Where the Sidewalk Ends

 I sat down the other afternoon and reread a childhood favorite by Shel Silverstein.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the funny poems I remember well from growing up.  There were also many I didn't remember at all but found so fun.  Who will ever forget Sarah Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out.

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #15
2. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #151
3. Humor  Book #7
4. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #29 Childhood favorite
5. BooklistQueen   #35 Childhood favorite
6. A Pretty Mess Challenge #13 Childhood favorite
7. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #45 purchased years ago
8. Bookworm  #3 Reread a book that makes you happy  
9. Magic in the Books 
• Book 3 #5  reread a favorite
10. Pick your Poison #8-4 A children's book about body parts 
11. 52 books in 52 weeks # 3-1starship 
12. Unruly Reader Bingo  #8 instant classic 

The Walled Flower

 I had started this series a few years ago and enjoyed the premise of the small square full of shops where the shopkeepers looked out for one another.   I picked up on the series again this year when I decided to read this book from my TBR pile.   I have enjoyed reading this book and the next few in the series featuring Katie Bonner.  I don't always like her as a character but the storylines are interesting and the ensemble cast is well written and endearing.  The emotional reactions given to the characters and the situations do feel authentic.  All in all the series is a good one.

The Walled Flower by Lorraine Bartlett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the 2nd book in the Victoria Square series. I read the first a while ago so I had forgotten the plot details. There are many references to the previous mystery without details which made it fine to skip. Unfortunately I found it a bit annoying to be unable to recall the details but then have the repeated reminder of the murder. This is one of the reasons I only gave it a 3 star rating. The other factors are I find Katie a bit annoying at times. I don’t feel as though her relationship with Andy is sincere and it feels like she’s using him sometimes especially when it comes to her living arrangements.
The mystery itself is good and I appreciated the complexity and the multi layers of the crime and the guilty party. I do plan to continue to read the series and hopefully Katie will grow on me

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Victoria Square #2
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #14
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #105
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #60
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #90
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #77
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Cliff, roof, high place

Row 4

Street or sidewalk
Row 5

Bedroom

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Pillow, smother, asphyxiation
• Detectives- Katie
• Victims-Barbie/Angie/Jeremy
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #67  Shot #6

Botched Butterscotch

 This novella by Amanda Flower  takes place between the 4th and 5th books in the Amish Candy Shop series.  Bailey is providing Swissmen Sweets desserts to a Mother's Day fundraising brunch when a mystery unfolds.  On top of her overwhelming need to help get to the bottom of this, she is balancing the visit of her mother and father to her Amish community in Ohio.   Her parents left the community and her father, the church, after high school;  seldom to come to visit even.  Their New Englander demeanor is quite apparent during this visit and it is easy to feel for Bailey as her mother manages to make unintentionally offensive observations.  To top it off, Aiden's mother, Juliet Brody, is intent on involving Bailey's mother  in her campaign to get Aiden and Bailey engaged.   This plot line leads to some very humorous moments.  

This is a nice short book that reminds me that I want to get back to reading the series as a whole and will continue with Marshmallow Malice soon.

Botched Butterscotch by Amanda Flower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What's not to love about candy, a pet pig and a mystery

A well written and fun novella in the Amish Candy Shop series. We meet Bailey's parents in this quick read. There is definitely some family Bonding and drama in this short mystery. As usual Ms. Flower captures the dynamics between people well and mixes humor in with her mysteries. A good mystery without a murder that keeps the reader engaged

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Amish Candy Shop #4.5
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #13
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #76
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 37
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #61
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #53
8. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #17. Too Close: a novella
9. BooklistQueen   # 50. You Own But Haven’t Read
10. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 24. Book you own but haven't read
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Free square-  church
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #6  Shot #3

A Killer Read

 This is another first in a series titled the Ashton Corners Book Club by Erika Chase.  I found this book while looking for cozies set in Alabama and I was pleasantly surprised by the book.  The Southern manners and culture is definitely represented in the storyline and the dialogue.  No escaping the M'am and Sir references especially when speaking with ones elder or a person of authority.  There was plenty of other regionality on display as well with the appearance of Sweet Tea and baked goods.  

The characters, Lizzie, Molly and the other book clubs members seem like good characters but we don't get a ton of depth in this first book.   There is some background and intrigue with Stephanie but even that feels like a big set up for future books.   I guess I would have preferred more resolution and background into the main cast of characters instead of feeling as though it is all about stringing you on for future books in the series.  It is a fine line between continuity and a feeling of non resolution.

The mystery itself is a different take on intertwining seemingly different plots.   It did take quite a while to get the mystery moving but the guilty party was quite a surprise.  One aspect I struggled with was the idea that literacy group members would also belong to a book club with avid readers.  While I did like Lizzie's professional emphasis on helping struggling readers this felt to be a bit of a stretch to me.   

I will try the next book in the series to see if the pace of the cozy picks up or if it is still a bit too slow and I will move along.  

A Killer Read by Erika Chase
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good Southern mystery

This was an enjoyable cozy set in Ashton Corners, AL. Its filled With Southern customs and culture. Lizzie is an intriguing character with lots of depth. MS Chase blends the mystery loving personality with a reading lover and educator. The mystery itself is a good one with lots of suspects. The reason I only gave it 3 stars was at times the story felt a bit crowded with a few too many side plots. It was wrapped up well in the end though and there are developing relationships to continue growing in the series. I look forward to seeing if that's the case

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  AL
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #12
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #72
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 35
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #59
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #51
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lawn
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Detectives- Lizzie/Molly/Bob/Jacob
• Victims- Frank Telford
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #64  Shot #1

Aunty Lee's Deadly Specials

 This second book in the cozy series by Ovidia Yu is again set in Singapore.  Aunty Lee and Nina are now partnering with Cherrill to provide catering and dining experiences complemented by Cherrill's drink menu.  Unfortunately their first outing to cater for Mabel Sung did not end with a happy customer.  

After being falsely accused of food poisoning and thus having her restaurant shut down, Aunty Lee sets out to determine what really happened at the party.  Once again she works with Detective Salim and her friend the Chief Inspector Raja to dig into the murder and finds herself mixed up in a much bigger international crime ring.  

I enjoy the character of Rosie Lee and the others in her close group of friends.  I like how Ms. Yu reflects Singaporean life and addresses some of the subtle cultural and governmental differences from the United States.  The country is made up of a diverse group of ethnicities and these books highlight that, both the good and the bad aspects of the culturally rich nation.  I look forward to reading more of Aunty Lee's adventures and hope they continue for a while.

Aunty Lee's Deadly Specials by Ovidia Yu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love Aunty Lee and her personality

MS You does a wonderful job of capturing the people and diverse culture of Singapore. Her characters in this mystery represent many of the cultures and DC lasses found in that society. Aunty Lee "s ability to read people while feeding them is a wonderful quality. The mystery itself is quite engage some and has many twists and turns

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Singapore
2. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge  "Y"
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021
4. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #11
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #70
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 33
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #57
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #49
10. Magic in the Books 
• Book 4 #5 Read an own voice book
11. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  May: Asia – South
12. Medical Examiner Challenge 5 Toe Tags
13. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 4

Hotel room
Swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi

Row 5

Bedroom

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Row 3
• Free square- medical transplants
• Drowning, water, ice
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Aunty Rosie Lee/Nina/Salim
• Victims- Mabel & Leonard Sung/ Benjamin Ng
14. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 24  Shot # 2

Killer Green Tomatoes

 This second Farm to Fork book by Lynn Cahoon was very enjoyable.   I like how the story balances the business of running a restaurant with solving a mystery.  Angie is a character that is easy to like and root for.  Cahoon does a wonderful job of making her a believable character, between her stress of running a business and her reactions to those around her struggling.   She truly feels like a woman you could meet in your own life.   

They mystery is intriguing because the different leads keep the reader guessing who is the guilty party.  I also enjoy the fact there are some side threads to the story and it isn't just a linear solution to the mystery.  I will say I did pick up on the guilty party before the final reveal based upon a clue that Angie didn't grasp the significance of which was a bit strange since she is a "nosy" person by nature.  The ending was not ruined for me though as the why was explained in more detail at the appropriate reveal time.

I look forward to reading more in the series.

Killer Green Tomatoes by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cozy filled with mystery and delicious food

This is the 2nd in the Farm to Fork series and the small town drama continues to be well represented. Angie’s relationships with her coworkers, neighbors and boyfriend are all well written and developed. The main mystery is complemented by a few side stories that make the story even more enjoyable. I look forward to more in the series

View all my reviews

  √

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges since it meets multiple criteria within the challenge.

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  ID
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Farm to Fork #2
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #10
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #61
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021  
6. Cozy Mysteries  #2 color in the title 
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 22
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #45
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #38
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes restaurants
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1  Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Alley or mews
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- Angie
• Victims- Heather
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #39  Shot #2

Scam Chowder

 It had been a while and quite a few cozies since I had last read a 5 ingredient mystery by Maya Corrigan.  I forgot how enjoyable it was to read about Val Deniston and her grandfather.  This is the second in the series and I plan to continue with the series for sure.  Corrigan does a wonderful job of mixing the characters in the story as members of the senior group and twenty somethings.  Her depiction of the interactions between Val and her grandfather are well written. The characters in the story are very engaging and center around these 2 and their individual circles of friends which overlap at times.

Corrigan shows the struggle between being respectful of one's elder while still trying to help look out for them.  Their living situation is further tested by the fact that Grandad is trying to portray himself as the creator of the recipes and meals that are really Val's doing.   The cooking and food plays a role in the storyline for sure but isn't necessarily as prominent as it is in other cozies such as the Hannah Swensen series.  

As with many cozies there is the inevitable relationship drama and angst as both Val and Grandad struggle with finding their way in new relationships.  Being caught in a murder investigation and struggling to keep your job doesn't make things any easier.

I like the characters and the slightly different take on who is at the center of the stories.  I find it refreshing that there are characters from multiple generations represented and given equal attention.  I plan to continue with this series.  

Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable cozy centered around Val Deniston and her somewhat cantakerous Grandpa. This time in the attempt to convince everyone that he is the Codger Cook Grandpa finds himself hosting a fatal dinner party. But who poisoned the victim and why? Val gets embroiled in the drama while trying to convince the police her grandfather is innocent. Meanwhile her romantic life seems to be fizzling and her interest's ex fiance is in town trying to win him back- quite deviously. The characters are a fun mix with some crazy moments. I enjoy the mix of young characters and their interactions with the older characters, many of whom are residents at the Village retirement complex. The book develops the relationship between Val and her grandfather and shows the struggles to be supportive while living with members of a different generation. Characters are well written as is the mystery. I found the guilty party to be somewhat surprising.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MD
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 5 ingredient mystery #2
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #9
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #59
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  fc #20
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #43
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #36
9. Pick your Poison #5-3 A book written by a college professor
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes books on the menu
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Detectives- Val Denison/Grandad
• Victims- Scott/Mary Lou
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #59  Shot #1

Flamenco, Flan and Fatalities

 This is the 2nd book in the Happy Hoofer series by Mary McHugh.  I did not enjoy this one quite as much as the first book, Chorus Lines, Caviar and Corpses.  I think the narrator just didn't appeal to me as much in this book as it did in the first.  

McHugh has taken a creative approach to her narration that in principle I like, each of the books in the series is narrated by a different member of the dance troupe.  Conceptually a great idea, but I just didn't care for this narrator, Gini.  I guess one aspect could be that different readers might relate better to different characters, and thus make the series as a whole more appealing to a broader range of readers.  McHugh even comments in both books about how each member of the dance troupe has different personalities and traits that they love and dislike about each other.  Which is probably very realistic of most friendship groups.

Gini is a strong personality, just as Tina, the narrator of book 1 was.  I just found her too abrupt and butting in too much.  She bordered on rude at some points.  She seemed very dismissive of those who didn't share her beliefs on certain topics.  In many ways I just wanted to story to end so I didn't have to "listen" to her anymore. 

The mystery itself was a well written one although there were a few editing errors, they kept saying they were on a cruise (book 1 setting) when they were aboard a train.  The setting in Spain was very alluring and very descriptive.  I like the balance of landscape and scenery description with the other cultural features that are included in the stories.  I have several more installments in the series and will continue to read them as I enjoy this aspect of the series a lot even if the characters might be a bit annoying.  Hopefully the next narrator's perspective and personality will be more appealing.

Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities by Mary McHugh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed this book it didn’t engage me quite as well as the first book in the series. I think I didn’t really care for the narrator in this book. I like how the author is varying the narrator between different Happy Hoofers in each of her books but I just didn’t care for Gini very much. I did enjoy the descriptions of the Green Spain area of northern Spain. I liked McHugh’s ability to mix descriptions of the scenery and culture in with the storyline. I will continue to read the series to see how I like the next narrator

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   Spain
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #8
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #57
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 19
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #41
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #35
8. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021  Book Set On A Train
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Train or subway
• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Detectives- Gini
• Victims- Shamblees, Steve
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #53  Shot #2

Murder with Ganache

 This is the 4th book in the Key West Food Critic mysteries by Lucy Burdette.  The mysteries do a wonderful job of mixing Key West flair and a cozy mystery together.  I appreciate how Burdette creates a storyline that introduces extra characters while still fitting within the inner circle of Hayley Snow's life.  The book is full of character interaction, family drama and miscommunication, just like real life.  The charm of Key West is shown during this book as Hayley hosts family from out of town, it gives a glimpse into the major tourist sites while in the context of the eyes of a local.  The books continue to engage my interest and indulge in a foodies desire to read about food and recipes

Murder with Ganache by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good twist with unexpected villain

These cozies set in key west are always a joy to read. I enjoyed the take on the crime that mixed some of the treasure hunter lore and Hemingway notoriety into the mystery. Good balance of personal life mixed with crime solving

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 series 13 bk 3
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #7
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #55
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies free choice 17
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #39
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #33
8. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes restaurants
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Boat
• Weapons
• Row 4
• Pillow, smother, asphyxiation
• 
  
• Detectives- Hayley Snow
• Victims- Mariah
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 8 Shot #4

The Corpse Who Knew Too Much

 This is the 4th installment in the Food Blogger series by Debra Sennefelder.  This book focuses on Hope's relationships with friends from her childhood and centers around a missing person case from 20 years prior when she was in high school.  The mother of a friend went missing and now this friend, Devon,  has returned to town to try to determine what happened back then.  Unfortunately the truth of that event is not the only past secret that is dredged up in this story.  

Hope manages to alienate quite a few members of her small CT town while trying to assist Devon and her sister Felice determine what really happened to their mother.  Some of these relationships will be more difficult to mend than others.  The book also delves deeper into Hope's relationship with Jack.   All in all it is a good read with plenty of plot twists.  At times the story could use a bit more details but it is still an enjoyable read. 

The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hope Early continues to be a strong female character in this cozy mystery series. This book has plenty of shocking reveals and unexpected criminals. The book does a great job of showing Hope’s struggles with her relationships while pursuing her natural curiosity. The book is the 3rd in the food blogger series but can be read alone

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 series 18 book 3 Caught up on Series
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #6
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #52
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cozy Mysteries   #16 excited to get but haven't read yet
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 16
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #38
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #32
9. Pick your Poison #24-4 A book you're excited to read
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Yes food motif
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 4
Street or sidewalk

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Motor vehicle (wreck)
• Row 3
• Motor vehicle (carbon monoxide)
• Row 5
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Hope Early
• Victims- Devon/Donna/Joyce
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #2  Shot #2

Chorus Lines, Caviar and Corpses

 This was the first book in the Happy Hoofers series by Mary McHugh.  I enjoyed the premise of the book and the tight comradery of the main characters.  They are a strong group of women who have a great friendship.  Their individual character strengths and weaknesses were accurately represented.  Their internal squabbling and the peacemaker in the group all felt realistic.  

The vivid descriptions of the Russian towns and St. Petersburg were wonderful.  The food and culture of Russia were well represented.  As was the historical facts blended in under the auspicious of a tour guide and local guide on board their cruise ship.  The premise of the mystery was a good one although the strength of the revelation was a bit lacking as I found myself guessing the guilty party early on in the book.   

I am looking forward to reading more adventures with these ladies.  There next adventure is in Spain so that should be interesting.  The series seems like it will be a fun way to virtually travel the world.

Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses by Mary McHugh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the ensemble cast of friends in this cozy. I did find the mystery a bit predictable which is why it’s a 3 not a 4 star. The characters were like able and realistic. I look forward to seeing their relationships develop in the series. The descriptions of St Petersburg and the towns along the river were wonderful and makes me want to visit even more than I did previously

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Russia
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #33 non-binary protagonist
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #5
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #38
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice #9
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #27
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #23
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #50 A Shoe On The Cover
10. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #9. The Stranger: MC/author is a performer
11. Magic in the Books Book 6 #7 A book involving music
12. Pick your Poison #13-4 A book about cross dressing
13. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  set in russia
14. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Eastern Europe
15. Backpacking Bookworm  #bbReadingChallenge2021 
16. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
17. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Boat
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- Tina
• Victims- Brad
18. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #53  Shot #1
19. Unruly Reader Bingo  #23 russia

Death in Four Courses

 This is the 2nd book in the Key West Food Critic series by Lucy Burdette.  It's a great recipe for a wonderful cozy mystery.  Take a dash of FL sunshine, the spice of Key West characters and history and a large portion of food writers and you have the recipe for an intriguing mystery.  Hayley Snow has her mother in town for the Food and Literary seminar being held in her new hometown of Key West.  The keynote speaker, Jonah, decided to stir the pot with his fellow authors and threaten to tell the truth about many of their pasts and to bring more honesty to the food writers' sphere.   Apparently someone took issue with this new found need to come clean and forthright.  

Hayley had the misfortune of becoming involved in his death when she stumbled upon him.    Her mother's curiosity is as piqued as her own and the two find themselves looking into the mystery.  Another death, a friend acting strangely, and a disappearance all round out this cozy mystery.  The mystery is well written and the resolution quite a surprise.

The development of Hayley's relationships and her history is well done.  It is easy to feel a part of her social circle and to feel her frustrations and love for family and friends.  This aspect of the book establishes a connection that has the reader cheering for Hayley and wanting to read more about her life in tropical Key West.  Fortunately there is more to the series to achieve just that.

Death in Four Courses by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Foodie lover mystery

Burdette captures the charm of Key West and reveals the behind the scenes machinations of a food writers convention as told by Hayley Snow. This second book besides having to deaths to solve, reveals a lot about Hayley and develops her as a character. We see a glimpse of her relationships with her mother and love interest both the good and bad. The mystery definitely was not an obvious solution but was plausible and believable. I look forward to reading more in the series

View all my reviews

  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  book 2 in Key West Food Critic series 
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #4
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #37
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cozy Mysteries   #9 item of clothing on cover
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 8
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #26
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #22
9. Around the Year in 52 Books #19. 3 books related to "Past, Present, Future" - Book 2
10. Magic in the Books Book 2 #7 A book with clothing on the cover
11. Pick your Poison #11-2 A book with an insect on the cover
12. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
13. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lake or ocean
• Alley or mews
• Lawn
• Basement
• Attic

Row 3
Bar, store, restaurant
Cliff, roof, high place
Row 5

Garden, park, gazebo

• Weapons
• Row 3
• Drowning
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Hayley
• Victims- Jonah/
14. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 8  Shot #2
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #10 number in title

Girl, Wash your Face

 This self help book by Rachel Hollis was well written.  She hits upon many insecurities that many women suffer through.  Her format is to pose it as lies we have come to believe.   Each chapter is about a different lie we allow ourselves to believe in over our lives, such as being a working mom, not being organized enough, being a bad mother and many more.  She's brutally honest about how she fell into believing them herself and ways to work through them,  She speaks as someone who has gone through the self doubt of each of them herself.  Rachel works through them and points out how the self talk can be destructive and make us feel as though we are the only ones who feel that way.  Her experiences make it clear we are not alone and no matter how successful someone may seem, it doesn't mean they don't share many of the same feelings everyday women do.  

I found it easy to relate to many of the issues she discussed and found her suggestions of how she dealt with them (and continues to) relatable.   The book is written much like a conversation with a close girlfriend who can commiserate with your concerns.  The advice given is applicable to anyone, not just someone who's successful and can hire help to overcome situations.  

This book felt as though any woman could gleam some advice and suggestions to help them sleep easier each night.   Not every suggestion or topic is for everyone but I think you will find some you relate to and can take advice from.  

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

This was a very relatable book with advice on how to deal with the self doubting talk that many women suffer from today. The format of a chapter per lie we tell ourselves makes it an easy read to break up into small chunks and focus on a little bit at a time. The advice she gives is readily able to be applied to anyone's lives and not just to someone who has the wealth to pay for assistance. I recommend the book if you are looking to make some straightforward changes to your attitude and approach to life 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "G"
2. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #40 black and white
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #3
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #14
5. Memoir  #9 Written by a woman  
6. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #3 Self Help
7. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #19. A book that discusses body positivity
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #33 Featuring Adoption
10. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #24 I Do Not Know You: by an author you’ve never read
11. BooklistQueen   # 38. Nonfiction New York Times Bestseller
12. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 23. Famous author you've never read
13. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #2 non fiction book
14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #41. BODY PART IN TITLE
15. Bookworm  #6.) Read a book that was recommended to you 
16. Magic in the Books 
• Book 1 #3 Non Fiction
17. Pick your Poison #15-4 A self help book 
18. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #12 with a face on the cover 
19. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021 Truth Bomb Nonfiction Book 

The Sinister Superyacht

Rating  :  4  Stars  

My first read of the year is the continuation of the Julie Cavallo Investigates series set in Provence France.  This was the 3rd installment in the series by Ana T. Drew.   

This one involved Julie and her grandmother, Rose, doing a temporary pastry chef job on the superyacht of Jean Louis Ponsard.  I think I enjoyed this 3rd installment the best of all the series so far.

Ms. Drew writes great mysteries with characters that are appealing to the reader.  They seem like real people who have quirks to their personalities.  Some of the characters definitely have annoying traits but that is their intended characteristics- the annoying mother in law comes across as an annoying mother in law.   

The Sinister Superyacht: a Provence Cozy Mystery by Ana T. Drew
My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

I think this is my favorite of the 3 books so far. Ms Drew does a wonderful job of creating characters who are authentic and spark emotions in readers, both positive and annoyances. Once again Julie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and thoroughly drags Grandma Rose into it as well. The mystery is well written with plenty of probable suspects I appreciate Ms Drew including descriptions of France and the everyday culture as well. Highly recommend this series for cozy fans who like sassy characters 

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   France
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  S
3. Alphabet Soup #AlphabetSoupChallenge    S
4. Alphabet Soup Author Edition #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge   D
5. Color Coded blue
6. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #30 character has a dream scene 
7. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge #4 set in a place you'd like to live 
8. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Julie Cavallo Investigates #3
9. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #1
10. Cozy Mysteries   #12 set somewhere not US or UK 
11. Cruisin thru Cozies  paranormal #1
12. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #1
13. Craving for Cozies  Book # 1
14. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
15. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Boat
• Row 5
• Home or business office
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Row 5
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Julie/Rose/Adinian
• Victims- Roland/ Michelle
16. 52 Book Club  #9   Set In A Mediterranean Country
17. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  # 49 Grifter’s Bone: about/featuring an urban legend
18. While I was Reading  #7 A book with food or drink on the cover
19. BooklistQueen # 46. Title with Three Words
20. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #44 INDIE AUTHOR
21. Bookworm  #17 the main character's occupation is a chef or baker
22. Magic in the Books Book 3 #7  Includes a parent/child relationship 
23. Spells and Spaceships less than 100 total ratings on GR 
24. Pick your Poison Weather #3 A book with a picture of clear blue sky on the cover
25. Bloggers Bookshelf   #bloggersbookshelf #20 written by an author who is younger than you 
26. Beyond the Bookends  Location you wish to travel to-  France
27. 52 books in 52 weeks  Row 4 alpha males and strong heroines
28. Unruly Reader Bingo  #25 Knotty
29. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #33. A book featuring three generations
30. NJM Book Challenge  #NJMBookChallenge2021  #3 self published 
31. Unruly Reader Bingo  Knotty

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges since it meets multiple criteria within the challenge.

1. Around the Year in 52 Books 
1. # 14. A book set in a made-up place
2. 43. A book with elements of magic

Clearing the TBR Pile

 Once again I am doing several challenges to help clear the ever growing TBR pile.  Some refer to physical books I own and others have to do with clearing the list of Want to Read and Library borrows that I am always seeming to add to as well.  

First up are 2 hosted by Bev on her MyReadersBlock blog.  

Mount TBR-   #MountTBR2021  books you already own before 1/1/21

 Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s-  <== Trying this
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro*: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s (*aka Cerro El Toro in South America)
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

The Rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. You are welcome to voyage further and conquer taller mountains after your commitment is met. 

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2021

*Audiobooks and E-books may count provided they are yours prior to January 1. ARCs are also fine.

Virtual Mount TBR-  #VirtualMountTBR2021 Clear your want to read list

 Challenge levels:

Mount Rum Doodle: Read 12 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Crumpit: Read 24 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Munch: Read 36 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library  <== Trying this
White Plume Mountain: Read 48 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Stormness Head: Read 60 books from you Virtual TBR/Wish List Library
Mount Mindolluin: Read 75 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Seleya: Read 100 books 
Mount Olympus: Read 150+ books 

~Once you choose your challenge level you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find you are on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are welcome to upgrade. All books counted for lower mountains carry over towards the new peak.

This challenge is only for books you do not own. They may be borrowed from the library, a friend, found on a free e-book site (like Project Gutenberg), or anywhere else that allows you to temporarily "checkout" the book. Also--unlike Mount TBR--there is no date limit on your wish list. If you see a book that strikes your fancy after January 1 and want to grab it from the library, etc. then go for it.

  This is a straightforward challenge to just track books that are on your to read list- whether or not you actually own them.  Only requirement is that it must be published before 2020 and be on your list at the beginning of the challenge.