LisaKsBookReviews

Another great addition to the Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery series!

BOOK FAIR AND FOUL is book 4 is the delightful series. When I read the first in this series, A KILLER READ, I knew this was a series I was going to follow enjoy.

This was a well written and enjoyable story. I’m a visual person, so when I read a book and I can picture clearly everything the author is describing, it truly enhances the story for me. There wasn’t one scene in this book that I didn’t feel like I was a part of.

I have fallen in love the characters in this series all over again, and if Ashton Corners really existed, I’d be packing my bags and moving. The first thing I’d do is look up the folks of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society and begging them to let me join their group. Along with my comment above about being able to visualize the scenes I’m reading, I also can’t enjoy a book if I can’t connect at least a few the characters. More likely than not, I will give up on a book if I can’t make that connection. With the Ashton Corners Book Club Mysteries, Ms. Chase has created an entire cast that I enjoy knowing and learning more about.

As for the mystery aspect of this book, it is very well done. The author leads you down many paths of “it could be…”.  There were several suspects in the murder of book publicist, Ashley Dixon, and I was sure I had it figured out. However, who did it and why they did it really took me by surprise.

This is another wonderful cozy (traditional) mystery series for readers just starting the genre, and diehard cozy readers alike. This is also a great transitional series for young readers moving up to the next reading level.

This is the first book I’ve read in the Bailey Ruth Ghost Mysteries and before I started GHOST WANTED, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to follow it. I was afraid I would be lost. I had no need to worry. On page two, author Carolyn Hart started filling me in on what I needed to know, and it was a fun ride from there.

When I first heard of this book, I assumed it was another book where the protagonist was befriended by a ghost. I had no idea the protagonist was the ghost!

This book was an excellent mystery, told from a view point I’ve never read before, which only served to make reading it more intriguing and irresistible. Ms. Hart’s writing is flawless and kept me captured in the story straight through to the thrilling conclusion.

Rather you’re a fan of mysteries, suspense, or paranormal stories, Ghost Wanted is a title you want to add to your reading list.

You can pre-order it now for the October 7th release date. And if you haven’t read them yet, pick up the other four books in this series, Ghost At Work, Merry, Merry Ghost, Ghost In Trouble, and Ghosts Gone Wild. You’re going to want to own every title!

One of my top three favorite new mystery series of 2014!

I have never read the first book of a series and the first published book for an author and been this blown away.

Any time a book grabs me on the first page and won’t let go, I know I am in for some of the best reading time I have ever spent. WELL READ, THEN DEAD, did that and more. I so enjoyed the book, I found myself smiling while reading and the real world around me fading away.

The characters and settings mix wonderfully and draw the reader in. It was a delight to get to know Mary “Sassy” Cabot and Bridget “Bridgy” Mayfield—owners of the bookstore café, Read ’Em and Eat. They are two of the most enjoyable characters I have read this year. And wait until you meet Aunt Ophie! She’ll have you laughing out loud. There are shelves lined with books, delicious menu items, such as Old Man and the Sea Chowder, Miss Marple Scones and honest to goodness, Green Eggs and Ham, tables named after famous authors, and book groups like the Books Before Breakfast club. Beyond a doubt, if I had a real life Read ’Em and Eat near me, I would spend so much of my time there you’d think I was on the payroll!

What about the mystery element of the book? Perfect! Even after reading the back cover blur, I forgot who the victim was until I started reading the book. I cried when I read she was dead, because in just the short time I had been reading, I knew that woman would be someone I would love to spend a lot of time with. With the suspects that kept popping up, it became harder to guess who the murder was. I was in suspense the entire time and more emotionally invested than I have been in a story in ages. And with a twist that I didn’t see coming, it’s no wonder when I closed this book I just sat there and said “Wow”.

This book is a must read for all cozy fans and the perfect book to gift someone if you would like to introduce them to cozy mysteries.

If you’re looking for a well written book with an exciting plot, you’ve just found it. THE WOLFE WIDOW is most certainly the book for you.

The first sentence of the book, “The doorbell rang”, and the characters reactions to said ringing doorbell, assured me this would be hard to put this book down. Well, it was! Cleverly written mystery, suspense, humor, and wonderfully written characters, kept me turning pages longer into the night than I had planned. But it was completely worth it.

If you liked the first two books in the Book Collector Mystery series, THE CHRISTIE CURSE, and THE SAYERS SWINDLE, you will delight in THE WOLFE WIDOW. If you haven’t read this series, get them all now and read them one after the other. Your only regret will be the amount of time you have to wait for book number four to be released.

The Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries are one of my favorite series and a new book in the series always tops my “must read” stack of books. TAKEN IN only solidified my love of this series.

I’ll admit, I was a bit worried to see Tori and the ladies taken out of Sweet Briar and put onto the mean streets of New York City. My worry was for nothing. Turning that group of ladies loose in the big city was brilliant!

I knew it was going to be a wild ride from page one, and I laughed my way through the first chapter. Who am I kidding? I laughed my way through the entire book! The only thing that could have been better than reading about these fun ladies and the mystery they find themselves embroiled in, would have been to get to go on the trip with them myself!

Besides the fun, it was a wonderful mystery that kept me guessing the whole way through and into the wee hours of the morning, because I simply could not put in down until I was finished!

If you are a fan of the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, make sure to add TAKEN IN to your collection. If you haven’t read the series, get to ordering! You are missing out on a wonderfully written series, by a talented author who always delivers on mystery, fun, and characters that you will want to call friends. 

The Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries are one of my favorite series and a new book in the series always tops my “must read” stack of books. TAKEN IN only solidified my love of this series.

I’ll admit, I was a bit worried to see Tori and the ladies taken out of Sweet Briar and put onto the mean streets of New York City. My worry was for nothing. Turning that group of ladies loose in the big city was brilliant!

I knew it was going to be a wild ride from page one, and I laughed my way through the first chapter. Who am I kidding? I laughed my way through the entire book! The only thing that could have been better than reading about these fun ladies and the mystery they find themselves embroiled in, would have been to get to go on the trip with them myself!

Besides the fun, it was a wonderful mystery that kept me guessing the whole way through and into the wee hours of the morning, because I simply could not put in down until I was finished!

If you are a fan of the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, make sure to add TAKEN IN to your collection. If you haven’t read the series, get to ordering! You are missing out on a wonderfully written series, by a talented author who always delivers on mystery, fun, and characters that you will want to call friends. 

MUDER IN THE MYSTERY SUITE

by Ellery Adams

Book One in the Book Retreat Mystery series

A few chapters into this first book in the Book Retreat Mystery series, I was already enjoying what I thought to be another sweet, cozy mystery series. By chapter five I had the feeling of reading a Nancy Drew story in which Nancy was now a grown woman. This of course thrilled me to no end. However, it felt as though I was also in a modern day Agatha Christie novel. Until chapter eight when Nancy and Agatha combined with Ian Fleming and my mind was blown!

Do you know how wonderful a book has to be to be compared to those three greats? Indeed, Ms. Adams has turned the modern day cozy into the very best of mysteries past, present, and I dare say future. There is so much I want to say about this book, but have to hold myself back from doing so in order not to ruin the joy of discovery for other readers.

What I can say is, Ellery Adams has delivered a story with delightful characters, beautiful surroundings, as well mystery and intrigue unlike anything I’ve ever read. She has insured that this first book will morph into a long running series.

That being said, do yourself the biggest favor of the year and read MURDER IN THE MYSTERY SUITE. Purchase a few extra copies (e-readers, get yourself a print copy), two for yourself and a few for your friends. You’re going to want to keep a mint copy of this first edition hidden away so in the next twenty years or so people will be jealous of your treasure!

MURDER IN THE MYSTERY SUITE well release on August 5^th. Don’t wait…Pre-order your copy/copies now!

Note: The copy I read was an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) they I was lucky enough to win from the author. The best prize I’ve won all year! (Since it was a prize in a giveaway, I had no obligation to leave a review. But there was no way I wasn’t going to share my love of this story!) I will still be pre-ordering copies for myself in order to have both wonderful editions!   

I enjoyed the first book in this series, FINAL SENTENCE so much (You can find my review on that title’s page), I just knew I was going to love INHERIT THE WORD, and I sure did! 

It was great to be back in Crystal Cover with Jenna Hart, her Aunt Vera, and the rest of the great cast of characters. 

The Cookbook Nook is hosting the town’s Grill Fest with the challenge being grilled cheese sandwiches (I stayed hungry through the entire book). On the first day of the challenge the eight-time champ is found dead. As with her first book in the series, Ms. Gerber had plenty of suspects, but the investigation seems to be centered on Jenna’s second mother Lola. 

There are many twists and turns throughout the entire book. I keep going back and forth on who I thought the killer was. I was completely surprised when reading the reveal! 

If you read FINAL SENTENCE and liked it, you’re going to love INHERIT THE WORD. You don’t have read the first book to be able follow this one, but I would recommend it since they are both so wonderful. 

To sum it up, this is a fantastic mystery, set in a beautiful location full of characters you’ll love. And there are awesome recipes included
 
Read both FINAL SENTENCE and INHERIT THE WORD now and get yourself ready for STIRRING THE PLOT coming in September!

FINAL SENTENCE is the first book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. It is also the first book I’ve read by Daryl Wood Gerber and it won’t be the last! (I did read the next book in the series – INHERIT THE WORD – you can find that review on the book’s page.)

I knew from page one that I was going to enjoy this book because I instantly fell in love with protagonist Jenna Hart and her Aunt Vera. I loved the surroundings of The Cookbook Nook, Jenna and Vera’s store, and the attached café. I could envision myself spending many hours lost there, just as I became wonderfully lost in the book. Indeed, I enjoyed my visit to Crystal Cove so much that I was disappointed when I closed the book and found myself back in my own town.

The mystery of who killed celebrity chef Desiree Divine was well written and I was left with plenty of suspects to throw me off the trail of the real killer.  And no, I didn’t guess who did it.

If you like mysteries with cozy settings, memorable characters, and surprise endings, this is a must have book for you. And you’ll also be delighted with the fantastic recipes included. I sure was! 

Beautiful scenery, wonderful characters, a dead body, and a wedding.

Karen MacInerney has pinned another winner. This sixth book in the Gray Whale Inn Mystery series may just be the best in the series so far.

DEATH RUNS ADRIFT was a story that kept adding twists and turns like a winding county road. Each chapter bringing a new surprise. I never knew what was coming next. And that’s just how I like my mysteries.

This return trip to Maine’s Cranberry Island was a pleasure for me for sure and I look forward to my next visit.

As I mentioned in my review of author Pamela Rose’s first book in this series, Sherlock's Home: The Adventure of the Contentious Crone, in Sherlock's Home: The Adventure of the Indigo Inker, Ms. Rose had my attention with the combined bakery and mystery bookstore owned by the Sherlocks. But it is the author's flair for telling a great story that kept me hooked.

You are in for an amazing and head spinning whodunit in this exciting second installment of the Sherlock’s Home mystery series.

I went from relaxed and enjoying an awesome cruise with the Sherlocks, to being broken hearted with Finn at the loss of Sheriff Wavy Davy. Who murdered the Sheriff and why? You’ll be kept guessing just as I was. Was I ever fooled when all was revealed. I never saw it coming, and I doubt you will either.

If you love a good mystery and an author who is as smart and sassy as her characters, you have got to read this series!

PLAYING WITH FIRE by J. J. Cook

Welcome to Sweet Pepper, Tennessee. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s home to the hottest and sweetest peppers in the world—as well as at least one ghost and a hotbed of secrets…
 
GETTING WARMER
 
Fire Chief Stella Griffin is working to solve the mysterious death of her predecessor, Eric Gamlyn—who also haunts her cabin. Yet the more she learns, the more burning questions she must answer. Just as Stella thinks she has a lead from Deputy Chum, someone snuffs her hopes—and the lawman.
 
Adding fuel to the fire, Stella’s parents soon arrive—with her ex-boyfriend—hoping to persuade her to return to Chicago. Now Stella is torn between the life she left behind and uncovering what happened to her ghostly friend. But she’d better think fast or more than her investigation could go up in flames…

PLAYING WITH FIRE is the second installment in the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery series by J. J. Cook…A.K.A. authors Joyce and Jim Lavene.

I have been looking forward to this story since reading the first in the series THAT OLD FLAME OF MINE. PLAYING WITH FIRE not disappoint and was certainly worth the wait! (If I had my way, this series would have a new installment at least 2 times a year. But if the authors keep doing downloadable shorts such as HERO’S JOURNEY to keep me in the Sweet Pepper loop, I can live with, though restlessly, a new main title once a year.)

I really felt for Stella in this story. Not only is she trying to discover what really happened to her predecessor, Chief Eric Gamlyn, trying to find justice for her friend and ghostly house mate, but she is torn about her job. Should she stay in Sweet Pepper as their Fire Chief or should she return home to Chicago and her life and job there. If her parents, ex-boyfriend and a few Sweet Pepper residents have any say in the matter, she’ll go back to Chicago. But if the rest of the fire brigade, other residents and Eric have their way, Stella will stay put in Sweet Pepper. Either way, she’s not leaving until she gets to the bottom of what really happened to Eric, which turns out to be easier said than done.

I was drawn in from page one and each page there after held my attention. Mysteries, danger and question after question left me captivated.  Sweet Pepper and the fire brigade are vividly brought to life. The characters are so rich and the situations so real, I felt I was part of the story. PLAYING WITH FIRE was one of those stories that I really dreaded to see end because I knew I would have a hard time finding another book to draw me in as fast as it did.

My advice…Do yourself a favor (and a friend or two while you’re at it), buy this book as fast as you can! You won’t be sorry.

If you haven’t read THAT OLD FLAME OF MINE and HERO’S JOURNEY, remember to get them as well!