Death of a Country Fried Red Neck

 

Another interesting installment from the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails series.  The book is full of recipes both for meals and cocktails.   There is a bit of a weakness in some of the feasibility of the plot line but overall it is entertaining

Death of a Country Fried Redneck by Lee Hollis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

entertaining cozy

Hayley Powell is quite a unique narrator. Her actions in normal circumstances seem pretty typical despite finding herself mixed up in a murder investigation however her columns for the paper are quite a different story. She’s funny and quirky in those. This makes for a fun personality in the story. While I did find the outcome of the story a bit extreme I’m not sure it is impossible to imagine this being a reaction to one’s lifestyle being threatened. Be sure to read to find out what I mean

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  107
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #89   
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
5. What an Animal Book #41
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #98
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #73
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #54
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #83
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #71
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 50 Shot #3
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
13. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
14. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  OF
15. Read Your Bookshelf  October: The book will start with the first letter of the author’s last name from your September book.
16. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge October 18 - Danger Zone

Pink Lemonade Cake Murder

 I must agree with many of the online reviews that point out the weaknesses in this latest installment of the Hannah Swensen series.  After 29 books you'd expect the books to have some formulation to them but this one just felt forced.   There are many aspects of the story that feel as though they have just been dropped into the plot with no real reason.  Stella is introduced as though we should know who she is and I don't recall her in any previous stories.  Hannah and her sisters are still involved in solving mysteries and baking which is fine.  I do wish Hannah would just hurry up and decide to marry instead of just continuing to lead him along.  I am hoping this is the outcome of the twist at the end of the story and the introduction of Stella as a character.  Hopefully the next book won't be too trite and will provide a conclusion to the series.  

Pink Lemonade Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this latest Hannah Swenson novel. It felt a bit fresher than several of the more recent ones I only gave it 3 stars though because there were times the story line felt a bit erratic. The whole side plot of Mikes desire to retire was a bit odd at times. Stella is introduced into the story as though she’d been part of a previous story but I dont remember her. Also that plot line felt contrived at times. Almost like. Tv show where they are trying to write off a character and bring in new ones. The mystery is well constructed and there’s definitely a cliff hanger that makes readers anxious for the next Installment. Hopefully it wont be too long though since the teaser chapter is from a whole different series from this one

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  106
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  88 
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series:18  Book #1
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 29
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
6. What an Animal Book #40
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #97
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #53
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #82
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #70
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
12. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #32 A book that comes out in the second half of 2023
13. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
14. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge  October 18 - Danger Zone

Fatal Fudge Swirl

 Fatal Fudge Swirl is set in Penniman, CT, and is based around an ice cream shop.  This particular one is based upon a socialite wedding at Halloween.  Of course, there is a murder and a list of suspects a mile long.  Instead of focusing on ice cream making the crew of the shop ends up investigating the murder.  As a backdrop to the story, there is a movie being filmed that is loosely modeled on the Hallmark channel movies.  Lots of references to repeat appearances by actors and actresses and the rom-com-type approach to the stories depicted in the movies.   This aspect of the story involves Sprinkles in a major role allowing the outcast cat show feline to strut her stuff.  Allen captures the personality of a cat in a very lifelike manner in this book.   I realized as I was reading this book I had forgotten to read book 2 in the series so I am going back and catching up on that one now.  I can say there isn't much in the way of spoilers in this book so if a reader wanted to have a seasonal read they can jump in with this book.  

Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fine book that will appeal especially to Halloween and fall lovers. The ice cream flavors will make your mouth water if you’re not careful. The mystery is quite well laid out and not super obvious. I like how there is some historic significance included in the book since it is set in Connecticut. Looking forward to reading more in the series.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  105
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  87 
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series:17  Book #1
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 3
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
6. What an Animal Book #39
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #96
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #52
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #81
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #69
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
12. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
13. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  OCTOBER- Spellbinding or Spooktacular
14. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge  October 18 - Danger Zone

Meddling and Murder

 Meddling and Murder is the 4th Aunty Lee book by Ovidia Yu.  This installment felt a little different from the others in the series.   For some reason it just felt a bit forced and as though the characters were not in sync with their usual rhythms.   I also discovered after reading it that there don't seem to be any more books in this series so I don't know if the author abandoned this series for her other colonial Singapore-based series.  I am interested in trying that series to see how I like it since I do enjoy reading about Singapore and its culture.   Hopefully, there will be more written about Aunty Lee in the future to see what happens with the characters.  

Meddling and Murder by Ovidia Yu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoy this series very much. Aunty Lee is quite a character and her relationships with Nina, her stepson and her friends are quite amusing at times. She makes new friends in this book as she looks to expand her independence during this story. I didn’t give this a higher rating because I felt this story didn’t flow as smoothly as the previous books. I think it was because the stairs kept changing focus of characters and the sub plots. The mystery was wrapped up at the end but still felt like a bit of the details could be expanded upon more thoroughly. I do hope the series continues so readers see how Nina’s story progresses

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  104
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 86  
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   Y
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 16  Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 4
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 5
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #95
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #72
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #51
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #80
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #68
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #94  Shot #4
13. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #39 The Final Book in a Series
15. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  July: Books Set in Southern Asia
16. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
17. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge  October 18 - Danger Zone

Double Trouble in Iowa

 Double Trouble in Iowa is the second Izzie Lewis book by Wendy Byrne.   I started this series when I was looking for a book set in Iowa for the literary escapes challenge last year.  Izzie has become less shallow since we first met her in book one which made the story a bit more enjoyable.  The grannies are still a crazy crew and definitely provide comedic relief for the books.  I am looking forward to reading the next mystery to see what antics the ladies all find to get into.  

Double Trouble in Iowa by Wendy Byrne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read with lots of quirky characters. There are two storylines in this book and I enjoyed that. I did find the one a bit abrupt of a conclusion but did appreciate how all the different events were connected to this investigation vs the one of the murder. I think because I read the book over a period of time I did have trouble following who all the characters were especially the suspects. Overall it is a fun series so far

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  103
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   85
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  IA
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #94
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #71
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #50
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #77
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #67
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
12. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  October: True Crime/Mystery
13. Read Your Bookshelf October: The book will start with the first letter of the author’s last name from your September book.
14. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge October 18 - Danger Zone

While My Pretty One Knits

While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo, is the first book in a new series to me.   The book is based around a knitting group in Massachusetts.   A former student experiencing success decides to pay a visit to the Black Sheep Shop and do a presentation.   Unfortunately, a rival shop owner's death casts a pall over the event.  The knitting group gets involved in the investigation when their friend becomes a person of interest.   The story is well composed and if you are interested in learning about knitting this is a great source for you as a reader.   I look forward to reading more in the series in the future.

While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. The ensemble characters are well mixed with different personalities that makes it engaging. I will say I suspected who did it very early on but didn’t know the why until the story unfolded. The mystery has lots of red herrings and circumstantial evidence pointing at multiple culprits. There are plenty of knitting techniques and patterns discussed that I’m sure will greatly appeal to knitters. Looking forward to more of the series


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  102
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  84 
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
5. What an Animal Book #38
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #93
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #70
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #49
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #78
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #66
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #109  Shot #1
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
13. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge October 18 - Danger Zone

Carrie Soto is Back

 This is the 3rd book by Taylor Jenkins Reed that I have read.  I must say I have enjoyed them all for various reasons.  Carrie Soto is Back might be my favorite though because I really enjoy tennis. I previously read  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo this year. (my review) While I did enjoy that book, I am certainly not a Hollywood insider so the tennis topic was more familiar to me.  The details of the matches and the practice sessions that Jenkins Reed writes about make sense to me.  I enjoyed watching the changes in Carrie's personality and awareness of others.  Her hypercompetitive nature is well-represented in this story and it resonates with me as reflecting people I have interacted with in my life.  

I suspect if I had read Malibu Rising I might have experienced different emotions toward Carrie and I would imagine those who have read that book may dislike her significantly.  I think this is one of Jenkins Reed's strengths.  She develops characters that you experience a full range of emotions about.  She isn't afraid to write about characters people dislike.  I am curious to see how the different novels have characters that make appearances in the different stories.  I will definitely need to add Malibu Rising and the others to my TBR list.  

 

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is for more than just tennis fans, but it’s especially appealing if you play the game. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and watching the complexity of Carrie’s character. It caused me to reflect on what makes a great athlete and on the public’s perception and expectations of them. I did find myself thinking on different pro players and how their personalities appear in Carrie. This book has plenty of personal reflection by Carrie and made me contemplate what drives others and how we interpret their actions. This is my third book by Taylor Jenkins Reid and is my favorite for sure. It was easy to become invested and to root for and against Carrie at different times.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 101 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 83  
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #92
4. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #7
5. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #26. A Book Everyone is Talking About
6. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #26 let’s play sportsball
7. HP Quidditch 23 #1 Quidditch: Involving a sport
8. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #29. SPORTS OR SPACE
9. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #19   A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge
• used 2022 challenge - A different book by an author you read in 2021  (I did as 2022) 
10. Pick your Poison  #9  A book about self-discovery
11. Read Around the US   sep Books with Characters Traveling Across State Lines

Bookclubbed to Death

Even though Bookclubbed to Death is the 8th book in the Mystery Bookshop series, V.M. Burns is able to keep the storyline fresh.   Samantha finds herself embroiled in another murder investigation.  But unlike in the other books, there is a more cooperative relationship with some of the investigators.  The ending is definitely a bit surprising but the resolution of the murder does make sense.  As usual, Samantha writes a cozy mystery in parallel to her mystery-solving endeavors.  Her writing is a means for her to sort her thoughts into coherent ideas.  It's kind of like how people's dreams help them sort out their daily encounters and dilemmas.  I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in the series.

Bookclubbed to Death by V.M. Burns
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This cozy was full of twists and crimes. I always enjoy how the main “real life” mystery mirrors the one Samantha is writing as part of the plot. It is fun to see how her writing provides clarity to her puzzling over the cases. This book found Samantha interacting with some characters in a different way that made for an engaging twist in the 9th book in the series. The who and the underlying why were quite surprising. The book also reminded us that our words do hurt others and just because you are not saying them in person doesn’t make them sting less. A good reminder in this day of social media

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 100 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   82
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 15  Book #1
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 8
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
6. What an Animal Book #37
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #91
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #48
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #77
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #65
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #108  Shot #2
12. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
13. Cozy Mysteries   #21 Three cozies, same author
14. Beyond the Bookends  September-Read a book written by a BIPOC female author

How the Murder Crumbles

 How the Murder Crumbles is the first book in a new series by Debra Sennefelder.  I have read her Food Blogger mystery series and was excited to try this new Cookie Shop series.  There are some overlaps in character types between the 2 series.  If I had to guess, I would imagine Ms. Sennefelder has some background in the blogging world since it seems to be a comfort zone for her to write about.  There are some very descriptive sections about photography, advertising/marketing, and cookie decorating.  If think it would be easy for readers to find something of interest in this story.  The mystery is full of misguided suspicions and thus the reveal of the guilty party was quite interesting.  

I look forward to reading more in this series as it moves forward.

 

How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very enjoyable book. I really liked the details about cookie decorating. There were plenty of suspects and some typical romantic angst. There are some very unlikely partnerships in the investigation and some great plot twists. Small town gossip places a critical role in the story. I look forward to reading more in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #99  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  81 
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #90
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #47
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #76
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #64
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #84  Shot #4
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 4 Toe Tags
11. 23 in 2023 # 1 A book published in 2023 

Murder Ink

 Murder Ink is the 6th book in the Victoria Square series and it has a bit of an edgier feel to it than the normal books in the series by Lorraine Bartlett.  This series features a strong entrepreneur in the main character, Lindsay.  The is a bit of cliche romantic tension found in the story, in fact, it appears there are 3 men interested in Lindsay at the conclusion of this book.  I will say the guilty party was a bit of a surprise and there are some interesting twists during the investigating process.  All in all the book is a good read and I look forward to seeing how the square progresses and the relationships change as the series moves forward.

Murder Ink by Lorraine Bartlett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading this series. I like the expansion in the business repertoire of Lindsay. She is a strong businesswoman and I appreciate how she blends her personal side with her business acumen. The mystics well company has plenty of suspects. The ending is quite surprising and entertaining

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #98  
2. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 6
3. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
4. What an Animal Book #36
5. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2023  Book # 9
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #69
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #46
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #75
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #63
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 7 Shot #5
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags

The Last Thing He Told Me

 The Last Thing He Told Me is a great thriller by Laura Dave.  I have had this book on my TBR list for a while now and have been waiting for my hold on my library list.  While we were on a cruise in Alaska, I found this book in the ship's library.   I was able to devour this book in one day.  I really enjoyed the premise behind the story and the characters' backstories that built up as the story progressed. The relationships and emotions that are expressed by the characters felt very real and it was easy to relate to them. The characters and the story were well done and it is easy to see why the book won a Goodreads award.  I am very curious to read other works by Laura Dave.  

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The level of suspense and complexity of relationships in this book made it better than many thrillers. There were many anxious moments in the book and the reader cannot begin to imagine the secrets being kept by the characters. I am intrigued to try other books by this author.

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #97  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 80 
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book # 
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #68
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #74
6. Medical Examiner Challenge 1  Toe Tags
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #37 Written in Present Tense
8. Bookworm #  39 A book by an author named David/Dave
9. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #30 A book that's on a celebrity book-club list
10. Read Around the US   Sept Characters Traveling Across State Lines
11. Read Your Bookshelf   September: Turn to page 50 in your August book (or 49 or 51 if your page 50 is blank) and your September book has to have one of the words from that page in the title.  "Told"
12. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge September - New Author

Shelved Under Murder

 Shelved Under Murder is the 2nd book in the Blue Ridge Library series which I began reading earlier this year.  Victoria Gilbert has a fun series set in Virginia with this concept.  I enjoy her other series which is a Booklovers B & B series so I am happy to have found this series.  The background story of these characters is a bit more plausible than the other one- a retired spy hiding in plain sight.  In this series, Amy has relocated to Taylorsville and is running the local library.  She encounters plenty of small-town charm and nosiness as she goes about her job and her relationship.  She has some wonderful friends and family who are helping her to adjust and whom she is helping when they find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation.  It is enjoyable how the story intertwines Amy's art history background into the storyline in a plausible manner.  I look forward to reading more about Amy and her library in future books in the series.  

Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed reading about Amy and Sunny’s investigation into the death of an artist. There were some subplot crimes which blended well with the story and made it interesting. I enjoy reading about Amy and Richards blooming relationship as well. I will definitely continue reading this series

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  96
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 79  
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #88
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #67
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #45
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #73
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #62
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #45  Shot #5
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
12. Pick your Poison  # 46 A book with the name of a street or highway in the title
13. Read Around the US   Sept Characters Traveling Across State Lines

Misfortune Cookie

 This is the 9th book in the Noodle Shop series by Vivienne Chien.  I thoroughly enjoy the series but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the previous books.   I think it had to do with missing the usual quirky supporting cast.  This book is set in L.A. when Lana and her sister, Anna May, are visiting their Aunt.  The structure of the mystery is well done, it is just that I couldn't follow the characters since they were almost all new to me.  I enjoyed the book, just not as much as others in the series.  I look forward to reading more when Lana and Anna May are back in Cleveland.  

Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoy reading the stories about the situations Lana finds herself in, I did not enjoy this one quite as much as the ones set in Ohio. I think because the characters weee not the core group that are in the other books it was more difficult for me to follow and stay engaged. The mystery is well plotted and revealed it was just difficult for me to follow the characters for some reason. I do hope the series continues as I enjoy it

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  95
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #78   
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 14 Book #1
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 9
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #87
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #44
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #72
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #61
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 23 Shot #5
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
12. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #20 featuring travel (time optional)
13. Pick your Poison  # 109 *A book you've been waiting to gobble up
14. Read Around the US   Sept Characters Traveling Across State Lines

Gone for Gouda

 Gone for Gouda is the 2nd book in the Cheese Shop series by Korina Moss.  I enjoy this series and the struggles Willa faces in running her business.  It is nice for storylines to not always be sunshine and perfection.  

Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun series especially if you are a cheese lover. Lots of interesting recipes mixed into the storyline. These is a great ensemble cast book with Willa as the lead. There are plenty of suspects and motives but the ending is definitely surprising

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #94  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 77  
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
5. What an Animal Book #35
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #86
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #66
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #44
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #71
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #60
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 95 Shot #2
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags

The Plot and the Pendulum

 

The Plot and the Pendulum is the 13th installment in Jenn McKinlay's  Library Lovers mystery series.  It has been fun to watch the characters and their relationships grow with the series.   It is like visiting old friends when reading it.   I appreciate that there are fresh storylines and they don't all feel like a formulaic read.   

This particular book has some atmospheric vibes as it is set around Halloween and there is the question of whether the house they are visiting is haunted.   This book felt very much like an adult version of a Nancy Drew book;  that is not an insult in my opinion.

I hope to keep reading about Lindsay and Sully for a good while.  

The Plot and the Pendulum by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read with some spooky seasonal elements. This is a case of an old mystery being solved today. There are quite a few twists and turns and attempts to cast suspicion on others. I enjoy reading about the daily activities as well as the mystery solving aspects in these books


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  76 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  CT
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 13  Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 13
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
7. What an Animal Book #34
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #85
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #42
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #70
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #59
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 69 Shot #3
13. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
14. Read Your Bookshelf   August: A book that is the same genre as your July book.

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

 Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the 2nd book by Taylor Jenkins Reid that I have read.  I have enjoyed both of the books.   The prior read was an audiobook of Daisy Jones and the Six.  I plan to read another one of Reid's books later this year- Carrie Soto is back.  

Evelyn Hugo is a fun book that is based on the life of a Hollywood starlet.   The story is reputed to be loosely based on Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner and  Rita Hayworth's lives.  I enjoyed how on the surface it is a fun and engaging book with snippets of the life of the famous.  There are deeper topics covered within the story.  

Additionally, the format of the book is a somewhat different approach.  Monique is called by Evelyn Hugo to hear her life's story and publish the biography upon Evelyn's death.   The book delves into both of their characters and what drives their personalities.  The reader is not really sure whether they should like Evelyn or dislike her.  Evelyn believes she lived her life as true as possible given the circumstances of her fame.   She doesn't regret her decisions and says she would do it all again.   It is hard to be sure if that would really be the case but it certainly makes for a polarizing character in the story.  

If you are looking for a relatively light read that does address deeper issues and gets you to think this is a great choice for you.  

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

very engaging read. hard to put down

Jenkins Reid certainly addresses some questions about people and how they define their truths to themselves. Evelyn Hugo was viewed by the public as an icon and celebrity this book shows the cost and benefits of this fame. If you ever wish you were famous this book will make you think twice about having the world wanting to know your business. And this was before social media

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  92
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 75  
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #84
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #65
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #6
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #  25 A Fashionable Character
7. 52 books in 52 weeks  #22 book to movie
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #49. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2022 or 2023  
9. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  #14. Recommended by a Librarian
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #14  a character is lost royalty
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #11 A book about or set in Hollywood
12. Pick your Poison  # 67 A book you want to dive into
13. Diversify your reading #DYRC23   August: Contemporary Fiction
14. Read Around the US   Aug California
15. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge  July 19 - Opposites Attract

Murder, Simple Stitched

 Murder, Simply Stitched is the 2nd installment in the Amish Quilt Shop series by Isabella Alan.  This book is a good perspective on how the Amish and Englisch interact in parts of the country.   If you have any interest in quilting or reading about different cultures while enjoying a cozy mystery you will enjoy this series.  The mystery has lots of twists and turns will following the trope of clearing a friends name from a crime.   I enjoy the simplicity of the lifestyles represented in this book.  I look forward to reading more of this series.  

Murder, Simply Stitched by Isabella Alan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Angie is a bit of a busybody but aren’t most amateur sleuths in cozy mysteries. This mystery is well written and reaches a good conclusion. There are definitely charming settings and good relationships included in the story line. I appreciate that Angie tries to find the best n people despite initial impressions to the contrary. There is quite a cliff hanger at the end of the story. I will have to read the next book to see what happens

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  91
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  74 
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  I 
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #83
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #64
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #41
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #69
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #58
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 3 Shot #4
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
13. Pick your Poison  # 36 A book published in a year that includes a 4
14. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge August 16 - Tropetastic!