Review of Christmas River

 

Missing In Christmas River

Christmas River, Book #9

Meg Muldoon

5 Stars

 

Synopsis:

Book 9 in the Amazon Bestselling Christmas River Cozy Mystery Series tells the tale of a missing fortune, obsession, jealousy, and the lengths that some will go because of greed…

What happened to Search & Rescue volunteer Wes Dulany?

That’s the question on everyone’s mind this fall in the small town of Christmas River, Oregon. And it’s especially on the mind of pie baker extraordinaire Cinnamon Peters, who returns home after spending the summer working in Portland to find that one of the town’s most beloved citizens has gone missing while looking for legendary treasure in The Christmas River National Forest.

But when Cinnamon and her husband Sheriff Daniel Brightman come across a small piece of the legendary treasure in town, and become a target of violence shortly after, it’s clear that Wes Dulany’s disappearance isn’t nearly as cut and dry as it seems.

Because a dangerous game is afoot in Christmas River this autumn.

And the stakes are higher than anybody ever imagined.

If you enjoy a clever mystery with heart-pounding twists and sweet romance, then you will love Missing in Christmas River. Download your copy of the newest Christmas River book today!  (Goodreads)

 

Review:  

I think one thing that you may not know about me is that I love all of this author’s books. But the Christmas River series is my favorite. From book one, I fell in love with the characters and the setting and I think the books are as good now as the first book I read. I think this would be a difficult thing for the author to do, keeping so many books fresh and entertaining, but this author does it perfectly.

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  I really enjoy spending time with Cinnamon and her husband Daniel, who happens to be the sheriff of Christmas River. The reader gets a little more insight into their history and the loss of a loved one that each has suffer.  This just made them seem more realistic to me.  And the relationship between Cinnamon and her grandpa, Warren, is just so special and heartwarming. There was one theme that kept showing up in the book and that was love and I thought that was great.

The mystery was well plotted and carried on throughout the entire book.  I really found it refreshing that Cinnamon did not stumble across a dead body.  In so many of the cozies that I read, that is exactly what happens and sometimes it feels a little unrealistic.  I mean, how many dead bodies have you stumbled upon? Instead, this mystery revolved around finding two missing people.  There was still plenty of suspension and tension and I still found myself swiping pages as fast as I could to see what would happen.

I would recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys a feel good cozy with great characters and a well thought out mystery.  I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Review of Bones To Pick

 

Bones To Pick

A Brie Hooker Mystery, Book #1

Linda Lovely

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Living on a farm with four hundred goats and a cantankerous carnivore isn’t among vegan chef Brie Hooker’s list of lifetime ambitions. But she can’t walk away from her Aunt Eva, who needs help operating her dairy. Once she calls her aunt’s goat farm home, grisly discoveries offer ample inducements for Brie to employ her entire vocabulary of cheese-and-meat curses. The troubles begin when the farm’s pot-bellied pig unearths the skull of Eva’s husband, who disappeared years back. The sheriff, kin to the deceased, sets out to pin the murder on Eva. He doesn’t reckon on Brie’s resolve to prove her aunt’s innocence. Death threats, ruinous pedicures, psychic shenanigans, and biker bar fisticuffs won’t stop Brie from unmasking the killer, even when romantic befuddlement throws her a curve. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded, and very likable.  Brie, Aunt Eva and Mollye, Brie’s friend, were all people that I would like to meet and get to know better.  Living on a goat farm is not the ideal scenario for Brie, who is a card-carrying vegan, but she knows her aunt needs her and she will do whatever is necessary to help her family. When her aunt is accused of a long ago murder, Brie will do whatever it takes to see the real killer brought to justice.  Paint and Andy, two locals that are close to Aunt Eva, provide love interests for Brie, and I am curious to see who and how she will choose between the two.  

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 of the action taking place.  I could see the goats and potbellied pig and all of the chores that were required on the farm.   

The mystery was well plotted and difficult to solve.  With a lot of suspects and plenty of clues to sift through, with a few red herrings thrown in, it will take all of the reader’s sleuthing abilities to solve this one.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  There is plenty of humor (wait until you hear how Brie cusses), great characters and a well developed mystery that will keep you guessing.  There is a little bit of minor language but it is very mild. This is a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to 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 Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this great book.  

 

Review of Perilous Poetry

 

Perilous Poetry

A Book Barn Mystery, Book #3

Kym Roberts

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Charli Rae Warren doesn’t plan on striking it rich as the owner of an independent bookstore in Hazel Rock, Texas—especially one with a pink armadillo as its mascot. But when an ingenious advertising campaign puts her business on the map, it ropes in some deadly publicity . . .

Charli can’t believe writer Lucy Barton has agreed to promote her latest Midnight Poet Society novel at The Book Barn Princess—or that there’s only a week-and-a-half to prepare for the signing. It’s all because of The Book Seekers, a smartphone app created by her cousin Jamal exclusively for Charli’s bookstore, which sends fans on a virtual scavenger hunt around town for a chance to meet the bestselling author. But as soon as it goes live, people turn up dead . . .

Someone’s using The Book Seekers to track victims and copycat the fictional Midnight Poet Society homicides, and horrified locals suspect Jamal could be the mastermind behind the crimes. While Charli readies the Barn for a stampede of new customers, it’ll take true grit to shelve the culprit before her brainy cousin gets locked behind bars, Ms. Barton backs out of the visit, and she finds herself up a creek—with a serial killer holding the paddle! (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  Charli way is such a great character, loving smart and a great friend.  I really like the friendship between her and Scarlet, the are best friends that would do anything for the other one: comfort, rejoice, even call each other out if that is what is needed.  We should all have a friend like that. The secondary characters are also well developed and added a lot to the story.  I must say that I want Charli to make up her mind about what man she wants to be with, it is getting old.

The author is very talented is her descriptive writing and through most of the book I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place and listening in on conversations.  The small town descriptions seemed very realistic and Hazel Rock is a place I would like to visit.  I really like the setting of The Book Barn Princess and if it were a real place, I would visit it.

The mystery was carried on well throughout the book and was not easily solved.  There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that even the most seasoned armchair detective would have trouble solving it.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I really enjoyed this book and this series.  It has everything you could want in a cozy mystery, including a pink armadillo.

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 Murder On The Toy Town Express

 

Murder On The Toy Town Express

Vintage Toyshop Mystery, Book #2

Barbara Early

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Liz McCall has come to love running her father’s vintage toyshop back home in East Aurora, NY, so when the Train and Toy Show comes to town, she’s all aboard for a fun toy-filled weekend. The only hitch is that her childhood bully Craig McFadden, now local business rival, has set up a booth next to hers. But the fun and games are over when Craig falls from the ceiling in a publicity stunt gone wrong.

What was initially thought to be a fatal accident proves much more sinister. Pulled into the case by her feelings for both Ken, the police chief, and Jack, her high school sweetheart whose brother is one the prime suspects, Liz dives headfirst into the investigation. But as she digs deeper, she’s shocked to learn her father may have been the intended target.

The trouble train is barreling down and Liz may have just bought herself a first class ticket in Murder on the Toy Town Express, Barbara Early’s delightful second installment in her Vintage Toyshop mysteries. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters really came alive for me in the pages of this book.  Liz is a smart determined woman who is not afraid of hard work.  She is also not afraid to stick her nose into police business, especially if it will help her any of her family or friends.  She is close to her family, especially her dad.  All of her nosiness she credits to him because, as the former police chief, he shared cases with her when she was younger.  And although she is sort of dating Ken, the new police chief, she feels the need to help him solve the mystery of the death at the Train and Toy Show.  She loves working puzzles and this is a real puzzler.

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 story, I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place around me and eavesdropping on conversations.  I could see the trains set up at the show and hear the whistles blowing as the trains went around the track.

The mystery is well plotted and carried on well throughout the entire book.  There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it was not an easy mystery to solve.  I did not figure out the culprit until it was revealed at the end and I was very surprised when I found out.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  With great characters, a mystery that will keep you guessing and a theme that will have you reminiscing about your childhood, you do not want to miss this book.

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

Review of Twelve Slays Of Christmas

 

Twelve Slays of Christmas

A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery, Book #1

Jacqueline Frost

5 Stars

Synopsis:

When Holly White’s fiance cancels their Christmas Eve wedding with less than two weeks to go, Holly heads home with a broken heart. Lucky for her, home in historic Mistletoe, Maine is magical during Christmastime–exactly what the doctor prescribed. Except her plan to drown her troubles in peppermints and snickerdoodles is upended when local grouch and president of the Mistletoe Historical Society Margaret Fenwick is bludgeoned and left in the sleigh display at Reindeer Games, Holly’s family tree farm.

When the murder weapon is revealed as one of the wooden stakes used to identify trees on the farm, Sheriff Evan Grey turns to Holly’s father, Bud, and the Reindeer Games staff. And it doesn’t help that Bud and the reindeer keeper were each seen arguing with Margaret just before her death. But Holly knows her father, and is determined to exonerate him.The jingle bells are ringing, the clock is ticking, and if Holly doesn’t watch out, she’ll end up on Santa’s naughty list in Twelve Slays of Christmas, Jacqueline Frost’s jolly series debut. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  I thought Holly was a smart tough woman who just wants to put her life back together after being jilted by her fiance.  She figures returning home to Mistletoe, Maine, is just what she needs.  But when a dead body turns up on her parents tree farm, she is going to have to use all of her smarts to figure out the culprit.  I really enjoyed spending time with her and her parents.  I think one of my favorite characters was Cookie because she was quirky and unconventional. She had me smiling throughout much of the book.  

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 of the action taking place.  I could almost smell the evergreens on the tree farm and see all of the holiday decorations that Mistletoe had displayed.  

The mystery was well plotted and it was not an easy crime to solve.  There were enough suspects (including Holly’s father) to consider and clues to sift through that even the most experienced armchair detective will have trouble solving this mystery.

I would recommend this cozy mystery to anyone who enjoys a well crafted book.  This book has everything that I look for in a cozy and it is hard to believe that this book is a debut for the author-it is that good.  I cannot wait to read the next release in this series.  I sure hope it is a long running cozy series.

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

Review of Fireworks In Paradise

 

Fireworks in Paradise

A Tj Jenson Mystery, Book #8

5 Stars

Kathi Daley

Synopsis:

“Daley’s characters come to life on the page. Her novels are filled with a little mystery and a little romance which makes for a murderous adventure.” – Tonya Kappes, USA Today Bestselling Author of Southern Fried

While on vacation in South Carolina, Tj Jensen receives a call that her father has been left in a coma after a devastating car crash. Back home in Paradise Lake, Tj learns the accident that killed family friend Judge Harper and left her father clinging to life wasn’t an accident at all—someone cut their brake lines. To make matters worse, her friend and police contact, Deputy Roy Fisher, is working with a new partner who has no intention of letting Tj anywhere near the case. Facing an investigation more explosive than the annual fireworks show, Tj enlists the help of her best friends to unravel the mystery, all the while navigating a new romance and the thought her father may never wake up.

Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), book club recommendations, amateur sleuth books, small town.

Books in the Tj Jensen Mystery Series:

PUMPKINS IN PARADISE (#1)

SNOWMEN IN PARADISE (#2)

BIKINIS IN PARADISE (#3)

CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE (#4)

PUPPIES IN PARADISE (#5)

HALLOWEEN IN PARADISE (#6)

TREASURE IN PARADISE (#7)

FIREWORKS IN PARADISE (#8)

 

Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you’ll probably like them all. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  In this installment Tj finds herself right in the middle of a family emergency and it will take all of her faith and family love to get through it.  She will have to rely on her family and friends to solve this mystery and bring her family back together again.  I love the tight knit group that she surrounds herself with, they are all caring and loyal. In all of her books, family and friends are very important and this book is no exception.

The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book.  There were plenty of clues to sift through and suspects to consider.  And as usual, there is more than one mystery to solve and they both are woven together like a beautifully made sweater.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author is very talented in creating a cozy small town setting and I would love to visit the places that she creates.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  This book is a great addition to an already fantastic series.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.  I would like to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this book (and for granting wishes).

Review of Trick Or Treason

 

 

Trick Or Treason

Zoe Donovan Mystery, Book #26

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

 

Synopsis:

As is his tradition, Zak has gone Halloween Crazy, while Zoe is trying to overcome the baby bump blues and harness some enthusiasm for the annual Haunted Hamlet. Things seem to be on track for a Spooktacular good time until Zoe stumbles onto a Halloween mystery even she didn’t see coming. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

I have to say that I really enjoy all of this author’s series.  I find them all very entertaining and they are able to offer me an escape into the worlds that she creates. The Zoe Donovan series is my favorite of all.  Any time I get to spend time with Zoe, Zak, Ellie and Levi, I am one happy camper.  They really do feel like friends that I get to visit every so often and I greatly enjoy those visits.  I also like that throughout the series the reader can see the growth and development of all the characters.  

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The small town setting is homey and cozy and and welcoming.  The mystery is well developed and there are enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that even the best armchair detective will have trouble solving it on their own.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy.  Be sure to check out this book, this series and all of the other series written by this author.  You will be very glad you did.

 

 

 

Review of Asking For Truffle

 

Synopsis:

When Charity Penn receives a letter saying she won a trip to Camellia Beach, South Carolina complete with free cooking lessons at the town’s seaside chocolate shop, The Chocolate Box, she’s immediately skeptical. She never entered any contest. Her former prep school friend offers to look into the phony prize–only to end up drowned in a vat of chocolate. Struck with guilt, Penn heads to the southern beach town to investigate why he was killed. But as wary as she is of the locals, she finds herself lured into their eccentric vibe, letting her defenses melt away and even learning the art of crafting delicious chocolates. That is, until delight turns bittersweet as she steps straight into the midst of a deadly plot to destroy the seaside town. Now, only Penn’s quick thinking and a mysterious cask of rare chocolate can save the town she’s learning to love. Rich and decadent, Asking for Truffle, the first in a new cozy series by Dorothy St. James, is sure to be a delectable read for fans of JoAnna Carl and Joanne Fluke. (Goodreads)
Review:

The characters were well rounded and well developed.  I must say the Penn was a hard person to like.  Between her not wanting anyone to touch her, her constant reminders about her loveless family and the fact that she thought everyone was after her money, it got a little old.  I just felt like she did not have a lot of redeeming qualities.  That is only my opinion and others may not feel the same way.  Some of the other characters were enjoyable to me and I liked getting to know them better.  I think Althea was my favorite character, she was quirky, mysterious and likable.

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.  I felt like I could smell the chocolate found in the candy store.  I enjoyed the fact that there were chocolate recipes in the back of the book for the reader to try.

The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book.  With enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through, this was not an easy mystery to solve.  Although I considered the culprit, along with a couple of other suspects, I did not know for sure until it was revealed at the end.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well plotted cozy mystery.  I will definitely read the next book in the series when it is published.

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

 

Review of Pudding Up With Murder

Pudding Up With Murder

An Undercover Dish Mystery, Book #3

Julia Buckley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Secret chef Lilah Drake has a killer casserole to deal with in the latest Undercover Dish mystery from the author of Cheddar Off Dead….

Customers trust Lilah Drake to keep her mouthwatering meals under wraps, but when a millionaire meets his untimely end, some sinister secrets become the main course. . . .

Spring is right around the corner, and with the warmer temperatures come plenty of food requests from Lilah Drake’s covered-dish clients. Lilah pulls out all the stops with a sweet new casserole for the birthday party of Marcus Cantwell, a wealthy curmudgeon who has some angry ex-wives and more than a few enemies.

When he’s found face down in Lilah’s casserole, it’s anyone’s guess as to who might have wanted the old man dead. A possible new heir to Marcus’s fortune adds some unexpected spice to the investigation, but Lilah fears that the old adage is true, and “the proof is in the pudding.”

INCLUDES RECIPES!  (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  I really enjoyed spending time with Lilah and her family and friends.  They are people that I would like to get to know better and hang out with.  But I am still not sure about Jay, I just do not think that he is right for Lilah.  He is not one of my favorite book boyfriends.  And it really bothered me how Lilah would call him Jay or Parker or even Jay Parker, it was confusing and irritating.  At the beginning of the book I had to go back and make sure she was talking about the same person.  That is only my opinion and others may not agree with me, but for me it was irritating.  

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place around me.  I felt like I could smell the aromas of some of the food the Lilah made and it made me hungry.  The writing style flows smoothly and the book was an easy quick read.  

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 who the culprit was.  In fact, I was surprised when I found out.  And that is a good thing in my book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  With great characters, a perplexing mystery, a unique premise and a homey small town atmosphere, what’s not to like?  I am already looking forward to 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 Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.  

Review of Dead In The Water

 

Dead In The Water

Welcome Back To Scumble River, Book #1

Denise Swanson

5 Stars

Synopsis:

The first book in a brand new series featuring New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson’s beloved Scumble River setting and characters, Dead in the Water is a gripping mystery that won’t let you go until you’ve turned the last page.

A twister, a kidnapping, and a murder–oh my! Scumble River may never be the same.

For school psychologist Skye Denison, there’s certainly no place like home. When a violent tornado devastates her small hometown of Scumble River, she can’t see how the community will ever recover–especially since town councilman Zeke Lyons appears to have perished in the twister.

But things get even worse for Skye when her police chief husband, Wally, disappears in the midst of investigating Zeke’s death, and evidence arises pointing to foul play. Did Zeke really die in the storm, or was he murdered? And could Wally be next on the criminal’s hit list? (Goodreads)

 

Review:

I have read some of the first Scumble River books many years ago,  and I really liked them back then.  And I am happy to say that I really like the new Scumble River books too.  This book had everything I look for in a cozy mystery: great characters, great setting, great suspense and a great writing style.

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  I really enjoyed getting to spend time with Skye and Wally.  They were likable and felt like people I would like to be friends with.  Skye is spunky, smart and is not afraid to take chances when it comes to people she cares about.  Wally cares deeply for Skye and he has a keen sense of justice.  I also really liked the relationship between Skye and her mother, May.  Although they aggravate each other at times, you could tell how close they were and how much they loved each other.  This made the book seem more realistic to me.  The secondary characters added a lot to the story and I cannot wait to spend more time with all of them in upcoming books.  

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and for much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the activity taking place around me.  I really felt like I was right there with Skye and Wally when the tornado was barreling into them.  I also really felt that the author put personal touches into her writing, which pulls the reader into the book.  One such personal touch for me was what Skye and her mom ordered from Olive Garden.  They ordered chicken gnocchi soup, which is what I always order from there.  Such a s small thing but it really made me feel more drawn into the story and made it more personal to me.  

I liked the way there were more than one mystery to solve: who killed Zeke Lyons, who is behind the kidnapping of Wally and will he be rescued before it is too late?  Finding out the answer to these questions kept me reading well into the night, when I should have been sleeping.  The mysteries and suspense were well written.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I plan on reading the original Scumble River books that I have missed and am looking forward to the new books 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 Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read and review this great book.