Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

News

2012-02-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hello readers.

On January 31, I advised I would be absent from the blog for some time as a family member of mine is quite ill. Well after a few weeks of being away and caring for them, it would appear I won't be able to return to blogging and book reviewing. Over the next six months I am going to be quite busy with my family, with very little time even for reading.

As such I am closing down Cozy Mystery Book Reviews. For the time being I will leave the blog up and running, but no further posts will be added. Authors, all your reviews have been added to Amazon and Goodreads, and these accounts will be left open.

I have enjoyed my time blogging, and I thank each and every one of my readers for making it a enjoyable experience.

Winners Announced: Guess the Covers Competition & Young Adult Giveaway Hop

2012-02-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

Time to announce some winners.

The winner of the Guess the Covers Competition and a $50 Amazon.com giftcard is Michelle. The winner of the YA Giveaway Hop and a copy of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is Kelly M.

Thanks to everyone that stopped by to enter.

An Absence

2012-01-31T14:09:00.001-07:00

Hello readers. I'm going to be taking an unplanned absence from my blog. An immediate family member is quite sick and I need to return home for several weeks. I anticipate I will be not be returning before the beginning of March. All interviews and/or reviews have been put on hold, and I hope to be able to reschedule them upon my return.

While I am away I may be reading off and on, and I will be posting any reading updates on my Goodreads account. It is a 25+ hour flight from where I live to where my parents live, so I'm anticipating I will get some reading done.

I will be announcing giveaway winners for the Guess the Covers competition and the YA Giveaway Hop tomorrow. After that I will be away from the computer and will only be checking the comments every few days.

Thanks for your understanding, and I hope to be back in March with more fabulous reviews, giveaways and cozy mystery fun!

Review: Greenshaw's Folly by Agatha Christie

2012-01-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Title: Greenshaw's Folly
Author: Agatha Christie
Series: Miss Marple short story

Dying to read Agatha Christie for the first time or to re-read one of her classic mysteries but don’t know where to start? This fully authorized and comprehensive guide to the Queen of Mystery includes an introduction by award-winning Agatha Christie expert John Curran with features on each of her classic detectives including Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot and Tommy & Tuppence; guides to reading each of her series and her stand-alone novels; and an A to Z of Agatha Christie. Interspersed throughout are quotes from Christie, a list of the Christie novels that were her personal favorites and three of her classic short stories: The Affair at the Victory Ball, Greenshaw’s Folly and A Fairy in the Flat. Clues to Christie Table of Contents: “Agatha Christie: An Introduction” by John Curran; The Hercule Poirot Mysteries; “The Affair at the Victory Ball”; The Miss Marple Mysteries; “Greenshaw’s Folly”; The Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries; “A Fairy in the Flat”; Agatha Christie’s Stand-Alone Mysteries and Short-Story Collections; The Queen of Mystery’s Personal Favorites; Ten Other Ways to Read Agatha Christie; “On Agatha Christie and Poisons”; The A to Z of Agatha Christie[via Amazon]

Clues to Christie is a free download for Kindle from Amazon. I've read quite a few Agatha Christie novels, but very few short stories so I've decided to start reading the short stories and I will be reviewing them one by one.

The first in this book is Greenshaw's Folly. It's a short story involving Miss Marple, and a case that lands right on her doorstep when someone in her village dies suddenly.

This was a fun short story, and as always its interesting to watch Miss Marple solve the mystery. For such a short story it sure did pack in a lot of mystery, and was one I enjoyed thoroughly.

Definitely recommended for fans of mystery and in particular if you enjoy the Miss Marple books.

Winner of Free Book Friday & Looking for Guest Reviewers

2012-01-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to alainala, who won this week's Free Book Friday.

There were 15 entries this week and it is enjoyable watching so many of my regular readers to stop by and enter.

I will be hosting another edition of Free Book Friday this Friday.

Guest bloggers/reviewers I would like to start accepting guest reviews and guest bloggers. I'm looking for readers who might want to review a cozy mystery (from your own library) or might want to contribute a post on your favorite cozies, etc. If you are a book blogger you will also receive a shout out to your blog. If interested please email me at bella(at)thirteenletter(dot)com.

Free Book Friday (2) - Win An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette

2012-01-27T00:01:00.002-07:00

Welcome to the very first Free Book Friday. The event where I will be giving away a new cozy mystery book every Friday!

So today's book is An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette, as recommended by mamabunny13.

Hayley Snow's life always revolved around food. But when she applies to be a food critic for a Key West style magazine, she discovers that her new boss would be Kristen Faulkner-the woman Hayley caught in bed with her boyfriend! Hayley thinks things are as bad as they can get-until the police pull her in as a suspect in Kristen's murder. Kristen was killed by a poisoned key lime pie. Now Hayley must find out who used meringue to murder before she takes all the blame.

This is a series that I haven't read yet, and it only came out this month! It is definitely one I will be picking up soon.

The lucky winner will win a brand new copy of An Appetite for Murder, delivered courtesy of the good people at Book Depository.

Here's how to win:
1. Leave a comment telling me what cozy mystery series is your favorite. I will be reading every reply and will feature some of your favorites in future Free Book Fridays!
2. Be sure to let me know how I can contact you (email, Twitter, Facebook) etc.
3. That's it! Simple isn't it?
Remember this contest is open internationally (as long as Book Depository delivers to you!) and it closes at midnight Friday January 27, 2012.

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

2012-01-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

The Young Adult Giveaway Hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Down the Rabbit Hole.

I know my readers will be wondering how I can participate in the Young Adult Giveaway Hop. Surely most cozy mysteries are adult fiction. It's true they are! But there are some amazing Young Adult Mysteries too! I adore the Boy Sherlock Holmes series by Shane Peacock, and there is another series I adore too: the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. Check out Alan Bradley's bio and you will discover why I adore this author, and not just for this great series. He's lived in Saskatchewan for many years (that's where I live!) and he was a founding member of The Casebook of Saskatoon, a society devoted to the study of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlockian writings!

So now let me tell you about Flavia de Luce and her passion for poisons.

In his wickedly brilliant first novel, Debut Dagger Award winner Alan Bradley introduces one of the most singular and engaging heroines in recent fiction: eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison. It is the summer of 1950—and a series of inexplicable events has struck Buckshaw, the decaying English mansion that Flavia’s family calls home. A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”

To Flavia the investigation is the stuff of science: full of possibilities, contradictions, and connections. Soon her father, a man raising his three daughters alone, is seized, accused of murder. And in a police cell, during a violent thunderstorm, Colonel de Luce tells his daughter an astounding story—of a schoolboy friendship turned ugly, of a priceless object that vanished in a bizarre and brazen act of thievery, of a Latin teacher who flung himself to his death from the school’s tower thirty years before. Now Flavia is armed with more than enough knowledge to tie two distant deaths together, to examine new suspects, and begin a search that will lead her all the way to the King of England himself. Of this much the girl is sure: her father is innocent of murder—but protecting her and her sisters from something even worse….[via Goodreads]

Doesn't she sound fabulous? I'm giving one lucky reader a chance to experience Flavia for themselves, and I'm giving away a copy of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I promise you as soon as you read the first book you will be hooked!

How to enter:
1. Fill in the form below
2. This giveaway is open internationally, as long as Book Depository deliver to your country.
3. Giveaway closes on February 1, 2012 at 12:01AM.
There are no bonus entries, you don't have to follow my blog. However if you like mysteries and want to follow please do. You can follow by email, RSS or follow me on Twitter or my Facebook page to get all the updates.

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February 2012 Releases

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Check out the list of new releases for January 2012:

February 7, 2012
The Walled Flower (Victoria Square Mystery #2) by Lorraine Bartlett
Town in a Wild Moose Chase (A Candy Holliday Mystery #3)by B.B. Haywood
Buried in a Book (A Novel Idea Mystery #1) by Lucy Arlington
Old Haunts (A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery #3) by E.J. Copperman
Clobbered by Camembert (A Cheese Shop Mystery #3) by Avery Aames
Cake on a Hot Tin Roof (A Piece of Cake Mystery #2) by Jacklyn Brady
One Book in the Grave (A Bibliophile Mystery #5) by Kate Carlisle
Death on Heels (A Crime of Fashion Mystery #8) by Ellen Byerrum
A Fitting End (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery #2) by Melissa Bourbon

February 8, 2012
Gem of a Ghost (A Ghost Of Granny Apples Mystery #3) by Sue Ann Jaffarian
Murder in a Basket (India Hayes Mystery #2) by Amanda Flower
Dutch Me Deadly (Passport to Peril Mystery #7) by Maddy Hunter

February 22, 2012
Death of a Kingfisher (Hamish Macbeth #28) by M.C. Beaton

There are so many great books coming out in February. I will be buying Cake on a Hot Tin Roof by Jacklyn Brady for sure, and I'm sure many more of these will be make it onto my shelves too!

Cozy Mystery Kindle Deals

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have a Kindle? Have a Nook? Have an eReader? Then check out some of these Kindle deals.

Free

$0.99

Agatha Christie Short Stories, just $1.11

Review: Sit, Stay, Slay by Linda O. Johnston

2012-01-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

Title: Sit, Stay, Slay
Author: Linda O. Johnston
Series: Book 1 of the Pet Sitter Mysteries

Canned from her L.A. law firm, Kendra Ballantyne is now a freelance pet-sitter. When her clients start getting knocked off one by one, Kendra fears she's being set up. Aided by sexy detective Jeff Hubbard, she's got to find out why, and fast. This killer's animal instincts are downright dangerous.[via Goodreads]

Sit, Stay Slay is the first book in the Pet Sitter Mystery series by Linda O. Johnston.

Kendra is left reeling after she her license to practice law is suspended. She takes on a temporary job as a pet sitter. However she soon gets herself in trouble with the law when her client's owners start to turn up dead.

I'm a pet owner (to two demanding felines) and I love reading mysteries that involve pets. As you can imagine I was very eager to start this series. For me, Sit, Stay, Slay started a little show but by the 50 page mark I was thoroughly interested and was trying to guess who was behind the murders.

I found Kendra a great sleuth, who was very determined to clear her name. Her interactions with sexy PI, Jeff, had my toes curling and left me wanting more.

A good, strong mystery, with a nice romance angle. I will definitely be back for more.

Review: The Ghost & Mrs McClure by Alice Kimberly

2012-01-22T06:39:00.001-07:00

Title: The Ghost and Mrs McClure
Author: Alice Kimberly
Series: Book 1 of Haunted Bookshelf Mystery series

Penelope Thornton-McClure manages a Rhode Island bookshop rumored to be haunted. When a bestselling author drops dead signing books, the first clue of foul play comes from the store's full-time ghost-a PI murdered on the very spot more than fifty years ago.

Is he a figment of Pen's overactive imagination? Or is the likable, fedora-wearing specter the only hope Pen has to solve the crime?[via Goodreads]

The Ghost and Mrs McClure is the first in the paranormal cozy mystery series by Alice Kimberly.

Penelope McClure and her son are settling back in her home town after the death of her husband. She's co-owner of her aunts bookstore now, and trying to turn a profit. Unfortunately her first author on your turns up dead and the police are pointing their fingers at her and she must solve the murder before she's arrested!

I don't usually read paranormal cozy mysteries but if this book is an indication to this great sub-genre I need to read more.

I really enjoyed this first book. I liked Penelope and the relationship she develops with the ghost-in-residence, Jack. They are the perfect combination of sweet and snark and it's a delight to watch the interactions.

The murder mystery was really good and kept me guessing to the end. With the combination of interesting town folks and a background of the bookstore, it was a great read.

If you like cozy mysteries that centre around a bookstore I strongly recommend this series.

Winner of Free Book Friday

2012-01-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Aurian, who is the winner of the very first Free Book Friday.

I had a total of 17 entries and there were lots of book suggestions. I will be using one of these suggestions for this week's Free Book Friday. So please pop back on Friday. The same rules will apply, and one lucky reader will win a fabulous cozy mystery book.

Any questions about this contest please comment below, or email me.

Upcoming Event: Authors & Their Animals

2012-01-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

Last year I had so much fun organizing the event: 12 Days of Mystery Books for Christmas, and going into 2012 I knew I wanted to do more of these events. These events take a little bit of work on my part to organize, but it's so much fun to interview authors, and share some new authors and books with my readers.

This year I am going to be conducting quite a few themed events, with the first one being called "Authors & Their Animals".

Ever since I discovered The Cat Who mysteries by Lilian Jackson Braun, I have been enthralled with cats, dogs and even horses in mysteries. I've been an animal owner since I was a kid, and I love sitting down and reading with my cats (they usually sleep, while I get engrossed in a good murder mystery). Therefore it was a natural choice that I would want to theme an event around the fabulous animals that are included in cozy mysteries.

Nine fabulous authors will be stopping by Cozy Mystery Book Reviews in honor of this event. The schedule is:

Feb 6 - Stephanie Queen
Feb 7 - Miranda James
Feb 8 - Edie Clare
Feb 9 - Ellery Adams
Feb 10 - Avery Aames
Feb 11 - Leann Sweeney
Feb 12 - Sofie Kelly
Feb 13 - Lisa Wysocky
Feb 14 - Linda O. Johnston

Each day there will be an interview with these great authors, and I will posting reviews for many of their books. And, because I can't resist giving away prizes I will be giving away TWO $20 Amazon.com or Book Depository giftcards.

So pop back here on February 6, and let's celebrate authors and their fabulous animals with this great event.

Free Book Friday (1) - Win a copy of Murder Past Due

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the very first Free Book Friday. The event where I will be giving away a new cozy mystery book every Friday!

So today's book is Murder Past Due by Miranda James.

There's a cat in the stacks......and he makes the purr-fect partner for a librarian-turned-sleuth.

Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows librarian Charlie Harris-and his Maine coon cat named Diesel that he walks on a leash. They also know his former classmate-turned-famous bestselling novelist, Godfrey Priest.

But someone in Athena took Godfrey off the bestseller lists- permanently, and with extreme prejudice. Now, Charlie and Diesel must browse through the history section of the town's past to find a killer.

I absolutely adore Charlie and Diesel (well more Diesel because he is just one adorable Maine Coon!) and this series is fantastic. The next book in the series comes out soon, and so I'm giving one of my readers a chance to read the first book.

The lucky winner will win a brand new copy of Murder Past Due, delivered courtesy of the good people at Book Depository.

Here's how to win:
1. Leave a comment telling me what cozy mystery book you would like to see featured on Free Book Friday. I will be reading every reply and will feature many of your choices over the next few weeks!
2. Be sure to let me know how I can contact you (email, Twitter, Facebook) etc.
3. That's it! Simple isn't it?
Remember this contest is open internationally (as long as Book Depository delivers to you!) and it closes at midnight Friday January 20, 2012.

A Winner & Feedback on Giveaways

2012-01-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

Readers, I have a winner to announcing for the Dreaming of Books Giveaway. The winner of the Agatha Christie Prize Pack is :

Michaela!

Congrats Michaela, your prize pack is on its way.

Now onto something equally important. In December I ran the "Guess the Covers" contest. It was my first time running this contest and there is still time to enter. The idea was that readers had to try and guess the covers of five cozy mystery books, and they could win a $50 gift card.

To date, only 11 readers have successfully guessed the covers. I want to get feedback from my readers whether you liked this contest or whether you would like to try something else next month? I have several other ideas and all will be for a bookstore gift card (as I think this is the nicest prize!).

So readers tell me your thoughts, any ideas are welcome!

Review: Fatal Fixer-Upper by Jennie Bentley

2012-01-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

Title: Fatal Fixer-Upper
Author: Jennie Bentley
Series: Book 1 of the DIY Mystery series

Avery Baker was once a New York designer, but inheriting her aunts old Maine cottage has led her down a new career pathhome renovation. Now, with help from hunky handyman Derek Ellis, Avery starts learning the ABCs of DIY. But when the designer-turned-renovator finds clues that lead to a missing professor, she wonders if she can finish the housewithout getting finished off in the process.[via Goodreads]

Fatal Fixer-Upper is the first book in the Do It Yourself series by Jennie Bentley.

Avery's aunt has passed away and left her a crumbling cluttered. Instead of putting it up for sale Avery decides to renovate it, with the help of hunky handyman Derek. However DIY isn't as easy as Avery thinks, especially when there is mystery surrounding the house!

I've read Jennie's other series and absolutely loved it. So I had pretty high expectations going into this one. Well I wasn't disappointed. I absolutely loved Avery and her first DIY mystery.

Avery is a fun heroine and alike to me has no DIY experience, so it was interesting watching her try and renovate her aunt's house.

I really liked the mystery. It weaves through the history of Maine (and Maine Coon cats!) and kept me interested right to the end. I was frantically turning pages trying to figure out the mystery.

This was a fantastic debut mystery and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series. With DIY tips in each book, who knows maybe I will try some DIY too!

Cozy Mystery Kindle Deals

2012-01-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

Have a Kindle? Have a Nook? Have an eReader? Then check out some of these Kindle deals.

Free

$0.99 or less

**Most of these should be available at Barnes & Noble for Nook for the same price**

Announcing a new weekly event... Free Book Friday!

2012-01-17T08:18:00.001-07:00

I love reading cozy mysteries and sharing my thoughts on them. However, even more than that I love giving away cozy mysteries!! So I've taken a page out of Free Book Friday, who giveaway a new book every Friday. I'm having my very own Free Book Friday here at Cozy Mystery Book Review.

Here's how it will work:
- Every Friday I will post this week's selection for Free Book Friday.
- The post will go live at 12am EST on Friday morning and the contest will close at midnight on Friday night. That gives my readers 24 hours to get their hands on this week's selection.
- At this stage there will only be one book given away each week, and the only way to win is to comment on the post.
- The book will be shipped via Book Depository, so of course it will be INTERNATIONAL!

Sounds simple doesn't it? I love the idea of encouraging more readers to read cozy mysteries, and I hope through this contest more readers will get to enjoy some of my favorite books.

Check back on Friday for the very first Free Book Friday, and if you have any questions please comment or email me.

Review: A Sheetcake Named Desire by Jacklyn Brady

2012-01-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

Title: A Sheetcake Named Desire
Author: Jacklyn Brady
Series: Book 1 of A Piece of Cake Mystery

New Orleans pastry chef Rita Lucero is out to bake her way to the top. But when she finds her almost-ex-husband killed with a chef's knife in his back, she becomes suspect number one. Now it's up to her to find the real killer before she winds up as the next victim served.
[via Goodreads]

A Sheetcake Named Desire is the first book in this series by Jacklyn Brady.

Rita is in New Orleans hoping to get her husband to sign the divorce papers. However before he can sign he turns up dead and it's up to Rita to solve the murder before she turns up dead.

Looking for a mystery that will grab you from the first page? Well look no further! This book grabbed me from the very first page an wrapped me up in a fantastic mystery, that had me guessing right till the end.

I liked Rita a lot, and with all the New Orleans charm her mother-in-law, Miss Frankie was a hoot too!

With fabulous recipes and a great mystery, this series will have me coming back for more. I can't wait for the next book to be released.

Absence & Giveaways

2012-01-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hello devoted cozy mystery readers! I was away for a week or so, and the blog was down due to a technical mishap. I am back now and have a new giveaway on the horizon. One lucky reader will win five Agatha Christie mystery novels (open internationally) and I have extended the giveaway for the Guess the Covers Competition to January 31, 2012. This gives readers a little bit more time to get their answers in. So pop over to this post and enter!

I will be posting a review of a fabulous debut series later this week, along with sharing some of the fantastic February new releases that will be on the shelves soon.

Be sure to check back for these and much more, and thanks for your patience.

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop

2012-01-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Martha's Bookshelf is hosting a fabulous giveaway hop called the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop and I'm participating.

When I dream of books I dream of my favorite authors. The author I love the most is Agatha Christie. She was the first mystery author I discovered and the one author I continually re-read. For every mystery reader, her books are must-haves. So for the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop I'm going to give away five must-have Agatha Christie novels.

The winner will receive:
- The Body in the Library
- Death on the Nile
- Murder on the Orient Express
- The Mysterious Affair at Styles
- Curtain: Poirot's Last Case

Rules:
1. To enter fill in the form below
2. Contest is open internationally, books will be delivered from Book Depository
3. Contest closes 12pm EST on January 18, 2012.

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Review: Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

2012-01-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Title: Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Series: Book 2 of the Hannah Swensen series

The stakes start rising faster than dough when a judge from the Hartland Flour company's Dessert Bake-Off is found dead in Hannah Swensen's strawberry shortcake. Can she catch the killer before he or she cooks up another recipe -- for murder?[via Goodreads]

This is the second book in the Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke.

Hannah is back and trying to solve the murder of Boyd Watson, along with the help of her sister, Andrea. As Hannah digs deep she uncovers lots of secrets about the citizens of Lake Eden.

I quite liked this mystery, even though I solved the mystery before Hannah. I like the close relationship Hannah is starting to have with her sister, especially as they were never close growing up. It's nice to see them trying to solve the murder together.

This is a fun series and I will likely continue on with this series.

Review: Buried in a Book by Lucy Arlington

2012-01-08T16:50:00.001-07:00

Title: Buried in a Book
Author: Lucy Arlington
Series: Book 1 of A Novel Idea mystery series

After receiving her first pink slip at the age of forty-five, former newspaper journalist Lila Wilkins is desperate for work, even if it means taking a pay cut. After combing through the classifieds, Lila accepts an internship at A Novel Idea, a thriving literary agency in the utopian town of Inspiration Valley, North Carolina.

Lila can’t imagine anything better than being paid to read, but with a crew of quirky co-workers and a sky-high stack of query letters, she doesn’t exactly have time to discover the next great bestseller—especially when a penniless aspiring author drops dead in the agency’s waiting room.

No one else seems too concerned about the man’s demise, but when Lila uncovers a series of threatening letters, she’s determined to uncover what—or who—killed the man’s dreams of literary stardom…[via Goodreads]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Buried in a Book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Former journalist Lila Wilkins is looking for work, when she applies to a job as intern at the A Novel Idea literary agency. Little does she know that she will land the job have an interesting first day of work, when she witnesses a murder! It's up to Lila to solve the crime, before the killer strikes again.

When I first heard about Buried in a Book I loved the idea of a mystery series set around a literary agency. It had my bookish heart aflutter, and needless to say I had high expectations for the first book in the series. I'm happy to report my expectations were not just met but exceeded.

Buried in a Book is an exciting pageturner, that had me reading faster and faster, as I tried to solve the murder before Lila. The ending left me gasping (no I didn't solve it before Lila did!) and craving more from this fabulous debut author.

The book is set in Inspiration Valley, a cute town with even cuter shop names - like the eatery called "Catcher in the Rye" where the sandwich artist doesn't call out your name but gives you a fiction literary character, and the garden shop called The Secret Garden.

With a cutesy town, fabulous twists and turns and a first class mystery, Buried in a Book is one of the best debut cozy mysteries I've read in a long time. I highly recommend it to fans of mysteries, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the series.

Review: Gin & Daggers by Donald Bain

2012-01-08T15:19:00.002-07:00

Title: Gin & Daggers
Author: Donald Bain
Series: Book 1 of the Murder She Wrote series

Jessica Fletcher is off to London to deliver the keynote address at a mystery writers convention. She's also looking forward to seeing her mentor, Marjorie Ainsworth, who's hosting a party on her estate to celebrate her latest book. But a routine business trip becomes murderous business, when Jessica discovers Marjorie stabbed to death in her own bedroom....[via Goodreads]

I'm a big Murder She Wrote fangirl. I loved watching the series on tv as a teen and I was thrilled to discover that there is a series of novels set around the characters.

Gin and Daggers is the first novel of the series. Jessica is abroad in London for a conference and to visit friend and fellow mystery writer, Marjorie Ainsworth. Her plans to sightsee get derailed when Marjorie turns up dead and Jessica is the prime suspect!

I really enjoyed this novel. The mystery was great and kept me guessing till the end. Jessica is a likable sleuth and there were plenty literary references to keep my bookish senses amused. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.

Winners

2012-01-03T11:31:00.001-07:00

Hello cozy readers. I've been a little bit absent with the holiday season, and now I'm back to update everyone on winners for my two most recent giveaways.

The winners are:
The winner of the Mid Winter's Eve Hop is Kaillie S
The winner of the Best of 2011 Giveaway is Tianna P

I still have one giveaway still open. If you guess these book covers you could win a $50 gift card, to the bookstore of your choice!

Interview with Joan Young

2011-12-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Please join me in welcoming cozy mystery author, Joan Young, on the blog today. Joan is the author of NEWS FROM DEAD MULE SWAMP. Click here to check out my review of this great book.

NEWS FROM DEAD MULE SWAMP is a cozy mystery set in the Mid West. What made you decide to write a cozy mystery?
I read a lot of mysteries, and always have. Although I like almost every kind, my favorites tend to be the ones that are solved more by brain power than by force. I've wanted to try writing a mystery for years, but it wasn't until this year that I got serious about imagining a character (Anastasia Raven) that I felt I could like enough to feature in a series. I also wanted her to be an amateur, and to place her in a small town setting. Therefore, it turned out that I had created the scenario for a cozy mystery.

Anastasia Raven is such a strong, interesting character. Do you plan to write more mysteries for Ana to solve?
There are definitely at least two more books in the series. The second one is in progress, and will be Paddy Plays in Dead Mule Swamp. The third is less solidly outlined, but is tentatively called Bury the Hatchet in Dead Mule Swamp.

It's a wonderful age of publishing at the moment, with so many talented indie authors emerging. Why did you decide to self-publish and how has the experience been?
My first book is a non-fiction collection of essays about my hikes on the North Country National Scenic Trail. Because it is considered to be a niche book (although non-hikers seem to enjoy it), I decided to self-publish. That book is a 400-page paperback, and the complications of publishing that book far outweigh the difficulties of e-publishing a work of fiction.

That said, I discovered that I really enjoyed the publishing part of that project, so it was a no-brainer when it came to publishing these light mysteries.

It's also a great time to try out the world of e-books. So many people are joining the ranks of e-readers every week, and they are looking for inexpensive books to try.

My paperback, North Country Cache, has done very well, selling over 1000 copies, which is considered good for a self-published, self-promoted book in a small genre. However, distribution is difficult because I mainly sell them at media programs which I present. It just makes a lot of sense for me to go with electronic
publishing, and doing it myself gets it in the hands of readers faster.

The big risks are that promotion falls totally on the author, and the author also must make sure that he or she has enough help from advance readers and editors to present a quality product.

News from Dead Mule Swamp has only been out for a month, but readers are reacting with enthusiasm, so I'm encouraged to keep writing.

Thanks for stopping by Joan. I can't wait to see what other mysteries you have in store for us. If you would like to purchase News from Dead Mule Swamp, head over to Smashwords to get a copy.

January 2012 Releases

2011-12-29T00:01:00.001-07:00

Check out the list of new releases for January 2012:

January 3, 2012
Affairs Of Steak (A White House Chef Mystery #5) by Julie Hyzy
If Fried Chicken Could Fly (A Country Cooking School Mystery #1) by Paige Shelton
The Cat Sitter's Pajamas (A Dixie Hemingway Mystery #7) by Blaize Clement
The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller (Haunted Bookshop Mystery #6) by Alice Kimberly
Die Job (A Southern Beauty Shop Mystery #3) by Lila Dare
Killer Crullers (A Donut Shop Mystery #6) by Jessica Beck
Plan Bee (A Queen Bee Mystery #3) by Hannah Reed
It Takes A Witch (A Wishcraft Mystery #1) by Heather Blake
An Appetite For Murder (A Key West Food Critic Mystery #1) by Lucy Burdette
Wild Wild Death (A Pepper Martin Mystery #8) by Casey Daniels
Stay at Home Dead by Jeffrey Allen

January 8, 2012
Death by Killer Mop Doll (A Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery) by Lois Winston
Deadly Campaign (A Last Laff Mystery) by Alan Orloff

January 17, 2012
Gone West (Daisy Dalrymple #20) by Carola Dunn
The Rope (Anna Pigeon Mystery #17) by Nevada Barr

January 31, 2012
$10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles (Puzzle Lady Mystery #13) by Parnell Hall
File M for Murder (Cat in the Stacks Mystery #3) by Miranda James

I'm so excited for a lot of these releases. I'm a huge fan of the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James, so I will definitely be buying FILE M FOR MURDER. I will also be trying some of the new debut series, such as IT TAKES A WITCH by Heather Blake and AN APPETITE FOR MURDER by Lucy Burdette.

Review: News from Dead Mule Swamp by Joan Young

2011-12-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Title: News from Dead Mule Swamp
Author: Joan Young

In News from Dead Mule Swamp, Anastasia Raven is running from the pain of a failed marriage, and hopes to hide from the world in an old farmhouse she has purchased at the edge of Dead Mule Swamp. When a hundred-year-old newspaper she finds inside a wall is stolen by Cliff Sorenson, and then Cliff disappears, Ana is convinced that the paper holds the key to the mystery. But what old news could be important enough to put Cliff in danger? [via Smashwords]

There is such a great range of self-published stories out there, that I couldn't resist trying this one by Joan Young, NEWS FROM DEAD MULE SWAMP.

Anastasia has just moved into her new house at Dead Mule Swamp, and is planning to renovate it. Her renovation plans go a little off course when she finds a newspaper in a wall, a newspaper that is then stolen. Why did Cliff steal the newspaper, and what does he have to do with this mystery?

It's fun discovering new mystery novels, and getting introduced to a host of new characters. That's how it felt when I started reading NEWS FROM DEAD MULE SWAMP. There are so many interesting characters in Anastasia's new town, and perhaps my favorite was Cora the history buff!

Together with Cora's help Anastasia sets out to try to solve the puzzle, and it was a fun adventure watching her collect clues and figure it all out. NEWS FROM DEAD MULE SWAMP kept me guessing right till the end. In fact I was a little sad when it was over, because I wanted to read more about Anastasia and her new town.

While NEWS FROM DEAD MULE SWAMP was a shorter novel, it was full of adventure and I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.

Best of 2011 Giveaway Blog Hop

2011-12-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

I Am a Reader, Not a Writer is hosting Best of 2011 Giveaway Blog Hop.

This is a fabulous opportunity for me to do something I love doing - giving away books. More importantly giving away my favorite books of 2011.

I tried so many new series in 2011, and I had a lot of favorite books. These are only some of my favorite books, but I'm hoping they will be one lucky readers favorite books too!

Just in time for a new year of reading, you could win:

All of these books are fantastic first books in their series. These books will have you wanting to buy all the whole series. Trust me, that exact thing happened to me!

How to win:
- fill out the form below
- readers will have the choice of receiving the eBook (via Amazon or Barnes & Noble) or paperback via Book Depository. If Book Depository ships international, so if Book Depository ships to your country then enter away!
- there are no extra entries required. I would love if you subscribe to my blog, or follow me on Twitter, but it isn't necessary.

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Review: Candy for Christmas by Joanne Fluke

2011-12-26T00:01:00.002-07:00

Title: Candy for Christmas
Author: Joanne Fluke
Series: Novella between Book 1 and Book 2 of the Hannah Swensen Mysteries

I'm head over heels for the Hannah Swensen series already. I've only read the first book, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER, but I couldn't resist diving straight into the novella, CANDY FOR CHRISTMAS, which is found at the back of the first book.

This story takes place a few weeks after the events in CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER, and sees Hannah getting ready for the Christmas season. She discovers a young runaway sleeping in her store one day, and tries to help the girl find her family again.

This story was short and fun, filled with all the humor I enjoyed in CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER. I particularly like the scene where Hannah and Lisa talk about the runaway they think is sleeping in the shop:

"If you agreed with me in the first place, why did you argue?"
"Because I like to argue. It gets my brain cells firing and we need all the brainpower we can get today."
"You mean because we have to figure out who broke in and cleaned our kitchen for us?"
"That's right. And we have to figure out something else, too."
"What's that?"
The next time it happens, we have to figure out how to get her to put on the coffee before she leaves."

The runaway, Candy, is a sweet girl and I enjoyed reading her story and especially her recipes too! I will definitely be making the Three-Way-Fudge this holiday season!

If you enjoy culinary cozies I highly recommend this cute story. It definitely got me in the mood for Christmas, and I will be continuing with this series.

Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Title: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Series: Book 1 of the Hannah Swensen Mysteries

Hannah Swenson already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother s attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden, Minnesota s most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah s famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can t get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer.

Who would have the sheer audacity and the motive to kill the most punctual delivery man Hannah ever had? Topping the list is the high school football coach. What exactly was his wife doing, making the rounds with the milkman? Could Max Turner, owner of Cozy Cow Dairy, have had a secret he didn t want to share with his top employee? The more Hannah snoops, the more suspects turn up. Why has Lake Eden s most prominent prodigal son, Benton Woodley, just resurfaced? And what about the mysterious Mr. Harris who seemed interested in buying the property next to the dairy, but then disappeared? This is one murder that s starting to leave a very bad taste in Hannah s mouth. And if she doesn t watch her back, Hannah s sweet life may get burned to a crisp.[via Goodreads]

I've been reading lots of first-in-a-series this year. There are so many new-to-me mystery series that I haven't read, and I'm enjoying checking them all out. One series I've heard a lot about was the Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke.

Hannah Swensen has returned to her hometown and is all settled in running The Cookie Jar, and trying to dodge her mother's matchmaking, when a murder lands in her lap. Who killed the much-loved delivery boy, Ron LaSalle, and will she able to solve the mystery before the murderer strikes again?

I really enjoyed this first book in the series. It nicely sets up the peaceful town of Lake Eden, and a host of interesting characters. I really enjoyed Hannah as the sleuth. She wasn't ditzy or silly (which really turns me away from a female sleuth that is) and she managed to solve the murder before I did!

The end of CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER shows promise for Hannah's love life in the future (either with the new detective Mike, or the sweet dentist Norman) and I'm looking forward to reading more of her adventures.

Overall this was a good mystery, and I'm glad that I have the second book sitting in my tbr waiting to be read. If you like your cozies will a good dose of culinary style, then check this series out. The cookie and slice recipes throughout the book are worth the cost of the book alone! I can't wait to try some of them.

Cozy Mystery Theme: Christmas

2011-12-24T00:01:00.001-07:00

With Christmas coming up I was going to do a Cozy Mystery Theme about Christmas, but there are an insane amount of cozy mysteries featuring Christmas that I've decided not to list them all.

Danna at Cozy Mystery List, has them all listed and them split over 19 pages. Feel free to pop over there and browse her lists.

I will share some of the cozy mysteries that I'm hoping to read over the holidays.
- The Chocolate Bear Burglary by JoAnna Carl
- Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
- Rumpole at Christmas by John Mortimer
- Tied Up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh

I only have four days off over the holiday period, but I will be trying to read a few books in between spending time with my family and making lots of yummy food.

Readers, are you planning on reading any holiday-themed mysteries?

Agatha Christie Short Stories, just $0.99

2011-12-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Looking for a short mystery to read this holiday season? Maybe you know you're going to get an eReader for christmas (I know I am!) and want to check out some eBooks to load onto it? Well HarperCollins has published some of Agatha Christie's short stories as single eBooks. They're just $0.99 from Kobobooks.com or $1.11 from Amazon Kindle.

Some of these short stories are now out-of-print. If you are a big Agatha Christie fan you are probably like me and always checking out used bookstores trying to find a copy of the short story collections.

Some of the titles I will be checking out this holiday season are:
- Four & Twenty Blackbirds
- Strange Jest
- Poirot and the Regatta Mystery
- The Under Dog
- The Dream

The Agatha Christie Book Club has a full list of the short stories, and says that there are nearly 160 short stories.

I will be posting mini-reviews for many Agatha Christie short stories over the next month.

Review: A Done Deal by Jenna Bennett

2011-12-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Title: A Done Deal
Author: Jenna Bennett
Series: Book 5 of the Savannah Martin Mysteries

Silver bells, silver bells...

It's Christmas time in Nashville, and all Savannah wants to unwrap on Christmas morning is Rafe. Unfortunately, things don't look so good. He's back in town, but not alone: on his arm is a stunning brunette, just the kind of woman Savannah always suspected was his type.

When Alexandra Puckett asks her help in figuring out a way to stop Maybelle Driscoll from marrying Alex's father Steven, Savannah jumps on the chance. It'll give her something to think about other than Rafe and the mysterious Carmen, and anyway, she doesn't like Maybelle much herself.

Between investigating Maybelle's past, helping her clients Aislynn and Kylie buy a house, and stalking Carmen and Rafe, she soon has her hands full. And that's before someone starts gunning for her. Suddenly it's not a question of unwrapping anything on Christmas morning anymore; it's a question of whether she'll even survive to see another Christmas.[via Goodreads]

Fresh off the emotional rollercoaster that was CLOSE TO HOME, I picked up A DONE DEAL to read next. Luckily A DONE DEAL was released on December 15th, so I didn't have to wait before I got a chance to pick up Savannah's story again.

A DONE DEAL sees Savannah back in Nashville, licking her wounds after her latest adventure. She quickly becomes immersed in investigating Alexandra Puckett's new step-mom-to-be, and trying to avoid getting killed.

I think Savannah describes it best...

"But here I was, back again, and there was a sense of inevitability about it. A feel of fate, of things coming full circle."

This is exactly how I felt with A DONE DEAL. So much has happened since Savannah's first adventure in A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS, but she has very much come full circle. She has grown and matured (yes even when you're well past your teens you can do that!). She's found someone that she wants to spend the rest of her life with, and yet there are so many things blocking her way to true happiness.

I simply love that Savannah is coming around full circle, and that it is clear that a few of the storylines in previous books are being tied up. A DONE DEAL reads like a final book in a series. I'm not sure if Savannah will have anymore adventures to share, but for me I feel like I have read a completely epic, wonderful series with A DONE DEAL bringing it around full circle and being the best book of the series!

I strongly recommend readers to read the Savannah Martin series. Read them in order from A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS onwards. Prepare yourself by taking at least a week off work, loading up your house with chocolate, ice-cream and all kinds of goodies, and settle in to read one of the best mystery series I've read in a long time. They are on-the-edge-of-your-seat adventure, with lots of thrills and toe-curling moments (seriously if Rafe doesn't curl your toes nothing will!).

After finishing A DONE DEAL I feel so happy to have discovered this series, and a little sad that there is no more Savannah for me to discover. Luckily for me there will be plenty of chances to re-read the series!

A DONE DEAL is a 5-star read. It's full of adventure, romance and a must-add to any mystery readers shelves.

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

2011-12-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Today's Waiting on Wednesday is a an author I've heard a lot of good things about. Denise Swanson writes the Scumble River Mysteries, the first book which I have ordered and should be arriving any day now. She has a new series coming in 2012 called Devereaux Dime Store Mystery. The first book in this series is LITTLE SHOP OF HOMOCIDE.

Dev Sinclair is the happy new owner of the old-fashioned shop in her small Missouri town. But if she doesn't focus on finding the killer of her ex's fiancée, this five-and-dime owner may find herself serving twenty-five to life...

I love the cover and the description of LITTLE SHOP OF HOMOCIDE. It sounds fantastic, and I can't wait to get it.

LITTLE SHOP OF HOMOCIDE is being released on March 6, 2012.

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop

2011-12-21T00:01:00.003-07:00

I Am a Reader, Not a Writer & Oasis for YA are hosting a great Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop.

The Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop is my first Blog Hop, and I will be participating in a few over the coming months. For each Blog Hop I will be highlighting one of my favorite authors, and giving away 2-3 books by that author.

Today's author is LORRAINE BARTLETT. Lorraine Bartlett is the author of the Victorian Square Mysteries, with A CRAFTY KILLING being the first book.

I'm giving away:

- A CRAFTY KILLING by Lorraine Bartlett

- THE WALLED FLOWER by Lorraine Bartlett (this is a pre-order not a ARC. I will arrange for this title to be delivered to you when it is released on February 7, 2012)

- RECIPES TO DIE FOR by Lorraine Bartlett

The winner will have the choice of receiving these books as paperbacks or Kindle/Nook eBooks.

A few notes about my giveaways:

- All giveaways are international. If Book Depository delivers to your country, then you can enter. Same goes for Kindle/Nook eBooks.

- There is no need to follow (although I'd love if you did) or tweet. Just fill in the form below to enter.

- Giveaway closes at 6pm EST on December 27, 2011. I will contact the winner via email.

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Review: Close to Home by Jenna Bennett

2011-12-20T05:28:00.000-07:00

Title: Close to Home
Author: Jenna Bennett
Series: Book 4 of the Savannah Martin series

Savannah's late. The kind of late that comes with midnight feedings and the pitter-patter of little feet. And while it's a circumstance that should make everyone happy - now she can finally settle down and marry Todd Satterfield, the way everyone's been hoping and praying! - it isn't Todd's baby. And Rafe Collier, whose baby it is, didn't sign on for fatherhood.

Add in the murder of Savannah's sister-in-law Sheila, the trial of Sheila's friend Marley, and the disappearance of Rafe's twelve year old son David - the kid he never knew he had - and things get complicated fast. And there is worse to come: When Rafe comes back to Nashville to help look for David, and learns that Savannah's pregnant, things do not work out the way Savannah hopes. In the end, she's left with nothing she wanted and a whole lot of trouble she didn't, and when she gets in over her head, Rafe's not there to save the day.[via Smashwords]

When I read a good book I get so caught up in the outside world, that I can almost feel that I'm right there - in the story, observing it, living it. A good book evokes a passion in me, a passion to read more.

As most of my readers know I simply adored the first three books in Jenna Bennett's Savannah Martin series. However, my adoration was nothing compared to how much I simply LOVED the fourth book, CLOSE TO HOME.

CLOSE TO HOME sees Rafe off deep undercover, and Savannah back in Nashville missing him more than ever. However Savannah has her hands full, with an unplanned pregnancy and her sister-in-law turning up dead. It's up to Savannah, yet again, to put aside her real estate career and try and figure out the puzzle of Sheila's death.

CLOSE TO HOME is an emotional rollercoaster. I had read a few reviews that had said how much CLOSE TO HOME is an emotional read, but I don't think I was prepared for how emotional.

I quickly got wrapped up in the story, as Savannah tries to decide what to do with her pregnancy, especially without Rafe by her side to help, and tries to help her brother come to terms with his wife's death. I read CLOSE TO HOME within a day, as I was constantly willing myself to read more, more, more to find out what would happen to Savannah and her family.

I won't give too much away as I don't want to spoil this for other readers, but I will say that this is a 5-star read that evokes so much emotion and backs up everything that I have said that this series is an outstanding series.

If you love your mystery and your romance, you need to be reading this series! Jenna Bennett will have you falling head over heels for this Southern Belle, her complicated love life, and the adventures she has!

A Big Thank You & 12 Days of Mystery Books for Christmas Giveaway Winners

2011-12-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

It's time to show some thanks and to announce some winners.

Firstly I want to offer a big thank you to all the authors that participated in my first promotion. Thank you goes to Liz Jasper, Amanda Brice, Allen Schatz, Norah Wilson, Patricia Rockwell, Heather Webber, Gemma Halliday, Misty Evans, Jenna Bennett, Jamie Lee Scott and Teresa Watson. Thank you for having faith in my little blog, and helping make this promotion a fantastic success. The promotion broke all my records, with over 200 visitors everyday popping in to read what these great authors had to say.

Secondly, thanks to all the readers that were new to my blog, and my loyal readers that popped in everyday. It's fantastic that so many of you are interested in my favorite genre, mysteries, and I can't wait to share more reviews, giveaways and lots of fun in 2012 with you.

Now onto the winners:

UNDERDEAD by Liz Jasper ... Mary-Anne
CODE NAME: DANCER by Amanda Brice ... Carly
GAME 7: DEAD BALL by Allen Schatz ... Danielle
THE CASE OF THE FLASHING FASHION QUEEN by NL Wilson ... Susie
SOUNDS OF MURDER by Patricia Rockwell ... Leanne
TROUBLE UNDER THE TREE by Heather Webber ... Jeffrey
HOLLYWOOD SCANDALS by Gemma Halliday ... Tricia
THE SECRET INGREDIENT by Misty Evans ... Natalie
A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS by Jenna Bennett ... Abby
LET US PREY by Jamie Lee Scott ... Samantha
DEATH OF A CANTANKEROUS OLD COOT by Teresa Watson ... Phillipa

Thank you to everyone that entered. I have another giveaway "Guess the Covers Competition" and one lucky reader will win a giftcard for $50! Be sure to pop back on Wednesday, because I'm giving away a Lorraine Bartlett prize pack!

Review: Contract Pending by Jenna Bennett

2011-12-19T07:19:00.001-07:00

Title: Contract Pending
Author: Jenna Bennett
Series: Book 3 of the Savannah Martin series

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say, and Realtor Savannah Martin is certainly learning the truth of that statement. It’s been a month and a half since Rafael Collier left town, after the robbery ring he was part of got broken up by the police, and although Savannah knows it would be hideously inappropriate—not to mention supremely stupid—to miss him, she wishes he’d come back soon. His grandmother’s ailing, the nurse he hired to take care of her has disappeared, and somebody is watching the house and following Savannah as she goes about the business of bringing her first real estate transaction to a close.

But when Rafe comes back, things only go from bad to worse. Resident nurse Marquita Johnson is found murdered, and Metro Nashville Homicide Detective Tamara Grimaldi is asked to handle the case. It doesn’t take long for her to focus her interest, once again, on Rafe. As Savannah finally learns the truth about him, she finds herself in the path of a killer more ruthless than any she has encountered yet, a killer who won’t be swayed from his purpose and who isn’t too particular whom he has to go through to get to Rafe. Now Savannah has to make the choice between staying safe by accepting Todd Satterfield’s proposal, or taking a chance on losing her heart and her life by trying to help Rafe, as the term ‘contract pending’ takes on a whole new meaning.[via Goodreads]

Fresh off reading HOT PROPERTY I decided to pick up the next book in this series, CONTRACT PENDING. This series just gets better and better and I couldn't wait to find out what happens next!

Savannah is back to trying to sell real estate and trying to not get into too much trouble. However trouble seems to follow her around when Marquita turns up dead, and it seems like someone is out to kill her and Rafe. It's up to Savannah to find the killer and delve into exactly what her growing affections for Rafe mean for her future.

CONTRACT PENDING is my favorite book in this series so far. All the sub-plots in the first two books come together for a dynamite of a novel that I simply couldn't put down.

While I easily guessed who murdered Marquita, I was so caught up in the story that it didn't deflect in my overall enjoyment of the story. In fact even though I knew the murderer I was surprised by some of the plot points surrounding the murder that I hadn't caught on. There was definitely a lot of gasps and ahhs as I frantically turned each page until I reached the end!

This is the third book in the series and I really feel like I've learnt a lot about Savannah in the three books, and I'm continually fascinated by the life of a southern belle...

"Todd ordered for both of us: white wine for me, red for himself. Grilled chicken for me, steak for himself. Black coffee for me, cheesecake for himself. Todd is partial to cheesecake. So am I, if it comes to that; I just can’t eat it while I’m out with him. It’s been firmly ingrained in me that a Southern Belle has a sixteen-inch waist and eats like a bird. So when Todd and I go out, I pick at my food and have black coffee for dessert, while I watch him enjoy his cheesecake. Yes, I resent it, but it’s life. I’m used to it by now."

A meal without dessert? I couldn't handle the southern belle life, although I'm definitely envious of Savannah's shoe collection!

I am absolutely hooked on this series. The murder mystery is always first class. The characters have me glued to every page and I can't wait to find out what Savannah is up to next.

Review: Hot Property by Jenna Bennett

2011-12-18T11:38:00.001-07:00

Title: Hot Property
Author: Jenna Bennett
Series: Book 2 of the Savannah Martin series

When Savannah Martin’s fellow Realtor and friend Lila Vaughn is robbed during an open house, Savannah rushes to the rescue with tea and sympathy, or at least a really good lunch and a shoulder to cry on. However, Lila seems more peeved than distraught, and her main gripe is that the sexy robber who tied her to a kitchen chair—for her own good—didn’t follow her suggestion to tie her to the bed instead.

Lila’s description of the man fits Savannah’s old school-mate Rafael Collier to a T. Rafe has recently turned up in Savannah’s life again, and he isn’t above doing a little breaking and entering. Metro Nashville Homicide Detective Tamara Grimaldi is of the same opinion, and when Lila turns up dead, tied to her bed and strangled, Rafe becomes a suspect. Now Savannah must get busy finding the real murderer before Detective Grimaldi can arrest the wrong man.[via Goodreads]

Fresh of reading A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS, I felt like I needed more Savannah Martin and even more importantly I needed more Rafe Collier. So I immediately picked up HOT PROPERTY, the second book in this series.

HOT PROPERTY picks up a few weeks after the end of A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS and sees Savannah trying to get on with her life and sell some houses. Unfortunately her chosen career is in jeopardy when a group of robbers decide to target realtors.
Soon one of the realtors turns up dead and Savannah has to try and catch the murderer before she ends up the one dead.

I love this series and so it's not going to come as a surprise that I simply adored HOT PROPERTY.

HOT PROPERTY is the perfect mix of mystery, romance and adventure. The mystery was very good and left me guessing to the very end. This is the second time that Jenna Bennett has almost stumped me. I like to think I'm getting pretty good at solving cozy mysteries but so far Savannah is solving them before me!

I really enjoyed Savannah as our amateur sleuth and even though she does put her foot in it (like when she tells Rafe exactly how inappropriate it would be for her to date him and how her family would not approve - girl forget the family, he is hot!) she is so sweet and likable and I find myself rooting for her to survive the adventure, and maybe sell a house or two!!

Readers that adore Rafe in A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS will be pleased to know that he is more adorable and more sexy in HOT PROPERTY. Every time he says "darlin'" in that southern accent of his I swear I feel my toes curling involuntarily!! Trust me I'm pretty sure he has the same effect on Savannah. Watching their friendship and the sexual tension develop between them was a treat.

If you like your cozy mysteries on the sexy, romantic side I strongly encourage you to pick up HOT PROPERTY. You definitely won't be disappointed. The only think you will be asking yourself is why you haven't read them before now!

HOT PROPERTY gets a 5 stars from me. It is a perfect winter read. No there is no Christmas or snow in it, but there is lots of edge-of-your-seat adventure and quite a few steamy tension-filled scenes with Savannah and Rafe to warm up your bones!

Author Interview & Giveaway: Teresa Watson

2011-12-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

On the eleventh day of christmas

my true love gave to me

DEATH OF A CANTANKEROUS OLD COOT by Teresa Watson

Please join me in welcoming our eleventh author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Teresa Watson.

Teresa is the author of the Lizzie Crenshaw Mysteries.

Amos Gardner, one of Brookdale's leading citizens, has been found dead in the town park. The sheriff wants to know if his murder has anything to do with the lawsuit he filed against his granddaughter, Lizzie Crenshaw. When someone tries to kill Amos' wife, she points the finger at Lizzie. Teaming up with a gorgeous new deputy, Lizzie must figure out who is behind it all...before she becomes the next victim.

Welcome Teresa to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
As a voracious reader, I'm not sure that I have one particular favorite mystery I read at this time of the year. I read whatever books my mother gets for Christmas, since we read the same authors. Since I am sure she will be reading this, I won't mention any particular names! If I have the time, I re-read some favorites, like the Stephanie Plum series from Janet Evanovich or the DIY series by Jennie Bentley.

What great choices for the holidays!! I'm reading Jennie Bentley's Cutthroat series and can agree it's great holiday reading. If you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
Just one? Wow, that is a tough choice, and being the rebel that I am, I would buck the "only invite one" restriction and ask two of them: Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple. Agatha Christie has always been one of my all-time favorite authors. Can you just imagine the conversation you would have with these two brilliant sleuths? The bigger question would be, if one of your dinner guests were murdered, who would solve it faster: Poirot or Miss Marple?

Oh what a good question in return! My bet is on Miss Marple, I really think she'd get the killer first!! Time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
So many books to choose from! I always tell people to try a new author they've never read before; you don't know what you're missing if you stick to the authors you are familiar with. Any author that you are featuring during your "12 Days of Mystery Books" are great! I recommend To Catch a Leaf by Kate Collins, part of her Flower Shop mystery series. All of the books in these series are fantastic!

I've read the first book in the Flower Shop Mystery series and agree, they are great books!

If you would like to purchase DEATH OF A CANTANKEROUS OLD COOT then head over to Amazon, and grab a Kindle copy for just $0.99! Or get a copy at Barnes & Noble.

I haven't read DEATH OF A CANTANKEROUS OLD COOT yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of DEATH OF A CANTANKEROUS OLD COOT? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Author Interview & Giveaway: Jamie Lee Scott

2011-12-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

On the tenth day of christmas

my true love gave to me

LET US PREY by Jamie Lee Scott

Please join me in welcoming our tenth author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Jamie Lee Scott.

Jamie is the author of the fantastic mystery novel, LET US PREY.

Mimi Capurro is trying to put her life back together after the sudden death of her husband. Using the skills she learned as a secret service agent, she runs the Gotcha Detective Agency, along with her skilled computer forensics partner Charles Parks. Gotcha specializes in executive protection (bodyguards), and tailing cheating spouses.

Nick Christianson is running from the demons of his past, and that has put him back in his old stomping grounds in Salinas, CA. Nick has transferred from the San Francisco Homicide Division and is now adjusting to this new police department.

Mimi never expects to run into her old college flame Nick, when she takes on an executive protection case for New York Times bestselling author Lauren Silke. But when Lauren’s assistant is murdered, the homicide case, along with Mimi, land in Nick’s lap. Will Mimi and Nick be able to solve this murder without killing each other first?

Welcome Jamie to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
I don't have a holiday mystery that I've read that I'd go back to for reading in the winter. I'm not much for winter since I'm a Californian transplanted to the Midwest. I kinda liked my Christmases with 60 degree weather. But I am reading Jingle Hells by Misty Evans, and loving it. I seem to like things with a paranormal twist lately.

It sounds fabulous! If you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
I don't even have to think twice about this, it'd be Myron Bolitar from Harlan Coben's early mysteries, and current thrillers. And if he'd like he could invite Windsor "Win" Horne Lockwood, III, just for kicks.

Oh that would be a meal to remember! Time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
Jennie Bentley writes a great DIY mystery series for Berkley Publishing, It starts with Fatal Fixer Upper, and after that the reader will be hooked and want the rest of the series.

I haven't read Jennie's DIY series, but it is in my TBR stack ready to be enjoyed this holiday season!

If you would like to purchase LET US PREY then head over to Amazon, and grab a Kindle copy for just $0.99! Or get a copy at Barnes & Noble.

I haven't read LET US PREY yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of LET US PREY? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Review: A Cutthroat Business by Jenna Bennett

2011-12-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

Title: A Cutthroat Business
Author: Jenna Bennett
Series: Book 1, of the Savannah Martin Mysteries

Everyone has warned new-minted realtor Savannah Martin that real estate is a cutthroat business. But Savannah doesn’t think she’s supposed to take the warning literally ... until an early morning phone call sends her to an empty house on the ‘bad’ side of town, where she finds herself standing over the butchered body of a competitor, face to face with the boy her mother always warned her about.

Rafe Collier is six feet three inches of testosterone and trouble; tall, dark, and dangerous, with a murky past and no future—not the kind of guy a perfect Southern Belle should want to tangle with. In any way. But wherever Savannah turns, there he is, and making no bones about what he wants from her.

Now Savannah must figure out who killed real estate queen Brenda Puckett, make a success of her new career, and avoid getting killed—or kissed—by Rafe, all before the money in her savings account runs out and she has to go back to selling make-up at the mall.[via Goodreads]

I discovered A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS after I found the short story THE BODDY IN THE SNOWBANK by Jenna Bennett, and I wanted to read more of her books.

A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS is a mystery involving Savannah Martin, a Southern Belle turned realtor, who gets mixed up with a bad boy, by the way of sexy Rafe Collier, and trips over a murdered colleague. What follows is fun and adventure as Savannah tries to solve the murder, before the murderer strikes again!

Before I start I have to tell my readers, that I have a long love/hate relationship with eBooks. I've had two eReaders and both of them were failed experiments. I just don't do well with the eReading phenomena. I like to hold a book and turn the page and yes *gasp* I like to crack the spine. I've all but given up the idea of reading full-length eBooks. However, after reading THE BODDY IN THE SNOWBANK, I connected with the author, Jenna Bennett, on Twitter and she convinced me that A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS was that good, and I just had to read it.

So I abandoned my beautiful paper books and I picked up the iPad and downloaded A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS from Smashwords.

Guess what I discovered? Jenna Bennett was absolutely right!!! A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS grabbed my attention from the very first page. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments, that at one time I almost coughed a mouthful of lemon gelato up all over the screen!! The sexual tension between good girl, Savannah, and bad boy, Rafe, had my toes curling repeatedly. After the first chapter, I was so immersed in the story and didn't even notice that I wasn't reading a paper book.

I simply adored Savannah. Of all the amateur sleuths I've read recently, she has climbed up to the top of my list and completely knocked Stephanie Plum from the #1 spot. She has all of Stephanie Plum's sass and need for adventure, but with southern charm and she's not silly at all. With her southern ways you would expect her to maybe be a little silly, but she's not. She's sweet and assertive and oh so wonderful...

“Top of the morning to you, Savannah!”
I smiled back, or more accurately, showed teeth. “Hi, Tim.”
“You look smashing today. Have a good weekend?” His bright baby blue eyes were malicious.
“Great,” I said dryly, knowing full well that I looked like death warmed over. “Stumbling over a bloody corpse, especially one I know, is definitely my idea of a good time. There’s nothing quite like a whole lot of blood to give a girl some color in her cheeks.”

I really enjoyed the mystery. It kept me guessing right up to the end, and it was full of lots of realtor knowledge. By the end I actually felt like I'd learnt something about realtors and their dealings every day. This made the story feel very well researched, and as all the pieces of the puzzle fell in place together it left me feeling like I'd read a well put-together story.

I give A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS five stars. If you enjoy your cozy mysteries with a good shot of romance, and a love triangle with a sexy bad boy and a Southern gentleman in the mix, then you will love this book. A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS is very reminiscent of the Stephanie Plum books, but the laughs are louder, the romance is sexier and there is a great murder mystery to top it off.

Don't hesitate to add A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS to your holiday reading. Readers, you won't be disappointed!

Author Interview & Giveaway: Jenna Bennett

2011-12-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

On the ninth day of christmas

my true love gave to me

A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS by Jenna Bennett

Please join me in welcoming our ninth author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Jenna Bennett.

Jenna is the author of the Savannah Martin mystery series, and also writes the DIY Mysteries under the name Jennie Bentley.

Everyone has warned new-minted realtor Savannah Martin that real estate is a cutthroat business. But Savannah doesn’t think she’s supposed to take the warning literally ... until an early morning phone call sends her to an empty house on the ‘bad’ side of town, where she finds herself standing over the butchered body of a competitor, face to face with the boy her mother always warned her about.

Rafe Collier is six feet three inches of testosterone and trouble; tall, dark, and dangerous, with a murky past and no future—not the kind of guy a perfect Southern Belle should want to tangle with. In any way. But wherever Savannah turns, there he is, and making no bones about what he wants from her.

Now Savannah must figure out who killed real estate queen Brenda Puckett, make a success of her new career, and avoid getting killed—or kissed—by Rafe, all before the money in her savings account runs out and she has to go back to selling make-up at the mall.

Welcome Jenna to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
It's not all that comforting, but many years ago, Ngaio Marsh wrote a mystery called "Tied Up in Tinsel, that I like a lot. Even less comforting, J.D. Robb's "Holiday in Death." It's about a serial killer, so more of a thriller, really. And the first Miller's Kill book by Julia Spencer-Fleming, "In the Bleak Midwinter," is set in... well... winter. Not Christmas specifically, but it's still appropriate for the season. And an incredible book!

I actually have bought my first few Ngaio Marsh novels, and I can't wait to start them. I keep hearing wonderful things about her mysteries. If you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
Lord Peter Wimsey. He has tons of money, beautiful manners, and "it." He also plays the piano very well, sings "Jerusalem" in a lovely tenor voice, and can pick locks. What more could a woman ask for?

Oh what a good choice! Time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
We're not talking Christmas mysteries this time, I take it? Just any old mystery? "City of Dragons" by Kelli Stanley. It was released in 2010 and has been nominated for pretty much every major award in the mystery field. It's won quite a few too, deservedly so. Gorgeously written 1940s San Francisco noir with a female protagonist. And it has me - the real me, not the pseudonym - in a supporting role. How could you possibly resist? Besides, the cover is stunning!

If you would like to purchase A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS then head over to Amazon, and grab a Kindle copy for just $0.99! Or get a copy at Barnes & Noble or Smashwords.

I've read A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS, and the two books that follow, and I will confirm that this book is fantastic. This series is full of adventure and humor, and definitely one to be on everyone's reading list this season.

A review for A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS will be posted later today.

Want to win your very own e-Book of A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Check out HarperCollin's Fantastic Agatha Christie Quiz & Giveaway

2011-12-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

The lovely people over at HarperCollin's have a great facebook app called Killer Instincts. If you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend it. It is a must see for all mystery fans.

While you are there, check out the Agatha Christie quiz. Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors and the Queen of Mystery is more popular than ever right now. Test your Agatha Christie knowledge, with this quiz.

After you've checked out the quiz, why not pop over and win an Agatha Christie prize. Check out what you can win:

One lucky reader will win a bag full of goodies from the Queen of Crime:
One hardcover copy of An Autobiography by Agatha Christie
One hardcover copy of Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making by John Curran
A trade paperback of Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks by John Curran
A *signed* galley of Charles Todd's A Bitter Truth
And some of Christie's most beloved titles:
The Body in the Library
Ordeal by Innocence
Hickory Dickory Dock

There's only one lucky winner, so enter to win today!

Contest is open to United States residents only and runs from December 12th through December 18, 2011.

What a fantastic prize! If you're an Agatha Christie fan this is a must-enter-giveaway! If you haven't read any Agatha Christie novels yet, this is a perfect prize to start you on your way. THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY is one of my all-time favorite Agatha Christie novels, and would be a great place to start.

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

2011-12-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Today's Waiting on Wednesday is a completely new-to-me author. The author is Mollie Cox Bryan and the book is SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS.

Having traded in her career as a successful investigative journalist for the life of a stay-at-home mum in picturesque Cumberland Creek, Virginia, Annie can't help but feel that something's missing. But she finds solace in a local "crop circle" of scrapbookers united by chore-shy husbands, demanding children, and occasional fantasies of their former single lives. And when the quiet idyll of their small town is shattered by a young mother's suicide, they band together to find out what went wrong...Annie resurrects her reporting skills and discovers that Maggie Rae was a closet scrapbooker who left behind more than a few secrets - and perhaps a few enemies. As they sift through Maggie Rae's mysteriously discarded scrapbooks, Annie and her "crop" sisters begin to suspect that her suicide may have been murder. It seems that something sinister is lurking beneath the town's beguilingly calm facade - like a killer with unfinished business...[via Goodreads]

I'm a crafty person, albeit not a scrapbooker, and this one looks like it's going to be a great series! SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS is released on February 7, 2012.

Author Interview & Giveaway: Misty Evans

2011-12-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

On the eighth day of christmas

my true love gave to me

THE SECRET INGREDIENT by Misty Evans

Please join me in welcoming our eighth author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Misty Evans.

Misty is the author of several urban fantasy novels, and also the culinary cozy mystery, THE SECRET INGREDIENT.

Celebrity chef Katelyn Karr returns to her hometown of Secret, Montana in order to stop an investigative reporter from revealing the truth about her alcoholic father, dead mother and the reason she was run out of town by the socialite Juno family when she was only seventeen.

During a live cooking show at the Juno ranch, her father dies in front of millions of viewers, and suspicion falls on the celebrity diva when the autopsy reveals he was poisoned. Nick Juno, the boy Kate left behind, and who is now mayor, is the only person who can prove her innocence.

Did Kate kill her father on national TV? Nick must untangle the lies and past secrets to figure out if Kate has been framed or slipped her father a secret ingredient that finally put an end to their family dispute.

Welcome Misty to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
I’m in the Midwest and don’t exactly like winter, so I read laugh-out loud mysteries that make me forget about the cold and snow like those by Janet Evanovich or Meg Cabot. I also enjoy grittier mysteries such as Kathy Reichs’ series. This winter, I’m trying a new-to-me author, Bente Gallagher. Anything to do with the South and murder sounds like a good read!

I'm actually reading a Bente Gallagher mystery at the moment, and can say these novels come very highly recommended! If you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
Oh, that’s a tough one! I’d invite the gals from James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series. We could talk shoes and murder suspects.

Oh what a fun idea! That would be a meal to remember!! Time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
If you like culinary mysteries, like mine, you’ll enjoy JoAnn Carl’s Chocoholic series and Isis Crawford’s Simmons Sisters series. The characters and the food are scrumptious!

Oh what good choices! I have JoAnn Carl's books in my TBR, and I can't wait to devour them.

If you would like to purchase THE SECRET INGREDIENT then head over to Amazon, and grab a Kindle copy for just $0.99! Or get a copy at Barnes & Noble or Smashwords.

I haven't read THE SECRET INGREDIENT yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of THE SECRET INGREDIENT? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Author Interview & Giveaway: Gemma Halliday

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

On the seventh day of christmas

my true love gave to me

HOLLYWOOD SCANDALS by Gemma Halliday

Please join me in welcoming our seventh author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Gemma Halliday.

Gemma is the author of the highly acclaimed High Heels Mysteries, and the Hollywood Headlines Mysteries. She is also the author of the new teen novel, DEADLY COOL.

Tina Bender is the gossip columnist at the infamous L.A. Informer tabloid. She knows everything about everyone who's anyone. And she's not afraid to print it. That is, until she receives a threatening note, promising, "If you don't stop writing about me, you're dead." Now her managing editor, Felix Dunn (from the High Heels Mysteries), has her teaming with a built bodyguard, a bubbly blonde, and an alcoholic obituary writer to uncover just which juicy piece of Hollywood gossip is worth killing over.

Welcome Gemma to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
I always try to schedule some down time for myself around this time of year (try being the key word here!), so I like to dive into my toppling TBR pile over the holidays. This year a couple of the titles high on my list are Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich and Moon Child by JR Rain.

I'm a huge Janet Evanovich fan, and I will also be reading some Stephanie Plum this holidays. No holiday is complete without Stephanie, Ranger and Morelli! If you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
I’ve always wanted to meet Ms. Marple. I think she’d be so much fun.. Plus I think she’d know how to cook a great meal!

That is so very true. A meal with Miss Marple would definitely be interesting! Time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
I just finished reading PARADISE BY THE RIFLE SIGHTS by Leslie Langtry, and I highly recommend it! Her books are always hilarious, and this new one just might be my favorite.

Oh I haven't heard of that one yet, but it sounds great!

If you would like to purchase HOLLYWOOD SCANDALS then head over to Amazon, and grab a Kindle copy for just $0.99!

I haven't read HOLLYWOOD SCANDALS yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of HOLLYWOOD SCANDALS? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Guess the Covers Competition

2011-12-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Here at Cozy Mystery Book Reviews I've decided to run a monthly competition. I've updated my header to include five fabulous cozy mystery covers, and it's up to my readers to guess the covers. The lucky winner will win a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice. Whether that is Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your local indie, the choice is yours.

Here's how the competition will go:
- Every month I will put five new covers up, and the competition will run until the 15th of the next month;
- All the covers will be for contemporary cozy mysteries;
- One or more of the cozy mysteries will have been mentioned on my blog at some point.
- To enter just fill in the form below with your choices. You are welcome to leave comments and hints in the comments but please don't put your answers there.
- Authors and readers are allowed to enter. However, for fairness authors - if one of your covers is in the picture above then you cannot enter, as it would be unfair to other people. I will be putting different authors up every month, so as to give everyone a fair chance.
- This competition is open internationally, as long as I can order a giftcard online for a bookstore that delivers to you (ie. book depository or amazon etc)

As with all my contests, you don't need to be a follower to enter. I would hope that readers that love cozy mysteries will follow my blog anyway, but it is not a requirement of my competition.

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Author Interview & Giveaway: Heather Webber

2011-12-12T05:12:00.000-07:00

On the sixth day of christmas

my true love gave to me

TROUBLE UNDER THE TREE by Heather Webber

Please join me in welcoming our sixth author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Heather Webber.

Heather is the author of the Nina Quinn mystery novels, of which TROUBLE UNDER THE TREE is the sixth book. She is also the author of the Lucy Valentine series.

When landscape designer Nina Quinn agrees to deck the halls of Christmastowne, an indoor Christmas village, little did she know how dirty the job would be.

Christmastowne has been plagued by mishaps. Someone’s stealing toy donations, cutting lines to the security system, starting fires, and poisoning the poinsettias. Worst of all, Nina’s neighbor, Fairlee McCorkle (aka Mrs. Claus) is found murdered under Christmastowne’s enormous decorated tree.

The deeper Nina digs for clues to unwrap a killer, the more she discovers that some secrets are best left buried in the past.

Welcome Heather to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
There are many favorites, but I have to admit I love going back and reading Murder on a Bad Hair Day by Anne George. There’s just a touch of Christmas in it—but any book in this series makes me merry.

If you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
Ooh, tough one. My first thought is someone who’s a good cook—to help prepare the Christmas feast (like Sophie Winston from Krista Davis’s Domestic Diva mystery series), or to help with dessert (like Tally Jones from Wendy Lyn Watson’s Mystery A La Mode series). But on second thought, I’d want someone closer to my own heart, like the familiars (Pepe the mouse or Archie the macaw) from my upcoming Wishcraft Mysteries—they’re always entertaining and I can only imagine guests’ reactions.

Oh very good choices! It's always a good idea inviting a guest who can help out with the feast! Time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
It’s too hard to choose just one! There’s Fleece Navidad by Maggie Sefton, Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle, Six Geese a Slaying by Donna Andrews, Murder Trims the Tree by Deb Baker. And for something a touch more traditional: Hercule Poirot's Christmas: A Holiday Mystery by Agatha Christie. Really, in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with any holiday mystery.

Oh so many good choices there! Hercule Poirot's Christmas is definitely a personal favorite for me!

If you would like to purchase TROUBLE UNDER THE TREE then head over to Amazon, and grab a Kindle copy for just $2.99! Its also available at Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

I haven't read TROUBLE UNDER THE TREE yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of TROUBLE UNDER THE TREE? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Author Interview & Giveaway: Patricia Rockwell

2011-12-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

On the fifth day of christmas

my true love gave to me

SOUNDS OF MURDER by Patricia Rockwell

Please join me in welcoming our fifth author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Patricia Rockwell.

Patricia is the author of SOUNDS OF MURDER, a Pamela Barnes Acoustic Mystery.

When Psychology Professor Pamela Barnes discovers her department's star researcher strangled to death in the computer lab, she's determined to find out who did it. Will an accidental recording of the murder allow Pamela to use her expertise in acoustics to identify the killer? A unique cozy mystery--set in the world of academia and high-stakes research--full of excitement, humor, and romance.

Welcome Patricia to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
This is easy. Whenever I think of a perfect Christmas book, I think of Mary Higgins Clark's "Silent Night." I've read most of her mysteries and always enjoy her many, varied characters and complex plots. But, "Silent Night" is really one of my favorites. It tugs at your heart strings until you think they will pop and then pulls them even tighter. There's a wonderful young boy as the hero, as opposed to Ms. Clark's usual female sleuth main characters. It's also a fairly short book, so you can read it over and over. Or you can read it easily in one sitting.

I haven't read any Mary Higgins Clark books yet, but they are definitely on my wishlist to try soon! If you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
As far as a favorite sleuth I'd like to have over for Christmas dinner, I immediately think of Carolyn Blue, the food critic sleuth in Nancy Fairbanks' cozy murder mystery series. Carolyn is always up for a caper, but she's married to a science professor, and he is very proper. Boy, do these two fail to see eye to eye on most issues. Most of the best parts of these books are the wonderful dialogues between Carolyn and Jason. I can imagine how much fun it would be to have them at my Christmas dinner and listen to their academic arguments.

Oh you make Carolyn and Jason sound like a excellent pair! I have to confess after reading your answer to this question, I raced out to buy CRIME BRULEE, the first book by Nancy Fairbanks. I can't wait to read it! Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
In addition to my books, I surely hope your readers consider the cozy mysteries written by the other two authors that my publishing company Cozy Cat Press produces. Diane Morlan has written two charming books following the escapades of coffee roaster Jennifer Penny: TOO DEAD TO DANCE and SHAKE DOWN DEAD. Allen B. Boyer's first cozy mystery is GUMSHOE GRANNY INVESTIGATES. You can find out more about each of these books at our website: www.cozycatpress.com

Cozy Cat Press publishes some awesome cozy mysteries. I can't wait to try them all!

If you would like to purchase SOUNDS OF MURDER then head over to Amazon, it is available in paperback or grab a Kindle copy for just $0.99! Its also available at Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

I haven't read SOUNDS OF MURDER yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of SOUNDS OF MURDER? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Author Interview & Giveaway: NL Wilson

2011-12-09T07:31:00.001-07:00

On the fourth day of christmas

my true love gave to me

THE CASE OF THE FLASHING FASHION QUEEN by NL Wilson

Please join me in welcoming our fourth author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", NL Wilson, who is the writing team Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty.

Norah and Heather are the authors of a fantastic mystery series called The Dix Dodd Mystery series. The first book is THE CASE OF THE FLASHING FASHION QUEEN.

Tired of getting no respect at the big P.I. firm where she’s worked for years, Dix Dodd has hung out her own shingle at the ripe age of 40. There are plenty of cheating husbands to go around, and Dix has a knack for busting them. Problem is, it doesn’t always pay so well. Conscious that the guys back at the old firm are laying bets about how soon she’ll come crawling back, she figures she’s got six months to make a go of it. The going gets even tougher when she hires Dylan Foreman. But when he told her about getting fired from his law firm and disbarred for putting common decency before the firm’s interests, she hired him on the spot. In addition to being smart, he’s gorgeous enough to remind her she’s a woman. And at 28, young enough to make her feel like a total cougar. Things start looking up when Dix gets hired by millionaire businessman Ned Weatherby’s wife Jennifer Weatherby, to tail Ned 24/7 for a week, for a cool ten grand. Easy-peasy, right? Wrong! The job lands Dix in the middle of a murder investigation – with her as the prime suspect and her arch-enemy Detective Richard Head (a.k.a., Dickhead, one of the cheating husbands she’d nailed) gunning for her. Dix will need all her ingenuity, as well as the help of Dylan and her oddball cast of supporters to extricate herself from this one.

Norah and Heather, welcome to Cozy Mystery Book Review. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
Norah: I am eclectic reader, and I enjoy everything from Alice Duncan's cozy historical (roaring 20s) mysteries to John D. MacDonald crime novels. I don't really have a particular type of read for a particular season, although it's always the right season for Robert Crais. I see has a new novel (TAKEN) coming out in January.
Heather: I enjoy funny mysteries. Give me Carl Hiaasen, complete with hilarious, bumbling villains and South Florida weirdness. And Hiaasen is also a great choice for winter. He lifts you out of the winter doldrums with laughter. Plus it's the closest I'll get to Florida (or any other place that's warm!) for a good long stretch.

Oh they all sound so good. I'm a huge fan of Carl Hiassen as well. Onto the next question, if you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
Norah: Wow, what a question! My first reaction was to say Joe Pike (mmmmm), but Joe might a little too taciturn and cryptic. Could be a stilted dinner. LOL! Okay, I'll pick his partner, Elvis Cole, who is comparatively more loquacious. But we're going to have to dine out, since Elvis's palate is far too sophisticated for my cooking skills. And I'll probably pump him a little bit for information about Joe Pike. ,-)
Heather: Can I just skip right over the characters and go to the author? Because I'd love to have dinner - Christmas or otherwise - with Carl Hiaasen. He's brilliant! But if I have to settle for one of his characters, I think I might like to dine with Skink (AKA former Florida governor Clinton Tyree). If you've read Hiaasen, you'll know that Skink was an honest, principled man who tried to battle greed and corruption, but when he saw how entrenched and utterly hopeless it was, he quit to become a hermit living in the wilds of Florida. (Kinda jealous, actually.) Though I would have to insist on doing the cooking rather than leaving it to Skink. I’d take my Kraft Dinner over his roadkill any time!

It sounds like you pair have concocted a great christmas dinner there! Time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
Norah: Here's one I plan to try myself over the holidays: Joel Goldman's "Motion to Kill", which is recommended by both Lee Child and Michael Connelly. With that kind of rec, I'm down with it.
Heather: I gotta go back to Hiaasen. If you like a little satire with your crime fiction/mystery, I recommend going right back to Hiaasen's first book (Tourist Season, 1986) and snort and laugh your way through all 13 of them. Norah and I share this love of Hiaasen, and one of the things we love best about him is his attention to the element of reward. In his books, every character will get exactly what they deserve in the end, including (or perhaps especially) the bad guys.

I definitely back up the suggestion of Carl Hiassen. His books are funny and full of so much adventure!!

If you would like to purchase THE CASE OF THE FLASHING FASHION QUEEN then head over to Amazon, and grab a Kindle copy for just $0.97! Its also available at Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

I haven't read THE CASE OF THE FLASHING FASHION QUEEN yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of THE CASE OF THE FLASHING FASHION QUEEN? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Author Interview & Giveaway: Allen Schatz

2011-12-09T05:07:00.000-07:00

On the third day of christmas

my true love gave to me

GAME 7: DEADBALL by Allen Schatz

Please join me in welcoming our third author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Allen Schatz.

Allen is the author of a gritty mystery series called The Marshall Connors series. The first book is GAME 7: DEADBALL.

Secrets, lies, and revenge provide the sparks that ignite a fiery collision between past and present...

A puzzle takes shape as baseball’s World Series unfolds, but the pieces don’t seem to fit: missing women, strange threats, gambling problems, kidnappings, and relationships long dormant are all somehow connected, but major league umpire Marshall Connors may run out of time before he can solve the mystery...

Marshall’s post-season plans were to spend a week in Florida, helping his mentor teach a training class followed by a lot of sun. The vacation is cut short when Marshall gets assigned to work the World Series as crew chief, but the real reason is not discovered until he is neck-deep in trouble.

The surprise assignment rekindles a relationship with the O’Hara family and Marshall realizes some things truly are better left alone. As the games play out, so does the truth behind long-buried O’Hara family secrets and Marshall is caught in a storm that threatens to destroy him and those he loves.

With the help of his best friend, Thomas Hillsborough--ex-CIA spy--Marshall fights to solve the puzzle before the Series reaches its climax in GAME 7: DEAD BALL, the ultimate contest of survival.

Welcome Allen to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
The time of year doesn't really impact my reading decisions. I also don't find myself reading a book more than once. That said, I think any good mystery is like comfort food on a cold day. Being able to escape to another place or time let's you forget about the snow piling up, or the rain, or whatever bad weather might be howling outside.

I completely agree. If you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
I think maybe Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar. The books definitely influenced my writing in that they are set on a sports canvas. Myron was a reluctant hero and seemed to share a lot of the interests I have (sports). He had a certain level of "smart-ass" to him that I enjoyed as well. To make it more fun maybe we'd ask Sherlock Holmes to join us as well.

Oh Sherlock Holmes would definitely make a great dinner companion! Time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
I'd love to see people give more Indie writers a shot. Any of the Sean Sweeney "Agent" series books - they might be more thriller than mystery, but I think of mystery and thriller as going hand in hand. There's also "Dead of Knight" by William Potter. Both guys are very talented.

I haven't read any of those books but I definitely will be checking them out!

If you would like to purchase GAME 7 : DEADBALL then head over to Amazon, it is available in paperback or grab a Kindle copy for just $2.99! Its also available at Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

I haven't read GAME 7 : DEADBALL yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of GAME 7 : DEADBALL? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Author Interview & Giveaway: Amanda Brice

2011-12-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

On the second day of christmas

my true love gave to me

CODENAME: DANCER by Amanda Brice

Please join me in welcoming our second author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Amanada Brice.

Liz is the author of CODENAME: DANCER, and is currently working on the second book in this fantastic series.

Aspiring ballerina Dani Spevak is thrilled when hit TV show Teen Celebrity Dance Off comes to the campus of her performing arts boarding school. She trades the barre for the ballroom and gets set to cha-cha-cha to stardom with Hollywood wonderboy Nick Galliano.

At first their partnership is awkward, because Dani is in awe of her longtime teen idol crush. But soon their chemistry is heating up the dance floor and the attraction moves into real life.

Her excitement is short-lived, because someone wants her off the show. Bombs, poisoning, arson… Will Dani’s 15 minutes of fame be over before she reaches age 15? Dani and her friends are suddenly at the center of some serious sabotage. And if she doesn’t find out who is behind it, her next pirouette could be her last.

It’s like Nancy Drew in toe shoes in this light-hearted tween mystery, a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award for Best Young Adult Romance.

Amanda is here today to talk about Christmas, and more importantly what mysteries are perfect to read at Christmas time!

Welcome Amanda to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
I love holiday anthologies of all genres, particularly mysteries and romantic comedies. There's just something magical about the season that lends itself to super fun stories. When it comes to holiday cozy mysteries, I'm a big fan of any of the anthologies by Joanna Fluke, Laura Levine, and Leslie Meier -- Sugar Cookie Murder, Candy Cane Murder, Plum Pudding Murder, and now Gingerbread Cookie Murder. I haven't that last one yet, but I just had a baby at the end of November, so I'm looking forward to digging into it soon. I've got my Kindle all loaded up with tons of great books for all those sleepless nights!

As a fan of Laura Levine, I've checked out a few of these anthologies and definitely can confirm they are perfect holiday reading. Amanda if you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
Oooh, good question! This is a hard one to answer, since there are so many great sleuths out there who would would make quirky and fun dinner guests. I'm sure Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich) would keep us laughing as she regales us with her crazy tales of life as a bounty hunter. And as a big fan of historicals, I'd love to spend an evening with Lady Jane Grey (Deanna Raybourn). But if I had to limit myself to one guest, I think I'd pick Maddie Springer (Gemma Halliday's High Heels Mysteries). She is HILARIOUS!

I'd love to spend a Christmas meal with Stephanie Plum. That would be so much fun. Okay so time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
Another really unfair question! There are so many fantastic mysteries out there. But I just finished The Alchemy of Murder by Carol McCleary, which I absolutely loved. The heroine is intrepid reporter Nellie Bly, who is in Paris during the 1889 World's Fair to track a serial killer (who many believe might be Jack the Ripper). She teams up with Jules Verne, Oscar Wilde, Louis Pasteur, and Toulouse Lautrec to solve the crime of the century. I seriously couldn't put it down.

Good choices!!

If you would like to purchase CODENAME: DANCER then head over to Amazon, it is available in paperback for $6.99 or grab a Kindle copy for just $0.99! Its also available at Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

I haven't read CODENAME: DANCER yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of CODENAME: DANCER? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Check out Killer Instincts on Facebook

2011-12-07T11:04:00.000-07:00

My bookshelves are overflowing with piles of books and as such I rarely enter giveaways for myself. However, when HarperCollins contacted me about a great giveaway they have going on I couldn't resist sharing it with everyone.

Check out what is on offer:
Chester the Cat teapot
1 hardcover copy of mugumogu's I am Maru
1 copy of each of the below mass market titles:
Katherine Hall Page's The Body in the Sleigh
Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Cat Coming Home
Diane Mott Davidson's Dark Tort
Carolyn Hart's Dead Days of Summer
Mary Jane Clark's To Have and To Kill
AND
1 signed copy of Katherine Hall Page's cookbook Have Faith In Your Kitchen

10 Second Prize winners will win:
1 hardcover copy of mugumogu's I am Maru
And 1 copy each of these titles:
Katherine Hall Page's The Body in the Sleigh
Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Cat Coming Home
Diane Mott Davidson's Dark Tort
Carolyn Hart's Dead Days of Summer
Mary Jane Clark's To Have and To Kill

This contest is open to residents of the United States only.

Isn't that teapot just gorgeous?! There are so many great mysteries on offer, I'm sure all my readers will be wanting to run over and enter the giveaway.

While you are there check out Killer Instinct's facebook page. They have lots of interesting things going on, book excerpts, reviews and even a FREE e-book of CLUES TO CHRISTIE: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO MISS MARPLE, HERCULE POIROT, TOMMY & TUPPENCE AND ALL OF AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MYSTERIES. It's free this week, so I highly recommend all mystery fans go check it out.

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

2011-12-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Today's Waiting on Wednesday is a completely new-to-me author. I discovered this author on Twitter and was thrilled to hear that she has a new mystery series coming out in January.

Hayley Snow's life always revolved around food. But when she applies to be a food critic for a Key West style magazine, she discovers that her new boss would be Kristen Faulkner-the woman Hayley caught in bed with her boyfriend! Hayley thinks things are as bad as they can get-until the police pull her in as a suspect in Kristen's murder. Kristen was killed by a poisoned key lime pie. Now Hayley must find out who used meringue to murder before she takes all the blame.[via Goodreads]

I love culinary cozies. Whenever there is food in cozies there are usually mouth watering recipes involved. As my family will confirm, this usually results in me cooking up a storm. This time I'm predicting I will be reading and cooking up some key lime pie!

AN APPETITE FOR MURDER is due for release on January 3, 2011.

Author Interview & Giveaway: Liz Jasper

2011-12-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

On the first day of christmas

my true love gave to me

UNDERDEAD by Liz Jasper

Please join me in welcoming our very first author for the "12 Days of Mystery Novels for Christmas", Liz Jasper.

Liz is the author of the Undead Mysteries, UNDERDEAD and UNDERDEAD IN DENIAL, and is currently working on the third book in this fantastic series.

Newbie science teacher Jo Gartner thinks her life has reached an all time low when she realizes the biggest excitement of her year is the staff Christmas party. Then she gets bitten by a vampire. Sort of. And then she’s a murder suspect. The police are at her door, the Undead are at her windows, and her vampire traits are growing harder to hide by the minute. If she doesn’t figure out who to trust she won’t be alive long enough to worry about all those papers she still has to grade.

Liz is here today to talk about Christmas, and more importantly what mysteries are perfect to read at Christmas time!

Welcome Liz to Cozy Mystery Book Review. Let's talk mysteries at Christmas. It's winter and snowing up here in Canada, so I'm always spending a lot of time indoors reading mysteries at this time of the year. What is your favorite mystery novel to read at this time of the year?
It's not as cold here in Northern California but that doesn't keep me from complaining about the temperature. An Anne Perry book (I particularly like the Hester & Monk series) about old London makes me feel very grateful that I am not there. But I have to be careful about reading anything British as they always eat things like bread and butter with tea and I invariably find myself up in the kitchen snarfing down bread and butter and wishing I had a fairy cake, even though I'm not really sure what they are. I think they're like cupcakes though I don't really believe it. Fairy cakes sound more magical than a cupcake (which is saying something as I really like cupcakes). This year I might go a different route and read something that takes place in the nice, warm, southern US. I've got a book on my TBR pile that I've been longing to have a moment to curl up with--Kat Jorgensen's Eight O'Clock Is Dead. At least I think it's set in the warm south. I don't know as I haven't gotten to read it yet!

I grew up in a very british household, so I can confirm for both readers and Liz, that fairycakes are DELICIOUS! They are like little cupcakes and a mouthful of heaven. Speaking of food, Liz if you could invite one sleuth or character from a mystery novel to enjoy a Christmas Day meal with you, who would it be?
Will the vampire from my books, definitely. He's hot (always nice on Christmas to have hotness in the house), and funny (essential for our family Christmas table)...and I'd like to have him deal with my mother. I'm giggling just thinking of how this would go down. "Will, you're not eating your peas.... Oh dear," [in an undertone to my sister] "is Will...sniffing... your sister's neck?" [Clamped lips]" Liz, will you please join me in the kitchen?" (Okay, my mother would never say that in front of a guest but she would be THINKING it.)
If Will isn't available then Ranger from the Janet Evanovich books. I mean come on. Who are we kidding. Everyone wants to spend time with Ranger.

Oh gosh, I love Ranger from the Stephanie Plum books. He would definitely be one of my choices too! It sounds like Will would be a good pick as well, especially if he was "sniffing" necks! Okay so time to suggest a mystery for Christmas. Of course all my readers are going to be buying your novel/s for Christmas. Along with buying your book/s, what other mystery novel do you suggest readers buy for Christmas, either for themselves or someone else?
The book I've read recently that's most stuck with me is A Clockwork Fairytale by Helen Scott Taylor. She's a fabulous writer and her book is one of those mystery/fantasy/romantic suspense YA's that really stick with you. It's intended for teens but one of those books adults will steal and gobble up.

If you would like to purchase UNDERDEAD then head over to Amazon, it is available in paperback for $13.95 or grab a Kindle copy for just $0.99! Its also available at Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

I haven't read UNDERDEAD yet, but it is definitely on my planned reading list for this holiday season.

Want to win your very own e-Book of UNDERDEAD? It's so easy! You don't need to follow, tweet, facebook (although I sure do appreciate if you do). All you need to is complete the form below, and you will be entered to win! Giveaway ends 12pm EST on December 19.

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Be sure to come back and check tomorrow, when I will be having another great mystery author stop by to share their favorite holiday mysteries.

Review: Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman

2011-12-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Title: Hooked on Murder
Author: Betty Hechtman
Series: Book 1 of the Crochet Mystery

When bookstore event coordinator Molly Pink stumbles across the dead body of a crochet group’s leader, her complicated past with the woman makes her a prime suspect.

But while Molly’s fending off a detective with a personal grudge and navigating the pitfalls of crochet group politics, the real killer remains at large. And it’s up to her to catch the culprit—before she winds up in a tight knot.[via Amazon]

The Crochet Mystery series has been in my TBR for quite a few months now. I love to crochet and the idea about a murder mystery series set around a group of crocheters tickles my crafty heart.

The first book in the series is HOOKED ON MURDER, and it sees bookstore event co-ordinator, Molly Pink, in the hot seat after she is suspected of murdering Ellen Sheridan, the leader of the crochet group. Now it's up to Molly, with her trusty sidekick in the form of best friend Dinah, to try to solve the crime before she gets sent away to jail for good!

HOOKED ON MURDER is everything that I love about series debuts. It sets up a great cast of characters (not too many so that I'm constantly losing track of all the characters, and not too few that I feel like something is missing, just the right amount!), with a murder practically on the first page, and lots of crafty goodness.

I really enjoyed Molly as the amateur sleuth. She's feisty and independent and is trying to get her life back on track after her husband passed away. She's determined to solve the crime and clear her name, and even uses a self-help how-to-be-a-investigator type of book to help her along the way!

I've been crocheting for about 15+ years, and I liked the way Betty Hechtman included the crocheting stitches as part of the book. It was fun watching Molly and Dinah learn how to crochet, and also to see the rivalry between crocheters and knitters.

I found HOOKED ON MURDER to be a fantastic read. It is well and truly worthy of 5 stars rating, and a definitely must-add to any cozy mystery readers library.

Side Note: Reading HOOKED ON MURDER encouraged me to pick up my own crocheting hook, and I've started to make granny squares to make an afghan. There is a pattern for the granny squares at the back of HOOKED ON MURDER. As I read through this series I will be updating the bottom of my review with my progress. While I do try to keep this blog strictly about book news and reviews, I thought it would be fun to try a crochet project while I read these books. I'm only about 3/4 the way through my first granny square (I started last night) but here it is so far.

I'm a little out of practice with the crocheting, but I'm hoping to pick it up quickly again.

Announcing: The 12 Days of Mystery Books for Christmas

2011-12-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

Has everyone heard of Book Lovers Buffet? They are a group of authors that have gotten together to promote their eBooks for the holidays. They have over 150 eBooks and they are all only $0.99! Their promotion inspired me to think about indie authors that have fantastic eBooks out there, that deserve to be on reader's Christmas shopping list.

So together with many of the mystery/suspense authors over at Book Lovers Buffet, I've organised a fantastic Christmas Promotion called 12 Days of Mystery Books for Christmas.

Starting on December 7, I will be hosting the event to promote some of my favorite (and some new-to-me but equally amazing) indie authors. Each day there will be an author interview and a giveaway.

If you love mystery novels and if you love eBooks then I hope you will visit often and check out these great authors. Here is the line-up:

December 7: Liz Jasper
December 8: Amanda Brice
December 9: Allen Schatz
December 10: Norah Wilson
December 11: Patricia Rockwell
December 12: Heather Webber
December 13: Gemma Halliday
December 14: Misty Evans
December 15: Jenna Bennett
December 16: Jamie Lee Scott
December 17: Teresa Watson
December 18: Jana DeLeon

Make sure you check out the awesome deals over at Book Lovers Buffet, and also visit the blog daily from December 7, to find out what these authors have to say about their favorite holiday reads, and which detective/sleuth they would share a christmas meal with!!

Review: The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames

2011-12-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

Title: The Long Quiche Goodbye
Author: Avery Aames
Series: Book 1 of the Cheese Shop Mysteries

Welcome to the grand opening of Fromagerie Bessette. Or as it's more commonly known by the residents of small-town Providence, Ohio-the Cheese Shop. Proprietor Charlotte Bessette has prepared a delightful sampling of bold Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, delicious tortes of Stilton and Mascarpone, and a taste of Sauvignon Blanc-but someone else has decided to make a little crime of passion the piece de resistance. Right outside the shop Charlotte finds a body, the victim stabbed to death with one of her prized olive-wood handled knives.[via Amazon]

I love the cheesy titles of cozy mystery novels. There is SENTENCED TO DEATH and SPRINKLE WITH MURDER. The titles just scream at me "pick me up and read me" and of course I can't resist, as friends will tell you by my overflowing bookshelves.

With all these cheesy novels, I decided that my next read would have to involve cheese, and you can't get more cheese than THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE.

THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE is set the town of Province, with Charlotte and her cousin (and business partner) Matthew celebrating the grand reopening of The Cheese Shop. However things don't go to plan when Ed, the richest man in town, is killed. The prime suspect is Charlotte's grandmother, and it's up to Charlotte to discover the real killer and prove that her grandmother is innocent.

While it is often a mystery cliche to kill of the richest and most hated man in town, Avery Aames pulls it off perfectly. The mystery was absolute first class, and I was unable to put the book down until the very last chapter when I discovered the murderer! Lately I have picked the murderer long before the ending of the book, but with THE LONG QUICHE GOODBYE I was still guessing right up until the murderer was announced. I was a little shocked that I hadn't picked it up.

The town of Providence has so many fantastic people. While Charlotte is a sweet character, it was her assistant, Rebecca, the amish girl who is now embracing modern life that I adored the most. Especially as she is trying to help Charlotte solve the crime, with tips that she has picked up on CSI and Magnum PI!

All in all, a fantastic mystery. One that left me wanting to go to the supermarket to discover more cheeses! I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, LOST AND FONDUE.

Cozy Mystery Authors & Me (4): John Mortimer

2011-12-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

Today's edition of "Cozy Mystery Authors & Me" centers around one of my very much-loved authors, John Mortimer.

John Mortimer is the author of the hugely popular book and tv series, RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY. I grew up with the tv show, RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY. I come from a very Irish family, who favored british tv, and RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY was always a must-watch for our family. The tv show ran from 1978 to 1992, and featured Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole (as pictured to the right, with John Mortimer to the left).

Horace Rumpole is an aging barrister who defends all kind of clients, with the most memorable clients being the criminal families of the Molloy's and the Timson's. Rumpole's wife, Hilda, who he affectionately calls "She Who Must Be Obeyed" provides a lot of a comedy as she tries to get Rumpole to become Head of Chambers and QC.

While the RUMPOLE OF THE BAILEY series may not be strictly classified as a cozy mystery series, it has always been considered one in my mind. It deals with the same characters in the barrister headquarters, and there are plenty of murders going around. Rumpole's most popular case is called THE PENGE BUNGALOW MURDERS, which he won when he was first starting out.

Long before I was reading Agatha Christie's, I was engrossed in Rumpole of the Bailey. First through the tv show and then through the books that followed.

If you love you're mysteries with courtroom battles and lots of lawyer gossip, then I highly recommend this series. There are three omnibuses of short stories, and many of the individual cases are being re-released as novels, and well worth a look.

In the coming weeks I will be reviewing many of the stories contained in the SECOND RUMPOLE OMNIBUS.

Sadly John Mortimer passed away on January 16, 2009, so there are no more new Rumpole of the Bailey stories to share. However, there is a fantastic amount already published that will delight new readers.

John Mortimer played such an important part in shaping my mystery loving reading as a teen, and even further as an adult. When I'm not sure what I'm in the mood to read I always pick up one of his stories, because they never disappoint.

I'm going to leave readers with a glimpse into John Mortimer's writing room. The Guardian took a look inside his writing room in 2007 with this article.

I love how he describes his typical writing day:

Behind my back when I write - to encourage me - is a shelf of drinks, a Bafta award and a Nibbie lifetime achievement award. Above the window there's a cartoon of me as a toby jug and one of me on a horse, accusing me of being a champagne socialist. I write with a pen on long sheets of paper. I've never learnt how to type. I try to write as early as possible in the morning, and aim to write 1,000 words a day. I stop at lunchtime, have a drink and then fall asleep.

Even though I am not a writer, just an avid reader, John Mortimer is an inspiration to me. He achieved so much in his life, and every time I pick up a Rumpole story his legacy lives on.

December 2011 Releases

2011-12-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

Check out the list of new releases for December 2011:

December 6, 2011
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth (The Sunday Philosophy Club #8) by Alexander McCall Smith
Double Booked for Death (Black Cat Bookshop Mystery #1) by Ali Brandon
The Cocoa Conspiracy (Lady Arianna Hadley Mystery #2) by Andrea Penrose
Foul Play at Four (Lois Meade #11) by Ann Purser
The Last Word (Books by the Bay Mystery #3)by Ellery Adams
Shadows in the Night (Aurelia Marcella Mysteries #5) by Jane Finnis
A Spirited Gift (Missing Pieces Mystery #3) by Jim Lavene & Joyce Lavene
The Villa of Death (Daphne du Maurier Mystery #3) by Joanna Challis
Dead Bolt (Haunted Home Renovation #2) by Juliet Blackwell
Threadbare (Needlecraft Mysteries #15) by Monica Ferris
Crops and Robbers (Farmer’s Market Mystery #3) by Paige Shelton
Endangered (Sam Westin Outdoor Mystery #1) by Pamela Beason
A Cookie Before Dying (Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery #2) by Virginia Lowell
Spell & Stitches (Sugar Maple #4) by Barbara Bretton

December 27, 2011
Chocolate Covered Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries #19) by Leslie Meier
Ghoul Interrupted (Ghost Hunter Mystery #6) by Victoria Laurie

There are so many of these I'm excited for, and I'm expecting quite a few from Santa!

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

2011-11-30T05:07:00.000-07:00

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

I spotted today's Waiting on Wednesday book over at Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and More and knew it was going to be a book I would want on my wishlist.

After receiving her first pink slip at the age of forty-five, former newspaper journalist Lila Wilkins is desperate for work, even if it means taking a pay cut. After combing through the classifieds, Lila accepts an internship at A Novel Idea, a thriving literary agency in the utopian town of Inspiration Valley, North Carolina. Lila can’t imagine anything better than being paid to read, but with a crew of quirky co-workers and a sky-high stack of query letters, she doesn’t exactly have time to discover the next great bestseller—especially when a penniless aspiring author drops dead in the agency’s waiting room. No one else seems too concerned about the man’s demise, but when Lila uncovers a series of threatening letters, she’s determined to uncover what—or who—killed the man’s dreams of literary stardom…[via Author's Website]

I love cozy mysteries featuring bookstores, and this is the first one I've seen that features a literary agent. Needless to say I'm excited to try this series out.

BURIED IN A BOOK is being released on February 7, 2012.

Review: Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett

2011-11-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

Title: Sentenced to Death
Author: Lorna Barrett
Series: Book 5 of the Booktown Mysteries

As the owner of Stoneham, New Hampshire’s mystery bookstore Haven’t Got a Clue, Tricia Miles can figure out whodunit in the latest bestseller way before she gets to the last page. But these days, Tricia is using her sleuthing skills for much more than the books on her shelves . . .
It’s Founders’ Day in Stoneham and the whole village has turned out to celebrate in the square, including Tricia’s friend and festivities organizer Deborah Black. As everyone watches Deborah give the opening speech, a small aircraft crashes into the village gazebo, killing both Deborah and the pilot. While the Sheriff’s Department is convinced that it was an accident, Tricia has a feeling that there’s more to the story. And when she reads between the lines of the case, what she finds is worse than the most sinister whodunit …[via Amazon]

As a fan of the Booktown Mystery series I was so excited to pick up the latest book in the series.

SENTENCED TO DEATH takes place several months after the horrifying murder of Jim Roth, the owner of History Repeats Itself. Life in Stoneham is settling back to normal, or at least Tricia is led to belief. However, she is thrown in the middle of another murder mystery, when her close friend, Deborah, is killed.

I have raved and raved about how much I enjoy the Booktown Mysteries. Of all the contemporary cozy mysteries being published right now, it is my absolute favorite. The murder mystery aspect is always strong and well developed and the characters are always interesting and lively (well except for the murder victim!).

In my opinion, SENTENCED TO DEATH, is the best of the five novels published in this series. Lorna Barrett is keeping things interesting in the small town of Stoneham. When Deborah is killed, Tricia is left to re-assess everything she thought she knew about her close friend, and other friends in the small town.

The residents of Stoneham are constantly evolving. As with any small town (or any big town for that matter) nothing stays the same, and Lorna Barrett skillfully portrays this in the Booktown Mystery series. Relationships and friendships change and evolve, and all this happens skillfully in the background, while the murder mystery takes center stage.

With the combination of the murder mystery, and all the happenings in and around Stoneham, I was absolutely riveted through SENTENCED TO DEATH. By the last page, I gave a contented sigh at having finished another great Lorna Barrett mystery, and a little sad as well. Sad because now I have to patiently wait for the next book in the series to be released. MURDER ON THE HALF SHELF is due for a release on July 3, 2012.

I've said it before and I will say it again. If you haven't read this series, stop what you are doing right now, go to the bookstore, shop online, buy it for Kindle or Nook, do whatever it takes to read this series. It is the best of the contemporary cozy mysteries of 2011 and you won't be disappointed.

Cozy Mystery Theme: Snowed-In

2011-11-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

It's winter up here in Canada, and it's the perfect time of the year to pick up a cozy mystery! Murder, mayhem and some snow... what could be better?

So today's Cozy Mystery Theme is all about the snow. Whether it's snowed-in, snow bound or just lots of snow, here are some great selections:

Adair, Gilbert - The Act of Roger Murgatroyd
Atherton, Nancy - Aunt Dimity's Christmas
Atherton, Nancy - Aunt Dimity Snowbound
Babson, Marian - Murder on a Mystery Tour
Barr, Nevada - Winter Study
Beaton, M. C. - A Highland Christmas
Christie, Agatha - The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding
Christie, Agatha - Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
Christie, Agatha - Murder on the Orient Express
Christie, Agatha - Three Blind Mice
Daheim, Mary - The Alpine Christmas
Dunn, Carola - Death at Wentwater Court
Dunn, Carola - Mistletoe & Murder
Ferris, Monica - Crewel Yule
Ferris, Monica - Thai Die
Fluke, Joanne - Sugar Cookie Murder
Hamilton, Steve - A Cold Day in Paradise
Hare, Cyril - An English Murder
Kelly, Jim - Death Wore White
Marsh, Ngaio - Tied Up in Tinsel
McPherson, Catriona - The Winter Ground
Meier, Leslie - Christmas Cookie Murder
Meier, Leslie - Mistletoe Murder
Page, Katherine Hall - The Body in the Sleigh
Page, Katherine Hall - The Body in the Snowdrift
Perry, Anne - A Christmas Journey
Pulver, Mary Monica - Original Sin
Ruell, Patrick (Reginald Hill) - Red Christmas
Taylor, Phoebe Atwood - Death Lights a Candle

Of these books my favorites would be HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS and MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. I make it a point of re-reading MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS every year. There is something about death and the snowed-in train, and Poirot that makes it an unforgettable read.

I'm going to include a special mention for a snow-abound short story. Don't have time to read a whole novel this winter? Then try THE BODDY IN THE SNOWBANK by Jenna Bennett. I just reviewed this one last week, and loved it. It's available free from Smashwords.

So readers, have you read any of these? Are you planning on reading any of these this winter?

Review: Chapter & Hearse by Lorna Barrett

2011-11-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

Title: Chapter and Hearse
Author: Lorna Barrett
Series: Book 4 of the Booktown Mysteries

Mystery bookstore owner Tricia Miles has been spending more time solving whodunits than reading them. Now a nearby gas explosion has injured Tricia's sister's boyfriend, Bob Kelly, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, and killed the owner of the town's history bookstore. Tricia's never been a fan of Bob, but when she reads that he's being tight-lipped about the "accident", it's time to take action.[via Amazon]

It's no surprise that I'm a big fan of the Booktown Mystery series by Lorna Barrett. They have everything I enjoy in cozy mysteries: fascinating characters, a bookstore setting and an adorable cat called Miss Marple.

Lorna Barrett continues her series with the fourth book, CHAPTER AND HEARSE, and it is an absolute page-turner!

CHAPTER AND HEARSE sees Tricia's sister, Angelica, on her very first book tour (for her newly published recipe book) and it is up to Tricia to try and manage not just her store but to oversee Angelica's stores too! Angelica has barely left town before there is murder and mayhem with the death of the history bookstore owner, Jim Roth. Now its up to Tricia to try and solve the case.

This series just gets better and better! The mystery was strong and detailed. Lorna Barrett had me guessing right till the end, with every twist and turn, as Tricia is racing against the clock to solve the crime.

I simply love Stoneham. I love this town of bookstores, where there is always so much gossip and with adventure at every turn. With Tricia at the centre of all the action, it was a pleasure to learn more about my favorite characters. I really love how all the characters have grown and developed and I'm so eager to start the next book, SENTENCED TO DEATH, to find out what is in store next.

CHAPTER & HEARSE is definitely a 5-star read for me. For fans of cozy mystery I highly recommend this series. It is one that you must add to your shelves. You definitely won't be disappointed.

Review: The Boddy in the Snowbank by Jenna Bennett

2011-11-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

Title: The Boddy in the Snowbank
Author: Jenna Bennett
Series: Standalone

Just for fun… a short story based around the game Cluedo/Clue. When Mr. Boddy is found dead in a snowbank, his loyal housekeeper, Mrs. White, must give a statement to the police about the case. It’s the Clue characters like you’ve never seen them before![via Smashwords]

I discovered THE BODDY IN THE SNOWBANK after I read Dru's review over at her blog. I don't read many e-Books, but since this novel was free on smashwords I thought I would give it a try.

THE BODDY IN THE SNOWBANK tells the story of Mr Boddy's demise, after he is found dead in a snowbank, following a very interesting dinner party.

For such a short story (only 8 pages) this story is so much fun. For me, it was very reminiscent of early Agatha Christie, with the country estate and the intriguing characters, with oh so many secrets!

With an ending full of surprises and one that I didn't see coming, it sure was a great way to spend a few minutes of reading on a winter's day.

THE BODDY IN THE SNOWBANK is free at Smashwords right now. I highly recommend you try out this fun little mystery. It's a definite must for fans of classic mystery novels, and anyone that has ever played Cluedo/Clue.

Reading Challenge: Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2012

2011-11-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

As many of my readers know, I love mysteries and as such any reading challenges I do in 2012 will be mystery related. I'm trying to limit my reading challenges to just 2-3 but I absolutely can't resist signing up for this one. The Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge hosted by My Reader's Block.

The idea is to read books that are "vintage mystery", ie. published prior to 1960. Being a big fan of Agatha Christie, this challenge will be perfect for me.

I'm choosing GOLDEN AGE GIRLS. As the name suggests these are vintage mystery novels by female authors. I'm hoping to make my first foray into the wonderful books of Dorothy Sayers, and continuing on with the Agatha Christie novels.

I don't have a planned reading list yet, but I may post one here in the next few weeks.

I'm also open to trying other female authors from the early 1900's, so any recommendations are welcome.

Edit: I've decided to be super adventurous and double up on the Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2012, so I will also be doing the CHERCHEZ LE HOMME. I'm going to be reading 8 books by male detectives for this portion. This allows me to continue my love/hate relationship with Poirot and also read some more Sherlock Holmes.
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Review: Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett

2011-11-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Title: Bookplate Special
Author: Lorna Barrett
Series: Book 3 of the Booktown Mysteries

Bookstore owner Tricia Miles has put up—and put up with—her uninvited college roommate for weeks. In return, Pammy has stolen $100. But the day she's kicked out, Pammy's found dead in a Dumpster, leaving loads of questions unanswered.[via Amazon]

I always look forward to picking up a Lorna Barrett mystery. Not only are her mysteries full of interesting murders and fascinating characters, but I usually learn a thing or two as well. Her third book in the Booktown Mysteries, BOOKPLATE SPECIAL, is no exception.

BOOKPLATE SPECIAL sees Tricia, owner of the Haven't Got a Clue? bookstore in Stoneham, right in the middle of things again, when she finds ex-friend, Pammy, dead in a dumpster. She gets thrown in the thick of things, when she tries to figure out what happened to Pammy.

It has been a few months since I read a book in this series, and within the first few pages it was like visiting an old, much beloved, friend again. I caught up with Tricia and her sister, Angelique (who runs the Cookery bookstore next door), and Tricia's lovely employees, Ginny and Mr Everett, and all the while I became intrigued by the death of Pammy. In fact I would say, it was much more enjoyable spending time with inhabitants of Stoneham, than it is spending time with my own extended family!

The mystery of Pammy's death was so very intriguing! While I did in fact have a clue as to the murderer (I think I must be getting better at solving these cozy mysteries!!!) it was interesting reading and watching all the little pieces fall into place.

I have said it before and I will say it again, Lorna Barrett writes so seamlessly. Her novels are always well researched and fascinating. In BOOKPLATE SPECIAL the reader gets to learn about the Freegan lifestyle (something I knew nothing about) and puts the focus on the Food Bank as well. Together with the murder, it sure made BOOKPLATE SPECIAL such an enjoyable read. From the very first page to the last page I couldn't bear to put it down!!

If you like mystery books as much as I do, then I highly recommend this series. The name dropping alone is well worth it. Tricia is always mentioning well-loved (and some new-to-me) authors as part of her running the Haven't Got a Clue bookstore.

A great mystery, a fantastic story and definitely a 5-star read for me.

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

2011-11-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

I'm a huge fan of Jenn McKinlay's books (absolutely adore her Cupcake Mystery series) and I'm so excited to see that she has another series in the works.

Everyone loves a good deal, especially the Good Buy Girls, a group of coupon-clipping, discount divas who scour the circulars and plan their attacks on stores as if they were generals plotting their war strategy.

Maggie Gerber—one of the founding members of the Good Buy Girls—loves her life in St. Stanley, Virginia, but things are about to get complicated. First, Sam Collins, her old flame, moves back to town as the new sheriff. Then, Claire Freemont, a librarian and the newest member of the Good Buy Girls, shows up late to a meeting, acting utterly strange.

When Maggie goes to visit her the next day at the library, everything seems back to normal…until they find the body of a very dead man with a knife plunged into his chest. Turns out, the man is someone from Claire's past, making her the prime suspect.

As the handsome new sheriff zeroes in on Claire, it's up to Maggie and the rest of the Good Buy Girls to use their bargain-hunting skills to hunt a killer—while making sure they don’t pay too much in the process…[via Jenn McKinlay's website]

Shopping, murder. This sounds like the start of a fantastic series and I can't wait to read it!

50% OFF MURDER is being released under the name of Josie Belle, and is due to be published in April, 2012.

Cozy Mystery Authors & Me (3): Leann Sweeney

2011-11-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

My first two editions of "Cozy Mystery Authors & Me" have focused on two deceased (and much loved) authors. Today I'm going to focus on the much-admired and current author, Leann Sweeney.

Leann Sweeney writes two series, The Yellow Rose Mysteries and The Cat in Trouble Mysteries. I first discovered the Yellow Rose Mysteries, via the second book in the series - A WEDDING TO DIE FOR. After reading all the Cat Who books by Lilian Jackson Braun, I went hunting for more cozy mysteries and discovered the Yellow Rose Mysteries. What fun, fantastic books!

This series centers around Abby Rose, and her twin sister, Kate. In the course of her business as a PI, that specializes in adoptions, Abby manages to solve a murder or two!

Reading these mysteries with Abby and Kate were so much. It was my first time reading cozies that had young, strong, fun female leads (remember up until this point I'd only read Miss Marples when it comes to female reads). As much as I completely adore Miss Marple, Abby was just so much fun! She has sass and style, and it was always a pleasure to while away the hours devouring one of these mysteries.

Through Leann Sweeney I also discovered The Cozy Chicks blog. The Cozy Chicks are a group of female cozy mystery authors that blog every week, and also write fabulous cozy mystery books. I'm happy to report that now, many years later, my bookshelves contain almost all the books by the Cozy Chicks.

Leann Sweeney definitely opened up a whole world of new and fabulous cozies, firstly through her own series, and through her blog, which I am forever thankful. I definitely won't be running out of reading material anytime soon.

Leann Sweeney no longer writes books in the Yellow Rose Mystery series, but she does have a new series called the Cats in Trouble, which I plan to start soon.

Check out all of Leann's books at her website here.

Cozy Mystery Theme: Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T07:44:00.001-07:00

With the american Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, I thought it would be good timing to dedicate the first post of Cozy Mystery Themes to Thanksgiving.

Alden, Laura - Foul Play at the PTA
Bain, Donald - A Fatal Feast
Baker, S. H. - The Colonel's Tale
Berger, Bob - The Risk of Fortune
Bernhardt, William - Natural Suspect
Borden, Kate - Death of a Turkey
Braun, Lilian Jackson - The Cat Who Talked Turkey
Braun, Lilian Jackson - The Cat Who Went Into the Closet
Bugge, Carole - Who Killed Mona Lisa?
Carter, Sammi - Goody Goody Gunshots
Collier, Christine E. - A Holiday Sampler
Connolly, Sheila - A Killer Crop
Crawford, Isis - A Catered Thanksgiving
Cross, Amanda - Trap for Fools
D'Amato, Barbara - Hard Tack
Danheim, Mary - Alpine Fury
Danheim, Mary - Fowl Prey
Dams, Jeanne M. - Sins Out of School
Daniels, Claire - Final Intuition
Davis, Krista - The Diva Runs Out of Thyme
Dibdin, Michael - Thanksgiving
Dobson, Joanne - Raven and the Nightingale
Duncan, Christine - Safe House
Fletcher, Jessica - A Total Feast
Forrest, Katherine V. - The Beverly Malibu
Gilpatrick, Noreen - The Piano Man
Greenberg, Martin H. (editor) - Cat Crimes for the Holidays
Haddam, Jane - Feast of Murder
Harris, Lee - The Thanksgiving Day Murder
Hathaway, Robin - Doctor Makes a Dollhouse Call
Hawke, Richard - Speak of the Devil
Hunter, Ellen Elizabeth - Murder on the ICW
Jackson, Melanie - Death in a Turkey Town
Jance, J. A. - Shoot Don't Shoot
Kellerman, Faye - Serpent's Tooth
Kemelman, Harry - That Day the Rabbi Left Town
Linsley, Clyde - Death of a Mill Girl
Livingston, Georgette - Telltale Turkey Caper
Malliet, G. M. - Wicked Autumn (Harvest Fayre)
Maron, Margaret - Up Jumps the Devil
Marshall, Evan - Stabbing Stefanie
McInerny, Ralph McInerny - Celt and Pepper

Meier, Leslie - Turkey Day Murder
Morgan, Deborah - The Marriage Casket
Penny, Louise - Still Life
Pickens, Cathy - Southern Fried
Ripley, Ann - Harvest of Murder
Shaber, Sarah R. - Snipe Hunt
Swanson, Denise - Murder of a Barbie and Ken
Swanson, Denise - Murder of a Botoxed Blonde
Talley, Marcia - Occasion of Revenge
Washburn, Livia J. - The Pumpkin Muffin Murder
Wheeler, Leslie - Murder at Plimoth Plantation
Zeman, Angela - The Witch and the Borscht Pearl

Of these I have read THE CAT WHO TALKED TURKEY and THE CAT WHO WENT INTO THE CLOSET by Lilian Jackson Braun, and also GOODY GOODY GUNSHOTS by Sammi Carter, all of which are great reads.

There are several on this list that I are in my wishlist, that I'm hoping to read sometime this holiday season.

So mystery readers, any of these you are reading this Thanksgiving? Any that you have read?

*please note: I am not affiliated with Amazon. By purchasing books using the above links, I do not receive any income from Amazon. If any of these titles interest you please consider purchasing them (at Amazon or your local bookstore) and supporting these fantastic authors.*

Review: Killing Bridezilla by Laura Levine

2011-11-20T09:49:00.001-07:00

Title: Killing Bridezilla
Author: Laura Levine
Series: Book 7 of the Jaine Austen Mystery

When writer-for-hire Jaine Austen signs on to script vows for the ultimate Bridezilla, "I do's" soon become "I wish I hadn't's"--and curtains for the bride spell a veil of woes for Jaine... Jaine's accepted her share of lame gigs to pay the bills, but rewriting Shakespeare's got to be an all-time low. The fiasco begins with a call from Jaine's high-school nemesis, uber rich uber witch Patti Devane. It seems Patti will soon be sashaying down the aisle with another former classmate from Hermosa High, and she'd like the exchange of vows to evoke Romeo and Juliet...except without the "downer" of an ending.

Even worse than the assignment itself is dealing with Patti as a client. At least Jaine's not alone, as nobody can stand the demanding, spoiled, and incredibly rude Bridezilla from Hell. Patti's managed to rack up an amazingly long list of enemies in a short time, not the least of whom include her prospective mother-in-law, the soon-to-be ex-wife of Patti's stolen soon-to-be groom, and just about everyone involved in the wedding preparations.

So it isn't a complete surprise when the erstwhile Juliet plunges to her death during her balcony scene. The loosened bolts that brought down the bride were clearly an act of sabotage--what's not so obvious is whom, among Patti's numerous haters, committed this murder most foul. Was it the caterer she threatened to ruin? The bridesmaid tossed out of the wedding party for being too chubby? Jaine's determined to learn the truth--if only to end the hideous walk down memory lane kicked off by her association with Patti.

Between fending off advances from the nerd of her high school nightmares and figuring out ways to stop Prozac the cat from corrupting the victim's pet Poodle, Jaine's involvement in this case keeps veering between comedy and tragedy. That is, until another body is discovered--and the killer starts laying plot for a final act--starring Jaine...[via Amazon]

I've been a fan of the Jaine Austen Mysteries since I read the first book in the series. They are funny and light, but centre around a murder that Jaine finds herself in the middle of.

This time Jaine is caught in the middle of the murder of the most popular girl that she went to high school with. Patti hasn't changed since high school. She's still pretty, mean and there are plenty of people that want to kill her. It's up to Jaine to figure out just who wanted Patti killed the most.

I really liked this mystery. It was fun and light. There are always lots of laughs with Jaine, especially when you add Jaine's crazy cat, Prozac, into the mix. Jaine's crazy parents always add lots of humor as well, with her Dad always causing mischief at his retirement home.

The mystery itself was good. Of course who doesn't want to kill off the most popular girl they went to school with? It was interesting seeing who Jaine went to school with, and discovering most of them haven't changed a bit!

Overall a good read. If you are looking for a funny, light mystery I highly recommend this series.

New Feature: Cozy Mystery Themes

2011-11-19T16:45:00.001-07:00

As I get settled into blogging and reviewing here at Cozy Mystery Book Reviews, I'm trying out some new features.

The first new feature is "What Cozy Mystery Authors Mean To Me" is going well. I have already featured two authors (Agatha Christie and Lilian Jackson Braun) and I plan to feature many more. I hope to post this feature at least once a week.

My second and newest feature will be called "Cozy Mystery Themes" and as the name suggests I will be delving into cozy mystery themes.

The thing I love about cozy mysteries is the great range of themes. They do all centre on murder mysteries in small towns, but they have a great range of themes. There are food themes, ones that centre around a bakery of coffeehouse, or pet themed (who doesn't love the ones with cats and dogs?).

So with this feature I will be introducing readers to a host of new cozies according to their different themes.

I will be updating the sidebar with all theme posts. So stay tuned for the first post.

Review: Sleight of Paw by Sofie Kelly

2011-11-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

Title: Sleight of Paw
Author: Sofie Kelly
Series: Book 2 in the Magical Cats Mystery

Small-town librarian Kathleen Paulson never wanted to be the crazy cat lady. But after Owen and Hercules followed her home, she realized her mind wasn't playing tricks on her-her cats have magical abilities. When the body of elderly do-gooder Agatha Shepherd is found near Kath's favorite local café, she knows Owen's talent for turning invisible and Hercules's ability to walk through walls will give the felines access to clues Kath couldn't get without arousing suspicion. Someone is hiding some dark secrets-and it will take a bit of furtive investigating to catch the cold-hearted killer.[via Goodreads]

I simply loved CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT, the first book in the Magical Cats Mystery series, and I was anticipating that the second book would be just as good. Well I was wrong. SLEIGHT OF PAW was even better!

SLEIGHT OF PAW sees Kathleen, with her two feline cohorts, trying to solve the murder of Agatha Shepherd, retired school teacher. Agatha Shepherd was a nice person, and couldn't possibly have a enemy if the world so who would've wanted to kill her? It's up to Kathleen to find out!

I loved the murder mystery part of this story, mainly because it opened up so many secondary plotlines and the reader learns some back stories on more residents of Mayville. While Kathleen hunts for clues to solve the murder of Agatha, she finds out more about Eric, who runs the cafe, and Old Harry, who is a very fascinating person with an even more interesting past. It all adds up to one fantastic read.

My favorite characters in this series is still Owen and Hercules, Kathleen's cats. After reading SLEIGHT OF PAW I will say I'm a bigger fan of them than I was before. You see Hercules and Owen have some magic to them (one can walk through walls and doors and the other can disappear). The mischief they get up to through their magic abilities make the story even better. From one crazy cat lady to another, Kathleen it is okay to be crazy cat lady. While I was reading the story I kept talking to my own kitties and telling them the antics of Owen and Hercules.

I give SLEIGHT OF PAW a big high five (or high paw!). If you are a fan of mysteries and cats, you need to be reading this series now!

Cozy Mystery Authors & Me (2): Lillian Jackson Braun

2011-11-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

After spending many years reading science fiction/fantasy novels, in 2008 I made my way back to the mystery genre. I read a lot of Agatha Christie novels, and one day I was browsing in White Cat Bookstore in Saskatoon, and I picked up a Lillian Jackson Braun book. Being a cat owner myself, I was mesmerized by the cats on the cover. It was a murder mystery with cats. I was sold.

The first Lilian Jackson Braun book I read was THE CAT WHO WENT BANANAS. I loved it and proceeded to buy and read every book in the series.

The adventures of James Qwilleran and his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum, kept me enthralled for hours. It is thanks to Koko and Yum Yum that I now have a moderate obsession with cats in mystery stories (my own cats will tell you it's more than a moderate obsession!).

Lilian Jackson Braun passed away this year, and she has left behind a huge legacy of fantastic cozy mysteries. Her first novel, THE CAT WHO COULD READ BACKWARDS was published in 1966. She wrote 29 stories in The Cat Who series, and three short story collections. The early books in the series are definitely the best. I will say the last few books published were not of great quality. However, for fans of cozy mystery I definitely recommend reading at least the first 25 books in this series.

The Cat Who series is one of the first cozy mystery series I ever read in entirety and it will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you Lilian Jackson Braun for sparking an interest in me in the fabulous genre of cozy mysteries!

Check out the complete list of The Cat Who novels at Wikipedia.

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

2011-11-16T07:40:00.001-07:00

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

I have a fabulous new-to-me author to promote on today's Waiting on Wednesday. It's Jeffrey Allen, with his new release STAY AT HOME DEAD.

It’s a day like any other for Deuce Winters, a stay-at-home dad in sleepy Rose Petal, Texas, where he and his three-year-old daughter Carly are making their weekly trip to the grocery store. But the discovery of a dead body in his mini-van quickly throws his quiet life into disarray. In a town where gossip spreads faster than a brush fire in July, it doesn’t help that the victim ruined Deuce’s high school football career and married his ex-girlfriend…
As the number one suspect in the court of public opinion, Deuce is determined to clear his name, with a little help from his wife Julianne, a high-powered attorney who lovingly refers to him as her “househusband.” His search for the killer leads him to a business plan gone awry and a gaggle of jilted lovers. All the while, he’ll have to contend with a diminutive but feisty detective, the ruthless preschool PTA, and more than his fair share of Texas-sized hairdos—not to mention the laundry…[via Goodreads]

I actually read more books from more female authors than I do male authors, so it's going to be a nice change to mix-it up with this one. I love the premise of STAY AT HOME DEAD and I will definitely be adding this one to my must-buy list.

STAY AT HOME DEAD is being released on January 3, 2012.

Reading Challenge: Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2012

2011-11-15T14:58:00.001-07:00

I usually go into each year with the best intentions regarding reading challenges and then fail miserably. In 2012, I'm keeping this fairly simple, and only participating in a few reading challenges. The first one is going to be Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2012, hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews.

You can click on the link to find out all the rules. I am going for Super Sleuth level, as I pretty much just read cozy mysteries.

These are the cozies that are in my TBR right now, so I'm hoping to get through some of these at least, and I'm sure I will be adding plenty more to the list too.

Chapter & Hearse - Lorna Barrett
Cat Among the Pigeons - Agatha Christie
Sleeping with Anemone - Kate Collins
How to Host a Killer Bash - Penny Warner
The Well of Lost Plots - Jasper Fforde
Something Rotten - Jasper Fforde
Speckled and Spooked - Jennie Bentley
Fatal Fix-upper - Jennie Bentley
Murder in Mesopotamia - Agatha Christie
Five Red Herrings - Dorothy L Sayers
Slay It With Flowers - Kate Collins
Ordeal by Innocence - Agatha Christie
Bookplate Special - Lorna Barrett
Death Comes in the End - Agatha Christie
Deadly Appraisal - Jane K Cleland
Dyer Consequences - Maggie Sefton
Murder by the Book - DR Meredith
Strawberry Shortcake Murder - Joanne Fluke
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder - Joanne Fluke
The Double Safari Comfort Club - Alexander McCall Smith
Finger Lickin' Fifteen - Janet Evanovich
Between the Plums - Janet Evanovich
By Hook or Crook - Betty Henchman
The Chocolate Bear Burglary - Joanna Carl
Sit, Stay, Slay - Linda Johnston
Plum Pudding Murder - Joanne Fluke
The Chocolate Snowman Murders - Joanna Carl
Murder the Peacocks - Donna Andrews
A Stitch in Crime - Betty Hecthman
Cream Puff Murder - Joanne Fluke
Eleven on Top - Janet Evanovich
Twelve Sharp - Janet Evanovich
A Sheetcake Named Desire - Jacklyn Brady
Pinned for Murder - Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Sew Deadly - Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Dead Mean Don't Crochet - Betty Hechtman
Death Threads - Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Deadly Notions - Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Any suggestions on where to start? There are a LOT of great books in this list!

Review: Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie

2011-11-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

Title: Death in the Clouds
Author: Agatha Christie
Series: Book 11 in the Hercule Poirot Mysteries

From seat No. 9, Hercule Poirot was ideally placed to observe his fellow air passengers. Over to his right sat a pretty young woman, clearly infatuated with the man opposite; ahead, in seat No. 13, sat a countess with a poorly concealed cocaine habit; across the gangway in seat No. 8, a detective writer was being troubled by an aggressive wasp. What Poirot did not yet realize was that behind him, in seat No. 2, sat the slumped, lifeless body of a woman.[via Amazon]

Since 2008 I have been trying to make my way through all the Agatha Christie mysteries. After spending several years reading here and there I am now trying to read the missing ones in order. The next one on my list was DEATH IN THE CLOUDS.

DEATH IN THE CLOUDS sees the infamous Hercule Poirot spending a plane ride, with passengers unknown, and witnesses a murder. As he goes about using his "little grey cells" and collecting clues, he tries to figure out just who killed the poor woman.

For me, there is no greater crime writer than Agatha Christie. All of her mysteries keep me glued to every page. I'm always wanting to read "just one more page!" DEATH IN THE CLOUDS is no exception to this. I was completely glued to the story, as Hercule Poirot, with the assistance of Inspector Japp and another passenger, Jane Grey, tried to find out the answer to this crime.

I have a love/hate relationship with Hercules Poirot. I do favour Miss Marple, and find that sometimes Poirot's ego gets the better of him. However, DEATH IN THE CLOUDS might be the exception to that. Poirot's ego didn't hardly make much of an appearance, and it was all in all a reading experience, alongside Poirot. For fan's of Poirot, there is were definitely many Poirot-ism's, but without the ultra ego trip he usually plays.

I highly recommend DEATH IN THE CLOUDS to mystery/crime fans. It will definitely keep you guessing to the last page. Even though I did guess the murderer close to the end, I was hanging onto the very last sentence to see how it all intertwined together. As I said no-one writes a complex, interesting mystery like Agatha Christie does.

Review: Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich

2011-11-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Title: Ten Big Ones
Author: Janet Evanovich
Series: Book 10 in the Stephanie Plum series

She's accidentally destroyed a dozen cars. She's a target for every psycho and miscreant this side of the Jersey Turnpike. He mother's convinced she'll end up dead...or worse, without a man. She's Stephanie Plum and she kicks butt for a living (well, she thought it would sound good to put it that way...)

It begins as an innocent trip to the deli-mart, on a quest for nachos. But Stephanie Plum and her partner, Lula, are clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. A robbery leads to an explosion, which leads to the destruction of yet another car. It would be just another day in the life of Stephanie Plum...except that she becomes the target of a gang. And the target of an even scarier, more dangerous force that comes to Trenton. With super bounty hunter Ranger out of town (and Stephanie on the outs with vice cop Morelli), she finds herself alone, with a decision to make: how to protect herself and where to hide while on the hunt for a killer known as the Junkman. There's only one safe place, and it has Ranger's name all over it-if she can find it. And if the Junkman doesn't find her first. [via Amazon]

TEN BIG ONES is the tenth book in the hugely popular Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.

This time Stephanie is in more trouble than ever as she becomes the focus of local gangs, who plan to hunt her down and kill her. In between avoiding the gangs Stephanie becomes deeper in her lusting for Ranger and trying to define her relationship with Morelli.

I'm not sure I would define TEN BIG ONES as a cozy mystery as there was no real "murder mystery". There were murders but it was pretty clear to the killer since the reader was told right away.

Nonetheless the series is a mystery/crime series so I'm going to review it for my mystery blog.

I've loved this series from the very beginning. The first book, ONE FOR THE MONEY, was one of my all time favourite books, but now, ten books later, the plot lines seemed very thin. Instead TEN BIG ONES mainly centres on the romantic interaction of the love triangle between Stephanie, her copy boyfriend, Morelli, and sexy bounty hunter, Ranger.

TEN BIG ONES was a fun read and I still find the love triangle enjoyable (I'm #TeamRanger). However the plot lines were pretty weak so this is just a 3-star read for me.

I will likely read the rest of the series but I won't be going out of my way to read them right now.

Review: A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett

2011-11-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

Title: A Crafty Killing
Author: Lorraine Bartlett
Series: Book 1 in the Victoria Square Mysteries

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra has been faltering-but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Kate can find the answer.[via Amazon]

Some readers may know Lorraine Bartlett under the name of Lorna Barrett. She has written the highly successful Booktown Mystery series, and now she has a new series out. A cozy mystery series full of small town gossip, and arts and crafts.

In A CRAFTY KILLING Katie is left reeling after discovering the body of Ezra, the owner of Artisan's Alley. When Ezra names her in his will, she has no choice but to try and keep it running, even if just for the sake of her husband, who passed away some six months before. With more than her hands full Katie tries to find the answer to the murder of Ezra, and will the murderer strike again?

I really enjoy the Booktown Mystery series, and so I was curious to see what this other series was like. To say I enjoyed A CRAFTY KILLING would be a mild understatement. I loved it, and gave it 5 starts on Goodreads. What's not to love? Great characters, a fabulous mystery and plotlines that kept me guessing.

As someone that works in the insurance industry, I loved that was Katie's day job. It isn't often I get to see that. Katie herself was such a strong, tough character. I love that she barely ever turned away from a fight, and she gave her all to Artisan's Alley, when she decided she would try to run it.

The mystery itself was great. I love when an author throws a dead body in the first chapter! There is nothing like some action straight up to get the reader interested, and I was very interested! As with her Booktown Mystery series, I felt like A CRAFTY KILLING was well researched, and the plotlines blended together so perfectly. Lorraine Bartlett sure knows how to write a great mystery!

With a cast of interesting secondary characters, I was thrilled with this first book, and I will definitely be racing out to get THE WALLED FLOWER, the second book in the series, when it is released in February, 2012. For those that love to cook there is also a cookbook out for this series called Recipes to Die For: A Victoria Square Cookbook.

Cozy Mystery Authors & Me (1): Agatha Christie

2011-11-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

As a 13-year-old most of my friends were discovering The Chronicles of Narnia and Anne of Green Gables, but I sought out fiction of a different genre. I was interested in fiction of the more adult variety. I started with Stephen King, and I soon found myself wandering into the crime and mystery section. What a delight I found! The very author I discovered in the crime and mystery section was Agatha Christie - the queen of crime herself! Oh Ms Christie how you delighted me and kept me entertained for hours. You see even at this young age I was a huge reader. I was an only child and my parent's jobs meant we moved around and travelled a lot, so I was constantly reading. Luckily for me Agatha Christie had a huge bibliography for me to devour.

The very first Agatha Christie novel I read was DEATH ON THE NILE and it was also the very first movie adaption (1978 adaption) I saw of a Agatha Christie novel. DEATH ON THE NILE remains one of my favorites, but along the way I've discovered so many others, with perhaps CURTAIN: POIROT'S FINAL CASE, being perhaps one of my favorites. CURTAIN is a favorite, just for it's ending alone! You see I've always had a love/hate relationship with Poirot. Oh he's so smart and always gets his murderer (love) but oh he has an ego that would reach all the way to heaven, and he enjoys making fun of Hastings way too much (hate). After I started reading the Miss Marple novels, I had a new character to adore, and how I adore Miss Marple. She is nosy, inquisitive and such a delight!

I firmly believe if I hadn't discovered Agatha Christie's novels, I may never have fallen in love with crime/mystery novels. She started me on track with a love of who-dunnit's and now almost 20 years later, I'm still fascinated with them.

While I haven't read every Agatha Christie novel I am making my way through her list and have read over half of them. Every few months I pick up another, and plan on trying to read all of them in my lifetime. The process of reading them all was greatly helped when I discovered THE BEDSIDE, BATHTUB & ARMCHAIR COMPANION TO AGATHA CHRISTIE. This companion is a necessity for any Agatha Christie fan and does a write-up of all her novels and short-stories with synopsis and cross references all those the novels.

So there you have it. My homage to the great queen of crime - Agatha Christie. She shaped my reading life and I wouldn't be a big cozy mystery fan without her. If you haven't read a Agatha Christie novel I strongly urge you try one!

Check out Agatha Christie's complete bibliography at Wikipedia.

Note: Eva over at A Striped Armchair did a great post on Agatha Christie this week. Go check it out!

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

2011-11-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

One of my much-loved cozy mystery authors is Lorna Barrett, who is actually Lorraine Bartlett. I adore her Booktown Mystery books that she writes as Lorna Barrett, and just yesterday I started reading the first book in her new Victoria Square Mystery series, A CRAFTY KILLING.

THE WALLED FLOWER by LORRAINE BARTLETT:
If Katie Bonner’s late husband hadn’t invested all their savings in the craft fair Artisans Alley—which Katie is now responsible for keeping in the black—the Webster mansion could have been hers to remodel. For years she dreamed of renovating the old place on Victoria Square into a bed and breakfast. Now that dream belongs to another young couple.

But their dream becomes a nightmare when a skeleton is discovered, sealed in one of the walls of the mansion. The bones belong to Heather Winston, who went missing twenty-two years ago. Her aunt is Rose Nash, a jewelry vendor at Artisans Alley, who is determined to find her niece’s murderer, and asks for Katie’s help to do it. The case may be cold, but the killer is very much alive—and ready to go to any lengths to keep past secrets buried…

I'm absolutely loving her first book in this series, and I will definitely be racing out to get THE WALLED FLOWER when it is released in February, 2012.

Review: Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay

2011-11-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Title: Death by the Dozen
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Series: Book 3 in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery

Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel's mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic's dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded killer or they may lose more than the contest- they may lose their lives.[via Amazon]

I have raved and raved about how much I adore the Cupcake Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. It's not going to come as a surprise that I absolutely loved DEATH BY THE DOZEN, the third book in this series.

DEATH BY THE DOZEN sees Angie and Melanie entering the Challenge to the Chef competition, with Melanie's mentor, Vic Mazzotta, as one of the judges. Of course Melanie and Angie find themselves in the middle of a murder, soon enough, and are caught trying to find out who killed Vic, before the killer strikes again.

I enjoyed DEATH BY THE DOZEN so much. Everything about it was pretty much perfect. The plot kept me very interested, as I tried to figure out the killer (and failed!). More than just the murder it is the little sub-plots, like the rivalry between Fairy Tale Cupcakes and Confections, and the romance between Melanie and Joe, that kept me glued to the pages.

Jenn McKinlay writes so smoothly. Each scene flows into the next like a perfect jigsaw puzzle, and as I read on I kept turning the pages faster and faster wanting to find out how everything ended.

I want to give a honorable mention to one character: Captain Jack, a la the kitty on the front cover. Oh Jenn McKinlay how did you know that aside from fantastic food, I just love kitties in mysteries? While Captain Jack didn't play a big role in this book, I know he will have many more appearances and I can't wait to see what kitty mischief he comes up with!

All in all this was a super, fantastic, wonderful read. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads and I would've gladly given it more if I could. Now I'm eagerly awaiting for RED VELVET REVENGE, book 4 in the series.

New Feature: Cozy Mystery Authors & Me

2011-11-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

I'm guessing if you've been around my blog a little bit than you will know I love mysteries. In particular I adore cozy mysteries, those ones with the small town setting, the amateur sleuth and a murder or two. I've been reading mysteries on and off since I was a teen, and now 20 years later I've decided to dedicate this blog to those cozy mysteries I adore.

So this brings me to my new feature. While there are a lot of features out there in the book blogosphere, and I even participate in some, including the Waiting on Wednesday, I wanted to do something specific to my favorite genre. So "Cozy Mystery Authors & Me" is born. The idea behind this feature is I will talk about some of my favorite cozy mystery authors that have shaped my reading, and through their wonderful characters and plot made me love their books.

I will be keeping a record on this post of the authors I feature in the sidebar.

Review: Buttercream Bump Off by Jenn McKinlay

2011-11-05T10:44:00.000-06:00

Title: Buttercream Bump Off
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Series: Book 2 of the Cupcake Bakery Mystery

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura's Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery is gearing up for Valentine's Day. Unfortunately someone has iced Baxter Malloy on his first date with Mel's mother. Now Mom's a suspect, and Mel and Angie need to find time around frosting to dig into the man's shady past and discover who served him his just desserts.[via Amazon]

I will pre-warn readers that I am going to rave about BUTTERCREAM BUMP OFF in a complete fangirly way! I am just starting to get back into cozy mysteries again, and I certainly chose a great series to start with. I absolutely adored SPRINKLE WITH MURDER, the first book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery, and I loved the second book, BUTTERCREAM BUMP OFF, even more.

BUTTERCREAM BUMP OFF puts Melanie's mom in the spotlight, as Joyce is a suspect in a murder case. During her first date in many decades, Joyce's date dies half-way through her date! It's up to the dynamic duo of Tate, Angie and Mel to try and solve the case, and stay out of trouble.

There is cupcakes, there is a murder and there is some toe-curling romance, how can you not love this book? The mystery was good, and I didn't pick out the murderer before Mel did, which was a nice surprise. The romance was absolutely red-hot. I will not give away too much because I want everyone to go out and read it, but look for some definite tension, and lots of romance amongst all our favourite characters!

Lucky for me I grabbed DEATH BY THE DOZEN, the third book in the series, this week from my library. So needless to say I will starting the next book right away!

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

2011-11-02T10:51:00.000-06:00

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Readers may not know but my favorite cozy mysteries usually feature bookstores or libraries and/or cats. I am a cat owner (of a lovely Maine Coon and also a Siamese cat) and I love books, so when these two are featured together its usually a win-win for me.

DOUBLE BOOKED FOR DEATH by ALI BRANDON:
As the new owners of Pettistone's Fine Books, Darla Pettistone is determined to prove herself a worthy successor to her late great-aunt Dee...and equally determined to outwit Hamlet, the smarter-than-thou cat she inherited along with the shop. Darla's first store event is a real coup: the hottest bestselling author of the moment is holding a signing there. But when the author meets an untimely end during the event, it's ruled an accident-until Hamlet digs up a clue that seems to indicate otherwise...

Cats - check, bookstore - check! Yes this one definitely sounds like it's a win-win for me and I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on it. It's by a new-to-me author, Ali Brandon, who also writes as Diane Stuckart. I haven't read any of her books, and I'm looking forward to reading DOUBLE BOOKED FOR DEATH.

DOUBLE BOOKED FOR DEATH is released on December 6, 2011.

Review: Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay

2011-11-02T10:46:00.000-06:00

Title: Sprinkle with Murder
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Series: Book 1 of the Cupcake Bakery Mystery

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding.

When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.[via Goodreads]

I read SPRINKLE WITH MURDER as part of a readalong with the Cozy Mysteries group on Goodreads. I hadn't heard of this series or author before, but I'm always keen to read more cozy mysteries so I thought I'd give it a go.

SPRINKLE WITH MURDER centers around the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery, run by best friends Melanie and Angie. The third muskateer (so to speak), is their best friend, Tate, who is also the financial backer of their business. Tate's fiancee is found dead and all fingers point to Melanie, since the bride-to-be was holding a cupcake when found.

Traditionally I love my cozy mysteries with a side of libraries/bookstores and cats, however SPRINKLE WITH MURDER screamed out to my sweet tooth. I loved learning the backstory on how Melanie, Angie and Tate became friends, and oh the cupcakes! Luckily for the reader the back of the book contains some awesome cupcake recipes to try yourself! I will definitely be trying some on the weekend!!

The mystery itself was pretty good. I did successfully pick the murderer about halfway through the book (which I have to confess is something that never happens - I never guess right!). Still it was a fun murder mystery, and these delightful characters will have me back for a second helping.

BUTTERCREAM BUMP OFF is the second book in this series and luckily I borrowed this book from the library yesterday and will be reading it straight away. I need more cupcakes, and more mystery fun from this trio!

Readalong: Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinley

2011-11-01T10:52:00.000-06:00

Love cupcakes? Love murder mysteries? Well I do and that's why I joined the readalong on Goodreads to read SPRINKLE WITH MURDER by Jenn McKinley.

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding. When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.[via Goodreads]

I'm so excited to start this book. I love the cover, I love cupcakes and I can already tell I'm going to love this cozy mystery.

If you're interested in joining the readalong, click the link above.

Review: Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly

2011-10-31T10:54:00.000-06:00

Title: Curiosity Thrilled the Cat
Author: Sofie Kelly
Series: Book 1 of the Magical Cats Mystery

When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen's fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there's something more to these felines.

When murder interrupts Mayville's Music Festival, Kathleen finds herself the prime suspect. More stunning is her realization that Owen and Hercules are magical-and she's relying on their skills to solve a purr-fect murder.[via Amazon]

CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT was one of those books that you hear about before release day, you get excited about it, buy it on release day and then it sits in your TBR pile. I was so excited when I heard about CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT that I raced to the bookstore and bought it. Of course it then spent quite a few months in the ever-growing reading well. Well lately I've had a bit of a reading slump and I was eyeing my shelves and saw it sitting there. I thought I would give it a go. I thought maybe those magical cats might get me out of my reading slump. And, guess what? THEY DID!

CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT is the first book in the Magical Cats Mystery series and tells the story of a librarian, Kathleen, who has been adopted by two cats, Hercules and Owen (of course its cats that adopt us, not the other way around). Kathleen is working hard at the Mayville Heights Public Library, getting it restored, when suddenly she finds herself in the middle of a murder.

Okay so I'm not going to be subtle. I adored every single page of this book. I LOVED Hercules and Owen, and yes by the way Hercules is named after Kevin Sorbo (and if you don't understand this reference you are far too young!). They are full of so much mischief, and remind me of my own cats. I loved their magical, supernatural powers (which I won't spill - you have to read the book to find out!).

Adorable cats aside, I fell completely smitten for Mayville Heights. Being the first book in the series, Sofie Kelly, introduces us to a lot of fun, quirky characters in the town. Each time I met a new character I kept thinking "oh don't be the murderer" because I want to read more about these delightful people again and again.

As to the murder mystery itself, it was very enjoyable, and nope I didn't guess who did it, although towards the end I did get very close. It wasn't too predictable at all, and I had fun finding out who did it right alongside Kathleen.

I've already picked up SLEIGHT OF PAW from the library, and intend to start it very soon.

Fabulous Mystery Blogs

2011-10-27T10:57:00.000-06:00

There are a lot of book bloggers these days. Some of them read a little of everything and some specialize in one genre, like young adult fiction or science fiction/fantasy. Since I adore cozy mysteries I've been on the hunt for some good cozy mystery blogs. Here are a few of my favorites:

Dru's Book Musings
Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries and More
Cozycrimes
The Cozy Mystery List Blog
Pudgy Penguins Perusals

A few of my favorite group author blogs are:
The Cozy Chicks
The Stiletto Gang
Mystery Lover's Kitchen

Quite a few of my favorite authors have blogs too, but that list could get quite long, so I will leave it at that.

My favorite cozy mystery group is the one on Goodreads. The Cozy Mystery Group is awesome, and a great place to catch up with other cozy mystery fans.

Anyone else like these blogs? Are there other cozy mystery blogs I've missed? I'd love to check more out so comment and let me know!

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

2011-10-26T11:16:00.000-06:00

There are so many fantastic cozy mysteries coming out in the next few months, that I have two for today's WAITING ON WEDNESDAY, hosted by Breaking the Spine.

IT TAKES A WITCH by HEATHER BLAKE:
Description from Amazon.com:
Darcy Merriweather has just discovered she hails from a long line of Wishcrafters-witches with the power to cast spells by making a wish. She's come to Enchanted Village to learn her trade but finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation...

Heather Blake is also known to the cozy mystery world as Heather Webber, and I ADORE her Lucy Valentine series. Needless to say I will be racing out in the new year to buy IT TAKES A WITCH.

Cover-love: Love the cover, particularly the kitty on the cover (we all know how much cats make mysteries better!).

IT TAKES A WITCH is released on January 3, 2012.

FILE M FOR MURDER by MIRANDA JAMES
Description from Amazon.com:
Athena College's new writer in residence is native son and playwright Connor Lawton, known for his sharp writing-and sharper tongue. After an unpleasant encounter, librarian Charlie Harris heads home to a nice surprise: his daughter Laura is subbing for another Athena professor. Unfortunately her old flame Connor Lawton got her the job.
But before Connor finishes his newest play, he's murdered-and Laura is the prime suspect. Charlie and his faithful cat, Diesel, follow Connor's cluttered trail to find the true killer before his daughter is forever catalogued under M...for murderer.

This is the third book in the Cats in the Stacks mystery series. I love this series. I've been reading them since the first book, MURDER PAST DUE, was released. Charlie and his cat, Diesel, make an awesome sleuthing pair, and I just wish there was a library cat like Diesel at my local library.

Cover-love: Look at that close up of Diesel, how can you not love this cover!

FILE M FOR MURDER is released on January 31, 2012.

Anyone else excited for these two books?

In The Mood for Halloween Mysteries

2011-10-25T11:17:00.000-06:00

I've discovered a new mystery blog... Murder, Mystery and Mayhem! They've got a new post up listing some awesome books to get you in the mood of the Halloween holiday.

Of these I have read HALLOWE'EN PARTY, which is a classic Hercule Poirot, and an excellent read these time of the year.

I've also read:
- THE CAT WHO TALKED TO GHOSTS by Lilian Jackson Braun
- PLUM SPOOKY by Janet Evanovich

There are so many books on this list I want to try, including the Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton. They are high up on my wishlist, as I've been hearing friends rave about them from years.

Anyone else have a particularly spooky mystery they are planning to read this Halloween?