Review: Lavender & Mistletoe

Lavender & Mistletoe by Donna Kauffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I really liked Avery. I understood here. I’m not as brilliant as she is but I did identify with her in many ways. I loved her curiosity. I’m totally like that. It was exciting for me to read about a character whose mind moves along seeing everything. She isn’t so good romantically. I understand that too. It was amazing for me to read her. Ben, her love interest, was just as amazing. I love the way he understood and accepted her. It just made me sigh in bliss!
I definitely want to read more in this series.
* I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book. The review was written honestly and voluntarily.*

View all my reviews

Review: Frugal Lissa Finds a Body

Frugal Lissa Finds a Body by Ritter Ames
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Frugal Lissa Finds A Body and I find a new series to love. Lissa is married and raising two boys alone while her husband is working overseas. She needs to make her money stretch. She blogs her tips and makes a little money from it. I love that Lissa is a real mom, flawed but loving. I love how her boys are in the story. They don’t just get mentioned at the beginning then disappear only to return at the end. She takes care of them. They have a lab who is called Honey. Delightfully, she is a true member of the family. Dad is away but yet still in the story. Her best friend is Abby. Reading this book, to me, was like being a part of Lissa’s life. I really enjoyed that. I loved the feeling I had while reading. I was truly welcomed into Lissa’s life. The finding of the body doesn’t happen on the first page. The book first gets us comfortable with the family and neighborhood. So when the body is found we are just as shocked as the characters. I think that’s a hard thing to accomplish. After all most cozy mysteries involve a body. We are expecting it. Yet we are surprised when it happens. This was when I got the delicious chill that you get when an author has written a scene flawlessly.
I never go into the book farther than this. If I did you would have no need to read it. I had an entertaining time reading this book. If it weren’t for a family emergency, I probably would have read it in one day. There are money saving tips in the story. Recipes are at the end. Now go read the book.

View all my reviews

Review: Curses and Cauldrons: A Paranormal Halloween Mystery Anthology

Curses and Cauldrons: A Paranormal Halloween Mystery Anthology by Tegan Maher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am reviewing an arc of Time To Jump by Mona Marple. The story features Felicity from the Witch In Time Mysteries. This time we go back to 1947, New York. I enjoyed reading this story. I thought the author did a great job capturing society at that time. The mystery was excellent, surprising me at the reveal. I loved the ending. I am looking forward to reading the rest, (some of my favorite authors are in this set!), of the stories. I have already preordered it for my fall reading.
Review of an ARC of Battle of the Hexes by Morgana Best. I recently fell in love with a series, (His Ghoul Friday), by this author and now want to read everything she writes. I loved Battle of the Hexes. This story is set in Australia and our sleuth is Adeline Bloomwood. She lives in a town with other magical beings, unknown to the mundane residents. She has a familiar, who I adore, named Pudding. One thing I love is that the author includes an explanation of the different spellings and a list of Australian slang and terms, (some of these are so fun, I’m going to use them). I’m never lost when I read her books. The stories have to be short but don’t let that stop you. I had a fun time reading this mystery. The time flew by as I read. I want to tell you all about it. I’m dying to. But you won’t have any reason to read it if I do. I’m so hoping this isn’t the last we hear of Adeline, Pudding and some other interesting characters I’ll let you discover.
*This review will be edited later to include all the stories.*

View all my reviews

Review: She's Got Game

She's Got Game by Laura Heffernan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I came across this book on Facebook. I believe it was in the Between the Chapters Book Club and they were having a chat with the author. I’m a gamer as well as a reader so this book was jumping up and down at me. I had high expectations for it and I’m happy to say that it lived up to them. I like the characters. I loved entering the gaming convention atmosphere. The author wrote that so realistically that I felt like I was there. I now am dying to go to one. It was a fun book to read. I appreciated the slower pace on romance with the mention of swipe right dating craze. I thought it was handled very well. I think this book will especially appeal to the gaming crowd.

View all my reviews

Review: My Dead World

My Dead World by Jacqueline Druga
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I started this book and couldn’t get into it so I set it aside. A few days later I tried again and didn’t want to put it down. I’m a mood reader and as one I sometimes need to start a book a few times. It is rarely because of the writing. In this case it definitely was just me. Once I got into the story, I was fascinated. I loved how the virus and what was happening unfolded. I thought it was pretty realistic with reactions. There were a few hard places for me. I had my heart in my throat more than once. I also felt it break more than once. I never heard of this author before coming across the story. Now I need to find more books by her. If you enjoy apocalyptic books you should give this one a try. It is one of the most interesting books I have read lately on a pandemic crisis.

View all my reviews

Review: Praying for Peace: A Chantilly Adair Psychic Medium Cozy Mystery

Praying for Peace: A Chantilly Adair Psychic Medium Cozy Mystery by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have fallen hard for this series. So much so that I will stop other books I’m reading and make them wait while I read these. In this book Chantilly is looking into two murders. One old, the other recent. I don’t go beyond saying a bit of information on the mystery because you, the reader, should uncover everything as you read. That is how I enjoy my mysteries. I like Chantilly. She feels real to me. I was a single mom. I like her friends. Most of all I enjoy her discovering her gift of seeing and talking to the dead. The author takes us at a good pace with this. If she had stated everything in the first book, I’m not sure I would have come back. The slow adjustment is what keeps me coming back. I have time between bookstore think about how things are developing. I loved her discovery that someone else has the same kind of gift. Most things that we think are only happening to us are not that unique. I enjoyed this book, the people and the mystery. I hope you read the book and enjoy it, too.

View all my reviews

Review: Pineapple Upside Down Murder

Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Rath
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I came across this series when I answered a question in a Facebook group on cooking with a cast iron skillet. I love my cast iron skillet. I make all kinds of things in it. It is older than I am. A cozy mystery that includes cast iron skillet recipe? Yes, please. I bought the book to check it out and thoroughly enjoy myself! I really like the family and friends in this small town. I don’t want to say a lot about the plot so yes a dead body is involved along with another mystery that isn’t a dead body. Are they related or separate? I did not guess the ending at all. The ending is complete but there is something that happened to Jolie that I absolutely must have the next book to see how it goes. So maybe the ending is complete but not. I don’t know. What I do know is I’m definitely getting Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder. And this fall I’ll be on the lookout for Turkey Basted to Death, the book not dinner at my parents where my dad always says the turkey was basted to death. You know I have to get that book just for the title alone. My dad is going to crack up! I’m so looking forward to more books in The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series.

View all my reviews

Review: Arts and Witchcrafts

Arts and Witchcrafts by Morgana Best
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third and final book in a boxset, His Ghoul Friday.
I enjoy this series so much. Misty Friday is a witch. The author doesn’t make it all cutesy twitching nose, ( I love Bewitched but those of us old enough to have watched know it was cute), to make funny situations. She teaches me, in a very fun way, new things and speaks of things I already know. She keeps it interesting while keeping it comfortable and wraps it up in a an entertaining package. Every book I have read in the series has been fun to read. The mysteries are not too easy or hard and I am surprised by them. The books can be read on their own because each main mystery is solved but because there is a mystery that carries from book to book, (no major cliffhangers just something mysterious for Misty that we learn about as she does), it is best to read this in order. I find each book surprises me by being better than the previous one. A possible love interest is back. I’m enjoying that exploration so far. I really like the pacing of it. Cordelia and my favorite Aunty June are back. I liked seeing more of Cordelia in this book. I’m really kind of suspicious of Skinny. I just get a vibe from her. I’m ready for book four, Make Some Magic.

View all my reviews

Review: The Witching Hour

The Witching Hour by Morgana Best
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I am getting attached to this series. In this book Misty is in England after her Aunt Beth dies and names her in the will. Misty arrives at the house and interesting things start happening. As Misty meets the people who knew Aunt questions arise. What was her Aunt doing? Did she die naturally or not? Nope, not telling. I loved seeing familiar names and reading about them in this story. That was a surprise for me. I’m not use to that even in paranormal cozy mysteries. It was wonderful! Aunty June makes an appearance, I’m happy to report. I really like her. A new member of the family is also introduced. There are also a couple of characters that I’m wondering if they will show up again. I’m thinking they will and it will keep things interesting. I’m looking forward to more on that once they return home. I had a good time reading this book. It was interesting and fun. I’m betting you will too.

View all my reviews

Review: Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis

Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book! I have enjoyed many books by Tonya Kappes since I discovered her. But this book! I have not laughed so hard while reading in awhile. I laughed until my belly ached and I had tears falling. I knew I was going to love this mystery when I heard it involved the John Swift tale. I heard that story when I was growing up. I knew if that tale was a part of the mystery, the Laundry Ladies were going hunting. I did not expect all the hilarity though. I just love this book! There are a couple of bodies because where Mae West goes a body is sure to follow. The mystery was well done. I loved the tie to another happening in the Daniel Boone Forest. That’s another thing I had known about for years so I found that very interesting. If you’re looking for a rollicking camping mystery this is your book.
It is eighth in the Campers & Criminals Series. You don’t need to read them in order as each mystery wraps up. The most fun, though, comes from reading them all.

View all my reviews

Review: Christmas Cocoa Murder

Christmas Cocoa Murder by Carlene O'Connor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review coming after the readathon.

I enjoyed this book so much! There are three stories in the book. The first story, Christmas Cocoa Murder, is set in Ireland. The words aren’t spelled incorrectly. I had no trouble with reading it but I grew up hearing, and using, most of the words. I thought the plot was original and entertaining. I love the nutcracker event. Their is a tasty cocoa recipe at the end of this book.
The second story, Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse was written by an author I enjoy, (the other two were new for me). I adore that a puppy named Cocoa was a part of this story. I quickly became engrossed in the mystery. There were also recipes after this story, including an interesting one for oatmeal, (which I happen to love so I can’t wait to try this recipe).
The third story, Death by Hot Cocoa, takes place at an Escape Room event. I was so excited to see that. I want to try one of those, but without a body. The mystery was fun.
I was looking forward to this book, and happily, it was everything I hoped it would be. Every story engaged me. I had an excellent time reading it. I recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers especially those who enjoy a Christmas theme.
I won a signed copy of an arc of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. No review was required. Thank you Goodreads, Kensington Publishers and Maddie Day for the giveaway.

View all my reviews

Review: Hummus and Homicide

Hummus and Homicide by Tina Kashian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the first book in one of my favorite series. I totally went at this series backward. But aside from knowing that one of the suspects was in the clear, (they show up in other books), you can read this out of order. I love the characters and the setting in this series. The mystery in this one was well done. I didn’t see it coming. There are three tasty recipes included. One, of course, was for non-deadly, delicious hummus.

View all my reviews

Review: Mrs. Morris and the Ghost

Mrs. Morris and the Ghost by Traci Wilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well I was led astray. I was wrong, wrong and wrong on who did it. So, of course, I love this book! Actually, I really enjoyed much more than the mystery. Charlene Morris lost her husband and decides to make a big change in her life. She moves to Salem and opens a B&B, which turns out to be haunted. Personally I would see that as a cool thing, especially there. The Ghost was not a witch though and he needs help. This is the extra whip cream and sprinkles on the mystery. Charlene has a lot of personal growth that she needs to go through. Happily the author decided to use that in the story. So we get much more than just a mystery. I stayed up reading this even though I’m doing a readathon later today, (it is 3:40am where I live). I really wanted to finish it. I’m happy I did because I was not disappointed with the ending. Sure, I would love to say why I enjoyed it but if I did, would you need to read the book? Would you want to? Not if I tell you everything. The last thing I want to say, for those who enjoy old movies like I do, I was reminded of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, (in the way the book made me feel as the movie did). Check this book out!

View all my reviews