The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing the " The Little Bookshop on the Seine” by Rebecca Raisin. I really enjoyed stepping away from my normal reading and taking a chance on a romance/woman’s fiction, it was so refreshing and heartfelt.

It’s The Holiday on the Champs-Élysées in a great big love letter to Paris, charming old bookstores and happily-ever-afters!

When bookshop owner Sarah Smith is offered the opportunity for a job exchange with her Parisian friend Sophie, saying yes is a no-brainer—after all, what kind of romantic would turn down six months in Paris? Sarah is sure she’s in for the experience of a lifetime—days spent surrounded by literature in a gorgeous bookshop, and the chance to watch the snow fall on the Eiffel Tower. Plus, now she can meet up with her journalist boyfriend, Ridge, when his job takes him around the globe.

But her expectations cool faster than her café au lait soon after she lands in the City of Light—she’s a fish out of water in Paris. The customers are rude, her new coworkers suspicious and her relationship with Ridge has been reduced to a long-distance game of phone tag, leaving Sarah to wonder if he’ll ever put her first over his busy career. As Christmas approaches, Sarah is determined to get the shop—and her life—back in order…and make her dreams of a Parisian happily-ever-after come true.

I’m going to start off by saying I’m not a huge romance fan but I absolutely loved this book! I could see my book friends in it and the way she described things was so up our introverted book nerd alley that I found myself engrossed in story. Who wouldn’t want an escape to Paris for few months, but what we wish for is not always what we dreamed it would be.

I found the story to be more about finding your way in the world, friendship and yes love.   I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books and wants a feel good read.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow book lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Bound for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “Bound for Murder” by Victoria Gilbert the 4th instalment in the "Blue Ridge Library Mystery" series. I really enjoyed it and hope to catch up on the series before the next one releases.

Blue Ridge library director Amy Webber learns it wasn't all peace and love among the "flower children" when a corpse is unearthed on the grounds of a 1960s commune.

Taylorsford Public Library director Amy Webber's friend "Sunny" Fields is running for mayor. But nothing puts a damper on a campaign like an actual skeleton in a candidate's closet. Sunny's grandparents ran a commune back in the 1960s on their organic farm. But these former hippies face criminal charges when human remains are found in their fields--and a forensic examination reveals that the death was neither natural nor accidental.

With Sunny's mayoral hopes fading, Amy sets her wedding plans aside, says "not yet" to the dress, and uses her research skills to clear her best friend's family. Any of the now-elderly commune members could have been the culprit. As former hippies perish one by one, Amy and her friends Richard, Aunt Lydia, and Hugh Chen pursue every lead. But if Amy can't find whoever killed these "flower children," someone may soon be placing flowers on her grave.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it almost straight through. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises, I did suspect the killer but then thought no...

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. I loved the friendship between Amy and her bff Sunny.  The inclusion of the two kittens was nice too. 

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Pulp Friction by Julie Anne Lindsey

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Pulp Friction” by Julie Anne Lindsey the 2nd instalment in the Cider Shop Mystery series.  Julie Anne Lindsey is one of my favorite cozy authors and this is because of the Tea Shop Mystery series she writes as Bree Baker and now the Cider Shop Mystery series.

Nothing’s sweeter than a fruitful family business, and for Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe, that means Smythe Orchards in Blossom Valley, Virginia. But this year’s apple crop is especially juicy—with scandal . . .

SEEDS OF DANGER

Thanks to Winnie's new cider shop, Smythe Orchards is out of the red and folks can get their fix of the produce and other delectable products they love all year round. The locals are even booking the shop for events, including a June wedding! Winnie couldn’t be happier to see the barn filled to the rafters for the big bash—until her doting ex, Hank, is caught in a heated argument with the groom. Winnie plans to scold Hank after the party, but spots him running off instead. And when the groom turns up dead, apparently hit by the honeymoon getaway car, Hank is the main suspect. Now Hank is on the lam, and it’s up to Winnie to get to the core of the truth—before the real killer puts the squeeze on her . . .

I enjoyed visiting Blossom Valley, Virginia and the Smythe Orchards again. It sounds like such an idilic setting. I grew up surrounded by orchards so I could easily picture it in my mind.  Winnie Montgomery is relate-able, smart and very likeable and I like how she lives on by her grandmother (Granny Smythe) on Smythe Orchard. I loved the assortment of characters like Granny, Dot her bff , Granny’s bff Delilah and who can resist a couple of orange rescue kittens and now a fainting goat! I also loved the chemistry between Winnie and Colton.  I have always been on team Colton but now I really want to know what happens next...

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and there are plenty of twists and turns in this story. Kept me guessing till the very end.  We find out some things from Coltons past that brings us to the cliffhanger! Now I am anxiously waiting for book 3 to come out!

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery loving friends!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books, the Author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Stolen Letter by Paige Shelton

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “The Stolen Letter” by Paige Shelton the 5th instalment in the "Scottish Bookshop Mystery" series. I really enjoy this series and have bought the previous books.

Delaney Nichols is confident she’s doing what she loves—case in point, just one day after returning from her fabulous European honeymoon, she’s eager to get back to the Cracked Spine, the bookstore where she works. But as she disembarks her bus and hurries toward the shop she and another woman collide, sending a stack of books the woman is carrying to the ground.

Delaney’s hapless victim’s name is Mary, and the two women can’t help but notice that they bear an uncanny resemblance to one another. According to Mary, they both also look like the long-beheaded Mary Queen of Scots. Even stranger, Mary believes she is the reincarnation of the Scottish queen. But peculiar as Delaney’s doppelganger is, she doesn’t have time to dwell on it: on her arrival to the bookshop, she learns the Edinburgh city council wants to close the Cracked Spine, citing code violations, and she’s determined to stop them.

But when Mary’s husband dies in a car explosion—and Delaney learns he was the very member of city council who proposed that the city take a closer look at the bookshop’s construction—she starts to wonder if her meeting with Mary wasn’t an accident. Edinburgh has become as filled with intrigue and deception as any European court, and Delaney is determined to get to the bottom of this royal
mystery.

The Stolen Letter is the 5th book in the Scottish Book Shop Mystery series. Once again I was transported to Edinburgh, Scotland and the Cracked Spine book shop. The story is full of quirky characters, a beautiful setting, and an interesting plot. I liked how this time we were exploring the idea of past lives, as with Delaney I’m not a non believer.

There are several possible murderers, and kept me guessing for quite a while. I was drawn into this story right away and did not want to put it down, even if my eyes were drooping and my kindle smacking me.

Overall, I found it to be a very entertaining read that made me long to visit Scotland and read more on Mary Queen of Scots. I highly recommend this to my fellow mystery lovers.

My Rating

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Tents, Trails and Turmoil By Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “Tents, Trails and Turmoil” by Tonya Kappes the 11th instalment in the " Camper and Criminals Mystery" series. I really enjoy this series and look forward to visiting Normal and the Laundry Club ladies. 

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. 

Mae West knows tourism and nothing stops tourists like a dead body found in the Daniel Boone National Park.

Unfortunately, Yaley Woodard, a local tour guide, is found dead at Happy Trails Campground. Mae is determined to put her amateur sleuth skills to investigate along with the help of the Laundry Club gals.

But when Yaley's past ends up being tied to forest trails and local Joel Grassel, Mae realizes Yaley's death has caused much more turmoil than she'd originally thought - and the killer might want to close the tourism in the Daniel Boone National Park for good.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in two sittings . It was entertaining, full of humour, lots of twists.  There were plenty of suspects, the killer did cross my mind once but then I said nah so the ending was a surprise and I love the hero of the story!  

As always if I need an escape for a few hours, I know if I pick up one of Tonyas books I will find myself immersed in friendship, humour and a whole lot of mystery. I always have that feel good feeling after reading the books and who wouldn’t want that.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

A Crafter Quilts a Crime by Holly Quinn

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “A Crafter Quilts a Crime” by Holly Quinn the 3rd instalment in the A Handcrafted Mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Community Craft proprietor Sammy Kane must piece together a patchwork of clues when a "live" mannequin ends up stone-cold dead.

Snowcapped pines and glittery dusted sidewalks adorn tranquil Heartsford, Wisconsin, while residents cuddle beneath heirloom quilts in front of cozy wood fires. But come the next day, the below-zero temperatures won't keep the locals away from Heartsford's annual Fire & Ice event. To boost customer traffic at Community Craft's one-night-only sale, Samantha "Sammy" Kane persuades a few of the craftspeople who sell their wares at the store to participate in a live mannequin window display contest.

Local quilter Wanda Wadsworth emerges as a favorite to win the contest, as she manages to not move a muscle for an unusual amount of time. Onlookers outside the window try everything to get her to crack--tapping on the glass and making funny faces--but nothing disrupts Wanda's stillness. When the eagle-eyed spectators realize Wanda isn't breathing, a blanket of grief and fear descends upon the wintry town.

Detective Liam Nash can't seem to piece the clues together. Fortunately, Sammy's cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie, are on hand to reconvene their detective team, S.H.E. They set out to solve Wanda's untimely death before the case grows as icy as a sub-zero Wisconsin winter. But they are all too aware that the killer is too close for comfort.

Being a crafter I love a mystery that has a crafty theme, and this is what originally drew me to first read this series by Holly Quinn.  I haven’t tried quilting but that did not stop me from enjoying this story. I loved the cover too.

I like the Protagonist Samantha “Sammy” Kane  and her besties Heidi and Ellie who complete the S.H.E. (Sammy-Heidi-Ellie) “detective agency” from their childhood.  The characters are well developed and very likeable, and who doesn't love a golden retriever named “Bara".  I love the craft group (had my own group of crafty ladies once) and how their relationships/friendships were.  True to cozy form there were quirky characters and i loved the small town setting of Heartsford, Wisconsin.

There are plenty of red herrings, twists, turns to keep me wanting to find out what will happen next. 

I cant wait for the 4th instalment in this series, I highly recommend this to cozy lovers.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

What Holds Us Together by Sandi Ward

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing “What Holds Us Together” by Sandi Ward. First off the cover is what got me to take a chance on reading this book and I wasn’t disappointed. If you enjoy heartfelt books about family, love, and loss then you will enjoy this book.

They say that cats don’t like change. But Luna, an imaginative tabby, understands that sometimes it’s necessary. When her owner, Annika, moved back to her small New England hometown six months ago along with her sixteen-year-old twins, Luna knew it was for the best. Ever since Annika’s husband, Peter, died suddenly, the family has been floundering. Luna, too, is guilt-ridden, sure she could have done more to save her favorite person. Luna also knows something the others don’t know. Peter’s spirit is still with them, and Luna believes there is something he needs her help to do . . .

Annika has been struggling to move on. It doesn’t help that her son, Donovan, blames her for his father’s death. Peter always told Annika that they had the best love story going, yet the fact is that much of their story has been hidden away, even from their children. When Annika’s first love, Sam, arrives to plow them out during an intensifying storm, the truth begins to emerge at last. And Luna—watchful and unwavering in her affection—may be her family’s best hope of learning how to forgive and to heal . . .

Their furbaby Luna helps the family through their loss of husband/father and holds them together while they process their grief and heal. Luna tells the story of his death through her eyes and how it affected the family as well as her own feelings of guilt.

I found it to be told with care and respect for what a family of teens go through after a parents death. Having lost my father as an adult I can only imagine the pain of losing one as a teen.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Shredding the Evidence by Daryl Wood Gerber

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Shredding the Evidence” by Daryl Wood Gerber the 9th instalment in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this series.

The denizens of Crystal Cove are salivating over the upcoming Food Bowl Week, when local chefs offer some of their best and most imaginative creations in bite-size portions all over town. Bookstore proprietor Jenna Hart is hungry to sample as many of the delicacies as she can, but when she stumbles onto the dead body of a local food reporter and learns that her best friend’s husband is the primary suspect, she’ll have to summon the appetite for a side dish of sleuthing to prove his innocence.

Jenna knows the ambitious and aggressive reporter, who was strangled at a fitness center with her shredded restaurant reviews scattered around her, left behind a long list of potential suspects. As she begins piecing together the scant clues, she uncovers illicit ties between the victim and a local newspaper owner, a spurned would-be lover, and a host of disgruntled restaurant owners not a bit torn up by the critical reporter’s demise. And with a solution so close she can almost taste it, Jenna turns up the heat on the culprit, realizing too late that she’s the next course on the murderer’s menu . . .

Includes tasty recipes!

This is only the 3rd book I have read in the series and it will not be my last. I hope to read the earlier instalments one day soon, I have slowly been buying them. One thing I do like is the list of characters listed in the beginning as a quick reference.

I like Jenna as the protagonist she is realistic, relatable and I love Tigger the marmalade cat. The authors descriptions of the Food Bowl and Crystal Cove had me picturing myself walking down the streets enjoying all the aromas and appetizers. I have an uncle who was editor for a small town newspaper so understood Eugenes struggle with keeping the Crystal Cove newspaper going in today’s digital world.

As for the mystery it was full of twists, and a few turns which kept me guessing. Overall this was a very enjoyable read, especially if you’re a foodie.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Diva Spices It Up by Krista Davis

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “The Diva Spices It Up” the 13th instalment in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis.

She's a young Martha Stewart...in Old Town Virginia! 

When a celebrity ghostwriter dies on the job, it's up to Sophie Winston, Old Town, Virginia's favorite entertaining expert and sporadic sleuth, to whip up an impromptu investigation...

Sophie never considered ghostwriting as a side gig, until former actress and aspiring lifestyle guru, Tilly Stratford, trophy wife of Wesley Winthrope, needs someone to write her celebrity cookbook. Sophie agrees, hoping she'll earn enough bread on this assignment to finish her bathroom renovations. But as it turns out, Sophie isn't the first foodie to get a taste for recipe ghostwriting, and if the marginalia are any indication, this project could be a killer...

Wesley claims professional ghostwriter, Abby Bergeron, suddenly abandoned Tilly's cookbook with no warning. But Sophie quickly discovers that Abby may be more ghost than writer now...and her disappearance was no accident. So Sophie cracks open a fresh investigation but sifting the seasoned murderer from this sampling of salty suspects won't be easy. Will Sophie savor another case closed or will the culprit simply melt away?

This is the third book I have read in the domestic diva mystery series by Krista Davis. Even though I haven't read all the earlier books I was able to follow along, so this can be read as a stand alone book.

I really like Sophie, she is relatable, interesting and I love her relationship with her ex Mars as well as several other residents of Old Town. I was drawn into the story right away and couldn't put the book down. It had lots of twists and turns to keep me guessing till the very end. 

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery loving friends.

My rating 

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Diva Sweetens the Pie by Krista Davis

Hello my cozy friends,

I don’t know how I missed posting my review here on the blog but I did..
Below is my review of  “The Diva Sweetens the Pie” by Krista Davis.


The Diva Sweetens the Pie by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I have read in the domestic diva mystery series, but not the first book by Krista Davis as I love her Paws and Claws series. Even though I hadn't read the earlier books I was able to follow along, so this can be read as a stand alone book.

Nothing heats up Old Town quite like the annual Pie Festival, and this year is no exception, especially since Sophie’s professional rival, Natasha Smith, is barred from participating. Sophie, meanwhile, has been asked to oversee the pie eating contest. But the drama really rolls out when celebrity judge, Patsy Lee Presley, host of television’s most popular cooking show, bites the crust during the competition, and Sophie’s friends are suspected of the crime.

I was drawn into the story right away and couldn't put the book down. It had lots of twist and turn, plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing till the very end. I liked the characters and how they were there for each other.

I can't wait to read the other 11 Domestic Diva mysteries !

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery loving friends.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

View all my reviews

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua By Rose Pressey

Hello my cozy friends,

I have always been a big fan of Rose Pressey from her “Mystic Cafe” series and “A Haunted Vintage Mystery” series.  Her new series A Haunted Craft Fair is just as much fun to read.

Today I am reviewing ”Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua” the 2nd instalment in the A Haunted Craft Fair series.

There’s a killer in the picture . . .

Celeste Cabot has a flair for painting—and a touch of paranormal talent too. She’s just arrived to sell her artwork at a big craft fair in North Carolina, complete with rides, games, and deep-fried everything. But the sunny landscape takes on a darker hue when her Chihuahua, Van Gogh, leads her to the riverbank—and to a body that was definitely not part of her design.

With help from a handsome fellow artist, Celeste sets out to draw the brazen killer onto her canvas. She’ll need to balance the victim’s past, a suspected love triangle, and a long-ago accident—and also consult with a medium and a spirit—to try to paint a murderous fiend into a corner . . .

Includes tips and recipes!

I like Celeste she is fun and who wouldn’t love Van the Chihuahua!  Plus we can’t forget her family now there’s a hoot and a half.  Once again I was drawn in from the very beginning. We visit with Madame Gerard, the medium again and both Caleb and Pierce are on the scene to solve the murder and via for Celeste. (I do hope the love triangle is resolved in book 3) 

The mystery was well written with plenty of twists and turns and had a steady pace. I suspected but didn’t fully figure out whodunit until it was revealed at the end.

I’m looking forward to the 3rd instalment MURDER CAN HAUNT YOUR HANDIWORK !

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to all my friends who love a bit of paranormal in their cozies and any fan of Rose Pressey.

I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin