Up to No Gouda

 Up to No Gouda, by Linda Reilly, is like a warm comfort food cozy.  The descriptions of the Grilled Cheese sandwiches are wonderful and really add to the storyline.   The relationship between Carly and her employees feels authentic and precarious at times.  The struggle she is having to reconnect with her high school friend, Gina, as well as the others in the small town she grew up in feels realistic and something many can relate to-  think the Bon Jovi song Who Says You Can't Go Home.  I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series and hopefully many more to come.   

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the foundation of this novel and the delicious descriptions of grilled cheese sandwiches are mouth watering. The mystery definitely had me questioning the guilt of some of the parties and kept me guessing until the bitter end. I liked the vulnerability of Carly and the development of her relationships with her employees and her HS friend. I appreciated the romantic interest is not a primary storyline but rather a side note. Made for a nice change from many cozies.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 75
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  VT
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge U
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #89
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #59
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #84
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #77
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-parking lot
• Weapon- statue
• Detectives- Carly Hale
• Victims- Lyle Bagley
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 89 Shot #1

Eight Perfect Murders

 Agatha Christie fans will really enjoy this book by Peter Swanson.   Readers beware though, Eight Perfect Murders does give some plot lines away from the stories that appear to be mimicked by the murder in this book.   The main character is an owner of a bookstore in Boston who at one time published a blog post called Eight Perfect Murders.  It seems to an FBI agent that someone is now using that list as a formula to commit murder.  This book is full of suspense and sub plots.  It is hard to tell whether the murder is really the bad guy or actually a vigilante- think Dexter.  If you like twisty stories with lots of plots spinning off the main story then you will definitely like this book.  It is hard to say more without giving stuff away so I will leave it at that.  

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

quite intriguing

Not easy to write a review and not give plot parts away but I had no idea what to expect in this book and it was jaw dropping. It’s not often you read a book with an MC who’s easy to dislike but that you are still rooting for. This book is one. I will say that the book has spoilers from other classic mysteries so if you are planning to read any of Christie’s
Books in the near future beware
This is quite a psychological thriller and those who like the genre should like this book


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #39
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  E
3. What an Animal Book #26
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #51
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #41
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #52
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 10 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- road; woods; living rm; bedroom; living rm
• Weapon- car; shot; bike; alcohol poison; heart attack; shot
• Detectives- Malcolm Kershaw
• Victims- wife; atwater; nathan; prof; emily; abc; detective
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #3 Title starting with the letter “E”
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #1 number in the title
11. Nancy Drew #43. The Mystery of the 99 Steps (1966) - read a book with a number in the title
12. Reading Randomizer  Yes April
13. Pick your Poison #61 a book with a devious villain

Jackie and Maria

 Jackie and Maria was a wonderful historical fiction novel written by Gill Paul.  The Jackie in the title refers to the most famous Jackie in history- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.  The author did a wonderful job in combining story telling with facts about many famous people in this book.  I would never describe myself as a Kennedy fangirl but I definitely find the family intriguing and their appearances in history of the US fascinating.  

I enjoyed how Paul intertwined much of the Kennedy political/policy legacy into the story without dwelling on those facts too much.  It made me think about the Kennedy Center and how it probably evolved from Jackie's passion for the arts which is woven into this story to tie her storyline to Marie Callas in a manner other than Ari Onassis.   

I'm sure Kennedy purists won't like this book and several reviews confirm that, but I thought the author did a wonderful job of using facts to create a well woven story.  This is actually the second story I read in 2022 that involves the  Kennedy; the other being The Kennedy Debutante about Kick Kennedy who has a brief mention in this story.  

 I have always been intrigued by the Kennedys but had only read Clint Hill's account of life as Mrs. Kennedy's Secret Service Agent and his perspectives on the couple who changed much of America's political story.  I also have Jackie, Janet and Lee on my TBR list this year coincidentally as it is a book from TBR list that was selected for my Randomizer challenge.  I am curious to see  how much of the biography confirms the story line content in this novel.   

Coincidentally if you are doing a challenge where the prompt for a book by a different title is included this book will work as it is also titled the Second Marriage.  

Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria Callas by Gill Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is very good historical fiction account of Jackie Kennedy and her relationship with JFK and Onassis. It is Interesting to me to learn about parts of her relationships that lead to possible interactions with other famous people in history. The author is very clear in her note on what is based on fact vs her fictional accounts. I didn’t really know much about Onassis except rich Greek shipping magnate that was Jackie’s 2nd husband. I knew nothing about Maria Callas but I am intrigued to learn more. A good read if you like fictionalizes accounts about real historical figures

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #45
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Greece
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  J
4. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  #2  Controversial 
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #55
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #45
7. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #7
8. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #19 A book that has an alternate title
9. Around the Year in 52 Books # 48. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022 
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #20. Literary Fiction
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #31 features royalty
12. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #30 Read a book that has the friend's to lover's trope
13. Nancy Drew #41. The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes (1964) - read a book where the mc plays a musical instrument
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #51 multiple perspectives
15. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #48. A book with two POVs
16. Pick your Poison #82 a book about a legendary hero
17. RAD challenge #aradreadingchallenge #
18. What's in a Name   #
19. While I was Reading  #
20. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  
21. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO
22. Reading Randomizer
23. Beyond the Bookends  
24. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge
25. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  May: History & Biography
26. Lifetime of Reading
27. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2022 
28. Unruly Reader Bingo  #

Roast Mortem

 Roast Mortem is the 9th book in the Coffeehouse Mysteries set in NYC.  Clare Cosi is the now empty nester single mother who is in business with her ex and her ex mother in law while managing the Village Blend in Greenwich Village.   This makes for some interesting dynamics at times in the stories but overall it is a unique and well constructed set of characters that have logical roles and reactions in the different mysteries.   

Those who like coffee or well written mysteries will like this series.  A familiarity with NYC is a bonus for recognizing destinations and neighborhood that are parts of the stories but definitely is not a requirement to enjoy them.  

Clare is a strong woman and her intelligence and logic are well demonstrated in this book.  I appreciate the research and accuracy of the facts in firefighting and NYC history that are included in the story.  I had not read this series in 3-4 years and am happy to have started reading it again and look forward to finishing up the series. 

Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Coffee lovers will definitely enjoy this book, especially if you are at all interested in how an espresso machine works. Clare Cosi, manager of Village Blends, installs an espresso machine while tryign to solve a mystery. Through this installation and the serving of cafe drinks, there is plenty of description on how the machine and the process works. The possible pitfalls are detailed as well. For those not interested, and I admit after awhile that included me, you can just skim over those parts similar to a recipe description in cooking/baking cozy.
I enjoy this series and hadn't read it in a number of years. Now I am excited to catch up on the books I hadn't read yet. Clare is a more mature sleuth but not a senior citizen. Thus, she is a rarer amateur detective. Another pleasant difference is her civilian meddling isn't met with as much opposition as many books present. The mystery itself is well written and has quite a surprise ending on who the guilty party is.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #34
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  R
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 22 Book #1
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #46
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #37
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #29
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #47
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #45
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- restaurant; garage
• Weapon- fire; asphyxiation
• Detectives- Clare Cosi
• Victims- Bigsby B; Jamie Noonan
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #82  Shot #1
12. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #15. With a Two Word Title

The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies

 The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies is the first in the Houseswappers series by Adriana Licio.  This series seems to have the potential to be quite entertaining.  This first book finds 2 recently retired friends deciding to house swap and travel around Europe.  Etta and Dora recently retired from teaching and decided to share a house in their hometown in Italy.   This allows them to save on expenses without having to give up a family home.   They then decided to try a homeswap in Rothenburg, Germany.  All seems to be going well on that idea until the Watchman dies while giving a tour.  Suddenly the ladies are caretakers of Leon, a very strong willed Bassett Hound and knee deep in the mystery.  I enjoyed the fact the main characters are not seeking romantic relationships which is so often a subplot in cozy mysteries.  Additionally, the level of details describing their temporary home is wonderful and makes me want to explore there in real life.  If you are looking for a well structured mystery that allows you to travel vicariously then be sure to give this series a try.  An added plus is it's in Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe to that.  

The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies by Adriana Licio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

2 ladies and a basset hound steal the show

What a refreshing g cozy centered on 2 older ladies with no romantic interests at all the only o w stealing hears is Leon the basset. The descriptions of the town of Rothenburg and its residents were great. It made me want to visit. I did not guess the Guilty party until they revealed themselves. I cannot wait to read more of the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Germany
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  W 
3. What an Animal Book #21
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #39
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #28
6. Cruisin thru Cozies Non US setting #2
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #38
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #37
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- park
• Weapon- gabbard
• Detectives- etta/dora
• Victims- sebastian sauer
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #79  Shot #1
12. Around the Year in 52 Books #44. A book with gothic elements
13. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #42  Read a contemporary novel
14. Nancy Drew #10. Password to Larkspur Lane (1933) - read a book with flowers on the cover
15. Pick your Poison #54 a book by an author who lives in another country

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

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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

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

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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

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 

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


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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

One Poison Pie

One Poison Pie by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyed this cozy. I really liked the characters and the development of their relationships. They are not perfect and this feel very real. The paranormal witch aspect is well constructed and is a support it factor in the story rather than being the focus. I am generally not a paranormal reader but I will be making an exception for this series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #14
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes ID
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge "o"  
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 10 Book #1
5. Color Coded Black
6. What an Animal Book #9
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #16
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #44 involves family secrets
9. Cozy Mysteries   Bonus  #3 5 cozies each with a cover or spine representing one of the colors of the Olympic rings  Black
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Paranormal #1
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #17
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #17
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #43. A book set in a small town or rural area
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #6 Household object on the cover
15. Bookworm #20 Read a book with a black cover
16. Nancy Drew #33. The Witch Tree Symbol (1955) - read a paranormal book
17. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #43 number in the title
18. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #31 Read a book that has paranormal elements in it (witches, ghosts, vampires, etc.)
19. OWLS 22  #9 Magical Numbers: A book that relates to a magical number (pi or pi(e), 7, 3, 13, etc)
20. Pick your Poison #53 a book with the word "attic" or "kitchen" in the title
21. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #16. A book about witches
22. While I was Reading  #7 
23. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
24. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-
• Weapon- knife
• Detectives- Mia Malone
• Victims- Adele
25. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #34  Shot #5
26. 52 books in 52 weeks  #25 Secret Society

Guidebook to Murder

 

Guidebook to Murder  is the first book in the Tourist Trap series by Lynn Cahoon.  I have been intending to start this series and I am glad I finally did.   I look forward to reading more about this vacation town and Jill's role in the scene.  

Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this first book in the series. I have previously read the Farm to Table series and was happy to try another series by Ms Cahoon. I enjoyed the story and the relationships between Jill and Emily as well as with her Aunt Jackie. I thought there was realistic back and forth banter with her Aunt. The mysteries of the unexpected death of Miss Emily and the disappearance of Amy were well structured. They were not easy to detect the guilty party but in hindsight they made sense and the clues were there for the discovery. I also appreciated the ending where there is a wrap up a few months later giving an update on where some of the open ended items had ended up. Looking forward to reading more in this series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #8
2. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge G
3. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   L
4. Color Coded  Brown
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #11
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #5
7. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #4 first in a series you've been putting off
8. Cozy Mysteries   #20 with murder or death in the title
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #2
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #12
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #12
12. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #15 A five-syllable title
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #50. A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years
14. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #1. By an Author You Love
15. Bookworm #48 free choice
16. Nancy Drew #26. The Clue of the Leaning Chimney (1949) - read a book where the mc builds a fire
17. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #40 written by your fave author
18. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #20  Library book
19. OWLS 22  #51 Potions: A book that includes poison
20. Pick your Poison #49 a book set somewhere you might wear shorts
21. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #26. A book with a misleading title
22. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
23. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 34  Shot #4
24. 52 books in 52 weeks  #14 She Did What?

Candy Canes and Culprits

 Candy Canes and Culprits was a prequel novella I found on Kindle Unlimited.  I ended up really liking the story and I look forward to reading more about these characters after they have relocated to FL.  

Candy Canes and Culprits: A Cozy Christmas Novella by Tricia L. Sanders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable prequel

Good well written quick read. The mystery made logical sense and it’s a great introduction to why the MC and her mother are headed to the Keys. It gives glimpses of the relationship between the two and their history and why they would like to leave their small hometown when they do. Look forward to reading more in the series


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  C
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  S
3. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 6 Book you can read in a day
4. Cozy Mysteries   #15 cozy author new to you
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Holiday  #2
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #11
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #11
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #35 story centered around a real or fictional holiday
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #25. A book less than 220 pages OR more than 440 pages 
10. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #22 An unlikely detective
11. Bookworm #9 Read a book by an author that's new to you
12. Nancy Drew #24 24. The Clue in the Old Album (1947) - read a book where the mc uses a camera
13. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #28 an author new to you
14. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #15  New to you author
15. OWLS 22  #44 Helena Ravenclaw: A novella or prequel
16. Pick your Poison #69 a book about a heroic event
17. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
18. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- country club
• Weapon- candy cane
19. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #77 Shot #1
20. 52 books in 52 weeks  #37 On No He Didn't

Fudging the Books

 Fudging the Books is the 4th book in the Cookbook Nook series by Daryl Wood Gerber.   These books are fun to read about because they combine cooking and reading in the underlining plots of the mysteries.   The shop that Bailey runs with her Grandmother sounds as though it would be an amazing place to visit in real life. Not so much the murders that she stumbles upon though.  

Fudging the Books by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was an enjoyable read and is a great choice for readers who like cooking and cookbooks especially. This book has aspects that include insight into the publishing world as well as discussions about advertising. If either of those interest you they are an added bonus to a well constructed mystery. I did find some of the characters a bit annoying at times and a bit of a stereotype of women who chose bas men. The friendships between Jenna and Bailey are well written and demonstrate their history. All in all a fun installment in this series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #7
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  CA
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  F
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   G 
5. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:6  Book #1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #10
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #4
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #11 a book about books
9. Cozy Mysteries   bonus #1 3 books by same author
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Holiday #1
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #10
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #10
13. Around the Year in 52 Books #40. A book related to one of the 22 Tarot Major Arcana cards
14. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #4 Title starting with the letter “F”
15. Bookworm #11 A book by an author whose first or last name has 5 letters
16. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #28. A Guilty Pleasure Read
17. Nancy Drew #16. The Clue of the Tapping Heels (1939) - read a book where the mc dances
18. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #32 author starting with "g"
19. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #46 Book you meant to read last year but didn't
20. OWLS 22  #59 Minerva McGonagall: Contains a strong female character
21. Pick your Poison #20  a paperback
22. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
23. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #61  Shot #4
24. 52 books in 52 weeks  #41 Strangers in the Night

A Crafty Christmas

A Crafty Christmas is the 4th book in the Cumberland Creek series by Mollie Cox Bryan.  This was a great combination of a split locale mystery.  Half of the ensemble cast is at home in Cumberland Creek while the rest of the group is on a scrapbooking cruise.  I would love to have the opportunity to go on a cruise like that, it combines 2 of my favorite things- cruising and scrapbooking.

The mystery was well written and combines a nice balance of the scrapbooking techniques and an inside look at the industry.   I found myself comparing the characters in the story with real life scrapbooking industry personalities.  This added a fun element to the already enjoyable story for me. 

I enjoy the level of  introspection and cultural discussions that Ms. Bryan incorporates into her stories.  This series combines storylines that are more involved than many cozies.     I enjoy her mystery structures and the extra elements to the story.  

I look forward to reading more in the series. 

A Crafty Christmas by Mollie Cox Bryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a great cozy that combines the craft of scrapbooking and a fun setting on a cruise ship. The mystery was well constructed and had numerous levels of details. There was a number of victims and the motivation for their murders was well concealed. The clues eventually lead to a surprise ending. I enjoy that this book incorporates great characters and a well structured mystery.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #4
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  VA
3. AtoZ   #2022AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge C
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   B
5. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:5  Book #1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #8
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #2
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #49 a book set in the season you read it in
9. Cozy Mysteries   #11 involving travel
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Craft  #1
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #8
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #8
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #37 Set in a rural area
14. Around the Year in 52 Books #22. A book with a Jewish character or author
15. Bookworm #39 Read a book that takes place around your favorite holiday
16. Nancy Drew #19. The Quest of the Missing Map (1942) - read a book where the mc uses a map
17. OWLS 22  #26 DADA: A book featuring good vs. evil
18. Pick your Poison #36 a book about a fandom or fanfic
19. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #28. A book set during a holiday 
20. What's in a Name   #5  seasonal
21. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
22. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- cruise ship; basement
• Weapon- ricin
23. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #51  Shot #3
24. 52 books in 52 weeks  #34 Lost and Found
25. Unruly Reader Bingo  #5 seasonal