First Comes Like

 This is the third installment in the Modern Love series by Alisha Rai.   Similar to the first 2 books Rai continues to write fun books with strong female characters.  I had to laugh there were even references to passing the Bechdel test in the book as just one example of the lighthearted humor the book contains.

Jia is an influencer who is struggling to manage her success and her family expectations.  She is a Muslim Pakistani American who is balancing her religious beliefs, her family's traditional expectations, and her more outspoken American personality.    Rai does a wonderful job of demonstrating the balance as well as the struggles Jia faces.  

There are some very comical scenes with her family of 4 sisters and traditional parents as well as the Bollywood famous family of Dev.  Underlying all the story though is a tale of desire for acceptance and happiness.  I appreciate how Rai intertwines this and other messages in an enjoyable romance with minimal graphic sexual detail.   There is some but it is an appropriately placed plot line rather than gratuitous lust as many books are keen to present.

I hope this series continues so readers have a chance to watch the relationships of Jia, Rhiannon, and Katarina grow.  I'd imagine the next book would have to be about Lakshimi or Luna if it keeps to the pattern focusing on a different MC in each book.  Only time will tell.

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable comedic tone with strong female leads

This 3rd installment in the series focuses on Jia. Her portrayal is a well balanced one showing struggles I'm imagine are real.especially for young women balancing 2 cultures. it is easy to see her inner struggles with keeping her Pakistani/Islamic upbringing at peace with who she wants to be in LA as a modern American woman. Rai represents the struggle between traditional and modern well and the reader cannot help but cheer for Jia to find happiness and success

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #55
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Modern Love #3 
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #62
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #74
5. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #3. A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
6. Around the Year in 52 Books #13. A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020
7. BooklistQueen   # 18. Longer Than 400 Pages
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #7. PART OF A TRILOGY
9. Pick your Poison #9-4 A book about how radio, television, or the internet has changed us
10. Beyond the Bookends  faux celebrity protagonist

The Four Winds

 This is the second book I have read by Kristin Hannah.   She does a wonderful job of capturing historical settings.  This book is set in the Texas Panhandle during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s.  Her characters, Elsa, Tony, Rosa and Rafe, all represent the strength and frustration of the human spirit during an unbelievably challenging time.  

Character development is a strength of Hannah's talent.   It is easy for the reader to put themselves in the story and to feel attachment to the characters.  As you read, it would be difficult not to feel sorrow and frustration just as Elsa does during the saga.  Hannah develops her as a strong female character who truly does not believe in her own strength and resilience.  Her's is a hard life, but she soldiers on and does what is necessary for her family.

It is easy to envision the scenery and the strife that the farmers and other residents of the Great Plains experienced in this unbelievable period of time.  Hannah's descriptions are vivid representations of the hardships and the terrain the people of the time and region suffered.  Her ability to draw a reader into her story is amazing.

This novel is a very engrossing read and I look forward to reading more of Hannah's works;  I have The Great Alone on my shelf and may prioritize it now that I have read this work. I had previously read The Nightingale and it is also a great demonstration of female strength and resilience.  

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kristin Hannah's ability to draw you into the lives of her characters is an amazing talent. As I read it was easy to visualize myself in the place of the characters. The angst and the heartbreak come through in her writing. Her descriptions of the terrain in Texas and CA is vivid and moving. I truly cannot imagine what it was like to live during the Dust Bowl or to have experienced this level of uncertainty for your own survival. Hannah's ability to tell a story that draws you in continues in this latest work

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  TX
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #61
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #73
4. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #8
5. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #21 Book By Kristen Hannah
6. BooklistQueen   # 51. Borrowed from a Friend
7. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 4. Borrowed from a friend
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #24. BETWEEN 460 - 495 PAGES
9. Bookworm  #51.) Read a book with the word "wind" in the title
10. Pick your Poison #17- 1 A book with a primarily black cover
11. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  May: History & Biography

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

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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

By Book or By Crook

 This is the first in a new to me series by Eva Gates.   She has set the series in a library in the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  The setting sounds like a fabulous location and I would love to have an apartment right on the beach such as the one Lucy lives in at Bodie Lighthouse.   The story captures much of small town politics and old family ties to those towns.  It also touches upon the local vs visitors relationships in touristy towns.  The diverse set of characters add to the story and as it unfolds we see more depth to some of the characters.  I look forward to seeing the relationships grow and reveal themselves as the series progresses.

The mystery itself was well structured with several subplots that blended well with the main storyline.   All in all it is a great start to what seems to be a promising series.

By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an enjoyable cozy set in the Nags Head area of the Outer Banks of NC. This is the first in the series set in a library in the lighthouse. Mysterious happenings including the death of a library board member and the disappearances from a display of Jane Austen collection of books. Lucy as a new arrival gets her feet wet in her new position amidst all the mysterious occurrences. She has returned to the Outer Banks where she has summered during her childhood and has met up with family and friends and is reestablishing those relationships. The mystery is well written and it looks like it will be a good ongoing series.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #54
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #60
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #71
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies free choice 34
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #58
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #50
8. Beyond the Bookends  story set in a library
9. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO Book
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Library or bookstore
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Pointy object
• Detectives- Lucy/Bertie/Butch
• Victims- Johnathon
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 63 Shot #1
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #29 librarians

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

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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

Ghostal Living

 This next installment in the Hamptons Home and Garden Mysteries centers around literature.  The book is full of references to many American authors and particularly the ones with connections to Long Island.  Kathleen Bridge returns with her main character Meg Barrett and her bff, El.   This installment is full of references to Fitzgerald, the least of which is the costume party that sounds like something straight out of The Great Gatsby.  

There are plenty of vivid descriptions of the decor, the books and the landscaping details.  Bee lovers will enjoy all the reference to honey and the Apiary in the book.   All the wonderful details about the Hamptons and the American authors blend well with the cozy mystery.   The guilty party is well hidden and its revelation a very climactic scene. 

I'm curious to see what the central theme of the next book is since we have now read about antiques, artists and authors.  

Ghostal Living by Kathleen Bridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I continue to enjoy this series of books set in the Hamptons. Besides the enjoyable descriptions of the Long Island areas and its residents, the books are full of cultural references. This one centers around Bibliophiles and books. Ms Bridge ties the area into the lives and works of many famous authors all while telling a wonderful cozy mystery. The mystery is multi layered and well thought out. There are several side mysteries that are somewhat intertwined. All in all an enjoyable read. This is the 3rd in the series but can be read as a standalone

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  √

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. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #53
2. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice #32
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #56
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #48
6. Pick your Poison #6-4 A book about flappers
7. Backpacking Bookworm  #bbReadingChallenge2021  personified animal
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Library or bookstore

Row 3
Cliff, roof, high place

Row 5

Beach or shoreline

• Weapons
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs
• Detectives- Meg/El
• Victims-  Franklin & Violet Hollingsworth; Randall
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #62  Shot #3
11. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge  #5

 

Hearse and Gardens

 I returned to Montauk and Sag Harbor in this second installment of the Hamptons Home and Gardens mysteries by Kathleen Bridge.  This time Meg and El are mixed up in the 20 year old death of El's relative Victor Falks.   Uncle Harrison had invited the 2 ladies to go through a bungalow on his property to search for antique finds prior to the bungalows relocation away from the eroding cliffs.  Unfortunately while examining the bungalow they discovered a sealed production studio with a skeleton.   Turns out it was Harrison's missing son, Victor, whom everyone had assumed had run off on his wife with a lover and an Andy Warhol painting.

Much investigation, antique digging and other mysteries ensue in this cozy mystery.  It is an enjoyable read and I came to realize this book focuses on artists who frequented the Hamptons in the past.  The first installment had focused on antiques and this one on artwork.  I enjoy the variety of topics that Ms. Bridge is delving into in her series.  

Hearse and Gardens by Kathleen Bridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this next audiobook in the series. Meg and El get mixed up in a 20 year old murder/missing person case. This time we meet El’s extended family which is quite a cast of characters. The mystery is well written and has lots of side stories which add depth to the story. Meg’s personal life gets a bit interesting in this book as well. Cannot wait to see where the stories go.

View all my reviews  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #52
2. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice # 31
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #55
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #47
6. Pick your Poison #3-2 A book with the word "house" in the title
7. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO   Garden
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Free square- recording studio
• Weapons
• Row 4
• Pillow, smother, asphyxiation
• Detectives- Meg/El
• Victims- Victor Falks/Helen
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #62  Shot #2
11. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge #4

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea

 

I selected this book by Barbara Demick from the recommended list for the Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge challenge.  I had the book escape from Camp 14 in my TBR pile and decided to read this one as well for variety on the topic.  

Demick does an amazing job of capturing the stories and perspectives of several North Koreans who ultimately escaped the country.  Their stories are amazing and the most interesting part for me was the degree to which the people of the country are completely unaware as to what is going on in the world outside North Korea.  For that matter there is minimal information and communication within the country.

Demick took an interesting approach to the work by focusing on individuals with a connection to the same locale within North Korea.  She identified people from different backgrounds which helped to highlight the caste system that exists in the country.  Many of the individuals were actually supporters of the regime and members of the Working Party.   The stories detail how their transformations and decisions to leave came about.  

There are some heartbreaking and honest depictions of the suffering that occurred especially during the famine of the 1990s.  Demick does a good job of presenting the stories of the defectors and minimizes adding political opinions to the accounts, unless they were the observations of the individuals featured in the work.  Demick also shared factual observations from her own visits to North Korea.  

All in all this is an eye opening account of just how 3rd world that nation is and the struggles the people are suffering through even still today.  

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazingly terrifying account

This account of the true experiences within N Korea is written in such a way it can be easy to forget it is non-fiction. In fact at times the horrors described made me wish it was fiction. I knew on a high level the atrocious lives much of the residents of N Korea live but this details it in the stories of those who lives it. The defectors came from various walks of life within the same region and their stories are amazing.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #51
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  North Korea
3. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #8. Indigenous Cultures
4. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #15. A book with a black-and-white cover
5. BooklistQueen   # 5. About a Pressing Social Issue
6. Spells and Spaceships Post Apocalyptic Badge  post apocalyptic or dystopian setting
7. Pick your Poison #18-3 A book by a journalist or news photographer
8. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Asia – North
9. 52 books in 52 weeks  #36  dystopian

Better Homes and Corpses

 I found this fun cozy mystery while searching the library site for a new audiobook to listen to.  This series by Kathleen Bridge is set in the Hamptons in New York.  It is full of descriptions about the towns of East Hampton, Montauk and other summer playgrounds of the wealthy of NYC.  Anyone who can afford it flees the city in the summer.  Young professionals do house shares where 8-10 or more will split the cost of a rental.  Think giant party all summer long.  I was about to do my first share when we were asked to move to Chicago.   Probably saved me a ton of money and a lot of hangovers.  It was such a contrast when we moved to Chicago and it's a city that people flocked to on the weekends.  Favorite pastimes are summer games at Wrigley field, hanging out on the beaches on Lake Michigan and just generally lounging over brunch or drinks at an outdoor patio.  One of the many contrasts between 2 of the largest cities in the country.  

This book doesn't focus on the summer shares though.  It is about year round resident Meg and her friend El who find themselves mixed up in an insurance inventory of the estate of the Queen of the Hamptons who just happens to be the mother of Meg's college roommate.

The book is full of characters that have multiple dimensions to them.  Some of them are very wealthy and others appear to be free loaders of various sorts.  The dynamics of the story are intriguing and the detecting Meg does is aided by her ability to read lips.  Bridge has created a strong protagonist who happens to be hearing impaired.  I love that Meg is portrayed with this being a strength rather than an disability.     This is just one of the characteristics of Meg that makes her such a likeable character.

The mystery itself is well written with plenty of side stories that keep the reader guessing whodunit until the very end.  It is a surprising ending but very believable and makes sense when you look back on the story.  I look forward to reading more in the series.  

Better Homes and Corpses by Kathleen Bridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable start to a series set in the Hamptons. A well written cozy with lots of actions me twists and turns. Meg and El dig through antiques and a mystery in the luxurious home. Lots of quirky and suspicious characters to keep the story going. Looking forward to reading more in the series

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #50
2. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 30
3. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #54
4. Craving for Cozies  Book #46
5. Pick your Poison #26-4 A book with the word "better" in the title 
6. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
7. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 4

Stairs

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Pointy object
• Detectives- Meg/El
• Victims- Mrs Spenser
8. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #62  Shot #1
9. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge #3

Prospect for Murder

 I selected this book by Jeanne Burrows- Johnson from Kindle Unlimited because it was set in Hawaii.  I was intrigued by the description and decided to use it for the Literary Escapes challenge.

Initially it started out very slowly and I was not really finding it engaging.  I will admit I almost set it aside for good.  It finally caught my attention and held it about a quarter of the way into the book.  I think the beginning was just very descriptive without much action so it was hard to stay engaged.

I think part of what I liked about the book was all the cultural and geographical refrences to Oahu.  We lived in the islands for 4 years when I was young.  In fact, I started school there.  Additionally, having lived in California for most of high school and college we vacationed there quite a bit.  Hawaii is to the west coast what Florida is to the East and Midwest.   I had never been to Florida until I graduated college.  

The author talks a lot about parts of the island and the Navy life which resonated with me.  I know many of the locations and terminology she references.  I think this definitely lead to my enjoyment of the book, probably more so than someone who doesn't have that familiarity.   

An additional feature that I found interesting is the in depth descriptions of Mrs. Wong's memories of China and Hong Kong.  I found this cultural piece interesting as well as how it tied into Natalie's research and work on projects.  I think history buffs will definitely like this series even though it is not a true work of historical fiction.  

I will be interested to see how the next book in the series goes.  

Prospect for Murder by Jeanne Burrows-Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although this cozy started out slowly I am glad I stuck with it. It was a well written story with plenty of Chinese and Hawaiian history and culture presented. If you are looking for a mystery with more depth without much violence this is a great pick . I especially liked it as I spent 4 years of my childhood living in the islands and can relate on a deeper level

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Hawaii
2. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
3. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 28
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #52
5. Craving for Cozies  Book #44
6. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #30 Watch Out For Dragons!
7. BooklistQueen   # 32. About an Immigrant
8. Spells and Spaceships Dragon Badge
9. Pick your Poison #13-2  A book about the immigrant experience
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lawn

Row 4

Street or sidewalk

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Falling object
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Natalie Seacrest/Keoni Hewitt
• Victims- Ariel/Rob Bishop
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #61  Shot #1

Double Jeoparday

 Stone Barrington #57 was a bit of a change in the usual formula for Stuart Woods in this series.  This book was more of a thriller and a how will Stone, Dino, and Ed Rawls solve a problem they are facing when old adversaries reappear.  It isn't really a mystery in the sense of whodunit, that is known up front.  This book definitely gets into some moral discussions about revenge and murder vs killing as part of jobs (police/military).  This is a layer that isn't often developed in this series.

I also appreciated that Stone's bedroom life was just glazed over in this installment rather than in huge details.  I read the books for the mystery/thriller and can generally do without the lust portions.  The is the addition of 2 characters who help to add to the humor and mischievousness of the story as well.  They were a nice addition to the crew of characters.

I am glad this book provided a bit of a refresh in the series and made it interesting.  I hope this trend continues in the next few installments.

Double Jeopardy by Stuart Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the redirection of this novel in the series. It is much less of a mystery and more of a thriller. There are still the requisite shoot outs and fight scenes but it is more of a how will they accomplish their goals type book. I also appreciated that there was less details on Stone's bedroom exploits and he was actually monogamous in this book. I thought this was a good refreshing installment in a series that can become predictable at times.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #48
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Stone Barrington #57
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book # 58
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #68
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #51
7. Medical Examiner Challenge  5 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Boat
• Row 2
• Lawn

Row 3
Free square- living room

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Drowning, water, ice
• Row 5
• Rifle or shotgun
• Detectives- Stone/Dino/Ed Rawls
• Victims- Billy Lee & Grace Jackson, Tim Scott ; Enos & Eben Stone
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #5  Shot #4

A Tourist's Guide to Murder

 This is the latest installment in the Mystery Bookshop series (#6) by V.M. Burns.  I always enjoy how she has given such a diverse set of personalities to the seniors in her series.  Sam, is the granddaughter of Nana Jo and the two are on a vacation with Nana Jo's friends- Irma, Dorothy and Ruby Mae.  The dynamics among these women is comical and realistic.  It is easy to visualize the ease with which they interact especially when you consider their ages and the frankness with which many older people speak.

The ladies are on a Mystery tour in England when they encounter several real life mysteries of their own.   The book is loaded with geographical and biographical references to many other mystery writers and their series.  These feature is intertwined well into the plot of this story.   

The mystery itself is well written and full of twists and turns.  My favorite part of this series is the inclusion of the 2nd cozy mystery story within the book.  Sam is writing a cozy set in England in the 1930s.  This secondary story adds a unique feature to this series that I really enjoy.  Sometimes that sub mystery is what sticks with me more than the main story.   

I look forward to any future installments in this series.

A Tourist's Guide to Murder by V.M. Burns
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always enjoy reading about the ladies from Shady Acres. Nana Jo is a hoot and her relationship with her granddaughter, is a good mix of bantering and respect. This particular installment was based on a mystery tour in England so it had lots of references to other mystery authors and series. The actual mystery was well written and had plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged. The cozy written within the book is always a fun aspect to this series and adds another level of enjoyment and mystery solving. I hope there are more books to come in this series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #47
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Mystery Bookshop #6 caught up on series
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #57
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #67
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cozy Mysteries   #11 author of color
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 27
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #50
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #43
10. What's in a Name   #4 Possessive noun (ex. The Zookeeper’s Wife)
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  4 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 4
• Hotel room
• Weapons
• Row 4
• Animal attack or bite
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs
• Detectives- Sam/Nana Jo
• Victims- Horace Peabody/Prudence Haversham
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #14  Shot #6

Raspberry Chocolate Murder

 This is another first in a series by Leena Clover.  I read these 2 back to back as they were part of a boxed set to try the first books in her series.  This one is set in northern California on the coastal town of Dolphin Bay.   The setting and it's descriptions definitely make me miss living in CA.  

Unfortunately, much like the Strawberries and Strangers book (see blog review) included in the box set, the main character was annoying.  I found her to be rude and abrasive at time, although Anna Butler was a little more appealing than Jenny King. 

 Anna can relate to the young man whom she is helping to clear from suspicion of murder.  She herself is under unfair scrutiny for the death of her husband a few years prior.  I do find the degree to which the mayor is pursuing revenge against her a bit much.   

I also find Anna's daughter, Cassie, to be a bit all over the map.  For a grown woman she still acts very immaturely. The relationship between mother and daughter is probably portrayed fairly given the circumstances of Cassie's lack of motivation and the fact she is living at home again.  The dynamics of this relationship will need to progress in the series to make the story realistic.  

The actual murder mystery itself is a bit unrealistic.  Small town life is portrayed as everyone in everyone's business when it comes to Anna's relationship with the mayor and how it influences townspeople.  Contrastingly the fact the victim was with another suspect and no one has noted this and reported it to the police seems to be inconsistent with the portrayal of Dolphin Cove.  

I hope the mysteries and personalities are tightened up as the series progresses or this may be one that I do not pursue past the next book. 

Raspberry Chocolate Murder by Leena Clover
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this story but I am hoping I grow to find the main character less irritating as the series goes on. She was a bit short tempered which is probably realistic given everything she’s going through but I don’t think friends and Associates would behave that way. I did think the mystery had a good storyline even if the ending was a bit abrupt. I will continue with the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #55
2. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #65
3. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 26
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #49
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #42
7. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #36. Basira: MC is a bookworm
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Pathway or forest
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Rock, brick, blunt object
• Detectives- Anna Butler
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #44  Shot #3

Strawberries and Strangers

This is the first book in the Pelican Cove series by Leena Clover.  I had previously read one of her Meera Patel books, Gone with the Wings, and enjoyed it.  I didn't find the characters quite as compelling and likeable in this book.  I hope that as the series progresses I will like Jenny more.  In this book she seems far to aggressive and compulsive in her attempts to clear her Aunt from being accused of murder.   I realize she is frustrated but she is downright rude and abrasive to Sheriff Adam.  

I do think Clover did a wonderful job of portraying the community as one that is fixated on its founding families and the division that can occur when you are an outsider to those groups.  It puts an added spin on being an outsider in a small town.  The history of the families and how they came to be established as patriarchs of the town was interesting and added a good touch of detail.

The mystery itself was well structured and in looking back you realize the clues were there as to who was the murderer.  It was a bit of an abrupt ending but the explanations did clarify the why and how.  Although I am not certain the guilty party would have been so quick to confess in the real world.  This abruptness and the irritating main character are why I felt this was only a 3 star book. 

Overall I thought the series has promise and I will try some more in the Pelican Cove novels to see if Jenny becomes a more appealing character.  

Strawberries and Strangers by Leena Clover
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed the story and the mystery, I found Jenny to be a bit annoying and thus didn't enjoy the book quite as much as I would have liked. I thought her character was a bit too forceful and rude. I did enjoy the layers of the mystery and how it had multiple suspects and secrets. The tightness of small town life and its good and bad points were well done. I will continue trying other books in the series to see if Jenny grows on me more

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #54
2. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #64
3. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 25
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #48
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #41
7. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes restaurants
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Beach or shoreline

• Weapons
• Row 5
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Jenny King/ Adam
• Victims- John 
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #44  Shot #2

I Feel Bad about my Neck

 

This is a humorous book by Nora Ephron.  I had not previously read any of her work.  I am happy we had picked this for a book club read as I don't know if I would have otherwise selected this.

The book itself is a series of short chapters organized by topics.  Some of the chapters are Nora's observations on life and some of the daily activities women undertake to stay youthful and stylish.  She definitely pokes fun at her own behaviors in the process.  Other chapters are more specific to episodes in her life and how they can be categorized as different observations/advice.  I enjoyed the fact it is laid out in short chapters so it was easy to start and stop as time permitted.

The book as a whole felt like a download from a mother/grandmother to a young woman who is going off on her own.  Sort of a playbook on the stages of life and how to not get too trapped in the little things.  There was definitely no diva aspect to her tone and stories.   I especially enjoyed her tales involving New York as I spent 4 years living there.  Anyone who has lived in Manhattan knows about the divide between West Siders and East Siders.  Her reference points about Zabars and H&H bagels were spots I can relate to, they were right by my gym when I lived there.  For the record, I never had an 8 room apartment- more like 4 if you count the bathroom :)

I found Ephron's stories to be very enjoyable and decided she is someone I wished I had known.  I can only imagine the energy a dinner with her would have.  I really knew nothing about her until I read the book and found her life fascinating when I read more about her.   I will add some of her other works onto my TBR list for sure.  If you are looking for a light enjoyable read be sure to pick this one up. 

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first work by Nora Ephron I have read. I really enjoyed the book and how it felt like an advice book from a mother/grandmother to a young woman. The organization of the different life tales into different categories made for a fun read. It is a humorous book you can read in spurts as each chapter is a unique insight.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #46
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #56
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #66
4. Memoir  #15. Written by someone over 40
5. Non Fiction Reader  #2021ReadNonFic  #4. Essay Collection
6. Humor  Book #4
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #14 Written By An Author Over 65 (When Published)
8. BooklistQueen   #11. Recommended by a Colleague
9. A Pretty Mess Challenge # 20. Celebrity memoir
10. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #35. AN EMOTION IN TITLE
11. Pick your Poison #27-5 A collection of essays
12. 52 books in 52 weeks  #23 your choice

Still Knife Painting

 This first in a series by Cheryl Hollon was not the best start for me.  I almost set it aside as it took a bit long to get rolling in my opinion.   The base of the mystery is well written and the logic behind the guilty party and the red herrings all made sense it was just a bit unorganized at times.  I think the editing missed some inconsistencies in the plot components- there were different attributions of the same he said/she said between the end of one chapter and the recap at the beginning of the next.  And it wasn't a clue to the mystery.

Additionally, the first chapter did not make any sense to me.  It was a fast forward scene but then was promptly passed in the chronological approach to the book.  It should have been placed in the proper location in the timeline rather than setting up a flashback. 

 The other issue I had was there were too many characters up front in the story that would only make brief appearances but then be referenced in a reflection by the main character, Miranda.  This was very confusing and unfortunately the cast of characters was listed at the end of the book instead of the beginning.

There were features of the story I enjoyed.  Particularly the idea of the Paint and Shine business that Miranda started.  As well her reclamation to the rural area of Kentucky where she had spent her summers.  Even though she had lots of kin in the area she will always be viewed as an outsider and that will play a role in her life there.  I did enjoy reading about her growing relationships with the locals and how she came to acclimate into the Kentucky lifestyle after being in NYC.  Also the insight into cultural differences made sense at times, particularly the attitude by many of the Baptist church members toward the inclusion of alcohol in Miranda's tours.  

I will give another try to the series if there is a new book and I will seek out some other books from the author's other series.  

Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had a hard time getting into this cozy. It took a while for the story to get into a groove as far as I was concerned. It felt like there were too many characters at the beginning which made it difficult to follow the story line- the list of characters appeared at the end of the book but would have been better placed at the beginning. As the story got going I enjoyed the book although there were a few unanswered questions about some of the plot points. I never did understand who was on the ATV- it was never addressed again. Additionally, the first chapter being ahead in the timeline but then promptly passed in time really made no sense to me, the first chapter should not have existed in my opinion- or it should have come in the proper chronological location. The major mystery story was wrapped up well and the plot line and motivation for the death made sense. There were several side mysteries/secrets that were good plot lines that helped set red herrings and explain other suspicious behaviors of characters. The jurisdiction battle between Lexington and the county sheriff while making sense seemed a bit too divisive. I found the business Miranda had started to be a unique approach to pursue and found it interesting and creative. Definitely fits in with modern tourist activities such as food crawls. I will give the series another try before giving up but I hope the structure is a bit better.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #45
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #53
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #63
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 24
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #47
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #40
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2021 #49. START A NEW SERIES
9. Medical Examiner Challenge   1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Kitchen or bakery
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- Miranda/Austin
• Victims- Viola Childers
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #60  Shot #1

When the Grits Hit the Fan

 This next installment of the Country Store Mysteries by Maddie Day continues to keep my interest.   In this book, Robbie finds herself caught up in another murder investigation when  day of snow shoeing leads to finding the body of a man seemingly disliked by everyone who knows him.  The ensuing investigation casts suspicion on friends and acquaintances and Robbie must decide if solving the crime is justification for breaking confidences.  

The mystery is well written and the guilty party was a surprise although looking back the full set of clues were there.  Day does a wonderful job of building characters that are emotionally relatable, whether the reader likes or dislikes them the feelings are present.  

I enjoyed how Robbie's other interest of crossword puzzle and puzzle solving in general is incorporated in the book.  There is also just enough about her relationship with Abe to make it an interesting aspect of the story without Robbie being portrayed as swooning for a man.  Overall I am enjoying the series and plan to continue reading it.

When the Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable read with lots of side mysteries involved in the story. the character development and relationships continue to build in the series. I liked the fact the guilty party was pretty much a surprise. the author does a great job of mixing the culinary aspects of the story with the actual mystery

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #44
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "W"
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Country Store #3
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #52
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #62
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 23
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #46
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #39
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes restaurants
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lake or ocean
• Weapons
• Row 3
• Drowning, water, ice
• Detectives- Robbie/Octavia
• Victims- Charles Stilton/ Lovey
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #  Shot #

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

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  √

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