Easter Basket Murder review

This is another fun holiday compilation of short Easter basket themed murder mysteries from some favorite cozy mystery authors. Not gonna lie, I’m still not ready to give up Christmas yet, so I wasn’t super eager to read about Easter. But reading a Hayley Powell story no matter what the length always puts me in a great mood and gives me something to laugh about. All three were the fun you’ve come to expect from the various series.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

Easter Basket Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #29.5)Easter Basket Murder by Leslie Meier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed these Easter basket themed mini murder mysteries by three of my fave cozy mystery authors. It’s always fun to visit Tinker’s Cove with Lucy, Bill and all their friends. I’d actually guessed the killer in that one. Boy was that an exciting showdown and Lucy got an amazing story from it to report.

When I got to the Hayley Powell story, it wasn’t so easy to guess that, and there was an awesome plot twist toward the end. We got to catch up with Mona, crazy as ever and now chasing a grandkid around who seemed oblivious of her. Hard to think of Hayley as a grandma as well but Mona was really cracking me up. We even got a really good Sergioism!

Julia Snowden in the third story was celebrating Easter on the island where they always had clambakes. The murder turned into a super twisty puzzle that seemed impossible to unravel, but Julia and Tom managed to figure it out. Once the perp was found, the ending jumped to Memorial Day which meant opening the clambakes was just a month away.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

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Deadly to the Core review

This is the first book in the new Cider House Mysteries by well-established cozy author Joyce Tremel who’d recently written a cozy history mystery series as Joyce St. Anthony, Homefront News Mysteries that I really wish could’ve continued until the war in it was done! But I’m happy to see she’s back with a fun, new series, this first book of which I absolutely loved!

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #JoyceTremel

My Goodreads review:

Deadly to the Core (A Cider House Mystery #1)Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just like everything I’ve read by this author, I absolutely loved this and devoured it in just a day. I couldn’t stop reading since it was really compelling and moved along just right. I really enjoyed Kate’s character and all the key players. I was worried about a triangle for a bit there for Kate but not anymore, lol. She and her new friends definitely worked great together and she single-handedly faced off with a killer who apparently didn’t know the old thing about a woman scorned, lol. What a great ending and a new celebration for all the friends! I just can’t wait to read the next in this series, it’s already a winner in my book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

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Hammers and Homicide review

This is the first book in a new series, Hometown Hardware (sorry, no link for the series is given on GR) by Paula Charles who seems well-acquainted with writing a cozy mystery. I really enjoyed her first book as a new cozy author, at least I haven’t been able to find that her name’s a pen name for someone already established. I loved how this book has a mother/daughter duo working together and can’t wait for the next book.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #PaulaCharles

My Goodreads review:

Hammers and Homicide (A Hometown Hardware Mystery #1)Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought it was cool that Dawna could sense her late husband’s presence but it wasn’t in a creepy or scary way. Bob definitely came in handy at one point and Dawna’s special ability (that her daughter kinda sorta embraced as far as her dad was concerned) made for the sweetest scene toward the end and even helped her with a clue in the case.

I love the mother/daughter relationship these two have! Their dynamics are great and the banter was so funny sometimes especially with Dawna being such a klutz but the kind who was easily able to laugh at herself. My kinda people. 🤣

What a crazy showdown this one was! I loved how it played out and hearing Dawna and April’s future plans for the store was pretty exciting. I’m sure Bob heartily approved! Can’t wait for the next book—maybe April and JT can get together.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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A Bean to Die For review

This is the fourth book in the Coffee Lovers Mysteries by Tara Lush, and I’ve enjoyed every one since the beginning. It’s been a fun ride with lots of laughs, mystery and intrigue. Somehow I got the feeling the series was ending even though I’ve heard nothing official (or forgot if I did hear), but if this is really the last book, the author wrapped it up nicely.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #TaraLush

My Goodreads review:

A Bean to Die For (A Coffee Lover's Mystery #4)A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another exciting and sometimes really funny adventure with Lana, her dad, her bestie Erica and her sweetie, Noah. From the first book, Lana’s dad was my fave character and he’s stayed my fave through this book as well. Once the case was solved and the perp caught, there were some fun changes in store for Lana and her loved ones. I’m pretty sure Stanley pup’s really gonna like one of those changes.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

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The Sign of Four Spirits review

This is the ninth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries by well-known Canadian cozy author, Vicki Delany who also writes as Eva Gates (The Lighthouse Library Mysteries). I’ve loved every one of this series and always get a kick out of very precise Gemma and her methods of investigation. Was this spooky mystery even gonna rattle stoic Gemma who doesn’t believe in that stuff? You’ll have to read and find out!

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #VickiDelany

My Goodreads review:

The Sign of Four Spirits (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, #9)The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This mystery absolutely grabbed from the very get-go and wouldn’t let loose! It was hard to put it down at all and I couldn’t read fast enough at some points. I had a feeling I knew whodunit but of course none of the why or other details that Gemma so awesomely managed to figure out again. I just love when she always gives her rundown at the end after the perp’s been caught and some of the comments made by those listening are usually just priceless, lol.

Once I knew who could be trusted, I enjoyed a couple of new characters and as always, Donald Morris is such a hoot! He’s such a sweetie and so willing to always help. It cracked me up he let Bunny get away with calling him a nickname too. Can’t wait to see what’s in store next time!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

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A Crust to Die For review

This is the second book in the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mysteries by T.C. LoTempio, an author who writes about awesome main characters and their pets, usually cats, so I was happy to see a little King Charles Cavalier named Cooper in addition to a gorgeous Siamese named Lily when I started reading this series. I love how those two get along so well. And I’m loving how their human’s apparently found someone she really likes too! Can’t wait to read the next book since the ending gave a slight hint as to what we might expect.

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #TCLoTempio

My Goodreads review:

A Crust to Die For (A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery #2)A Crust to Die For by T.C. LoTempio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This has had many awesome red herrings and rabbit holes to explore but I did start putting some of the items together right and solved right along with Tiff. I love that she and the detective were in a good place unlike what she’d been afraid of. I felt bad for Hilary’s poor sister being right in the middle of the murder investigation, but only Hilary’s awesome friend would even dream of trying to prove her bestie’s sister innocent.

That was some wild showdown and someone got to prove themselves useful after being thought of as not so useful. Bartell’s a sweetie and always acted grateful for Tiff helping. The ending was really sweet!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book and my opinions are my own.

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Public Anchovy #1 review

This is the third book in the Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley and just as I was leaving the review on Amazon, I noticed a fourth book’s coming in October 2024, yay! This book was just the right level of creepiness that you can expect in an old mansion where the power went out and a storm was raging outside. Not to mention a murder or two…

#NetGalley #St.MartinPaperbacks #MindyQuigley

My Goodreads review:

Public Anchovy #1 (Deep Dish Mysteries, 3)Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This mystery mirrored the noir films Dee’s pal Sonya liked so much and what a better setting too, a spooky old house, a storm—the perfect proverbial “dark and stormy night”. Add in the murders and it was movie-worthy. Oh yeah and various other unsettling things that happened along the way. Pretty sure I would’ve just curled up in a corner and told them to tell me when it was over, lol.

The showdown was pretty awesome and Dee was actually glad her cat ended up there. Who’s a good boy, Butterball? High paw! I really loved the ending and hope there’ll be more books in the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

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2024 NetGalley/Edelweiss Challenge

NetGalley Edelweiss 2024

UPDATED: December 24, 2024 to show the entire list of ARCs I read in 2024. Thanks to Yvonne for a fun challenge as always.

I’m happy to participate again in Yvonne’s 2024 NetGalley/Edelweiss Challenge as shown on her sign-up page at her Socrates Book Reviews. As of this writing, I’ve still got one more book to finish for this year, and unfortunately I’m gonna fall short of that Diamond goal I had and read in 2022. I apparently just didn’t take as many ARCs this year or there might’ve been some I asked for and didn’t get. Either way, I’ll go for Platinum, or 75 for 2024. That way if I go over, I’ll like that better, lol.

Here’s a list of the book ARCs I finished in 2024:

January—7
1 A Crust to Die For—T.C. LoTempio
2 The Sign of Four Spirits—Vicki Delany
3 A Bean to Die For—Tara Lush
4 Hammers and Homicide—Paula Charles
5 Deadly to the Core—Joyce Tremel
6 Easter Basket Murder—Meier, Hollis and Ross
7 Murder at the Blarney Bash—Darci Hannah

February—13, 20 total
1 A Killer Romance—Maggie Blackburn
2 A Pie to Die For—Gretchen Rue
3 The Last Word—Gerri Lewis
4 Double Grudge Donuts—Ginger Bolton
5 A Catered Quilting Bee—Isis Crawford
6 A Smoking Bun—Ellie Alexander
7 A Suspicious Breed—Jackie Layton
8 Revved Up 4 Murder—J.C. Eaton
9 Five Furry Familiars—Lynn Cahoon
10 Gone with the Witch—Angela M. Sanders
11 Crime and Cherry Pits—Amanda Flower
12 Ill-Fated Fortune—Jennifer J. Chow
13 Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid—Traci Wilton

March—8
1 A Midnight Puzzle—Gigi Pandian
2. Cats, Carats & Killers—TC LoTempio
3. Battered and Buried—Lena Gregory
4. Murder Marks the Page—Karen Rose Smith
5. Death Unfiltered—Emmaline Duncan
6. The Witless Protection Program—Maria DiRico
7. Rhythm and Clues—Olivia Blacke
8. Three Fudges and a Baby—Nancy Coco

April—6—34 total NetGalley to date
1. Murder Most Owl—Sarah Fox
2. Brie Careful What You Wish For—Linda Reilly
3. Patchwork Quilt Murder—Leslie Meier
4. A Twinkle of Trouble—Daryl Wood Gerber
5. Four-Alarm Homicide—Diane Kelly
6. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone—Sarah Graves

May—7, 41 total NG to date
1. Easier Dead Than Drawn—Bailee Abbott
2. Knot Dead Again—Betty Hechtman
3. Lights, Camera, Bones—Carolyn Haines
4. The Diva Goes Overboard—Krista Davis
5. A Pose Before Dying—Alex Erickson
6. A Limited Edition Murder—Lauren Elliott
7. Murder at the Spelling Bee—Lee Hollis

June—7 48 NG to date
1. The Stranger in the Library—Eva Gates
2. Kill or Bee Killed—Jennie Marts
3. Olive You to Death—Lynn Cahoon
4. The Body in the Bookstore—Ellie Alexander
5. A Murder at the Movies—Ellie Alexander
6. Haunting License—Carol J. Perry
7. A Murder for the Sages—Amy Lillard

 

July—7 55 NG to date
1. Murder on Devil’s Pond—Ayla Rose
2. Pinned 4 Murder—J.C. Eaton
3. A Very Woodsy Murder—Ellen Byron
4. A Cup of Flour, a Pinch of Death—Valerie Burns
5. Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop—Emmaline Duncan
6. Trouble Is Brewing—Vicki Delany
7. A Poisonous Palate—Lucy Burdette

August—8, 63 to date
1. Booked on Murder—Allison Brook
2 Shock and Paw—Cate Conte
3 Sticks & Scones—Ellie Alexander
4 The Jig Is Up—Lisa Q. Mathews
5 In the Event of Murder—Cynthia Kuhn
6 Quilty As Charged—Maggie Bailey
7 A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor—Darcy Hannah
8 French Quarter Fright Night—Ellen Byron

September—7, 70 to date
1 The Grim Steeper—Gretchen Rue
2 A Slay Ride Together with You—Vicki Delany
3 Silent Nights Are Murder—Libby Klein
4 Shear Terror—Dorothy Howell
5 Six Stunning Sirens—Lynn Cahoon
6 Death of a Gingerbread Man—Lee Hollis
7 Death at the Dinner Party—Ellie Alexander

October—6, 76 to date
1 A Corpse at the Witching Hour—Debra Sennefelder
2 Blue Christmas Bones—Carolyn Haines
3 Fondue or Die—Korina Moss
4 Murder on the Page—Daryl Wood Gerber
5 In the Blink of a Pie—Catherine Bruns
6 The Little Lost Library—Ellery Adams

November—6, 82 to date
1 I’ll be Home for Mischief—Jacqueline Frost
2 A Corpse Among the Carolers—Debra Sennefelder
3 You Feta Watch Out—Linda Reilly
4 The Tell-Tale Homicide—Daphne Silver
5 A Holiday Homicide—Ellie Alexander
6. Madrigals and Mayhem—Elizabeth Penney

December—7 for the month, 90 FOR THE YEAR
1 Murder at the Lemonberry Tea—Darci Hannah
2 The Herringbone Harbor Mystery—Sally Goldenbaum
3 The Witch Is Back—Angela M. Sanders
4 Blame the Beignets—Ginger Bolton
5 Booked for Murder—PJ Nelson
6 Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine—Traci Wilton
7 Irish Soda Bread Murder—Carlene O’Connor, Peggy Ehrhart, Liz Ireland

Coconut Drop Dead review

This is the third book in the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries by Olivia Matthews of the Sister Lou and Peach Coast Mysteries. I’ve only read her Peach Coast but I really believe I like this series a lot better, even though all the characters she writes about are fun and likable. Granny’s my fave in this Spice Isle series though. She cracks me up and I know she’d be someone I’d get along with great! I really hope this series continues beyond the third book.

#NetGalley #St.Martin/Minotaur #Olivia Matthews

My Goodreads review:

Coconut Drop Dead (Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries Book 3)Coconut Drop Dead by Olivia Matthews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow what a case and I’m sure Lyndsay and her family were thrilled not to be suspects this time, but she was still up for some sleuthing. I love the camaraderie of this fun-sounding section of Brooklyn and how Lyndsay’s family was ready and willing to help out even if someone was a stranger.

Dev’s little side story turned out well and that was one exciting showdown. Did Lyndsay use her kickboxing skills in this killer showdown? You’ll have to read and see! I hope there’ll be more in the series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

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Irish Mocha Murder review

In another fun little anthology, three fave cozy mystery writers have their St. Paddy’s Day offerings for their series. The first, Irish Milkshake Murder is #2.5 in the Home to Ireland series by Carlene O’Connor; the second, Murder Most Irish is #9.5 in the Knit and Nibble Mysteries by Peggy Ehrhart, and last but definitely not least is Mrs. Claus and the Luckless Leprechaun, #4.5 in the Mrs. Claus Mysteries by Liz Ireland. These were all really good and even though it’s Christmastime right now, it was still a super fun book.

My Goodreads review:

Irish Milkshake Murder (Home to Ireland Mystery, #2.5)Irish Milkshake Murder by Carlene O’Connor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a cool trio of St. Patrick’s Day themed mysteries from three fun series. I liked how the Irish milkshake theme was incorporated into each one, but a little different in each one. In the Christmastown offering that was third, Wobbler the reindeer was cracking me up! But he turned out not to be as big of a coward as he claimed. Now we know how elves and Santa’s people spend St. Paddy’s day! Along with two other fave cozy series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of his book, and my opinions are my own.

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