COZY MYSTERY: The Cats Came Back by Sofie Kelly

 

THE CATS CAME BACK

A Magical Cats Mystery #10

by Sofie Kelly

Berkeley Prime Crime, 2018

ISBN: 978-0-399-58560-9

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Small-town librarian Kathleen Paulson often seems to gets mixed up in murder, but luckily, her very special cats always find a way to help her close a case . . .The charming Minnesota town of Mayville Heights is hosting a music festival, and the whole place is bustling with musicians and tourists. Kathleen is looking forward to taking in some fabulous performances--and her two cats, Owen and Hercules, are looking forward to taking in some fabulous sardine crackers. But then the trio stumbles across a dead body by the river. The victim is a close friend--who also happens to be a look-alike of a popular cabaret singer set to perform at the festival. Who could have wanted to harm this innocent girl? Was it a case of mistaken identity? As accusations abound and suspicions swirl, Kathleen, Hercules and Owen will put their abilities--both mundane and magical--to the test, and lay down the paw.

REVIEW

As in the previous Magical Cats books, Kathleen and her two rather magical cats must solve a murder. When the cats lead Kathleen and her friend, Ruby to a dead body, Kathleen finds herself drawn into the case. Not only because of her detective boyfriend, but because she knew the victim and the victim's best friend who looked so much like her it raises the possibility of mistaken identity. What do scandalous photographs, a grouchy manager, and dangerous relations mean about the motives behind the murder? Once again Owen and Hercules step in to help point Kathleen in the right direction, but can they find the answer before the murderer strikes again? As with many cozy mysteries, the main character juggles her regular life with her amateur sleuthing and I love it. As much as I love reading about Kathleen pulling the pieces together with the help of her librarian skills and her friends, I also love reading about the relationships between Kathleen and her cats as well as Kathleen and her friends and family. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery with great characters both primary and secondary, with a good dose of cat hijinks and a touch of magical, I can heartily recommend this addition to the series.

COZY MYSTERY: A Tale of Two Kitties by Sofie Kelly

A TALE OF TWO KITTIES

A Magical Cats Mystery #9

by Sofie Kelly

Berkley Prime Crime, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-399-58559-3

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this charming mystery from the bestselling author of Paws and Effect, two magical cats have powers of detection that prove indispensable to librarian Kathleen Paulson…

With a well-placed paw on a keyboard or a pointed stare, Kathleen’s two cats, Hercules and Owen, have helped her to solve cases in the past—so she has learned to trust their instincts. But she will need to rely on them more than ever when a twenty-year-old scandal leads to murder…

The arrival of the Janes brothers has the little town of Mayville Heights buzzing. Everyone of a certain age remembers when Victor had an affair with Leo’s wife, who then died in a car accident.

Now it seems the brothers are trying to reconcile, until Kathleen finds Leo dead. The police set their sights on Leo’s son and Kathleen’s good friend Simon, who doesn’t have much of an alibi. To prove her friend innocent, Kathleen will have to dig deep into the town's history—and into her sardine cracker supply, because Owen and Hercules don't work for free...

REVIEW

Kathleen and her cats, Hercules and Owen, continue to solve mysteries that drop into their path. With their 'magical' abilities, Hercules and Owen 'assist' Kathleen in her sleuthing. The arrival of two brothers in town along with the surprise discovery of a bunch of twenty-year-old mail hidden in the post office sends Kathleen digging into the past. With the help of her cats, town residents, and her police detective boyfriend, Kathleen sets out to discover why one brother ends up dead before her friend Simon gets arrested for murder. As in the other books in the series, the interactions between Kathleen and her cats make for delightful reading. As a cat lover myself, I love the hijinks that drive Kathleen crazy but make me laugh. I especially appreciate the fact that the series is relatively clean with only a small amount of cursing/profaning and no graphic sex. I look forward to reading the series as long as Sofie keeps writing them.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW: Paws & Effect by Sofie Kelly

PAWS AND EFFECT

A Magical Cats Mystery #8

by Sofie Kelly

Berkley Prime Crime, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-451-47216-8

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com.

REVIEW

As a big fan of cozy mysteries, I was thrilled to come across this delightful series by Sofie Kelly (pen name). The series has several things that I love to read about including libraries, cats, and great relationships. Kathleen works as the head librarian at the public library in Mayville Heights, Minnesota. Her boyfriend, Marcus, works as a police detective. In this eighth book in the series, some old friends of Marcus's from college show up in town to fight a proposed development next to the lake. When one of Marcus's friends, Dani, is found dead, Marcus becomes a suspect. As in previous volumes, Kathleen gets involved to help someone she cares about get out of trouble. Marcus's father shows up in town to help his son, but tensions between the two force Kathleen to walk a careful line. But Kathleen has her two cats, Owen and Hercules, to help her out. Not only do the cats have a knack for leading Kathleen to clues, but they have some superpowers as well (Owen can disappear at will and Hercules can walk through walls). As with the other seven books in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  The mystery carries especially big ramifications in this book since Kathleen's boyfriend is the suspect.  But I also love reading about the cats and their antics as well as the relationships between Kathleen and her friends, neighbors, and family. There's plenty of humor, excitement, and mystery to satisfy any cozy mystery lover. I also appreciate that the books are pretty clean in terms of content save for a few swearwords here and there. There are references to some unsavory things just because it's a murder mystery.  All in all, a favorite new book that I look forward to reading again just for fun!

COZY MYSTERY: Read to Death by Terrie Farley Moran

READ TO DEATH

A Read Ém and Eat Mystery #3

By Terrie Farley Moran

Berkley Prime Crime, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-425-27030-1

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The national bestselling author of Caught Read-Handed revisits Fort Myers Beach, Florida, where the proprietors of a local bookstore café occasionally take a stab at solving murder...

At their seaside Read ‘Em and Eat bookstore café, Sassy Cabot and Bridgy Mayfield offer fresh scones, great books, and excellent detective work…

With their book club season wrapping up with The Florida Life of Thomas Edison, Sassy and Bridgy decide to take their group on a day trip to the beautiful Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Hiring driver Oscar Frieland, who’s known for his colorful stories and love of the café’s Robert Frost fruit tartlets, the bibliophiles set off for a day of sunshine and history.

After a lovely excursion, the club returns to the café for lunch and a book discussion, but the group falls silent after Oscar is found dead in his van. The sheriff’s deputies have some questions of their own for the group, and if the ladies don’t find some answers soon, the next book they read might be from a prison library.

REVIEW

One of the things I like best about cozy mysteries are the entertaining characters and their unique characteristics.  In this Read ´em and Eat series, Sassy and Bridgy are the two main characters who run a bookstore/cafe together.  In this third book in the series, just after returning from a field trip with a book club, Bridgy discovers the driver dead in his car with a pair of scissors in his ear.  Unfortunately for Bridgy, being first on the scene makes her the prime suspect, which means that Sassy is on the case.  Despite Lieutenant Frank Anthony and Deputy Ryan telling her to stay out of it, Sassy can´t bring herself to do so with her friend´s freedom on the line.  Once again, I enjoyed relaxing with the characters for a time as they run the cafe, the book clubs, and welcome their mothers for a visit.  The interactions between Bridgy´s mother and Aunt Ophie were certainly entertaining as well as Sassy´s mother Sage and her talk of ¨auras¨.  Another fun read with just enough tension between Lieutenant Anthony and Sassy to add just a brief touch of romance (although I am sure that Sassy would deny it).  I do hope something more happens between those two.  I look forward to reading future volumes in the series.

COVER REVEAL w/ GIVEAWAY: Proposals and Poison by Rachelle J. Christensen

PROPOSALS AND POISON
Wedding Planner Mysteries book #3 
Rachelle J. Christensen

 “Cozy mystery meets romantic comedy in this fabulous, fast-paced story.” Cami Checketts author of The Resilient One, A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance

Love can be a very dangerous thing. At least it seems that way to Adri Pyper, the premier wedding planner in Sun Valley, Idaho. When one of her clients dies mysteriously, Adri takes the advice of the local detective and swears she will stay out of the investigation . . . this time. Luke Stetson's involvement in the case, along with the possibility of a kiss between the two, should be enough incentive to keep Adri out of trouble. But when a dog-themed wedding is almost ruined by a suspect, Adri and her assistant, Lorea, are thrust into private eye mode. When poison enters the picture, even a reluctant sleuth can’t steer clear of danger.

“Packed with danger and romance, intrigue and entertainment, Rachelle Christensen's Wedding Planner series is romantic suspense that will keep you turning pages late into the night!” --Maria Hoagland, Author of The ReModel Marriage (Romance Renovations series)  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
Rachelle is a mother of five who writes mystery/suspense, nonfiction, and women’s fiction. She solves the case of the missing shoe on a daily basis. She enjoys raising chickens and laughing with her husband. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in music. Rachelle is the award-winning author of ten books, including The Soldier’s Bride (a Kindle Scout Selection), Wrong Number, Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things, What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know, and Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology. Her novella, “Silver Cascade Secrets,” was included in the Rone Award–winning Timeless Romance Anthology, Fall Collection. Rachelle has a VIP mailing list where all subscribers get access to free books, guides, and other resources. Sign up now to hear what exciting news Rachelle has to share. http://eepurl.com/eFD3o
 

Website * Facebook * Twitter

SERIES ENDORSEMENTS

“Mystery, suspense, murder and romance all intriguingly tied together in one very fun walk-down-the-aisle cozy mystery!”—Shauna Wheelwright, reviewer

“I love a great mystery that keeps my interest and keeps the pages turning. I loved the Hawaiian setting, that was a character on its own. As the story progressed, I enjoyed where the author went with the mystery, doing a perfect job of planting the right amount of seeds to try to throw me off the trail of who the killer was.”—Mindy Holt, reviewer

GIVEAWAY

$25 cash giveaway plus an ebook bundle of the Wedding Planner Mystery Books 1 & 2. (gifted via Amazon) Ends 3/3/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

COZY MYSTERY: Writing All Wrongs by Ellery Adams

WRITING ALL WRONGS

A Books by the Bay Mystery

by Ellery Adams

Berkley Prime Crime, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-425-27084-4

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The New York Times bestselling author of Lethal Lettersreturns to the North Carolina Coast, where aspiring novelist and amateur sleuth Olivia Limoges discovers crime doesn’t take a vacation . . .

After Olivia and Chief Rawlings enjoy a brief honeymoon on Palmetto Island, they’re joined by the rest of the Bayside Book Writers for the Coastal Carolina Crime Festival. The festival’s highlight is Silas Black, celebrity screenwriter and television producer, who is currently working on a popular television show in North Carolina.

As the festival gets under way, a trickster seems to be bringing famous local ghost stories to life. But when the body of a woman close to Black is found on the beach, Olivia and her friends must deduce who on the island could resort to murder—before the sands of time run out for someone else…

REVIEW

I have enjoyed Ellery Adams's Books by the Bay series.  This newest entry in the series revolves around Olivia and her new husband, Chief Rawlings attending the Coastal Carolina Crime Festival while enjoying a bit of a honeymoon.  And the rest of the Bayside Book Writers join them to enjoy the sites and celebration of Silas Black and his pirate TV show.  But things take a nasty turn when scenes from local ghost stories start appearing and Black's girlfriend is found murdered.  Olivia and her friends end up right in the middle of everything and Olivia can't rest until she finds the killer, especially once her recently discovered father gets involved.  

I love both the mysteries and the characters of Adam's series.  That's why I've kept reading the series despite some content I'm not completely comfortable with (a bit of profanity, drinking, and some premarital sex).  The only uncomfortable content in this book is some profanity since Olivia and the chief are now married.  But I have enjoyed reading about how Olivia makes friends, works on writing her book, and running her restaurants while dealing with a complicated family history.  The books are well-written and the characters thoroughly engaging.

COZY MYSTERY: The Whole Cat and Caboodle by Sofie Ryan

THE WHOLE CAT AND CABOODLE

A Second Chance Cat Mystery

by Sofie Ryan

Obsidian, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-451-41994-1

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sarah Grayson is the happy proprietor of Second Chance, a charming shop in the oceanfront town of North Harbor, Maine. At the shop, she sells used items that she has lovingly refurbished and repurposed. But her favorite pet project so far has been adopting a stray cat she names Elvis.

Elvis has seen nine lives—and then some. The big black cat with a scar across his nose turned up at a local bar when the band was playing the King of Rock and Roll’s music and hopped in Sarah’s truck. Since then, he’s been her constant companion and the furry favorite of everyone who comes into the store.

But when Sarah’s elderly friend Maddie is found with the body of a dead man in her garden, the kindly old lady becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Even Sarah’s old high school flame, investigator Nick Elliot, seems convinced that Maddie was up to no good. So it’s up to Sarah and Elvis to clear her friend’s name and make sure the real murderer doesn’t get a second chance.

REVIEW

I seem to have a particular delight in mysteries involving cats.  Maybe because they are so mysterious themselves, but I do enjoy these.  And I most certainly enjoyed this one.  Sarah is a fun character with her re-purposed shop.  Elvis is a great cat character with his abilities to communicate and make friends with almost anyone.  Sarah's friends, who call themselves Charlie's Angels once the mystery picks up, are delightful rascals that Sarah struggles to keep in check.  But Sarah can't help but be drawn into the mystery of who really killed Arther Fenety because she knows Maddie couldn't have done it.  Still, there seems to be something that Maddie is hiding and there seems to be people with motive everywhere she turns.  When Maddie is arrested the investigation steps up and Sarah finds herself doing more investigating that she ever planned.  There is also just a touch of romance to liven things up.  One of the things that I love about cozy mysteries are the relationships between the different characters and I was not disappointed at all here.  Sarah and her friends make for an entertaining and enjoyable group to read about. Definitely going to read the next books in the series.

COZY MYSTERY: Caught Read-Handed by Terrie Farley Moran

CAUGHT READ-HANDED

A Read 'Em and Eat Mystery #2

by Terrie Farley Moran

Berkley Prime Crime, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-425-27029-5

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Happy to help her fellow bibliophiles, Sassy visits the local library with book donations for their annual fundraising sale. Unfortunately, the welcoming readers’ haven is in turmoil as an argument erupts between an ornery patron and new staff member, Tanya Lipscombe—also known as “Tanya Trouble.” She may lack people skills, but everyone is shocked when she’s later found murdered in her own hot tub.

The man last seen arguing with Tanya is soon arrested. But Alan Mersky, a veteran with PTSD, happens to be the brother of Sassy’s former boss—and he’s no murderer. Now it’s up to Sassy and Bridgy to clear Alan’s name and make sure the real killer gets booked.

Includes a recipe for Miss Marple scones!

REVIEW

Sassy sets out to help an accused murderer when she discovers that the accused is the brother of her former employer.  But as usual she butts heads with Lieutenant Frank Anthony in her efforts to help which results in some of the most entertaining exchanges in the book.  The two are quite opposite in character and so irritate each other greatly but I have a sneaking suspicion that they are attracted to each other.  I'm eager to read future books in order to find out.  I also thoroughly enjoyed Sassy's interactions with her other friends, especially Bridgy and the cafe.  If a place like that existed where I live I can guarantee that I would spend a lot of time there.  I also have thoroughly enjoyed the setting with the gorgeous sunsets and ocean breezes. The mystery itself was interesting as well with the victim being one that a number of people would want to dispose of but the evidence against the accused is pretty solid.  I appreciated the fact that Sassy's efforts mostly focused on helping her friend deal with the challenges associated with having a family member accused.  But Sassy keeps her eyes open and picks up several important clues as a result.  This book is a great example of what I enjoy so much about cozy mysteries, great characters, awesome setting, and interesting mysteries.

COZY MYSTERY: Well Read, Then Dead by Terrie Farley Moran

WELL READ, THEN DEAD

A Read 'Em and Eat Mystery #1

by Terrie Farley Moran

Berkley Prime Crime, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-425-27028-8

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

First in a new series!

Nestled in the barrier islands of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers Beach is home to Mary “Sassy” Cabot and Bridget Mayfield—owners of the bookstore café, Read ’Em and Eat. But when they’re not dishing about books or serving up scones, Sassy and Bridgy are keeping tabs on hard-boiled murder.

Read ’Em and Eat is known for its delicious breakfast and lunch treats, along with quite a colorful clientele. If it’s not Rowena Gustavson loudly debating the merits of the current book club selection, it’s Miss Augusta Maddox lecturing tourists on rumors of sunken treasure among the islands. It’s no wonder Sassy’s favorite is Delia Batson, a regular at the Emily Dickinson table. Augusta’s cousin and best friend Delia is painfully shy—which makes the news of her murder all the more shocking.

No one is more distraught than Augusta, and Sassy wants to help any way she can. But Augusta doesn’t have time for sympathy. She wants Delia’s killer found—and she’s not taking no for an answer. Now Sassy is on the case, and she’d better act fast before there’s any more trouble in paradise.

Includes a buttermilk pie recipe!

REVIEW

I quite enjoyed this book. Sassy is quite an amusing character with her combination of down home charm and fiestiness.  It was especially fun to read about her interactions with the by-the-book new deputy, Frank Anthony. Clearly there is attraction there but the two also annoy each other greatly especially once Sassy starts looking into Delia's death on her own in her efforts to keep a promise.  One of the things I like about cozy mysteries are the settings and Moran has done a great job of that here, I could practically feel the ocean breezes and I desperately wanted to stroll into The Read 'Em and Eat cafe to browse and eat and enjoy the author tables.  The relationship between Sassy and her best friend, Bridgy was laugh out loud funny at times. And Bridgy's Aunt Ophelia was an absolute hoot.  The mystery itself had plenty of nice twists and turns as it first appeared to head in one direction before swinging around to go in a different direction.  I also liked all the nice details involving everything from Delia's cat, Bow, to the cafe's chef, Miguel and his broken leg.  All in all a fun read, and I look forward to reading more in this series.

COZY MYSTERY: Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering

MURDER AT THE MIKADO

A Drew Farthering Mystery (#3)

by Julianna Deering

Bethany House, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-7642-1097-6

Source: publisher for review

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has found smooth waters, Fleur Landis, an old flame, reappears in his life. She's married now, no longer an actress, and he expects she'll soon disappear--until she comes to him in dire need. The lead actor in her old troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect.

Drew would love nothing more than to just focus on his fiance, Madeline, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur in the lurch--even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline dive into the murder, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. Nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between. It's Drew's most complicated case yet.

REVIEW

I've fallen in love with Deering's Drew Farthering, a gentleman in every sense of the word.  But Drew also has a penchant for solving mysteries and this one seemingly falls into his lap when a former girlfriend asks for his help.  But the charming and beautiful Fleur wreaks havoc wherever she goes and Drew's fiance is reluctant to have Drew help her.  But Fleur's husband works for Drew and Drew likes him so he sets out to find out who killed Fleur's former lover.  But as Drew's relationship with Madeline grows tense so does the mystery as additional bodies turn up confusing things mightily.  Will faith and love be enough to help Drew solve the mystery and hang on to his fiance? Or will Drew lose that which has the most meaning in his life.

Once again I thoroughly enjoyed both the mystery and the relationships portrayed between Drew and his allies, Madeline and Nick.  The addition of an adorable little boy didn't hurt any.  The author manages to beautifully intertwine the mystery with Drew's real and complicated life making for a surprisingly quick read.  The setting also helps set the mood (1930's English countryside) giving the book a bit of a noir feel to it.  The book is presented as Christian fiction but the religious aspects don't it any way overwhelm the story or feel preachy.  Definitely going on my favorites shelf.

COZY MYSTERY: Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering

RULES OF MURDER

A Drew Farthering Mystery #1

by Julianna Deering

Bethany House, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-7642-1095-2

Cozy Christian Mystery

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.

Soon, financial irregularities at Drew’s stepfather’s company come to light and it’s clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer–and trying harder to impress Madeline–Drew must decide how far to take this game.

REVIEW

I'm a big fan of cozy mysteries and I'm on a kick right now, so don't be too surprised if you see a lot of these reviews in coming weeks.

Drew Farthering is a proper 1930's English gentleman who arrives home to find his bedroom occupied by a man he detests.  But things start to look up when his stepfather's niece arrives for a visit and he finds her attractive and intriguing.  Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse when the man Drew found in his bedroom is found dead in the greenhouse.  The unveiling of secrets and additional deaths make it clear that a lot of things that Drew thought he knew may not be what they seem to be, including his stepfather.  As the stakes get higher, Drew and Madeline (the niece) and Drew's friend, Nick, set out to find some answers.

I enjoyed this mystery, not only because of the great twists and turns but also because Drew, Madeline, and Nick are very charming characters that I couldn't help but like.  The author does a great job of spreading out the reveals and twists throughout the book.  The setting and time period also make the book unique.  I felt truly invited into the small English village with all it's beauties and idiosyncrasies.  I am very much looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

COZY FOOD MYSTERY: Death of a Crabby Cook/Death of a Chocolate Cheater by Penny Pike

DEATH OF A CRABBY COOK

A Food Festival Mystery

by Penny Pike

Obsidian Mystery, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-451-46781-2

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

At the San Francisco Seafood Festival, someone is steamed enough to kill a cook.... 

When restaurant reviewer Darcy Burnett gets served a pink slip from theSan Francisco Chronicle, she needs to come up with an alternative recipe for success quickly. Her feisty aunt Abby owns a tricked-out school bus, which she’s converted into a hip and happening food truck, and Darcy comes aboard as a part-timer while she develops a cookbook project based on recipes from food fests in the Bay Area.

But she soon finds someone’s been trafficking in character assassination—literally—when a local chef turns up dead and her aunt is framed for the murder. The restaurant chef was an outspoken enemy of food trucks, and now Darcy wonders if one of the other vendors did him in. With her aunt’s business—and freedom—on the line, it’s up to Darcy to steer the murder investigation in the right direction and put the brakes on an out-of-control killer….

RECIPES INCLUDED!

REVIEW

I really enjoy cozy food mysteries like this one.  And while I did enjoy this one, there were a couple of content issues that I didn't like.  I liked the characters including Darcy, the main character, and her aunt and cousin, Dillon.  Darcy's Aunt run's a food truck business that Darcy starts helping out with after being downsized as a food critic at the local newspaper.  Darcy's love interest, Jake Miller, also runs a food truck (cream puffs, yum!).  When a local restaurant owner gets killed after a very public argument with Darcy's aunt, Darcy feels like she needs to find the guilty party before her aunt gets arrested.  The inclusion of luscious sounding recipes and food makes the book that much better.  The characters are enjoyable, the mystery takes a bunch of nice twists and turns, and worked well as a cozy mystery.  I would have liked it better though without the swearing/profanity and sexual innuendo (though nothing more than a kiss happens). I liked it enough though to read the others in the series.

DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE EATER

A Food Festival Mystery #2

by Penny Pike

Obsidian Mystery, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-451-46782-9

Source: purchased

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Food truck vendor Darcy Burnett unwraps a murder at the San Francisco Chocolate Festival in this mystery from the author of Death of a Crabby Cook…

At this year’s chocolate festival, Darcy and her Aunt Abby hope to win the $10,000 prize in the chocolate contest with Aunt Abby’s taste sensation: the chocolate raspberry whoopee pie. A little friendly competition from Darcy’s sometime-beau Jake Miller, who plans to enter with his chocolate cream puff delight, only sweetens the deal. But things get sticky when one of the judges, Polly Montgomery, is taken out of commission—permanently.

The suspects include every contestant with reason to believe Polly wasn’t too sweet on their sweets, including Aunt Abby’s high school friend. Now Darcy must pick through an assortment of secrets to catch a killer before someone else gets a bittersweet finish. 

REVIEW

Darcy and her friends and family return to the food truck business by entering the local Chocolate Festival with Aunt Abby's new whoopee pie.  But once again things get complicated with not one judge but two of the judges for the contest die.  Darcy doesn't intend to get involved until one of her aunt's friends gets accused of murder.  To make things worse, her love interest Jake is helping out his ex-girlfriend with her divorce.  Another mystery full of delicious food (and recipes) with fun interactions between Darcy and the other characters.  I did enjoy this mystery except for the profanity/swearing and mild sexual innuendo.  The twists and turns were fun with plenty of interesting questions being addressed.

BLOG TOUR/GIVEAWAY: Wedding Cake by Josi S. Kilpack

 

Blog Tour Schedule

WEDDING CAKE

by Josi Kilpack

Shadow Mountain, 2014

ISBN: 9781609079321

Source: publisher for review

 ABOUT THE BOOK

After years of mysteries, murder, and mayhem, the big day has arrived, and Sadie wants nothing more than for her wedding to Pete to be completely uneventful. When she receives a threatening, anonymous text message just days before the ceremony, she's determined not to let it interfere with the celebration she has carefully planned for months. But as the threat escalates from a distant fear to a frightening reality, Sadie realizes just how much she's underestimated the situation. Desperate to put an end to the games, lies, and manipulation that has shadowed her life, Sadie, her fiance, Pete, and her children pull out all the stops. What they don't know, however, is just how far Sadie's nemesis is willing to go to make good on the thread she made to Sadie three years ago. Will the wedding go off without a hitch, or will "'til death do us part" come far too soon? There's no turning back for anyone in the riveting conclusion to this twelve-volume culinary mystery series.

Amazon * Deseret Book * Barnes & Noble

The Culinary Mystery Series

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series was a finalist in 2009. Josi currently lives in Willard Utah with her husband, children and super-cute cat.

Website * Twitter * Blog

REVIEW

Kilpack has done it again. She's written a mystery that pulled me in from the first page. Sadie is finishing up preparations for her wedding which is only two days a way when she discovers that an old enemy has returned and is determined to do as much damage as she can. Being the last of twelve books it is definitely better to have read the rest of the series before getting to this one because the climax is a doozy and it helps to know what has happened previously.  I'm not really much of a cook but the recipes the author includes sound mouth-watering good.  I've also noticed just how good the author is at building tension until it all explodes in the fast-paced, unpredictable climax. I'm sad that this is the last in this series because I've gotten quite attached to Sadie and her family and friends, but I am very much looking forward to reading more from this fabulous author.

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 2/10/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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BLOG TOUR W/GIVEAWAY: Meow If It's Murder by T.C. LoTempio

Blog Tour - December 8th to 16th

MEOW IF IT'S MURDER
by L.C. LoTempio

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nora Charles doesn’t believe in fate, even if she is a crime reporter who shares a name with a character from The Thin Man. In fact, she’s moving back to Cruz, California, to have a quieter life. But after finding an online magazine eager for material, and a stray cat named Nick with a talent for detection, Nora’s not just reporting crimes again. She’s uncovering them… Back in her hometown, Nora reconnects with old friends and makes some new ones, like Nick, the charming feline who seems determined to be her cat. But not everything about Cruz is friendly. Writing for a local online magazine, Nora investigates the curious death of socialite Lola Grainger. Though it was deemed an accident, Nora suspects foul play. And it seems that her cat does too. Apparently, Nick used to belong to a P.I. who disappeared while investigating Lola Grainger’s death. The coincidence is spooky, but not as spooky as the clues Nick spells out for her with Scrabble letters—clues that lead her down an increasingly dangerous path. Whether fate put her on this case or not, solving it will take all of Nora’s wits, and maybe a few of Nick’s nine lives.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She lists among her favorite mystery/suspense writers Erle Stanley Gardner, Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson, as well as EJ Copperman, Steve Hockensmith, Victoria Laurie, Ali Brandon, Rita Mae Brown, Miranda James and Sofie Kelly to name only a few! Toni is also passionate about her love for animals, as demonstrated with her four cats: Trixie, Princess, Maxx and, of course, ROCCO, who not only provided the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat in the Nick and Nora mystery series, but who also writes his own blog and does charity work for Nathan Fillion’s charity, Kids Need to Read! Toni’s also devoted to miniseries like The Thorn Birds, Dancing with the Stars, reruns of Murder She Wrote and Castle (of course!). She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime – the first volume, MEOW IF ITS MURDER, debuts Dec. 2, 2014. She, Rocco and company make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York.

Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Website

Praise for the Book "Meow if it's Murder is an absolute delight and Nick and Nora make a purr-fect mystery-solving team. ! I couldn't put it down!" --Michelle Rowen, national bestselling author

“Meow If It's Murder is delightful! Readers will love the mystery and charming cat. You don't want to miss this new series” –Rose Pressey, USA Today Bestselling Author

"Nick and Nora are a winning team. The crafty feline manages to stay one paw ahead of his new owner - and the criminals in Cruz, California." –Rebecca Hale, NY Times Bestselling Author

"Namesakes Nick the cat and Nora the deli owner can teach Hammett’s amateur detective duo a thing or two. Meow if It’s Murder is a fast-paced cozy mystery spiced with a dash of romance and topped with a big slice of “cat-itude.” Enjoy!" ~Ali Brandon, NY Times Bestselling author of the Black Cat Bookshop Mysteries

"Nick and Nora are the purrfect sleuthy duo!" – Victoria Laurie, NY Times Bestselling author of the Psychic Eye Mystery Series

REVIEW

Unfortunately, I haven't had time to finish this book yet, however, I have enjoyed what I've read so far.  I admit that I am a fan of cozy mysteries where the characters live a fairly normal life except for the murder part.  I guess that makes them seem more real to me.  Anyway, I like Nora, she's a pleasant character with a strong dose of curiosity which makes her a good match for Nick, the cat that adopts her.  The book reminds me a bit of The Cat Who series by Lillian Jackson Braun, which I also loved, so I figured I would probably like it.  The only thing I haven't liked so far is that there is some swearing.

Now that I've finished the book, I can say that I liked it quite a bit.  I loved Nick the cat and the way he helped Nora solve the mystery.  I found the amount of swearing disappointing, but I enjoyed the book anyway.  A nice cozy mystery with recipes included at the back for those who enjoy cooking (not me).

$25 BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/29/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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DIAMOND RINGS ARE DEADLY THINGS by Rachelle J. Christensen

DIAMOND RINGS ARE DEADLY THINGS

A Wedding Planner Mystery

by Rachelle J. Christensen

Shadow Mountain, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-60907-861-4

Source: publisher for review (Thanks!)

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Adrielle Pyper knows how to plan a wedding, and she's especially good at pleasing bridezillas. But when her biggest client and best friend is married just three days before the wedding, Adri's world falls apart. She moves to the resort town of Sun Valley, Idaho, and starts from scratch. Thanks to Adri's impeccable tast and unique style, she lands two celebrity clients, and her business seems headed for success—that is, until someone vandalizes the specialty wedding dresses she imported from overseas. The race is on to uncover a secret hidden within the yards of satin and lace before Adri becomes the next victim.

With a delightful blend of mystery, toe-curling kisses, humor, and spine-tingling thrills, Diamond Rings are Deadly Things is a romantic suspense novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RACHELLE CHRISTENSEN was born and raised in a small farming town in Idaho not far from the setting of her mystery Diamond Rings are Deadly Things. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in psychology. She enjoys singing and songwriting, playing the piano, running, motivational speaking, and of course reading. Rachelle has an amazing husband and five cute kids. To learn more about her, visit www.rachellechristensen.com.

REVIEW

I have a great fondness for cozy murder mysteries as long as they are clean and not too graphic.  So this book was just my cup of tea.  I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the setting.  The inclusion of the crafts and crafting website were a nice touch.  There were a lot of really fun ideas included. I especially enjoyed Adri as a character, her feistiness and determination to succeed in her business despite some pretty big challenges made her easy to care about.  The book was full of other great characters too, like Adri's assistant, Lorea, Luke, the divorce attorney, Tony, the police officer, and Adri's family.  The two different mysteries and the confusing romantic situations Adri finds herself in make for a sympathetic and interesting read. I'm definitely eager to read more in this series.