Verse and Vengeance review

Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Magical Bookshop series by Amanda Flower. It quickly became a favorite series of mine from the time I read the first book, and I’m always anxious for the next one. Fans of Violet and David will be especially pleased with this installment!

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

My Goodreads review:

Verse and Vengeance (A Magical Bookshop Mystery #4)Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! Everything I’ve been hoping would happen in Violet’s life has come together in a happy way. There were times when she doubted people that she considered friends, but everything worked out and the killer was caught. I was really surprised by the reveal too and had never suspected that person. (Although I can’t say that I’m sorry it was that person lol). I don’t want to say too much, because there are a number of spoilers in the book. Any fans of Violet and David will be well-pleased.

Grandma Daisy has always been a favorite character, and in this book, Richard who was one of Violet’s professors at the college when she was getting her degree, had started working at the bookshop. There was a certain lady he liked a lot, and I was wondering if he’d ever get up the nerve to take her out. It was cool getting to know him a little bit better by reading about his working in the shop during the summer.

I’ve loved this series since the first book I read and always anxiously wait for the next book! The only reason it took me so long to read this book was due to being on vacation. Attempting to read much of it prior to vacation wasn’t working due to all the things needing done before we left.

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NetGalley/Edelweiss Challenge 2020

Tari Hann

I’m happy to sign up again for this challenge. I didn’t quite make the Diamond level in 2019, but I got a lot more read than I had anticipated. I didn’t do all that great with posting the books here on the blog, but I was pretty faithful about posting my reviews to Tina’s blog, Reading Between the Pages. You can sign up at Reading Between the Pages as well by using the link in this sentence.

You don’t need a blog to participate. I’m going to aim for Platinum this year. I currently sit at around 90 I believe, but I don’t think I’ll make 100 before the year is over. I’ll let you read the challenge details as outlined by Tina on her page, but here are the different levels:

The Levels…

Bronze – 10 Books

Silver – 25 Books

Gold – 50 Books

Platinum – 75 Books

Diamond – 100 Books

An Ale of Two Cities review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in Sarah Fox’s Literary Pub series, and I was excited to return to Shady Creek, Vermont when it was almost Christmas. I could just picture the town and all the shops with the snowfall and the Winter Carnival that was underway. The side story about the hockey game was kind of fun. Poor Cordelia, she gave it her best, lol. I’m hoping as the series progresses that Sadie and Grayson get closer. I know that Joey the reporter likes her, but I’ve been Team Grayson since the first book. 😉 I never guessed the killer at all.

My Goodreads review:

An Ale of Two Cities (Literary Pub Mystery #2)An Ale of Two Cities by Sarah Fox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had really been looking forward to this second book and I was definitely not disappointed! The mystery of the murder was a good one, and I was totally surprised by the killer reveal which was pretty exciting. Thinking about Christmas and wintertime in Vermont was so cool. I’m not a fan of being out in the cold, but looking out at the scenery would be awesome. The town of Shady Creek sounds like an adorable little Hallmark town, especially during Winter Carnival that had an ice sculpture contest.

I just love Aunt Gilda! She’s just what Sadie needed–and who wouldn’t love an aunt like her. Shontelle was the kind of bestie any girl would be glad to have, and the various employees at Inkwell were all good people. The trivia night that Sadie had was fun, and I even caught some cozy mystery name dropping which is always super fun to read about. Hopefully Sadie will eventually think of Grayson as more sweet than annoying, but I think she got a good start in this book by talking about spending Christmas with him. I definitely can’t wait 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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Invitation Only Murder review

Tari Hann

First of all, since I’m writing this on Thanksgiving, I’d like to wish all my readers and friends here in the states a blessed and safe Thanksgiving weekend. Now, on to the book.

This was the twenty-sixth book in the long-running Lucy Stone series by Leslie Stone and it was a pretty exciting one. Set on an island, it reminded me of an Agatha Christie book or a movie where everyone suspected everyone.

#Kensington Publishing was kind enough to provide me with a paperback ARC of the book, and my honest opinions are my own.

My Goodreads review:

Invitation Only Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #26)Invitation Only Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucy sure had no idea what she was getting into when she volunteered to visit and do a story about a remote island off Tinker’s Cove that was owned by Scott, an eccentric billionaire with paranoia issues. He didn’t believe in any modern conveniences aside from hot water and limited electricity..and he thought everyone was out to get him because he was so rich. When Lucy stumbled onto the dead body of one of Scott’s daughters followed shortly by a mysterious disappearance, she must have felt like she was in the middle of And Then There Were None. I know that I would have thought that! I’m pretty sure that I would have holed up in my room. The whole story had kind of an eerie feeling about that did remind me of reading an Agatha Christie set on an island.

Determined to get to the bottom of the murder and disappearance that she felt sure were connected, Lucy ended up injured, partly by the perp who got away into the woods. There was eventually quite the showdown, since the perp knew that Scott kept a private arsenal of weapons at his disposal. It was survival of the fittest toward the end which definitely kept me on the edge of my chair!

The whole book had more of a suspense feeling and compelled me to keep reading. I liked the twin 8-year-old boys. They weren’t really brats but very smart for their age, and their love of books came in handy for them. If I had been Lucy, I’d have probably kissed the ground when I stepped off the boat and back to Tinker’s Cove! This was a little different than the usual Lucy Stones that I’ve read, but it was a good kind of different and I really enjoyed her adventure on the island.

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A Murderous Tangle review

Tari Hann

This is the third book in the renamed series Seaside Knitters Society. It’s basically an extension of the original series and had a different name when publishers were switched–that’s the story I read anyway. Like all the books I’ve read so far in the new series, there’s more than just a murder mystery. It’s a story of people and relationships and sometimes unfolds a little slower than a typical cozy, but I’m used to that formula now and love the cozy feeling that this series brings.

My Goodreads review:

A Murderous TangleA Murderous Tangle by Sally Goldenbaum

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t know how she does it, but this author always manages to come up with just the perfect knitting situations to create the perfect cozy atmosphere in this series. I’ve really grown to love all these main characters, and yes, even though there are a lot of them, I don’t get confused. I wasn’t sure what to think about their new friend Tess at first, but she eventually fit in with the group.

I eventually guessed who the killer was, and that’s another thing I’ve liked about this series in what I’ve read. Maybe it’s what makes it so peaceful and leaves me thinking about the characters, but it’s a nice break sometimes not to have a main character have a dangerous standoff with the killer. Sometimes the killer is even one of their own and not normally a bad person. I absolutely loved the last scene in the book! It was the perfect cozy Christmas!

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Bookmarked for Murder review

Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Mystery Bookshop series by one of my favorite cozy authors, V.M. Burns or Valerie as she’s known on social media. I love her Dog Club series as well. This book was another winner, and even though I guessed the killer, that doesn’t mean I didn’t temporarily fall for some of the red herrings. Nana Jo is one of my all-time favorite cozy characters, and she really shone in this book.

My Goodreads review:

Bookmarked for Murder (Mystery Bookshop, #5)Bookmarked for Murder by V.M. Burns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sam had finally agreed to take a mini vacation from the bookstore and went with her Nana and the other senior sleuths to Chicago. Before they could return home, the guy that Irma was seeing was found dead on the bus. There were plenty of suspects, but somehow I managed to guess the correct one. Of course, as usual, I didn’t know any of the reasoning behind why I picked. It just seemed to be the right person.

The showdown was very exciting…how else would it be with Nana Jo involved? The ending was so heartwarming as everyone was together for the New Year celebration. I loved how Irma was featured in this book, since she always cracks me up, but the attempt on her life wasn’t too funny. I’m enjoying where Frank and Samantha are in their relationship, it’s just very sweet and believable. As always, I’m anxious for the next book in the series!

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Fan Mail review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Aspen Adams series, a suspense series by Daryl Wood Gerber who I came to know about by reading her cozy mysteries. I was a little apprehensive when I started her first book in the series, but after reading a review by a respected blogger (James J. Cudney) and a little convo on Goodreads, I’m glad I tried this series, because I found that I really like it. It’s not that much more intense than a regular cozy–and some of those can be fairly intense at times. I can definitely say that I enjoy Daryl Wood Gerber’s mysteries no matter if it’s cozy or suspense.

My Goodreads review:

Fan Mail (An Aspen Adams Novel of Suspense Book 2)Fan Mail by Daryl Wood Gerber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And to think I was afraid to start this series since I was (wrongly) thinking that due to its more serious covers, that it would be one of those scary thrillers that I’m not a fan of, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It just moves at a little quicker pace than the cozies I’ve come to love from this author, the murder scenes while not seriously graphic are a little more defined but still not gross or anything, and some things are just a little more serious, but that’s all good.

I’ve come to really like these characters too! Aspen is amazing how she’s taken in her fourteen-year-old niece Candace, and Candace is a really likable kid now that she’s away from her mom. It’s so cute how she’s kind of protective of her aunt Aspen. I love that Aspen and Det. Nick didn’t waste any time getting together, and they appear to be in a very good place. He’s incredibly patient with her need to investigate but at the same time, he’s sweet and protective but not overly smothering, because Aspen is a very independent lady. She and Nick do work well together. Of course, I can’t forget good old aunt Max who owns a detective agency and is Aspen’s boss while training her in the ways of private investigation.

I honestly had pegged the correct person as the killer, but the motive was so tangled and twisted that it was actually fun winding down all the various paths that led to Aspen figuring it out. I had no idea why I thought this person was guilty, but I just felt that way. The showdown was really exciting, and I was relieved that Aspen had thought ahead to make sure Nick and backup were also stationed near. The ending was a very sweet one for Aspen’s bestie Gwen too. It’ll be interesting to see where the next case takes these characters.

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