Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander - 5 Stars!

It’s late spring in Ashland, Oregon, and Juliet's bakeshop, Torte is baking a bevy of spring delights. Meanwhile, her friend Lance, the artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, is putting on "The Taming of the Shrew" with his new theater troupe, the Fair Verona Players. As the curtain rises, the lead actor, Jimmy Paxton, meets his final curtain call. Now, Juliet is not only in the mix, but she's going to need to craft the perfect recipe for solving this theatrical whodunit.

I can always count on Ellie Alexander to craft one of the best mysteries with the best sounding desserts. She always plots whodunits filled with dastardly characters and inviting settings. The whole time I was reading this story, my mouth was salivating. One day I need to visit Ashland and find this bakeshop. (Or one just like it!) I can't wait to read another mystery from this wonderful series. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Fondue or Die by Korina Moss - 5 Stars!

Yarrow Glen’s neighbor, Lockwood, hosts an annual Labor Day weekend bash: Dairy Days. And Willa Bauer and her cheese shop, Curds & Whey, refuse to miss out on the fun. This festival goes all out: butter sculptures, goat races, cheese wheel relays, even a Miss Dairy pageant. The pageant runner, Nadine, treats Dairy Days prep like it’s fondue or die. When Willa finds her dead body under some ceramic milk jugs, the police aren’t sure whether the death was an accident. But fingers are pointing at Willa’s employee, Mrs. Schultz. Someone wanted Nadine out of the whey, and Willa is going to find out who.

Korina Moss writes delectable mysteries that I can't get enough of. Fondue or die is another installment to a fabulous mystery series. Willa and Team Cheese are great sleuths who try to work with the town's law enforcement and Heath. Heath and his relationship with Willa are a great side plot to the main mystery. All throughout the story I thought I knew who the culprit was. But I was wrong and surprised in the end. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

A Dark and Stormy Knit by Peggy Ehrhart - 3 Stars!

The houses of Arborville, New Jersey are decked out for Halloween when Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser are alerted by the screams of teenage trick-or-treaters to the corpse next door. Their neighbor Adrienne’s sister, visiting from New York City, is slumped on the porch, fatally stabbed. And with countless people traipsing around in costume, the killer might be as elusive as an apple in a bucket of water. Can these best friends find the truth behind the murder?

This was a very interesting cozy mystery with characters that I love to read about. It's like visiting with old friends. Although, I wished for more time with the other Knit and Nibblers. The plot was okay. I understood why Pamela and Bettina got involved with the mystery, I just felt that the solution to the mystery came out of left field. I didn't understand fully how they figured out whodunit. I do want to read more from the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

The Wedding Ranch by Nancy Naigle - 5 Stars!

When Lorri Walker’s husband gifted her with a mastiff puppy, she believed he was recommitting himself to their marriage after going astray. Six months later, he left both her and their dog for someone else. After moving to Dalton Mill, Lorri’s graphic design business is flourishing, her mastiff has plenty of space to romp, and her ex can fade to a distant memory. Ryder Bolt is haunted by the loss of his wife and young son seven years ago. Thankfully, ranching and spending time with his family keeps him busy. The Wedding Ranch, owned by his niece and nephew, is a destination for celebrations. When Lorri and Ryder met, they weren't looking for love. But, love found them. Can their new relationship survive unknown information revealed about a past event that has shaped both of them?

This was a very intense emotional contemporary romance about forgiveness and the way our pasts affect our futures. Both Rider and Lori have unresolved issues. When they met, they were broken. Love and forgiveness helped them see the new future that lies ahead for them. I love this story because it made me think of my own family and loved ones. The characters and setting were endearing. I wonder if this story is part of a series, because I would love to see what happens next with these characters. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - 4 Stars!

In a peaceful retirement village, four friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a killing takes place on their doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty, but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?

I felt so many emotions while reading this murder mystery. Many readers recommended this book to me. The mystery itself was well plotted and confounding to the point where I didn't know whodunit until the end. The characters were written with such a grace and had different idiosyncrasies, and I found them lovable and funny at times. But I also found them sad at times as well. These characters, although living in England, could be the old couple living down the street. Or the old gentleman who sits on the bench in my local park. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a bunch of interesting characters.

 

Booked on Murder by Allison Brook - 5 Stars!

Carrie Singleton's wedding to Dylan Avery is just a few weeks away. But then a body is found on the lawn of their wedding venue. The victim is Billy Carpenter, a man recently released from prison after serving time for a bank robbery. The police believe Billy’s two alleged co-conspirators, Luke Rizzo and Tino Valdez killed him, and are looking for the money. But then Luke is murdered and Tino is nowhere to be found. With no leads and a week to go before her big day, Carrie is hunting for clues. She hopes to wrap up this investigation before she and Dylan tie the knot.
This story saddens me because it's the last one in a wonderful series that I have enjoyed immensely. As soon as I read that the main character was getting married, I had a feeling of doom because that usually means that the series is coming to an end. I have loved the characters, I have enjoyed the plots, and the settings have made me want to discover and travel to that area of the country. I will always recommend this series but I'm still sad and a little annoyed. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron - 4 Stars!

Sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. She's leaving Los Angeles to renovate a mid-century motel filled with cobwebs and retro charm. She teams up with best friend, Jeff Cornetta, also her ex-husband, to transform the aging ranch into the Golden Motel, a hiker’s oasis on the edge of the wilderness. But Dee and Jeff soon realize they're unprepared for the hospitality business. There’s also the reality of prowling bears and a general store as the only shopping spot for miles. Living and working in the middle of nowhere takes some getting used to, especially when a disrespectful guest ends up murdered! Now, with the motel duo topping the suspect list, Dee must determine if the killer is a local or tourist. Because as she quickly finds out, there are many things worse than a one-star review.

This cozy mystery is filled with charm and interesting characters. Dee is a modern amateur sleuth who finds herself in dire situations all throughout this story. She is an intelligent and resourceful individual, although highly unlucky. But Jeff is always there to help her when things get too rough. The plot is intricate, and confounding. I couldn't figure out whodunit until the big reveal at the end. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy.

 

Trouble is Brewing by Vicki Delany - 5 Stars!

Members of the Reynolds and Hill families are staying at Lily Robert's grandmother’s bed and breakfast, and now they’ve gathered at Tea by the Sea for Hannah Hill's bridal shower. But the last package Hannah unwraps contains a beheaded Raggedy Ann doll. She’s chilled to the bone. Lily senses that the shocking anonymous gift might be related to other tensions she’s picking up on. The mothers-in-law hate each other, and then Lily, out walking her dog, overhears the groom’s father, Ralph, offering his son a very sizable bribe to call off the wedding. She’s relieved when Greg angrily turns him down. But, then Ralph is found murdered in his bedroom. Can Lily solve the murder and help the couple find their happily ever after?

This was a great cozy mystery and the reason why I love Vicki Delany's work. The characters are so fun to read about. I like how Lily worked with the police to help solve the murder instead of going behind their back. The setting of this B and B and tea shop was so lovingly described I want to visit and have a scone and tea. I thought I solved the murder halfway through the book, but was surprised in the end. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

The Earl's Cinderella Countess by Amanda McCabe - 2 Stars!

Frederick, the Earl of Fleetwood was Eleanor St. Aubin’s first love, but being a vicar’s daughter held her back from admitting her feelings. Now she's a successful matchmaker, and the prospect of helping him find the wealthy wife he needs to settle his inherited debts is a nightmare come true! But returning from war, Frederick has nightmares of his own. Eleanor feels compelled to help him, but could she ever be his Cinderella countess?

I want to state upfront that I did DNF this book at 41% after realizing that it wasn't for me. The characters were likeable and filled with charming idiosyncrasies which made them realistic. I wanted to read more but the pacing was too slow and lagging. I kept on getting bored because there was also a lack of the romantic excitement that I find in most historical romances. I think that someone who likes a slower paced historical romance should pick this one, but it just wasn't for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Fatal First Edition by Jenn McKinlay - 5 Stars!

Briar Creek Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Sully, are at a library conference in Chicago to hear book restoration specialist Brooklyn Wainwright give a keynote address. After the lecture, Lindsey finds a tote bag containing a first edition of Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, inscribed to Alfred Hitchcock. Brooklyn determines the novel is one of a kind and quite valuable, so Lindsey and Sully return the book to the conference director. But just hours after they board a train back to Connecticut, rumors that the Highsmith novel has gone missing buzz amongst the passengers, and they soon find the conference director murdered. And the murderer planted the book in Lindsey and Sully’s room, making them prime suspects. Now, they must find the murderer, before they find themselves booked for a crime they didn’t commit. This story features a cameo from the New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle's Bibliophile series!

This cozy mystery series is one of the best, and this story is an example of why readers, like me, love it so much. Lindsay and Sully are a great pair that work together to solve mysteries. Lindsey is the amateur sleuth, but Sully's love for her has him joining her in many investigations. All the characters in this series are phenomenal. Having the murder occur on a train makes for an amazing sensory experience. The author described its movements, and scenery well. I saw, heard, and smelled the train as it traveled through the cold northeast winter storm. The mysterious plot was confounding, and I didn't know whodunit until the very end. I loved that there was a cameo from the other series I read in this story. I can't wait to read another Library Lover's mystery.

 

Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke - 4 Stars!

It’s been five whole months since the last murder in Cedar River, Texas, and Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie have been humming along when disaster strikes. Their struggling vinyl records/coffee shop, Sip & Spin Records, is under pressure from predatory investors. But the night after their meeting, the sketchy financier is killed outside their shop during a torrential Texas thunderstorm. Now the sisters find themselves wondering who the murderer is, and Juni is determined to solve the case.
This cozy mystery was very good. I loved all the characters and felt that the setting was interesting and well described. I would love to find a store that sold vinyl records and coffee. The romantic subplot was a great distraction from the mystery, which was intriguing. I thought I had figured out whodunit, only to be surprised in the end. I can't wait to read the next one in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Can You Solve the Murder? by Antony Johnston - 4 Stars!

There’s been a murder at Elysium, a wellness retreat in an English country manor. You arrive to find the body of a local businessman on the lawn with a rose placed in his mouth. It appears he was stabbed with a gardening fork and fell to his death from the balcony above. But that balcony can only be accessed through a locked door, the key is missing, and everyone in Elysium is now a suspect.
Gather the evidence and examine the clues. Choose who to interview, and who to accuse as your prime suspect. Every decision you make has consequences and some of them will prove fatal. Do you have what it takes? Can YOU solve the murder?
This was one of the most interesting books I've read recently. It's an interactive novel where the reader is the detective and makes the decisions during the investigation. But there are pitfalls and dead ends that you have to watch out for. The one thing I thought was strange was that at the end you were scored by the clues you found. I thought that was a little too much. I like to read for relaxation, but it became more of a challenge with this book.

 

Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs - 4 Stars!

During the Mad Hatter Masquerade, a fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Opera, Harlan Sadler is killed. He’s been hit in the head with a croquet mallet, and his body hung on the chains and paddles of the grist mill where Theodosia and Drayton find him. Theodosia was asked to investigate, and she risks her life to find the truth.

This was a great cozy mystery with fabulous characters and a setting that draws you in, and then the plot takes you on a cozy ride filled with intrigue. The one thing that surprised me was the use of profanity in this story. I think an author should use other words whenever possible. I recommend this story and series to any mystery lover.

 

How the Wallflower Wins a Duke by Lucy Morris - 3 Stars!

Marina Fletcher believes that she's not destined for love, but she wants a life filled with music. But what happens when she meets the sexy Duke of Framlingham and agrees to a fake engagement with him?

This was an enjoyable historical romance full of characters that you love to hate, and some that you just love. The setting was well described and reminded me of all the times I enjoyed other historical romances set during this time period. It was a good read, but the one problem was that I have read so many fake engagement/fake relationship romances that it bores me now. I would like to read something different. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.