Review of Bearly Departed

 

 

Synopsis:

“You’ll fall in love with this delightful debut mystery.” –Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder in Morningside Heights

The Silver Bear Shop and Factory might be the cutest place around, but there’s nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . .

As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcee with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that’s just kid’s stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who’s set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch–with or without Sasha’s approval . . .

But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha’s hit with more bad news–police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she’s launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will’s biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can’t get too comfy–or she’ll become the next plaything for a killer . . .

“A twisty mystery tale with a likable protagonist and a colorful supporting cast. Sure to be a very enjoyable series!”–Livia J. Washburn, bestselling author of Black and Blueberry Die

“Cute and cuddly on the outside, murder and mayhem on the inside–I love this book!!! Totally adorable.”–Duffy Brown, bestselling author of Braking for Bodies  (Goodreads)

 
Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  Sasha is a strong smart woman who is not afraid of hard work.  She manages The Silver Bear Shop and Factory  along with her sister, Maddie.  It’s a family business and she also has help from her Uncle Ross. I enjoyed meeting all of them and I liked spending time with them.  There are a lot of neighbors and people from the community that we were also introduced to and at times I felt like there were a few too many characters in this book.  I had a hard time keeping all of them straight in my mind.  That is only my opinion and other readers may not agree with me.  

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there watching all the action taking place.  I felt like I was right there in the factory, watching the bears come to life.  The mystery was carried on well throughout the book and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it made figuring out the killer difficult.

One thing I really liked about the book is that the premise of the book was unique.  I really liked that the book revolved around bears and all the things that went with the manufacturing and selling of the bears.  It was interesting and different.  I also really enjoyed the fact that Sasha was not in a relationship or had a love interest.  Most of the cozy that I read have the protagonist being involved with someone so I found this rather rare and enjoyable.  The book was more about Sasha and her family and I liked that.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and getting to know the characters a little better.  This was a good start to the series.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.  I would like to that NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

 

 

  

New Releases For The Week Of May 28th, 2017–Part 3

 

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of May 28th, 2017.  Since there were so many books this week, I am going to divide them between the next three days. Here is the third and final day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

 

Nancy Atherton’s twenty-second cozy mystery in the beloved, nationally bestselling Aunt Dimity series.
It’s early April in the small English village of Finch. Lori Shepherd’s husband and sons are spending Easter break camping, and Lori is perfectly happy to be left at home with Bess, spared a week of roughing it with a curious toddler. The two attend a village events committee meeting and Lori is astonished when the elderly, soft-spoken widow Mrs. Annabelle Craven stands to make an announcement: she’s decided to hold a quilting bee in the old schoolhouse.
At the quilting bee, Lori ends up seated beside Mrs. Craven, delighted at the opportunity to learn more about her neighbor’s life in the village of Old Cowerton. But dear, sweet Mrs. Craven’s stories reveal a startling secret about her first husband’s death.
With Aunt Dimity’s advice, Lori sets out to learn the truth about what the residents of Old Cowerton refer to as the “widow’s curse”–and the deeper she digs, the more horrifying the tale becomes, until she discovers the most astounding revelation of all.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

“You’ll fall in love with this delightful debut mystery.” –Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder in Morningside Heights
The Silver Bear Shop and Factory might be the cutest place around, but there’s nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . .
As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcee with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that’s just kid’s stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who’s set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch–with or without Sasha’s approval . . .
But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha’s hit with more bad news–police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she’s launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will’s biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can’t get too comfy–or she’ll become the next plaything for a killer . . .
“A twisty mystery tale with a likable protagonist and a colorful supporting cast. Sure to be a very enjoyable series!”–Livia J. Washburn, bestselling author of Black and Blueberry Die
“Cute and cuddly on the outside, murder and mayhem on the inside–I love this book!!! Totally adorable.”–Duffy Brown, bestselling author of Braking for Bodies (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding bells are ringing at the O’Connell Organic Farm and Spa in California’s postcard-perfect Blossom Valley. The entire staff is pitching in to send one of their own down the aisle. But no one knew the nuptials could turn up so many secrets–or that marriage and murder could go hand in hand . . .
Dana Lewis is marrying Jason Forrester, a talented reporter and the love of her life. She couldn’t dream of a better venue than the farm where she works, and her friends are determined to give her the wedding of her dreams. Even her florist, Bethany Lancaster, is making sure she has just the right flowers. But Dana’s happiness wilts when she finds Bethany shot dead–and discovers her friend was a busybody with a blackmail list longer than a cathedral veil. With so many enemies, finding Bethany’s killer seems all but impossible. And when Dana herself is eyed as a suspect, she’ll have to chase down the culprit faster than she can say, “I do”–or she’ll be trading in her wedding dress for prison stripes . . .
Praise for The Blossom Valley Mysteries!
“Cleverly plotted…Plenty of suspects and potential motives keep readers guessing until the very end!” —RT Book Reviews on Green Living Can Be Deadly
“A fun, light read.” —Library Journal on Going Organic Can Kill You  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

Julienne has her ideal job as an event planner at a prestigious resort. During a luncheon event she coordinated, a renowned celebrity pastor is killed next to the buffet. All eyes turn to her as the suspect. If she wants to stay out of jail or even keep her job, Julienne needs all the help she can get to solve the crime.

She has her work cut out for her with a vengeful high school rival now reporter, the public demanding she be fired, plus family who know what’s best for her, and a boyfriend who doesn’t understand her. She turns to friends and a new ally to uncover who wanted to put the pastor on ice.

Julienne goes undercover and investigates a local swingers group as she follows the trail of clues before they go cold. Can she gather enough suspects and motives to convince the police to her widen their investigation? Can she do it before the killer sets his murderous sights on her? Will her personal life ever be as simple as unveiling a murderer? (Goodreads)

They’re back! The Richest Cooking Competition Ever Shown on Television is filming Season Two, and the mayhem continues!

There are eight new talented chefs competing for the quarter million dollar prize, and one of them is that extremely egotistical, philandering judge from last season. While the possibility of romance still percolates, the dire events that unfold will temper your smiles.

Silver Spring Island may be the perfect setting for a luxury vacation, but once again, it’s the place where somebody wants to disrupt the richest cooking competition on television. Is it another Network, or is it somebody with an axe (or a cleaver) to grind?

If you like your mysteries to have great characters as well as entertaining plot twists and turns, you’re going to love M’lissa Moorecroft’s latest book, Judging the Judge, the second book in her new series, The Silver Springs Cooking Competition Mysteries.  (Amazon)

From USA Today bestselling author Patrice Lyle comes a boxed set of three wonderfully wacky Health Nut Mysteries featuring savvy sleuth Dr. Piper Meadows. This boxed set includes the first three full-length novels in the series, including:

Killer Kung Pao
Dr. Piper Meadows heads to the Body, Mind & Spirit Expo expecting to solve health problems, not murder. But her first day starts off wrong when famous psychic Mystic Ming drops dead from his serving of killer kung pao laced with peanut oil, and Piper’s Aunt Alfa is fingered as the prime suspect. Unwilling to let her auntie squander her golden years in prison, Piper starts sleuthing!

Killer Carat Cream
When naturopath and self-proclaimed chocoholic, Dr. Piper Meadows, hosts a spa night for the launch of the super-exfoliating diamond-dust Carat Cream, she never expects her guests to actually be “drop dead” gorgeous. But that’s just what happens when celebrity dermatologist Dr. Jasmine dies after using a jar laced with poison.

Killer Kale Chips
Dr. Piper’s search for the perfect wedding dress turns into the search for the perfect murderer. When famous diva Veronica Forks drops dead after eating a bag of Ken’s Killer Kale Chips, suspicion falls on former-mafioso-turned-surfer-dude Ken. So Piper takes it upon herself to root out the murderer who’s adding “killer seasoning” to kale chips before he strikes again.

“Patrice Lyle knows how to craft some of the most unique characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about, and I love each and every visit with them. I can’t wait to see what is in store for us next!”
—Fresh Fiction

“If you like well-written, quality cozy mysteries, then don’t miss reading Killer Kung Pao. Killer Kung Pao offers readers a cozy mystery filled with lively depictions of colorful characters…a fun-filled murder-mystery.”
—Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews  (Amazon)

Fall in love with a little help from man’s best friend in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s contemporary romance debut.

Mackenzie “Mac” Harris fled her hometown of Bluff Point, Maine, after being left at the altar–and seeking solace in the arms of her best friend’s off-limits brother. Now, seven years later, she’s back to attend her best friend’s wedding–safe, or so she thinks, from the mistakes of her youth.

But Gavin Tolliver has never forgotten the woman who has always held his heart. And when Mac rescues a stray puppy named Tulip, only Gavin, the town’s veterinarian, can help. With a little assistance from Tulip, Gavin vows to make Mac realize that their feelings are more than just puppy love…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of May 28th, 2017–Part 2

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of May 28th, 2017.  Since there were so many books this week, I am going to divide them between the next three days. Here is the second day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown are back chasing mystery with their unique circle of Southern sleuths. And though the changing colors of fall are a beauty to behold, this year the scattered leaves hide a grim surprise.

Autumn is in the air in the Blue Ridge Mountain community of Crozet, Virginia–and all the traditions of the changing seasons are under way. Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen cleans her cupboards, her husband, Fair, prepares the horses for the shorter days ahead, and the clamorous barking of beagles signals the annual rabbit chase through the central Virginia hills. But the last thing the local beaglers and their hounds expect to flush out is a dead body.

Disturbingly, it’s the second corpse to turn up, after that of a missing truck driver too disfigured to identify. The deaths seem unrelated–until Harry picks up a trail of clues dating back to the state’s post-Revolutionary past.

The echoes of the Shot Heard Round the World pale in comparison to the dangerous shootout Harry narrowly escapes unscathed. Next time, it may be the killer who gets lucky. But not if Harry’s furry friends Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker can help it. Lending their sharp-nosed talents to the hunt, they’ll help their mistress keep more lives from being lost–and right an injustice buried since the early days of America’s independence.

“As feline collaborators go, you couldn’t ask for better than Sneaky Pie Brown.”–The New York Times Book Review (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

All good things…
Just as Jill begins to think nothing else can surprise her, something does!
…begin with a custard cream.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

Locals call the priceless antique necklace the Missing Thorndike. Could it really be cursed? According to Danielle’s stalker it is.

Reluctantly, Danielle agrees to celebrate the First Anniversary of Marlow House’s Grand Opening. Her friends insist it is a way to move past the tragic events that occurred the past year. She even agrees to wear the Missing Thorndike for a second time.

But when one of the guests is murdered at the party—surrounded by more than a half dozen possible suspects—Danielle begins to wonder if there is something to the curse.

She understands that the ghost of a murder victim doesn’t always know the identity of his or her killer. But this ghost knows, and she isn’t telling. And she isn’t leaving Marlow House.  (Goodreads)

When terrified Elaine Patrick knocks on Driscoll Investigations’ door and insists her house is haunted, Giulia Driscoll’s first response is “we don’t handle ghosts.” When Elaine’s housekeeper and crackpot filthy rich cousin descend on Giulia and demand she find out who’s trying to steal sweet, fragile Elaine’s family business out from under her, that’s a different story. They want DI to provide Tarot readings, ghost hunting sessions, and even an exorcism.

Ghost hunting? There are apps for that. Tarot readings? Experts in the skill are right across the street. Exorcisms? Having a priest for a brother-in-law comes in handy. Giulia plunges into a crash course in all things supernatural, convinced everything happening to Elaine is stagecraft.

Except when it isn’t. Giulia’s about to discover a new dimension to sleuthing, if she can survive attempted murder long enough to see through the web of lies around her client. (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been a hot, dry spring in Westbury, Massachusetts. As organic farmer Cam Flaherty waits for much-needed rain, storm clouds of mystery begin to gather. Once again, it’s time to put away her sun hat and put on her sleuthing cap when a fellow farmer is found dead in a vat of hydroponic slurry—clutching a set of rosary beads. Showers may be scarce this spring, but there’s no shortage of suspects, including the dead woman’s embittered ex‑husband, the Other Man whose affair ruined their marriage, and Cam’s own visiting mother. Lucky for Cam, her father turns out to have a knack for sleuthing. Will he and Cam be able to clear Mom’s name before the killer strikes again?  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!  SPECIAL PRICE UNTIL RELEASE DAY…MAY 31ST!

If you’ve gotten to know Faith Franklin in her 1st three adventures and you’re ready for more…IT’S TIME!  Join Faith in her 4th adventure, Banana Whip Safari Trip, coming on May 31st!  And this time their going on safari…in Kenya!

But be sure to purchase it now because it will be increasing to its regular price upon release!

Written by #2 Bestseller Nancy McGovern & talented newcomer Cyra Bruce, the Slice of Paradise Cozy Mystery series has it all:  intriguing characters, clever whodunits & tasty recipes that come directly from Faith’s Slice of Paradise café in beautiful, sunny Florida!

If you haven’t jumped into this series yet, do yourself a favor and get started…NOW!

And don’t forget to join the “Slice of Paradise Mailing List” inside this book to receive updates on the series, behind-the-scenes info & a FREE “SLICE OF PARADISE” STORY called The Cream Pie Alibi!  You’ll love it!   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

The 1960s are coming to a close in the tiny Saskatchewan prairie community of Tamaras, home to a unique gathering of residents and Diamond, the province’s most beautiful woman. The community is preparing to move into a new decade of limited progress. What puzzles the locals is why Diamond has decided to remain living with them when her obvious talents and good looks could take her to major centres for excitement and fame. Her secrets remain buried in the past. Could they provide an answer? Events get even more complicated when a quickly unfolding event at the local landfill, of all places, triggers an unusual alliance among a trio of local citizens who are suddenly spun into a rapid decision of confession or cover up. Their choice leads them into uncharted territory.  (Amazon)

Party planner Liv McKay has outdone herself this time. She s put together an unforgettable Fourth of July celebration for the town of Dixie, Tennessee including breathtaking fireworks and an exciting Miss Dixie Beauty Pageant. Maybe a little too exciting.
As the party is winding down, Liv s sense of triumph fizzles when the body of town councilman Bubba Rowland is discovered on the festival grounds. And now the prime suspect in his murder is Liv s mother s fiance, Earl, who had a flare-up recently with Bubba. To clear Earl s name, Liv and her best friend Di burst into action to smoke out the real killer before another life is extinguished . . .
A small Southern town with charm as well as bodies provides a terrific backdrop for two appealing sleuths. Down home and delightful. Carolyn Hart” (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of May 28th, 2017–Part 1

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of May 28th, 2017.  Since there were so many books this week, I am going to divide them between the next three days. Here is the first day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

Flower shop owner Abby Knight is out to help a friend in need but soon finds herself in the weeds…

The Spring of Abby’s Discontent

It’s April in New Chapel, and Abby and her husband, Marco, are off to buy shrubs for their new house. But the owner of the local landscaping company is nowhere to be found. Abby’s best friend, Nikki, meanwhile, believes she unwittingly helped a group of her hospital coworkers conspire to kill the man.

After the police get involved, Nikki becomes a suspect. Abby digs deeper for clues to save her friend only to discover bushels of folks bearing a deep-rooted hatred for the two-faced business owner. Marco attempts to help Abby with the case but soon falls critically ill. Now Abby must find the real culprit on her own before everything goes to pot… (Goodreads)

 

 

 

When Scarlett Oaken’s path is foretold, the promise is broken love and a return to her hometown in failure. That day has arrived. But, she’s determined to carve a new life for herself and her daughters.

On the first day back to town, Scarlett’s 4-year-old daughter witnesses a murder and Luna’s memory is hexed. Now it’s a race to discover the killer before Luna regains her memory and becomes the killer’s next target. (Goodreads)

Suzy, along with Josie and Chef Claire, has finally succumbed to her mother’s pressure and are in the Cayman Islands for some relaxation and time in the sun. But on their first night there, a major storm blows through, and Suzy and Josie head outside to rescue a stray Bloodhound they saw on the beach earlier in the day. But their rescue effort needs to be expanded when they realize the agitated Bloodhound is trying to protect a female Basset Hound and her six puppies.

When the power goes out while they’re trying to get all eight dogs settled into her mother’s garage, Suzy wonders if their first day of vacation could get any stranger. Her question is soon answered when the lights come back on and Wily, a local financier with a reputation for philandering, is found stabbed to death in the living room. Before Suzy has time to even focus on who might have killed him, Jerome Crenshaw, an incredibly wealthy resident, gets killed in his own house the same way as Wily.

And as she embarks on trying to solve the murders, it soon becomes apparent that her mother has some ulterior motives of her own that could force Suzy, Josie, and Chef Claire to make some life-altering decisions. Surrounded by the ocean, and confronted with a diverse group of individuals as well as a few stingrays that are just a bit too close for comfort, all three women begin to wonder, that if they had wanted weirdness and murder, why did they leave home in the first place.

The Thousand Islands Doggy Inn Mysteries features two of the smartest and funniest lead female protagonists to hit the cozy mystery scene in a very long time, and Suzy and Josie’s affection for food and their boundless love and devotion to their dogs puts this new series in the don’t miss category. The Case of the Eccentric Elkhound is the latest installment in this fast-paced and funny series that affectionately focuses on dogs, food, and the natural beauty of the Thousand Islands region.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

With her new detective agency up and running, Felicity needs cases, but she hadn’t been counting on her first involving a mysterious naked man…
​
As well as this troubling development, she is soon dealing with a murder in a local butchers that supplies special products to families like hers and is being tapped up for a job (or possibly stalked), by a secret organisation.   (Goodreads)

 

From the scene of a brutal murder, to the rescue of kidnapped child, the action in MIND ECHOES will keep you turning pages until the exciting, climatic end. Veterinarian Brody McAlister has communicated with animals all her life, but tells no one about her gift.

San Diego Detective J.T. Flynn knows there is something unusual about the vet but he needs her help. Together they follow clues and piece together evidence until they solve both crimes . . . with a little help and a few MIND ECHOES from dogs.  (Amazon)

In this irresistible cozy mystery from the author of The Book Club Murders, amateur sleuth Charley Carpenter fights to avenge a crime that hits far too close to home.

Mulbridge House stood, silent and decaying, deep in the woods at the heart of Oakwood, Ohio, long before the passing of Augusta Mulbridge. Yet suddenly everyone in town seems to have a stake in its fate: the greedy heirs, eager to tear it down for a tidy profit; the local preservationists, determined to maintain it as an historic site; the angry neighbors, staunchly opposed to the construction of a modern subdivision. Even Charley Carpenter is forced to admit that her beloved shop, Old Hat Vintage Fashions, could use an infusion of the estate’s treasures.

The clock is ticking. The wrecking ball is ready to swing. All that stands between Mulbridge House and oblivion is one final vote. That, and murder . . .

The trouble begins when Charley walks into auctioneer Calvin Prescott’s office to find her cherished family friend crumpled on the floor. Detective Marcus Trenault quickly connects his death to a string of increasingly violent burglaries plaguing Oakwood. But when Charley uncovers a link to a massive land swindle worth millions, not to mention a drug ring operating out of the manor’s abandoned outbuildings, that theory crumbles faster than Mulbridge House. Now Charley’s racing to catch a killer before everything falls apart.  (Goodreads)

Care for a Little Murder with that Sweet Roll?

Jules Hooker is doing her best to adjust to the new normal of a world without electricity, electronics, cars or the chance to return home. Stranded in the charming but provincial village of Chabanel wasn’t terrible until Jules discovers Aix-en-Provence and decides that the big city lights–even when they’ve gone out in the apocalypse–are much preferable to the countryside.
Of course with a big city comes big city crimes and when a fellow American is accused of murdering a popular pastry chef in Aix, Jules knows she has to help.
Unfortunately tracking a dangerous killer when you don’t know the language–or the French people themselves–soon has Jules bumbling into one dangerous situation after another.
All the wonderful pastries aside, will this be lights out for Jules too?  This book is a clean read: no graphic violence, sex orstrong language
Genre: cozy culinary mystery, women amateur sleuth, cozyanimal (dog)

STRANDED IN PROVENCEMYSTERIES
Parlez-Vous Murder? (Coming May 2017)
Crimes and Croissants (Coming June 2017)
Accent on Murder (Coming June 2017)
A Bad Éclair Day (Coming July 2017)
Croak, Monsieur? (Coming August 2017)   (Goodreads)

Ever since cafe owner Krissy Hancock settled into a relationship and mostly forgot about old flames, life has become surprisingly serene. Too bad her father, famed mystery writer James Hancock, had to pay an unexpected visit to Death by Coffee and brew up a batch of trouble…
While caught off-guard by her dad s presence, Krissy never dreamed he d become the biggest murder suspect in town. But that s exactly what happens when James s boorish agent a man he allegedly fired just hours earlier is found cold and lifeless, a still-warm vanilla latte resting by his hand…
With Pine Hills divided over her father s innocence and a fanatical fan keen on locking the author away for safe keeping, Krissy must end the madness and identify the real criminal even if that means meeting an ex or two along the way. But as her social life becomes increasingly chaotic, Krissy may be caught in a case that s far too hot to handle…” (Goodreads)

Review of One Fete In The Grave

 

One Fete In The Grave

A Liv and Di In Dixie Mystery, Book #3

Vickie Fee

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Party planner Liv McKay has outdone herself this time. She’s put together an unforgettable Fourth of July celebration for the town of Dixie, Tennessee including breathtaking fireworks and an exciting Miss Dixie Beauty Pageant. Maybe a little too exciting.

As the party is winding down, Liv s sense of triumph fizzles when the body of town councilman Bubba Rowland is discovered on the festival grounds. And now the prime suspect in his murder is Liv’s  mother’s fiance, Earl, who had a flare-up recently with Bubba. To clear Earl’s name, Liv and her best friend Di burst into action to smoke out the real killer before another life is extinguished . . .

A small Southern town with charm as well as bodies provides a terrific backdrop for two appealing sleuths. Down home and delightful. Carolyn Hart”  (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional.  You cannot help but love Liv and Di, they are best friends and would do anything for each other. They get into some precarious situations, and it was quite enjoyable finding out how they got out of those situations. I was very happy to get to spend time with both of them.  The secondary characters added a lot to the story.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching the action taking place all around me.  I thought the mystery was carried on well throughout the book and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that I was unable to figure out the killer until it was revealed at the end.  Just the way I like it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a skillfully  crafted cozy mystery. The author combines great characters, a believable small town southern setting, mystery, suspense and humor and turns all of these things into a great book.  I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.  I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Review of Sew Deadly

 

Sew Deadly

A Southern Sewing Circle, Book #1

Elizabeth Lynn Casey

5 Stars

 

Synopsis:

Ever since she moved to Sweet Briar, South Carolina, Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair has been the talk of the tiny town. But she’s been so busy at work, winning over the sewing circle, and trying to forget her cheating ex that she hasn’t even had time to baste together a pillow, let alone mind local gossip. Then she finds the hometown sweetheart dead at her back door…

Everyone believes the police investigator, who’s just fixin’ to link Tori to the murder in a love triangle gone bad. To clear her name, Tori will have to rely on her new sewing sisters and stitch together the truth— or be darned. (Goodreads)

Review:

Tori is a strong smart positive woman who wants to be accepted in Sweet Briar, South Carolina.  She has big dreams concerning the library and all of the things she wants to accomplish.  But before she can do anything more than talk about her dreams, a murder is committed and she finds herself as suspect number one.  She has to do her own sleuthing to find the real culprit before she is checked into jail for a murder she did not commit.   

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  It was fun to meet Tori and all of her sewing circle buddies.  They all have distinct personalities (some nicer than others) and it will be fun to see how they develop in future books.  I just absolutely adored Lulu, a granddaughter of one of the sewing circle members.  I thought she added so much to the story.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place around me.  I could picture the children’s room in my mind (hopefully there really are places like that for children to go and get lost in books).  

The mystery was well plotted and carried on well throughout the book.  There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it was nearly impossible to figure out the real killer before it was revealed at the end.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I had read this book many years ago and I never forgot about the children’s room and Lulu.  I decided to reread the book and now I am going to read the rest of the series.   

 

Review of Murder At Water’s Edge

 

Murder At Water’s Edge

Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery, Book #6

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Luana Akina, a good friend of Lani’s, calls and informs her that her sister Mailie has been killed in an auto accident. The accident was determined to be just that, an accident, but Luana isn’t so sure that is the case. it seems that prior to her accident Mailie was involved in a local contest with a grand prize of $25,000. She suspected the results were being tampered with so had been quietly snooping around. The night before her accident Mailie had called Luana and told her she was close to something and the next day she was dead. Luana knows that Lani likes to investigate homicides so she asks for her help in uncovering what really happened to Mailie. The contest, which involves unlocking clues which lead to locations around the island where the next clue can be found, has a clause which allows for a substitute to be named should one of the contestants be unable to finish. Lani decides that the best way to help Luana find out what happened to her sister is to enter the contest as Mailie’s replacement in order to find out what is going on from the inside. She takes two weeks off work from her job as a water safety officer and then travels to Maui with her boyfriend Luke Austin.

Once Lani gets a feel for the game she quickly realizes that someone has hacked into the computer system and is tampering with the results. Luke is good on the computer but not nearly as good as their new friend Zak Zimmerman, so Lani calls new friend Zoe Donovan-Zimmerman and asks if she and Zak would be willing to come to Maui and help them uncover the conspiracy behind the mystery.

Join Luke and Lani, Zak and Zoe, as they race to uncover the clues faster than anyone else while outwitting a hacker and identifying a killer.  (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  Lani, Luke, Zoe and Zak are all likable characters that you would want to be friends with in real life.  As usual, this author’s characters really shine.  It was great to read about these friends in the same book.  

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author always has a solid story line that pulls you in from the very beginning.  The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire story and it is a bit more complex than what is typically found in a cozy mystery.  

I would recommend this book (and all of this author’s series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  You cannot go wrong reading anything that she has written.

 

 

Review of Rest In Peach

 

Rest In Peach

Georgia Peach Mystery #2

Susan Furlong

5 Stars

Synopsis:

In the refreshing new Georgia Peach Mystery from the author of Peaches and Scream, an upcoming debutante ball turns into the pits when a juicy murder scandalizes a small town.

The annual Peach Cotillion, Cays Mill, Georgia’s biggest event, is fast approaching and Nola Mae Harper is just as excited as the rest of the town—even though she’s busy juggling both the cotillion dinner and the grand opening of her new shop, Peachy Keen. But she never expected that plans for the cotillion would end up in the pits because of the cutthroat competition between local debutantes.

When Vivien Crenshaw, insufferable church organist and despised mother of the town’s spoiled-rotten Peach Queen, is stabbed to death, the police turn to Nola’s friend Ginny as prime suspect. Apparently the two had fought over a one-of-a-kind cotillion gown. As Nola steps in to prove Ginny’s innocence she soon finds herself picking through a bushel of suspects, twice as many motives, and at the mercy of a killer all too keen on killing again.

INCLUDES RECIPES! (Goodreads)

 
Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  I really enjoyed the trio of friends of Nola, Hattie and Ginny.  They have each others backs, they call each other out when it is needed and they are happy when good things happen to any of them.  We should all have friends like that.  

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place around me.  I felt like I was involved in all of the pageantry that goes along with a Cotillion and I good almost see the debutantes gorgeous gowns.  The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.

The mystery was well plotted and had enough suspects, clues and red herrings thrown in to make it almost impossible to figure out the culprit.  I was surprised when I learned the killer’s identity.  The book was fast paced and pulled me right along from the very beginning.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery with great characters, the perfect Southern small town setting and a suspenseful mystery.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

 

New Releases For The Week Of May 21st, 2017–Part 3

 

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of May 21st 2017.  Since there were so many books this week, I am going to divide them between the next three days. Here is the third and final day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

From USA Today bestselling authors Nicole Leiren and Elizabeth Ashby comes a decades old mystery…

When Lilly Waters moved to her ancestral small-town home of Danger Cove, Washington, she hoped for a walk down memory lane and a chance to connect with the family she never knew. What she got instead was a bartending job at the Smugglers’ Tavern, a mysterious man promising information about her grandfather—who had been listed as MIA since the Vietnam War—and a dead body she practically tripped over!
When the police point to Lilly as their number one suspect, she decides to take fate into her own hands. She enlists the help of a trivia loving waitress and a hot local security guard who sincerely hopes Lilly is doing more than just passing through. As Lilly searches for clues to clear her name, she uncovers puzzles that reveal secrets about her family and hidden treasure. Each clue brings her closer to the fortune…and to the real killer who will stop at nothing to get the gold.

The Danger Cove books:
Secret of the Painted Lady (a Danger Cove Renovation Mystery)
Murder and Mai Tais (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
Death by Scones (a Danger Cove Bakery Mystery)
Four-Patch of Trouble (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai (a Danger Cove Hair Salon Mystery)
Killer Closet Case (a Danger Cove B Mystery)
Tree of Life and Death (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
A Killing in the Market (a Danger Cove Farmers’ Market short story in the “Killer Beach Reads” collection)
Killer Colada (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
Passion, Poison Puppy Dogs (a Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mystery)
A Novel Death (a Danger Cove Bookshop Mystery)
Robbing Peter to Kill Paul (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
Sinister Snickerdoodles (a Danger Cove Bakery Mystery)
Hurricanes and Heroes (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
A Death in the Flower Garden (a Danger Cove Farmers’ Market Mystery)   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

It’s hard to imagine anything really bad ever happening in picturesque Georgetown, Texas—until a famous face rolls into town and unthreads some very dark secrets…
Virginia Davies Clark and members of the Bee Hive Quilt Bee and Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild, are all too familiar with the Greenwald estate. The Victorian mansion, known as “Borealis,” was owned by nationally famous quilter Ann North Greenwald, and sits now vacant just west of the city limits after the murder of Ann.
Georgetown is abuzz with excitement when Hollywood actress, Natalie North arrives and announces she inherited “Borealis” and selling off its old furnishings and renovate the mansion. A local developer and a local radical church group are shocked and will do anything to prevent Natalie from renovating it instead of selling it. And Virginia is intrigued when Natalie asks her to appraise the estate’s sizable collection of quilts and Ann’s notebooks. But the more she examines the quilts, the more they seem to point toward Ann’s murder—and the murderer—and it’s up to Virginia and her friends to stitch the clues together.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

Set in Ceylon in the 1930s, this second book in the Inspector de Silva Mysteries offers another colourful, relaxing read as the arrival in the hill town of Nuala of the heir to an English earldom signals more trouble for the hapless Inspector de Silva and a new mystery to solve. Throw in a mega-rich Romanian count, his glamorous countess and an enigmatic British army officer and the scene is set for an entertaining mystery.

Praise for Trouble in Nuala: The Inspector de Silva Mysteries #1

“This is an unexpected treasure. Set in 1930s Ceylon. It is an interesting look at colonialism from the colonial side. I was engaged from the first page and kept in thrall until the end. Inspector DeSilva and Jane are well drawn characters and I plan on following them through further adventures.”

“The sweltering heat and dazzling light of Ceylon in the 1930s pour out from the pages of “Trouble in Nuala”. Shanti de Silva, Nuala’s police inspector, navigates the complexities of colonial society under British Imperial rule even as he unpicks the threads of a classic murder mystery. First-class entertainment, with a memorable mix of characters.”

“A captivating, relaxed read which was thoroughly enjoyable to the last page, set in a charming era, with an endearing lead character and in an interesting location.”

“Clever plotting, sharply defined characters and luscious description make this a hugely enjoyable read. I look forward to volume 2”.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

A murder and a latte… The perfect way to start the day.

Olivia is determined to have a successful, drama-free, book signing at family-owned Granny’s Bookshelves and Teas. With her fellow Writers of the World, Oliva starts the day with a murder and a latte.

Determined to prove the killer isn’t one of her friends or worse – herself – Olivia tracks the clues and dodges the searching questions of her best-friend’s brother while trying to sign books and smile for the camera.

The suspects move amongst the readers and the accusations fly like plot twists.

With rumors of affairs and threats darkening the event, Olivia doesn’t have long – just to closing! – to prove writing romance isn’t a prerequisite to killing in cold blood.

Plunge into this engaging mystery wrought with secrets and clues that reveal more than the killer!

***Books by Kodi Heart***

The Murderous Chapters Series

Once Upon a Murder

Twists Like a Knife

Under Deadline

Death and Edits

Death Scenes

Kill the Competition

(Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A taut, stylish thriller set over the course of twenty-four hours in Paris—perfect for fans of Chris Pavone’s The Expats and Olen Steinhauer’s The Tourist

The storied Hotel Chevalier on Paris’ ritzy Right Bank hosts celebrities, dignitaries, and—for one night—Lana Gibson, an American woman who’s escaped the monotony of her staid married life for a cultural jaunt to the City of Light. As long as she takes her meds, she promises herself, her heightened curiosity and manic elation will stay under control.

But when that curiosity leads her to the hotel’s private elevator which serves only the ultra-elite penthouse Suite Imperial, she spies much more than plush carpets and gilt chandeliers: a young woman caught in the clutches of a threatening-looking older man. Unable to erase the image of the girl in danger from her mind, Lana alerts the police, plunging herself into a firestorm of intrigue and becoming a target.

As she engages in a cat-and-mouse game that plays out across the streets of Paris, it emerges that the older man is a prominent public figure, and the murky situation only offers more questions: Is he being set up? Who stands to gain the most from his downfall? Not knowing who has her best interests at heart, Lana will need to use every ounce of strength and guile as she races to discover the relationship between the truth and what she saw.

Set against the glittering city of Paris, What She Saw is a hypnotic, thoroughly compelling thriller that will leave readers guessing until the final pages.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

Ellison Russell wanted a decorator, not a corpse. Too bad she finds Mrs. White in the study killed with a revolver. Things go from bad to worse when she finds Mr. White in the dining room killed with a candlestick. With so many bodies, is it any wonder Detective Anarchy Jones’ new partner considers Ellison a suspect?

With the country club gossips talking a mile a minute, an unexpected cocktail party, a visit from Aunt Sis, and a romantic decision, Ellison hardly has time to think about murder. Unfortunately, the killer has plenty of time to think about her. (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Hannah Holiday gets kissed by the sweetest Moodle she’s ever seen, she finds herself exactly where she does not want to be…in the middle of a messy custody battle for the Maltese-Poodle mix. Hannah is pulled right into the thick of helping her sister’s friend as the custody conflict boils over into a deadly disaster.

While Hannah’s cook, Meg, goes on a baking spree mixing up one new tasty treat after another at The Fishy Dish, a photoshoot with swimsuit models stirs the quiet town of Hooks Harbor. The suspects are able to drown their troubles with coffee, strawberry tarts, and lemon squares at the snack bar, bringing them right into Hannah’s business and life.

With each suspect pointing a finger at another, Hannah needs answers, especially after one suspect’s alibi sticks like caramel. The heat gets turned to high when her sister’s friend looks like the guilty suspect and her life is put on the line. Along with Hannah’s.

It will take more than the adorable Moodle and Petunia, the potbelly pig, to save Hannah from becoming fish bait.

**Catch of the Dead is volume 6 in the Hooked & Cooked Cozy Mystery Series. Lyndsey’s books can be read and enjoyed in any order.  (Goodreads)

New Releases For The Week Of May 21st, 2017–Part 2

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of May 21st, 2017.  Since there were so many books this week, I am going to divide them between the next three days.  Here is the day two of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

The 5th book in the BESTSELLING Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series is coming MAY 23rd 2017!

PREORDER NOW: http://a.co/5bztkEA

When Julia’s gran, Dot, wins an all-inclusive spa trip to Scotland, Julia finds it difficult to refuse the offer of a relaxing week away from her café. Along with her sister, Sue, they pack up her tiny vintage car and drive all the way from Peridale to Seirbigh Castle, ready to be pampered. The last thing Julia expected was to be caught up in another murder investigation, but when the cruel owner of the family-run spa, Henry McLaughlin, is shot dead, she can’t resist ditching the facemasks and massages in favour of cracking the case.

Julia quickly befriends the young cook and talented-baker, Blair, and acquires a job in the kitchen so she can observe the strange family in the wake of the murder. Henry’s wife and children are acting suspicious, and with an incompetent young Detective Inspector on the case, Julia makes it her mission to discover the secrets held within the ancient walls before Seirbigh Castle claims another victim.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

A mysterious death brings Deputy DeeDee Clawson to the scene of a movie being filmed at an old mansion in Silver Hollow. Tucker Rockwood, the star of the movie, is found dead, a stake through his heart. Lots of people might have wanted to kill Tucker, but when DeeDee’s investiga-tion points in the direction of the movie’s producer, Caine Hunter, she thinks she has her man.

As if investigating this murder isn’t enough, DeeDee has something else hanging over her head. As the daughter of a werewolf pack leader, she has agreed to an arranged marriage. She hasn’t even met her intended yet, but she’s already starting to regret her agreement to enter into a love-less marriage…especially when her feelings toward Caine turn from suspicion to romance.

Caine Hunter has been smitten with feisty deputy Clawson since day one, but since DeeDee seems determined to arrest him for murder, he’s pretty sure the feeling isn’t mutual. Yet, he can’t help but sense that DeeDee is fighting an inner attraction to him that she won’t admit even to herself. Too bad that once she discovers his secret, she’ll want to have nothing further to do with him.

As the investigation heats up and DeeDee’s wedding day approaches, she turns to her four close witch friends, the Quinns, and their quirky familiars. There’s only one way to get out of the loom-ing marriage without risking being ostracized by her pack, and Gray Quinn is the only person that can help.

But when things take a dangerous turn with a surprise twist, will DeeDee risk it all and discover that love can be even more powerful than magic?  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

Originally published under the pen name “India Ink.”

There’s only one #1… There’s a new makeover maven in town, and she spells big trouble for everyone at Venus Envy. Bebe Wilcox has just unveiled her own boutique, and she won’t stop until her shop has put everyone else out of business. Nothing is out of bounds, from stealing fragrance recipes to computer hacking and sabotaging supplies. But when one of Bebe’s pushy saleswomen ends up dead, the stakes become much more dangerous. Staging a public falling out with her Auntie, Persia gets hired at Bebe’s Boutique and begins snooping for evidence of wrongdoing. But can she find the goods before the killer decides to find her?   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally written under the pen name of India Ink.

Murder is never pretty…

When Venus Envy’s new makeup artist vanishes on the night of the Thanksgiving Gala, Persia knows that something is terribly wrong. The police think Lisa drowned–her car was found parked near Lookout Pier, and a storm had raged through town the night of the dance. But Persia refuses to believe it. Lisa Tremont was terrified of water and would never have gone out on a pier by herself, and Lisa had just confided to Persia that she’d discovered what happened to a missing inheritance belonging to her and her sister. Could Lisa have stumbled too close to the thief? Working against the clock, Persia must find her friend while fending off escalating threats from her ex-boyfriend Elliot as the holidays close in with their glittering beauty.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

BOOK 2 in the BEAUTY SECRETS SERIES

Ziva Diaz has been really looking forward to this week. Her best friend is getting married and her beauty line is launching. Life is good and she’s on top of the world – what could go wrong?

Sabotage, a feud, and a murder, it turns out.

Stumbling over a dead body on the beach trips Ziva up in more ways than one, particularly when one of her beauty clients is charged with the murder. She doesn’t believe for a minute that Mrs. J. would murder anyone; too bad she’s the only one. As Ziva sets out to solve the mystery, someone else sets out to ruin both her reputation and her friend’s wedding.

Can Ziva solve the case and serve up some just desserts? Or will her investigation fall flatter than a wedding soufflé?  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

A cold case heats up . . .

A dead man in Big Bay Creek, spring break, and a rogue FBI agent would be enough to drive Chief Callie Jean Morgan to drink . . . if she hadn’t already quietly crawled inside a bottle of gin to drown her sorrows over a life ripped apart by too many losses.

When her investigation into the stranger’s death heats up an unsolved abduction case, Callie finds herself pitted against the town council, her son, the agent, and even the raucous college kids enjoying idyllic Edisto Beach.

Amidst it all, Callie must find a way to reconcile her grief and her precious taste for gin before anyone else is killed.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luana Akina, a good friend of Lani’s, calls and informs her that her sister Mailie has been killed in an auto accident. The accident was determined to be just that, an accident, but Luana isn’t so sure that is the case. it seems that prior to her accident Mailie was involved in a local contest with a grand prize of $25,000. She suspected the results were being tampered with so had been quietly snooping around. The night before her accident Mailie had called Luana and told her she was close to something and the next day she was dead. Luana knows that Lani likes to investigate homicides so she asks for her help in uncovering what really happened to Mailie. The contest, which involves unlocking clues which lead to locations around the island where the next clue can be found, has a clause which allows for a substitute to be named should one of the contestants be unable to finish. Lani decides that the best way to help Luana find out what happened to her sister is to enter the contest as Mailie’s replacement in order to find out what is going on from the inside. She takes two weeks off work from her job as a water safety officer and then travels to Maui with her boyfriend Luke Austin.

Once Lani gets a feel for the game she quickly realizes that someone has hacked into the computer system and is tampering with the results. Luke is good on the computer but not nearly as good as their new friend Zak Zimmerman, so Lani calls new friend Zoe Donovan-Zimmerman and asks if she and Zak would be willing to come to Maui and help them uncover the conspiracy behind the mystery.

Join Luke and Lani, Zak and Zoe, as they race to uncover the clues faster than anyone else while outwitting a hacker and identifying a killer.  (Goodreads)