Reflex

 

Reflex by Dick Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another great book by Dick Francis. This focuses on a steeplechase jockey, Phil Nore. He finds himself embroiled in several mysteries involving family and friends. Meanwhile these events lead to some more questions judging his and others’ actions. There are some very suspenseful moments as well as some soul searching for sure. I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator, Simon Preeble, to be amazing for the subject and the setting

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  104 
2. Audiobook  #2022AudiobookChallenge 10
3. What an Animal Book #57
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #128
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #96
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #90
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #116
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #108
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- road; house; hospital
• Weapon- car wreck; drugs, cancer
• Detectives- Philip Nore
• Victims- George Millace; Carolie Nore; Grandmother Nore
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 86 Shot #3
12. Bookworm # 25 A book with a title that has 5 letters

An Alaskan Adventure

 The 12th book in the Cozy Cruise series keeps coming up with unique nonmurder mysteries.  My only complaint with this book was the lack of description of Alaskan ports due to the plot line in this book.  

An Alaska Adventure: Book Twelve: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries by Lizzie Josephson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

clever cozy

This book is perfect for anyone looking for a quick paced cozy that doesn’t involve murder There are some clever plot points and I hope they eventually do cruise in Alaska for the descriptions. If you are looking for in-depth complex details this may not satisfy but if looks for a good plot with unique twists then be sure to read

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1.  Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Monaco
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:53  Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #129
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #98
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #92
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #118
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #110
8. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #38  Shot #6

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder

 

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder by Chris Cavender
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good cozy with plenty of twists in the mystery. There are some moments when Eleanor makes some not so wise decisions in her pursuit of the truth. Her dilemma about her relationship with David feels realistic as well
Pizza lovers will find their mouth watering at some of the kitchen scenes for sure.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  103 
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #127
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #95
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #89
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #115
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #107
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- restaurant
• Weapon- mallett
• Detectives- maddy and eleanor
• Victims- Wade Hatcher
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #76  Shot #2

Ms Marvel Vol 3

 

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed by G. Willow Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another engaging installment in this series. I enjoy the perspective of the teen acceptance and adjustment to her powers. The conflict between her heritage and her lifestyle is again a central theme. I appreciated that her brother explained the difficulties in her being able to date/marry outside her culture. It is handled well. She also comes to realize with the power comes conflict between what different factions feel the inhumans times should be

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   102
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #126
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #94
4. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 16. About a Muslim Protagonist
5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #18. A romance novel by a BIPOC author 
6. Pick your Poison # 66  a book by a BIPOC author

Dumplin

 

I really did not know what to expect from this book.  I selected it as a YA romance when planning my year.  This is definitely not my normal go-to genre.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the book and how much deeper it was than it appears on the surface.  I will definitely plan to read the rest of the series next year as well as Julie Murphy's debut book, Side Effects May Vary   

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

a thought provoking story for young and old alike

The representation of Dumplin is spot on. As someone who is overweight many of her thoughts and inner critic is very easy to relate to. I also like that the other friends and her force her to look at the assumptions she makes about others as well. She is an honest character who goes through struggles and changes in this story. I look forward to reading more by this author

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   100
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #124
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #93
4. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #16 A book you’ve seen someone reading in a public place
5. Around the Year in 52 Books # 39. A book from the TIME list of 100 Best YA Books of All Time
6. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO # 43  Read a Young Adult Romance 
7. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 # 48 one word title
8. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge # 37. A book about gender identity
9. Pick your Poison #25 about body image

Susannah Shines Through

 This prequel is a charming introduction to the life of Dr. Susannah Shine that is presented in the Chiro cozy series.  This story introduces Dr. Shine and Bitsy to the readers.  Their initial contact that leads to a friendship is described in detail and is the source of the mystery central to this story.  This story cursorily introduces many of the characters that become a part of the Dr. Shine universe as the series progresses.  We also gain insight into the start of both women's businesses.  If you have not read any of the series, this is a good place to start.  

Susannah Shines Through: A Chiro Cozy Mystery Prequel by Cathy Tully
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great prequel that shows how Bitsy and Susannah became friends. The whole extended family warmth definitely shines through in this installment

It is always enjoyable to read a cozy where there is a crime other than murder.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 59 Book #1
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #122
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #91
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #87
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #115
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #105

Gnome for Christmas

A quick short read I picked up to make sure I read a book by Celia Kinsey this year for my Six Shooter challenge.  It is a good non murder mystery for those looking for books for younger readers.   

Gnome for Christmas: A Festive Short Mystery by Celia Kinsey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

cute holiday mystery

This novella was a cute mystery but I found myself wanting for a bit more detail. The missing gnome was located but it wasn’t clear exactly what had happened in the end the story kind of left that out. But it is a fun read nonetheless

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #123
2. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #92
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #88
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #116
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #106
6. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  Fire on cover with lantern
7. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO  Christmas for Holiday

Not So Different

 When I selected this book from my library I wasn't aware it was a children's book.   I picked it because I had previously read Laughing at My Nightmare (Blog review) by Shane and enjoyed it.  He definitely knows how to write frankly about his experiences in a way to help people understand his perspective.  This is a great book for sharing with children or to get a feeling for the type of books Shane Burcaw writes.  

Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great perspective to share with kids

This is the second book by Shane I’ve read and his attitude is so inspiring. His struggles remind me to put difficult things in my life in perspective. They are ant hills compared to the things he deals with daily

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   99
2. 2022TBR  #2022ReadingChallenge  # 
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #121
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #90
5. Non Fiction Reader  #ReadNonFicChal   Book #9. Linked to a podcast
6. Humor  Book #2
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub  #40 A book with photographs inside
8. OWLS #22 Cheering Charm: A funny or happy book
9. Pick your Poison #52 a book wider than it is tall
10. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  non fiction
11. 52 books in 52 weeks  #10 Humor Me
12. Unruly Reader Bingo  #25 biography

Christmas, Criminals and Campers

 Christmas, Criminals and Campers is the 4th book in the Camper and Criminals series by Tonya Kappes.  If you are looking for a series with quirky and somewhat humourous undertones this is a great series to pick up.  The mysteries are well-constructed and not too obvious to solve.   Mae West is a hoot and it's fun watching her try to settle into her new lifestyle in KY.   The campground aspect appeals to me as my parents have had an RV for the last dozen or so years so I have seen some of the aspects of that life that pop up in the story.  There are definitely relationship progressions captured in the stories and I appreciate they aren't all rainbows and sunshine but rather more like real life with mixed emotions between parties.  I plan to read much more of this series next year which is readily doable since it is in Kindle Unlimited.  

Christmas, Criminals, and Campers by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great characters and mystery

Mae West is an authentic woman who expresses herself without thinking. This book finds her dealing with a new relationship as well as dealing with family members from her past. All while trying to clear her friend of murder. The conflicts and emotions feel authentic and believable. If you are looking for a series with fun female characters and a few laughs this series is for you

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  KY 
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 52 Book #1
3. What an Animal Book #55
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #119
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #89
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #86
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #114
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #104
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- library
• Weapon- poison
• Detectives- Mae West
• Victims- Nadine White
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #23  Shot #4
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

The Night Portrait

 The Night Portrait is an engaging and thought-provoking work of historical fiction.  It combines scenes from DaVinci's 1540s in Milan with WWII time plot.   Each timeframe has 2 story narrators within the era.  Laura Morelli does a wonderful job of merging the 2 narrators' stories without losing their individuality.  There are many subtle connections in the storyline that join the timelines and several times she uses the same final sentence from one narrator as the first sentence to the next narrator's chapter.  

I always appreciate reading WWII books that address the horrors of the war without overwhelming the reader.  In this case, Morelli definitely describes the US soldiers' reactions to the discovery of the trains at Dachau and there is no mistaking the horror as she describes the scene quite graphically across a variety of senses.  Edith's story and how she is torn between survival and being aghast as to the horrors around her is also depicted well and you cannot help but empathize with her.  

The other story arc is in the 1490s and focuses on Da Vinci and his painting of the Lady and the Ermine in Milan.  One of the narrators is the female subject of the portrait.  There are historical explanations of the progressive approach to the painting compared to predecessors of the time.  The story includes references to many of Da Vinci's inventions and works of art.  

Morelli does a wonderful job of presenting facts in a narrative.  Be sure to read the author's note at the conclusion to understand the accuracy of the real characters in the novel.  Additionally, Edith and Dominic, although fictitious, are based upon real people involved in the Nazi art theft and retrieval efforts by the Monuments Men.   I am definitely intrigued to learn more about this group and will watch the movies referenced in her notes soon.  

Any history or art lover will enjoy this book.  I look forward to reading other works by Morelli.  

The Night Portrait: A Novel of World War II and da Vinci's Italy by Laura Morelli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

wonderful historical novel

A fantastic multi timeline story centered around daVinci’s the Lady and the Ermine Morellos does a wonderful job of interweaving the stories of Edith, and Dominic in WWII Poland/Germany and their quest to protect and preserve artwork during the ravages of war. In parallel we learn about the creation of the piece they are trying to save and the painter and subject- Cecilia. There are some very clever ways on interconnecting the storylines and the overall affect is amazing. I highly recommend this book for readers who like historical fiction and a well written story

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   98
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Poland
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #120
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #89
5. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #12
6. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #11. Discussion-Worthy Book Club Book
7. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO # 38 Dual timeline book
8. OWLS 22  # 25 Time Turner: A book with dual timelines
9. Pick your Poison #4 a "comprehensive" book
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #33. A social-horror book

An Early Wake

 An Early Wake is the 3rd County Cork book by Sheila Connolly.   One of my favorite things about reading her cozy mysteries is I feel like I learn about some topic.  She is very thorough in her use of a theme and provides lots of detail when writing her mysteries.   In this particular book, the topic was Irish Music.  It was interesting to read about the instruments as well as some lesser-known musicians from the 80s/90s in Ireland.   Of course, lots of people know of U2 and Sinead O'Connor but many don't know about the Cranberries or the other smaller acts she writes of in this story.  It is especially enjoyable to read how music brings people together in this book and the role it plays in day-to-day society in Irish pubs.  The influence of historic Irish music was also represented in this story as well.   Oh yeah and Connolly writes a pretty good mystery too :)

An Early Wake by Sheila Connolly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

an engaging installment in the series set in Cork. I really enjoy the way Connolly weaves history and in depth information about different topics in her stories. This is across all her series from what I have seen. In this particular book, the focus is on Irish music and the influence of the history of Irish music on the more modern selections. The mystery is well structured and even though it becomes obvious who has committed the murder, it is revealed in a logical and satisfying manner.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 97  
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 58 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #118
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #87
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #85
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #113
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #103
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- pub
• Weapon- heart attack
• Detectives- 
• Victims- Aidan crowley
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #15  Shot #3
11. Pick your Poison #28 a book about a singer or musician

Butter Off Dead

 

Butter Off Dead is the 3rd book in the Food Lover's Village Series by Leslie Budewitz.  This series set in Montana is full of descriptions of the nature surrounding the area.  This narrative, as well as the variety of characters contained within the plot, make for a very engaging read.   The author's writing creates a movie in the readers' minds that allows them to experience the Jewel Bay stores and residents just as if they were there in real life.  I look forward to exploring the town more as the series continues.

Butter Off Dead by Leslie Budewitz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good book but is a bit outlandish in some of the plot lines and I did predict the outcomes quite early. I still liked the characters and enjoyed hearing all about the delicacies sold at the Merc. The descriptions of the film and food festival were very well written and made it easy to visualize. Along with the descriptions of Montana wilderness. I liked the aspect of supporting new businesses and their development. As well the explanations about the reintroduction of wolves into the wilderness and the controversy. The book definitely incorporates a lot of topics and information

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The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 96  
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   MT
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 43 Book #1
4. What an Animal Book #54
5. Audiobook  #2022AudiobookChallenge 9
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #117
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #85
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #83
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #111
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #101
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- studio; road
• Weapon- shot; car 
• Detectives- Erin Murphy
• Victims- Christine Vandeberg;  Mr Murphy
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #14  Shot #4
14. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America
15. Pick your Poison #24 a book to pass the time while your favorite author finishes their next book

If Books Could Kill

This month found me reading several mysteries that had rather extreme plot points but were still enjoyable.  This 2nd book in the Bibliophile series was set in Edinburgh.  Kate Carlisle does a wonderful job of describing the scenery in such a way the reader can imagine being there with the characters.  This is the 3rd book I have read this year set in Scotland involving the royal family.  This adds an interesting dynamic to my reading as I find myself really feeling as though I "know" the royals.  Obviously this is not the case but the repetitive descriptions definitely creates a familiarity but also makes it interesting to see how the different authors treat the characters.  This series should be developing characters as I have previously read a book from later in the series.  There are well developed relationships in that book so I have high expectations for the series progression.  

If Books Could Kill by Kate Carlisle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy set in Edinburgh. Still getting used to the characters but definitely some fun and endearing relationships. The actual mystery was well constructed and led to the suspicion of several people. There were a bit of rather outlandish plot points but they did provide some necessary lighter points to the story. I’m curious to see how the relationships progress as the series continues

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The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  95 
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 46 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #116
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #84
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #82
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #110
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #100
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- alley; conf room
• Weapon- stab; stab
• Detectives- Brooklyn Wainwright
• Victims- Kyle McVee; Perry McDougal
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #18  Shot #4

A Deadly Deletion

This is the 15th book in the series and while I did enjoy this book the motive behind the killing was a bit outlandish in many ways.  I also found the behaviors of Angelica and her son to be very immature and shallow but they are feasible responses to family disagreements when emotions flare.  If the intention was to annoy the reader then the role was well done in this case.  I suspect this series may be finding itself coming to a natural end soon as there are not many more regulars or suitors left between victims and criminals.  

A Deadly Deletion by Lorna Barrett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A well-constructed mystery that has many recurring characters. There are several suspects in multiple crimes affecting Tricia Miles and her family. The characters and their relationships are a central part of the story dynamics. Be aware you don’t want to read this book if you have not read the previous books in the series as there are spoilers in the story. I look forward to seeing how Booktown continues to progress hopefully not quite as far-fetched in motive as this one

View all my reviews 

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 94  
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  NH
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 42 Book #1
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #115
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #81
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #109
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #99
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 5 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- road; woods; woods; road
• Weapon- car; hit; beat; motorcycle acc
• Detectives- Tricia Miles
• Victims- Marshall Cambridge; Mark Jameson; Tyler Holden; Ashley Emery
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 62 Shot #4
11. OWLS #58 Switching Spell: A book whose cover and dust jacket are different colors
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge N America

Swimming with the Fishes

 I really am enjoying the Ozark Lakes series it is such a unique approach to the cozy genre. There's a male author for one but Marc Jedel writes from a dual narrator approach.   This means there is a female and a male sleuth who are newlyweds.   I appreciate that the MC doesn't have a divided love interest or unrequited attention.   The setting on a farm makes for some interesting scenes and locales.  I truly hope the author continues with the series and I am definitely inclined to try his Silicon Valley series as well.  If Swimming with the Fishes is any indication they will be well-written mysteries with great inter dynamics between characters.  

Swimming with the Fishes by Marc Jedel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

fun cozy with a male detective

This series has a different take on narration than most cozies. It alternates between Jonas and Elizabeth. This book had a great development of more characters in the town as Elizabeth is reconnecting with HS friends at her 10 year reunion. I like the format of the book but I found I don’t care for some of Elizabeth’s traits in this book. She seemed a bit immature and whiny in this book. I hope it’s just a temporary thing as I don’t remember her being like this in the first book. The mystery is well constructed and the guilty party is quite well concealed until the reveal

View all my reviews

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  AR
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 47 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #114
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #80
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #108
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #98d5
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- lake
• Weapon- explosion
• Detectives- Elizabeth and Jonas
• Victims- Courtney Stanton
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 69 Shot #2
10. Pick your Poison #45 a book with a picture of a cliff or ocean on the cover
11. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge N America

Black Dog

 Black Dog is Stone Barrington #62 and has introduced a new dynamic to the series that will be interesting to see as the series moves forward.  I enjoyed the storyline and appreciated that there was less of Stone's normal bed-hopping.  I cannot wait for the next book to see where the cliff hanger from this book leads to in the storyline.  

Black Dog by Stuart Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A good plot with intricacies that vary from a normal Stone Barrington book. A bit of the bedroom romps but there are less than norm. There is an interesting cliffhanger that makes me want the new book to arrive ASAP.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 93
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:11  Book #3
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #113
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #107
5. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
6. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- apt
• Weapon- shot
• Detectives- Stone
• Victims- 
7. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 5 Shot #5
8. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

Booked for Trouble

 Booked for Trouble is the 2nd book in the lighthouse library series.  It is set in a charming locale in Nags Head, NC, and is full of descriptions of library activities.  Anyone who has spent any real time at libraries and experienced the different types of programming will relate to many of the subplot arcs.  Any female readers who have a somewhat tenuous relationship with their mother can relate to the characters in this story as well.   The mystery was quite a surprise to me and I was thoroughly happy with the outcome.    

Booked for Trouble by Eva Gates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great mother daughter dynamics

This next Lighthouse mystery book was well written and the mystery quite shocking when it was revealed. Even more intriguing though are the characters and their relationships. There are some quirky personalities in the book and it is enjoyable to read about their interactions and behaviors. Makes for a delightful book


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 48  Book #1
2. What an Animal Book #53
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book #10
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #83
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #79
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #106
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #97
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- lighthouse
• Weapon- hit
• Detectives- Lucy Richardson
• Victims- Karen Kivas
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #58 Shot #2
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #30. A book with the name of a board game in the title 
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

Royal Flush

 Similar to the Windsor Knot book I read earlier in the month, this book centers around a member of the royal family.  In contrast to that book, this is a much lesser and poorer relation to the family but still a very charming young woman who finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation.  Coincidentally, both books are set in Scotland and Balmoral plays a pivotal role in both stories.   The timeframes are very different though.  In this book, we do interact with a young Lilibet who is already very into her horses and riding.  It is a fun contrast to reading about her as she celebrates her 90th birthday in the other book.  

 I also find similarities between this series and the Gilded Newport series by Alyssa Maxwell.  Both are less well-off members of very affluent and famous families.  One could say the Vanderbilts of the Newport series are the American Royalty.  It is a fun contrast to read the different series and see the similarities and differences between each.  They all do a wonderful job of developing intricate plots with plenty of clues and misleading directions.  I look forward to reading all 3 of these series.  

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great historical cozy. If you are at all intrigued by Royal family then you will find this series entertaining. Georgie is a poor cousin of the king who repeatedly finds herself investigating mysteries around the Royal Family. She is well positioned to be taken into confidence of the upper crust. She is a strong and determined character. This story involves many near misses involving heirs and a potential conspiracy to harm them. The clues are well constructed and the guilty party very successful in hiding their guilt. Enjoyable series which will especially appeal to readers who enjoy the Gilded Newport series

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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   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 45 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #112
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #82
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #78
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #105
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #96
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- road; woods; lake
• Weapon- car; shot; hit
• Detectives- Lady Georgiana
• Victims- Mavis pugh; Hugo Beasley; Godfrey Beverly
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 29 Shot #3

A Pairing to Die For

 A Pairing to Die For is the 2nd installment in the Colorado Wine series by Kate Lansing.  This latest book has a well-developed mystery but its real strength is in the characters relationships.  This story characteristic is very appealing and makes the series very relatable and intriguing.  Wine lovers will especially like this series and may learn something about the winemaking process.  Foodies will also find a few dining references as well but the focus is definitely on wine.  

A Pairing to Die For by Kate Lansing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cozy that has a well-constructed mystery. In addition to clues that make sense when all are revealed there are some serious family dynamics going in. Both Parker and Reid have some difficulty relating to their family. Reid’s family is just downright dysfunctional and Parker is trying to find her way to gain approval from her mother. Both struggle for acceptance for following their passions and starting their own businesses. Those businesses provide a wonderful backdrop to the story with plenty of delicious recipe descriptions and wine explanations. Overall a great series with complex character relationships that look to have longevity in future books

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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   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 49  Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #111
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #81
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #77
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #104
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #95
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- alley
• Weapon- knife
• Detectives- Parker Valentine
• Victims- Oscar Flores
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #49  Shot #2
11. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2022 #3 set in a vineyard/wine books
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

A Fatal Booking

 

A Fatal Booking centers around Chapters B&B as the hostess Charlotte and her staff and friends investigate the mysterious death of one of her guests.  The plot has some slightly outrageous aspects that do not detract from the story because they are part of the backstory of characters rather than a current occupation.  The interweaving of the different characters and suspects make for a very enjoyable story that keeps the reader in suspense and guessing as to who is the guilty party and what their motivation is.  I do like the character development and how they are growing in their goals and aspirations.  

A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great series with a cast of strong females of varying ages. The book mixes literary references into the story as part. Of the B&Bs theme and specialty. Charlotte and the ensemble cast are a great group of amateur detectives who cooperate with the authorities. The espionage backgrounds of characters adds an interesting flair

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 90
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 50 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #110
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #76
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #103
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #94
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- garden
• Weapon- poison
• Detectives- Charlotte
• Victims- Stacy Wilkins
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #47  Shot #3
10. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America