Pinned 4 Murder - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Pinned 4 Murder (A Sophie Kimball Mystery) by J.C. Eaton

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  With a killer in their midst and a high-tech developer threatening to overhaul their beloved bowling alley, the seniors of Sun City West turn to amateur sleuth Sophie “Phee” Kimball to strike back at both culprits. She’s been recruited by her mother’s friendThis s before, but this time Phee finds herself pulled in two directions when one of the book club ladies gets tangled in the clutches of a dangerous cyber-scammer who pretends to be the love of her life.

Phee’s investigation grows even more complicated when the bowling alley is sabotaged and a flimflammer is found dead in the nearby bushes. With the league tournament in limbo and one of the seniors pegged as the likely murder suspect, Phee will have to cut the cord on the cyber-criminal and pin the killer—before they can strike again . . .

Genre: Mystery- Cozy 

Why I Picked This Book:  I love this series and have been reading it since the first book.

My Impression:  When I start a book in this series I'm looking forward to chaos and quirky characters getting into trouble all while a long suffering Phee tries to keep order and calm.  This didn't let me down!  There was cyber scamming, affairs, rumors of a serial killer, lizards loose in a bowling alley, and just general chaos - all with stops for bagels and coffee in between.  

There were two mysteries going on here.  The first involves the murder victim and the second involves who is romance scamming one on the Book Club ladies and why.  The murder definitely kept me guessing.  The victims had multiple people who wanted to remove them from the equation so it kept me (and Phee, the rest of Williams Investigations and of course the Book Club ladies) guessing!  The scamming isn't so much a whodunnit but a how is it going to get unraveled and we saw quite a bit of Rolo which always makes me happy.

The conclusion was a fun one and a bit of a surprise!  I'm also oh so glad I don't have a dog like Streetman in my life but it is always fun to read about his misadventures!  If you're looking for a light quirky cozy with a good portion of humor and likable characters this series is a great pick and this mystery was a fun one!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I've been reading this series since the beginning and I'm always on the lookout for new books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like humorous cozies this is a fantastic series!

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

10 Beachy Covers on My TBR

 I was going to do the Top Ten Tuesday topic today but it turns out I don't read very many debut books!  We had an amazing beach vacation a few weeks back and are planning on going back in the next month or so but at the moment I'm missing the sand and the water a bit.  Here are 10 books on my TBR with beachy covers so I can take some virtual vacations until the next real one happens!

1.  Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis 

2.  The Seafront Tea Room by Vanessa Green  

3.  The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax

4.  Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey

5.  A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

6.  Live and Let Chai by Bree Baker

7.  Honeymoon by Tina Seskis

8.  Forever Beach by Shelley Noble

9.  From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris

10. Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

What beachy reads are on your TBR?

TBR Tarot - Murder at Half Moon Gate

At the end of 2022 Wendy over at Literary Feline posted about these fantastic TBR Tarot Cards she had picked up on Etsy and that sounded too good to resist so I immediately ordered my own set.  So when I'm not feeling strongly about what to read next I pull out my cards and pick a book based on the prompt.  Here is a book the fates chose for me recently.

Prompt:  Choose a book with a 5 word title

Goodreads: Murder at Half Moon Gate (Wrexford & Sloan #2) by Andrea Penrose

Blurb:  When Lord Wrexford discovers the body of a gifted inventor in a dark London alley, he promptly alerts the watchman and lets the authorities handle the matter. But Wrexford soon finds himself drawn into the murder investigation when the inventor’s widow begs for his assistance, claiming the crime was not a random robbery. It seems her husband’s designs for a revolutionary steam-powered engine went missing the night of his death. The plans could be worth a fortune . . . and very dangerous in the wrong hands.

Joining Wrexford in his investigation is Charlotte Sloane, who uses the pseudonym A. J. Quill to publish her scathing political cartoons. Her extensive network of informants is critical for her work, but she doesn’t mind tapping that same web of spies to track down an elusive killer. Each suspect—from ambitious assistants to rich investors, and even the inventor’s widow—is entwined in a maze of secrets and lies that leads Wrexford and Sloane down London’s most perilous stews and darkest alleyways.

With danger lurking at every turn, the potent combination of Wrexford’s analytical mind and Sloane’s exacting intuition begins to unravel the twisted motivations behind the inventor’s death. But they are up against a cunning and deadly foe—a killer ready to strike again before they can recover the inventor’s priceless designs . . .

My Thoughts:  I had enjoyed the first book in this historical mystery series but it wasn't a stand out for me so I'm so glad that I this prompt pushed me into picking up book 2.  I so enjoyed this book and really enjoyed getting to see more of Rex and Charlotte - and of course Raven and Hawk.  The mystery involves the seedy side of industrial invention and conflict between those who want to improve society and those that want money at all costs.  I really wasn't sure just who the bad guy was and how it would all unravel until the very end and what an ending it was!  I'm so glad I picked up book 2 and won't be nearly as long until I pick up book 3.  If you're a fan of historical mysteries this is a great series!  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Nothing Venture - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Nothing Venture by Patricia Wentworth

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

Description:  Jervis Weare is in a predicament. According to Ambrose Weare’s will, his grandson must marry within three months or the vast estate goes to his Jervis’s fiancée Rosamund Carew. But the deceiving society beauty has just dumped Jervis, which leaves him scrambling to find another bride.   Nan Forsyth has secretly loved Jervis for ten years. He has no inkling that Nan once saved his life and is now about to come to his rescue again. She knows that with her working-class background and the emotionally fragile sister she’s raising on her own, she’s hardly the proper wife for Jervis. Yet marry him she does; though to Jervis, it’s strictly a business arrangement. They’re barely wed before the past comes back to haunt them—a past Jervis can’t remember, but someone else does. Now Nan must save Jervis one last time before a murderous plot a decade in the making comes full circle.  Nothing Venture is a classic British mystery from the acclaimed author of the Miss Silver Mysteries.  

Genre:  Mystery - Classic 

Why I Picked This Book:   I'm trying to read more of Wentworth's non-Miss Silver books.

My Impression:  This is a classic Patricia Wentworth mystery.  Nan is plucky and intelligent and just a nice person.  Jervis is honestly a bit of a jerk (that part isn't classic Wentworth - her heroes are usually fairly nice) who is a bit angry at the world and not the most trusting.  He does have a friend - FF - that truly saves him as FF is nice and funny and sees who Nan truly is from the first.  He also has some common sense and is able to get through to Jervis occasionally.

The villains are apporpriately villiany with lovely aristorcratic haughtiness and nefarious intent.  There are lots of fancy dinners and English estates and a fun bit of adventure.   This was a fun book to read with lots of adventure and just enough action.  I loved the characters (even Jervis grew on me) and loved the ending.  If you're looking for a fun classic mystery this is an entertaining light read.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  Wentworth is a favorite even though the non-Miss Silver books aren't the most consistent.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you're in the mood for a light fun mystery this is a good choice.

Friday Fives - Five Short Reviews for Series I'm Currently Reading

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.  I'm working on catching up on series and decided to put a few reviews of them all together here.

1.  Killing Thyme by Leslie Budewitz - This is the third book in this cozy mystery series set in a Seattle Pike Place Market Spice Shop and I think this one is my favorite so far.  I really enjoyed that the mystery dove into Pepper's past and her mother played an active role in the book.  As well, Pepper seems to be getting it together with her life in general and is making progress with figuring out what she wants in her romantic life. My only complaint is that I would have liked more time spent in the spice shop itself.  The mystery was interesting and well done and kept me guessing up until right before Pepper figured things out.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

2.  Death by Beach Read by Eva Gates - This was a fun mystery!  This is the first mystery where Lucy isn't living in the lighthouse but is instead starting her new life with Connor in one of the "Unpainted Aristocracies" on the beach.  I really liked how the mystery allowed the reader to learn a bit more about the history of the house and dive into the secrets of the family who once lived there.  I did figure out the who a bit faster than Lucy but I didn't have quite as much going on as she did.  I also like the new side of Louise Jane we're seeing.  I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series! My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  Glow of Death by Jane K. Cleland - I've really been enjoying this series more and more as it goes along and this was an interesting one involving a Tiffany lamp and a case of an impersonator.  Josie does not take kindly to getting fooled and must dig into the lamp's history and the situation surrounding the appraisal.  I enjoy the information around the antiques as well as how Josie uses her sources to investigate.  The mystery kept me guessing and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.  Josie is a little to perfect but not in a way that annoys me so I'm willing to give her a pass!  If you're looking for a good light mystery series this is a fun one.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

4.  Shadow of a Spout by Amanda Cooper - I have had this cozy series involving teapot collectors and a tea house on my wishlist for years but was a bit meh on the first book.  My expectations weren't particularly high going into this book but I was pleasantly surprised.  This is a straightforward cozy with two pairs of grandmother/granddaughters, club politics, and of course a victim whose presence won't be missed even though the murder must be solved.  This was a fun classic feeling cozy.  I loved the mix of ages and the hotel setting and am looking forward to reading the next book.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

5.  Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews - In this second book in the series Meg and Michael are desperately trying to get a bit of alone time now that they are officially dating.  What better than a secluded cabin on an island in Maine?  That is until half of Meg's family shows up, a hurricaine comes in, and a dead body is discovered.  Oh and Meg's father is the number one suspect.  Meg and Michael step up the investigation to make sure Meg's dad is not implicated in the murder and the usual entertaining chaos ensues - this time with artists and puffins in spades.  The mystery wasn't the strongest in this book as the reveal felt a little bit buried with all the other stuff going on but it was a thoroughly enjoyabe read from beginning to end and this is a series I'm already looking forward to reading the next book.  My Rating: (4 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - Shady Hollow

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:  Shady Holoow by Juneau Black

Blurb:  The first book in the Shady Hollow series, in which we are introduced to the village of Shady Hollow, a place where woodland creatures live together in harmony--until a curmudgeonly toad turns up dead and the local reporter has to solve the case.

Reporter Vera Vixen is a relative newcomer to Shady Hollow. The fox has a nose for news, so when she catches wind that the death might be a murder, she resolves to get to the bottom of the case, no matter where it leads. As she stirs up still waters, the fox exposes more than one mystery, and discovers that additional lives are in jeopardy.

Vera finds more to this town than she ever suspected. It seems someone in the Hollow will do anything to keep her from solving the murder, and soon it will take all of Vera's cunning and quickness to crack the case.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I read the most recent book in this series last year and enjoyed it enough that I went out and bought the first book intending to catch up on the series before book 5 came out.  Book 5 is about to come out and I still haven't read book 1!

15 Summers Later - Fiction Review

Goodreads: 15 Summers Later by RaeAnne Thayne

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

Description:  Ava Howell seemed to have it all. She moved away from Emerald Creek, Idaho, married the love of her life and published a bestselling memoir. But she never expected that her husband would feel so betrayed by a secret from her past—the truth of what happened to her and her sister all those years ago—that he’d walk away. Now Ava is back home and trying to move on with the only person who can truly understand…

Following years of healing, Madison Howell is finally happy. After college she built a no-kill shelter where she works with animals every day, and she’s in love with the town veterinarian, Dr. Luke Gentry. But she can’t ever bring herself to tell him. Years ago, his dad died protecting Madi and her sister, so how could he ever love her back?

With the truth laid bare, and the past that Ava and Madison have worked so hard to leave behind threatening everything they have built for themselves, the Howell sisters’ reunion is bittersweet. And as Ava and Madi attempt to remedy the rifts in their lives and reconcile their futures, they must face the demons of their past together.

Genre:  Fiction - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoy the other books I've read by Thayne and the animal rescue element and I love books about sisters.  

My Impression: I've been a fan of RaeAnne Thayne for quite some time though I typically haven't loved her standalones as much as her series books.  This was an exception.  For starters the secret from the girls' past is some serious trauma so their issues in their relationship make a lot of sense.  

Madi is a tough woman who has overcome a serious injury to make her dreams of an animal rescue come true.  She's devoted and loyal and determined to not let her disabilities keep her from doing what she wants.  Ava was a little harder to warm up to at first.  While I liked her I didn't quite understand her motivations for doing what she did.  As the book went on I came to understand both sisters and couldn't help but root for them both.  

While there is a bit of a romance the focus on the story was really the relationship between Ava and Madison.  I did enjoy Luke and Madi's relationship - especially how they bond over animals and understand each other.  I enjoyed this story from beginning to end.  It deals with some tough subjects but there is so much hope in renewal that it never felt too dark.  This was a lovely read with characters I was sad to say goodbye to which I reached the last page.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm already looking forward to reading more of her books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would!  If you enjoy stories about families and love a good animal addition this is a wonderful read.