Tag: friendship

Knit, Purl, Die–review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Black Sheep Knitting series and part of the first three book set that I borrowed from Overdrive recently. I’m really enjoying the story of five women who love to knit, gossip a little and solve murders. The reader gets a little glimpse into each one of their lives at different times in the book since the book is written third person.

My Goodreads review:

Knit, Purl, Die (Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries, #2)Knit, Purl, Die by Anne Canadeo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the first book in this series so much that I couldn’t resist going on to the second book and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The little knitting group had grown by one person, an old friend of Maggie’s, Gloria who had just moved back to Plum Harbor with her very young new husband, Jamie. The girls all enjoyed being around Gloria, she was so full of life…until someone decided to murder her. Only problem was that the police figured it was an accidental drowning since it happened in her own pool and her tox screen showed painkillers and alcohol in her system which apparently seemed normal to the investigators.

In true Black Sheep fashion, the friends took poor grieving Jamie under their wing and vowed to find out what really happened to Gloria.

I really enjoy how they have their little morning meetings and sometimes a few of them will join Maggie at the shop for lunch. This investigation was pretty much entirely done by the ladies in the group since the police had already dismissed it as accidental drowning. I did like that for once the ending didn’t have anyone in danger. The case definitely wrapped up well and even though I had some suspicions throughout the book, I hadn’t guessed the outcome that tied them all together.

Since I borrowed the first 3 books in one e-volume from Overdrive, I plan to go ahead and read the next book before it expires, a good way to cross off some TBRs.

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To Fudge or Not to Fudge–review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Candy-Coated series by Nancy Coco. I couldn’t bring myself to leave Mackinac Island so fast so I started right into the second book. I think I may have liked it even more than the first! Let’s just say I would love to see the Lilac Festival in person someday!

My Goodreads review:

To Fudge or Not to Fudge (Candy-Coated, #2)To Fudge or Not to Fudge by Nancy CoCo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series just keeps getting better! What an exciting and fun read! Mal got to sniff out bodies again and now Allie had two interested men in her life.

It was Lilac Festival time in June and the entire island was getting ready for the festivities. While walking with Allie to the newspaper, Allie’s furry little friend Mal dug up a bone that had once belonged to a foot. Meanwhile Allie’s cooking school teacher and mentor was on island and wanted her to fill in on a reality series he was doing with a fudge competition. Toss in a couple of bodies and you have another grand adventure for Allie, Mal, Jenn and the gang at the McMurphy.

I think I liked this one even better than the first one. There was so much going on but it wasn’t a confusing type of going on, just lots of fun activities and wondering if some bones and a couple other murders could all be related. We got to meet Sandy, an intern Allie hired for the summer whose chocolate creations sounded amazing! Jenn had really gotten her chance to shine at event planning and even Allie’s mom came to the island to hang out with them a little. I ended up liking her a lot more than I thought I would, probably after hearing her side of why Allie’s folks left the island.

The reality show angle was kind of fun. I’ve never been a fan of reality shows but since this one was centered around fudge making, it was pretty interesting and I liked meeting part of Allie’s educational past, Chef Peter who continued to be her mentor she admired.

The killer was definitely a surprise to me–I had been suspecting someone completely different.

Onward to the next book. Can’t wait to see what happens over July 4th!

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The Secret, Book & Scone Society–review

Tari Hann

This book is the first in a new series by the same name as the book by well-established author, Ellery Adams (Book Retreat, Charmed Pie Shoppe, Supper Club). It’s a little different from a typical cozy mystery and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, in fact it did take me a little longer to really get into the story but I am so glad I stuck with it! It was worth every minute reading! I’m usually not a fan of personal feelings types of books but the mystery was really good and it wasn’t super-saturated with the personal damages or hurts that the characters had once gone through. It was awesome how they became friends and were able to trust someone again–books played a big role in that. I can’t wait to see what the author has in mind for my new friends in Miracle Springs, NC in her next book!

Goodreads review:

The Secret, Book and Scone SocietyThe Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow this was an intense book but in a good way! It was definitely not like a typical cozy that I usually read but as always, this author doesn’t disappoint! There were murders and mysteries to solve which, I have to admit, got me a little more interested in the book. By the time it got close to the end, I didn’t want it to end!

Nora Pennington was badly injured with extensive burns but until she met with three other women who also had secrets to share, she never thought she’d trust anyone again. She came to Miracle Springs for healing of her spirit more than anything. An out of town man that she’d been talking to earlier ends up killed by a train and she can’t let it rest that this man could have committed suicide. So she starts talking to some local ladies about it.

The three of them, Nora, Estella, June and Hester start out as unlikely friends but they soon become a strong alliance even when investigating a couple of murders which may be the result of something shady going on at local subdivision building site. Nora volunteers to be the guinea pig who wants to build a new home in the subdivision and she soon finds a lot of weird things that don’t add up.

With a crooked sheriff they can’t turn to, at least they have the help of a couple of honest first responders, EMT Jed and Deputy Andrews, so with their help, the criminals are brought to justice. Nora finally feels the trust she has been looking for and tells her story and secret to her new friends.

This story was really incredible and I totally see what everyone has been raving about. I’m so glad now that my book club chose this one for February! I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for this unique group of friends.

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