Tag: New Release

Southern Sass and Killer Cravings by Kate Young

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A Review and Interview with the Author

Southern Sass and Killer Cravings (Marygene Brown #1) 5 STARS

Southern Sass and Killer Cravings, book 1 of the Marygene Brown Series, is not only the first in an amazing series, but the first Cozy Mystery by Kate Young. I am blown away. Kate Young hit a Grand Slam with this book (homage to the Braves references throughout the book).

Marygene Brown leaves her abusive relationship in Atlanta to return back her hometown of Peach Cove, a small island town of Southern Georgia. Marygene’s plan is to join forces with her sister, Jena Lynn, and run the beloved Peach Diner, passed down by generations of family. What Marygene did not plan on, was a regular customer dying in the restaurant and her sister being lead off in handcuffs. She also didn’t bargain for having her mama show up to guide her through it all. Did I mention mama is dead??

With the help of her mama and others in town, Marygene sets out to prove her sister’s innocence and find out what is going on in her small town. Can she find the killer before the killer finds her?

The character development, setting description, and story line are phenomenal. I instantly fell in love with the characters. There were moments of shock, laughter, intrigue, and emotion throughout the entire book. The mystery was great, I did have my suspicions of the killer from the get go but the road getting there was worth the trip. I laughed many times at the shenanigans of Marygene and Betsy. And somehow, Kate Young adds in the emotional issues of domestic violence. Marygene Brown is one of the strongest Protagonists I have seen in long time.

I cannot wait to continue my journey with Marygene and the Peach Cove Gang.

I read the digital copy awarded to me by NetGalley as well as the audio version of the book. The narrator, Tiffany Morgan, does a fantastic job.

INTERVIEW WITH KATE YOUNG

1. After writing paranormal fantasies, what made you decide to dive into the Cozy Mystery genre? Will you continue to write in other genres?

Mysteries have become my favorite genre to read. I love everything from cozies to heart pounding thrillers. I decided a couple of years ago to try my hand at writing one. I had to learn to write differently. Panster style wouldn’t work in this genre. I took several classes offered through Sisters in Crime and learned that writing a mystery took skill. A skill I had to learn and am still learning. I have great respect for long term writers in the genre. The plan right now is to focus on writing more mysteries.

2. They say write what you know. Being from a small town in Georgia, is Peach Cove based on a real town?

The inspiration for Peach Cove came from both Savannah and Seaside, Florida. The quaintness and beauty of Seaside and the old southern charm of Savannah.

3. Are any of your characters based off of people you know?

The Yvonne character is loosely based on my childhood best friend. The character has her likeness some of her mannerisms, and charm that merged beautifully with the character she became.

4. When can we expect from Marygene Brown and the town of Peach Cove?

There is a lot to come from Marygene and the Peach Cove gang. In book two, Southern Sass and A Crispy Corpse, our heroine is pushed to the limit and finds that her southern sleuthing grit is her saving grace. It’s a wild ride for sure.

To learn more and keep up with Kate Young…

https://www.kateyoungbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKateYoung/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527572.Kate_Young

https://www.instagram.com/kateyoungbooks/

Dying For Devil’s Food by Jenn McKinlay

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A Cupcake Bakery Mystery
“Mean Girls meets Fairy Tale Cupcakes”

Dying for Devil’s Food (Cupcake Bakery Mystery #11) 4 Stars

In this installment, cupcake bakers and bakery owners, Mel and Angie, are baking cupcakes and preparing for their high school reunion. However, Mel is doing so under protest. Mel did not have the best experiences in school as she was overweight and bullied terribly. Although, thinned down and successful, Mel is still terribly insecure. Mel soon finds out that time doesn’t change everyone. The night of the reunion, things are just like high school. Her bullies are still there, holding court, and ready to bully her. The plot thickens when one of her tormentors is found dead and she is the prime suspect.

Determined to clear her name, Mel works with some unlikely people from her past. Together they are determined to find the killer and uncover secrets that may unravel a lot of lives. Some people are willing to do anything to keep their secrets, even kill for them.

I wasn’t surprised really by the culprit, as I suspected them at one point throughout the story but it was still a shock at the reveal.

I love Angie and Tate as a married couple now and I really liked Mel and Joe’s relationship in this book. I was never really Team Joe, always Team Martinez. And as odd as it may be to see Uncle Stan and Mel’s mom together, it makes me happy that they are finding companionship at this time in their lives. I am not sure when book 12 is going to be released but I cannot wait for it, as there will be a lot going on from the way this one ended.

I had the audio version of this book narrated by Susan Boyce. Highly recommend.

Murder With Cucumber Sandwiches by Karen Rose Smith

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A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery

Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches (Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery #3) 5 Stars

I adore this series. The setting of a small town tea shop, the cast of characters, and the sweet and sinister plot lines have made the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries one of my top series.

First and foremost, I love any book, especially a cozy, that has a middle aged (give or take a few years) protagonist. Also, when said protagonist is a single woman battling her own insecurities while trying to keep it together for her family, that’s the perfect recipe to connect emotionally with the books.

In this series, Daisy, a widow with 2 teenage daughters, returns to her small, home town to be closer to her family. In need of a fresh start, Daisy and her aunt Iris open a Tea Shop. Although the business is very successful, its seems a dark cloud has been hovering around the town, especially the tea shop. With murder and mystery popping up in town, Daisy or someone she cares about always seem to be a suspect.

In this installment of the series, a local food critic is going around town reviewing local businesses. With the extremely unfavorable reviews he is giving, it is no surprise that he meets an untimely demise. The twist, it may have been food from Daisy’s Tea Garden that did him in. With her staff being prime suspects, Daisy and her somewhat boyfriend, Jonas, are on the case. If that’s not enough, there seems to be something going on within her own family.

I had no idea who the culprit was of the murder and the why. I did have my a strong idea of what was going on with Daisy’s family. This book, although Cozy, has a strong emotional theme. The sense of strength, family, support, and love are very strong in this novel. When a book can surprise me, make me laugh out loud, and tear up with emotion, it gets a 5 Star rating.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

I am highly anticipating the release of book 4, Murder with Cherry Tarts, 11/26/19.

The Domestic Diva Mysteries by Krista Davis

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“So Cozy, you’ll think you are one of the characters.”


The Diva Sweetens the Pie (A Domestic Diva Mystery #12) 5 STARS

This week, Krista Davis released The Diva Sweetens the Pie, book 12 of The Domestic Diva Mystery Series. I cannot sing the praises of this series loud enough. Book 1, The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, released in 2008. For whatever reason, I did not start reading this series until last year. If you still have not read this series, I am urging you to stop what you are doing and read it now!

The core characters of the series, Sophie, Nina, Bernie, Mars, and more, even Natasha, are so well developed that you will forget you are reading a book. You immediately become invested in this cast, you feel like you are a part of the gang. I can also add, the animals’ personalities even shine through. Every book in the series introduces several new characters but its never too much. You never lose focus or become overwhelmed. I have no idea how she does it. Every book is amazing. You would think maybe at least 1 out 12 may have just been okay, but that is not the case. I have never enjoyed a series as much as I enjoy this one. You will laugh out loud, you will be angered and disappointed, you will be surprised and you will long for the next book.

A little about the books…

The books are set in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Sophie and her semi nemesis Natasha are dueling divas with advice columns; think Ann Landers, Dear Abby, and Hints from Heloise all wrapped into one. Sophie and Natasha have been competing against each other since childhood. I would give their relationship the title of Frenemies.

In each book, Old Town Alexandria starts off just like any small southern town. There is usually a competition, festival, or holiday around the corner that everyone is gearing up and coming to town for. Coincidentally, there is always a murder to investigate as well. Sophie, along with her best friend Nina and the rest of the gang, are the sleuths that get to the bottom of it all. I like to think of them as an adult, southern Scooby Gang, yes they even have a dog!

My description of the series does not do it justice. Anyone that follows my reviews on Goodreads, knows that I am a harsh critic. So if I am telling you to read this series, read this series LOL. I give this series overall 5 Stars!!

If you have never read a Cozy Mystery, this is the series for you. If you have never tried an audio book, this is the series for you. The narrator, Hillary Huber, is phenomenal. If you are skeptical about listening to books on audio, this will change your mind.

Krista Davis also has two other Cozy Mystery Series;
Paws and Claws Mystery and Pen & Ink Mysteries

I have read and/or listened to all of the books Ms. Davis currently has released. Pen & Ink and Paws and Claws both have an amazing cast of characters.

Paws and Claws takes place at a mountain resort that revolves around pets and pet lovers. There are currently 5 books released in this series with book 6 scheduled for release October 1, 2019.

Pen & Ink revolves around a small town bookstore. Who doesn’t enjoy books about books? There are currently 2 books released in this series.

To find out more about Krista Davis and her books, please visit her website at http://www.kristadavis.com/

You can also follow her on social media and on Goodreads.





I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan

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Review by DJB

A Fictional Self Help Novel

I’m Fine and Neither Are You

4.5 Stars(almost 5 except the protagonist was a tad bit “too” much at times and worked my nerves) **Spoiler Free Review**

This is not a book that I would normally read, as I would have considered it “too realistic” for me. However, it was selected for our book club and I stepped out of my comfort zone. I normally don’t read books about real life problems because I have my own, I read to escape reality. After reading this book, I have a better understanding of what I already knew. You can never possibly know everything that is going on in people’s lives and minds. If you didn’t already know there were problems in your relationships, reading this book will surely tell you there are many. I actually realized I do some of the same things as Penny and sabotage things because I think are going too well. Or, I accept things the way they are because I am afraid of conflict or hurting someone. The core characters of this story experience the same things most of us have and it helps to see others struggle through it. I am not saying its good to see others struggle, it just shows you that you are not alone in the struggle.

This is a work of fiction but could easily be an entertaining self help book. I highly recommend this to anyone (male or female) that has ever been in a relationship (not just a romantic one), had a stressful job, experiences the struggle with the balance of life, experienced the loss of a loved one, or an absentee parent.

I had a digital copy as well as the audio version. The Audible narrator, Amy McFadden, was great!

Catching Up on Cozies

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There are several Cozy Mystery New Releases for February. Here are a few and if the series are new to you, they are definitely worth binging.

February 12th

Past Due for Murder (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #3) By Victoria Gilbert

  • A Murder for the Books – Book 1
  • Shelved Under Murder – Book 2

Murders and Metaphors (Magical Bookshop Mystery #3) By Amanda Flower

  • Crime and Poetry – Book 1
  • Prose and Cons – Book 2

February 26th

Drawn and Buttered (A Lobster Shack Mystery #3) By Shari Randall

  • Curses, Boiled Again! – Book 1
  • Against the Claw – Book 2

One Feta in the Grave (Kebab Kitchen Mystery #3) By Tina Kashian

  • Hummus and Homicide – Book 1
  • Stabbed in the Baklava – Book 2

Restaurant Weeks Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery #3) By Libby Klein

  • Class Reunions are Murder – Book 1
  • Midnight Snacks are Murder – Book 2
Criminally Cocoa (Amish Candy Shop Mystery #3.5) By Amanda Flower
  • Assaulted Caramel – Book 1
  • Lethal Licorice – Book 2
  • Premeditated Peppermint – Book 3

Pie Hard (Pie Town Mystery #3) By Kirsten Weiss

  • The Quiche and the Dead – Book 1
  • Bleeding Tarts – Book 2

Murder in an Irish Pub (Irish Village Mystery #4) By Carlene O’Connor

  • Murder in an Irish Village – Book 1
  • Murder at an Irish Wedding – Book 2
  • Murder in an Irish Churchyard – Book 3

Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen McManus

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“If Mean Girls was set in a small town, in a horror movie!!”

Two Can Keep a Secret  4 STARS

WOW!! Karen McManus does it again. If you were a fan of One of Us is Lying, you will love Two Can Keep a Secret!

This is like Mean Girls in a small town meets horror movie! When twins Ellery and Ezra leave California to stay with their grandmother in a small town in Vermont, they get more than a culture shock, they become entangled into the web of lies and secrets that this town has been carrying for many years. Someone is making sure the secrets in this town stay hidden and will do whatever they have to to keep it that way, including murder. Every so many years, a beautiful “princess” goes missing. This year is no different. With Homecoming just around the corner, someone is going out of their way to make sure history repeats itself. Are all the past events connected in some way? Is there a copycat on the prowl? As you read, you make connections and think you have it all figured out just to have the next chapter blow your mind. I did not see the end coming, at all!! The twist is shocking and somewhat disturbing.

There are a few things the author leaves a little open at the end. I am pretty sure this is a stand alone but I really need some closure on a few things.

Dog Club Mysteries by V.M. Burns

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In the Dog House (Dog Club Mystery #1)  5 STARS

I had no expectations going into this book. I have read Ms. Burns’s previous series (Mystery Bookshop Series) and knew I enjoyed her writing, so I just went into the next series blind.

I adored this book. I love the Cozy Mystery genre and the easy to fall in love with protagonists. However, I hadn’t realized I missing something more until I read this book. The protagonist is a middle aged woman dealing with real middle aged problems. It was really nice to truly relate on a deeper level.

Lily is a soon to be divorcee. Her husband of 25 years has left her for a woman younger than their children. She had not worked outside of the home for many years, at her husband’s request. He has since cut her off financially and is trying get her out of their home as well. So naturally when he turns up dead in a supposed burglary, Lily is the prime suspect. With the support of her children and best friend, she is determined to prove her innocence. It’s a very bumpy road but with love and support, anything can be possible.

I felt that this was almost a middle aged coming of age story. Lily finds herself, her determination, and the road to her happy place.

I read this in one sitting. I also had the audio downloaded with the digital copy. The narrator is great. I highly recommend this series.

The Puppy Who Knew Too Much (Dog Club Mystery #2) 4 STARS

I cannot say enough about this series. It is sweet with a slight romantic element, family oriented, female empowering and of course, MURDER!!

Lily has put her past behind her and started a new life in Chattanooga. With the help of her best friend, Dixie, she is settling in well in her new surrounding. With a new home and job, everything seems to be falling into place, well until she stumbles upon a dead body. With the help of Dixie, Stephanie, Joe, and Joe’s friend Red, the investigation begins.

This book has just as many twists at the first and I had no idea who the killer was nor did I expect the plot twists. I love the shenanigans the ladies get into as well as the budding romances throughout. This book releases on February 12, 2019 and I highly recommend it.

**I was awarded both books by #NetGalley in return for honest reviews**