Title Surfing with Traci

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Review: A Deck Stacked for Murder: A Coffee-Fueled Cozy Mystery with a Mystical Twist

A Deck Stacked for Murder: A Coffee-Fueled Cozy Mystery with a Mystical Twist by Aliza Levine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this debut in the series. I appreciate that Ava is not the perfect friendly MC. She definitely has flaws and insecurities. The inclusion of tarot cards in the series makes a unique focus. I have read one other series that has tarot as a plot component ( Key West Food Critic) but it is more peripheral. I found it interesting to learn more about the Tarot cards and the reading of them. I look forward to reading more of the series and seeing how Ava settles into living in a small town.

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Review: Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder

Murder, She Wrote: Snowy with a Chance of Murder by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This installment in the series is full of local characters in Cabot Cove vs being set elsewhere. There are several mysteries built into the story which keeps it interesting. I could tell it was a new author as this book found Hessica recapping clues and suspicions. It didn’t fit with her normal technique. Additionally this book felt as though it was trying to send messages and virtue signal. I read cozy mysteries to get lost in the stories and mysteries I don’t need to be lectured on how to think about current events. Hopefully this does not become the trend in this series.

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Review: Murder on Tour

Murder on Tour by V.M. Burns
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great multi story cozy

This book/series is a fun twist on the cozy format. The book contains a book within itself. So the reader gets 2 mysteries in one. Nona Jo and her friends add such a lighthearted ensemble cast. This book gives a deep look into the world of authors and book conventions. Not to mention it’s full of back stabbing revengeful plot twists.

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Chapter Book Bingo Jan Feb Mar

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52 book club connections challenge

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Monthly Keyword #keywordreadingchallenge⁠

Beyond the Bookends

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Book Challenge by Erin 1st Quarter

Connect 5 challenge Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

Diversify your reading #DYRC25 #

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Monthly Motif #motifreadingchallenge⁠

Monday, July 28, 2025

Aug Kat Booknerds Connection game

August board for the Kat Booknerds Connect 4 game. This is a tough one this month

Plans to read

Read:

Review: The Wayward Wind: The Journey Continues: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries Book Fourteen

The Wayward Wind: The Journey Continues: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries Book Fourteen by Lizzie Josephson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another installment in the series. This one joins the WayWard wind on her journey towards Australia. This book definitely benefits from having read the others in the series to be familiar with the characters. This does a good job of combining corporate malfeasance and travel to exotic locales. It is a good quick read that is a nice length to read about a mystery.

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