Review: A Friend In Knead

A Friend In Knead by Judith Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

enjoyable small town Murder mystery

This is the first book in the series and as such the reader is introduced to a lot of characters. Some are quirky and others annoying- as intended. My only real complaint about the book was my inability to keep track off all these characters, really a minor issue. The mystery is well constructed with clues present that make sense and lead to the guilty party. I look forward to reading more about this little cafe In Vermont

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The Cracked Spine

 The Cracked Spine is not the first book I have read by Paige Shelton even if it is the first in the Scottish Bookstore series.  Like her Dangerous Type series, Shelton writes an amazing book with relatable characters.   Not all characters are endearing but they all feel real.  The other feature of her stories that I appreciate is her ability to mix the descriptions of the locale into the storyline without feeling as though you are reading an abundance of descriptive prose.   This succeeds in allowing the reader to feel as thought they are in the setting with the characters without losing the flow of the mystery.  

I am missing reading more of the Dangerous Type books so I was very happy to find this other series by Paige Shelton.  This is my second book of the year set in Edinburgh and it has definitely inspired me to want to travel there soon.  My mother's maternal side of the family is from here and it would be fun to revisit the place of my Ainsley heritage as I haven't been there in more than 40 years.  

The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy. I especially enjoyed it as an audiobook with the narration using different accents and voices to reflect the different characters. The mystery is well constructed with plenty of doubt cast upon many of the suspects. Delaney is a bold and adventurous character with a slightly unusual ability. Her new found family at the Cracked Spine bookstore is quirky but loveable. I look forward to reading the series.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  43
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  36 
3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge 5
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #38
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #32
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #16
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #34
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #30
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 85 Shot #4
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
13. Bookworm #6 Read a book you meant to read for last year's challenge
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #9. A book that has been on your TBR for 2+ years or more
15. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 28 Castles

Death Over Easy

 I really have found myself enjoying the Country Store series by Maddie Day.   The main character, Robbie, is a hard-working businesswoman and this is demonstrated in the story lines.  Death Over Easy is the 5th book and is set amidst a Bluegrass Festival being hosted in Southern Indiana.   I have family from IN and now several of my son's friends attend IU in Bloomington so I can relate to many of the locations mentioned in the story.   As I have mentioned previously I appreciate books more when I have the connections.

The mystery is quite involved and actually contains 2 victims in this book.  I liked the structure and felt it was laid out well.  My only complaint was the abruptness with which the story ended.  It felt almost like an, "have reached my page limit better finish"   The mystery was wrapped up it was just a bit rushed.  Didn't bother me enough to stop reading the series but I do hope it's an anomaly.   

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

music festival and murder

Robbie Jordan finds herself mixed up in another murder investigation. This one happens while trying to enjoy a bluegrass festival and a visit with her Italian father. There are lots of individuals suspected by the police among her B&B guests, friends, and family. All in all I enjoyed the book although I did find the resolution to be a bit abrupt. It almost felt like someone asaid you have to finish in the next 10 pages no matter how rushed it felt. I still enjoyed the story I just left feeling a bit disappointed

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 42 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 35  
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  IN 
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 5
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #37
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #31
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #15
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #33
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #29
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #34  Shot #1
13. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
14. Bookworm #60 free space
15. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #50 Free space
16. Pick your Poison  # 47 A book with luggage on the front cover
17. Beyond the Bookends  Mar About Music or Musician

Bread Over Troubled Water

 This 8th installment of the Bread Shop mysteries by Winnie Archer evoked images of a nice early summer day in a coastal Ca town.  I welcomed this imagery as I was struggling through the glum March days in Chicagoland.  Bread Over Troubled Water is a fun read where the reader learns more about Ivy and her friends.  Particular detail regarding Olaya's family is at the center of this book.  The mystery is well constructed and it is hard not to find your mouth watering, whether it is from the bread shop delicacy descriptions or the yummy offerings at Miguel's family restaurant.  Archer does a wonderful job of making the reader feel like a member of the extended family.  I cannot wait to read more about Ivy and Miguel's upcoming nuptials.  

Bread Over Troubled Water by Winnie Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The magic of the bakery is always engaging and brings a warmth to me when I read this series. This latest adventure finds Ivy trying to clear the name of Marina. As Okaya sister, she is like family to Ivy. The story of Josh’s life is full of lies and deception and it would be easy to have just ignored his death as an unlikeable man. But Ivy is determined to figure out who is guilty among the plenty of suspects. The mystery is well constructed and carb lovers will find themselves craving bread. I especially enjoy the way cultural traditions are incorporated in the story.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 34  
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series:8 Book #5
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 8
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #36
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #14
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #32
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #28
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 5 Shot #5
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
12. Around the Year in 52 Books #46. A title that contains a word often found in a recipe
13. HP Quidditch 23 # 20 Applebee Arrows: Related to archery
14. Pick your Poison  # 23 Any book from a series

Seniors Sleuth

 The first Winston Wong mystery by JJ Chow was a random selection for me.  Seniors Sleuth was offered as a free hoopla pick for Feb. and I decided to give it a go.  It was a quirky book and didn't capture my full attention right away.  As such,  I am not totally sure I am hooked on the series yet. 

My favorite parts of the story are the positive and central focus Chow places on elderly characters.   She gives them important and key roles in the story and in doing so highlights how often older people are just taken for granted or placed aside.  I wonder if this attention has anything to do with her heritage, since many Asian families live multi-generational and have respect for their elders.  

The other feature that struck a chord with me was the setting.  I attended high school in the San Jose area so I am familiar with many of the locations referenced in the book.  I always enjoy reading books where I am familiar with aspects of my real life, whether the setting or a topic covered.  

While I wasn't overly enraptured with this book I do plan to give the series another go to see if I can become more engaged with the characters.  

Seniors Sleuth by J.J. Chow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this cozy mystery and appreciated the fact the author used seniors as supporting characters. It was wonderful that she made them credible and strong vs doddering incompetent people. I appreciated the Asian cultural influences to the story that she’s familiar with from her heritage. The mystery was a clever one that was constructed well. The main reason I didn’t give it a higher rating was a sense of rushing/ time warp. Things were supposedly evolving at a too rapid of pace. Even the epilogue felt like the follow up was much lengthier in time than the stated one week. I think Ms Chow has great potential to have a good series just needs to work on the time aspect and develop a bit more depth in her characters. She’d scratch at something deeper but then didn’t expand.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 40 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   33
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #35
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #30
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #13
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #31
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #27
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
11. Pick your Poison  #38 A book with an author whose name (first or last) is only four letters

The Nebula Secret

 I really enjoyed this book.  I loved the parallels between the Smithsonian and Harry Potter.   There are fun adventures and the technological aspects of the story are intriguing.  This is a fun middle-grade story that I look forward to reading more of the series.  I hope in the future stories they actually go out on the Orion and explore different places.  This book reminded me of my passion for travel and is motivating me to go through and scrapbook my travel photos.  

The Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun middle-grade story is a thriller set in an environment that feels a lot like the Smithsonian by its descriptions. I enjoyed the puzzle aspect of the storyline. The technological aspects of the story were fascinating to me taking VR and other current technologies to new levels. This story reminded me of parallels to the Harry Potter series. Cruz feels a lot like Harry as a somewhat chosen one with a supporting cast around him, sneaking around trying to solve a puzzle without adult involvement.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  32 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   Washington DC
4. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  N
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023=1
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023=-1
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #34
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #29
9. Bookworm #30 Read a middle-grade book (8-12 age range)
10. HP Quidditch 23 #14 Quidditch Goggles: Includes a character that wears glasses
11. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #43. MIDDLE GRADE OR NON-FICTION
12. Pick your Poison  # 43 A book with a robot, cyborg or AI character
13. Read with Allison # 45 Middle Grade
14. Sci and Nature # 21 Space Words in the Title

A Killing by the Sea

 A Killing by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge plays a role in a weird cosmic collision in my life this week.   I have had this book on my TBR list since last year in order to fulfill my Target Practice for my Six Shooter challenge.   I started reading Kathleen Bridge in 2021 when I listened to some audiobooks in her Hamptons Home and Garden series after my eye surgery.  Coincidentally I am having eye surgery again next week to remove scar tissue from that previous procedure.   After reading several of those books I found her By the Sea series set in Florida at an old art deco hotel.   This was the next in the series so I selected it for the Six Shooter challenge this year.  

In a weird twist of irony,  they are preparing for a Hurricane in the story.   During discussions of previous hurricanes to hit the barrier island near Melbourne Beach, they discuss Hurricane Irma.  Oddly enough while indulging in my other pastime, watching cozy mystery shows/movies, I watched an episode of A Death in Paradise on Brit box.   They also had a hurricane episode approaching and again mentioned Hurricane Irma in that storyline as well.  Just a weird coincidence but still enough to get my attention.  

This is an entertaining series if you like watching mysteries and the setting is beautiful on the fictitious St Marie (Guadolope in reality).  Between the book and the tv series, I am certainly craving a beach vacay- without a murder of course.

A Killing by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoy this series so far. There are plenty of characters with quirky personality traits some more annoying than others. Liz’s Great Aunt invites others into her classic hotel like some people take in stray animals. Oh yeah there’s that too. Barnacle Avon the parrot is great for some levity and the pompous Susannah is good for eye rolls. The mystery is well constructed with multiple suspects and motives. Even when you think you know who the why is mysterious. Looking forward to watching Liz and Ryan’s relationship develop. There is an authenticity to their budding relationship with misunderstandings and learning to trust

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   31
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
5. What an Animal Book #11
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #33
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #28
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #12
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #30
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #26
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #12  Shot #5
12. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #23. A book with a body of water in the title
14. HP Quidditch 23 #47 Starfish Stick: Related to the sea
15. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #6. TITLE STARTS WITH 'K' OR 'N'
16. Pick your Poison  # 29 A book with a pair of slippers on the cover
17. Sci and Nature # 38 About a Natural Disaster 
18. Unruly Reader Bingo  #5 Recess
19. Read Around the US   Florida- March