You Feta Watch Out by Linda Reilly - 5 Stars!

Christmas in Balsam Dell promises to be festive for Carly Hale when a theater company comes to town to stage A Christmas Carol. But Scrooge is not the most ill-tempered character in the production, as actor Prescott Lennon proves when he begins berating everyone else in the cast for their poor theatrics. When his behavior threatens the production, someone decides to resolve matters with a fatal solution, and frames Carly’s friend Gina for the murder. With her friend on the hook, Carly will have to sort the truth from fiction, even as her pursuit of the killer scares the dickens out of her.

This festive cozy mystery was full of wonderful characters and dastardly suspects. I love reading about Carly and her grilled cheese eatery. I admit to having a grilled cheese while reading this story, and there are wonderful recipes found in back of the book. The plot was full of misdirection that kept me turning the pages trying to figure out whodunit. I was surprised by the identity of the true culprit. I can't wait to read the next one in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Beyond The Page Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley - 5 stars!

Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary and her kitty companion, Butterball, get into the holiday spirit as Geneva Bay, Wisconsin hosts the nation’s premier snow sculpting championship. The annual event transforms the resort town into a wonderland of snow castles, ice rinks, and cozy cups of cocoa. On the eve of the festival though, a Chrismukkah catering gig brings some frosty tidings and heralds a visit from Delilah’s older sister. When a missing party guest’s frozen corpse turns up inside one of the town's snowy sculptures, murder threatens to put the celebrations, and Delilah’s crew, on ice for good.

This was a great addition to a wonderful cozy mystery series. I love how Delilah has grown as an amateur sleuth, And Biz is hysterical, and lightens the heavy scenes gratefully. The side characters are enjoyable to read about. Honestly the culprit was one of my suspects, and I was surprised when I was right because usually, I'm not. The plot was engaging, and the setting put me in the holiday spirit. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

How to Fall for a Scoundrel by Kate Bateman - 5 Stars!

As a member of King & Co., London’s most successful private investigation firm, Eleanor Law delights in proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. When a con man pretends to be her fictional boss, "Charles King," Ellie knows he’s lying, but accepting the scoundrel’s offer of help might be the key to cracking her new case. “Henri Bonheur”, or “Harry”, claims his criminal past is behind him, but a man who steals and seduces with ease can never be trusted. As the investigation intensifies, Ellie’s infuriated to realize she’s falling for her law-breaking accomplice. How can she love the scoundrel when she doesn’t even know his real name? And what will happen when Harry’s past finally catches up with him?

This historical romance grabbed me from page one and didn't let me go until I had finished the entire story. It was a quick read filled with passion, intrigue and suspense with characters that I want to see again. I liked how these independent women were passionate about solving mysteries and writing wrongs in an era where, in reality, women weren't respected enough. I can't wait to read the rest of this series. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

A Poisonous Palate by Lucy Burdette - 5 Stars!

  

When food critic Hayley Snow receives an email about a decades-old disappearance, her curiosity is piqued. Catherine Davitt has returned to the Keys to research a book about Hemingway’s wives, but she’s also on the hunt for the truth about her missing friend. Hayley quickly agrees to help investigate and they hit the road to see what clues they might find. When they find the dead body of a man from Catherine's past, they both need to tread lightly because knowing the truth may lead to more dead bodies.

I was surprised at how much I loved this cozy mystery. It drew me in and never let go. I loved Haley, and all of the other quirky characters that helped her investigate this mystery. I loved how you got to see some of Haley's life beyond the investigation. It gave me a more complete picture of her life. The setting was so well described it made me want to live on a houseboat in the Florida Keys. This was a quick read with a highly satisfying ending. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

Easier Dead Than Drawn by Bailee Abbott - 3 Stars!

When the town council hires Chloe Abbington's friend, wall muralist Lana Easton, to paint a mural advertising the return of the floating amphitheater, not everyone in Whisper Cove is happy about the theater or Lana. Naysayers think the noise from concerts and visitors will disrupt their quiet community. It doesn't help that a lot of money taken from the town's budget is being used to pay the muralist for her services. The mood turns even more grim when Lana is found dead, and since Chloe was there alone to discover her body, that makes her the prime suspect. Can Chloe and her sister, Izzy find the true culprit among several suspects?

This cozy mystery had great characters and a wonderful plot that kept me confounded until the very end. One of the things that confused me was the number of suspects. There were too many to keep them straight in my mind. I love the idea of having a business like this that caters to parties where people can be creative using paints and other crafts. Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Excellence by Joel Osteen - 5 stars!

This book by bestselling author Joel Osteen is derived from material previously published in You Can, You Will, The Power of I Am, and Break Out! In it, he discusses how we should keep improving, stay focused, stay passionate, and make a habit of excellence. He encourages readers to get out of their comfort zones and make the rest of their life the best of their life.

This Christian book seemed more like a pep talk between the reader and the author. I love listening and reading Joel Osteen because he is so positive. Personally, I have been through many challenges recently, and whenever I open up one of his books or listen to one of his sermons I feel like things can change for the better. Thank you, Pastor Osteen, for helping me let go of the past and look towards a more favorable future. Thanks to Faith Words and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Defender After Dark by Charlene Parris - 4 stars!

When a CEO is assaulted at his own construction site, Detective Mark Hawthorne is determined to catch the culprit. He finds a welcome distraction in bakery owner Britt Gronlund, who rebuffed the CEO’s threat to take over her business. But when the CEO winds up dead, Mark needs to find out who killed him. Can he defend Britt from the accusations that she is behind the murder? And can he find the real killer?

This Harlequin romantic suspense was an enjoyable read with great characters and a mysterious plot that kept me guessing until the very end. This story was a great mix of mystery and romance. And I didn't feel the need to cringe at overused tropes. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.