, Molly and Elsie—along with their ghostly friend Olivia, her daughter Dorothy, and her boyfriend Brian—are all on edge, especially now that Dorothy’s infamously wicked father is back in the picture. So when they receive an invitation to an exclusive Witches Ball, the ladies jump at the chance to dress up and have some fun.

The castle locale is spectacular and the party is hopping, but the festivities come to a swift end when a member of the Grand Council of Witches is murdered. With the whole place on lock down, the coven is determined to find the cunning killer, even with an angry council and a real Spanish Inquisitor breathing down their necks...[summary via Amazon]

The witches are back for a spine-tingling good time this Fall, with their third adventure - and in  my opinion, their best one yet!!

Molly and Elsie, along with their friends, are headed to a very exclusive Witches Ball. However fun and frivolity soon turns to murder when a member of the Council turns up dead, and the ladies are called to find the murder. With danger lingering in every dark corner in the castle, it is a spine-tingling good time, as I watched Molly, Elsie, Olivia, Dorothy and Brian investigate and try to find a killer!

Alike to other readers of this series, reading Putting on the Witch was very bittersweet for me. I've read and loved so many books that Jim and Joyce Lavene have read, and with both of them passing away within the last year, reading their final book in this series was so bittersweet. Jim and Joyce Lavene always created memorable characters, in unlikely situations, that always left me more than satisfied when I turned the last page. This series is certainly no exception. The Retired Witches Mysteries is a first class series, and any fan of para-normal cozy mysteries should certainly add this one to their list.

If you're looking for a bewitching tale to read this Fall, pick up the Retired Witches mysteries. You will love all the characters, both human, ghostly and feline, and will be wanting to read the entire series again and again. 

Book Review: The Book Club Murders by Leslie Nagel

Charley Carpenter has poured heart and soul into her clothing store, Old Hat Vintage Fashions. She’ll do anything to make it a success—even join the stuffy Agathas Book Club in order to cultivate customers among the wealthy elite of Oakwood, Ohio.

Although mixing with the most influential women in town has its advantages, Charley finds the endless gossip a high price to pay. But after two women with close ties to the Agathas are brutally murdered, everyone falls under threat—and suspicion. When key evidence indicates that both murders are the work of the same hand, Charley realizes that the killer has arranged each corpse in perfect imitation of crime scenes from the Club’s murder mystery reading list. She uses her membership in the Club to convince Detective Marcus Trenault to use her as an inside informant. Not that he could stop her anyway.

Intelligent, fearless, and every bit as stubborn as Marc is, Charley soon learns the Agathas aren’t the only ones with secrets to protect. Passions explode as she and Marc must race against time to prevent another murder. And if Charley’s not careful, she may find herself becoming the killer’s next plot twist.

Being a lifelong devoted Agatha Christie fan, when I first read the plot of The Book Club Murders I knew this was a book I would have to read. I love when authors incorporate book clubs into the setting of cozy mysteries, and one with a "Agathas Book Club" was bound to be a home-run, and it was exactly that!

From the first page to the last I became caught up in the action-packed adventure, as I followed along with Charley and Marc, trying to untangle the mystery of the murders. Leslie Nagel sets a good pace for readers, giving readers a chance to collect clues, but also ensuring that readers won't want to put the book down.

I liked seeing the sparks fly between Charley and Marc. Charley is feisty and stubborn and the exact kind of sleuth I like to go on adventures with. She's never boring for a second, and I loved how she threw herself into the investigation, and was determined to find the killer, to the point of possibly putting her own life in danger.

The Book Club Murders is a home-run debut for me. With action, adventure and murders involving mystery books it is to sure to please every cozy mystery fan! I highly recommend adding The Book Club Murders to your Fall reading list.

Book Spotlight - Closed Casket by Sophie Hannah, a Hercule Poirot Myster

Listen to After the Funeral by Agatha Christie

A Free Serialization of the Complete Audiobook in Eight Parts

Presented by Sophie Hannah

Throughout the serialization, Sophie informs listeners on the crucial distinction between the truly impossible and the deeply unlikely, points out the magic of a very personal motive, and explains her belief that “the best stories are the ones that would only ever happen once.”

Hercule Poirot is called on to investigate the murder of a brother and sister, in this classic Agatha Christie mystery now available in an updated edition with a foreword Sophie Hannah.

“He was murdered, wasn’t he?”

When Cora Lansquenet is savagely murdered, the extraordinary remark she had made the previous day at her brother Richard’s funeral suddenly takes on a chilling significance. At the reading of Richard’s will, Cora was clearly heard to say, “It’s been hushed up very nicely, hasn’t it. But he was murdered, wasn’t he?”

Did Cora’s accusation a dark truth that sealed her own fate? Or are the siblings’ deaths just tragic coincidences?

Desperate to know the truth, the Lansquenet’s solicitor turns to Hercule Poirot to unravel the mystery. For even after the funeral, death isn’t finished yet . 

In 2014 Sophie Hannah received wide-spread acclaim for penning an all-new mystery featuring Agatha Christie’s legendary hero Hercule Poirot, The Monogram Murders, an instant bestseller. Reviews were outstanding, praising Hannah for her command of the character and voice. So when the time came to write a new story, Sophie knew there was only one way she would write another book—even though she enjoyed writing the first so much—she knew she would need to have an idea that was clever and compelling enough to think, 'This feels very Agatha-ish. Poirot MUST solve this case.'

And then it came to her, “…as if by magic (that really is how it felt!) an idea landed in my head. A motive for murder. It was incredibly simple—so simple, it almost seemed too obvious—and yet I didn't think it had been done before.”

The Monogram Murders: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery

Series: Hercule Poirot Mystery Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (June 9, 2015) ISBN-13: 978-0062297228

"I'm a dead woman, or I shall be soon . . ."

Hercule Poirot's quiet supper in a London coffeehouse is interrupted when a young woman confides to him that she is about to be murdered. Though terrified, she begs Poirot not to find and punish her killer. Once she is dead, she insists, justice will have been done. Later that night, Poirot learns that three guests at a London Hotel have been murdered, and a monogrammed cufflink has been placed in each one's mouth. Could there be a connection with the frightened woman? While Poirot struggles to put together the bizarre pieces of the puzzle, the murderer prepares another hotel bedroom for a fourth victim.

Lady Athelinda Playford has planned a house party at her mansion Clonakilty, County Cork, but it is no ordinary gathering. As guests arrive, Lady Playford summons her lawyer to make an urgent change to her will – one she intends to announce at dinner that night. She has decided to cut off her two children without a penny and leave her fortune to someone who has only weeks to live…

Among Lady Playford’s guests are two men she has never met—the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, and Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard. Neither knows why he has been invited…until Poirot starts to wonder if Lady Playford expects a murderer to strike. But why does she seem so determined to provoke, in the presence of a possible killer? When the crime is committed in spite of Poirot’s best efforts to stop it, will he be able to unveil the true reason behind Lady Playford’s drastic change of heart, and ultimately, identify the killer?

About the Author:

Sophie Hannah is the internationally bestselling author of 10 psychological thrillers, which have been published in more than 20 countries and adapted for television. Her novel The Carrier won the 2013 Specsavers National Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year. Sophie is an Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, and as a poet has been shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize.

Author Links Webpage - Blog - Facebook - Twitter 

Purchase Closed Casket - Amazon - B&N - HarperCollins - Books-A-Million - IndieBound
Purchase The Monogram Murders - Amazon - B&N - HarperCollins Publishers - Books-A-Million -IndieBound

Tour Participants – Spotlight Tour
September 1 – The Book's the Thing
September 1 – The Cozy Mystery Journal
September 2 – Shelley's Book Case
September 2 – Celticlady's Reviews
September 3 – A Holland Reads
September 3 – The Broke Book Bank
September 4 – Brooke Blogs
September 4 – 3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
September 5 – The Bookwyrm's Hoard
September 5 – Readsalot
September 6 – Queen of All She Reads
September 6 – Carole's Book Corner
September 7 – Pulp and Mystery Shelf
September 7 – Socrates' Book Reviews
September 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
September 8 – Island Confidential
September 9 – StoreyBook Reviews
September 9 – Bea's Book Nook
September 10 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews
September 10 – The Power of Words
September 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy
September 11 – LibriAmoriMiei
September 12 – Jemima Pett, Author
September 12 – The Girl with Book Lungs

  Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Book Review: A Familiar Tail by Delia James

Unlucky-in-love artist Annabelle Britton decides that a visit to the seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the perfect way to get over her problems. But when she stumbles upon a smoky gray cat named Alastair, and follows him into a charming cottage, Annabelle finds herself in a whole spellbook full of trouble.

Suddenly saddled with a witch's wand and a furry familiar, Annabelle soon meets a friendly group of women who use their spells, charms, and potions to keep the people of Portsmouth safe. But despite their gifts, the witches can’t prevent every wicked deed in town....

Soon, the mystery surrounding Alistair’s former owner, who died under unusual circumstances, grows when another local turns up dead. Armed with magic, friends, and the charmed cat who adopted her more than the other way around, Annabelle sets out to paw through the evidence and uncover a killer.[summary via Amazon]

I absolutely debut mysteries that are instant loves! Delia James' A Familiar Tail is the perfect example of this. Within the first few pages I instantly fell in love with this story and knew it was one series that I would be eagerly awaiting the second book! 

In this first book in the series, we meet Annabelle, the human and soon-to-be witch, and Alistair, cat and her soon-to-be familiar. From their first appearance together I was mesmerized by their interactions together, and this village, where magic is very much alive! As the story develops, the reader learns more about Annabelle's magical family and the other witches in town. I loved learning more about each character, and what they added to the investigation.

The sleepy seaside town of Portsmouth is anything but quiet and there is plenty of action to satisfy every mystery reader. The mystery itself was a tangled weave, that I didn't quite have solved before Annabelle. I suspect, however, Alistair, had it solved long before us!!!

If you're a fan of magical mysteries, such as those by Ellery Adams and Heather Blake, you need to be adding Delia James to your must-read list. With the killer combination of magic and cats, this series is sure going to be a favorite amongst many readers!

Buy A Familiar Tail by Delia James at Amazon.

Cover Reveal: DEAD DANDELIONS by Chrystle Fiedler

Today we're taking part in the cover reveal for Dead Dandelions by Chrystle Fiedler. 

Dandelion Dead: A Natural Remedies September 27, 2016 by Chrystle Fiedler 

In a spicy cozy mystery filled with herbal remedies readers will love, a sustainable winery becomes the backdrop for murder! Fortunately, solving crimes comes naturally to charmingly unconventional homeopath and amateur sleuth Willow McQuade, as she looks for clues that will reveal a killer’s true essence. 

Pre-Order today – Amazon – B&N - IndieBound

This series is fantastic, and I can't wait to read Dandelion Dead when it comes out on September 27!

Top 5 Places to Visit in a Cozy Town with J.B. Hawker

Today we have J.B. Hawker visiting with us, to share her Top 5 Places to Visit in Bannoch.

The cozy town of Bannoch sits serenely on the Oregon coast, between sandy beaches and forested hillsides. This fictional village is about an hour south of Tillamook and is home to the various churches and parsonages the pastors’ wives of the First Ladies Club series call home. The town was most recently featured in A Corpse in the Chapel, book three in the series.

When visiting Bannoch and its many interesting local churches, don’t miss the following:

1. Ramparts Rock Beach recreation area: With golden sands and rocky outcroppings holding many secrets in their tide pools, this is a favorite with locals and tourists alike. Even Eastern European gangsters have been known to visit.

2. The Ships Stores Mall: This converted fish processing plant on the water’s edge houses an array of small boutique shops and is anchored by the Boatworks Coffee Shop, a popular eating and meeting place. The nautical atmosphere appeals to the many tourists driving along busy Highway 101. The First Ladies Club occasionally holds meetings in the banquet room.

3. The Crab Shack, famous for its crab and lobster sandwiches and fresh fish and chips, is another spot where the year-around inhabitants like to gather.

4. The Haleby Family Memorial Nature Reserve in the hills above the town provides acres of shady glades and nature walks among the pine and fir, but avoid the ruins of the family’s chapel, as you never know what unpleasant surprise may be inside.

5. The First Baptist Church with its restored historic sanctuary is always worth a visit to admire the hand-carved pews and inspiring stained glass windows. Those with a macabre bent may wish to take in the atmosphere of its infamous belfry. If you are especially lucky, you might encounter a hometown celebrity, the professional organist, Peregrine Bostwich, rehearsing a sacred classical piece on the church pipe organ.

Doesn't Bannoch sound like a great place to visit?

Check out A Corpse in the Chapel at Amazon.

Visit J.B. Hawker on the web: Website

Top 5 Places to Visit in Wildwood Cove with Sarah Fox

Today we have Sarah Fox joining us to share her Top 5 Places to Visit in Wildwood Cove.

With The Crêpes of Wrath about to kick off my Pancake House Mystery series on August 16, 2016, I thought I’d introduce everyone to the town of Wildwood Cove where the series is set. Nestled along the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, Wildwood Cove is home to rambling Victorian houses, stunning views, and—of course—the best pancakes around.

As for places to visit, Wildwood Cove has some fantastic ones. Here are the top five:

1. The Flip Side Pancake House. This is the obvious top choice, but not just because it’s what brings Marley McKinney to Wildwood Cove where her sleuthing adventures begin. With its rustic interior, seaside location, and scrumptious food, The Flip Side should definitely not be missed. While the burly chef might be intimidating, there’s nothing frightening about the delicious meals he cooks up. If you like the sound of churro waffles, blueberry crumble pancakes, and s’mores crêpes, be sure to stop by The Flip Side!

2. Wildwood Beach. With views of the San Juan Islands, Wildwood Beach offers beauty and tranquility. Go for a dip in the ocean or relax on the soft sand while listening to the lapping waves and watching seals swim just off shore.

3. Scoops Ice Cream Shop. Located near the marina on the western side of town, Scoops offers a multitude of delicious flavors of ice cream to enjoy while walking along the beach or taking in the sights of the town.

4. Johnny’s Juice Hut. If you’re looking for a cold drink on a hot day, this is the place to go. Johnny’s Juice Hut offers smoothies, bubble tea, and—naturally—many types of juice. Located on Main Street, right in the center of town, you can find Johnny’s Juice Hut nestled between an antiques shop and a shoe store.

5. Farmers’ Market. This fantastic market takes place every Saturday morning between the middle of May and early October. Located on the promenade that runs along the top of Wildwood Beach, the local farmers’ market offers everything from local produce and baked goods to handicrafts and artwork. Enjoy the fresh ocean air as you stroll from stall the stall, checking out everything the local farmers and artisans have to offer.

While those are my top five picks for places to visit in Wildwood Cove, the town is brimming with charming shops and sites. I hope you’ll all get to know the town better in The Crêpes of Wrath.

* * * * *

Doesn't Wildwood Cove sound great?

Check out The Crepes of Wrath on Amazon, available for pre-order now!

Visit Sarah Fox on the Web: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review: Literally Murder by Ali Brandon

After a video of Darla and Hamlet performing at a martial arts tournament goes viral, the Florida chapter of the Feline Society of America invites the "Karate Kitty” to be the guest of honor at their championship cat show in Fort Lauderdale.

Upon arrival, Darla discovers that not everyone in the Sunshine State has a sunny disposition. Animal rights activists are on the march, and a cat show contestant stages his own angry protest when his special breed Minx—half Sphynx, half Manx—doesn’t win. Then Hamlet disappears—only to be found next to the dead body of the Minx owner. Now it’s up to Darla and Hamlet to take best in show and collar the killer…[via Goodreads]

Another adventure with the charming Hamlet, and his owner, Darla! This time Hamlet, Darla and Jake are heading for some sun, sand and surf in Florida. Hamlet has been invited to be a guest at a cat show and Darla and Jake are happy to join him on a mini holiday. However, where Hamlet goes adventure and mayhem follows, and soon the three are thrust into the middle of a murder investigation. 

Don't tell my cats, but I think Hamlet might just be my favorite cozy cat. He reminds me a lot of my tuxedo cat, Agatha, who is also full of spunk, attitude and likes to act like a boss! Hamlet is all these things and more, and he's a huge part as to why I enjoy this series so much. He's always right in the middle of the action, right along with his human friends! Every adventure with this cast of characters is never boring!!

I like that Ali Brandon has taken the action away from the store for this adventure. I did miss seeing more of Robert and James, the ying and yang of bookstore workers, as I like to call them! However, they're soon forgotten as the adventure takes hold. Readers get to learn more about Jake, when we meet her mom, who lives in Florida, and a host of eclectic, interesting people, that belong to the "cat show" community! It all added up to one of their best adventures yet, and I'm eager to find out what is next for my favorite adventurous trio!

You don't need to be a cat lover to love this series, with so many bookish references and different personalities amongst the cast, there really is something for everyone. However,  if you're a cat lover, then you're going to be absolutely smitten with this series. Once Hamlet puts his paw on your heart, you know you're going to be coming back for every adventure!!

Buy Literally Murder from Amazon.

Book Review: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen thought she'd finally discovered the recipe for a perfect life. But her sometime beau Norman Rhodes tosses a surprise ingredient into the mix when he phones to tell her he's just bought a house from local drugstore clerk Rhonda Scharf--which he plans to tear down in order to build the dream home he and Hannah designed. It seems the plan has been cooking for quite some time, and Hannah's shocked. Especially since her ring finger is still very much bare. . .

The good news is that the soon-to-be-torn-down house is full of antiques--and Norman has given Hannah and her mother first dibs. They uncover some gorgeous old furniture, a patchwork quilt. . .and Rhonda Scharf's dead body. A little more sleuthing turns up the half-eaten remains of a very special dinner for two--and one of The Cookie Jar's famous lemon meringue pies. Now it's up to Hannah to turn up the heat--and get busy tracking down clues. Starting in her very own kitchen. . .[summary from Amazon]

Another week and another delicious, scrumptious Hannah Swensen mystery to devour! This time with my favorite desert on the front cover, Lemon Meringue Pie!

In Lake Eden, Hannah is getting used to life dating both Norman and Mike, running The Cookie Jar and having her mother's new business right next door! Life is busy, but good for Hannah and her friends. Things start to get interesting, however, when Norman announces that he has bought a house, and the previous owner is found dead in the basement!! It's another murder mystery for Hannah to solve, with the help of not just her sister, Andrea, but her mother too!!

This is the fourth Hannah Swensen I've read as part of my read-along and I'm loving each and every one of them. With each book I'm developing a feeling of coming home, to visit family and friends, and in my opinion that is the mark of a good cozy mystery! Just like real estate it's "location, location, location" and I love visiting with all the folks at Lake Eden! 

I solved the mystery in Lemon Meringue Pie Murder about two-thirds of the way through the book but this didn't take any enjoyment away from the story. I enjoyed watching Hannah try to piece the story together. 

Lemon Meringue Pie Murder was another enjoyable visit to Lake Eden. It has all the thrills of a good adventure, romance and scrumptious recipes. I do warn readers though, after you finish reading you'll be rushing to the kitchen to bake some of these yummy recipes yourself!

Buy Lemon Meringue Pie Murder at Amazon.

Feature & Giveaway: The Cat, The Collector and the Killer by Leann Sweeney

As part of our double-feature today, we're featuring Leann Sweeney's new release, The Cat, the Collector & the Killer:

Jillian Hart and police chief Tom Stewart are enjoying peaceful, newly wedded bliss in Mercy, South Carolina, until a woman is found wandering the streets one night. She's in her night clothes, disoriented, and carrying a kitten in a tote bag. A search of the woman’s house reveals many more cats, a maze of cardboard boxes—and a dead man. 

Although the evidence suggests the frail woman is the killer, Jillian doesn’t believe she’s capable of such a crime. The dead man had many enemies in town, which means finding the real murderer may prove to be its own cat and mouse game...

Today we're giving away a paperback of The Cat, the Collector & the Killer:

GIVEAWAY: 

To enter:
1. Leave a comment with your email address or fill in this form.
2. Giveaway is open to US/Canada and ends August 3, 2016.

Feature & Giveaway: The Cat, the Sneak & the Secret by Leann Sweeney

Today we have a double-feature with two great books from Leann Sweeney, one that is out today!!

First we have book 7 of the Cats in Trouble Mysteries:

In the latest from the author of The Cat, the Vagabond and the Victim, a feline with a penchant for pilfering ends up unearthing a deadly mystery.… 

 Jillian Hart and Tom are finally tying the knot, but first they need to make sure Tom’s stepson, Finn, is as comfortable as possible in the lake house they will all call home. So when it becomes clear that Finn has fallen for a pretty cat from the Mercy Animal Sanctuary, Jillian and Tom readily agree to make room for one more—even though the tortoiseshell kitty is a notorious kleptomaniac. 

So far, the cat has sneaked out of the adoption center time after time, bringing back trinkets, shoelaces, and socks. But when she brings back an antique locket, Finn enlists Tom’s and Jillian’s sleuthing skills. They hope to return the treasured item to its owner, but their search for answers is sidetracked when a body is found. Still, their sneaky cat’s find may just lead them to a killer.…

Today we're giving away a paperback of The Cat, the Sneak & the Secret:

GIVEAWAY:

To enter:

1. Leave a comment with your email address or fill in this form.

2. Giveaway is open to US/Canada and ends August 3, 2016.

Book Review: Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke

Preparations are underway for Lake Eden, Minnesota's annual Winter Carnival--and Hannah Swensen is set to bake up a storm at her popular shop, The Cookie Jar. Too bad the honor of creating the official Winter Carnival cake went to famous lifestyle maven Connie Mac--a half-baked idea, in Hannah's opinion. She suspects Connie Mac is a lot like the confections she whips up on her cable TV cooking show--sweet, light, and scrumptious-looking, but likely to leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

Hannah's suspicions are confirmed when Connie Mac's limo rolls into town. Turns out America's "Cooking Sweetheart" is bossy, bad-tempered, and downright domineering. Things finally boil over when Hannah arrives at The Cookie Jar to find the Winter Carnival cake burnt to a crisp—and Connie Mac lying dead in her pantry, struck down while eating one of Hannah's famous blueberry muffins.

Next thing Hannah knows, the police have declared The Cookie Jar's kitchen crime scene off-limits. She's a baker without an oven--and the Carnival is right around the corner. Hannah's only alternative is to cook up a plan to save her business--by finding the killer herself...[summary via Goodreads]

Blueberry Muffin Murder is the third book the Hannah Swensen Mysteries, and for me was a re-read. I originally read Blueberry Muffin Murder in 2011 and I've now re-read it as part of my Hannah Swensen Mysteries readalong. It was just as delightful the second time around!!

Hannah is busy helping with the Winter Carnival. However her life gets a whole lot busier with the arrival of America's Cooking Sweetheart, Connie Mac, who is bossy and seems to get on the bad side of everyone! When Connie turns up dead, and one of Hannah's oldest friends is pinned for the murder, Hannah and her sister, Andrea, must try and find the killer.

Every Hannah Swensen mystery I've read so far has been a delicious read. Blueberry Muffin Murder is no different. The mystery itself was interesting, especially as it involved the empire of a cooking sweetheart, that certainly left enough suspects in her wake. It was interesting watching Hannah and Andrea hunt for clues and find the killer, especially with such a long list of suspects!

I enjoy every visit to Lake Eden. There is the eclectic mix of people in Lake Eden, especially their mother, Delores, who is determined to marry Hannah off!!! It's always fun watching Delores and her match-making. I especially enjoy the relationships in Lake Eden, watching Hannah and Andrea's sisterly bond growing and watching Hannah's romance with dentist, Norman, and police detective, Mike. It all made for an another enjoyable visit to Lake Eden!

If you haven't visited Lake Eden yet, what are you waiting for? Pickup The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and enjoy this fabulous series.

Purchase Blueberry Muffin Murder at Amazon.

Feature & Giveaway: The Cat, the Vagabond & the Victim by Leann Sweeney

Today we're featuring the sixth book in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries, The Cat, the Vagabond & the Victim:

When Clyde the cat travels two hundred miles back home only to find his former owner dead, the story makes national news. While everyone seems eager to tell Clyde’s incredible tale, someone needs to step up to care for him. Because the media attention is creating chaos at the local shelter, cat quilter Jillian Hart agrees to foster the loyal orange tabby, hoping his location is kept secret. 

But while the media circus around Clyde continues, Jillian learns the real story behind his owner’s death—he was murdered. Why would an eldery man already dying from a serious illness become a murder victim? As the local police search for an answer, Clyde makes another escape. Jillian is drawn into the case when she finds Clyde has returned to his home again—and he’s found another body. When the motive behind these murders is finally revealed, Jillian understands Clyde is in danger of becoming the next victim, and she must help find the killer before the claws really come out.…[summary via Goodreads]

Have you read The Cat, the Vagabond & the Victim? Did you enjoy it as much as we did?

Time for a giveaway. Today we're giving away a paperback of The Cat, the Vagabond & the Victim.

GIVEAWAY: 

To enter: 

1. Leave a comment with your email address. 

2. Giveaway is open to everyone and ends on August 2, 2016 at midnight.

Feature & Giveaway: The Cat, The Mill & the Murder by Leann Sweeney

Today we're featuring the 5th Cats in Trouble Mystery, The Cat, the Mill & the Murder. 

When cat lover and quilter Jillian Hart volunteers to help a local animal shelter relocate a colony of feral cats living in an abandoned textile mill, she never expects to find a woman living there, too. Jeannie went missing from Mercy, South Carolina, a decade ago, after her own daughter’s disappearance.

Jeannie refuses to leave the mill or abandon Boots, her cat who died years ago. After all, she and Boots feel the need to protect the premises from "creepers” who come in the night. After Jeannie is hurt in an accident and is taken away, those who've come to town to help repurpose the mill uncover a terrible discovery.. As the wheels start turning in Jillian’s mind, a mysterious new feline friend aids in her quest to unearth a long-kept and dark secret.

This was one of my favorite Cats in Trouble books! I always enjoy seeing what Jillian and her cats get up to this and this was a really good adventure.

Check out all the Cats in Trouble mysteries at Amazon.

Now time for a giveaway!! We're giving away a chance to win ANY Leann Sweeney book. That's right it's reader's choice!

GIVEAWAY:

To enter:

1. Leave a comment with your book choice and your email address. It can be any Leann Sweeney title. Check out all her books.

2. Giveaway is open international and closes on July 31, 2016 at midnight.

Book Review: Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

When the president of Hartland Flour chooses cozy Lake Eden, Minnesota, as the spot for their first annual Dessert Bake-Off, Hannah is thrilled to serve as the head judge. But when a fellow judge, Coach Boyd Watson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in Hannah’s celebrated strawberry shortcake, Lake Eden’s sweet ride to fame turns very sour indeed.

Between perfecting her Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie and Chocolate Crunchies, Hannah’s snooping into the coach’s private life and not coming up short on suspects. And could Watson’s harsh criticism during the judging have given one of the contestants a license to kill? The stakes are rising faster than dough, and Hannah will have to be very careful, because somebody is cooking up a recipe for muder…with Hannah landing on the “necessary ingredients” list.[summary via Goodreads]

I first read Strawberry Shortcake Murder in 2011, and I'm now re-reading the series as part of my Hannah Swensen Mysteries Readalong. While I'm familiar with the characters and Lake Eden, I had forgotten the details of the murder and who the murderer was. This made my re-read quite enjoyable. It was almost like I was experiencing it for the first time, but with the added enjoyment that I already knew the characters.

Hannah is participating in the first annual Dessert Bake-Off as head judge, and she couldn't be more thrilled. After all, we know how much Hannah, owner of The Cookie Jar, loves her desserts. Of course things turn from quiet to deadly, when one of the judges turns up dead. Even though Hannah isn't officially on the case, she feels the need to find the killer, when one of her friends becomes the prime suspect.

As a amateur sleuth, I like Hannah a lot. She's nosy, but doesn't recklessly throw herself into danger, and is very protective of her sister, Andrea, who is happy to come along for the ride. I love how, with each book, Hannah and Andrea are getting closer. They are nothing alike, but as adults they are becoming closer and its nice to watch the relationship grow with each book.

Alike to a lot of readers I can't get enough of this series. From the mystery, that is always fun to untangle, to the delicious cookie recipes, the Hannah Swensen mysteries don't disappoint. While the series is a long one, with 21 books and counting, it is well worth the investment of your reading time. They are a delight to read (and re-read) and I can't wait to see what Hannah gets up to next!

Purchase Strawberry Shortcake Murder from Amazon.

Feature & Giveaway: The Cat, the Wife & the Weapon by Leann Sweeney

Are you ready to discover another fantastic Cats in Trouble Mystery? Today we're featuring the fourth book in the series, The Cat, the Wife & the Weapon:

When quilter Jillian Hart returns to her lake house in Mercy, South Carolina, she discovered her friend, Tom, is missing-and his estranged half-brother has moved into Tom's house. Jillian doesn't trust the guy, especially since he allowed Tom's diabetic cat to escape. When police officers find Tom's wrecked car with a dead stranger inside, Jillian is determined to find out what happened to Tom-before someone else turns up dead.

This series just keep getting better & better. If you've started this series you'll know you just can't read one, and thankfully Leann Sweeney has written quite a few books to get readers started.

If you've read The Cat, the Wife & the Weapon we'd love to hear what you think!

Now onto a fabulous giveaway. Today we're giving away a Kindle eBook of The Cat, the Wife & the Weapon.

GIVEAWAY: 

To enter:
1. Leave a comment with your email address.
2. Giveaway is open to everyone and ends on July 30, 2016 at midnight.

Feature & Giveaway: The Cat, The Lady & The Liar by Leann Sweeney

Welcome to Day 3 of our Leann Sweeney celebration! Today we're featuring the third book in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries:

Cat quilter Jillian Hart finds a gorgeous stray cat belonging to the fabulously wealthy Ritaestelle Longworth, who believes she's being drugged. Before Jillian can get to those charges, a body turns up in the lake-and her cat Chablis finds Ritaestelle nearby. Can Jillian's cats aid her in solving a mystery with decades old roots?

I love this series for so many reasons, but one is because I'm also a cat-owner (owned by cats, not the other way around!) and I love reading the adventures surrounding Jillian's cats. It is called "Cats in TROUBLE" after all!! 

Still haven't gotten enough cats? Follow Leann Sweeney's facebook page. She posts news about her books, and also her cats! Her cat, Lynley, is just adorable.

Now onto a fabulous giveaway. Today we have a FANTASTIC PRIZE!! We are giving away ONE Kindle copy of The Cat, the Lady and the Liar and a $25 Amazon Giftcard.

GIVEAWAY:

To enter:
1. Leave a comment with your email address.
2. Giveaway is open to all residents of US/Canada and ends on July 29, 2016 at midnight.

Feature & Giveaway: The Cat, The Professor & The Poison by Leann Sweeney

Welcome to Day 2 of our Leann Sweeney Feature Week. Today we're talking about the second book in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries, The Cat, The Professor & The Poison.

Between her kitty quilt-making business and her three beloved cats, Jill has her hands full. That doesn't stop her from wanting to solve the mystery of the milk cow that's gone missing from her friend's farm. But imagine her surprise when a stolen cow leads to the discovery of fifty stray cats and one dead body-a victim of cold-blooded murder...

I love this series and The Cat, The Professor & The Poison was a great second book!

Today we're giving away TWO prizes! We're giving away a paperback of The Cat, the Professor & the Poison and we're also giving away audiobook (courtesy of Audible) of The Cat, the Professor & the Poison.

Do you follow Leann Sweeney on Facebook? Click here to like her Facebook page!

GIVEAWAY 

To enter:
1. Leave a comment with your choice of paperback or audiobook, along with your email address.
2. Giveaway is open to all residents of US/Canada and ends on July 28, 2016 at midnight.

Feature & Giveaway: The Cat, The Quilt & The Corpse by Leann Sweeney

Welcome to our Leann Sweeney feature week!! Leading up to the release of her new book, The Cat, The Collector & The Killer on August 2, we have a whole week full of great giveaways, introducing this fantastic series!! Stop back everyday for a new giveaway, and learn more about this series.

Today we're giving readers a chance to start this series from the beginning, we're giving away the first book in the series, The Cat, The Quilt & The Corpse. 

Jill's quiet life is shattered when her house is broken into and her Abyssinian, Syrah, goes missing. Jill's convinced her kitty's been catnapped. But when her cat-crime-solving leads her to a murdered body, suddenly all paws are pointing to Jill.

Soon, Jill discovers that Syrah isn't the only purebred who's been stolen. Now she has to find these furry felines before they all become the prey of a cold-blooded killer-and she ends up nabbed for a crime...

If you haven't read this series yet, or want to re-read this series, you need to enter to win a copy of The Cat, The Quilt & The Corpse.  

GIVEAWAY

We're giving away ONE paperback of The Cat, the Quilt & the Corpse.

To enter:

1. Leave a comment with your email address.

2. Giveaway is open to all residents of US/Canada and ends on July 27, 2016 at midnight.

Don't forget to follow our Facebook page as we will also be having fun giveaways over there too!!

Book Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen already has her hands full, between dodging her mother's attempts to marry her off, and running Lake Eden, Minnesota's most popular bakery, The Cookie Jar. But when the Cozy Cow Dairy's beloved deliveryman is found murdered behind Hannah's bakery with her famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, Hannah sets out to track down a killer. The more Hannah snoops, the more suspects turn up. This is one murder that's starting to leave a very bad taste in Hannah's mouth, and if she doesn't watch her back, her sweet life may get burned to a crisp.[summary via Goodreads]

Meet Hannah Swensen. She's Lake Eden's cookie lady and amateur sleuth all rolled into one delightful package. In her debut adventure Hannah must help her brother-in-law, police officer, Bill, solve the murder of local deliveryman, Ron La Salle. In between making cookies and hunting down a killer, Hannah must also fend off her mother's attempt to marry her off!!

I love this series! I'm re-reading the series from the first book, and the second time around I loved it just as much as the first. Hannah is a fun, feisty character, that loves her life exactly as it is - she runs her own business, The Cookie Jar, shares her condo with her delightful cat, Moishe, and enjoys living in picturesque Lake Eden.  Of course, her life gets a little complicated with her first murder investigation, and not to mention two potential love interests, dentist, Norman, and police detective, Mike. Add it all up and you've got a fantastic first book in a series!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was a super, fun book! I loved all the recipes throughout the book, and it had me wanting to step into the kitchen to bake a few batches of cookies!! The mystery itself was great, and there were plenty of clues for me to collect and try to solve the murder before Hannah. I didn't quite get there with solving it before Hannah, and it was fun to see it all unravel.

If you're new to cozy mysteries this is a fantastic book to start with. However, be warned, one book won't be enough! You'll be wanting to read the whole series.

Purchase Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder from Amazon.

Visit Lake Eden, Minnesota, home of Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen Mysteries

Right now I'm deeply immersed in Joanne Fluke's Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder. I'm re-reading the entire series and you can find out more about the readalong here. I'm absolutely loving taking another trip to Lake Eden, Minnesota. 

For those that don't know, Joanne Fluke has a fantastic website at MurderSheBaked.com, and she even has an interactive map of Lake Eden. Doesn't this town look like it would be fun to visit?

 

You can check out the complete interactive map here.

If you're reading along, or if you have read this series, leave a comment and let us know. We'd love to hear from other readers that love the Hannah Swensen mysteries just as much as we do.

Book Review - A Wee Dose of Death by Fran Stewart

While business is booming at the ScotShop in Hamelin, Vermont, proprietor Peggy Winn doesn’t have time to toast her good fortune thanks to her hot-tempered, fourteenth-century Scottish companion. Being thrust into the modern world hasn’t been easy for Dirk, but Peggy is at her wit’s end trying to keep the ghostie galoot in line. 

But when the local police chief finds the body of Peggy’s friend Karaline’s college professor in a deserted mountain cabin, everyone is thrown for a loop. It seems the secretive professor may have been killed over his ecological work, an idea that’s only reinforced when Karaline herself is shot. Now Peggy and Dirk must set aside their differences to put the cold-blooded killer under loch and key... [summary via Goodreads]

I enjoyed the first book in this series, A Wee Murder in My Shop, and I was looking forward to reading another adventure with Peggy, her friends and her ghost, Dirk. 

In this second story Peggy, Karoline and Dirk get embroiled in a murder investigation, when the body of Karoline's old professor is found. With the help of Dirk, Peggy's 14th century ghost, Peggy and Karoline set out to find the murderer, before they strike again.

I like the realism in this series. Even though it features a ghost, Fran Stewart has created a sense of realism with her characters and how they react to situations. Peggy is a bit fed up with Dirk. After all he is a 14th century ghost, who has no idea about anything to do with the 21st century. He literally asks a million and one questions, which gets on Peggy's nerves. What would you do with a 14th century ghost after the novelty wore off? I'm pretty sure most of us might feel the same way as Peggy does. However, Peggy and Dirk are tied together, and I like that she realizes that she needs Dirk in her life. 

I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and I mean A LOT, and while I always enjoy the mystery and try to untangle the clues, it is the characters and the author's style of writing that set each series apart. For me, the characters and Fran Stewart's style of writing are both captivating, and for these two reasons this series is fast becoming a favorite of mine, and I hope a favorite of other readers.

Fran Stewart switches POVs (point of views) and I love when authors do this. We get a glimpse at the victim, before he's murdered, and the grieving widow, the police officers investigating the case, and even the hardened police chief, Mac. By doing this I feel like I've gotten to know the characters a lot more than I usually would. For me, this provided such a well rounded reading experience and contributed to the feeling that I didn't want to put the book down, even for a second!

I love this series, and I absolutely can't wait for the third book in the series, A Wee Homicide in the Hotel, to come out next February. For fans of paranormal mysteries with a twist, then this series is for you. If you like mysteries set in a interesting locale, then this series is definitely for you too! 

Purchase A Wee Dose of Death by Fran Stewart at Amazon.