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

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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

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.

Hook, Line and Sinker

 Hook, Line and Sinker is the 3rd Lake of the Ozarks book by Marc Jedel.   I enjoy the aspect of this book that there are 2 narrators who are husband and wife.   It makes for an interesting perspective on the storyline.   This book has an interesting mystery related to the background of 

Hook, Line and Sinker by Marc Jedel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable cozy from 2 pov

I like how Marc Jewel writes the series from both the husband and wife’s perspective. It’s also nice to not have the simmering sexual tension hanging over the main character like it is in so many books The mystery is interesting if not a bit loose on its solution. I do enjoy 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 #  90
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  AR 
3. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge   H
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 12  Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 3
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #82
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #40
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #68
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #57
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #53  Shot #3
12. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
13. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #4 Title starting with letter "H"
14. Read Around the US   Jul Arkansas

Villa in Sicily: Olive Oil and Murder

 Villa in Sicily: Olive Oil and Murder  is the first book in the Cats and Dogs Murder series by Fiona Grace.  I read my first book by her earlier this year when I tried Aged For Murder Tuscan Vineyard #1 in March.  ( my Blog Post )  I enjoyed this book as well.  I appreciate how the murder mystery is almost an afterthought in the stories vs the foremost plot feature.   Ms. Grace does a wonderful job of describing the countries and villages where she sets these mysteries.  You can really visualize the locations as you read them and feel as though you are there experiencing the culture as well as the protagonists.  I also like how the character relationships and experiences take a prominent role in the storylines rather than being sidenotes as they often are in cozy mysteries.  Neither is a bad approach, I just enjoy the variety these books by Fiona Grace provide.  

If you are looking for cozy mysteries with strong character development and relationships set in foreign locations be sure to give her Cats and Dogs and Tuscan Vineyard series a try.  

 

A Villa in Sicily: Olive Oil and Murder by Fiona Grace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable mystery that’s really more about the adventures of Audrey Smart on her ex pat journey in Sicily. The situations she finds herself in are often comical. The decisions she must make regarding her 1 euro home renovations are at the center of her missteps. Her move and establishing a vet practice are engaging storylines. Grace makes the reader feel Audreys dilemma between starting a new life and returning to the comfort of life in Boston. The series should prove to be an adventure in home renovations and establishing a vet practice in her new hometown.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  88
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   72
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Sicily
4. AtoZ   #2023AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  V
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 =-1
7. What an Animal Book #32
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #80
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #62
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #39
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #66
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #56
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 97 Shot #2
14. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
15. Bookworm #41 Read a book with a title that starts with the letter V
16. Beyond the Bookends  July- Read a book set in Italy
17. Read Your Bookshelf July  different country than June's book 

Murder Takes a Bow

 Murder Takes a Bow is the first book in a series set aboard a cruise ship.   It is based around a magician, Olivia Morgan, and her friends aboard a ship traveling in the Caribbean.  There is also a wonderful parrot sidekick who adds to the plot and is the comedic relief.  I look forward to reading more of Olivia and Coco's adventures at sea.

 

Murder Takes a Bow by Wendy Neugent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this cozy. Olivia is a strong female character who overcomes some significant setbacks in her life during this book. I really liked the cruise ship setting and found the entertainment career aspect quite interesting. The mystery was constructed pretty well Ali though I will say I suspected the guilty party pretty early on in the story. I hope the series continues and highlights some of the ports they visit

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  81
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Bahamas
3. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
4. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
5. What an Animal Book #30
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #73
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #35
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #60
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #52
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #107  Shot #1
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags

The Tourist Attraction

 I enjoyed The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler.  It is a light-hearted romance set in Alaska.  There are a few deeper concepts intertwined into the storyline.  Specifically it gets the readers to think about the downside to living in a tourist area.   It points out the difficulties of having a very transient base of clientele for the businesses.  Additionally, the disparity in economics between the locals and the tourists who visit this particular lodge is very significant.  The book made me think about Hawaii and how it must be like for many of the locals there.  The tourism,  along with the locale, drives prices in the islands up and then the locals are faced with those high prices.  Fortunately for those residents there are often kamaaina rates which are available for locals, similar to resident rates at WDW for tickets and hotels.  

The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable chick lit with a mix of outdoor adventure thrown in for an interesting mix. Anyone who has had a vacation fling will enjoy this. Strong female characters with character you can’t help but root for

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  78
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  65  
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Alaska
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. What an Animal Book #28
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #70
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #58
9. Bookworm #57 Read a book that takes place in Alaska
10. Pick your Poison  # 118 A book set someplace that has a "long night" during winter
11. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge   June  - Love is Love 

Mai Tai One On

 I found this book on my library Hoopla site.   I was looking for a fun sounding cozy and it seemed to fit the bill.  Mai Tai One On is a Tiki Goddess mystery by Jill Marie Landis and is set in Kauai.   What's not to love about tropical island settings.   The characters grew on me as the book went along.  Many of them have pasts they are keeping hidden from most people and this leads to some confusion and misdirection.  The mystery was plotted well and had some twists that were unexpected.  I plan to read the rest of the series since it felt like a vacation while reading it.   

I will note that this book had a bit more spice with nudity and drug references that aren't usually found in cozy mysteries so readers be aware.  This would not be a book to have your young reader move onto after Nancy Drew.  

 

Mai Tai One On by Jill Marie Landis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy set in paradise. a group of misfits star in this book. The descriptions of Kauai and the tropical venue is a fun read. This cozy is a bit edgier than most with some Marijuana references and some nudity detailed. The mystery was intriguing and I liked how the story incorporated Hawaiian language and customs

I’m will continue to read 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 #  74
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  62 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  HI
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. What an Animal Book #26
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #67
8. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #55
9. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #33
10. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #56
11. Craving for Cozies  Book #49
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #104  Shot #1
13. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
14. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2023 3 Hawaii
15. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  June Take the Plunge- set around water
16. Read Your Bookshelf June: The title for your June book will have half as many letters as your May title  11 vs 22

Masking for Trouble

 Masking for Trouble is the 2nd book in the Costume Shop series by Diane Vallere.  I enjoy reading about the quirky character Margo and her affinity for dressing in character and costumes.  This story highlights the struggles Margo is facing as she transitions into her role as the manager of her family's costume store.  This book is perfect for those who enjoy small town stories and particularly if you like Halloween.  

Masking for Trouble by Diane Vallere
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy especially for those who love costumes and Halloween. Margo is a likeable character who is unsure of her capabilities and thus has doubt. She is growing into her role as shop many but still has trouble defining boundaries in other aspects of her life. Her independence gets her mixed up in another murder in Proper City. This time she has trouble determining who’s guilty until it’s almost too late. The story is a great mystery with some character growth and development of various relationships thrown in to Round it out.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #72  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   60
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  NV
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #65
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #53
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #31
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #54
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #47
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 91 Shot #2
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags 

A Murder Like No Author

 A Murder Like No Author is the 3rd book in the Main Street Book Club series by Amy Lillard.  This is a cozy series with intriguing characters full of Southern charm.   The mystery is constructed well and it is easy to see how the investigation by the book club members is exasperating to Arlo.   The character development has grown through the different books in the series.   My only reason this isn't a 4 star read is the frivolity of the romance triangle is a bit over-dramatic at times.  Also, it seems like Arlo would have been more concerned with the outcome of the date at the premier than the story ended up representing.  I am not sure if the series continues as this book was published in 2021 and there is no indication that there is another installment in the works.  

A Murder Like No Author by Amy Lillard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is enjoyable and the mystery is well developed. I like the quirky characters but the love triangle aspect is getting a bit drawn out over the books. Also after making a big deal of a date we never find out how it went due to the action of the murder solution so this left me hanging and frustrated. Overall a charming series set in MS

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  73
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  61 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MS 
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series: 10 Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 3
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
7. What an Animal Book #25
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #66
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #54
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #32
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #55
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #48
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 62 Shot #3
14. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags

Death in Bloom

 Death in Bloom is the first book in the Flower House series by Jess Dylan.  I enjoyed reading this book that I selected specifically for its setting in Tennessee. I enjoyed the characters and the descriptions of the mountain town in TN.   Sierra, Deanna, and Calvin all make for intriguing characters as does Sierra's Grandma Mae.  I look forward to reading more of their adventures in the other books in the series

Death in Bloom: A Flower House Mystery by Jess Dylan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This cozy does a wonderful job of casting plenty of suspicion on all the possible guilty parties. I enjoyed how Sierra developed friendships with Deanna and Calvin. There are a few improbable moments in the story but for the most part, it felt like a reasonable plot line. The mystery is well developed and certainly wraps up completely at the end as well.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #69  
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #57   
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TN
4. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
5. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
6. What an Animal Book #23
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #62
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #30
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #53
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #46
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
12. HP Quidditch 23 #24 Pride of Portree: Related to the LGBTQIA+ Community
13. Read Around the US     Mar TN
14. Beyond the Bookends  May detective

Less

 I will admit this was not my favorite read of the year by any means and it was really more like a 3.5 star read for me.  It was slow to get moving and it was a bit confusing at times.  I ended up liking it at the very end but it definitely is something you need to stick with to get to the good part.  Arthur Less is a man who is lacking in self-confidence and his place in life.   That is probably the strength of the story, the character development.  The narrator was a bit confusing for me and I think it would be something that would be gained by revisiting the early chapters.  

Less by Andrew Sean Greer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

interesting read

This was a bit of a slow burn in my opinion. The first half to 3/4 is a bit slow and drawn out for me. The story picked up a bit at the end. I am still confused on why it won a Pulitzer. I found the twists and turns interesting

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  67
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  55 
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Morroco
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book # 60
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book # 50
6. Around the Year in 52 Books #26. A book related to pride
7. Bookworm #20 Read a book with a one-word title
8. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #15 won an award
9. HP Quidditch 23 #38 Fred Weasley: Read a duology (book 1)
10. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #13. A book with one word in the title
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #22 A book with a queer lead
12. Read with Allison #28 Book in a Duology (1): 

Don't Look Behind You

 Don't Look Behind You! A Safari Guide's Encounters with Ravenous Lions, Stampeding Elephants, and Lovesick Rhinos is the second memoir I have read by Peter Allison.  He is an entertaining storyteller and spent significant time in the bush in Africa.  In this book, he describes some of the antics that it is amazing he lived to tell about.   If you like travel or animals you will definitely find things to enjoy in this book.  There are some sad moments that make you think about man's relationship with animals as well as some laugh-out-loud moments.  Definitely more of the latter in the book.  It is a great read to pick up when you have a short time to read as each chapter is effectively its own standalone story.  

 

Don't Look Behind You! A Safari Guide's Encounters with Ravenous Lions, Stampeding Elephants, and Lovesick Rhinos by Peter Allison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

an enjoyable memoir about the author's time in Africa leading safaris and other various jobs in the industry. anyone who loves animals or adventures will enjoy reading the book. it is amazing the author lived to tell his story based on some of the snippets he shares.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  65
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   53
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Botswana
4. What an Animal Book #21
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #58
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #48
7. Humor  Book #2
8. Memoir  #5 Animal Memoir:
9. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal   Book #2 Memoir/Biography
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2023  # 41. With a Long Title
11. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #8 non-fiction just for fun
12. HP Quidditch 23 #2 Quidditch World Cup: Set in a country you’ve never been to
13. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #4. Read a nonfiction book
14. Pick your Poison  # 82 A book with the work "lion," "elephant," or mouse in the title
15. Sci and Nature # 26 About Your Favorite Science or Nature Topic
16. What's in a Name   #1  Punctuation
17. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  April  Memoir
18. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  March Set in Africa

Better Off Read

 Better Off Read is the first book in the Bookmobile series by Nora Page.   One aspect of the book that did confuse me was the references to all the previous mysteries Cleo had solved.  I am not sure if this is a spinoff from another series or if the references are just intended to give background on Cleo and her investigative prowess.  I did really enjoy how strong of characters Cleo and her friends are,  giving a positive image of older characters rather than a weak and feeble representation. This book has some laugh-out-loud moments that made it fun to read.  The mystery itself is well constructed with plenty of clues and misdirection included in the storyline.  I listened to this on audio and really appreciated the different inflections the narrator used for all the different characters.  I will look for other books narrated by her and would like to continue reading this series.  

Better Off Read by Nora Page
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This cozy certainly has a cast of unlikely detectives. Cleo and Henry are definitely of retirement age even if they do t choose to retire. Cleo seems like the spunky grandma every kid wants and every parent dreads. She is definitely an independent and inquisitive lady. She finds herself trying to solve more than one murder plus other mysteries. There are definitely laugh out loud moments in the story. The characters ages and wits remind the reader age is only a number

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  64
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   52
3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge 13
4. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  GA
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
7. What an Animal Book #20
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #57
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #47
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #23
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #50
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #44
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #102  Shot #1
14. Medical Examiner Challenge 7  Toe Tags
15. Pick your Poison  # 49 A book with a car, truck or bus on the cover
16. Beyond the Bookends  May Detective

Christmas Candy Corpse

 Food Network meets Hallmark Movies and Mysteries is what the Courtney Archer series feels like.   The 3rd book by Rosemarie Ross, Christmas Candy Corpse, is once again centered around a baking contest.  Crazy that yet another murder occurs on the set at the resort in the Poconos.  But once again murder happens and a member of the cast is at the center of the suspicion.  Shannon's strange and erratic behavior does not help the believability of her innocence proclamation.  Courtney is determined to stand by her friend and prove she isn't guilty.  Once again the set is a scary and dangerous place and Erik, her manager/new boyfriend, wants her to be more cautious.  Unfortunately,  Courtney's nature leads her to ask questions that hopefully will not upset the killer and make her a target.   This book is well written and the ending is quite a surprise.  I did figure out some of the sub-mysteries in the plot but I was caught off guard by the guilty party.  I wonder if they will continue to produce this series or if a spin-off type setting will occur.  I do hope they continue as I enjoy the mix of the cooking/baking show and the mystery.  

Christmas Candy Corpse by Rosemarie Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy with plenty of suspicious behavior leading to many potential suspects. This series is like Food Network meets Murder She wrote. Courtney Archer keeps finding herself embroiled in murders. Her inquisitive nature gets her on the radar of the killers and danger ensues. Unfortunately she just can’t seem to help herself and focus on filming her cooking shows. Lucky for us readers or we wouldn’t get more books

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  63
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   51
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  GA 
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Series:9  Book #1
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 3
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 3
7. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #56
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #27
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #49
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #43
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
12. Pick your Poison  #59   A book set in winter
13. Beyond the Bookends  May Detective

Eclair and Present Danger

 This was a very different cozy than most.  The mystery was well written but it was not the focus of the story in my opinion.  It felt like the author focused more on the character development and their relationships which was a pleasant approach.  Additionally, the establishment of Winnie's new dessert business took up much of the storyline which was wonderful if not hunger inducing.   It was fun to read about how someone develops a small business from scratch.  The mystery solution was more of an accidental occurrence rather than an active investigation and I enjoyed that as an alternate approach. 

Éclair and Present Danger by Laura Bradford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought this was a clever cozy. The mystery was somewhat of a side thread almost. Much of the focus was on Winnie and her development of her new business. It also focused on the characters and their relationships. I found this to be a nice change from some of the more formulaic cozies out there. And while the mystery was not the absolute focus it was still well written and developed

View all my reviews

 

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book # 60 
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   48
3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge #11
4. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  OH
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 1
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 -1
7. What an Animal Book #19
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #53
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #44
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #25
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #46
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #40
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #11  Shot #2
14. Medical Examiner Challenge 3  Toe Tags
15. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #32. Read a book that has a purple cover
16. Beyond the Bookends  May  Detective Story
17. Read Your Bookshelf    May: A book that is longer than your last one

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

 This is definitely a unique murder mystery.  Full of twists and turns and lots of clues that will have you flipping back pages to see what you missed the first time you read it.  It is also a bit of a how to book as the tone of the narrator will reveal.   I enjoyed this book and am glad I gave it a try.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a clever mystery book. It definitely had its moments of dark humor and plenty of plot twists. It definitely jumped around in time and perspective. If you are looking for a linear murder mystery plot this probably isn’t the book for you. If you are Interested in a clever and unique format that has lots of clues you realize after the fact then you will enjoy this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  59
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   47
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Australia
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #52libra
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #45
6. Medical Examiner Challenge 13 Toe Tags
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #15 Set in Australia
8. Pick your Poison  # 116 A book that employs dark humor
9. Read with Allison #21 Locked Room Mystery
10. Sci and Nature # 16 Set in the Wilderness
11. Beyond the Bookends  May  Detective Story
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge June: Books Set in Australia & New Zealand
13. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge May Freebie

Put Out to Pasture

 Put Out to Pasture is the 2nd Farm to Table book by Amanda Flower.  This series focuses on Shiloh Bellamy and her attempts to turn her family farm around and create an organic farm in North Western Michigan.  There is a big mix of characters and personalities in this book.  There is no shortage of missed suspicions by Shiloh as well. I appreciated the details of the logic Shiloh uses while trying to solve the murder that her BFF is accused of committing.  

I listened to this as an audiobook and realized the narrator is the same as the narrator for Murder at the Lobstah Shack.  It was most noticeable when she is voicing the juvenile characters.  She definitely makes those voices stand out from the adult voices.  Both books have young girls who play key roles in the stories.   I will be on the lookout for more books narrated by Rachel Dulude.  

Put Out to Pasture by Amanda Flower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading the books about Shiloh Bellamy and her challenges in turning her family farm into a profitable organic farm in Upper Michigan. Having now been to Travers City last summer the book rang and even better familiarity for me. I enjoy the range of characters and appreciate that not every relationship is a good positive one. Shiloh has a diverse group of supporting characters in the story which adds a level of interest. The mystery was clever and had plenty of times when Shiloh was sent off on a diversion of suspicion. The series is engaging and I am invested in seeing how Shiloh does with turning the farm around.

View all my reviews

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 #   46
3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge #10
4. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MI
5. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  
6. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 2
7. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 +1
8. What an Animal Book #18
9. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #51
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #24
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #44
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #39
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #3  Shot #3
14. Medical Examiner Challenge 6 Toe Tags
15. Sci and Nature # 22 Set on a Farm
16. Beyond the Bookends  May-  a detective story