A Batter of Life and Death (A Bakeshop Mystery, #2) 4.5 STARS
I am so invested in the cast of this series and its only book two.
Community, sweets, family, friendship, reality tv, and murder.
Picture your favorite Hallmark Movie meets The Great British Bake Off but with Murder.
I must warn you… this is a highly addictive and binge worthy series. Be prepared to clear your calendar.
I had the audio version of this book… moving on to book 3!!
Meet Your Baker (A Bakeshop Mystery, #1) 5 STARS
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.
Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody (Jane Darrowfield #1) 4 STARS
Barbara Ross, author of the Maine Clambake Series, has another new Cozy Mystery Series…
What a refreshing start to new a series.
I adore books with middle-aged and older protagonists. They seem wiser and have more experience and are usually pretty darn comical.
In this book, Jane Darrowfield is a fixer, aka a professional busybody. She gets herself in situations and tends to help make them better. When she is asked to stay at a senior living center to help diffuse some tension, she agrees to help. What she didn’t expect was for it to be like high school all over again; the populars, the artsy, the outcasts, the rebels. What she really didn’t expect was to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
This book made me laugh as well as feel for the real life situations that some seniors are in. It was also refreshing to see budding romance in the senior community.
I am looking forward to the next chapter of Jane’s life and to see where it takes her.
Dead-End Detective (Piper and Porter Mystery, #1) 5 STARS
Amanda Flower is an author that I will read anything she publishes. Throw in the fact that this is a Hallmark published book, well that just sweetens the pot.
I adore that, finally, a sleuthing protagonist in a cozy mystery is a licensed PI. Darby Piper’s world is about to change when the tables turn and she goes from being the investigator to the investigated. When all the clues of a murder are pointing straight to her, she has to sleuth like she has never sleuthed before to clear her name and save her business. With the time and evidence against her and the help of an unlikely partner, Darby must solve this once and for all before she goes to prison, or worse, becomes the next victim.
I figured out the who early on but had to wait for the clues to develop to piece together the why. It was a good plot and I hope to see this on Hallmark Mysteries and Movies.
I cannot wait for the next installment of this series and to see how new partners and a possible love triangle plays out.
I had a digital copy (from Netgalley) and the audio version narrated by Laura Faye Smith.
Knit of the Living Dead (A Knit & Nibble Mystery #6) 4 STARS
I highly recommend this series for crafters, wanna be crafters, cozy lovers, and lovers of small town mysteries.
Knit and Nibble is one of my top series, mainly for the close “knit” group (pun intended). I love the community and the knitting group. I love for small town life; however, I could do without the murders.
In this installment, its Halloween. I adore Fall themed cozies. Pamela and Bettina joined by Nel this go around, use their sleuthing skills to get to the bottom of murders, yes that is plural.
I did thoroughly enjoy this book, but it was not one of the stand outs in this series for me. I was hoping for more Fall for one, Penny didn’t come in town, and the murders (not to spoil) were not anyone of importance in my opinion. Maybe its just me as I am totally invested in the series and I know its ending next year, I just wanted more.
Again, this was still a 4 Star Mystery!
I enjoyed the digital version of this book (from Netgalley) as well as the audio version.
The Paper Girl of Paris 5 STARS
I came across this book on a New Releases’ Post for May 26, 2020. I adore novels with dual timelines and I enjoy Historical Fiction, so I was immediately intrigued. This has the typical plot; person of today finds letter or photograph leading to some past unknown. This story sucked me in from the beginning.
A good portion of Historical Fiction novels center around WW II. While I understand the importance and interest, I prefer the stories to be more about the people than the war itself. I found this novel to be more of a “behind the scenes” story. This was more of a coming of age story with a historical past and a dash of mystery. Maybe because it is in the Young Adult genre, I just found it to be refreshing.
Sixteen year old Alice and her parents travel to Paris after finding out her deceased grandmother left her an apartment, an apartment that has been locked for more than seventy years. When she unlocks the apartment, she also unlocks secrets about her family’s past. Alice, along with her new “friend” Paul, set out on a journey to find the missing pieces of her grandmother’s past. Alice finds out a lot about history, her broken family, herself, and a little bit about love.
I would recommend this book to Historical Fiction lovers of all ages or anyone interested in a Coming of Age story with a historical past.
I had the audio version of this book narrated by Liza Seneca. She was a great narrator and did a fantastic job with all the accents.
The Diva Spices It Up (A Domestic Diva Mystery, #13) 5-STARS
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.
And now we wait…….
Murder in the Wine Country (A Kelly Jackson Mystery #6) 4STARS
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.
Staging Wars (Paperback) 4 STARS
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.
I am looking forward to book 3.
Hems and Homicide (Apron Shop #1) 4STARS
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.
Room of Required Reading 