I have had this series on my TBR list for quite some time. Not sure why it took me so long to dive into the Bakeshop series, but now that I am here, I don’t want to leave. When you read book one and immediately decide you are going to binge the entire series, you know you have found something special. Setting and characters mean everything to me. Ashland sounds like the perfect atmosphere. While reading this book, it felt more like visiting with friends rather than reading a book about random characters. I got so wrapped up in the people that I forgot there was a murder to solve.
I have already moved on to book two and I cannot wait to binge this series. Ellie Alexander totally rocked this kick off to her cozy series.
I had the audio version of this book and it was fabulous.
I have no idea how this phenomenal series continues to get better, but Krista Davis makes it happen. I had binge read this series, books 1-11, and reading each new installment makes me feel like I am reuniting with old friends. I cannot say enough about the core characters of this series. Not only are they extremely well developed but you actually feel like you are a part of their world.
In this installment of the series, Sophie is ready for some R&R until Mars has her hired out as a ghost writer for a cookbook for one of his clients’ wives. In need of a major bathroom renovation, Sophie takes on the job. How hard can it be to write recipes?? This should be a breeze until people around this group begin going missing and dead bodies start popping up. There seems to be many with secrets, the question is, who is willing to kill to keep them buried?
I can never get enough of these books. Once I start them, I devour them, then I am devastated that I have to wait another year for the next one. I strive to be like Sophie in my daily life in the entertaining of family and friends. I adore her friends, Nina, Mars, Bernie, etc.
This is by far my favorite Cozy series and in my top 5 overall. I cannot sing the praises for these books any louder. I recommend them to anyone and everyone, cozy readers or not. If you have never tried audiobooks and don’t know if you would like them, this is the series to do it.
I have a digital copy from NetGalley of this book and the audible version. Hillary Huber, is as phenomenal of a narrator as Krista Davis is a writer.
I feel like this series is one of those extremely well kept secrets and we need to get the secret out!!
I love everything about the Kelly Jackson Mysteries… the plot, the setting, the characters, and the mysteries. This series has something for everyone. The setting of Redwood Cove is to die for, no pun intended. The characters are all very well developed, likable, and they all play their part in the stories. From Tommy, the child with Asperger Syndrome, and his dog Fred to all the Silver Sentinels, there is definitely a character for you. There is always a new hobby or event to explore in town and Janet Finsilver has a way of making you feel like you are experiencing it with the cast.
In this installment, its a wine tasting event. When an accident and burglary turn out to be more sinister than originally suspected, Kelly and the Silver Sentinels are on the case.
One other thing that really sticks out in the later novels, the charity developed for the aid and care of Veterans. This is a subject near and dear to my heart and the author does a great job bringing awareness.
This series is one of my favorite Cozy Mystery Series, it is carefree and entertaining. I love a series with senior sleuths. These books are easily one sitting reads and I highly recommending binging this series.
I had an advanced digital copy from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation. I also had this book in audio format. The narrator, Reba Buhr, did a fabulous job.
I am looking forward to a book 7 and more adventures at Redwood Cove.
In this second installment, Laura Bishop’s home staging business is really growing even with the competition of her long time frenemy, Monica Heller. When a series of murders seem to be taking place, Monica looks to be holding the knife and caught red handed. Sister Madeline asks Laura to put aside her differences and help Monica out, as she believes she is not a cold blooded killer. Laura and her bff, Nita, decide to sleuth it up with the help of Mrs. Webster and Aunt Kit. Can they figure out the mystery before its too late?
I really enjoyed the roles Mrs. Webster and Aunt Kit played in this installment. I enjoy when there are seniors getting involved in the sleuthing and I hope to see Aunt Kit in future books.
I had an idea of the culprit from about mid book. I don’t know why, it just seemed to fit. This was a quick and fun book that also has some good house keeping and selling tips through out.
There is a slight mystery involving Laura’s father and where he could be. I hope that is revisited in future books. I would also like to maybe see some sparks for Laura and Spangler.
I listened to the audio version of this novel narrated by Emily Durante. She did a fantastic job.
Iris Buckley decides to return to her hometown, Blueberry Cove, Maine, to help out her grandmother after her grandfather’s death. She is ready to bring her online hand-made apron designs to a real store, Ruffles & Bows. Finding a store front was difficult so there was no shock in finding the space in poor condition with a lot of work to do. What was shocking, finding a skeleton in the basement.
With help of her best friend and her granny, Iris wants to find out what happened to the person and lay these old bones to rest. Iris finds out that digging up the past can bring plenty of problems to the future.
This book has many twists, all the way to the end. I enjoyed the author’s character development. The relationship between Iris and her granny felt real. I also enjoyed the budding romances.
I am looking forward to continuing on with the series and learning more about all the characters.
I had this book in both digital format from NetGalley and audio format from Audible. The narrator, Kim Niemi, did a great job.
Have you ever read a book that is so disturbing that you felt wrong for enjoying it? Do you watch Investigative Discovery and wonder, why am I so interested in watching stories about killers and psychopaths?
You are not alone.
This past Saturday afternoon, I got sucked into the ID Channel for a few hours. I had to consciously tell myself to get up, get dressed, and get out of the house. Where did I go, Barnes and Noble of course.
With the new year starting, one of my goals is be more social. Another one of my goals is to get back to reading other genres of books that I enjoy (as I have become a reader of Cozy Mysteries primarily).
While at Barnes and Noble, I noticed the sign for their monthly book club this upcoming week. The book is a thriller, The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. Although familiar with the author, I have never read any of her work. I thought, “how perfect!! A way to get in 2 of my goals!!”
I downloaded the book on Audible and started to listen. I was hooked by chapter 4! The narrative cast is amazing. They really brought this story to life. The plot and the characters felt so real and gripping. I knew the book was a Thriller/Suspense Novel, but I really didn’t go into it knowing much more than that. I found myself almost becoming obsessed with the need to know what the heck was going to happen and how this would all play out in the end. Just when I thought I would have something figured out, a new plot or character twist would come to light and shock and some horror would overtake me.
I love a novel that has multiple story lines that eventually tie in together. This novel is told from multiple POVs and both past and present time frames. I can remember a few times where I audibly gasped at connections made.
I will not give out any specifics on the plot or characters as I feel reading this book with little knowledge of the plot was better for me, so I am granting you the same courtesy.
I had to sit after finishing it and just stare for a few moments. I honestly feel like need a shower or maybe even go to church, LOL. I haven’t read a psychological thriller in a while and this one has definitely reminded me that I love them.
I am not a fan of graphic and gratuitous violence and/or sex in my books and I am pleased to say that there is not much in this story. There is one semi descriptive scene that is necessary to plot, the rest is just alluded to or implied, thank goodness.
I will tell you that I will definitely pick up another Lisa Jewell book and I am going to research the narrating cast to see what other novels they do.
This a free Audible Original listen for the month of November. I picked it solely based on the fact that it had something to do with Thanksgiving and Family. I did not read the synopsis of the plot and went into this blind.
I adored this listen. The emotional roller coaster you take in this just over 3 hour audiobook is intense. I didn’t get out of the first 3 chapters without ugly crying and sobbing. Some ask, why would you want to read, listen, or watch something that is going to make you cry like that? I ask, what is wrong with crying? It is a healthy emotion, just like happy. I like to feel, and feel is exactly what this story made me do. It is packed with real, raw emotions that some have had to deal with in real life.
Although this story is packed with emotion, it also shows that there is life after loss and how to deal with it and in one case, how not to deal with it.
Plain and simple, this story is about love, family, loss, pain, growth, coping, and starting over. Life may not have the happy ending you planned, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be happy in the end.
I plan to look up Kelly Harms, author, as well as the narrator, Lauren Fortgang. I highly recommend.
This is one of those series that I just cannot get enough of. I am binging the series and I never want to catch up. The setting, the characters, the plot… everything about it makes you feel like starting the next book is just like getting together with old friends.
In this installment, Sarah is all on her again. I am not a fan of love triangles but it works in this series. I could never pick, Team CJ or Team Seth. Well now that CJ is gone (I can’t believe he really left, even though I think he will be back), Sarah is keeping busy with her garage sale business. She was asked to head up the school swap and silent auction. What she didn’t expect to sign up for was an attack, theft, and a new murder to investigate. She is also “investigating” who in town has the best lasagna for Angelo.
I found this book to be a little more emotional than the others. I felt Sarah’s rejection and loneliness. I do love that she has so many friends and that everyone seems to be there for her, well except the killers when she is sleuthing around.
I cannot wait to jump right back in; starting The Gun Also Rises, Book 6.
I have both the digital (from NetGalley) and audio versions of this book. Hillary Huber, who is one of my most favorite narrators, does and phenomenal job with this series.
I have no idea why it took me so long to start this series but I am so thrilled that I did. I am behind on posting my reviews so to give you perspective on how much I love it, I finished this book, book 1 on 9/13 and I am on book 4 today on 9/25, plus everything else that I have read along with this series.
Sarah Winston is a New England transplant from California. She moved with her now ex-husband, CJ, and his military career. Having a hard time in her newly single and lonely life, Sarah takes to hitting up garage sales again. Content, well as content as she can be, Sarah seems to be finding some stability in her life…. that is until she finds a bloody shirt and uniform in one of the bags from a garage sale. Not only is this a disturbing find, the bloody shirt seems to implicate her ex-husband. Putting her feelings on the side, Sarah sets out to solve the case and prove CJ’s innocence.
This book has everything; heartache, laughter, and murder. Many times in the story, I stopped and reflected on my past. I love mid-aged protagonists that have real life, daily problems that I can relate to. This series is up in my top overall favorites. And again, as much as I can kick myself for waiting so long to read it, I am loving being able to binge read it.
I have both the digital and audio versions of this book. Hillary Huber, who is one of my most favorite narrators, does and phenomenal job with this series.
If I could go on a winter holiday, it would be to the pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. I love everything about the people and the place. The author makes the town seem so warm and inviting, well I mean yeah they have murders, but they are usually targeted. I wouldn’t feel unsafe there lol.
Daphne Templeton is a free-spirited pet sitter, armed only with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and a stubborn Basset Hound, who has become an amateur sleuth.
In this installment of the series, a former classmate and nemesis returns to Sylvan Creek. She plans on opening a big box discount pet store from her chain that she runs. In a town full of small business owners, especially pet shops, everyone is none to happy about this news. When her body is found soon after, the list of suspects seem vast, but someone has an obvious motive. However, it is very obvious that the suspect did not do it. Daphne, working better with Detective Jonathan Black, is hell bent on solving this murder and clearing her friend’s name.
This novel is just oozing with Christmas and Winter Bliss. As cold as it is in Sylvan Creek, relationships are heating up, both human and canine. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I adore the series but this was my favorite thus far. I am a Christmas enthusiast, so I am quite certain that aspect of the book helped.
This series is a fun way to escape the day or intrigue those who love a good “who dunnit” series. I swear, I have yet to figure it out in this series. I really enjoyed the detail of the story and character development, even all the dogs have great character development. A lot of cozies that I read, I describe as quick and fun, I would not describe this one as such. Ms. Blake is very detailed in her plot and characters, so you really get to dive into the story. I would not say one style is better than the other because I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to continuing on with the series.
I have this book in both digital (NetGalley) and audio versions. The narrator, Elise Arsenault, does an amazing job.
Room of Required Reading 