Piece of My Heart

 This is the latest installment in the Under Suspicion series by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke.  I was excited to see this book available as I wasn't sure if they would have more in the series after MHC passed away.  I am hoping Alafair continues to write about Laurie Moran and Alex Buckley.  I find the series based upon cold cases to be an interesting take on mysteries.  The cases generally seem probable since Moran and her production crew dig into old cases, thus making themselves targets of guilty parties who have gotten away with a crime for a very long time.  

This latest has a bit of a twist as you are not sure if the crime is related to the one Laurie is investigating or not.  The story has plenty of red herrings and paths down dead ends.  As a reader I was certainly able to relate to the fear the victims were experiencing and felt the actions of the characters were a realistic response to the situation.  

Piece of My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

A suspenseful addition to the Under Suspicion series. This one finds the crime a bit closer to home than usual and feels much more urgent. The character relationships and emotions are well written and the guilty party is not immediately revealed. The leadup to the conclusion is well written and seems possible especially given the stressful circumstances the characters are experiencing. I certainly hope Alafair Burke continues this series 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book # 138
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Under Suspicion series as of Dec 2020
3. Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 116
4. Six Shooter- 3rd shot

One for the Books

 This cozy by Jenn McKinlay is the latest in her Library Lover's series.  It is perfect for the sentimental mystery reader, it's set at Christmas and features a wedding.  It has the makings of a Hallmark channel movie written all over it.  McKinlay does a wonderful job of capturing the small town intimacy and charm again in this installment.  She also demonstrates the nosiness that comes with it as well.  Her descriptions of the scenery and weather make the reader feel as though they have been dropped into the middle of a Connecticut December.  This combined with her amiable characters who generally lead realistic lives, minus stumbling over bodies on a regular basis, make for an enjoyable read.

If you are looking for a quick engaging read during a crazy time then this just might be the book you are looking for.

One for the Books by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

I always enjoy reading the cozy mystery set in CT that centers around Lindsay Norris and her work at the library as well as amateur sleuth. This time the week of Lindsay and Sully's wedding is being hampered by the mysterious death of a long time friend and town resident. There are plenty of cliche actions of 2 people confessing to protect each other and mysterious party guests. The story is a bit farfetched at times but the characters are so inviting and enjoyable that you can overlook the extreme drama. If you are looking for a clean cozy set around holidays and a wedding then this is a good fit for you. 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #128
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Library Lover's series
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 109
4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice #48
5. Medical Examiner-  2 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter-  5th shot

Murder in Storybook Cottage

 This is the 6th book in the Book Retreat Series by Ellery Adams.  I always enjoy reading these cozies since they center around books and mysteries.  This one didn't disappoint and the mystery and personal stories were engaging.   I look forward to reading more in the series.  I hope there is a foreign travel twist in a future edition.

Murder in the Storybook Cottage by Ellery Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

It is always enjoyable to read about the adventures at Storyton Hall. You cannot help but root on Jane Steward and her Fins when trying to solve a crime. This one is centered around Valentine's Day and a children's book conference. The descriptions of the events that encompass children's storybooks is wonderful and I wish I could be transported to the events. 
There is budding romance around given the holiday but these are a nice extra rather than the focus of the stories. Edwin and Jane's twins, Hem & Fitz provide lots of ahh moments and levity.
The mystery itself is well written and Adams leads us to follow clues to multiple suspects. In the end the story is well wrapped up and the motives explained. 
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. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #123
2. Literary Escapes-  VA
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Book Retreat Mysteries
4. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 108
5. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 47
6. Medical Examiner-  2 Toe Tag 
7. Six Shooter- New Target 46

Winner Cake All

 This is the 3rd book in the Chef to Go series by Denise Swanson.  It is an enjoyable cozy series with a strong female character, Dani.  This installment centers around her growing relationship with Spencer and how their past bad relationships are impacting their current romance.  Both of their pasts are developed quite a bit in this story and seem like they provide realistic reasons for them to proceed cautiously.  The murder victim is found during a catering gig of Dani's and the resolution of that case is the central plot line.  The characters feel like they are real people and have realistic concerns and struggles.

I enjoyed the fact that Ms. Swanson lays out how Dani determined who the murderer was.  She goes through all the clues that lead her to determine who was guilty.  It was nice to see how the subtle clues were there for the reader to have picked up on but didn't necessarily.   

I hope we continue to get more books in this series.

Winner Cake All by Denise Swanson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

I enjoyed catching up with Dani and Spencer in this next book in the series. Reading about their growing relationship feels very realistic, like most people they struggle to find time for themselves. They both have been hurt by ex's in the past and this plays a role in their relationship as well as the story. The mystery was well laid out with several clues pointing to different people as being guilty. I like how Swanson ends up laying out exactly how Dani figured out who was guilty. It made it easier to follow how you could have determined it on your own. I hope there are more chef-to-go mysteries in the works. 


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #120
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Chef to Go series
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 106
4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 46
5. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 

A Time for Murder

 

This is the 50th book in the Murder She Wrote series.  I have to admit I probably read these more because of the nostalgia of the tv show than the actual books themselves.  I definitely visualize the actors and actresses when reading about the characters.  This book brought much of the series together in the story.  Amos Tupper, Mort Metzger, Harry McGraw, Seth Hazlitt and Grady Fletcher all have roles in the book.  We even get a glimpse at Jessica's dead husband, Frank.   

The story was a bit less formulaic than many of the books in the series because it was transitioning between present day and 25 years earlier.  The mystery itself was decent and a bit difficult to figure out although I did determine the guilty party before they were revealed in the book.  

My biggest complaint was the extreme nonsensical nature of the conclusion of the mystery and how improbable it was, even when you take into account how improbable it is for one civilian to have been involved in solving 51 different murders.  The ending was more something out of Hollywood action movies than a cozy mystery.   I still enjoyed it even with this ending but it definitely detracted from the story.  

A Time for Murder by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars 

This book was alright. I did enjoy how the book tied together Jessica's first murder investigation 25 years in the past to a current one. The book did a good job of tying the different phases of her life together. It intertwined all the different characters whom Jessica has solved cases with over the life of the series- Amos Tupper, Mort Metzger and Harry McGraw. Of course Seth Hazlitt also plays a big role in the current investigation. The book does a good job of transitioning between past and present. The guilty party is a bit of a surprise although I did suspect this individual about 50 pages before it was revealed. My complaint with the book was the absurdity of the ending. It was just not believable at all, more McGyver than Jessica Fletcher. Still the book was entertaining and a quick read. 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #114
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Murder She Wrote 
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 103
4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 43
5. Medical Examiner-  3 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter- 3rd shot
7. Mystery Bingo: 
   • Red Herring :  car backfires
8. Beat the Backlist #BeatTheBacklist2020 
9. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #12 Goodreads winner
10. TBR Book #31  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
11. Monthly Motif   #MonthlyMotifGXO- thrill and chill 
12. Monthly Keyword-  #MonthlyKeyWordChallenge- Murder
13. 
    

Deadly Fudge Divas

 

This is my selection for my WI book for the year.  I have read the previous books in the series and was happy to see a new entry in the Fudge Shop Mysteries.   Christine DeSmet writes a fun book with a strong female lead who is trying to build a business after returning to her home in Door County.   It is always fun to read about real places in the Peninsula as well as try to guess where the locations are that she is using fictional names for.  

This is a fun series with good mysteries that are not straight forward to solve ahead of the resolution in the book itself.  

Fudge Shop Mystery Series: Deadly Fudge Divas by Christine DeSmet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Always fun to read about Door County

Ava and her Gilpa are always fun to read about and the perilous adventures they find themselves immersed in
Ava and Pauline are helping get to the bottom of the mysterious death of her ex mother in law’s friend. DeSmet does a wonderful job of capturing the charm of the Door County peninsula. It’s always fun to read about places your familiar with. Look forward to more in the series 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes-  WI
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Abby McCree series as of Jan 2020
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 98
4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 39
5. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 

Flour in the Attic

 This latest installment in the Bread Shop mysteries by Winnie Archer, finds Ivy in the middle of another investigation of a mysterious death.  Again the victim is someone close to her and her friends.  We see more of her relationship with her boss, Olaya, and her boyfriend Miguel throughout this book.  Both show how thoroughly devoted to Ivy they are.   Ivy's neighbor, Mrs. Branford, continues to provide some lighthearted conversation and input but this time we see an even more in depth and thoughtful side to the retired teacher.  She is involved in this mystery a bit more than previous stories due to her relationship with the deceased and her family, having taught them all through her teaching career. 

Ms. Archer does a wonderful job of describing the scenery as well as the food in this book.  I would not advise reading it when hungry if you are a lover of either Mexican food or breads.  You cannot help but have your mouth water when reading about the yummy foods prepared throughout the story.  

The book sets up the next installment in the series with a bit of a cliff hanger so I look forward to continuing on in the series when I have the chance.

Flour in the Attic by Winnie Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 



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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #99
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   Bread Shop mysteries #4
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 87
4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 32
5. Medical Examiner-  2 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter- new target 36

Private the Games

 

This installment of the Private series is set in Rio in 2016 just as the Summer Games are about to kick off.  There is a different co author on this book and I think I might like Mark Sullivan's style with James Patterson a bit better than some of the other installments.  This book does a wonderful job of describing the socioeconomic and physical geography of the Brazilian city.

The storyline and its connection to poverty and wealth and the struggles to move the country forward without further impoverishing the  poor is on point.  It definitely creates a thought provoking inner dialogue with me as a reader of the book.  It is especially appropriate timing with all that is going on in the US and the world in 2020

The Games by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

This is a typical Private series book with lots of shooting and action. This time Jack Morgan is in Rio for the Summer games in 2016. The details of the city and the landscape definitely make it possible to visualize the scenery and the city as you read. The premise behind the story is a bit close to home with much of what is in the news today in US. There are some thought provoking aspects to the storyline. The book is part of the series but can be read in any order. 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #96
2. Literary Escapes-  Brazil
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   
4. Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 82
5. Medical Examiner-  10 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter- 6th Shot-  Target completed
7. TBR Book #50  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon  
8. Wizarding World Tour  
• Mahoutokoro: Read a book involving a sport
9. Book List Queen #29- A Book About Sports

Parchment and Old Lace

 This novel is one of the New Orleans scrapbooking series by Laura Childs.  I had previously missed reading this installment in the series.   Carmela and Ava continue to find themselves dragged into murder investigations.  Carmela's beau, Edgar Babcock, actually allows them to be a bit more involved in this case than he normally does.  It is full of twists and turns and I didn't figure out the guilty party until Carmela did herself.   Always a fun series especially since I love to scrapbook and it is full of references to that paper crafting medium.  

Parchment and Old Lace by Laura Childs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

NOLA cozy to charm readers 

Any cozy lover will enjoy this latest installment of the New Orleans scrapbooking series by Laura Childs. You will especially enjoy it if you like scrapbooking and paper crafts 
Carmela and her friend Ava are up to their snooping and socializing They continue to disregard Carmela’s beau, Detective Babcock and his warnings not to meddle in police business. The story is engaging and has a surprising twist at the end 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #92
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   book 2 read of series
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #79
4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 28
5. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter- 3rd shot on target
7. TBR Book #49  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon

Bombshell

 This is the next installment in the Teddy Fay series by Stuart Woods.  Although there is a brief appearance by Stone Barrington, this is all about Teddy Fay.  He is moving forward in his new life in Hollywood but trouble seems to continue to find him.  This story is set among the glamour and glitz of Hollywood and movies.  It is a surprisingly plot-centric book with no racy bedroom scenes in the novel.  I found it an enjoyable read and couldn't help but root for Teddy to successful navigate the drama that surrounded him.  

Bombshell by Stuart Woods

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Teddy Fay manages to engage readers while assuming his different personas in his Hollywood life. This book has lots of twists and intrigue. Teddy used his CIA skills quite proficiently and solves problems according to his code of what’s acceptable. Amazing feature of this book is there’s no steamy sex scenes even when Stone Barrington makes a brief appearance. Enjoyed this book by Woods and look forward to more adventures involving Teddy Fay 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #91
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   Teddy Fay series
3. Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book # 78
4. Medical Examiner-  5 Toe Tag 
5. Six Shooter- 6th Shot for Stuart Woods-  Completes the Target

Egg Drop Dead

 This is the 5th book in the Noodle Shop mystery series by Vivien Chien.   I always enjoy reading about Lana Lee and her crazy family.   Lana has a knack for stumbling into crime scenes and then having her curiosity suck her into the investigation.  In this case she is called upon by Donna Feng to help investigate what occurred at her birthday party which Lana was catering.   

Character development continues to be a strength of the series and many of the players from previous books reappear in this story as well.  Lana's relationship with her roommate, Megan and her friend, Kimmy, play a central role in this story. We also see Pete again in his role as chef and a "brother" to Lana. We get a glimpse at her growing romance with Adam.  Their relationship is shown to be strong when a  person from Lana's past reappears and causes her to be anxious.  Everyone needs an Adam in their corner.  

All in all this was a great cozy mystery and I cannot wait for the series to continue.

Egg Drop Dead by Vivien Chien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Continue to love this series. Lana Lee is a great character and her adventures are fun and nerve wracking. Cannot wait to read more in the series 

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book 89
2. Alphabet soup Author- #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge "V"
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Noodle Shop mysteries as of Aug 20
4. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  76
5. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 25
6. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 
7. Six Shooter- new target # 33

Private Gold

This is a novella by Bookshots that fits into James Patterson's Private Series.   This one is set in South Africa, in Johannesburg, and revolves around the high crime and mining that are prevalent in that area of the  country.   I initially selected this book for the Popsugar challenge to read a book with Gold in the title.  As I began reading I felt the story rang a bell and sure enough I realized as I went along that I had read this previously.  Fortunately I didn't remember who was behind the nefarious act until the time when suspicion is being raised by the female protagonist.  All in all I enjoyed reading it again and the story rang true with the facts I am familiar with about Johannesburg and the struggles it is facing to rise above a criminal element.



Private: Gold by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable quick thriller

This is a quick bookshot installment in the Private series by Patterson. I appreciated the female lead being worried and scared but not portrayed as weak and incapable. The storyline made sense based on the setting in South Africa. It wasn't too farfetched and felt like the obstacles that were overcome were feasible. All in all a good read


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #85
2. Literary Escapes-  South Africa
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   Private Series book 2 in 2020
4. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #69
5. Six Shooter- 5th Shot for James Patterson
6. 2020 TBR  #2020TBRReadingChallenge #16 Africa
7. TBR Book #46  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon

Cobblered to Death

This Rosemarie Ross' first book in a cozy series about Courtney Archer, a TV chef.  This book is based at a resort in the Poconos while Courtney is involved in filming a Baking Challenge on location.  There are several side mysteries that occurred during this story that keep the reader guessing as to the motive for the crime and the guilty party.  Courtney is faced with some personal dilemmas during the story,  making her character very relatable and endearing.

I look forward to reading more of the series as it is published.  The next installment is due out in Dec 2020.



Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very enjoyable debut in a series. The book centers around Courtney Archer, who is the host of a cooking program based upon a persona of a Farmer's Daughter. Problem is this isn't really who she is and this public persona is becoming a challenge to keep up. Add to it a murder while hosting a baking challenge in the Poconos and there are lots of suspicions being cast her direction. She is a very relatable character who is struggling to do what she feels is the right thing without jeopardizing her career. The reader cannot help but root for her to get her way and to solve the mystery. 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. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #74
2. Literary Escapes-  PA
3. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #58
4. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice 15
5. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 
6. Mystery Bingo: 
   • Red Herring :  Gloves

20th Victim

Lindsay and the Women's Murder club are at it again in their 20th book.   This time we get a glimpse of some personal struggles which make the characters more relatable.  They all go through some different struggles in this book.   Joe Molinari, Lindsay Boxer's husband, has a mystery of his own to solve.   There are definitely a lot of victims piling up in this story and some plot lines that are quire possible and scary.  All in all it is a good read that stays in line with the other Patterson books in the series.




The 20th Victim by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another good Womens Murder Club book. This one certainly had a large list of victims and was quite a challenging case for Lindsay to solve with her partner. This book also had Joe Molinari off on his own investigation. This tome dove into more personal lives and interactions than some of the previous versions. All of the club members had to deal with their own trials and issues with each other. Overall a good book and it stepped out of the formulaic template of the series to a certain degree.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #63
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Women's Murder Club
3. Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #51
4. Medical Examiner-  20 Toe Tags 
5. Six Shooter- 4th Shot for James Patterson
6. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge  #42-  number 20 in title

The Murder of Twelve- Murder She Wrote #51

This book reminded me of the famous Agatha Christie, And Then There were None and oddly enough Jessica Fletcher draws that parallel during the case.   It really amazes me how many murder cases one person can come across in such a small town but Jessica Fletcher sure knows how to puzzle them out and come to a successful conclusion.  This book had lots of victims and lots of twists.

It was an interesting deviation from the normal group of crime solvers.  There was minimal involvement from Jessica's usual supporting cast.  Mort Metzger, Sheriff of Cabot Cove, and Dr. Seth Hazlett were only involved from a distance for most of the book.  Jessica had to puzzle it out with the proprietor of the Hill House hotel, Seamus McGilray and the wedding party members in residence with her during a major blizzard.  We did get glimpses of her PI buddy, Harry McGraw in this via the telephone.   I have to admit though when I read about him I always picture the actor who plays him on the TV show and more specifically with Lenny from Law & Order.  Adds a bit of a diversion from the story at times.

In the end the guilty party is identified and the story wrapped up.  It was not totally predictable or far fetched so it wasn't frustrating.   All in all it is an enjoyable light mystery that can be read fairly quickly. 


The Murder of Twelve by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good and entertaining mystery. Jessica Fletcher sure does stumble upon a lot of murders in Cabot Cove. This one was a decent mystery with a few twists, some more predictable than others. It was a quick read that focused more on Jessica and the hotel guests/victims than her usual cohorts. She only interacted with sheriff Mort Metzger and Dr. Seth Hazlett at the beginning of the story and via telephone later. We got a bit of her PI buddy, Harry McGraw from a distance as well.

All in all a good entertaining light mystery able to be finished quickly.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #60
2. Literary Escapes-  ME
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   - book 51 in series
4. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #48
5. Medical Examiner-  6 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter- 2nd shot
7. Mystery Bingo: 
   • Weapons card :  Car (carbon monoxide)  & Falling Object
8. TBR Book #31  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
9. Monthly Motif   #MonthlyMotifGXO-  Number in Title

Hit List

This is the 53rd book in the Stone Barrington series by Stuart Woods.  As to be expected when you are on a book that far into a series, the books become a bit formulaic.   I enjoy a light read that doesn't require a long time commitment periodically between novels that require a bit more focus. 

There is always action and romance abound in these books.  There is as always a bit of a mystery to solve in this story as well.  What was a bit unique about this installment was Stone and Dino Bacchetti, his ex partner who is now NYPD Chief,  struggled to capture the guilty party even after they had identified him.  Normally the bulk of the story is them identifying the culprit, this time they determined that fairly quickly  and then struggled to end his crime spree.  Eventually it wrapped up.

There was  a bit of a confusing ending to the book though.  One of Stone's relationships that had  carried over from the previous book ended rather suddenly.  There is also a bit of a strange sign off at the end of the book with a dated The End which I don't recall being there in other books.  Perhaps this was the last installment in the adventures of Stone Barrington.  We will have to wait and see.





Hit List by Stuart Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A typical but still entertaining Stone Barrington book by Stuart Woods. Although Stone is far more monogamous in this installment than usual. This book has lots of location hopping and hits on most all the spots Stone usually goes to in a book. The plot was probably a bit more realistic than many of the books involving Stone and Dino Bacchetti. This one actually had the criminal alluding them at several points rather than the often norm catch em when we want to scenarios. I did find the ending a bit strange, it was almost as though the series was being wrapped up in a way but I am not sure. We will have to see if there are future installments or if this is the end of the series


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #59
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   caught up on Stone Barrington 
3. Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #47
4. Medical Examiner-  5 Toe Tag 
5. Six Shooter- 5th Shot

Pumpkin Spice Peril

Fairy Tale Cupcakes makes a return appearance in this the 12th installment.  This time Mel and Angie are investigating the sudden heart attack of their artist friend, Rene.  Jenn McKinlay does a wonderful job of describing her glass blown art and you cannot help but want to visit Scottsdale to see it if it really existed.   In addition to the death of their friend, there is lots going on in the personal lives of the 2 bakery owners.  Several are unresolved so we will have to wait for the next book to see what happens.   We meet a few new characters in this book\ and the DeLaura brothers play some central comedic roles in this story as they have in the past. 

The cupcakes in the story sound fabulous and the best part is there is no calorie to be found in reading about them.




Pumpkin Spice Peril by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jenn McKinlay has written another fun installment in her Cupcake Bakery series. Always fun to catch up with the crew at Fairy Tale Cupcakes in Scottsdale. An amazing number of murders seem to happen around them and this is raising the concern of the police chief. Not even Uncle Stan seems to be able to Mel from the wrath of the chief. This installment had some fun twists on the dynamics of the central crew in the stories. The murder in the case is a bit close to home being a friend of Mel and Angie's. The story line takes a few good twists and keeps the reader guessing who is the guilty party.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #57
2. Literary Escapes- AZ
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on Cupcake Bakery Mysteries
4. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #44
5. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice #12
6. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 
7. Six Shooter-  1 shot for Jenn McKinlay  (4th shot total)

The Money Shot

Another Stuart Woods  book based in the world of Stone Barrington. written with Parnell Hall  In this case, the story centers around Teddy Fay aka Billy Barnett and his role as a Hollywood producer and stuntman, Marc Weldon.   I had missed this book in the series previously and went back to read it.  It stands alone even after reading further books in the series. 

We find ourselves caught up in the world of the Centurion movie studios and a catch a glimpse at some of the background activities involved in producing a movie.  Dino Bachetti's son, Ben, and his wife, Tessa, play a role in this book as does Stone's son, Peter.  Stone and Mike Freeman make cursory appearances. 

Billy is acting in the new movie being produced by Peter and is helping Tessa out with a mysterious threat  from her past that appears unexpectedly.   His multiple identities leads to some confusion as to who is trying to kill him and for what reason. The story, as are many of the books in the series, is a bit unbelievable but I still find them enjoyable.  Their is plenty of action and danger with some clever manipulation by Teddy to wrap the problem up neatly with non legal backlash. 

If you want to read a book that bounces between the glitter of Hollywood and Vegas then this is a fun read for you.   Overall the book is an enjoyable and quick read.  Do not select this book if you are looking for a serious thought provoking book. 

The Money Shot by Stuart Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another Stuart Woods book based in the world of Stone Barrington. In this case though, the story centers around Teddy Fay aka Billy Barnett and his role as a Hollywood producer and stuntman. We find ourselves caught up in the world of the Centurion movie studios. Dino Bachetti's son, Ben, and his wife, Tessa, play a role in this book as does Stone's son, Peter. Stone and Mike Freeman make cameo appearances as well.

Billy is acting in the new movie being produced by Peter under the pseudonym of Marc Weldon. His multiple identities leads to some confusion as to who is trying to kill him and for what reason. The story, as are many of the books in the series, is a bit unbelievable but I still find them enjoyable. Overall the book is an enjoyable and quick read but not something to fire the mental synapses.


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1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #41
2. Literary Escapes-  NV
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   Teddy Fay #2
4.  Cloak and  Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #33
5. Medical Examiner-  5 Toe Tag 
6. Six Shooter-  4th shot for Stuart Woods
7. Popsugar- #popsugarreadingchallenge #28 book you meant to read in 2019
8. TBR Book #27  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon

Coconut Layer Cake Murder

This is the 25th installment of the Hannah Swensen mystery series by Joanne Fluke.   I really enjoy this series and I am caught up on the series after completing this book.  They are pleasant cozy mysteries set in Lake Eden, Minnesota.  Hannah runs a bakery and coffee shop with her business partner Lisa.  Lisa recounts all the stories of Hannah finding dead bodies.   In typical fashion, she gets mixed up in a murder, finds clues that allude the police, and ends up in a dangerous situation while solving the crime.  This series has been made into TV movies for Hallmark and Hannah is played by Alison Sweeney.  Also enjoyable to watch.

This series has recurring characters besides Hannah and there is an ongoing relationship triangle between her, Norman, and Mike.  Norman is the steady considerate type who is a dentist.  Mike on the other hand, causes Hannah to flutter when he comes around.  He is more the bad boy police detective with a past.  Problem is Hannah cannot make up her mind so she won't commit to either of the men, regardless of how hard they try to persuade her.  This is an ongoing relationship tension that has persisted throughout the series.   It is a given that at some point in the book Hannah will find herself seated between Mike and Norman at a dinner.   

In this particular book, Hannah is taking a much needed vacation in Southern California with her mother.  She is unexpectedly summoned home by her youngest sister, Michelle.  Apparently Michelle's boyfriend, police officer Lonnie, has inadvertently found himself a suspect in the murder of a high school friend of his.  Because he is Mike's partner, Mike is prohibited from working the case as is Lonnie's brother.  This means Hannah and her sisters and friends are left to do snooping while Mike sits on the sidelines.  In this case, Hannah actually has the blessings of Mike since he cannot be perceived to interfere in the investigation.  Thus, atypically, Hannah is running the investigation with little input from Mike and no objections.

This case has a bit more personal side stories and in depth detail than many of the books.  Of course it is full of recipes for both sweets and breakfast foods as are all of the books in this series.   All in all an enjoyable quick read despite the fact I felt the ending was a bit rushed to reach a solution to the case.


Coconut Layer Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another fun murder mystery with Hannah Swensen

Always fun to visit Lake Eden and this time we got an added bonus visit to sunny SoCal. Hannah's vacation was cut short when she had to rush home to clear Lonnie , her sister Michelle's boyfriend, of murder. The usual cast of characters helped Hannah solve the case. Following clues and leads led Hannah into a perilous situation as usual. My only complaint and why I have it a 3 was the ending felt rushed. The story was flowing along with good details character interaction but then suddenly the solution is just is just abruptly there. It felt a little unsatisfactory. Still all and all an enjoyable read


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #37
2. Literary Escapes-  MN
3. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   up on the Hannah Swensen series  Apr 2020
4. Cravings for a Cozy and Cloak and  Dagger #CloakDaggerChal : Book  #29; 13th cozy
5. Cruising through cozies -  Free choice #3
6. Calendar of Crime-  #CalendarOfCrime2020  February  #3 action takes place
7. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 
8. Mystery Bingo: 
• Weapons card :  pillow
9. Wizading World Tour  
• Ilvermorny:  Food on the cover

Every Breath you Take by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

I have enjoyed all the Under Suspicion novels I have read previously and this installment did not disappoint.  I find it engaging to read along as Laurie Moran works with her production team to investigate old criminal cases.  They interview the key players from the cases, many of whom are living under clouds of suspicion due to the unsolved nature of the case.
In this installment they are reexamining the death of a wealthy widow during the annual Met Ball.  The widow's family and personal assistant were all present the night of her death but they all pointed the finger at her younger boyfriend, Ivan Gray.   The family accused him of being a gold digger who was just after her money,  he claimed he was in love and they were getting engaged.   If he didn't kill her then who did?
The story leads the reader along the investigation path and has several twists and red herrings.   In addition to the enjoyable plot line, the readers enter the personal world of Laurie Moran as well.  MHC does a great job of engaging us with the protagonist and wanting to see her happy and successful.  As a reader, I felt myself rooting for her and experiencing her frustration with her host, Ryan Nichols, and her sadness after losing her husband to a murder (a previous book in the series investigates this case).
Overall I find these books enjoyable and sincerely hope Alafar continues to write these books now that Mary Higgins Clark has died.


Every Breath You Take by Mary Higgins Clark

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have enjoyed all the Under Suspicion novels I have read previously and this installment did not disappoint. I find it engaging to read along as Laurie Moran works with her production team to investigate old criminal cases. They interview the key players from the cases, many of whom are living under clouds of suspicion due to the unsolved nature of the case. The books also engage the reader in the characters and you can envision their feelings and reactions to the different situations.

Overall I find these books enjoyable and sincerely hope Alafar continues to write these books now that Mary Higgins Clark has died.



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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #35
2. Finishing the Series-  #FinishingTheSeries2020   Under Suspicion Series caught up Apr 2020
3. Cloak and  Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal : Book #28 
4. Medical Examiner-  1 Toe Tag 
5. Six Shooter-  2nd shot for Mary Higgins Clark
6. TBR Book #24  #Backlistreader ; #MountTBR2020; #StartOnYourShelfathon
7. Wizarding World Tour  
• Uagadou: Read a book with a hand on the cover