Caramel Pecan Roll Murder

 Caramel Pecan Roll Murder is the 28th Hannah Swensen book by Joanne Fluke.  I recommend reading the previous books before this one as there are some references to things that happened in Hannah's universe prior to this installment.  This one focused less on the romantic interests of Norman and Mike and developed more of Mike's character as he revealed more of his feelings and emotions about work to Hannah.  This was a less obvious guilty party than many of the cozy genre books.

If you like fishing or sweets you will enjoy this book.

Caramel Pecan Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

really enjoyed this book I liked that it was more about Hannah and he sisters rather than focusing on her romance even though that is an undertone of the story. the reader gets a better detail on the character of Mike. great twist on the whodunnit but bummed about the cliff hanger since I don't want to have to wait for the next book to come out

View all my reviews

   

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #28
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:13  Book #3
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #37
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #19
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #36
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #35
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-lake
• Weapon- shot
• Detectives- hannah swensen
• Victims- sonny
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #44  Shot #6
10. Around the Year in 52 Books #26. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 1
11. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #1 2022 New Release
12. OWLS 22  #17 Niffler: A book with a shiny cover
13. Pick your Poison #105 a book with an orange cover

Death on the Danube

 I decided to read Death on the Danube this month because I needed to complete a book for Book Voyage Challenge that was set in Russia or Eastern Europe.  I planned to read Midnight in Chernobyl but realized I would not complete it in time.  I am still progressing on that book but it will go into April.  

This is the first book in the  Travel Can be Murder series by  Jennifer S. Alderson.  I really enjoyed the book and the wonderful descriptions of Budapest that were included in the story.  The mystery was well constructed and the characters were realistic.  I look forward to reading more in the series, particularly since it is in Kindle Unlimited.

This is a great series if you like to travel, either IRL or vicariously through your reading.  

 

Death on the Danube: A New Year's Murder in Budapest by Jennifer S. Alderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great cozy mystery especially for readers who enjoy reading about foreign locations. The wonderful descriptions of Budapest reinforces my desire to visit there. The structure of the mystery was well done and although the clues pointing to the guilty party were present it wasn’t immediately obvious. It is easy to have emotional responses to the characters, both warmth for the Fab Five and the Hendersons. Jess and Tom and Helen are quite easy to dislike as is Carl. I look forward to reading about more of Lana’s adventures

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Budapest, Hungary
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book #5
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #26
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Travel  #2
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #35
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #34
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-river; cruise boat
• Weapon- hit; poison
• Detectives- Lana  Hansen
• Victims- Carl;  Margret Henderson
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #  77 Shot #1
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #34 forgotten on your shelf or ereader
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #8. A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid
12. Nancy Drew #13. The Mystery of the Ivory Charm (1936) - read a book with a lot of white on the cover
13. OWLS 22  #6 Arithmancy: A book with a number on the cover or in the title
14. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Bucarest, Hungary
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #23 free space 

A Vacation of Mischief (A Cozy Mystery Tribe Anthology, #4)

 This is the 2nd Anthology of the Cozy Tribe that I have read.  I enjoyed reading the short novellas that introduced several new characters to me as well as revisiting some of the series I read in the previous anthology,  A Flock of an Alibi  The book is available through Kindle Unlimited and is an enjoyable quick read.  Since it is an anthology the stories are short reads which makes this a perfect book for reading while at appointments, in car pool lines etc.  These stories all center around a vacation theme.  

Flint and Steal is my first read of Patty Joy.  The story introduced me to Kelly Green who is working as a camp host in a State Park in Missouri for the summer.  Here she hooks up with Sheriff Duncan from her hometown to help resolve the mysterious disappearances of items from the campsites of his extended family during their reunion.  This book is a wonderful combination of eclectic characters and a glimpse at Romani culture.  It definitely intrigues me to read more in the series about .

The series I had previously read was by Verena DeLuca.  This story, Axure and the Case of the Rogue Ride,  is part of a paranormal series with dragons and their humans they have connections with.  Azure and her human, Tona, visit a new amusement park outside San Antonio, TX.  Strange occurrences require investigating while Tona is on a day long date at the park's soft opening.  

Brittany E Brinegar introduced me to her character, Becky Robinson, from her Hollywood Whodunit series in the story Hitchcock's Perfect Murder. Becky is on vacation with her high school ex and his extended family and finds herself solving a mystery.  The book mimics the classic Murder on the Orient Express.  I definitely enjoyed this character and her personality and would like to read the series. 

Rune Stroud's story, Beaches and Bloody Hands introduced me to Simon, the talking Raven who is the familiar of Autumn.  While both are on vacation in Myrtle Beach, they assist in locating a missing elderly woman.  Simon is a cheeky character that adds a bit of levity that makes the series enjoyable.  I generally am not a huge paranormal reader but this series intrigues me.   

Kathryn Mykel's Murder Glazed Over introduced me to Cole and Katherine who are on vacation Alice Springs, WA when they discover a murder victim.  They end up helping solve the mystery during their Valentines' getaway.  This series seems to be one based up their travels and the mysteries they encounter

Sue Hollowell's Pedicures and Perpetrators has us following Tilly and Fiona to a spa for a relaxing weekend of treatments.  Unfortunately their tranquil trip is interrupted by a murder.  They need to clear their names so they can return to their everyday lives in Belle Harbor.  Their strong friendship engaged me and I look forward to reading more about them in the Belle Harbor series.  

All in all this anthology has definitely added books to my TBR list.  

A Vacation of Mischief by Verena DeLuca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable anthology

I enjoyed these vacation themed cozy stories. Most of the authors were new to me an have sparked interest in reading their series to learn more about their characters

View all my reviews

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TX
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge V
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   V
4. What an Animal Book #19
5. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book #4
6. Cruisin thru Cozies Paranormal #2
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #34
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #33
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- parking lot
• Weapon- poison
• Detectives- Abby McCree; Gage
• Victims- Bryce Cadigan
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #75  Shot #2
12. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #44 An anthology
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #49. A book connected to the phrase "Here (There) Be Dragons"
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #1  2022 New Release
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #9 an anthology
16. OWLS 22  #16 Care of Magical Creatures: Includes a magical creature
17. Pick your Poison #51 a book of short stories

Kiki Lowenstein Short Stories

The Further Adventures of Kiki Lowenstein: Collections 1,2 and 3: Short Stories that Accompany the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series  is a compilation of all the short stories from the Kiki Lowenstein world.  Joanna Campbell Slan has written 42 short stories and novellas that fit into the storyline of the novels.  The compiled book is available on Kindle Unlimited as a compilation of Vol 1, 2, & 3 rather than as the individual books from the different publication dates.  They are nice quick volumes which can be read in short sittings so the book is perfect for taking along while waiting for appointments or children.  I always enjoy reading the capers of Kiki and all the detailed scrapbooking information they contain along with the interesting mysteries.   

For the purposes of my challenges I have decided to count the novellas as individual books in terms of meeting challenge prompts.  That way, if a different novellas cover multiple prompts within a challenge I counted both of the prompts; normally one book one prompt but since this is a huge compilation of novellas and short stories I decided to handle it this way.  

The Further Adventures of Kiki Lowenstein: Collection #1: Short Stories that Accompany the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series by Joanna Campbell Slan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great short stories that tie the different bigger novels together. love reading about Kiki and her family and friends. it is also a nice aspect that Slan includes the social issues within the stories without being too in your face about them.

View all my reviews

A Halloween Close Call    black magic

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:16  Book #3
2. What an Animal Book #18
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #36
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #25
5. Cozy Mysteries   #21 3 Books by Same Author
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free Choice #18
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #33
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #32
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #7a  Shot #1
10. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #8 Involving the art world
11. Bookworm #37 Read a book over 500 pages
12. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #8. Published in 2012
13. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #48 author has a first, middle and last name on the cover (no initials)
14. Nancy Drew # 56. The Thirteenth Pearl (1979) - read a book published in 2013
• #8. Nancy's Mysterious Letter (1932) - read a book with a first name in the title
15. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #26  Read a book that gives you fall and or creepy vibes
16. OWLS 22 #27 Dark Arts: A book featuring dark magic
17. Pick your Poison #51 a book of short stories  #29 animal families  #47 book over 600 pgs  
18. 52 books in 52 weeks  #20 Icebound
19. Unruly Reader Bingo  #7 positive psychology

Death by Auction

 Death by Auction is the 3rd Abby McCree mystery by Alexis Morgan.  This book focuses on a fundraiser for the veterans group that Tripp is involved in and Abby has chaired the event.  The auction was a success until the emcee meets with an unexpected crisis.  This mystery then develops into a well formed series of suspects and hidden secrets.  The personal dynamics between the characters is well written and believable.  I enjoyed the back and forth between them and look forward to reading more of the development of their relationship as the series continues.  

Death by Auction by Alexis Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very interesting cozy mystery. I really like reading about Abby and Tripp and their growing partnership. It's hard not to smile at the descriptions of Zeke the giant Mastiff mix. The mystery itself was filled with viable suspects that lead Abby and Tripp into many different settings to try and clear Tripp's ex from going to jail for murder. I enjoy reading this series and cannot wait to continue reading this series.

View all my reviews

   

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #27
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  WA
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 17  Book #1
4. What an Animal Book #17
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #35
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #24
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #17
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #32
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #31
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- parking lot
• Weapon- poison
• Detectives- Abby McCree; Gage
• Victims- Bryce Cadigan
12. Nancy Drew #54. The Strange Message in the Parchment (1977) - read a hardback or paperback book (no ebooks)
13. OWLS 22  #26 DADA: A book featuring good vs. evil
14. Pick your Poison #90 sweeney todd a book about revenge

Body in the Book Drop

 Body in the Book Drop is the prequel that sets the back story for the Cat Latimer series by Lynn Cahoon.  I actually have  not read any of this series previously so it was interesting to start with a prequel before reading any  of the other books.   I think the series might be interesting as there is an element of suspense built into the series since Cat's mother and Uncle seem to be keeping some information about her hometown a secret.  Cat is a graduate student who finds herself investigating the death of Albert Hines after her mother discovers his body.  The mystery  is interesting and enjoyable although I did find the conclusion a bit abrupt.  I look forward to reading more of the series in the future.  

Body in the Book Drop by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

intriguing novella

Looking forward to reading more about Cat and Aspen Hills. The stage is set for a big secret surrounding the town. This particular mystery was interesting and well structured but it did reach a conclusion a bit abruptly. I am interested to read more in the series

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  CO
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #34
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #16
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #31
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #30
6. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
7. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-library
• Weapon- knife
• Detectives- Cat Latimer
• Victims- Albert Hines
8. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 34  Shot #6
9. Nancy Drew #48. The Crooked Banister (1971) - read a book with stairs on the cover
10. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #45 picked at random 
11. OWLS 22  #55 Liquid Luck: Luck of the draw: choose a book randomly
12. Pick your Poison #95 a book set in an area geographically different from your home

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

 The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is a non fiction work by Allison Hoover Bartlett.  The biography focuses the criminal life of John Gilkey but is more in depth than just the factual recounting of his crime spree.  Bartlett immerses herself in the Book Collection community while doing the background work for the book. She attends expos and really attempts to understand what drives collectors in their passionate pursuit of printed texts.  Bartlett discusses the psychological drive behind many of the collectors behaviors and how it is almost an obsession for some.  Others collect things that have a specific attachment or attraction to- books falling into a similar category.   She talks about her own connections with books and the memories they evoke.  

At the center of the book is her interaction with and in depth interviews of Gilkey.   She attempts to analyze his motivations and his rationale for his behaviors.  It is amazing how much Gilkey is able to justify his behavior and to never truly acknowledge what he has done is wrong.  It made me think of the cases where they interview people after they have ransacked and stolen things from retailers, saying its ok because they are big companies and insurance pays for it.  This thinking is a shallow and unconscionable attitude that belies a victim mentality or a self serving attitude that they are justified in breaking the law.  Robin Hood mentality is not an excuse to commit crimes and this book gives a glimpse into the thought process of someone who believes it is.  

While the book does read like a novel at times, I did not find it as compelling and engaging as Bad Blood  (Goodreads review) .  This book definitely read more like a non fiction work than a fiction one but was still very interesting.   

   

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting non fiction book that is written in the form of a story rather than a fact retelling. Bartlett uncovers the world of rare book collecting, looking at both the obsessive nature of the hobby and the people who collect. At the center of the book are a thief, John Gilkey, and the man determined to catch him and other book thieves, Sanders. There is some thought placed on the motivations behind the theft and the psychological drive of the two men. All in all an interesting read

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #26 
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #33
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #23
4. Memoir  #12  Written by an author or journalist
5. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal   Book #1- Social History
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #34 An author’s photo on the back cover
7. Around the Year in 52 Books #37. A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author's name
8. Bookworm #50 Read a True Crime book
9. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #44. Nonfiction Bestseller
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #13 non-fiction
11. Nancy Drew #28. The Clue of the Black Keys (1951) - read a book with a lot of black on the cover
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #36 non fiction or audiobook
13. OWLS 22  #49 Daily Prophet: A nonfiction book
14. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #36. A book you know nothing about
15. Pick your Poison #35 a book about an obsessive hobby
16. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  Feb Keyword  Book
17. Reading Randomizer  yes
18. 52 books in 52 weeks  #17 secret agent man
19. Unruly Reader Bingo  #23 one hit wonder

Shotgun, Wedding, Bells

 Shotgun, Wedding, Bells is the next book in the Kiki Lowenstein series.  In this installment there are wedding bells as the name applies but there is definitely something more sinister afoot as well.  This is a heavier storyline than most of the series and definitely more than your typical cozy.  I cannot help but keep downloading the next book as I finish the previous one.  The books are capturing my attention and I cannot wait to see how the next one goes.  The books are set within weeks of one another and since Chad Detweiler is a police officer it makes more sense than some of the series where the amateur sleuths keep finding victims.  

All in all I really enjoy these books and enjoy reading about the different crafts as well.  

Shotgun, Wedding, Bells by Joanna Campbell Slan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

another wonderful Kiki adventure

This was a detailed mystery that definitely included information on Topics most people are unfamiliar with. I enjoyed reading the author note at the end because it confirmed the deeper social issues that appear in the Kiki Lowenstein books are an intentional and conscious inclusion in each book. I would recommend reading the series in order as there are building relationships and past stories referenced in the books. I enjoyed this book but readers should know it didn’t have as much light hearted banter as many of the series do. It is definitely a heavier cozy mystery

View all my reviews

  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  S
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:16  Book #2
3. What an Animal Book #16
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #32
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #22
6. Cozy Mysteries   #21 3 Books by Same Author
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #15
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #30
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #29
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-yard/street
• Weapon- knife/gun
• Detectives- kiki lowenstein
• Victims- norton
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 7 Shot #6
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #24. A book related to inclement weather
14. Pick your Poison #65 a book about women's issues

Handmade Holiday Homicide

 Handmade Holiday Homicide is the 10th full length Kiki Lowenstein mystery by Joanna Campbell Slan.  I always enjoy these cozy mysteries because there is a healthy dose of paper crafting information.  This one really focused on the art of Zentangle.  I found it interesting enough to look some further information up online and may try to learn to do this art form.  

The other aspect of the Kiki Lowenstein stories that I find engaging is there seems to be a deeper concept discussed in most of them.  Many are relevant women's issues such as mom guilt, abusive relationships, finding strength to overcome adversity and more.  I appreciate the author doesn't preach at the reader, but rather presents the topic through Kiki's perspective and how she processes the situation.   Thus, providing food for thought and reflection versus telling you think this way or you are wrong as many books often do today.

This is a series I recommend readers start at the beginning and progress through the series so you experience the development of the relationships between the characters.  I highly recommend reading this series if you are looking for a cozy series that has a great mystery structure with more info included.  

Handmade Holiday Homicide by Joanna Campbell Slan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

wonderful installment in series

Great holiday centered story that brings out the beauty of the season even amongst not so cheery plot lines. The cozy is well written and brings in all the normal cast and introduces some new ones. I would not recommend reading this book without reading the others in the series even though it is standalone. There’s too much history involved that would reveal parts of previous stories

View all my reviews

   

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MO
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  H
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 16 Book #1
4. What an Animal Book #15
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #31
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #21
7. Cozy Mysteries   #21 3 Books by Same Author
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Craft #2
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #29
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #28
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-classroom
• Weapon- heart attack
• Detectives- kiki lowenstein
• Victims- Eudora
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 7 Shot #5
14. Pick your Poison #43 a book with multiple fonts on the cover
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #22 Creative

Boyfriend Material

 Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is a book that captured my eye based on its cover.  I ended up selecting it as an audiobook which if you love accents is a great listen.  After a slow start, I almost DNF'd it, I really started to enjoy the book.  The characters Luc O'Donnel and Oliver Blackwood are polar opposites each with relationship issues and each in need of a "fake" boyfriend to attend an event with them.  As much as the storyline is a bit predictable, the personalities and insecurities of both gentlemen make for a deeper read than just a light comedic romance.  They are flawed characters and the origin of their flaws became apparent as the book progressed.  There are definitely laugh-out-loud moments and an appreciation for dry British humor (snarkiness at high levels) definitely enhances the experience.  The reader is hard-pressed to not feel the emotional roller coaster the characters experience.    Be aware there is definitely graphic details that will make the reader blush and makes this book unsuitable for younger audiences.  I am looking forward to the next installment in the series due out some time this year.  

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A romance with dry British humor that lead to laughing out loud on more than one occasion. I appreciated the honesty the characters exhibited and the fact the book was not a formulaic happily ever after story. These characters had real flaws and real anxiety- not the over-exaggerated confidence that so many characters in romance books seem to have. Cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #25
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  England
3. Audiobook  #2022AudiobookChallenge  #1
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 17 Award Winning
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #30
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #20
7. Humor  Book #2
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #48 Re-do one of this year’s prompts but with a different genre-  "25- A wealthy character"
9. Bookworm #18 Read a book by an author named Alex, Alexander, Alexandra (or variant)
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 40. By a British Author
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #17 discovered via social media
12. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #3 A romance book with enemies to lover's trope
13. Nancy Drew #23. The Mystery of the Tolling Bell (1946) - listen to an audio book
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #37 #booktok recommendation
15. OWLS 22  #42 Harry Potter: A book that mentions Harry Potter
16. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #49. Two books set in twin towns, aka "sister cities" (1)  
17. Pick your Poison #21  a book with a clock on the cover
18. Lifetime of Reading  28 year old
19. 52 books in 52 weeks  #3 14 things

Lemon Bars with a Side of Murder

 

Lemon Bars with a Side of Murder is the 4th book in the Daley Buzz series by Meredith Potts.  

If the previous installment had suspects with whom Sabrina was familiar, this book hit even closer to home.  Past close relationships with 2 of the suspects made for some very awkward interrogations.   The murder within this story seems to be tied into the secret society in Treasure Cove that Sabrina and David had been trying to investigate.  Meredith Potts created a mystery that tied up a few loose ends and answered some questions that had been outstanding since previous books.  There is a bit of far fetchedness to these mysteries but they are still enjoyable.  I am curious to see if as the extreme conspiracy aspect wraps up if the mysteries become a little more plausible.   

Lemon Bars with a Side of Murder by Meredith Potts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This next book continues on the investigation of strange activities in Treasure Cove. It definitely is best to read these books in order as there is a bit of overlap from story to story. Sabrina is continuing to investigate crimes with her Detective boyfriend, David Carlson. The mysteries are short and enjoyable. At times there is a campiness to the stories but they are fun to read. They aren't necessarily the most deep and developed mysteries with tons of details, but there is an ongoing thread that indicates a well thought out plot line that makes the books very enjoyable. If you have a sweet tooth at all this series will provide a sugar fill or make your mouth water. Either way I plan to continue to read the series to see how Treasure Cove evolves

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "L"
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 15 Book #2
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #29
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #19
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #14
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #28
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #27
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- office 
• Detectives- Sabrina Daley
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #25  Shot #4
11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #33 Two Books by the Same Author
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #29 6+ words in the title  
13. Nancy Drew #51. Mystery of the Glowing Eye (1974) - read a book with glowing reviews
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #38 published in your birthday month
15. OWLS 22  #33 Star Chart: A book related to your zodiac sign
16. Pick your Poison #91  phantom of the opera a book about a hidden world
17. 52 books in 52 weeks  #9  Crime Spree 

Apple Pie with a Side of Murder

 Apple Pie with a Side of Murder is the 3rd Daley Buzz series by Meredith Potts.  I am reading these mysteries as part of a giant compilation of 32 books from Kindle Unlimited.  These mysteries are a bit shorter in length than many of the cozies I read and thus I found myself reading several in quick succession.  Each of the books has a sweet that makes a regular appearance in the story as Sabrina's family owns a coffee shop with a dessert counter and thus is the title of that book.  

This book focuses on Sabrina and her boyfriend, David investigating a murder of a chef with whom they have an acquaintanceship prior to her death.  This leads to a high level of emotional involvement in the investigation as well as a familiarity with many of the suspects.  Intertwined with this murder is an ongoing suspicion about a secret society meeting in Treasure Cove.  The known members of the group keep appearing as suspects in the murders.  

Apple Pie with a Side of Murder by Meredith Potts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I like the main characters in the story, Sabrina, the curious amateur sleuth and her boyfriend, police detective, David Carlson. The mystery itself was engaging and had lots of suspects. What I didn’t care for was the dialogue when they were interviewing the suspects. It felt very repetitive but then maybe that’s how real police interviews would sound. It just got a bit monotonous for a bit.
Overall I like the series and plan to continue working my way through the compilation I have from Kindle Unlimited
I do like the thread of an ongoing mystery that runs over from story to story. It reminds me of tv detective shows and keeps you coming back for more

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 15  Book #1
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #28
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #18
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #13
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #27
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #26
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- kitchen
• Weapon- knife
• Detectives- Sabrina Daley
• Victims- 
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 25 Shot #3
10. Bookworm #13 Read a book published 5 years ago
11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #32 Two Books by the Same Author
12. Nancy Drew #34. The Hidden Window Mystery (1956) - read a book with a window on the cover
13. OWLS 22  #28 Death Eaters: A book with a dark cover
14. Pick your Poison #9 a book with a mug or cup on the cover
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #4 Solve a Riddle

Biscuits and Slashed Browns

Biscuits and Slashed Browns is the 4th Country Store Mystery by Maddie Day.   I hadn't read this series in a bit as I started on her Cape Cod series at the end of 2021 and read a few from that series in Mass.  This series is set in South Lick, IN, and mentions many areas of that state that I am familiar with.  This always makes reading a book that much more enjoyable for me.  

I always enjoy reading about Robbie Jordan and her restaurant.  This particular book involves a Maple Syrup Festival which was a unique twist on the usual setups for this series.  The dynamics between Robbie and the suspects is a bit more contentious than many of the other books by Maddie Day but I feel this lends an air of authenticity to the story.  All in all this is fun series that includes cooking and cycling references. 

Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great story with surprising end

Good cozy set in a cafe setting. Plenty of suspects and multiple mysteries surrounding this So Indiana town. Robbie Jordan is an intriguing character who is overcoming relationship woes while embarking on a new one. The local vernacular makes for some truly laughable moments


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  IN
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 14 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #27
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #17
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #12
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #26
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #25
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- parking lot
• Weapon- knife
• Detectives- Robbie Jordan
• Victims- 
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #52  Shot #6
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #36 your favorite trope on the page
12. Nancy Drew #3. The Bungalow Mystery (1930) - OR read a book with a house on the cover
13. Pick your Poison #98 a book about climate change

Christmas Caramel Murder

Christmas Caramel Murder is  Hannah Swensen Book #20 was combined into a set with another Christmas-themed story and I inadvertently didn't realize I had read them previously.   This one centers on a Christmas reenactment of A Christmas Carol and features some dream/visits by Hannah's deceased father.  The reader can decide for themselves whether there is a spirit at play or just an active dream sequence.   The mystery itself is well written and enjoyable.  Even though I was rereading I didn't remember the guilty party until the very end so I enjoyed the read anyway.

Christmas Caramel Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had read this story a few years back but had realized it since the book was combines with another Hannah Swensen book in a Christmas collection. I actually reread it and realized I didn’t remember much. I will say that as the book wrapped up I remembered who the guilty party was but that wasn’t until the very end. I always enjoy reading this series but I do seem to visualize Hannah as Alison Sweeney vs the red head she is in the book :).
This is a great series if you like to bake or are into sweets at all

View all my reviews

   

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #23
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   MN
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 13  Book #1
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #25
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #15
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #10
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #24
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #23
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- parking lot
• Detectives- Hannah Swensen
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #44  Shot #4
12. Around the Year in 52 Books #27. 2 books with the same word in the title - Book 2
13. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #20 murder, mystery or both
14. Nancy Drew #32. The Scarlet Slipper Mystery (1954) - read a book with a lot of red on the cover
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 # 1 book with a red spine 
16. OWLS 22  # 32 Trelawney: A book featuring a prophecy 
17. Pick your Poison #5 book with the color red or the word "read" on the cover
18. 52 books in 52 weeks  #1 Play it again Sam

Christmas Cake Murder

 This book, Christmas Cake Murder, Hannah Swensen #23, is the other portion of the combined Holiday-themed entry by Joanne Fluke.  This one is a bit of a prequel to the series and goes back and tells the reader the origin story of Hannah's bakery, the Cookie Jar.  We are also provided a glimpse into the first mystery she found herself embroiled in solving.  This book has a twist as the mystery is being told in the form of a journal entry written by one of the town elders, Emmie.  This format made for a fun twist on the usual cozy.  All in all, I always enjoy reading this series even if it is a reread.

Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I reread this one as part of the Christmas compilation. I really enjoy how the story is a combo of the live-action of Hannah and her family combined with the written journal/stories of Emmie the main character outside the Swenson family. It is fun to read the origin story of the Cookie Jar and Hannah’s adventures. The descriptions of the Christmas Ball from years gone by was wonderful as well

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  24
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 13  Book #2
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #26
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #16
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #11
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #25
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #24
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- hospital/sidewalk
• Weapon- heart attack/hospital
• Detectives- Hannah Swensen
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #44  Shot #5
11. Nancy Drew #27. The Secret of the Wooden Lady (1950) - read a book written by a female author
12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #23 reread
13. OWLS 22  # 12 Star Gazing: A book with a star on the cover or in the title
14. Pick your Poison #106 an epistolary book
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #18 Teen Detective

Antique Auctions are Murder

 Antique Auctions are Murder is Poppy MacAllister #7 by Libby Klein.  If you enjoy cozy mysteries that have you laughing at the antics of the characters then this is a must-read series for you.   The relationship between Poppy and her Aunt Ginny is a riot and the stunts Ginny pulls with the Biddies is comical to say the least.  The actual mysteries in this series are well written as well.  This book is loaded with details relating to Antiques and auctions as the name implies.  You will also learn much about prize-winning gardens and the competition they dredge up amongst neighbors.  All in all this is a great fun read

Antique Auctions Are Murder by Libby Klein
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Another great installment in the Poppy McAllister series. Aunt Ginny and the biddies are in the middle of a mess this time and Poppy cannot seem to stay out of the investigation despite her best efforts. The characters provide lots of humor and there is a building relationship with Gia that you definitely want to see succeed. The solution to the murder is quite unexpected and well written

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #22
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  A
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:12  Book #2 Caught up on Series
4. What an Animal Book #14
5. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 13 Book Published in 2022
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #24
7. Cozy Mysteries   #3 Sleuth who is over 60
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #9
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #23
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #22
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-beach/store room
• Weapon- macrame hanger/vampire stake
• Detectives- Poppy MacCallister
• Victims- Auggie Whipple
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #52 Published in 2022
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #33. The next book in a series
15. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #49. A 2022 New Release
16. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #44 A funny book
17. Nancy Drew # 21. The Secret in the Old Attic (1944) - read a book with antiques in the story  
18. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #17 released in Feb 2022
19. OWLS 22  #52 Amortentia: A book that includes a romance
20. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #1. A book published in 2022
21. Pick your Poison #13 a book about memory loss
22. 52 books in 52 weeks  #26 Little grey cells

Next Year in Havana

 Next Year in Havana is an astounding read by Chanel Cleeton. I admit my knowledge of the Cuban Revolution was cursory at best.  This novel does an amazing job of capturing the people and the culture that were impacted when Fidel Castro overthrew the government of Batista in 1959.  Her descriptions of the country and the people were wonderfully written.  I appreciated that she approached the book as an open minded approach by Marisol Ferrera during her first visit to the country she considers her home.  The love of the Cuban people for their country is captured in the characters in the book.  It is hard not to feel the emotions and the struggles the Perez family felt in the late 50s and those that Marisol faces in the modern era.

Cleeton tries to reflect both sides of the situation from the perspective of the exiled and those who remained and live there in current times.  She acknowledges that change does not always come about as planned nor is the opening of the country to mass tourism the answer to the Cubans problems.  They are a proud people and just want to be able to be free and make an honest living in their own country.   The book highlights a feeling that the citizens of Cuba feel as though they are tourists in their own country and cannot enjoy the country and the culture as much as a visitor is able.  She talks of the laws that prohibited citizens from staying in hotels and the fear of speaking out against the government still today.  This is something that we as Americans do not have to struggle with and we should remember that although things may not be perfect here in our nation, they are far worse elsewhere in the world.  

I feel as though I was invested in this book even more because my son is considering attending the University of Miami for college and we have recently spent time there on a visit.  I look forward to more Cuban culture exposure if he should go there.  I hope to someday have the opportunity to visit the country of Cuba and see the wonderful beauty of the country and its people- my parents were fortunate to visit on a cruise when things first opened and Americans were allowed to visit briefly.  Hopefully that will come back sooner than later.  I am looking forward to reading When We Left Cuba as it focuses on Beatriz Perez and her life in exile.  

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

stunning portrait of being a Cuban

This book is an amazing portrayal of the conflict many Cuban exile families must feel having left their country. I appreciate the story also reflects the perspective of those who remained. The novel balances history with romantic relationships and love as well as loss. I look forward to reading her other works


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #21
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Cuba
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  N
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge   #8 Book Set in a Country you'd Love to Visit
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #23
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #14
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #4
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #24 Addresses a specific topic
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #52. A book with a time-related word in the title
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #46. Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #19 picked by a celebrity book club
12. Bookworm #42 Read a Dystopian
13. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #2 A Reese Witherspoon BOTM pick 
14. Nancy Drew #37. The Clue in the Old Stagecoach (1960) - read a historical book
15. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #2 debut author
16. OWLS 22  #10 Mad Eye Moody: A book with multiple points of view
17. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #6. A book by a Latinx author
18. Pick your Poison #99 a book about a social movement
19. Beyond the Bookends  Historical Fiction
20. 52 books in 52 weeks  #11 Myths, Monsters, and Imagination
21. Unruly Reader Bingo  #19 time capsule