Tell-Tale Treats by Jennifer J. Chow - 4 Stars!

A group of high school alumnae reunite and reserve rooms at the Pixie Inn for an extended retreat. As part of their pampering package, Felicity Jin delivers a scrumptious assortment of enchanted pastries, including her new almond cookies. But the queen bee of the group is soon found dead in her bathroom after sampling the baked goods. Could Felicity’s almond cookies have set off a fatal nut allergy?

I usually don't go for paranormal mysteries, but this one is a sweet one. Not only because of all the juicy desserts described in the story, but because of the characters and their relationship to each other. It's just so sweet how the amateur sleuth relates to the detective in this story. The animal sidekicks in this story also made me giggle because they were integral in the mystery, yet at first glance, seemed innocuous. If you want a cozy mystery with a little bit of magic, look no further than this series. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle - 5 Stars!

Brooklyn Wainwright is skilled in book restoration. She learned the skill from her friend and mentor, Abraham Karastovsky. On the eve of a celebration for his latest book restoration, Brooklyn finds her mentor dying. With his final breath Abraham leaves Brooklyn with a cryptic message and gives her a priceless copy of Goethe’s Faust for safe keeping. Brooklyn suddenly finds herself accused of murder, thanks to Derek Stone, the annoyingly attractive British security officer who found her kneeling over the body. Now she has to follow the clues left behind by her mentor if she is going to restore justice.

I read this book years ago and always found it as one of my favorite reads. Brooklyn is a great amateur sleuth who finds herself in situations where dead bodies appear. She's an intelligent and observant person who comes from a quirky family and has great friends with mysterious connections. Derek Stone is an interesting character and love interest who helps Brooklyn with her investigations. I was surprised to see some curse words used in this story. Luckily, there wasn't many of them and it didn't Distract me from this fabulous story. I will definitely read more from this series again and again.

 

Newlyweds Can Be Knocked Off by Amanda Flower - 4 Stars!

After years on her own, Millie is married again. Her best friend, Lois, is not happy that Millie didn’t have a big wedding where she could be maid of honor. So, they're taking a girls’ trip to the Amish community in sunny Pinecraft, Florida. On the tour bus, Millie and Lois strike up a friendship with a young woman. She reminds Millie of her niece, and Millie takes her under her wing. But on their first day in Florida, Millie and Lois find their new friend dead on the beach. Who would want to hurt the young woman? Clearly, vacation time is over for Millie and Lois, and it’s time to dive beneath the surface to hook a killer!

This was an amusing cozy mystery. Millie and Lois are great amateur sleuths that are exact opposites from each other. Lois made me laugh on more than one occasion with her antics. I loved how their differences didn't matter, and I felt their connection coming through the pages. They seem to be more like sisters than best friends. The plot was confounding enough that I kept on trying to figure out who did it and I was surprised in the end. The murderer was somebody I definitely didn't expect. I will definitely read more from this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch - 1 Star!

On the coast of North Carolina, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, FBI agent Tiberius Granger must confront his own twisted past. And, since Bexley Hemmingway's sister has gone missing, she teams up with Tiberius to find her sister before it's too late.

After reading such good praise about this author, I thought it would be great to try out one of her novels. But after reading exactly three chapters I realized that this book wasn't for me. I was surprised that Harlequin published such dark stories. It's not for the faint of heart. It may tout itself as Christian and a mystery/romance, but it has elements of intense situations that remind me of horror novels. If you like horror or intense thrillers with a religious undertone, you may want to try this book. I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Written in Stone by Paige Shelton - 5 Stars!

When Delaney Nichols wins a special Hidden Door Festival invitation to artist Ryory Bennigan's studio, she finds is a man obsessed with the Picts, complete with his own versions of their blue tattoos and red hair, recreating the stones they left behind. She also meets a paleontologist, Dr. Adam Pace, from the University of Kansas attempting to sell an artifact that might explain what the Picts' language really sounded like. Before the deal can close, Dr. Pace is found dead. With the police dragging their feet, Delaney starts to dig into Dr. Pace's past. She discovers Pace’s shady background, selling fake artifacts. Could his past have come back to bite him? Delaney will have to dust off her magnifying glass to uncover the truth behind this case or risk becoming an artifact herself.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery set in Edinburgh, Scotland. The author did a fantastic job describing the setting. She made the weather and the atmosphere seems so real that I could feel myself walking through the streets next to the main character. In actuality I felt the setting was another character in the story. Delaney was a great and fun amateur sleuth to read about. The side characters were also fun, and I can't wait to read more of this series. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Byron - 5 Stars!

With the summer season looming, former sitcom writer Dee Stern has one goal, to scrub her motel’s unflattering moniker as the “Murder Motel.” Dee and business partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a panning activity complete with fool’s gold just in time for the tourist months. But neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing frenzy. In a flash, grizzled prospectors, adventurers, and thrill seekers arrive to investigate the abandoned mines. When a visitor is murdered, can Dee find the truth before it's too late?

This was a great cozy mystery with fun characters and an intriguing plot. I loved how Dee used her smarts and worked with the police. This story was very funny and made me giggle. I definitely recommend it to anyone who reads mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

The Heir by Johanna Lindsey - 5 Stars!

 

Highlander Duncan MacTavish finds himself summoned to the bedside of his dying English grandfather, Lord Neville Thackeray. He finds out that he's betrothed to Ophelia, whose beauty is surpassed only by her cruel nature. He attends a house party where he meets the Honorable Sabrina Lambert and finds her a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, rumors taint Sabrina's family name, ensuring that she will never be able to secure a match. Duncan's only friend to help him endure Ophelia and an endless parade of other eligible women, Sabrina is adept at making him laugh. After all, she spent most of her life diffusing the tension between her battling maiden aunts. But Duncan begins to realize that his feelings for Sabrina are more than friendly.

I've always loved Johanna Lindsey's writing. She was a great historical romance writer whose stories had me staying up late reading. This one was a great example. Her characters were memorable; some I loved and some I loved to hate. She had a knowledge of Regency England and used her words to create an atmosphere where I could feel what it was like to live in that time period. And the romance was always tasteful with just enough heat. I definitely recommend this story to historical romance readers.