Oh Say Can You Fudge

 This is the next in the Mackinaw Island based series by Nancy Coco.  This time Allie finds herself in a mess around the 4th of July.  What a perfect read for the start of summer.  The series is so perfectly descriptive of the Mackinaw Island and all its charm and history.  Reading these books really makes me want to travel to the island.  Maybe we can tie a visit in with a college visit this summer.                              

Allie's character and her friendships with Jenn, Frances and Trevor continue to develop in this next installment of the series.  I love all the descriptions about Mal and the mischief she finds. This book highlights much of the traditions of the Island for the 4th of July and combines those wonderful features with a set of mysteries.  There is an explosion that may or may not relate to previous fires on the island.  The story weaves these mysteries together with life on the island in a very seamless way.   I really am enjoying this series.

If you are looking for a  wonderful cozy mystery series this is definitely one to try.  Now if you are trying to avoid candy and sweets, the fudge recipes may be a deal breaker :)

Oh Say Can You Fudge by Nancy CoCo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great mystery set in an iconic site

This book captures the history and traditions of Mackinaw Island so well. The mystery is well written and full of plot twists that are ultimately tied together well. The characters are endearing and their relationships grow with each book in the series. Perfect summer read as the season begins

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Candy Coated Mysteries #3
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #6 book you forgot you had
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #71
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #84
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #43
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #68
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #59
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Airplane or airport
• Weapons
• Row 3
• Bomb or explosion
• Detectives- Allie/Rex
• Victims- Rodney Rivers
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #19  Shot #3

Murder in Red

 Book #49 by the infamous Jessica Fletcher with the help of Jon Land was an entertaining installment set in Cabot Cove, ME.  I enjoyed the humor of the characters making fun of Cabot Cover being a murder magnet.  This was probably the least formulaic of the books I have read from the series in a while and I wonder if it is due to the difference in co-author.  Either way I found it quite enjoyable.  

This book incorporated some corporate and medical ethics queries into the plot line that are definitely relevant in today's society.  I appreciated that the topics were raised without preaching on them and while presenting both sides to the issue.  This story brought Jessica's friend, George Sutherland to town and incorporated him into the storyline along with Mort and Seth.  The book introduces a few other Cabot Cove residents as well.

All in all this was a good mystery with characters and storyline with depth.  If you are a fan of the TV show then you probably already like the books but I would recommend the series to any cozy mystery fan.

Murder in Red by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This installment in the murder she wrote series is more original than many of them. it definitely felt less formulaic and seemed like it was a probable plot line. I enjoyed reading it and finished it in one day. Always fun to read a book from the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #64
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Murder She Wrote #49
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #1 more than one author
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #70
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #83
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cozy Mysteries   #17 author collaboration
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #42
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #67
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #58
11. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #20 Made Into A TV Series
12. BooklistQueen   #19. A Book Turned Into a TV Series 
13. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #5 made into a tv/movie
14. Spells and Spaceships Big screen
15. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
16. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Library or bookstore
• Weapons
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs
• Detectives- Jessica/Mort
• Victims- Mimi; Laurie Ann
17. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #12  Shot #4

To Fudge or Not to Fudge

 This is the second Candy Coated mystery by Nancy Coco set on Mackinaw Island.   The descriptions of the island, its history and the characters make for a wonderful story.  It is easy to envision the friendship and support Allie McMurphy receives while running her family hotel, the McMurphy, for her first full season on island.  The small town feel is also captured well.  I really have a desire to visit there soon.  

The mystery itself is a wonderful story and it is amazing how Ms. Coco blends a story about a reality show that is crossed with a murder that sounds like it is out of Fargo.  There are numerous moments of levity and Allie's attempts to date are a charming side note as well.

The descriptions of the fudge making and story telling are fascinating reads.  It is easy to imagine the smells of the fudge and the lilac flowers the story centers around.  I look forward to reading more of Allie's adventures and hope we find out the outcome of the reality contest as well.  

To Fudge or Not to Fudge by Nancy CoCo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is so easy to envision the smells of lilac and fudge when reading this cozy set on Mackinaw Island. Allie McMurphy is working her first season at the McMurphy hotel on island but unfortunately keeps getting caught up in mysteries. This book is full of funny scenes with canine characters, family and reality tv drama. As crazy as these all sound Nancy Coco makes the story work well. It is easy to become invested in wanting to see Allie succeed. I look forward to reading more about her and Jenn's adventures at the hotel and on the historic island

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #63
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MI
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Candy Coated Mysteries #2
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "N"
5. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #4 purple cover
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #69
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #82
8. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #41
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #66
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #57
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #34. AUTHOR STARTING WITH N
13. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
14. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Pathway or forest

Row 5

Bathtub, shower, bathroom

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- Allie McMurphy/Rex
• Victims- Heather Manus/Cathy/Hector Finch
15. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #19  Shot #2

The Henna Artist

 I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Alka Joshi.   It was principally set in Jaipur, India in the 1950s.  It is fascinating how Lakshmi had reinvented herself after fleeing her husband in a village.   She applied the knowledge her Saas (mother-in-law) taught her on how to use natural remedies for ailments. She also developed her artistic talents into masterful henna artistry and mandala designs.  Her business relationship with Samir Singh opened doors into his wife's social circle and allowed her to develop her business.  These relationships demonstrated the caste system at work as well as the different beliefs and professions deemed acceptable within each caste.  Lakshmi is from the Brahmin's which is one of the highest castes but her status as an estranged wife is a secret that keeps her from developing her relationships in society as fully as she would normally be able to do.

Joshi captures the tenuous relationship between Lakshmi and the wealthy ladies.   Also the story addresses the maneuverings of an arranged marriage between 2 prominent families that allows them both to improve their business and social standings.  It discusses the idea of marrying for love versus an arranged marriage.  It also talks a bit about dowries and the arrangements of marital residences relative to the parents.  

The book addresses unwanted pregnancies, infertility and the influence of spiritual  advisors that impacts the Maharaja, his family and familial decisions. Be advised there discussions/ plot lines having to do with termination of pregnancy through herbal concoctions so this may be disturbing to some readers.  The tradition of multiple wives and concubines are addressed briefly as well.   All in all it is a fascinating overview of the culture of India from 60 or so years  ago.

Additionally, their are relationship struggles between Lakshmi and her sister Radha as they become acquainted and settle into a sibling relationship while also being a custodial situation.   Radha experiences many of the typical teen adjustments but they are magnified by being an villager who finds herself a scholarship student at a prominent school.   This disparity only exacerbates her ability to fit in.  How she and Lakshmi handle the situation with the help of auntie Kanta is an interesting take on the timeless theme adolescent assimilation.  

All in all I enjoyed this book and can recommend it to those interested in reading historic fiction based in India.     

    

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating story full of culture and growth

This story was layered with characters and relationships that were both frustrating and wonderful. It was amazing to see Lakshmi develop her relationship with he sister Radha and Malik. The book showed some aspects of the caste system and socioeconomic differences specific to India but global as well. The growth of the characters and their realization of what is important is well written and powerful. I found myself hoping for happiness for the good people and forgiveness for those who need it

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #62
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #48 bought it for the cover
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #68
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #81
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #10
6. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #43. The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
7. Around the Year in 52 Books #7 A book that fits a prompt suggestion that didn't make the final list -- A book where the protagonist adheres to a religion that is not your own
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021   #44 Includes A Garden
9. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #21. BOUGHT BASED ON COVER
10. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021  May – Book Set In India
11. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Yes Southern Asia
12. Unruly Reader Bingo  #3 eye catching

Marshmallow Malice

 This is the 5th book in the Amish Candy Shop series.  I always enjoy reading about the Amish community in OH and how they interact with the English.  Amanda Flower does a wonderful job in representing the two cultures and how the interact and conflict.  The traditions of the Amish are well presented and detailed.  It's hard not to find your mouth watering when reading about the wonderful chocolates and sweets that are created by Bailey and her Amish grandmother.  Bailey's friend, Cass is visiting Harvest from NYC.  Through the auspice of her visit they spent time touring around the county which gives the reader a bit of a tour as well.  

The mystery is well written and has multiple layers of complexity to the storyline.  I enjoy reading about the relationships between Bailey, her grandmother and cousin Charlotte.  These relationships grow with each installment.  This book digs a bit into the history of her boyfriend, Aiden's, youth in Harvest.  His high school girlfriend returns to town and has visions of them picking up where they left off in college.  Needless to say Bailey isn't sure how this impacts their relationship.  

Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Always enjoyable to read how Ms Flower blends the Amish and English worlds in her books featuring Bailey. The chocolate treats and mysteries add to the fun. The stories show the contrast between the 2 communities and how difficult the choice can be for the young Amish to remain In The faith

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #61
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Amish Candy Shop #5
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #67
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #80
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #40
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #65
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #56
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Pathway or forest
• Weapons
• Row 3
• Bomb or explosion
• Detectives- Bailey
• Victims- Leeza Hilberger
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #6  Shot #4

Fatal Fried Rice

It's always fun to read the Noodle House cozy series by Vivien Chien.  The books are a great mix of mystery and humorous situations.  Lana Lee has a knack for getting into awkward situations.  This book she finds herself in an especially tricky situation when she attempts to learn to cook Chinese food from a course instead of asking for help at her family's restaurant.  Her stubborn pride gets her in the middle of a murder where she is a suspect.  Then her nosiness gets her into a bigger mess.  

All in all this is a fun book that has a good mystery even if the reader rolls their eyes at Lana and her friends' decisions.   The mystery has a good ending that isn't readily predicted.  

Fatal Fried Rice by Vivien Chien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is always enjoyable to read about the escapades of Lana Lee. This time Kimmy Tran and Megan helped her solve the mystery she found herself in the middle of. Unlike the other times, she was a suspect this time. I enjoyed the development of her relationship with her sister and her sister's boyfriend, Henry. This makes here seem that much more realistic. The mystery was a good one that had a surprise ending even though you were pretty sure who the guilty party was. Looking forward to more stories about the Ho Lee Noodle House

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #60
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Noodle shop caught up
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #66
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #79
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #39
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #64
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #55
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Free square classroom
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- lana lee/kimmie tran/ megan
• Victims- margo
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #33  Shot #3

Two Can Keep a Secret

 This is the second YA book by Karen McManus that I have read.  I really enjoy her fast paced writing style that develops drama amongst the characters and plotline without drawing the book out too long.  She is wonderful at capturing what it is like to be a teenager in high school.  It reminds adults of what life was like back when they went through school just as much as today's teens can relate to the different stereotypes of characters.  The book has  a thriller and suspense aspect to the story that covers multiple years and generations in a small town in Vermont.  

McManus does a wonderful job of casting suspicion on different characters and demonstrates how easily people jump to conclusions about people's guilt.  The role of social media and the media in general in this presumption of guilt is represented accurately as we often see in real life.  People are quick to cast judgement and slow to acknowledge the truth or the facts as they reveal themselves.   

This story has a buildup in intensity and you cannot help but want to keep reading late into the night to see how it ends.  The ending is definitely not something I saw coming.    

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

McManus continues to capture teens’ social and emotional characteristics well. Anyone who had any insecurities in high school or was the new kid can find a character they relate to in this book. In addition to the great characters there is a well written mystery in the novel too. The ending was not something I saw coming!

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #59
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021 #26 features a carnival or circus
3. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #63
4. Around the Year in 52 Books #23 A cross genre novel  
5. Pick your Poison #19-3 A book with the word "secret" in the title 
6. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
7. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #72  Shot #2

The Dutch House

 I had read wonderful reviews about the audiobook version of this novel by Ann Patchett.  It is narrated by Tom Hanks and I must concur he does a wonderful job on the narration.  I really enjoyed the story and the development of the relationship between Maeve and Danny as well as their parents.  It is amazing to see the differences in relationships that develop between parents and children of the opposite genders.  Their experiences with their father are very different due to the differences in how they interacted with him while growing up.

The age difference between Maeve and Danny also created a bit of 2 different families situation.  Maeve has many more memories of their mother from her childhood while Danny effectively grew up with minimal memories of her and thus was more attached to Maeve as a maternal figure than his own mother.  The 2 also had very different relationships with Andrea, their stepmother due to their ages when she married their father.

The novel highlights how different people will react to the same trauma in different ways.  It also highlights how every story has 2 sides and maybe we shouldn't be so quick to condemn others and more willing to forgive or at least forge a new type of relationship.  The book showcases many grudges that are often just a transference of frustrations and hurt that could have been avoided had any real conversations taken place.  There were many years lost due to a bitterness that is just a said statement but is truly a common occurrence in many families.  It is often easier to hold a grudge than look at our own role in a situation and admit we all play a part in a conflict or disagreement.  It is rarely all someone else's fault when it comes to family matters.  

This book has an amazing story of Maeve being so spiteful that she creates a path for Danny that isn't at all what he desires.  But, his need to make his sister happy and to maintain their strong relationship prevents him from speaking up for himself.  Ultimately he is just pushed along by his sister and his future wife, Celeste and never really carves his own path until very late.  Everyone's desire to have Danny be a doctor for their selfish reasons ultimately backfires and leads to many disappointments and unsettled emotions.

I enjoyed this book and really loved listening to Tom Hanks narrate it.  Unfortunately I feel a bit of the book's timeline jumping was confused by listening to an audiobook since much of the book was a reflection on Danny's life.  It wasn't always clear where in time the stories he was relaying occurred and that took away a bit from the flow of the story.   

Readers who like reading stories about families and the dramas and conflicts through the generations will enjoy this book.  

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book as an audiobook and while I loved Tom Hanks as the narrator I think the audiobook may have made it more confusing for me at times. The timeline of the book narration jumps all around and at times it is difficult to determine where in Danny and Maeve’s life story the anecdotes occur. I think reading it might have been easier to follow that aspect.
The book characters are certainly well developed and it is amazing how even characters that are portrayed negatively can have somewhat of a perspective awakening occur. Ever story has two sides and then there’s the truth rings very true in this story.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #58
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021 #28 on the Indie Bestseller list in 2020 or earlier 
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #65
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #78
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #9
6. BooklistQueen   # 49. A Book Everyone Is Talking About
7. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge  book #6

Grilling the Subject

 This is the 5th book in the Cookbook Nook cozy series.  I enjoy this series by Daryl Wood Gerber as there is a great relationship between Jenna, her friends and her family.  The series seems to be centered around special theme events in the CA coastal town where the Cookbook Nook is located.  

This book was set during a Wild West event and thus had lots of BBQ and campfire recipe references.  The story does a wonderful job of bringing multiple characters into the mix while still maintaining some relationship to Jenna.  In this case, an old coworker is now running the Wild West Showcase and he ends up in the suspect pool.  Jenna became involved in this case when her father was a suspect.   There are several twists and turns to the mystery. 

In addition to the mystery, there is a person from Jenna's past who reappears and brings plenty of drama with their arrival.  Additionally there is plenty of relationship drama amongst Jenna, her bff and her dad- all struggling to find balance in each of their romantic affairs.  These side stories create an ongoing plot thread that adds continuity to the stories.   

The nice part is I accidentally read this book before reading the 4th and it really didn't matter.  This was a nice occurrence since often the serial books give away a lot of what happened previously in the storylines.  Now I will need to go back and read Fudging the Books to catch up.

Grilling the Subject by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The small coastal town continues to capture the essence of CA life and provide drama and mystery. Jenna is a determined detective who may neglect her store a bit more than feasible but you have to admire her desire to defend family and friends
This book had some very surprising features that added to the drama. Well written mystery even a subplot was a bit far reaching

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #57
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Cookbook Nook 5
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #64
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #77
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #38
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #62
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #54
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lawn
• Weapons
• Row 5
• Household object
• Detectives- Jenna
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #66  Shot #1  

Botched Butterscotch

 This novella by Amanda Flower  takes place between the 4th and 5th books in the Amish Candy Shop series.  Bailey is providing Swissmen Sweets desserts to a Mother's Day fundraising brunch when a mystery unfolds.  On top of her overwhelming need to help get to the bottom of this, she is balancing the visit of her mother and father to her Amish community in Ohio.   Her parents left the community and her father, the church, after high school;  seldom to come to visit even.  Their New Englander demeanor is quite apparent during this visit and it is easy to feel for Bailey as her mother manages to make unintentionally offensive observations.  To top it off, Aiden's mother, Juliet Brody, is intent on involving Bailey's mother  in her campaign to get Aiden and Bailey engaged.   This plot line leads to some very humorous moments.  

This is a nice short book that reminds me that I want to get back to reading the series as a whole and will continue with Marshmallow Malice soon.

Botched Butterscotch by Amanda Flower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What's not to love about candy, a pet pig and a mystery

A well written and fun novella in the Amish Candy Shop series. We meet Bailey's parents in this quick read. There is definitely some family Bonding and drama in this short mystery. As usual Ms. Flower captures the dynamics between people well and mixes humor in with her mysteries. A good mystery without a murder that keeps the reader engaged

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Amish Candy Shop #4.5
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #13
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #76
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 37
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #61
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #53
8. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #17. Too Close: a novella
9. BooklistQueen   # 50. You Own But Haven’t Read
10. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 24. Book you own but haven't read
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Free square-  church
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #6  Shot #3

Can't Judge a Book by It's Murder

 This is the first in a series by Amy Lillard.  I selected the book initially due to its setting in Mississippi.  The cozy started out a bit slow as the characters and town are introduced but once the mystery got going it was able to hold my attention.   In fact, as it ended I found myself anxiously reading to find out who was the guilty party.   

Arlo and Chloe are best friends who own a Bookstore and Coffee shop together in Sugar Springs.  They know each other from high school and have chosen to establish their roots in the small town where they met.  Others from their graduating class did not opt to remain in town and their return plays a major plot theme in the book.  Beyond the returning best selling author, Wally Harrison, there is also the return of Arlo's 2 high school sweethearts.  The sudden return of Sam adds to the romantic tension Arlo is already trying to avert after Mads has returned to be a Police Chief in the town.  As in most cozy stories this is a side plot for much of the book, particularly since Arlo's Godmother, Helen, and her friends are insisting on attempting to play matchmaker.  

This tension is a distraction to Arlo as she attempts to find who is guilty and get her friend released from jail.  She feels pressured to conduct her investigation in a timely manner due to the deal she struck with Mads to keep her friend in the town jail rather than sending her out to the County lockup.   Additionally as the grieving widow and assistant are being freed to leave town her panic rises.  All of this pressure is well conveyed to the reader and I found myself racing to finish the book as though I too had a deadline.

While this was not my favorite cozy starting out it because it just didn't get to the solving of the mystery very quickly, it definitely caught my attention at the end of the book and I will explore further tomes in the series.

Can't Judge a Book By Its Murder by Amy Lillard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Suspenseful til the end

After a somewhat slow start the book.picked up pace and was more engaging. The characters are a great group of quirky friends trying to help.one of their own prove her innocence. There is plenty of small town drama and history going back years to high school at the center of the story. The ending sets up a potential carry over to the next book

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #56
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MS
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #63
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #75
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies   free choice # 36
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #60
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #52
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #44. A book whose title contains a negative
10. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  "Book"
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 4

Street or sidewalk

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Arlo Stanley/ Mads
• Victims- Wally Harrison
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #65  Shot #1

First Comes Like

 This is the third installment in the Modern Love series by Alisha Rai.   Similar to the first 2 books Rai continues to write fun books with strong female characters.  I had to laugh there were even references to passing the Bechdel test in the book as just one example of the lighthearted humor the book contains.

Jia is an influencer who is struggling to manage her success and her family expectations.  She is a Muslim Pakistani American who is balancing her religious beliefs, her family's traditional expectations, and her more outspoken American personality.    Rai does a wonderful job of demonstrating the balance as well as the struggles Jia faces.  

There are some very comical scenes with her family of 4 sisters and traditional parents as well as the Bollywood famous family of Dev.  Underlying all the story though is a tale of desire for acceptance and happiness.  I appreciate how Rai intertwines this and other messages in an enjoyable romance with minimal graphic sexual detail.   There is some but it is an appropriately placed plot line rather than gratuitous lust as many books are keen to present.

I hope this series continues so readers have a chance to watch the relationships of Jia, Rhiannon, and Katarina grow.  I'd imagine the next book would have to be about Lakshimi or Luna if it keeps to the pattern focusing on a different MC in each book.  Only time will tell.

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable comedic tone with strong female leads

This 3rd installment in the series focuses on Jia. Her portrayal is a well balanced one showing struggles I'm imagine are real.especially for young women balancing 2 cultures. it is easy to see her inner struggles with keeping her Pakistani/Islamic upbringing at peace with who she wants to be in LA as a modern American woman. Rai represents the struggle between traditional and modern well and the reader cannot help but cheer for Jia to find happiness and success

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #55
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Modern Love #3 
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #62
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #74
5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #3. A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
6. Around the Year in 52 Books #13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020
7. BooklistQueen   # 18. Longer Than 400 Pages
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #7. PART OF A TRILOGY
9. Pick your Poison #9-4 A book about how radio, television, or the internet has changed us
10. Beyond the Bookends  faux celebrity protagonist

The Four Winds

 This is the second book I have read by Kristin Hannah.   She does a wonderful job of capturing historical settings.  This book is set in the Texas Panhandle during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s.  Her characters, Elsa, Tony, Rosa and Rafe, all represent the strength and frustration of the human spirit during an unbelievably challenging time.  

Character development is a strength of Hannah's talent.   It is easy for the reader to put themselves in the story and to feel attachment to the characters.  As you read, it would be difficult not to feel sorrow and frustration just as Elsa does during the saga.  Hannah develops her as a strong female character who truly does not believe in her own strength and resilience.  Her's is a hard life, but she soldiers on and does what is necessary for her family.

It is easy to envision the scenery and the strife that the farmers and other residents of the Great Plains experienced in this unbelievable period of time.  Hannah's descriptions are vivid representations of the hardships and the terrain the people of the time and region suffered.  Her ability to draw a reader into her story is amazing.

This novel is a very engrossing read and I look forward to reading more of Hannah's works;  I have The Great Alone on my shelf and may prioritize it now that I have read this work. I had previously read The Nightingale and it is also a great demonstration of female strength and resilience.  

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kristin Hannah's ability to draw you into the lives of her characters is an amazing talent. As I read it was easy to visualize myself in the place of the characters. The angst and the heartbreak come through in her writing. Her descriptions of the terrain in Texas and CA is vivid and moving. I truly cannot imagine what it was like to live during the Dust Bowl or to have experienced this level of uncertainty for your own survival. Hannah's ability to tell a story that draws you in continues in this latest work

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TX
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #61
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #73
4. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #8
5. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #21 Book By Kristen Hannah
6. BooklistQueen   # 51. Borrowed from a Friend
7. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 4. Borrowed from a friend
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #24. BETWEEN 460 - 495 PAGES
9. Bookworm  #51.) Read a book with the word "wind" in the title
10. Pick your Poison #17- 1 A book with a primarily black cover
11. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  May: History & Biography

A Killer Read

 This is another first in a series titled the Ashton Corners Book Club by Erika Chase.  I found this book while looking for cozies set in Alabama and I was pleasantly surprised by the book.  The Southern manners and culture is definitely represented in the storyline and the dialogue.  No escaping the M'am and Sir references especially when speaking with ones elder or a person of authority.  There was plenty of other regionality on display as well with the appearance of Sweet Tea and baked goods.  

The characters, Lizzie, Molly and the other book clubs members seem like good characters but we don't get a ton of depth in this first book.   There is some background and intrigue with Stephanie but even that feels like a big set up for future books.   I guess I would have preferred more resolution and background into the main cast of characters instead of feeling as though it is all about stringing you on for future books in the series.  It is a fine line between continuity and a feeling of non resolution.

The mystery itself is a different take on intertwining seemingly different plots.   It did take quite a while to get the mystery moving but the guilty party was quite a surprise.  One aspect I struggled with was the idea that literacy group members would also belong to a book club with avid readers.  While I did like Lizzie's professional emphasis on helping struggling readers this felt to be a bit of a stretch to me.   

I will try the next book in the series to see if the pace of the cozy picks up or if it is still a bit too slow and I will move along.  

A Killer Read by Erika Chase
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good Southern mystery

This was an enjoyable cozy set in Ashton Corners, AL. Its filled With Southern customs and culture. Lizzie is an intriguing character with lots of depth. MS Chase blends the mystery loving personality with a reading lover and educator. The mystery itself is a good one with lots of suspects. The reason I only gave it 3 stars was at times the story felt a bit crowded with a few too many side plots. It was wrapped up well in the end though and there are developing relationships to continue growing in the series. I look forward to seeing if that's the case

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  AL
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #12
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #72
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 35
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #59
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #51
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lawn
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Detectives- Lizzie/Molly/Bob/Jacob
• Victims- Frank Telford
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #64  Shot #1

By Book or By Crook

 This is the first in a new to me series by Eva Gates.   She has set the series in a library in the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  The setting sounds like a fabulous location and I would love to have an apartment right on the beach such as the one Lucy lives in at Bodie Lighthouse.   The story captures much of small town politics and old family ties to those towns.  It also touches upon the local vs visitors relationships in touristy towns.  The diverse set of characters add to the story and as it unfolds we see more depth to some of the characters.  I look forward to seeing the relationships grow and reveal themselves as the series progresses.

The mystery itself was well structured with several subplots that blended well with the main storyline.   All in all it is a great start to what seems to be a promising series.

By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an enjoyable cozy set in the Nags Head area of the Outer Banks of NC. This is the first in the series set in a library in the lighthouse. Mysterious happenings including the death of a library board member and the disappearances from a display of Jane Austen collection of books. Lucy as a new arrival gets her feet wet in her new position amidst all the mysterious occurrences. She has returned to the Outer Banks where she has summered during her childhood and has met up with family and friends and is reestablishing those relationships. The mystery is well written and it looks like it will be a good ongoing series.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #54
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #60
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #71
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies free choice 34
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #58
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #50
8. Beyond the Bookends  story set in a library
9. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO Book
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Library or bookstore
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Pointy object
• Detectives- Lucy/Bertie/Butch
• Victims- Johnathon
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 63 Shot #1
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #29 librarians

Aunty Lee's Deadly Specials

 This second book in the cozy series by Ovidia Yu is again set in Singapore.  Aunty Lee and Nina are now partnering with Cherrill to provide catering and dining experiences complemented by Cherrill's drink menu.  Unfortunately their first outing to cater for Mabel Sung did not end with a happy customer.  

After being falsely accused of food poisoning and thus having her restaurant shut down, Aunty Lee sets out to determine what really happened at the party.  Once again she works with Detective Salim and her friend the Chief Inspector Raja to dig into the murder and finds herself mixed up in a much bigger international crime ring.  

I enjoy the character of Rosie Lee and the others in her close group of friends.  I like how Ms. Yu reflects Singaporean life and addresses some of the subtle cultural and governmental differences from the United States.  The country is made up of a diverse group of ethnicities and these books highlight that, both the good and the bad aspects of the culturally rich nation.  I look forward to reading more of Aunty Lee's adventures and hope they continue for a while.

Aunty Lee's Deadly Specials by Ovidia Yu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love Aunty Lee and her personality

MS You does a wonderful job of capturing the people and diverse culture of Singapore. Her characters in this mystery represent many of the cultures and DC lasses found in that society. Aunty Lee "s ability to read people while feeding them is a wonderful quality. The mystery itself is quite engage some and has many twists and turns

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Singapore
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "Y"
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021
4. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #11
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #70
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 33
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #57
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #49
10. Magic in the Books 
• Book 4 #5 Read an own voice book
11. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  May: Asia – South
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 5 Toe Tags
13. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 4

Hotel room
Swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi

Row 5

Bedroom

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Row 3
• Free square- medical transplants
• Drowning, water, ice
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Aunty Rosie Lee/Nina/Salim
• Victims- Mabel & Leonard Sung/ Benjamin Ng
14. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 24  Shot # 2

Ghostal Living

 This next installment in the Hamptons Home and Garden Mysteries centers around literature.  The book is full of references to many American authors and particularly the ones with connections to Long Island.  Kathleen Bridge returns with her main character Meg Barrett and her bff, El.   This installment is full of references to Fitzgerald, the least of which is the costume party that sounds like something straight out of The Great Gatsby.  

There are plenty of vivid descriptions of the decor, the books and the landscaping details.  Bee lovers will enjoy all the reference to honey and the Apiary in the book.   All the wonderful details about the Hamptons and the American authors blend well with the cozy mystery.   The guilty party is well hidden and its revelation a very climactic scene. 

I'm curious to see what the central theme of the next book is since we have now read about antiques, artists and authors.  

Ghostal Living by Kathleen Bridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I continue to enjoy this series of books set in the Hamptons. Besides the enjoyable descriptions of the Long Island areas and its residents, the books are full of cultural references. This one centers around Bibliophiles and books. Ms Bridge ties the area into the lives and works of many famous authors all while telling a wonderful cozy mystery. The mystery is multi layered and well thought out. There are several side mysteries that are somewhat intertwined. All in all an enjoyable read. This is the 3rd in the series but can be read as a standalone

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  √

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges since it meets multiple criteria within the challenge.

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #53
2. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice #32
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #56
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #48
6. Pick your Poison #6-4 A book about flappers
7. Backpacking Bookworm  #bbReadingChallenge2021  personified animal
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Library or bookstore

Row 3
Cliff, roof, high place

Row 5

Beach or shoreline

• Weapons
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs
• Detectives- Meg/El
• Victims-  Franklin & Violet Hollingsworth; Randall
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #62  Shot #3
11. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge  #5

 

Hearse and Gardens

 I returned to Montauk and Sag Harbor in this second installment of the Hamptons Home and Gardens mysteries by Kathleen Bridge.  This time Meg and El are mixed up in the 20 year old death of El's relative Victor Falks.   Uncle Harrison had invited the 2 ladies to go through a bungalow on his property to search for antique finds prior to the bungalows relocation away from the eroding cliffs.  Unfortunately while examining the bungalow they discovered a sealed production studio with a skeleton.   Turns out it was Harrison's missing son, Victor, whom everyone had assumed had run off on his wife with a lover and an Andy Warhol painting.

Much investigation, antique digging and other mysteries ensue in this cozy mystery.  It is an enjoyable read and I came to realize this book focuses on artists who frequented the Hamptons in the past.  The first installment had focused on antiques and this one on artwork.  I enjoy the variety of topics that Ms. Bridge is delving into in her series.  

Hearse and Gardens by Kathleen Bridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this next audiobook in the series. Meg and El get mixed up in a 20 year old murder/missing person case. This time we meet El’s extended family which is quite a cast of characters. The mystery is well written and has lots of side stories which add depth to the story. Meg’s personal life gets a bit interesting in this book as well. Cannot wait to see where the stories go.

View all my reviews  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #52
2. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice # 31
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #55
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #47
6. Pick your Poison #3-2 A book with the word "house" in the title
7. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO   Garden
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Free square- recording studio
• Weapons
• Row 4
• Pillow, smother, asphyxiation
• Detectives- Meg/El
• Victims- Victor Falks/Helen
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #62  Shot #2
11. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge #4