Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien - 3 Stars!

The Asian community is kicking off summer with the return of its popular Cleveland Night Market festivities, and Lana Lee is excited to represent the Ho-Lee Noodle House booth with her favorite chef, Peter Huang. But before she can get too accustomed to the idea of an exciting day, an explosion involving a nearby food truck, Wonton on Wheels, kills one of the proprietors and injures several others in the nearby vicinity. When the authorities discover that this was no accident, Lana and her best friend, Megan Riley, fall back into detective mode. Can they find the truth before they get burned?
This was a good cozy mystery with likeable characters and a plot that kept me guessing until the end. There was an emphasis on women and abuse, but I liked how the author handled it. The reader won't see any abuse on the page keeping the coziness of the mystery. I will read more from this series.

 

Murder, She Wrote: Debonair in Death - 4 Stars!

When Nelson Penzell, co-owner of a local art store in Cabot Cove, is murdered, the nail tech from Jessica Fletcher's favorite beauty parlor is the main suspect. After all, she's the one who was found with the body holding the murder weapon. Jessica is positive that Coreen is innocent and is determined to prove it. When Michael Haggerty, handsome MI-6 agent, is found investigating the victim, Jessica knows there's more to the story. Can she find the truth before it's too late?
I love the Murder She wrote series and feel that this is a great installment. I love all the characters, especially Jessica who is the quintessential amateur sleuth. The plot was confounding because I thought I knew who the culprit was but was surprised in the end. If you love the series, then read this book.

 

Killer Research by Jenn McKinlay - 5 Stars!

  

Ms. Cole, a librarian and current candidate for town mayor, is shocked when she opens her trunk to discover a murder victim who just so happens to be a guy she dated forty years ago and the founder of a baking empire. As the town gossip mill turns, a batch of rumors begins to circulate about Ms. Cole's rebellious youth, which, along with being a murder suspect, threatens to ruin her life and her budding political career. It is up to Lindsey and Sully to figure out who is trying to frame Ms. Cole for murder and why.

This cozy mystery series is one of my favorites. It contains an intelligent sleuth, a intriguing plot, several wonderful characters who are great red herrings, and a setting that relaxes you into comfort while reading. I couldn't put this book down until the culprit was revealed. If you want a great cozy read, look no further.

The Bookstore's Secret by Makenna Lee - 5 Stars!

Aspiring pastry chef Nicole Evans is just waiting to hear about her dream job, and in the meantime, she goes to work in the café at the local bookstore. But that’s before the recently widowed Nicole meets her temporary boss: her first crush, Liam Mendez! Single dad Liam has always kept his life, and his heart, closely guarded from Oak Hollow gossip. Will his simmering attraction to Nicole be just one more thing to hide, or the stuff of his bookstore’s romance novels?
This was a great romance to curl up to on a snowy day. Nicole and Liam had chemistry and were great characters to read about. Both of them were productive, honest people that were open to love even after having bad relationships. I will read more from this series. This review is my unbiased opinion. Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the honor of reading this ARC.

 

Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross - 4 Stars!

This book contained three cozy mysteries set on St. Patrick's Day in Maine. All of them were very well written, and the characters were a joy to read about. But there was one flaw: I wanted more from each story. I didn't want them to end. Several recipes were included. I recommend these authors to anyone interested in cozies. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the honor of reading this ARC.

 

 

Once A Princess by Johanna Lindsey - 3 Stars! (Read for Retro Romance Readathon)

Once Upon A Time...In a rustic Mississippi tavern, a beautiful, exiled princess was forced to dance for the pleasure of others unaware of her regal birthright, and infuriated by a magnificent golden-eyed devil who crossed an ocean to find her. A prince came to America to find his betrothed. Will she return with him and risk her life for true love?
In the past, Johanna Lindsey was a favorite author of mine. I loved the diabolical characters she created, and the romantic settings she placed them in with plots that made you turn the pages into the wee hours of the morning. But reading this novel now made me cringe a little. The female main character had to endure things that were not romantic and forced on her. This novel would not make it with today's readers, in my opinion. But the plot was so intriguing I couldn't put it down and that is why I gave it 3 Stars.

 

Four Leaf Cleaver by Maddie Day - 5 Stars!

It's Saint Patrick’s Day at Pans ’N Pancakes. Robbie may only be Irish by marriage to Abe O’Neill, but the shelves of vintage cookware in her southern Indiana store are draped with shamrocks and her restaurant is serving shepherd’s pie and Guinness Beer brownies. The big event, however, is a televised cooking competition to be filmed on site. Unfortunately, someone’s luck has run out. Before the cameras start rolling, producer Tara O’Hara Moore is found upstairs in her B&B room, bludgeoned by the heavy hilt of a cleaver left by her side. Now, not only does Robbie have a store full of festive decorations, but she’s also got a store full of suspects.
This was an enthralling read full of red herrings, confounding plot lines and a setting that definitely kept me interested. A restaurant is great for a cozy because new people are always coming in for a meal and a mystery. The main character is a likeable, intelligent sleuth that worked with the cops instead of against them. I will definitely read more of this series. This review is my unbiased opinion. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the honor of reading this ARC.

 

The Enchanted Music Box by Cindy Kirk - 5 Stars!

Successful businesswoman Annie Laggett's life is forever changed when she impulsively picks up a vintage music box that had been tossed to the curb. At home, as strains from the music box fill the air, Annie is transported back to first observe the past, then the present from the role of an observer and finally to see what her future could hold depending on what course she takes.

As I read this story, something strange started happening. I saw parallels between the main character's life and my own. I looked at a relationship I was in with a new perspective. And the subsequent change has made my life better with less drama. I think this is the best novel Ms. Kirk has ever written, (for obvious reasons) and I believe if you love contemporary romance, you need to read a Kirk romance!