Smoke and Mirrors - Keeper Shelf Review

 Goodreads:  Smoke and Mirrors by Barbara Michaels

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  Joining the campaign of a charismatic congresswoman, young Erin Hartsock arrives in Washinton, D.C., filled with idealism and ambition. But her enthusiasm dissolves into terror when the campaign takes a malevolent turn. Someone...something...has begun threatening Erin and her colleagues. First come the strange fires, then a seemingly accidental death. As the election nears, Erin fears that she just may be a murderer's next candidate.

Genre:  Mystery

Why I Picked This Book:  I like to reread my Keeper shelf books periodically to make sure they still deserve their place on the shelf.

My Impression:  It's been awhile since I read this one and I worried that it would be too dated.  The setting is a campaign for a highly contested Senate race with a newcomer against a well known incumbent.  At the beginning of the book Erin is meek and mild and completely uninterested in politics.  

As the book progresses not only does the campaign intensify but Erin begins to gain confidence in herself and look at what she really wants.  I loved the chaotic decidedly unglamorous world of politics and got a giggle or two out of Erin's day to day life juxtaposed with her former roommate Fran's expectations of intrigue and glamour.

But it isn't just the fascinating world of campaign life that keeps this book going.  A series of small fires and unnerving letters have everyone a bit on edge and when coincidence becomes a bit too much to ignore Erin and her friend Nick begin to investigate to find out just what is going on.  The way it all unravels is unexpected and interesting and definitely kept me hooked.  While there are no cell phones or social media this didn't feel in anyway dated.  As well, even though the book involves a political campaign it isn't so much about political beliefs.  Overall, it was a suspenseful read with a fast pace and an entertaining collection of characters.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  Michaels is one of my favorite authors and this book has re-earned its place on my Keeper Shelf.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like a suspenseful read with strong character growth this is an entertaining read.

Friday Fives - April TBR

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  Since this is the first Friday in April I'm picking 5 books I hope to read this month.

1.  Cinnamon Twisted by Ginger Bolton - This is a review book I'm really looking forward to.  I'm new to the series and the author but the premise of this one really grabbed me. 

2.  The Vineyard Victims by Ellen Crosbie - This is the next book I'm getting off my overdue NetGalley shelf.  

3.  The House at Riverton by Kate Morton - At the beginning of the year I picked 5 books that I wanted to read from the library and this is the last one on the list.  I'm really looking forward to reading it.

4.  Pall in the Family by Dawn Eastman - This is the next series I'm tacking.  I've only got two left before I finish the series!  

5.  On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry - I loved the first book in this series and am so looking forward to reading the third book in May but before I do that I need to read the second book!

What are you hoping to read this month?

Books from the Backlog - Pruning the Dead

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Pruning the Dead by Julia Henry

Blurb:  With hundreds flocking to her inaugural garden party, meticulous Lilly Jayne hasn't left a single petal out of place. But the picture-perfect gathering turns unruly upon the arrival of Merilee Frank, Lilly's ex-husband's catty third wife. Merilee lives for trouble, so no one is surprised after she drinks too much, shoves a guest into the koi pond, and gets escorted off the property. The real surprise comes days later--when Merilee is found dead in a pile of mulch . . .
Lilly wishes she could stick to pruning roses and forget about Merilee's murder--until her best friend and ex become suspects in an overgrown homicide case. Now, aided by the Garden Squad, an unlikely group of amateur crime solvers with a knack for planting, Lilly knows she has limited time to identify the true culprit and restore order to Goosebush. Because if the murderer's plot isn't nipped in the bud, another victim could be pushing up daisies!

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  This one isn't technically on my shelf but later books in the series are but I don't want to read them until I read this one!  So I need to track this one down before I read the later books!

Fiddling with Fate - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Fiddling with Fate (Southern Homebrew Mystery #3) by Diane Kelly

Rating:  Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  It's late August in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and moonshiner Hattie Hayes has collaborated to serve her moonshine at a nearby vineyard for a Wine and 'Shine event. Not only is this an opportunity for Hattie to gain more moonshine fans, but she's also excited to see the Bootlegging Brothers, a popular bluegrass band. But not every attendee is looking for harmony, and when one of the brothers disappears after the event and is presumed dead, Hattie realizes her grace note event has suddenly turned more sour than her mash.

Unearthing what happened to the missing musician is more difficult than Hattie first expected, and when Hattie's moonshine is tied to the crime, there's no time to fiddle around. She has to step up to solve the case. Luckily, Hattie's cool head and quick mind help her understand that when investigating a musical crime, always stay sharp.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoyed the previous books in this series so of course I had to pick up the next book.  

My Impression:   It's always fun to go to Chattanooga to hang out with Hattie and the rest of the Moonshine Shack crew.  This book involves a bluegrass festival and Hattie's efforts to gain more name recognition for her business.  I really enjoyed seeing the business details and seeing some of the behind the scenes of running a small business.   It also introduced the characters of the Bootlegging Brothers to the reader so we could see their dysfunctional dynamics.  

The mystery did take awhile to get going as nothing really happened until after the first third of the book and that in turn made the book feel a bit slow in places.  Once the mystery got going it pulled me in a bit more but there was some repetition in dialogue that did make it feel a bit slower.  Kelly's books are always fun to read and while I enjoyed this one it wasn't my favorite in the series.  I am looking forward to seeing what kind of mess Hattie gets into next.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Definitely!  I've read several series by this author and always enjoy them.  I'm looking forward to seeing more of Hattie's hijinks in the next book.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy cozy mysteries I would definitely recommend this author and this series.  This isn't the strongest book in the series so far but it was still a fun read and the first two books are even better.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Ten Books on My TBR With Spring-y Covers

 

It's starting to feel like spring without quite dipping into summer just yet (though we know it's coming!).  I've been perusing my TBR looking for covers that just say Spring to me and this year spring seems to equal flowers!

1.  The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee 

2.  Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

3.  The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

4.  The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis

5. A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor

6.  The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick

7.  Always by Sarah Jio

8.  Pieces of Happiness by Anne Ostby

9.  Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas

10. The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman

Do you have any books on your TBR with Spring-y Covers?

An American in Scotland - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  An American in Scotland (A Scottish Isle Mystery #1) by Lucy Connelly

Rating:  Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  The small idyllic town of Sea Isle, Scotland, harbors some dark secrets, and Dr. Emilia McRoy is determined to uncover all of them—no matter what the diagnosis in this charming cozy, sure to enchant fans of Sheila Connolly and Charlene O’Connor.

Sea Isle was supposed to be the fresh start Dr. Emilia McRoy dreamed of. Far from the busy emergency room across the Atlantic in Seattle, she hoped to settle down and begin this new chapter as a small-town doctor to the quirky residents who immediately welcomed her. When she stumbles across a dead body, she starts to think that she may not be as Scot free of the drama and intrigue as she initially thought.

Emilia soon learns she has bigger issues at hand. It starts with realizing she’ll work closely with the less than helpful local constable, Laird Ewan Campbell. Her luck continues when she discovers that part of her new responsibilities includes being the coroner for the very body she found. Finally, when the body goes missing before she can even begin the autopsy, Emilia must convince the townspeople that a crime did, in fact, occur. The deeper she digs into the picturesque town, the more suspicious she becomes. And then there are her sleep issues. It may be due to the ever-growing list of suspects, a number of threatening letters, or the surprise visitor who breaks into her house at night. But she’s never backed down before, and she doesn’t intend to start now.

Someone doesn’t want this doctor to treat the ailments of Sea Isle, but Emilia McRoy is determined to find the murderer before they kilt again.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I can't resist a Scottish setting and this sounded like an interesting beginning of a series.

My Impression: This is the first book in a series about an American doctor, suffering from burnout after her time in an ER in Seattle, agrees to become the doctor for Sea Isle, Scotland.  Emilia McRoy has recently discovered that she has Scottish ancestry from this area of Scotland and is curious to learn more about her family's roots as well as get used to a much slower pace of life.  Unfortunately, those hopes are turned upside down when Emilia has a verbal altercation with a man who very shortly ends up dead.  In her new role as coroner Emilia begins an investigation either fighting or cooperating with the local constable who also happens to be her boss, Laird Ewan Campbell.  

Right from the start I liked the setting.  Going from Seattle to a small island in Scotland has to be quite a shock and an exhausting journey.  The author does a good job of bring the town to life and showing it peopled with residents who are mostly kind hearted but not always the most welcoming to new residents.  Emilia is intelligence and dedicated as both a doctor and an accidental investigator.  Even though her experience with the victim wasn't pleasant she strongly believes in justice and is determined to make sure that happens.  I also liked that Emilia made friends relatively easily.  She does care about people and is a nice person.  She doesn't get her feelings hurt over every little detail and is quick to realize when she comes off a bit harsh and apologize.

My main issue with this book is the pace and number of characters.  Since the reader is plunged into a new town along with the main character we are introduced to a fairly large cast of characters and while I could keep Mara and Abigail straight as they have considerable page time I had a hard time remembering a lot of the other smaller characters.  As well, with the introduction of all these characters it took about 30% of the book for the plot to really get going and pull me in.  I suspect these are issues that occurred only because this was the first book in the series and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would!  Despite my issues with this one I did like the characters and am excited to see where the series goes.

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes with the reminder that it does have a bit of a slow start but if you persevere I don't think you'll be disappointed!

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Week in Reading - April 2

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

A Bakery in Paris by Aimie K. Runyan - A historical fiction with a dual timeline set in Paris.  I couldn't resist it! (Publisher)

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas by Vicki Delany - I was so glad to see this book.  I thought the series was finished so I was glad to see that it was continuing with a different publisher.  (Publisher)

Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman - I've enjoyed this historical mystery series and am curious to see what happens next. (Publisher)

The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis - I really enjoy Jill Shalvis' books and this looks nice and summery!  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  Fiddling with Fate by Diane Kelly and The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander

Listening:  On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry

What have you read this week?  

Have a great week and happy reading!