Book Review!

 

Inherit the Word by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2014. Jenna Hart moved back to Crystal Cove, California, to recapture her vitality and to help her aunt Vera run the local culinary bookshop and café. The Cookbook Nook is set to host the town's upcoming Grill Fest, a tasty competition which pits local amateur chefs against one another to prepare the most delicious dishes. This year's challenge: grilled cheese. But, when one of the competitors is murdered, can Jenna find the true culprit before someone she loves gets their goose cooked?
This was a great read. I loved the main character and how she dealt with her past issues. Her aunt Vera always puts a smile on my face. I loved reading about the competition and the other characters from the town. The setting was so well-described that I would love to go and visit the Cookbook Nook. I will definitely continue reading the series. Thank you to the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey for this mysterious read.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Willa Bauer just opened her French-inspired cheese shop, Curds and Whey, in the small town of Yarrow Glen. She's determined to make it a success, starting with a visit from the local food critic. Afterwards, she finds the critic’s dead body, stabbed with one of her shop’s cheese knives. Now a prime suspect, Willa has to figure out which new friend is really a murderer.
I absolutely loved this cozy mystery. It had all the ingredients: likeable characters, intriguing plot, beautiful setting, and great food. It was fast-paced, and an exciting story. I want to read the next book in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this novel. This review is my unbiased opinion.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2021. After her fiancé’s betrayal, Lindsay Bakewell decides to move to Beacon Harbor, Michigan to pursue her dream of opening a bakery. She sets her business up in an old lighthouse, which some citizens disagree with, leading to protests. During the opening day, her former fiancé and his new girlfriend shows up to ruin her day. But, when someone drops dead outside her business, can Lindsay find out what’s going on before her business is shut down for good?
This was a great story full of suspense, intrigue and great characters. I liked how Lindsay took her life in her own hands and changed it for the better after such heartache. The setting sounded so idyllic. I would like to travel there someday. The plot was so engrossing, it kept me guessing until the last page. I was totally surprised when the culprit was revealed.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Silver Creek Bodyguard by Lindsay McKenna
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With a fresh start in the heart of big sky country, Sara Romano is thrilled to bring her herbal remedies to the lovely people of Silver Creek, Wyoming. But when her dark past follows her, and Sara is nearly killed, she knows she is in imminent danger. Reluctantly accepting the bodyguard her mother hires, Sara opens her home to Wes Paxton. Wes is a former orphan who found family in the military. He can’t ignore the feeling that Sara is holding back. The more time he spends with her, the more he understands how afraid she is, which only sends his well-honed protective instincts into overdrive.
This was an endearing love story about two people who find themselves in the midst of chaos. The characters were very likeable, and I was invested with them and their problems. But there was no question that they would get together, no suspense because it was instant love. All of the problems were separate from the relationship. There was suspense, just not romantic suspense. I was looking for more! Thank you to NetGalley and Zebra for the advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

The Lady and the Bricklayer by Lisa Torquay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Millicent, the daughter of the Duke of Haddington, is shunned by her peers because of her father’s sadistic ways. She is awaiting her 22nd birthday to inherit money left to her by her mother. Until then, she hires a bricklayer to help repair the folie on her father’s property. Martin, the hired bricklayer, wants revenge because the duke raped his sister. But what if the bricklayer falls in love with the daughter? How can he find his revenge?
This is an unconventional romance because the women in this series are all strong and forthright. They take on the norms of the day and stand them on their head. And, that’s why I like this series. It has all the scenic charm of that period without the chauvinistic male dominance. Lady Millicent is refreshing and intelligent. The plot was suspenseful enough to keep my attention. I can’t wait until the next historical romance from this great author. I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher. This review is my unbiased opinion.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

To Helvetica and Back by Paige Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2016. Star City is known for its slopes and its powder. It’s also known for its quaint shops such as the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare repair old typewriters and restore old books. When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they’re repairing for a customer, a call to the police scares the man off. When Clare finds his dead body in the back alley, she starts to wonder why he wanted the old typewriter, and why was he killed?
This was a good cozy mystery to curl up to on a rainy day. The setting reminded me of my time in Utah with the snow-covered mountains and the tourists that would arrive in winter to ski. The main character is sweet and intelligent, and very likeable. Her relationship with the police is very respectful and interesting. I also liked the romantic subplot. I would love to read another story from this series.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Rule Your Day: 6 Keys to Maximizing Your Success and Accelerating Your Dreams by Joel Osteen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In his latest work, Pastor Joel Osteen shows you how to be intentional and Rule Your Day. With his trademark wisdom and unwavering positivity, Joel reveals six keys for claiming control over each new day. He teaches you how to identify faulty thinking, recast your vision for the future, rise above your circumstances, guard your heart and mind against negativity, and transcend distractions to focus on what matters most.
Pastor Joel Osteen is uplifting, and positive in a world full of negativity. He shows how our thinking changes our perceptions of the future. If we think negatively, then we live negatively. But he doesn’t go on and on boring the reader, he writes intelligently and succinctly. And, I learned how I needed to change my own thinking to turn my life in a positive direction. Thank you to NetGalley and FaithWords for this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Here Comes the Fudge by Nancy CoCo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published in 2021. It's late spring on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Allie is prepping her Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop for the start of the tourist season and her best friend Jenn's wedding. But when Jenn's fiancé Shane, a crime scene investigator, misses a dinner date, the two friends go looking for him. Led by Allie's dog Mal into an alley, they come upon Shane standing over a body with a bloody knife in his hand. Shane tells them to call 911. As the CSI is taken into custody by his colleagues, Allie vows to prove her friend's fiancé is not a killer before the wedding is cancelled.
This was an easy and fun cozy mystery read. I loved how Allie had an assertive and proactive attitude when her friends needed help. The police force was respectfully portrayed and worked with Allie in the end. I loved learning about the setting. The author described the setting so well that I would love to visit there one day. I will definitely read the other books in this wonderful cozy mystery series.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After Jill and police chief Greg King became engaged, Jill still needs a little time to get used to the idea. They decided to celebrate their engagement by having a party. And a new dress shop just opened in time for Jill to find a great outfit. But Jill’s excitement turns to shock when she discovers a dead body in the shop. The new owner is acting strangely and becoming more mysterious than anyone expected. Despite Greg’s warnings to leave the case to him, Jill can’t help looking into the murder. Can Jill find the truth before she’s looking for a wedding dress?
This cozy mystery series always makes me smile. I love reading about the characters, and the plot keeps me guessing throughout the entire read. I also love reading about beach settings, they remind me of my own time living near the ocean. Ms. Cahoon is another author with the gift to make you fall in love with her characters. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the Advanced Reader’s Copy. This review is my honest opinion.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published in 2016. The Briar Creek Public Library holds its first overdue book amnesty day, where no fines are given for late returns. When an overdue book comes in that’s 20 years late, Lindsay finds that it was checked out by a beloved teacher the day she was murdered underneath the bleachers behind the high school. Her murder was never solved. Can Lindsay find the truth behind the murder and the book?
I can’t say enough about this book and the series. Jenn McKinlay is one of those authors with a rare gift to suck readers into their world, and the readers enjoy every minute of it. This was another quintessential cozy mystery that I enjoyed from the first page to the last. The characters, the plot, the setting, and the theme all proved to me what makes a good mystery, and if you want to know what that is, look no further.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harper is awaiting placement into a top oral surgery residency program. Her anxiety and fear of failure makes her concentrate only on her schooling until Dan enters the picture. A first-year dental student with a family legacy to contend with, Dan doesn’t have the same passion for pulling teeth that Harper does. Although he’s attracted to Harper, she wants to be “just friends.” But as they get to know each other better, Harper fears that trading fillings for feelings may make her lose control and can't risk her carefully ordered life coming undone.
This was a sweet contemporary romance read. I loved it because it showcased how mental illness can affect relationships. Mental illness shouldn’t be stigmatized. If people need help, they shouldn’t be made fun of or shamed. I loved how the heroine with the help of her friends overcame her anxieties to open her heart. I also felt that the hero being open-minded enough to have a relationship with someone with a mental illness was refreshing. I will definitely read this author again. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley. This review is my unbiased opinion.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Manuscript for Murder by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2018. Jessica Fletcher is visiting her publisher. He gives her a manuscript to read by a new author. At that moment, Jessica is sucked into a mystery full of suspense, intrigue and murder that will test her sleuthing skills. Can she find the answers before someone tries to kill her again?
There are certain things people expect when reading a book from this series. Usually, these books are cozy mysteries with a main character reminiscent of the well-known mystery television show. But that is nothing like this book. This is more like a fast-paced thriller with a gritty, hard-nosed sleuth who can handle interrogating people in back alleys or the White House. Several characters from the past make an appearance, but, they too, were a little harsher than what we expect. The plot is so enthralling that I couldn’t stop turning the pages until the culprit(s) were revealed. Even though this book was a refreshing take on the series, I like to go back to the cozier Murder, She Wrote stories.


View all my reviews

Book Review!

 

Death of a Knit Wit by Peggy Ehrhart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Pamela has organized a knitting bee as part of a conference on fiber arts and crafts at Wendelstaff College. But when Professor Robert Greer-Gordon Critter, the keynote speaker at the conference, crashes it, he seems more interested in flirting than knitting. The man’s philandering ways surpasses his academic reputation. After coffee and cookies are served, the professor suddenly collapses, could it be poison? Everyone had the coffee and cookies. Joined by her best friend Bettina and the Knit and Nibble ladies, Pamela investigates to find the truth behind the professor’s demise.
This series has always been one of my favorites. I loved reading about these characters and their sleuthing. But I really couldn’t connect with this story. I felt that each chapter was longer than it should’ve been, and there needed to be more action and suspense. I didn’t enjoy it. It was hard to finish this one. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion.


View all my reviews

March Book Releases!

 There are many books being released this month. These are my recommendations:

                    1. Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon, publication date: March 1st

2. A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings, publication date: March 1st

3. Rule Your Day by Joel Osteen, publication date: March 8th

4. Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss, publication date: March 29th

5. Silver Creek Bodyguard by Lindsay McKenna, publication date: March 29th 

Have a great reading month. If you have any cozy mystery or romance recommendations, please leave a comment.