A Mold for Murder by Tim Myers (A Soapmaking Mystery #3)

A Mold For Murder by Tim Myers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was the third in the Soapmaking Series, and starts with Where's the Soap hosting a craft author for a book signing, and soap making celebration and display, but although the author is right behind Ben, when he goes to introduce her, she doesn't come out, much to Ben's dismay, he goes to the back to find her dead on the floor. This is bad for business, so you know that Ben is going to have to dig into the murder, if for no other reason than the sake of family.

Another great crafting mystery by Tim Myers! Now I need to get ahold of his Lighthouse murder series, because I have got to read some more by this author.




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Dead Men Don't Lye by Tim Meyers (A Soapmaking Mystery #1)

Dead Men Don't Lye by Tim Myers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Tim Meyers is turning into one of my favorite authors. I was not sure that a gentlemen could write a good cozy mystery because of the crafting element. I mean, really, how many men have you seen in the crafting section of the store? but, Time Meyers has surprised me over and over. I loved his candle making series, and now I am working my way through his soap making series.

He has a wonder handle on the soap making business, and the craft itself. I love that part of the book. It appeals to the crafer in me and that is the min reason that I love the whole cozy mystery genre in the first place.

The other thing that appeals to me is the whole Perkins family clan. I mean we are talking a large family, in a time when large families are kinda out of fashion, yet there is Ben, the big brother that is expected to just take care of everyone in the family and to right all wrongs and banish all evil. Makes me want to be part of that family, to have a big brother like ben to take care of everything for me.

This book starts with the discover of a soap supplier, who just happened to be dating one of Ben's sister's dead on the back door. Ben's sometime girlfriend Molly, is on the police department, but Ben's over bearing Mom is determined that he meddle into the investigation to clear his sister.

Another wonderful book by Tim Meyers and another wonderful series.



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A Pour Way to Dye by Tim Meyers (A Soapmking Mystery #2)

A Pour Way to Dye by Tim Myers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Tim Meyers has become one of my favorite authors, and to think, I wasn't sure to begin with that I would like a male cozy mystery writer.

I began with his Candlemaking series, and was amazed at how well written and how well he understood the candle making craft when writting that series.

Now I have moved on to his soap making series, and the Perkins family clan. I am again amazed at how well he understands the craft of soap making, and then there is the family clan, that I can just imagine being a part of in each book.

This series is also well written and just so easy to get into, to want to read and to be part of the book and to enjoy the craft of soap making. There are tips at the end of the book on making your own soap, and at this time of year, I think I might just have to try them.

As I finish this series, Tim Meyers has another series I am working on collecting so that I can read them, the Lighthouse Inn Mystery.



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Shattered Innocence by Robert Scott

Shattered Innocence by Robert Scott

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I, along with most of the civilized world was entralled with the story of the abduction and later release of Jaycee Dugard, who would have thought.

I read this book, and although it was not what I was expecting, it was a good book. This is more the story of Phil Garrido and the failures and mis-steps of various police and federal agencies than it is the story of Jaycee.

I found the failures to keep tabs on Phil interesting and disturbing at the same time. I enjoyed reading about his background and past, but I refuse to allow his past to be an excuse for what he did. I find it interesting, so many other people have troubled childhoods, but never do what he did.

This is a good book, but don't look for information about Jaycee or her life or how she survived. You won't find it here.



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Sealed with a Kill (A Decoupage Mystery, #3)

Sealed with a Kill by Lucy Lawrence

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book Three of the decoupage mystery series is another excellent book set in the small village of Morse point.

On a walking tour of the lake, a number of visitors to Morse Point on a "Leaf Peepers" tour, lead by Brenna, find more  than just leaves, they discover a dead body.  At first Brenna thinks she will be able to walk away from it, but it turns out that the dead person is Tenley's father's business partner. Well, so much for leaving it alone and letting Chief Baker take care of this one.

Along with the investigating, we get to learn more about the characters in the book. We watch as Matt and Tenley continue to grow their relationship, and this time they are ready to stand up to Tenley's parents and not allow them to destory the relationship.

other relationships are also growing, the relationship between Nate and Brenna starts to change.

A great book, a great story and so exciting. Loved this whole series.



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Cut to the Corpse (A Decoupage Mystery, #2)

Cut to the Corpse by Lucy Lawrence

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book two of the Decoupage Mystery finds all the same residents of Morse Point, including a few new members.

Jake Haywood and Tara Montgomery have just gotten engaged and somehow Brenna and Tenley have become friends of the bride-to-be. One night the girls head out for a bachorette party with some of Tara's friends, and although Tenley and Brenna go home early, the night gets wild. Brenna has to pick up Tara the next morning to met with tara's mom only to find Tara in bed with Jake's best friend Clue, and it gets even worse, Clue is dead.

Leave it to Brenna to stick her nose into the investigation and figure out the who and when and what.

The relationship between Brenna and Nate, and then Brenna and Dom are explored and see how they develop. Also, Matt and Tenley take the next step in their relationship, thanks to Brenna and actually go out on a date.

Of course it ends up being another well written and enjoyable book by the author. Ready to read the next.



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Stuck on Murder (A Decoupage Mystery, #1) by Lucy Lawrence

Stuck on Murder by Lucy Lawrence

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Author Jenn McKinlay, who writes the Cupcake Mystery Series and the Library Lovers Mystery series, is also the author of this, the Decoupage Mystery Series, although she writes it under the name of Lucy Lawrence. Since I had read the Cupcake Mystery Series and the Library Lovers, and enjoyed them very much, I looked for others by the same author.

Brenna Miller is a former big city gal, who has moved to the tiny village of Morse Point, where outsiders, no matter how long they have been there, are still not trusted. Nothing bad has happened in fifty years in Morse Point, until the Mayor is found in a trunk in the lake. There are those that want to blame Brenna, even though she had nothing to do with it, because she is an outsider, but even more want to blame her landlord, Nate Williams, who although he has been there for year is still an outsider.

Brenna has a hidden history that happened to her back in Boston, making her scared of an violence and untrusting of the police. We slowly learn this history in the book, and realize her fears and her motivation for investigating herself.

It is a well written book, and I enjoyed the story and the village of Morse Point. I look forward to reading books two and three to learn more about the town and the people. There are some real characters, and then there is a budding or smoldering romance between local Matt and Brenna's best friend Tenley, and Brenna's own attraction to her landlord, Nate Williams and Dom Cappicola, a former mob family man who is trying to take the family business legit.

So much to discover and enjoy.



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Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (A Witchcraft Mystery, #1)

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Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I discovered author Juliet Blackwell awhile back when I found her Haunted Home Renovation Series, and I loved that first book so much, that I researched the author to see what else she might hve written, and discovered this series, A Witchcraft Mystery.

I loved this book. Lily is our lead, a powerful witch, that we know very little about, so we discover just a little about her history, with so many more mysteries in her as a person herself yet to discover.  Bronwyn is actually a wiccan, a normal human who practices witchcraft as a religion, but not a real witch and not powerful. Bronwyn shares space in the store with Lily and can already tell what Lily is, before and without Lily telling her. She becomes something of a friend to Lily, the first of her life. Maya is a student at the Fine Arts College that is recording histories of people, and in that role finds a number of vintage clothing stashes for Lily. Se also, although being skeptical of the whole paranormal world, another friend to Lily.

In this, the first of the series, Lily and Maya met with an elder lady who isn't all that she seems, and while they are visiting to look for clothes, a young girl down the street is "abducted". Lily takes it upon herself to try to figure out what is going on and to get the girl back.

It is a well-written and charming story that weaves it's way around, introducing a number of people, giving us just a touch about them, not too much but just enough to keep us interested. So looking forward to the next book to see where each of these people go, the history and pasts that they bring to the story and where they are headed. I find myself wanting to discover more about the people.

Another great book by Juliet Blackwell.



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A Flicker of Doubt (A Candlemking Mystery, #4)

A Flicker of Doubt by Tim Myers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The fourth book in the Candlemaking series starts with Harrison enjoying a relaxing trip in his kayak on the Gunpowder River, only what he things is a tree stump he bumps in the water turns out to be his former girlfriend.

While the police are sure it was a suicide, Harrison is sure it wasn't, and with the help of his good friend Markum, he sets out to figure out what happened.

This is another good read in this series, introducing us to some new people, letting us learn more about some of the people we already know, and weaving a tale that bounds the shops in River's Edge closer together yet again.

There is still some good candlemaking advice in this book, but fewer long sessions on a particular type, just more general advice.

Still, it is worth the read.



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Tutu Deadly (A Jenny T, Partridge Dance Mystery)

Tutu Deadly by Natalie M. Roberts

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


My oldest daughter is a dancer and into musical theater. So when I saw this book listed on the Cozy-Mystery group by someone that they had just read it, i knew I had to see what it was about.

The lead character is Jenny T Partridge, and she owns a dance studio, albeit a small scale studio. She has psycho dance moms coming in and out all day, complaining that their daughters are better than they really our, deserve more front-center time, etc, etc.  On this day, she has been confronted by a psycho mom who thinks her daughter is a dancer, when she clearly could care less about dance and more about picking her nose, who proceeds to pee herself and the dance floor.  As she is cleaning up the mess, a police detective walks in and asks Jenny about a mom, who she comes to find out is dead. Jenny faints on the spot.

This is different in a number of ways from most Cozy mysteries that I have read. In most books, the lead is a capable and confident woman who purposely sets out to find out what is going on, Jenny has no desire to find out what is going on, to just live her normal life, but that is not to be.  Jenny comes across in the first few chapters as almost a brick short of a full load, so to say. She can't get a simple common expression correct and seems to be oblivious to half the world around her.

I think it was Chapter 3 or 4 when I fnally stopped getting the feel that Jenny was brainless, but just oblivious. If it wasn't for the hunky detective that shows an interest in her, and the best friend James that has no clue how to handle his mother, who is actively planning his and Jenny's wedding even though James is gay, I would have no interest in another book, but the ending of this has me on pins and needles to find out what happens with the detective and james.




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Books Can Be Deceiving (A Library Lover's Mystery, #1)

Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have been reading another series by Jenn McKinlay, her Cupcake Bakery Series, and I am waiting on the next book in that series, so I checked out information on the author and found she had a few other series, so i got ahold of this one from the library.

A Library Lover's Mystery, the lead character Lindsey is the director of the library, which reminds me of the Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series, as the lead in that series is also the director of the library, but they are completely different stories.

One of the first things Lindsay did when she took over the library was to form a Crafternoon club, much to the dismay of the older library staff person, Mrs. Cole. A crafternoon club is a group that was part book club and part craft club. They met at the library once a month and read a book, which they discussed at the meeting, while crafting. In this book, they were knitting.

Lindasy's best friend from college, Beth has been the children's director at the library for ten years, and when the director position opened up she encouraged Lindsay to apply. Which came at a perfect time in her life, when the university was cutting staff, and her library position was downsized and at the same time lindsay found out her finance was leeping with someone else.

Now, in the quaint town of Briar Creek, Lindsay is settling into life, until a children's book publisher comes to town, and Beth is encouraged to show her the book Beth has been working years on. Problems start when Beth's boyfriend of five years, a children's author himself,Rick finds out. he is livid and breaks things off with Beth, and the next day when Beth shows her book to the editor she finds out why. Rick has submitted Beth's book as his own and it is set to publish that fall!  Beth and lindsay set out to confront Rick, only to find him dead!

The local small town sheriff, who has never had a murder in town, sets his sights at Beth as the murderer and refuses to even listen or look at anyone else. Good thing there is a state investigator in the case, and that Lindsay refuses to let her best friend take the fall for something she didn't do.

I felt it was a good book, well written and enjoyable to read. I loved the way the author develops the characters. I loved the first series I read by her, so I had high hopes for this series, and so far it doesn't disappoint.  I am looking forward to reading more in this series and even more book by this author.




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A Killer Collection (A Collectible Mystery #1)

A Killer Collection by J.B. Stanley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book is based on pottery collecting, it is a cozy mystery wrapped in Southern, rural North Carolina pottery making and collecting.  There is a great deal of information about the history of pottery in North Carolina, the pottery making itself and the history of different types of North Carolina pottery.

I found myself really drawn to the descriptions of the pottery pieces, and wanting to find some of these and look at them myself. The receipes for the glaze and the clay were interesting, and I found myself more entranced by it than the mystery itself, probably because i just couldn't relate to the characters that well. There were some i understood and believed and wanted to read more about, but most were so far from anything i had ever meet that I just couldn't understand or get into them.

I did like the book, not sure if there is another, it says first in the new series, but I haven't heard of any others, although i think I will look. I would probably read a second to see if I could relate more to the characters before passing judgement on the series.



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Death Waxed Over (A Candlemaking Mystery #3)

Death Waxed Over by Tim Myers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The third book in the Candlemaking series by Tim Myers. You know, i really wasn't sure i would like a male author, nothing against them, but writing a cozy mystery, I just wasn't sure. He actually got the candlemaking aspects and it works. So much so that I have breezed through books one, two and now three!

Harrison is accused of murder! A rival candle shop opens not far away, and the owner is loud and brash about hating Harrison and that she is going to "bury him", when she falls over dead at a festival, a "witness" swears that Harrison shot her, even saying she heard Harrison say he was going to bury her, well that was all well and fine, but it was actually the dead woman that said she was going to bury Harrison. Too bad for Harrison that the witness happened to be the wife of the owner of the only local newspaper.  To save his business, and his life, Harrison investigates and figures out what really happened.

This was another well-written and engaging book by Tim Myers. I liked it so much that I researched more about the author to find that her has two other series, which I am now going to have to find and work on reading. Speaking of the series, there is a post on my blog titled Author Tim Myers, and it listed the series i found and the books in order for each series, yes I have a thing about reading books out of order, so i am always working on listing books in order.




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Death by the Dozen (A Cupcake Bakery Mystery #3)

Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the third book in the Cupcake Bakery Series, and it was as well written andenjoyable as the first two!

I have enjoyed the characters, Tate, Mel, Angie, Uncle Stan, Joyce and all the DeLaura brothers! In this book, the Bakery gets an intern, Oz, that looks nothing like a baker, but turns out to have some mad skills!

The Scottsdale Food Festival is in town, and the Challenge to the Chefs is upon them. Mel and Angie entered the pastry division, and of course Olivia Puckett is entered and trying to make waves from the beginning, including standing on the stairs blocking the enterance to the office so that they can't turn in their registration, but you know that isn't going to stop Angie, not growing up with seven brothers, they have a plan and make it on time.

The contest involves baking with a mystery ingredient, and the all the judges for the contest were t culinary school with Mel, two were teachers and another student. She has a history with them all, but her favorite teacher, Vic, who helped her through her father's death is there and he is counting on her winning. On the day of the first bake-off, Vic is no where to be found, until Mel and Angie wander to the margarita tent, only to find Vic in the freezer, dead.

Baking competetion, poisionings and more keep this book jumping to the end. I loved it! can't wait for more!



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Author Jenn McKinlay

Author Jenn McKinlay has baked and frosted cupcakes into the shapes of cats, mice, and outer space aliens, to name just a few.  Writing a mystery series based on one of her favorite food groups (dessert) is as enjoyable as licking the beaters, and she can't wait to whip up the next one. She lives in Scottsdale, AZ, with her family.

Visit her website at www.jennmckinlay.com


A Cupcake Bakery Mystery
1.  Sprinkle with Murder
2.  Buttercream Bump Off
3.  Death by the Dozen


A Library Lover's Mysteries
1.  Books can Be deceiving
2.  Due or Die


Decoupage Mysteries (writing as Lucy Lawerence)
1.  Stuck on Murder
2.  Cut to the Corspe
3.  Sealed with a Kill


Good Buy Girls Mysteries (writing as Josie Bell)
1.  50% off Murder

Snuffed Out (A Candlemaking Mystery, #2)

Snuffed Out by Tim Myers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the first book, Harrison Black inherited a Candle Making shop and an old factory turned into shops, he also solved his aunt's murder.



The second book begins with a power outage in River's Edge, the building Harrison owns and that houses a number of craft shops, including his own candle shop.  As Harrison and his handy man, Pearly investigate, they find one of the tenets, the one who owes a pottery shop, dead.  It looks to be an accident, except that there was an electric pottery wheel involved, and anyone who knew Aaron knew that he never used the electric pottery wheel. 



The flu has hit this small-town police department, and the sheriff is sure it was just an accident, but Harrison just isn't so sure and starts nosing around.



We learn more about some of the tenets, getting to know their history and general traits. we met some new people, but more we learn more about the characters. They are starting to grow on me, although there are still some I don't know or understand yet, but there is enough going on that keeps me wanting to read more.



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At Wick's End (A Candlemaking Mystery, #1)

At Wicks End by Tim Myers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Candlemaking, I've only briefly tried my hand at the simple poured candles, but a cozy mystery set in a candle shop, well that is right up my alley.



The book starts with a phone call, telling Harrison that his great0aunt has passed away and that he has inherited her candlemaking shop, along with the whole building that houses the shop, including some other craft type stores and an apartment upstairs.



The more Harrison gets to know the people and how things work, he is not so sure that his aunts death was actually an accident. Of course no one wants to believe that so it is up to Harrison to figure out what really happened.  All the while learning the candle making craft and how to be a shop owner and a landlord.



This was a short book, quick read and the characters were fairly well written, enough so that i wanted to read the next book. I am still finding a few of the characters hard to read and understand, they are being revealed slowly, but i am interested enough to keep reading.



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Author Tim Myers

Author Tim Myers:

Tim Myers lives with his family near the Blue Ridge Mountains he loves and writes about.  He is the award-winning author of the Agatha-noiminated Lighthouse Inn mystery series and the Candlemaking mystery series, as well as over seventy short stories.
Tim has been a stay-at-home dad for  the last fourteen years, finding time for murder and mayhem whenever he can.
To learn more, visit his website at www.timmyers.net or contact him at timothylmyers@hotmail.com

The Lighthouse Inn Mysteries

1.  Innkeeping with Murder

2.  Reservations for Murder

3.  Murder Checks Inn

4.  Room for Murder
5.  Booked for Murder
6.  Key to Murder
7.  Ring for Murder

A Candlemaking Mysteries

1.  At Wick's End

2.  Snuffed Out

3.  Death Waxed Over
4.  A Flicker of Doubt

A Soapmaking Mystery
1.  Dead Men Don't Lye
2.  A Pour Way to Dye
3.  A Mold for Murder

New Traditional Southern Cozy
1.  Coventry
2.  A Family of Strangers

Murder is Binding (A Booktown Mystery)

Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Set in a small New Hampshire, a dying town has been revitalized by the day-tourist trade when a quick thinking real estate business man decides to court and attract unquie and rare booksellers to fill the vacant store fronts.

Housed at number 221 is the bookstore "Haven't Got a Clue", and mystery book store selling recent novels as well as rare and collectiable older books. Next door is "The Cookery", which has cooking demostrations and sells new and collectible cookbooks.

Trish owns "Haven't Got a Clue" and Doris owns "The Cookery". No one would call them friends, but Trish tries. Bob Kelly is the real estate agent that lured all the booksellers to town, but he is not everyone's favorite person, in fact most people either love him or hate him. Trish's enstranged sister shows up in and town, and they find Doris dead in her shop next door!

Trish becomes the prime suspect, in fact the Sheriff Wendy Adams takes an immediate dislike to Trish and decideds she did it, and isn't even bothering to look at other people. In fact throughout the book, any time Trish tries to tell her something she observed or heard, the Sheriff threatens to arrest her for libel. So Trish does what she can and investigates herself!

This was a fun read. The characters were well written and you were really able to understand them and felt for them. It was difficult to figure out the murderer, there were just so many people that had motive and wanted Doris dead.

There are even some recipes in the back of the book.




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Buttercream Bump Off (A Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #2)

Buttercream Bump Off by Jenn McKinlay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Cozy Mystery Group is reading Sprinkle with Murder, book 1 of this series, and of course once I read it, I had to read the second book when I finished book one.

Fairy Tale Cupcakes, is a cupcake bakery owned and ran by Mel, with her best friends from grade school, Tate and Angie. In book one, they had to deal with the death of Tate's finance Christine and Mel being the prime suspect. Of course there is still the rival bakery owner, Olivia Puckett to deal with, but things are defintely better than before. Then Mel's mom comes into the store to announce that she has a date! Over 10 years after her father has passed away, Joyce is finally dating again. the date doesn't turn out too well, when someone kills her date while she is changing clothes to go hot-tubbing.

This time, Mel isn't the prime suspect, but her Mom is, and then her Mom feels that she is being watched, so Mel does what any good daughter would do and she investigates for herself, to the ire of Detective Rayburn.

This is another well written story, quick and fun read, and i am looking for book three, because I have to know what happens next. There were some decisions left up in the air at the end of book t3wo, and no I am not going to tell you about them, so i am looking for book three to find out what happens! it's nice when you get caught up in a book like that, that makes you want to read and find out what happens with the characters.



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Sprinkle With Murder (A Cupcake Bakery Mystery #1)

Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Cozy Mystery group was reading Sprinkle with Murder this month, so i went to the library and picked up the book and the second in the series also.

Sprinkle with Murder tells the story of three friends since grade school, Angie, Mel and Tate. The three open a cupcake bakery and the story begins. There is the rival bakery owner, who drives by the store at least eight times a day, then there is Tate's finance, who is just downright mean, and no one understands what Tate see's in her. Then you have Angies seven overprotective, older brothers. Yes I said seven! In this book, I think there were only three that we learned by name, but they are all cut from the same cloth.

Tate and Christine, the mean fiance decide to have Mel and Angie do the cupcakes for their wedding. Of course this can't be easy, Christine wants five flavors for her wedding, in her colors of red, white and black, but she wants five flavors that new, that have never been created before, and to top it all off, she wants Mel to sign over the rights to the cupcake flavors to her. Mel has reservations about it, but it is a big coup for the new business and she does. She makes the five flavors and gives them to Christine, who calls to ask her to stop by the next morning to talk about them. When Mel shows up at Christine's the next morning, there is no answer and Mel soon discovers Christine's lifeless body.

Mel becomes the prime suspect, and her friendship with Tate is questioned. Mel feels she's being framed, and so she starts investigating herself.

The friendship between Mel, Angie and Tate is awesome to read about, the good friendship is wonderful, and the things that bring them together is fun. I love the flashbacks to grade school and to learn how they developed into the people they are today. Then there is one of Angie's brothers, Joe, that Mel has had a crush on since sixth grade. How does that play out? Does he realize it? Does Angie know? I'm not about to tell you, you have to read the book.

it was a great, quick, fun read! I even had to read the second book as soon as I put this one down!



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The Story of Che

The Story of Che by Justin Walling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received this book in the mail on Saturday from the GoodReads First-Reads giveaway. What a wonderful program.

I loved the book. The sing-song rhythm of the verse is so catchy and easy to follow. It is great for children and adults of all ages.

Knowing a number of friends that have adopted children, this is the perfect story to read and begin the discussion about adoption. It should not be the only thing said, but it is a great, gentle way to start the conversation.





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The Merlot Murders ( A Wine Country Mystery)

The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A few years back I read a cozy mystery involving wine, and a vineyard. when I found this book, I was afraid it might be the same book, but after reading it, I realized that it was not. It was very close, but not the same place or time or storyline.

I am not a big wine drinker, although the older I get the more I want to know more about wine and to enjoy wine. So this book has information about wine making, wine growing and history. The additional information on types of wine, the varieties, where wine is grown and how it is made is so interesting and enjoyable to read.

This story is set in Virginia, and yes, they can grow grapes there as well. We all think of france or California when we think of wine, but I live in Indiana, and we have two excellent wineries in our town, and they grow their grapes right here in the heart of the midwest.

Our lead is Luci, and she was involved in a terrible car accident about 4 years earlier, leaving her with some struggles, in fact it took awhile before she could walk again, so she took off and went to France, to a family house that was well run-down, to lick her wound and learn to live again.

An early morning phone call from her brother rocks her world and life as she knew it. Her father is dead. Her brother says it was an accident and to come home so they can sell the family vineyard. She is not so sure about the accident part, and she refuses to sell. This sets up the battle between brother and sister that carries through the book.

Luci comes home to find alot of things have changed since she left 4 years ago, yet some things are the same, and she works to discover what is going on. There are many suspects into who might want her father one, and who wants her family to sell the vineyard, and so as she works to figure it all out and what exactly is going on, she discovered the truth about people she knew.

It is a good, fun and exciting read. It took me until the end to figure out who was behind everything, in fact, when she said she knew, i was still unsure, until she told me. It was a real difference and a change and not exactly who you thought.

I so enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.





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A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor

A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor by Robert G. Pielke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


So I received this book as a GoodReads FirstReads giveaway. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it wasn't what i got!

The book is the retelling of history with a twist. The main character travels through time, back to the Civil War, to prevent a future tragedy.

It was a well written book and I enjoyed the way everything flowed. I was so caught up in the book that before I realized it, the book was done, and it was a cliffhanger! I'll tell you that already, it was a cliffhanger, leaving you waiting for the next book to find out what happens, and I am so wanting to read the next book.

This is not my typical read, but I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next book.




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Book Review: Tales From Imagination's Closet

Tales from Imagination's Closet by M. Allman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book came to me by way of the Goodreads First-reads Giveaway. I love that program! I have gotten to read a number of books I never would have otherwise.

This is a collection of very short stories, some are as short as one page, to as long a three or four pages. They are just wild tales of things that probably could never happen, but you wish they would, or think about or imagine.

I loved it! It was so neat, and it was a quick read. I started it in the afternoon and had it read before I went to bed. My daughter is now wanting to read it, and I am excited to let her.

I really enjoyed the collection of stories, all a little different, but the same in some respects. They all fit well in the book together, and I just kept reading. This was fun!



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Book Review: Found (The Missing, #1)

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Every year, one of the things I do to help out at the schools my children attend is to work the BookFair. The BookFair is where lots of great books are sent into the school library by Scholastic and they are up for purchase by the students and parents and the school receives money in return from the sales. I love working the BookFairs.

This year, I purchased this book, it was the first time Book 1 in the series had been there, they had book three last year, but this was the first time I saw book 1, so I bought it, and took it home and read it myself! Funny thing was, I bought the book Friday morning and had it finished by the time the dance ended Friday night and I had to take my daughter home!

Jonah is the main character, and he is 13 years old. He has always known that he is adopted and never really thought about it. He has a new friend Chip, that just moved to the neighborhood and they have fun together, but it is still the beginnings of the friendship. And then there is Jonah's sister, Katherine, who isn't adopted.

The whole story starts with a letter in the mail. Jonah receives a letter and all is says is "You are one of the missing", six little words. They all see the letter, and finally it is brushed off as a prank, that is until Chip gets home and finds that he got a letter. He thinks it's funny, because he thinks it means the new kids in the school have accepted him and anyway he isn't adopted, until his father has to admit that he is. What, now this rocks Chips world because his parents have "lied" to him for 13 years.

The letter and the "lie" lead the three to start looking into Chip and Jonah's adoptions and to find out more information, which leads to the biggest mystery of all.

It is so well written, easy enough for children to understand, but even as an adult, I have loved the book! Now I am passing it on to my son to read, and looking forward to reading book 2 in the series. As of right now, I know that there are four books in this series, and they seems to be a huge hit with the kids, as a number of the teachers were buying or wish-listing this series at the BookFair.




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Book Review: Shelter

Shelter by Harlan Coben

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


OMG!  I just finished this book, and all I can say is that I can not wait to read more! It was so awesome, so many twists and and turns, so many mysteries within mysteries, that I kept reading and reading and then the next thing I knew the book was done, and I was like what? wait? no, not yet!

This was just an excellent book, and it was the first time I had read this author and I was loving it. I just can not get over how much I loved this book. I can't even think what to say about the book at this point, I am still so amazed at the book, at the masterful way it was told, at the way I got carried away and involved in the characters. I could feel everything Mickey was going through, I related to Ema, and I even understood Spoon. It was such a wonderfully told story, with so many twist and turns, but yet it was followable. I never got lost in the story, things unfolded in different waves, but it all made sense.

Of course, the end had me yelling out NO and wait...I'm not ready for it to end, I want to know more about Mickey and Lizzy and even Myron.  There are just so many questions left to be answered, but even more, it was that I connected with the characters and I wasn't ready to leave them.

I was so excited to be selected as a First-Reads giveaway winner and get this book. It was an bonus for me, I got to encounter a new author, and found a book that I loved! Thank you Good Reads!!



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Book Review: Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother

Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother by Lorena Bathey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is one of the first book I ever won on the Goodreads First-Reads Giveaway, and I had it sitting there to read, but it kept getting pushed to the side by other things, another cozy and what not. I feel bad that I let it sit, but I did finally get to it, and finished it quickly!

It is a really good read for anyone who is divorcing, single or just not feeling like life is going right. I enjoyed her sense of humor, her honesty and the way she put everything out on the table and told you what she was going through and how she dealt with it. Sometimes it wasn't the greatest way or with the best results, but she didn't cover that up, she told you about it and the lessons that she learned from it.

If nothing else, if you take away from this book that life is a series of lessons, and how you react to the lessons and what you learn from those lessons, shape you and your future, then I think the author got what she wanted across.

I enjoyed the book, and plan to pas it along to a friend that is going through a messy divorce right now, as hope and encouragement that life will get better, and you don't have to depend on someone to make it that way, except for yourself.

Thank you Goodreads and the First-Reads giveaway for giving me a chance to read this book. It is not something I ever wou9ld have picked up at the store, but I enjoyed it and felt like I actually got alot out of it. Thank you!!



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Book Review: Death Threads (Souther Sewing Circle, #2)

Death Threads by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


So this is the second book in the Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series, and it was really good.

I am getting to know the characters better, liking Tori and Milo, seperately and together.

I am about a week out from finishing it, and just not able to focus on what to say today, but I wanted to get something posted about it. I will try to change this later.



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Book Review: The Traiteur's Ring

The Traiteur's Ring by Jeffrey Wilson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


So this book came to me by way of the Goodreads FirstReads Giveaways. Yeah! Free book!

I kept looking at the title, and I just didn't get it because i was reading it as "traitor" and after getting into the book, i realized that "traiteur" is a cajun/creole way of saying a "seer" or someone who has a power or second vision or sight. That made a whole lot more sense.

Ben in the lead character, and he was born and raised in the cajun back-country by his Grammy, who was a seer of the area, she protected the area. Ben is a Navy Seal, and a protector in his own right, when he is confronted by an elderly seer in a village in Africa and the Seal's are fighting off Al Quaida.  Ben isn't sure what to think, he doesn't recognize or want to recognize that part of his history, he has put all memories of life in the back country with his Grammy behind him and not thought of them except as crazy dreams. Now he has to confront them as real life and something that he has to deal with.

For being a story written about a group of men, which I really didn't think I would like or be able to relate to, it was really good, although I find that the lead, Ben has more trouble accepting the supernatural in the world than a female tends to do.  It was still a good story and one that I found myself enjoying and having trouble putting down.

That all being said, I did have to go back and read the things written in the cajun tongue a couple of times and still not being sure I quite got what the author intended.



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Book Review: Sew Deadly (Southern Sewing Circle, #1)

Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was born and raised in Indiana, no where near the South, but give me a book set in the South and I am one happy camper! Add in sewing and I am tickled pink, so I was excited to find this book.  Book One of the Southern Sewing Circle Series.



Tori moves from Chicago to take a job in Sweet Briar SC, but things are not all that they seem.  The job Tori got was a vacant position, but one the town made available. So there is a great deal of tension in town, add to that Tori finding the town beauty queen behind the library dead, and things get even worse, with people publicly taking sides!



The Sewing Circle was briefly mentioned and it was a big part of Tori getting to know the town, but real true sewing wasn't really mentioned, unless you consider the pattern at the end of the book real sewing.



As for Tori, I didn't get a chance to learn much about her, she was being tormented and teased and generally just trying to defend herself for so much of the book, that I can't say if I like her or not yet.



That all being said, I am more than happy to give book two of this series a fighting chance, then again, I might even have to give book three and four a chance, just being that I love anything southern and sewing!



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Book Review: My Dyslexia

My Dyslexia by Philip Schultz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


My oldest child has struggled with reading and school all his life, and we fought to get him tested for learning issues, only to be told that he is not dyslexic but there is something up, and to then fight to get services for him.

I got this book from Goodreads FirstReads Giveaway, and was pleased. I thought it might help me understand the issues and what was going on. And to be honest, I did learn alot.

It is written by a Noble Prize winning poet, who just happens to have dyslexia, but only learned that recently, not when he was in school.  He talks about his feelings in school and the way his dsylexia made certain things hard if not impossible to do or understand, and I loved the honesty and the willingness to share those points, those lows and later the highs of his life.

i would recommend this to anyone who is family or friends of someone with a learning disability, it will help to understand the certain things that are going on that just can't be described. It's a good read and a fairly quick read at that too.



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Book Review: Dial Emmy for Murder (Soap Opera Mystery, #2)

Dial Emmy for Murder by Eileen Davidson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the second book in the Soap Opera Mystery Series written by a long-time soap actress herself.

Now, the first was good, and this one a little better.  Maybe it's just that first book think, that you seem to find the second book better.

Alex is still our lead, and she is a little more open to the reader and other people in this one, and we gets hits of her ex-husband Randy in this book, and that proves to be exciting and the idea of Randy in the next book is what is making me want to read the next book.

Detective Jakes is a nicer verison of himself and more interested in Alex, believes in her more and wants to date her. Sometimes I felt that masked the whole Detective part and that he was believing in her thoughts too much, it didn't ring true to the personality of a Detective.

Paul, the former police officer and boyfriend gets let down easy in this book. Alex tried, but kept him at an arms length the whole relationship and it finally got to be too much, enter also Jakes who is pulling her attention and the relationship was doomed.

I think it's Alex's belief that she has to do it herself, no let anyone else in and do it alone that is so off-putting. Now, if we learn more about ex Randy in the next book, maybe I will understand it more, but I just think she has a mixed up view, that she should rely on people more.

But after all that is said, I still want to read the next book in the series, with teasers that Randy may appear in the next book, I want to find out about that one. It was good, there was more intrigue and twists in this one, in all I felt the second book was a better written book. So again I will recommend it and withhold overall judgement for another book.



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Book Review: Death in Daytime (Soap Opera Mystery #1)

Death in Daytime by Eileen Davidson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm always in the mood for a new Cozy Mystery series, and I picked up books 1 and 2 of this one on PaperbackSwap so I thought I would give them a chance.

The author is a long-time soap actress and so she would know about the soap world, although I don't think I have ever seen any of this occuring before, but it's a cozy mystery.

The lead character, Alex looks like the author in my mind, and she is engaging enough, you feel for her and you like her, but she's just kinda there. I don't know, there is just something about her that pushes me back a bit, and maybe that is on purpose since her ex-husband embazzled money from her and others and so she is always holding others at arms links.

The detective counter-part in this if Frank Jakes, of just Jakes, and he comes across as a bit of a ladies man.

I liked it well enough to read the second book in the series, and maybe I will know more then, but over-all it was a good read, just not my favorite, but good enough to try another and to recommend to friends.



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Book Review: Growing Up Colt:: A Father, a Son, a Life in Football

Growing Up Colt: A Father, a Son, a Life in Football by Colt McCoy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If I was walking down the bookstore or library isle, this would probably not be one of the first books that I would pick, so why did I read it? Well, an easy answer would be that I love books, but in reality I discovered the Goodreads Firstreads Giveaways, and this book was listed and so I entered and actually won the book. YEAH! There is nothing in the world I like more than a free book.



So I thought it ight be good, and I do enjoy football, and I knew who Colt McCoy was, but I hadn't watched him too much at Texas, but I remember the Chris Simms/Major Applewhite years. Of course I was having my own babies during the Vince Young years and don't remember them much, so I was tempted by the book. And the fact that he wrote it with his father was interesting, I wanted to know what it was about.



I probably wasn't five pages into the book, when I read my favorite line. "Prepare your children for the path, not the path for your children", so any parents today want to go ahead and clear the path for their children, to fill in the potholes and pick up the rocks, but if you clear the path for them, what happens when you are not there, they have no idea how to handle the bumps in the path.  I firmly believe this too, if you teach a child how to handle the holes and rocks, then they will always know what to do for the rest of their lives when things come up. I have shared this passage from the book almost daily since I first read it.



At this point, I am ready to pass the book on for my son to read, and although he doesn't play football anymore (bad Pop Warner experience), I still find that there are a great many things that he can benefit from reading.  I also plan to pass the book on to my daughter, and although she is a dancer instead of a football player, I find that the lessons Colt learned and talks about are general enough, they can be applied to dance just as well. The value of working hard, eating right, getting enough sleep and putting God first will always produce results, no matter the sport.



I have to admit that I was surprised by the book. I don't think I ever realized Colt's faith while he was playing football at Texas, but then again I live in Indiana, where basketball is king and football is a sidelight. We don't get to see too much football the way they play it in Texas around here.



I recommend this book to anyone who is raising children! I think you will find some basic truths that our parents and grandparents all knew, but for some reason have fallen out of fashion with todays parents. It will remind you why the ways of our parents and grandparents worked, and why they had far less trouble with children than we have today.



Yea, I gave this book 5 stars, and I don't do that often, but the message is so important to kids today, and i can't see how anyone could over look what is being said, but i know there will be those out there that "poo" the faith aspect of the book, ans that right there probably answers the question as to why so many people are lost and looking for answers, a lack of faith and belief in God in our  society.



I loved the book and can't wait to hear what my children think as I pas it on to them to read and learn from, and I only hope that I can raise children with a strong faith and work ethic in this world today.



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Book Review: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My son came home from school one day with this book, and said Mom could you help me read this. I ws over-the-moon. You have to realize this was the boy that had struggled with reading, had a tutor one whole summer, and was still almost a full grade level behind. He hated to read, it was a struggle and it was an out-and-out fight to get him to read.  So when he came home and asked to read this, I was happy to.

Every night before bed I would read a couple of chapters, then it became more and more chapters at a time as he got more and more into the book, and then it began earlier in the night, so that the girls could listen to. He listened as I read, night aftr night, chapter after chapter, and even book after book, until we finished the whole series.

When the movie came out, my husband and I took the whole family to se it, and we talked in the car all the way home about the things they changed, they took out, they messed with and what not. About how it differed from the book.

As few days after the movie, my son once again came home with the book. This time, he was going to read it again, but by himself this time, instead of Mom reading, and he did, in fact he read the whole series again. Now he waits with baited breathe for each new Rick Riordan book to come out. Thank you! From the bottom of a mother's heart for a book that made my son want to read!



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Book Review: The Dark Glamour (a 666 Park Avenue Novel, #2)

The Dark Glamour by Gabriella Pierce

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the second book in the series, and I received a copy of the book from a Goodreads First-Reads Giveaway, which was so exciting! Nothing in the world could be better in my opinion than a free book!!  But, that being said, I can't read books out of order, it just drives me nuts, so i had to wait to read this one until I went to the library and got a copy of the first book and read it.

This book starts with Jane on the run, hiding in new York or all places. She and Malcom went different directions, because no one would think they would and it would be easier to hide, and secondly she just couldn't be with Malcom anymore after learning all she had.  Jane spends 3 weeks, hiding out on her own, with no contact with the few friends she made because she is worried for their safety. Finally, she checks out a lockbox that Malcom left her, and realized that he did take care of her, and limitless supply of cash, so she finds a place to live and calls us Dee.

In this second book, we don't know where Malcom is, but actually she told him before they parted to set up and email and contact her, but she never hears from him, and toward the end of the book, what she thought were spam emails from a wedding site and actually emails from Malcom, just basically letting her know where his is, in case she needs him. This time, she works with her friends, but she tries to keep them at bay as much as possible, only to find out that good friends, are the kinds that stick with you no matter what, even if it might cause someone to get hurt.

In this book we learn more of the family history of the Doren's, and the fact they they are traced from the very first witch, and which of the witches seven daughters this line runs from.

Jane sets out to get her life back by giving Lynne what she has always wanted, only to realize after she does it that she did the wrong thing, in fact her own grandmother was in on the plot to keep that from Lynne, and when she tries to make amends, it's too late Lynne has already gotten to her and her story has been told, making Jane again, enemy number one.

What this means for the next book, I have no idea, but I think now that Jane finally realizes that her friends are there through thick and thin and they don't blame her for the problems, or for the things they have had to endure, things might start getting better. Her friends have some knowledge and some history on their side that Jane really needs to know and learn before she makes another attempt and Lynne.

It was a great book, and I really enjoyed reading it. It was so not what I have been reading laely, but I enjoyed it, and can't wait for the next book to come out!!



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Book Review: 666 Park Avenue

666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the first book in a series, and I won the second book in the series on Goodreads, so of course I had to go to the library and pick up this book to read first. can't read them out of order!!

So, the back of the book mentions a witch of a mother-in-law, who is a real life witch. Ok, but it took a long time into the story to get to that actual point, in fact it was almost the middle of the story before that was discovered, so I felt a little lost for awhile.

Jane Boyle is our main character, and is living in Paris, working as an architect when she meets the perfect man, and after a whirlwind romance, Malcom proposes to her and of course she accepts. Her only requirement is that they stop back at her grandmother's out of the way farm to say goodbye.  Here Jane finds that her grandmother has passed away, and left her a note tell Jane that she is a witch.

Now Jane is confused, but thinks she is going to hide this all from Malcom, and go on with her new life.  They arrive in New York to met the family, and Jane feels even more lost. Her mother-in-law seems to like her, but also seems to want to rule her life.  Jane does manage to get a part-time job and a friend, which makes things a little better, except that her friend has secrets, and knows more about Jane's new family that she is telling at the moment.

The first few chapters are a little hard to get through.  I had to keep going back because the back cover mentions that Lynne, the mother-in-law is a witch, and she is, but the first of the book we find out that Jane is a witch and she is just discovering that and trying to learn about her powers, and so I felt a little confused. Finally, a huge confrontation between her and fiance Malcom near the middle of the book explains it all and makes sense of everything. Of course another confrontation with Malcom at the end of the book, leads into the second book.

Although it started slowly for me, and I had trouble following along, I think because I got too caught up in the teaser on the back of the book, should have just ignored it altogether, I liked the book, and am currently reading the second.  It is a different format, not a cozy-mystery, which I have been reading alot of lately, but a fun and social book. I enjoyed it.



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Cook Book Review: Donuts

Donuts by Elinore Kilvans

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Okay, so it has been a bad day! I have been yelling at the computer all morning, it keeps jumping and typing where-ever it wants to type and not where I want it to type, and then I am having trouble with passwords from a year ago at Girl Scout registration time.

The mail comes, and in the mail, as a Goodreads First-reads giveaway, I find "Donuts" in my box.  That was probably the est thing that could have happened to me today!

I sat down and looked through the book, and I found a number of great receipes, so many that look so tempting, but I think the first one that I will have to try will be one for my daughter, and that will be the Maple-Bacon Donuts! That girl LOVES bacon, and she will love these, get a kick out of bacon on donuts, but its all breakfast food.

I can already tell, this is going to be a much-loved, much-used book in my house!



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Author Julie Hyzy

Author Julie Hyzy

A White House Chef Mystery

1.  State of the Onion

2.  Tail of the Chef

3.  Eggecutive Orders

4.  Buffalo West Wing

A Manor House Mystery

1.  Grace Under Pressure

2.  Grace Interrupted

As you all know by now, I HAVE to read things in order, and so I like to keep track of the many different series that I have read, especially when an author has done more than one that I like.  So in this post, I have listed a favorite author, and then two different series that she writes, with the books in each series in order. As she writes more I will update, but I love to have this because it helps me to remember what I have and what I have read.

Book Review: Buffalo West Wing (White House Chef Mystery #4)

Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What happens to the kitchen staff at the White House when a new president takes over? Well, it may not always happen the way this book portrays, but this is a glimpse into that life. In this, the 4th book in the White House Chef series, there is a new family in the White House, which in turn means some new staff, and even new secret service personal. And although we have never seen it get this hairy, it is a good glimpse into that life.

Ollie is the first female executive chef in White House history, but that doesn't mean cooking for a new family is a piece of cake, especially when you have at least two people on the staff pulling for you to fail!  When Ollie discovers a favorite treat of the new first kids in the kitchen, but can't figure out where they came from, she does the only think she can, lets the secret service know and puts the offending treat aside.  The difficulties of cooking for a new family pop up quick when the kids find out about the treat, and are disappointed at not being allowed the treat, and the new First Lady is upset with Ollie.  She hasn't learned the protocols, and as the secret service is quick to remind Ollie, she did the right thing, but the new First Lady has learned how careful they have to be. It causes some friction and dislike from the beginning.

The now history relationship between Ollie and her secret service boyfriend causes some upsets, as they still have to work together, and Tom still hasn't figured out that Ollie doesn't try to put herself in the middle of things, she just happens to look for answers and is well-suited to being a White House employee, because she questions everything to make sure that all is being done to protect the First Family.  The reason she ends up in the middle is that she asks questions and is observant, and it bothers Tom.  Too bad he couldn't embrace her nature, they might have been able to make a fantastic team watching over the First Family.

Another great book by Julie Hyzy, now I just have to figure out what to do until I can get my hands on the next book in the series.



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Book Review: Eggsecutive Orders (White House Chef Series #3)

Eggsecutive Orders by Julie Hyzy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book 3 of the White House Chef Series begins with Ollie being awaken by a phone call telling her the Secret Service is on it's way to pick her up, what? She is confused and the confusion only grows.  She finally finds out that someone at dinner last night has died, but knowing everything her kitchen and staff does, she can't understand why they are questioning her and the staff. Then she is hit with the realzation, that not only are they questioning her and her staff, they are locking them out of the kitchen for the time being, nothing will be cooked, and it's the week before Easter and the White House Egg Roll, not to mention that Ollie has finally talked her Mom and Nana into flying out to visit her.

To make matters worse, her questioning ways have made the Secret Service Agent over the White House Staff dislike her so much, that he is out to get her, along with a couple other people...we met Peter Sargant III again in this book, and he is openly gloating about this turn of events.  So they agent, Craig assigns her boyfriend Tom to watch over Ollie and threatens him that if she so much as asks the wrong questions his job is toast.

This all leads Ollie, not only on qustioning what happened an how it could happen, but also on a quest to answer some questions in her own life. She realizes that she is just the type of person that has to ask questions, she can't ignore her feelings and that just doesn't fit with what Tom needs. it probably isn't a good fit in the White House, at least in the Secret Service's mind, they want to figure things out, but in reality it is probably in the best interest of the White House to have someone like Ollie around, that doesn't just do her job, but loves her job and the people, and refuses to let things just hang, she needs answers!

Another awesome book by Julie that I recommend to all!!!



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Book Review : Hail to the Chef (White House Chef Mystery #2)

Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I discovered Julie Hyzy and the White House Chef Mystery Series not that long ago. I really like it.

In this book, the second in the series, it is Thanksgiving and there are alot of things going on at the White House.  Someone ends up dead, and it effects the staff and family in the White House.

This was a little different in alot of respects, one is that the "boyfriend" of our lead character is not in this book at all. There is none of the relationship tensions that you normally see in a cozy, and that is really nice for a change.

The First Lady's nephew "commits suicide" at the beginning of the book, which throughs everyone off, I mean when has that ever happened, and no one can believe it was a suicide, it doesn't fit or work. So of course Ollie is looking into things, and it's not that she is trying to find the killer or investigate, like alot of cozy mysteries, it's just that she questions what is going on and her mind needs answers, and when the ends don't match up right, she is not the type of person to just walk away and let it go.  She tends to get in trouble with the Secret Service because she refuses to accept explanations that don't make sense.

I love this series because she is just a normal person asking normal questions, and in that course she ends up in the middle of the investigation.





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Book Review: Midnight Crystal

Midnight Crystal by Jayne Castle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Somewhere in the future, on a world called Harmony, life has evolved. Para-senses have developed and life has changed, but mysteries still abound.

There is just something about the world of Harmony, something that makes me wish it really existed. The men are stronger and sexier, the women know what they want and are strong and independent.  It's like a better version of life.

This book fits in the Acrane Society and the futuristic series. It is an awesome read.

We return to the Jones family, founders of the Acrance Society and Jones & Jones, and the Winters family, the biggest rival of the Jones, and almost always on the other side, until they realize they need to work together. Each time a Winter's male needs the Burning Lamp, they find they need to pair with the Jones family. Their ancestors may not have enjoyed each other, and may have worked against each other at times, but the reality is that the wold needs both sides, the chemical and the science sides, to take care of the problems that arise.

I loved this book, but then I have loved every book set on Harmony. There is just something about Harmony. I would love to actually see it, to live on Harmony. Can't wait for another!!



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Book Review: Burning Lamp

Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Normally, I can pick up an Amanda Quick novel, and be into it and reading from the start, but for some reason this book was hard for me to get into.  It didn't feel like he other books, and I didn't feel like I really got to know either of the main characters all that well.

Adelaide is the female main character, and it seemed to take a long time to get a feel for her, the first chapter when she is introduced seems almost out of place, and I didn't get a feel for her.

Griffin, the male lead, is not what he seems. It doesn't seem as polished or as developed as the male characters in her other books, I feel so much of him was still a mystery, and although there is so much more to him than his profession, that seems to be the only thing the female lead an focus on and talk about.

This is the second book in the Dreamlight Trilogy, and personally I didn't feel it gave me anything that I hadn't already learned in the first book of the series.  This is hard to say, it is hard to say something bad about an author that I love to read.



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Book Review: The Irish Cottage Murders

The Irish Cottage Murder: A Torrey Tunet Mystery by Dicey Deere

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Glancing through the shelfs at the library, had a few books, but just was looking when this title jumped out at me. I love anything Irish so I grabbed it and thought it might be good.

The author wrote in a different style. Each chapter was short and slightly choppy. Some chapters wee only one page long. Each chapter was a different person, and not the just two different characters but a large number of different characters. I still am not sure that I have a grasp on each of the characters, and it was the end before I got the murderer, there were just so many twists and turns.

Torry is the main character, she is 27 and a translator. She travels the world, but carries a great deal of guilt with her. As a teenager, she "stole" some dirty money while babysitting. The actions changed the lives of a great number of people.

Desmond is one of he characters, and although we only see him alive in the first few chapters, we learn more and more about him and his character, as it has influenced the lives and actions of other people.  Torry and Desmond has a lot in common in that regard, but they use the events in their lives to different means. 

Torry is accussed of Desmond's murder, and although she didn't do it, and it seems beyond me that the local police actually thought her a subject, she wasn't even in the area when he was killed, they had decided that she was the murderer and it fell to her to clear her own name.



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Book Review ; Fired Up

Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'll be honest. If you give me a book by Amanda Quick or Jayne Castle, I will read it in a heartbeat, but when it came to books written under the Jayne Ann Krentz name, that was another story. 

The same author writes under all three names, but Amanda Quick is historical and Jayne Castle is future, whereas the Jayne Ann Krentz were modern day. There was just always something about them that I could not get into. But, since this was Arcane Society, and I really like those, and this was number One in a trilogy, I figured I was going to have to try.

I am happy to say, that after a few false states, Thursday evening I sat down and really stared the book. I found that once I got past the prologue and into about the 4th Chapter that I really starting liking the book.  It just started slow for me, which gave me a little trouble actually reading the book to begin with.

Although this is the first book in the Dreamlight trilogy, it is actually the 7th book to deal with the Arcane Society, so you will find some familiar names if you have read some of the Arcane books. I have read some of them, but usually only the one under the Amanda Quick or the Jayne Castle names. Now I am going to have to go back and try to do the Krentz ones too.

The book starts slow, and the first couple of chapters have you guessing as to why they are even included, but it starts to pick up and it all becomes clear.



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