Book Review: The Money Pit (Barkside of the Moon) by Renee George

The Money Pit is the second book in the Barkside of the Moon series by Renee George. I had not read the first book, but George did such a great job of dropping in important information about the first book that I felt like I had. 

Cougar-shifter Lily Mason is trying hard to live as a human in Moonrise, Missouri. But renting a garage apartment from Parker Knowles, her boss at the Pit Bull Rescue Shelter, is making it difficult to keep her secret. Lily makes an offer on a “fixer-upper” with a checkered past and begins work on getting the place ready for her and her dog Smooshie. The sweet pitbull proves primed for demolition when she scratches a hole in a wall and yanks out a human bone. The investigation brings Lily unwanted attention from the local police chief who has an ax to grind and a murderer desperate to keep the past in the past. Lily needs Smooshie and Parker more than ever if she wants to keep her secret and prevent another killing! 

The Money Pit is a charming mystery with great characters. I enjoyed Lily's character, she is smart and strong with secrets she needs to keep, and innate skills that lead to her knowing other people's secrets. I loved the animals, Smooshie and Elvis were special characters all their own. I think the mystery was well formed and kept me guessing through the book. I was certainly surprised with a couple twists, but in a good way. I greatly enjoyed the read, and will be checking out the other books from George as time allows. The writing style and character development made me happy, and the other authors mentioned in the acknowledgements are some of my favorite in the genre, so that could be part of the feel. 

The Money Pit is a fun, fast paced cozy mystery for dog lovers and mystery fans alike. Rich characters and a unique small town come together for a highly entertaining read. In fact, I bought and downloaded the first book after reading this one, not because I needed the background information, but because I loved the characters so much I wanted more.

Book Review: Elementary She Read (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop) by Vicki Delany

Elementary, She Read is the first book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series by Vicki Delany. Gemma Doyle, a transplanted Englishwoman, co owns and manages her Great Uncle Arthur's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium in the quaint town of West London on Cape Cod. The shop--located at 222 Baker Street--specializes in the Holmes canon and pastiche, and is also the home of Moriarty the cat. When Gemma finds a rare and potentially valuable magazine containing the first Sherlock Homes story hidden in the bookshop, she and her friend Jayne (who runs the adjoining Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room) set off to find the owner, only to stumble upon a dead body. The highly perceptive Gemma is the police’s first suspect, so she puts her consummate powers of deduction to work to clear her name, investigating a handsome rare books expert, the dead woman's suspiciously unmoved son, and a whole family of greedy characters desperate to cash in on their inheritance. But when Gemma and Jayne accidentally place themselves at a second murder scene, it's a race to uncover the truth before the detectives lock them up for good.

Elementary, She Read is a fun and entertaining read. While managing a Sherlock Holmes themed book shop Gemma thinks much like the fictional detective. She is intelligent, but like most Sherlock based characters is lacking in social graces, which makes her life both highly entertaining and occasionally cringe worthy. I liked  the spirit and execution of the character. I also enjoyed the flighty nature of her great uncle, and her enduring friendship with the forthright Jayne. The mystery is well built, with several layers and twists, some of which were completely unexpected and others that were emotional satisfying. I really enjoy the read, and want to read more about Gemma, and her fellow residents of West London.

Elementary, She Read is a solid beginning to a series, and I am interested in the characters and the town. I think Sherlock fans, of all eras, and cozy or hobby mystery fans will enjoy the read as much as I did. I look forward to seeing where Gemma goes from here.

Book Review: Brew or Die by Caroline Fardig

Brew or Die by Caroline Fardig is the fourth book in the Jave Jive series.  The Previous books were Death Before Decaf, Mug Shot, and A Whole Latte Murder. While newcomers might still enjoy the mystery, I think those that have read the series in order will get much more enjoyment from the read. 

Inspired by her past sleuthing successes, Juliet Langley has officially joined the ranks of Nashville’s licensed private investigators. Her best friend, Pete Bennett, doesn’t worry that her detective work might interfere with her full-time job running his coffeehouse, Java Jive. He just wishes she would spend her free time rejoining the local music scene instead of tailing cheating spouses. But when one of Java Jive’s baristas, Shane, asks Juliet to look into the suspicious death of his fiancée, Pete encourages her to plow full steam ahead. Since his fiancée died on the job, Shane suspects that her party-planning colleagues are up to something criminal—and will do anything to keep it quiet. After Juliet recruits Pete to go undercover with her at a wedding showcase, she discovers that white lace and black satin have a way of hiding big, fat secrets. If that weren’t enough to fill her plate, her latest P.I. job has her crossing paths with her ex, Detective Ryder Hamilton. They’re barely on speaking terms, but to solve the case, they might have to cooperate. No matter where Juliet goes, she’s brewing up trouble.

Brew or Die has the same feel, and some of the same troubles as the previous books in the series. I still like Juliet and all of her neurosis. I like her confidence, intelligence, and willingness to help others. I like that she is just as flawed and occasionally insecure as any real person- especially when it comes to her relationships. That being said, I am over the tension between her and Pete, and would love to see that fade away a bit more- especially with Ryder trying to get himself back into the story. I also like that Juliet has enough self awareness to realize that she is not always making the smartest choice, and is willing to own her own choices and mistakes. I liked the level of danger and mystery- and the character interactions, particularly with Juliet and Ryder. A fast, fun read that offered a few surprises along the way. 

Brew or Die is a fun continuation of the series, with just as much intrigue, danger, and troubled in relationships as fans have come to expect. The result is a quick, entertaining read. 

Book Review: Dead and Breakfast (Merry Ghost Inn #1) by Kate Kingsbury

Dead and Breakfast is the first book in the Merry Ghost Inn series  by Kate Kingsbury. Melanie West is getting her life back on track after a messy divorce when her grandmother, Liza Harris, asks her to open a B&B with her. Together, Liza and Melanie purchase a purportedly haunted mansion on the Oregon coast and jump right into clearing out the cobwebs. But while attempting to remove wallpaper in an upstairs bedroom, the new B&B owners stumble upon a very real skeleton in their closet. The police suspect the skeleton is that of the wife of the previous owner of the B&B, but no one in town seems to want to say much about her. As the inn owners try to juggle renovations with their own amateur investigations, their grand opening looms closer and closer--and a friendly ghost in their walls starts playing tricks. But it all comes crashing to a halt when a new body is found stabbed to death on the beach below the inn--the victim chillingly close in resemblance to Melanie herself. It seems someone doesn't appreciate newcomers prying into the small town's past, and now it's up to Melanie and Liza to get to the bottom of these murders to save their business and their lives.

Dead and Breakfast is a cozy mystery with lots of charm. Melanie is getting her life back on track, with the help of her grandmother. They are working hard together on the venture of remodeling and running a bed and breakfast. As you might imagine, things do not go quite as planned. I liked that our main characters never really wallow in the delays and problems those delays bring to them. Instead they work on making the changes and put in the effort necessary to help themselves. I also like that while the possibility of future romance, and the threatening ex-husband make an appearance- the guys are really a minor part of the story. It is more about the character development and setting building needed for a series starter, and the murder mystery at hand. I still think my favorite part of the story was the inclusion of the dog, while it could be seen as a little trite, it worked with the story and character development so much that it worked. I liked the combination of independence, intelligence, and vulnerability in both Melanie and Liza and look forward to what every mysteries await them in the future.

Dead and Breakfast is a fun and entertaining read, and a series that I am likely to continue. I liked the characters and the set up, and think there is room for many interesting adventures and character growth in the future. 

Book Review: Deader Homes and Gardens by Angie Fox

Deader Homes and Gardens by Angie Fox is the fourth book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery series. The previous books, in order, were Southern Spirits, The Skeleton in the Closet, and The Haunted Heist with novellas between each book. I think the previous stories help to understand Verity's powers and some character dynamics. However, I think newcomers could catch up quickly and enjoy the story.

Southern belle Verity Long is back in business—as a ghost hunter. Now all she has to do is visit the town's creepiest mansion and exorcise a family of vengeful spirits. Piece of cake. After all, ghosts love her and need her...that is until she meets the ghosts of Rock Fall mansion. They'll do anything to keep their murderous secrets hidden within the cliff-side fortress—even if that means getting rid of one meddling ghost hunter. With the entire town skeptical and scrutinizing her every move, Verity struggles to uncover the century-old mystery behind the house. And when she stumbles upon a very fresh, very dead body, she realizes there’s more to it than she ever imagined. With the help of her sexy cop boyfriend, Ellis, and her ghostly gangster sidekick, Frankie, she braves the overgrown gardens, the desolate family cemetery, and the haunted mansion that have been locked away for generations.

Deader Homes and Gardens puts Verity and her ghostly partner Frankie back in the thick of a mystery. This time there are angry ghosts (yes again), Egyptian artifacts, and the possibility of an ancient curse. As Verity tries to solve the murders of an entire family, and avoid being killed by those same ghosts, Frankie is looking for more independence and Verity and Ellis are still trying to find their feet as a happy couple. I like that romance between Verity and Ellis is part of the story, and her character development, it does not overwhelm the story around the mystery or Frankie's own troubles. I liked the complication involved in the mystery- long assumed haunted house steeped in tragedy and odd happenings is the main focus of the story. Verity, Ellis, and Frankie all have their roles to play and I like that they each give each other the trust and space to do what they need to while being true to themselves. I will admit to seeing some of the final climax coming, but the journey was good fun and I enjoyed the read.

Deader Homes and Gardens is another fun, fast read by Fox. While it was not something that will stick with me after moving onto the next read, it certainly made what was hopefully the last snow day of the year more entertaining than expected.

Book Review: Graveyard Shift by Casey Daniels

Graveyard Shift is the tenth book in the Pepper Martin series by Casey Daniels. I have read several of these books, but somehow missed the last three, but feel like I was able to catch up pretty quickly. I do not suggest going into the series cold, but if you missed a few I think you will still be able to fully enjoy the story. 

Pepper Martin, now Community Relations Director of Garden View Cemetery, is contacted by the ghost of Eliot Ness, one of Cleveland’s most famous dearly departed. According to Ness, the ashes scattered at the ceremony twenty years earlier weren’t his. His were stolen prior to the ceremony by a Ness groupie, and he cannot rest until those ashes are found. Luckily, Pepper has an idea where they may be. Knowing she’ll have no peace until she does what the ghost wants, Pepper travels across town to retrieve the ashes. When she gets there, though, she finds more – and less – than she bargained for. There is a dead body in the house and Eliot Ness’s ashes have vanished. Pepper sets out to solve the murder of the man in the house where the ashes were supposed to be. But when a mysterious package arrives for Pepper, containing the spirit of Al Capone, and her boyfriend Quinn begins acting strange, things go from bad to worse.

Graveyard Shift is another installment of the Pepper Martin series, and offers few surprises. I missed a couple books- and so missed some of the relationship development between Pepper and Quinn. However, I think I was able to catch up quickly as far as that goes. I had missed the reintroduction of her parents too, that took me a bit longer to get used to. I liked the larger mystery- getting to delve into a gangster related mystery again was fun, even of we were on the right side of the law this time around. My most common complaint with cozy mysteries is when I expect a big twist long before it is revealed, and that did happen here. However, there was also the introduction of new characters with personalities and implications I was not expecting. I liked the pace of the mystery, and the danger Pepper finds herself in. I think the story offers good entertainment, and I was thinking about what would need to happen next when I had to put the book down to deal with necessities (like feeding my family) but overall it was not as enthralling as I had hoped for.

Graveyard Shift is a quick read that offers followers of the series exactly what they expect, and are looking for. It was a entertaining read, but nothing that stood out to me in a genre that I have been reading more and more. It was fun, and a nice diversion- but did not stay with me after I finished. 

Book Review: Unlucky Charms By Linda O. Johnston

Unlucky Charms is the third book in the Superstition Mystery series by Linda O. Johnston. I did not read the first two books, Lost Under a Ladder and Knock on Wood but feel like I was able to catch up pretty quickly with the characters and small town atmosphere.

Rory Chasen, manager of the Lucky Dog Boutique in Destiny, California, hopes her new line of good-luck doggy toys will be a hit, especially the stuffed rabbits with extra-large feet. The timing of the line’s debut proves ill-fated, though, as several local shops—including Rory’s—are ransacked and vandalized with spilled salt and other unlucky charms.The most likely culprit is disgruntled real estate agent Flora Curtival, whose issues with the town give her a motive. But after Flora is murdered and one of Rory’s toy rabbits is found with the body, Rory needs all the luck she can get while trying to determine just who killed the superstitious vandal.

Unlucky Charms is a book with play of mystery, and for those that have read the previous books, some interesting character development. Not having read the earlier books I found the quicks of the town and Rory's relationships to be a bit flat or odd. I like that the mystery was more complex than I expected, but I did to like that Rory seemed to be as uncertain about her life and the mysteries that she was trying to solve as the reader. I did like that I was surprised with the identity of Flora's killer- even though I had my concerns about that character's story. However, it felt like Rory was more surprised than I was. I like a main character that is at least a little more clever than I, and definitely more entertaining. I think I could be friends with Rory, but she never really brought the book to the level that I was looking for. It was a good read- but it never really captured me. 

Unlucky Charms is an interesting mystery, with lots of surprises for the reader. If you liked the previous books in the series then you are likely to enjoy this one as well. However, it was not fantastic, and did not make me want to go bad and read the previous books. It was good, but unfortunately not enough to garner a new fan. 

Book Review: Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghoustbusting Agency by Kitty French

Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghoustbusting Agency is the first book in a series by Kitty French. Life’s tough for Melody Bittersweet. She’s single, addicted to sugar and super heroes, her family are officially bonkers, and she sees dead people. Is it any wonder no-one’s swiping right on Tinder? Waking up lonely on her twenty seventh birthday, Melody finally snaps. She can’t carry on basing all of her life decisions on the advice of her magic 8 ball; things have got to change. Fast forward two months, and she’s now the proud proprietor of her very own ghostbusting agency - kind of like in the movies but without the dodgy white jumpsuits. She’s also flirting with her ex Leo Dark, fraternising with her enemy in alleyways, and she’s somehow ended up with a pug called Lestat. Life just went from dull to dynamite and it’s showing no sign of slowing up anytime soon. Melody’s been hired to clear Scarborough House of its incumbent ghosts, there’s the small matter of a murder to solve, and then there’s the two very handsome, totally inappropriate men hoping to distract her from the job.

Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghoustbusting Agency was a quick read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Melody has a wacky family, that wants the best for her but has their own ideas on what that might be.Once she gets her new job up and running. A conflict with the ex boyfriend,  a handsome ghost, and an old murder mystery make Melody's effort to secure her first paying job as a ghost removal service is off to an interesting start. I really enjoyed the wacky secondary characters and the complexity of the mystery and danger that Melody finds herself embroiled in. While it certainly was a cozy mystery, there was enough danger that I was worried a few times for the safety of our main players. I liked that the book offered a clear resolution for the characters, rather than leaving readers hanging until the next book, while leaving enough possibilities for future craziness and chaos that I want to see what happens next. A nearly perfect balance, and one that is hard to write.

Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghoustbusting Agency is a fun cozy. mystery with a ghostly bent. I liked the characters and that it was complex while still being lots of fun. I do believe that I wil keeping my eye it for the continuation of this series.

Book Review: Deadly Dog Days (Dog Days Mystery) by Jamie M. Blair

Deadly Dog Days is the first book in the Dog Days Mystery series by  Jamie M. Blair.

New to the historic town of Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman is looking to make friends with her neighbors. What she isn’t looking for is one of their bodies floating in the canal. When she and her estranged husband, the town sheriff, are both named suspects for the murder, Cameron takes solving the crime into her own hands, teaming up with her eccentric co-workers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency. As if hunting for a murderer with two high school geniuses, the town drunk, and an elderly kleptomaniac isn’t hard enough, Cameron adopts the five mangy guard dogs of her deceased neighbor. But maybe a stint at playing gatekeeper is just what she needs to come face-to-face with the killer and save another neighbor from being the next victim.

Deadly Dog Days is a cozy mystery with all the expected elements. There is a small town with plenty of eccentric characters, a main character with relationship troubles and a penchant for getting into trouble, and of course a dead body. Cameron is our amateur sleuth, who stumbles across the dead body or a younger lady- who is rumored to be dating her estranged husband. I like that Cameron is around my age- approaching 40 aware of her limitations and her skill set. she is not in the stage of trying to figure out who she is, but is still working on where she fits into a town that is still fairly new to her. Her not quite ex-husband Ben does not get much play in the story- even though he is important to it. Readers get glimpses at the backstory of Cam and Ben, but there is plenty of missing information to be filled in later. I did like that the relationship issues had there role to play in the story but did not overwhelm the murder mystery and character information readers get about the secondary characters. The author did a good job of balancing priorities in a reasonably realistic way. I thought the personalities of the animals- both dogs and mysterious cat, were fun and well done. It added an extra layer of fun to the story that I appreciated. I think the Mother in law being crazy aspect was fairly well done, though a little trite. It worked, but could have been a little less expected.

Deadly Dog Days is the start of an intriguing cozy mystery series. I am interested to see where is goes, and to watching the characters in the small town interact more in future books. There is no information on when this might happen on Goodreads or Amazon yet.

Book Review: The Book Club Murders by Leslie Nagel

The Book Club Murders is the first book in the Oakwood Mystery series by Leslie Nagel. Charley Carpenter has poured heart and soul into her clothing store, Old Hat Vintage Fashions. She’ll do anything to make it a success, even join the stuffy Agathas Book Club in order to cultivate customers among Oakwood, Ohio’s wealthy elite. Although mixing with the most influential women in town has its advantages, Charley finds the endless gossip a high price to pay. But after two women with close ties to the Agathas are brutally murdered, everyone falls under threat—and suspicion. When key evidence indicates that both murders are the work of the same hand, Charley realizes that the killer has arranged each corpse in perfect imitation of crime scenes from the Club’s murder mystery reading list. She uses her membership in the Club to convince Detective Marcus Trenault to use her as an inside informant. Not that he could stop her anyway.

The Book Club Murders is a solid opening to a cozy mystery series. I will admit that there were a couple times that I felt like there was a previous book out there, but author quickly gave me the character building that I needed to fill in the blanks. I enjoyed the main characters Charley, partly because we share the distaste for schmoozing and dressing up. She is a smart, witty character and I liked her strong friendships with two important secondary characters. I thought the angst between her and Marcus was a odd though it was eventually explained. I still found it not completely understandable- at least in the path it took. I thought the mystery was very well done, as was the danger to Charley and her friends. There were some real surprises along the way and I enjoyed the majority of the ride. It was not perfect, but it has enough going for it that I will be picking up the second installment, The Antique House Murders, which is schedule for release in May of 2017.



The Book Club Murders is the start of what promises to be a fun cozy mystery series. I like the setting and character build up here, and hope the series only gets better from here. 

Book Review: Dangling by a Thread (Mainely Needlepointers) by Lea Wait

Dangling by a Thread by Lea Wait is the fourth book in the Mainely Needlepointers mystery series. I have not read the previous books, but feel like I was able to jump right in and fully enjoy the mystery. Hermit Jesse Lockhart lives alone on King's Island, three miles east of Haven Harbor, Maine, where he's created a private sanctuary for the endangered Great Cormorants. But when a wealthy family wants to buy the island and Jesse's cousin Simon petitions for power of attorney to force him to sell, Jesse is the one who becomes endangered. Mainely Needlepointer Dave Perry, who befriended Jesse in the VA hospital, rallies the group to his defense. Angie Curtis and the ravelers stitch “Save the King's Island Cormorants” pillows and sell T-shirts to pay for Jesse’s legal counsel. But tragically, on a visit to the island, Angie finds Jesse dead. Now the search is on for a common thread that can tie the murdered man to his killer.

Dangling by a Thread is a fast, exciting read with complex characters. Angie is still getting used to living alone since her grandmother has gotten married and moved out of the house they shared. She is also getting used to running the Mainely Needlepointers business that she has taken over. When she sees an odd stranger come to town she begins an adventure that will lead her to discover more about threatened birds and murder. Jesse, the stranger, is a veteran that has taken on the mission of protecting the Great Cormorant’s nesting ground on an island he owns with a cousin. The fact that it allows him the isolation he craves is a bonus. When the purchase of the island is proposed it begins a spiral of stress, uncertainty, and eventually murder. I like that the mystery is more involved than it seems, and that while there are hints and clues through out the story I was not positive that I was right in who was involved until the very end, and that the last couple twists were slightly different than I expected. This is a fun weekend read tat kept me interested and entertained. 

Dangling by a Thread is a solid cozy mystery that hints at past and future romance but never loses focus on the mystery and character connections. I liked the characters and the well constructed mystery. I just might pick up the earlier books in the series just to see how Angie came to be who and where she is.

Book Review: Death by Pumpkin Spice (Bookstore Cafe #3) by Alex Erickson

Death by Pumpkin Spice is the third book in the Bookstore Cafe series by Alex Erickson. I have not read the two previous books, but think I caught up to the important action pretty quickly. If I had read the other books I would have had a better understanding of the characters and their relationships. 

Bookstore café owner Krissy Hancock would rather spend Halloween serving pumpkin goodies than wearing costumes with Pine Hills’ wealthiest at Yarborough mansion, especially when the soiree shapes up to be more trick than treat, but a date with Will Foster just might be worth it.  A run-in with an old flame, a failed marriage proposal, and a woman is found strangled to death in a room filled with ominous jack-o’-lanterns are just the start of an eventful evening. All signs suggest a crime of passion—but when the hostess’s jewelry disappears, malevolent intentions seem way more likely.  With the estate on lock down and a killer roaming the halls, Krissy must help Officer Paul Dalton investigate each nook, cranny, and guest for answers—while also confronting a few demons of her own. Someone has lots of skeletons in the closet, and Krissy better tread lightly to expose them

Death by Pumpkin Spice is more than the typical cozy mystery. There are the quirky and fun characters that I expect (and loved) and more crimes and twists than I had hoped for. Since I have not read the previous books I did not have the previous knowledge of the relationship dynamics between Krissy and her co-workers, Paul, Will, the ex, and other characters. I really enjoyed the Agatha Christie style set up and the wacky nature of the house. I liked that Krissy is socially awkward and uncomfortable in the social circle she is thrown into here. I thought the mystery was well done, and had just enough red herrings and odd twists to keep me interested without being overwhelming. My only real issue with the read is Krissy's inner dialogue about the virtues of both Will and Paul. I could understand it to a point, it explained how they all ended up there and gave an extra dramatic element, but I think there was just too much of her mental waffling between the two when no one was actually pushing her to make a decision or make a move.

Death by Pumpkin Spice is a entertaining read that is full of twists and turns. There is more going on than I expect from a cozy mystery, and the characters and action kept me guessing throughout. My only issue was the almost- but not quite- love triangle. 

Early Book Review: A Grave Prediction by Victoria Laurie

A Grave Prediction by Victoria Laurie is the fourteenth book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series. The latest installment is scheduled for release on July 26 2016. I have read several books in this series, but have not come close to reading them all. I think readers that have at least read a few will catch up quickly with the main character and her little group of secondary characters, however even newcomers will be able to enjoy the read.

Professional psychics learn to deal with skeptics, but Abby has to prepare herself for one steep uphill battle when she’s sent to San Diego to help train FBI officers to use their intuition. Her first challenge: a series of bank robberies in which the thieves made off with loads of cash but left no clues. Abby’s sixth sense leads her team to a tract of land recently cleared for development. But instead of finding clues to the cash, Abby gets a vision of four buried bodies. A site search turns up some bones and pottery from an American Indian tribe, but that’s still enough to delay construction for years. With a furious developer and dubious FBI agents on her back, Abby is losing credibility fast. But unlike the best laid plans, Abby’s talent rarely leads her astray. And if the bodies aren’t there yet, that means that four deaths can still be stopped. She’ll just have to dig a little deeper. 

A Grave Prediction offers what I expect from Laurie, complex characters, a solid mystery, and some humor tossed in for fun. The fact that Abby faces new challenges with the same lack of enthusiasm that most of us might, she also does what she has to do and does her best. Despite the psychic powers and intuition she wields, she is still relatable and a sympathetic character. I like that Abby and her best friend really work together well and that Abby plays to her strengths. And while the title of the book does offer a pretty big hint as to what happens here, I like that Abby is still getting some surprises and changes to her powers as the story continues on. The dual mystery was well woven, and while I might have guessed the culprit of the bank robberies fairly early on, the murder mystery and how that was resolved was very nicely done and left me very satisfied.

A Grave Prediction is a fast and fun read. Fans of Laurie’s series will enjoy this addition. 

Book Review: The Haunted Heist (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #3) by Angie Fox

The Haunted Heist is the third book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series by Angie Fox. The first two books are Southern Spirits and The Skeleton in the Closet. While it is better to read the books in order, there are enough mentions of important past events that readers can catch up quickly. Although, it is such a fun, quirky series that I do recommend reading them all. 

Just because she can see the dead doesn’t mean Verity Long wants to spend her days hunting ghosts. Instead, she is hoping to land a marketing job at the local bank, until she finds her new boss dead in the vault. Even her ghost friend, Frankie, knows that's no way to start a career. Relieved to let the police take charge, Verity steps aside, bound and determined to keep her ghost sightings to herself. But when she learns the main suspect in the murder is a very crooked, very dead mobster, Verity knows it's up to her to solve the case. She teams up with her ghostly gangster buddy Frankie, as well as the irresistible and charming Ellis, as the three of them search haunted mob hideouts, hidden passageways, and historic cemeteries for the facts behind the heist of the century—and a modern-day motive for murder. Too bad uncovering the truth could very well make Verity the next victim.

The Haunted Heist is a fun romp through a ghost infested mystery. I like that the ghosts are varied and have just as many issues as the living characters. Verity is still struggling, she is trying to make ends meet but a vindictive ex and his mother do not help, nor does the fact that she is dating said ex's brother (kinda) and is afraid to move forward with much. When she steps up with a possible job offer everything is made more complicated with getting caught up in another murder mystery and losing the hope for a paying gig any time soon. Ghostly antics, dealing with the grief, trying to free Franky, and figuring out just what is going on with her love life are all weighing heavily on her mind and driving the story. There is so much for Verity to deal with, but she keeps moving forward with determination, humor, and concern for others. This was a fun read and kept me interested and entertain through the entire read.

The Haunted Heist is a fun cozy mystery that manages to include some significant character growth, humor, and move along some aspects of the larger story that flows through the series. This was a nice, quick read to escape from reality for a weekend. 

Book Review: The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kirsten Weiss

The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kirsten Weiss is the first book in a cozy mystery series. When Maddie Kosloski’s career flatlines, she retreats to her wine-country hometown for solace and cheap rent. Railroaded into managing the local paranormal museum, she’s certain the rumors of its haunting are greatly exaggerated. But a new ghost may be on the loose. A fresh corpse in the museum, and her best friend being the prime suspect, embroils Maddie in murders past and present. With her high school bully as one of the officers in charge, Maddie doubts justice will be served. When one of her best friends is arrested, she’s certain it won’t be. Maddie grapples with ghost hunters, obsessed taxidermists, and the sexy motorcyclist next door as outside forces threaten. And as she juggles spectral shenanigans with the hunt for a killer, she discovers there truly is no place like home.


The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum is a cozy mystery without much paranormal action despite the name. Maddie had a great career, and lost it all when she refused to do something that was against her moral code. Now she cannot seem to get a nibble on her job hunt, despite her impressive resume and skills. Now, back in her home town, with her best friends and mother close by, she is struggling to figure out what is next for her. The guilt and embarrassment of not meeting the expectations of those around her, while falling into a job managing the local paranormal museum (with a little convincing from her friend). Murder, mayhem, and some seriously odd characters keep Maddie from getting bored, or from working too hard on her job search. The fact that her arch nemesis from high school is now a police officer, and has a grudge that makes proving that Maddie and her friends have nothing to do with the deaths that have the whole town on edge. However, at least Maddie has some distraction, in the form of a motorcycle shop owner that is protective, interested, and attractive.



The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum is a fun start to a series, and I need to add it to my list of books to keep an eye on. I like the characters, and have a feeling that there is more character growth and twists and turns coming as the series continues. 

Early Book Review: Mug Shot by Caroline Fardig

Mug Shot by Caroline Fardig is the second book in the Java Jive series. It is currently scheduled for release on April 19 2016. The first book was Death Before Decaf. While the character and relationship set up from the first book was important, I think new readers could catch up quickly. However, I enjoyed the first book quite a bit and highly recommend reading it, and then the series as it is published.

Former musician Juliet Langley has barely had a day off since taking over management of the coffeehouse owned by her best friend, Pete Bennett. But there's always more to be done; like prepping for the annual Holiday 5K Race organized by Pete's snobby socialite girlfriend, Cecilia Hollingsworth. This year, Java Jive has a booth right at the finish line, and since Juliet and Cecilia don't always see eye to eye, everything has to be perfect. Nothing can go wrong. Nothing, like Juliet stumbling over Cecilia's dead body on the morning of the race.  When Pete is arrested for Cecilia's murder, Juliet sets out to clear his name. She'll do whatever it takes, even if it means standing up to the police, her ex-boyfriend, and the grande dames of Nashville. But there isn't enough espresso in the world for the greatest challenge in her path: infiltrating Nashville's high society to uncover the hidden hotbed of scandal without running afoul of the law herself. With her last dime staked on Pete's bail bond and her staff growing jittery, the last thing Juliet needs is for her trademark temper to land her behind bars. As time drips away, Juliet needs to crack this case before the killer comes back for another shot.

Mug Shot is just as much fun as the first book in this series. Juliet is a tough cookie with more going on in her head than those around her expect. I like how much she cares about her friends, even when it gets her into trouble. I like her character for the most part, really like Ryder and the complications with the other police detective. I even like Pete and Stan’s character, for what they are. I will admit that the book surprised me a couple times, and had me guessing through the whole read. My only issue with the series is the constant love triangle stuff. Either give the awkward moments and hints that romance between Juliet and Pete might happen a rest, or have something happen. Not every romance need the treat of a possible other partner. I love the characters, the action, the well done mystery, and everything else, except the Pete/Juliet/Ryder questions. 

Mug Shot is a solid cozy mystery, with plenty of character development and action. I like actually being surprised by the ‘who-done-it’ and Fardig does that very well here. A solid series that I will keep on reading as I am glad to see that a third book, A Whole Latte Murder, is planned for release in November of 2016.

Book Review: Death Before Decaf (A Java Jive Mystery, #1) by Caroline Fardig

Death Before Decaf  is the first book in the Java Jive Mystery series by Caroline Fardig. After her music career crashes and burns spectacularly, Juliet Langley is forced to turn to the only other business she knows: food service. Unfortunately, bad luck strikes yet again when her two-timing fiancé robs her blind and runs off with her best waitress. Flushing what’s left of her beloved café down the toilet with her failed engagement, Juliet packs up and moves back to her college stomping grounds in Nashville to manage an old friend’s coffeehouse. At first glance, it seems as though nothing’s changed at Java Jive. What could possibly go wrong? Only that the place is hemorrhaging money, the staff is in open revolt, and Juliet finds one unlucky employee dead in the dumpster out back before her first day is even over.  The corpse just so happens to belong to the cook who’d locked horns with Juliet over the finer points of the health code. Unimpressed with her management style, the other disgruntled employees are only too eager to spill the beans about her fiery temper to the detective on the case. Add to the mix a hunky stranger who’s asking way too many questions, and suddenly Juliet finds herself in some very hot water. If she can’t simmer down and sleuth her way to the real killer, she’s going to get burned.

Death Before Decaf  is a cozy mystery that has great characters and depth, which is not always true of the genre. There is a huge backstory here, a=one that we get bits and pieces of through out the story, and which adds to the atmosphere and character development. I liked Juliet from the beginning, she has faced some serious issues in the recent past and is working hard to move on with her life and find some peace and happiness. She is a little traumatized and cautious, but when the first week of a new life includes butting heads with staff and finding a dead body, well it is understandable. I would like to find out more about Juliet’s musical past, but I expect that to come like the rest of her past as the series continues. I liked Peter, and the tension between them as well. However I have to say that there were moments when I wanted to kick them both for being blind. Even in the beginning of the story readers are well aware they love each other, and have from the beginning, but both are too stubborn or scared to do anything about it. 

Death Before Decaf  is a engaging and entertaining read. I really enjoyed it and avoided other important things like sleep or cooking dinner so that I could keep on reading. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Mug Shot, which I have a galley request in for on Netgalley so hopefully I will be reading it soon.

Book Review: Karmas a Killer by Tracy Webber

Karmas a Killer by Tracy Webber is the third book in the Downward Dog Mystery series. I have not read the previous two books in this fun cozy mystery series, but I feel like I caught up quickly. I think having read the previous books would have given me a head start in getting to know the main players, I did not feel like there were major puzzle pieces missing because of that lack.

When Seattle yoga teacher Kate Davidson agrees to teach doga (yoga for dogs) at a fundraiser for a local animal rescue, she believes the only damage will be to her reputation. But a few downward-facing dogs are the least of Kate’s problems when an animal rights protest at the event leads to a suspicious fire and a drowning. The police arrest a woman claiming to be Kate’s estranged mother and charge her with murder. To prove her innocence, Kate, boyfriend Michael, and German shepherd sidekick Bella dive deeply into the worlds of animal activism, organizational politics, and the dangerous obsessions that drive them.

Karmas a Killer is a fun but still emotionally deep mystery. Family drama, dealing with trauma and trust issues, helping animals, and so much more all play significant roles in what I was fully prepared to be light and fluffy. That is not to say that there is not plenty of fun and humor, there certainly is. However, there is also much more to it for those that like to sink in to the characters. Kate is a flawed hero, well aware of her quirks and owning her issues while still trying to face down her demons. Michael has his own issues, as do most of the people (and animals) in Kate's circle of close friends. I liked the contrast of characters, and the depth that some of the more secondary characters received in such a relatively short book. The mystery was well laid out and there was a good combination of red herrings and foreshadowing that had the characters, and myself, thinking just about anyone could have committed the crime. I was impressed in the the amount of twists and turns the story had, and where some of them tool me.

Karmas a Killer was a satisfying read, even though I had not read the previous books, I will be adding the first books to my ever expanding to be read pile. I think readers that like characters that have suffered trauma and are out there taking chances, surviving, and moving on while still being entertaining and witty will enjoy the series. 

Book Spotlight with Excerpt: Last Stop by John Pearce

"An exhilarating journey that will satisfy the most avid thriller reader" - Kirkus Reviews

SYNOPSIS

A full-throttle adventure through modern Europe and the Mediterranean ... that’s part thriller, part mystery, and all rollicking ride.

Pearce again accomplishes every thriller writer’s aim: creating characters that the readers can root for and a believable, fast-paced storyline. The climax and denouement bring the storylines together neatly, but fans will see that there may yet be room for another book in the series.

When readers last saw Eddie Grant in Treasure of Saint-Lazare (2012), he was hot on the trail of Nazi war loot in the company of his on-again, off-again lover, Jen. As readers return to Eddie’s shadowy world of undercover deals and thugs in the employ of crime bosses, they find a quieter, more mature Eddie, now married to Aurélie, a scholar of some note, and living in pleasant domestic bliss. Onto this romantic scene come several of Eddie’s friends, who alert him to suspicious activity within his social circle, involving a man with criminal intentions and an interest in gold. Shortly afterward, a mysterious murder implicates another character from Eddie’s past. As he looks into the matter, Aurélie soon finds herself in danger; at the same time, Jen reappears in Eddie’s life, and he’s simultaneously drawn to her and eager to avoid falling into bed with her again. Soon, he and his comrades must track down another ring of criminals and protect themselves from fatal retribution.

 EXCERPT

Aurélie took his arm again as they stepped off the curb. The crowd had thinned, leaving them momentarily alone in the street except for a young man in a red hoodie, dancing ahead to the beat of his own private music, a figure of grace and lightness who seemed to float a few inches above the pavement.

Halfway across, Eddie paused and turned to Aurélie for a kiss. He pulled her even closer and she turned eagerly to meet him — and glimpsed a dark sedan, headlights out, as it pulled quickly from behind a parked taxi and careened around the corner toward them. At the same moment, the taxi started to pull away and its front bumper caught the left rear door of the sedan, whose driver ignored the scream of tearing metal and tried to speed up, his front tires bucking and bouncing on the pavement. Aurélie instinctively tightened her grip on Eddie’s arm to pull him out of the street.

“Go!” she cried urgently as the car bore down. Together they took one long step before it was on them. At the last instant, Eddie pushed her forward and she landed in a heap on the curb. He almost escaped untouched, but the car’s left mirror scraped heavily across his hip. He staggered and fell next to Aurélie as she shook her head, beginning to sit up.

The sedan roared away from them at high speed and ran a red light as it turned onto Quai de la Tournelle along the Seine.

The cab driver jumped out and ran to them. “Are you OK?” he asked. “Should I call an ambulance?”

Eddie rolled slowly onto his back and moaned. Aurélie moved closer and asked, “Édouard?”

“I think I’m OK, but my butt's going to hurt,” he said. He looked down and added, “These trousers have had it, but I don’t think anything is broken. Did anybody get that bastard’s license number?"

PURCHASE

Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Website / Goodreads 

John Pearce is a part-time Parisian but lives quite happily most of the the year in Sarasota, FL. He worked as a journalist in Washington and Europe, where he covered economics for the International Herald Tribune and edited a business magazine. After a business career in Sarasota, he spends his days working on his future books - The new one, Last Stop: Paris, is a 2015 project. It is a sequel to Treasure of Saint-Lazare.

For several months each year, he and his wife Jan live in Paris, walk its streets, and chase down interesting settings for future books and his blog, PartTimeParisian.com. They lived earlier in Frankfurt, Germany, which gave him valuable insights for several of the scenes in Last Stop: Paris.

  

FOLLOW THE ENTIRE LAST STOP: PARIS TOUR HERE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY WORLDWIND VIRTUAL BOOK TOURS