Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Bait and Witch review

January 21, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new series, Witch Way Librarian, by Angela M. Sanders, and I absolutely loved it! The characters are fun, Josie has some mad witchy skills she wasn’t quite aware of until later, and the cat Rodney is an awesome friend for Josie. I was so happy to see on Amazon that the next book comes out in August. That’s a lot better than having to wait a year, but it’s still going to be hard waiting!

My Goodreads review:

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was so good that there were some spots where I couldn’t even put it down! I really liked the key players a lot and feel like Josie, Roz and Darla will become good friends. Rodney was such an awesome cat, and Josie’s powers that she discovered were pretty cool too. I loved what she could do using Rodney’s body to get the job done–it came in really handy saving someone’s life eventually.

At one point there was a random clue that made me start suspecting whodunit, and I was right, but I had no idea about all the reasons involved. The parts toward the end were suspenseful and the showdown was pretty nail biting since it somewhat followed a vision that Josie’s mom had told her she’d had of her, but with her good cat friend and assorted human friends, Josie made it through and caught the real killer. I really loved the ending, and now I’m going to have trouble waiting patiently for the next book.

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

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A Murder Between the Pages

January 19, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Main Street Book Club series by Amy Lillard, already known as a romance writer. I’m so glad she’s writing cozy mysteries! I’m not a romance reader (although I enjoy a little romance in cozies), but if I was, I’m sure I’d be reading hers because the covers look very sweet.

It’s so fun to picture Arlo herding her cats, er I mean, book club members around the town trying to keep the 70 and 80-somethings out of trouble and on topic if they’re in the bookstore. I love that these women are all in touch with smart phones and computer usage probably more than some people half their age, lol. Although Helen said she preferred not to use computers, she did know what she was doing.

My Goodreads review:

A Murder Between the Pages by Amy Lillard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For some reason, I loved this book even more than the first one! Those book club ladies are a hoot and crack me up! It’s so funny how poor Arlo has to feel like their babysitter or sometimes even cat herder! But she loved each one of them fiercely especially Helen who took care of her from age sixteen. It had been so long since I read the first book that I really forgot so much. The author was great about catching readers up just enough without it getting boring for those who read the first book or giving away anything. I was actually glad for any review.

I had a feeling all along about whodunit and was right, but I hadn’t expected the twist that had come along. I did figure one other thing out too, but usually I do that and have nowhere to go with it, so I just sit back and enjoy the read. At first I was like Arlo and didn’t really want to worry about the past mystery, but like her, I got sucked into it quickly. I mean who could resist with these awesome ladies going on about it all the time? Arlo’s description of them as being like the Golden Girls was pretty much spot-on…if those ladies had been amateur sleuths, that is!

I liked that Chloe and her little boy were included more in the story, since the first book she was basically unavailable most of the book. Just as the current murder and past mystery were solved, another one soon came along. Not actually a mystery, more like a returnee to town. I think I might have to reread parts of book one now!

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Rhubarb Pie Before You Die review

January 15, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the newer Garlic Farm series by well-established author Gin Jones. I found myself liking it so much better than the first book, which was entertaining and while I could identify with Mabel on a couple of things, I had found myself not liking her character a whole not. At least not until this book came along. It’s definitely a good idea to read the two books in order and get to know the Mabel who first came to the garlic farm as opposed to how she’s changed for the better as far as being a nicer, more human person. I’m really anxious now for the next book!

The little jam jars picture made me think of Betty from the farmers’ market bringing Mabel some rhubarb jam samples.

My Goodreads review:

Rhubarb Pie Before You Die by Gin Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book so much more than the first one. I liked the first book, but I didn’t like Mabel very much until more toward the end. In this book, she was continuing to become more human and actually interact with people in person. Before, she seemed like a clone or a robot just going through her app work. I believe Rory and Emily had a lot to do with transforming her into someone a lot more likable, and now I can say I do like her a lot better. She was much warmer this time to her friends and even let a feral cat have kittens at her house. Maybe someday she’ll realize that letting Charlie into her life wouldn’t be such a terrible thing either! 😉

I definitely hadn’t guessed the killer, and the showdown was pretty exciting. I think Mabel was finally coming to realize she didn’t hate it so much on the farm because during the book, she seemed to really focus herself on the crops and getting the place sold. With her logical thinking, Mabel was turning into quite the amateur sleuth. Now if she’d just realize she needs a sidekick!

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A Deadly Edition review

January 12, 2021January 12, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Blue Ridge Library series by Victoria Gilbert, and I’m so happy that there are at least two more books coming to the series. I absolutely loved this book, and the wedding was pretty awesome too.

This series is really best read in order to help build on character knowledge and previous happenings. But the author does a great job of catching readers up without spoiling anything.

My Goodreads review:

A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This might be the best of this series yet! Richard and Amy’s families came together for their wedding, and it was fun getting to know Scott, her brother a little bit better. We always knew he had a super secret job, but in this book he even surprised his sister with what he does.

Eventually the clues fell into place for me, and I figured out someone’s identity. I don’t want to say too much or spoil it, but this series had mentioned the person in an earlier story. The showdown was great, and everyone involved had a small part. Kurt Kendrick is definitely the JR Ewing of this series–you gotta love him, and I think he’s an awesome character, but sometimes he really can be a stinker. Amy was never sure if she should trust him or not, but I think he proved himself a good ally in this book, past shady deeds or not.

The wedding was beautiful to read, and it seems as though for now everyone in the book had someone or something to make them have a happy ending. I was really happy to read on the author’s blog that there will be at least a couple more books in this series.

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

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Grounds for Murder review

January 9, 2021January 12, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the first in a debut series by Tara Lush, a new cozy author, and I’m looking forward already to the next in this Coffee Lover’s series. I really love the setting she’s made for her characters here, and the characters themselves are just a mixed bag of fun! I’m crazy about little Stanley, the Shih Tzu that Lana took under her wing after his owner was killed. A fun and warm read for a cold December day!

My Goodreads review:

Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Lana’s barista was killed right after he quit and she was questionably looked at all over the island, the reporter in her couldn’t stand leaving it alone. She even managed to get her newspaper friend to let her do an article on the dead barista who was hit with all the ladies and an Insta sensation. With the help of a new friend and the handsome police chief (who actually didn’t want her help, but he liked her), Lana made it to a showdown with the killer that was pretty nail-biting. I’d suspected this person after picking up on some clues and was wondering how it’d play out.

Even thought Erica is light years from anyone I would probably want to hang out with, I absolutely loved her character! She was hilarious and sometimes really good for Lana’s confidence. Lana’s dad was a hoot too without actually meaning to be one. It’ll be interesting to see what these three get into in the next book which I’m definitely anxious to read. This was a nice strong start for a new beach mystery series, and I’m definitely a sucker for mysteries set at the beach! I liked Lana and Noah being together and hope they stay that way without fighting or bickering. He was a pretty patient guy to have to deal with her, but he could see the frustration she had with her need to be on a case like she’d been as a journalist in her previous life.

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

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A Wicked Yarn review

January 7, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series called Craft Fair Knitters by Emmie Caldwell who some of us cozy mystery readers might also know better as Mary Ellen Hughes. Mary Ellen wrote the cozy series Pickled and Preserved series, Craft Corner and most recently, Keepsake Cove, each series being three books long. The first series listed in her bio is Maggie Olensky, which from the covers looks to be a little more edge-of-your-seat than a normal cozy, but the descriptions are interesting. That was a two-book series.

I’ve read and enjoyed the Keepsake Cove series and have been wanting to dig into the other two cozy series now for a long time. Anyone who’s ever been in a craft fair will definitely appreciate this Craft Fair Knitters series, and now I can’t wait for the next book. By the end of A Wicked Yarn, Lia, Hayley and Belinda felt like old friends.

Daphne was such a sweet ragdoll kitty, but I couldn’t find a free image of a white one. I imagine her tail looked a lot like the picture I did find above.

My Goodreads review:

A Wicked Yarn by Emmie Caldwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Being a longtime craft fair participant myself, I really enjoyed the setting for this mystery. How cool would it be to have a venue for doing a nice show every weekend? And the best part was it was inside away from the weather. Although if Belinda the manager’s ex had his way, that barn was going to be torn down once he bought it. Luckily, the crafters never had to find out, because someone offed the guy, and all eyes turned to his ex, Belinda. Main character Lia was a good friend of hers, so with the help of her twenty-something daughter Hayley, they decided to clear their pal’s good name…and bring back their customers due to the pesky detail that the dead guy was found in their barn.

Lia and Hayley were such a fun and likable mom-daughter duo, and they made a good sleuthing team. I like that Lia wasn’t portrayed as someone who was tech-scared (as characters her age are often described in books–I’m older than Lia and I love tech!). The roles were almost reversed from the typical cozy which was fun. Hayley went off on her own while Lia sleuthed online. An added plus was that Hayley started seeing her old friend Brady who was now a police officer who came in handy more than once.

I had a sneaky feeling most of the way through the book of whodunit, but I had no idea why, so it was fun following along and seeing if I got taken by any of the red herrings. The showdown was really good, and just as I was worried the killer was getting away, the police got them. There were a few places where the story went a little slow, but usually it kept my interest due to the craft fair subject. I’m really very anxious now for the next book!

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

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2021 Library Love Reading Challenge

January 1, 2021 Tari Hann

Angela at Angel’s Guilty Pleasures is once again hosting this challenge along with Books of My Heart, so you can just use the linked name to join if you want. Then hop over to the link-up page and enter the drawing then keep it bookmarked for the next three months to add your links as you read library books, or in my case or most cases right now, books borrowed from your library via Overdrive/Libby.

I’m going for the 12 level again. Here are the levels:

Levels:

Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books
Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books
Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
Library Addict: Read 48 books
Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books

Sit, Stay, Slay review

December 31, 2020 Tari Hann

This is the fifth and sadly, the last book in The Dog Club Mysteries, a series by one of my fave authors V.M. Burns that quickly became one of my favorites. I’ve followed it from the very first book, and somehow I feel like I’m losing an old friend, but I was so happy with how the author wrote this last book, I can use my imagination on how my book friends’ lives will continue. I have to admit to leaky eyes several times throughout this book, but the happy kind of leaky eyes!

I thought the poodle picture I found represents both Aggie and Rex’s personalities. Maybe not the right color but I love the eye expression!

My Goodreads review:

Sit, Stay, Slay by V.M. Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reading this book was bittersweet to me, because I know it’s the last book of this series, which makes me really sad, but I thought the author did an incredible job of creating nice endings for all my favorite characters. I would absolutely love it if the series could be revisited down the road a few years. I won’t give anything away, but my statement will make more sense after you’ve read it too!

The showdown was like the mother of all showdowns! Lilly faced one of her worst fears and came through like a champ! I was so proud of her, I wanted to hug her myself! And those awesome, sweet dogs…well I just can’t say enough good things about her and Dixie’s dogs, but they’re all heroes. That’s something else you’ll see when you read the book. Every good thing I could have wanted in a last in series was there!

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

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2021 NetGalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenge

December 30, 2020December 30, 2021 Tari Hann

Now for the wrap-up! At the end of November, I ended up with 105, but I’m planning to keep track through December. This fulfills my challenge of Platinum 75 though.

January-12

A Wicked Yarn—Emmie Caldwell
2. Grounds for Murder—Tara Lush
3. A Deadly Edition—Victoria Gilbert
4. Rhubarb Pie Before You Die—Gin Jones
5. A Murder Between the Pages—Amy Lillard
6. Bait and Witch—Angela M. Sanders
7. A Catered Book Club Murder—Isis Crawford
8. The Broken Spine—Dorothy St. James
9. A Curious Incident—Vicki Delany
10. One Poison Pie—Lynn Cahoon
11. Hope, Faith and a Corpse—Laura Jensen Walker
12. A Tourist’s Guide to Murder—V.M. Burns

February—7
1. Ink and Shadows—Ellery Adams
2. Irish Parade Murder—Leslie Meier
3. A Glimmer of Death—Valerie Wilson Wesley
4. Murder with a View—Diane Kelly
5. Farm to Trouble—Amanda Flower
6. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop—Darci Hannah
7. Long Island Iced Tina—Maria DiRico

March—6
1. A Game of Cones—Abby Collette
2. Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder—Joanne Fluke
3. Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle—Sarah Graves
4. A Deadly Chapter—Essie Lang
5. Murder by Page One—Olivia Matthews
6. Bodies and Bows—Elizabeth Penney

April—11
1. Under the Cover of Murder—Lauren Elliott
2. Fresh Brewed Murder—Emmaline Duncan
3. Mrs. Morris and the Sorceress—Traci Wilton
4. Poppy Harmon & the Pillow Talk Killer—Lee Hollis
5. Death at the Salon—Louise R. Innes
6. Laid Out in Lavender—Gin Jones
7. A Tale of Two Cookies—Eve Calder
8. Lemon Drop Dead—Amanda Flower
9. Whole Latte Murder—Lena Gregory
10. Murder in the Cookbook Nook—Ellery Adams
11. Wining and Dying—Daryl Wood Gerber

May—4
1. Punning with Scissors—Becky Clark
2. A Trail of Lies—Kylie Logan
3. Deadly Ever After—Eva Gates
4. Peaches and Schemes—Anna Gerard

June—8
1. Ruby Red Herring—Tracy Gardner
2. Deadly Delights—Lauren Jensen Walker
3. Reserved for Murder—Victoria Gilbert
4. The Time for Murder Is Meow—T.C. LoTempio
5. A Glimmer of a Clue—Daryl Wood Gerber
6. Beauty Expos Are Murder—Libby Klein
7. Draw & Order—Cheryl Hollon
8. Death of an Italian Chef—Lee Hollis

July—13
1. Murder at the Lakeside Library—Holly Danvers
2. Dogged by Death—Laura Scott
3. A Hex for Danger—Esme Addison
4. Midnight Spells Murder—Mary Angela
5. A Spirit Seeks Asylum—Lena Gregory
6. Fatal Family Ties—S.C. Perkins
7. Murder in a Teacup—Vicki Delany
8. The Rocky Road to Ruin—Meri Allen
9. Two Wicked Desserts—Lynn Cahoon
10. Much Ado About Nauticaling—Gabby Allan
11. The Cider Shop Rules—Julie Anne Lindsey
12. The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole—JoAnna Carl
13. A Time to Swill—Sherry Harris

August—13
1. Murder, She Edited—Kaitlyn Dunnett
2. A Scone of Contention—Lucy Burdette
3. One for the Hooks—Betty Hechtman
4. Cajun Kiss of Death—Ellen Byron
5. Danger at the Cove—Hannah Dennison
6. Hemlock for the Holidays—Paula Darnell
7. The Secret Staircase—Sheila Connolly
8. No Grater Crime—Maddie Day
9. Mrs. Morris and the Vampire—Traci Wilton
10. Seven Year Witch—Angela M. Sanders
11. Halloween Party—Meier, Hollis, Ross
12. Be My Ghost—Carol J. Perry
13. Partners in Lime—Bree Baker

September—9
1. Reading Between the Crimes—Kate Young
2. A Perfect Bind—Dorothy St. James
3. The Glitter End—Vivian Conroy
4. Here Comes the Fudge—Nancy Coco
5. Death at Holly Lodge—Louise R. Innes
6. Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off—Darci Hannah
7. The Corpse in the Gazebo—Debra Sennefelder
8. Chapter and Curse—Elizabeth Penney
9. Murder Outside the Lines—Krista Davis

October—14
1. The Cure for What Ales You—Ellie Alexander
2. Well-Offed in Vermont—Amy Patricia Meade
3. Once Upon a Seaside Murder—Maggie Blackburn
4. Slashing Through the Snow—Jacqueline Frost
5. Digging Up Trouble—Kitt Crowe
6. A Brush with Murder—Bailee Abbott
7. In Hot Water—Kate Kingsbury
8. Mistletoe Cake Murder—Lena Gregory
9. Have a Holly, Haunted Christmas—Lynn Cahoon
10. Strangers on a Skein—Anne Canadeo
11. Deck the Donuts—Ginger Bolton
12. To the Tome of Murder—Lauren Elliott
13. The Enemy You Gnocchi—Catherine Bruns
14. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder—Maria DiRico

November—8 105 to date
1. Getaway with Murder—Diane Kelly
2. Christmas Dessert Murder—Joanne Fluke
3. An Eggnog to Die For—Amy Pershing
4. Short-Circuited in Charlotte—Amy Patricia Meade
5. Fatal Solutions—Becky Clark
6. Death on the Shelf—Allison Brook
7. Claret and Present Danger—Sarah Fox
8. Killer Words—V.M. Burns

December—13
1. A Murder Like No Author—Amy Lillard
2. Murder at the Lobstah Shack—Maddie Day
3. A Plus One for Murder—Laura Bradford
4. Big Trouble in Little Greektown—Kate Spencer
5. Bear a Wee Grudge—Meg Macy
6. Christmas Candy Corpse—Rosemarie Ross
7. Murder at the Bake Sale—Lee Hollis
8. Beauty and the Deceased—Debra Sennefelder
9. Renewed for Murder—Victoria Gilbert
10. Cold Brew Corpse—Tara Lush
11. How to Book a Murder—Cynthia Kuhn
12. Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door—Barbara Ros
13. Witch Trial—Cate Conte

This year, Yvonne from from Socrates’ Book Reviews is taking over this challenge from Tina (thanks for being an awesome host in the past, Tina!). If you want to sign up, it’s Socrates’ Book Reviews-NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge – Sign Up.

I’m going for the 75 Platinum level, since I only went over it by a little this year. I’ll post a list of what I read at the end of 2021. I’m waiting to see if I get one more book done that I’ve started. That’ll make 79 if I get it read (which I’m pretty sure I will.)

Image above was on the Socrates’ Book Reviews site and was created for Yvonne’s use by GadgetGirl71. I didn’t want to miss crediting her and hope it’s okay to post it here, so people will know that’s the image to look for on Socrates when they sign up.

A Big Fat Greek Murder review

December 29, 2020 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the newer Goddess of Greene St. mystery series by Kate Collins who’s well-known for her Flower Shop mysteries that became the basis for a series of Hallmark TV mystery movies. I liked this book even better than the first, and I have a feeling I’ll probably end up saying that about each one. I can’t wait for the next book and loved how this one ended.

My Goodreads review:

A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book with its sometimes-funny scenes and great characters! Athena’s sister ended up in jail for a murder she didn’t commit, and it was pretty hilarious picturing her mom going to the jail with food then getting into it with the warden over said food.

I loved that Case was interested in Athena and thought they made a pretty good investigating team. He was amazing at how he could think on his feet and hide, just what a great investigator would do. There were quite a few suspects, and I got sucked into believing every one of them was guilty whenever they were discussed, but I apparently guessed whodunit before Athena did. The showdown was suspenseful and exciting, and everyone got to be a little bit of a hero. The ending of the book was really awesome (and a touch funny too!). I’m really excited to read the next book!

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