TBR Tarot - Take the Honey and Run

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 Yellow Cover

Goodreads:  Take the Honey and Run (A Bee Keeping Mystery #1) by Jennie Marts

Blurb:  As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for actually discovering the dead body of the founder of her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado. Bailey grew up at Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch and was raised by her beekeeping grandmother, Blossom Briggs, aka Granny Bee, and her two eccentric sisters, Aster and Marigold—which is why she drops everything to come home and help Granny Bee after a bad fall.
A broken foot doesn’t stop her grandmother from ruling The Hive, her granny’s book club, or continuing to prepare and package her bee-inspired products. But when Bailey's grandmother’s infamous "Honey I'm Home" hot spiced honey turns out to “bee” the murder weapon and her granny is now the prime suspect, Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and ‘smoke-out’ the real culprit.

With the help of Bailey’s witty bestie, a pair of meddling aunts, the feisty members of The Hive, and her computer-savvy daughter, this amateur sleuth is determined to solve the case. A malicious attack and an ominous threat reveal that someone wants Bailey to butt out of the investigation, but there’s no way she’s backing down. She must use her skills to uncover the truth and catch the clever culprit before her grandmother ends up bee-hind bars.

My Thoughts:  Well this was a fun start to a series.  Bailey is a mystery writer and is quite sure she knows enough to solve a mystery and protect her grandmother from suspicion.  Unfortunately, murder in fiction isn't quite as high stakes as it is in real life and even more unfortunately the actual detective just happens to be Bailey's ex-boyfriend.  I really liked this setup.  The Hive is a lot of fun and I'm a big fan of any kind of group investigation.   I also really loved how much support Bailey has around her and her relationship with her grandmother and her daughter, Daisy.  Bailey isn't my favorite main character as of yet.  She's a bit immature and overconfident in her abilities.   I do suspect that she'll calm down a bit as the series goes on and I'm already looking forward to connecting with Bailey, Daisy, and the rest of the Hive again soon.  My Rating:  Really Liked It (4 Stars)

A Murder is Announced - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie

Rating: Loved It! (5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, including Jane Marple who is staying nearby, are agog with curiosity over an advertisement in the local gazette which reads: ‘A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30 p.m.’ Is this a childish practical joke? Or a hoax intended to scare poor Letitia Blacklock? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, a crowd gathers at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out…

Genre: Mystery - Classic


Why I Picked This Book:  This was the August pick for the Read Christie Challenge 2024

My Impression:  This is a fantastic Miss Marple book that starts with an little ad in the newspaper and ends with some amazing sleuthing on Miss Marple's part.  There's a fabulous cast of classic Christie characters.  Neighborhood busybodies, Old Colonels who are still stuck on their days in India (and will tell you about them if you stand still too long), overbearing mothers, a wife who may have an iffy background, and the upstanding center of the community and a whole host of others. 

The mystery was an intriguing one with a really great premise.  I loved how Miss Marple was pulled into the case and her interaction with the police was really great.  There were a few laugh out loud moments for me.  As well, even though I remembered the solution to this mystery it did not dim my enjoyment in the reading one little bit.   

This is a Miss Marple mystery I would recommend to readers who are wanting to try a Christie book and are not sure where to start. It's a fun read with a great mystery and classic characters.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I'm looking forward to the September read -Ordeal by Innocence.

Would I Recommend this Book? Absolutely!  If you're a mystery reader this is a must read.  

Friday Fives - Five Nonfiction Books on My TBR

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random fve lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  Here school starts at the beginning of August but it my head September is the beginning of the school and always has me wanting to learn new things and pick up some nonfiction.  Here are 5 nonfiction titles on my TBR.

1. Betty Ford: First Lady, Woman's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer by Lisa McCubbin - I read a book about First Ladies a few years ago and was really interested in Betty Ford.  She's an interesting woman in her own right and her courage in talking about addiction and advocating for treatment is amazing.   I'd really like to know more about her.

2.  A Gentleman and a Thief:  the Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue by Dean Jobbs - I've read another book by this author and enjoyed it and this one just sounds so fun!

3.  Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - I adore Lucy Worsley and Christie is my very favorite author so even though I've read quite a bit about Christie I'm very curious to read this one.

4.  How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by K.C. Davis - Now that Will is feeling healthy and his energy levels are back up in normal range it feels like we are constantly on the go.  While it has been wonderful to see him be him again I'm exhausted and having to relearn how to balance things again.  This looks like a gentle way to start adding things back in.

5.  The Falcon Thief:  A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird by Joshua Hammer - How can I resist that subtitle?  And I do love a good bird book but no little about falconry.  

What nonfiction books do you have on your TBR?

Books from the Backlog - The Light Over London

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:  The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

Blurb:  It’s always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier’s life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages.
In 1941, nineteen-year-old Louise Keene’s life had been decided for her—she’ll wait at home in her Cornish village until her wealthy suitor returns from war to ask for her hand. But when Louise unexpectedly meets Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, a dashing RAF pilot stationed at a local base, everything changes. And changes again when Paul’s unit is deployed without warning.

Desperate for a larger life, Louise joins the women’s branch of the British Army in the anti-aircraft gun unit as a Gunner Girl. As bombs fall on London, she and the other Gunner Girls relish in their duties to be exact in their calculations, and quick in their identification of enemy planes during air raids. The only thing that gets Louise through those dark, bullet-filled nights is knowing she and Paul will be together when the war is over. But when a bundle of her letters to him are returned unanswered, she learns that wartime romance can have a much darker side.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them and this one has been gathering dust for far too long.

Overdue Reviews - The Geography of You and Me + Sunset in Central Park

 

Goodreads:  The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

Blurb:  Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they’re rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.
Lucy and Owen’s relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and—finally—a reunion in the city where they first met.

A carefully charted map of a long-distance relationship, Jennifer E. Smith’s new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. It can be a person, too.

My Thoughts:  I'm not much of a YA reader and honestly I'm not sure why I picked this one up on NetGalley years ago.  However, I really enjoyed this story of two very different teenagers each with a very different journey.  Both are nice kids who are doing their best in situations beyond their control.  The characters felt authentic but weren't overly angsty which is why I think this one worked for me.  If you're looking for a light YA read with likable characters and a nice story this is a good choice.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

Goodreads:  Sunset in Central Park (From Manhatten with Love #2) by Sarah Morgan

Blurb:  Love has never been a priority for garden designer Frankie Cole. After witnessing the fallout of her parents' divorce, she's seen the devastation an overload of emotion can cause. The only man she feels comfortable with is her friend Matt—but that's strictly platonic. If only she found it easier to ignore the way he makes her heart race…
Matt Walker has loved Frankie for years but, sensing how fragile she is beneath her feisty exterior, has always played it cool. But then he uncovers new depths to the girl he's known forever and doesn't want to wait a moment longer. He knows Frankie has secrets and has buried them deep, but can Matt persuade her to trust him with her heart and kiss him under the Manhattan sunset?

My Thoughts:  Well that was lovely!  This is the second book in a trilogy involving three friends who have started their own business after moving from a small town to Manhatten.  Frankie and Matt have known each other forever and have had crushes on each other for years but only now does it seem like the right time to start taking steps towards each other.  Frankie has more than a little baggage and some serious trust issues around relationships based off her parents' disasterous split when she was a teenager.  This is one of the few times when trust issues make some sense.  Frankie has been through it and is just now really in a place where she can come to terms with everything.  I loved both the characters and couldn't help but root for them.  My favorite thing was that they actually communicated and listened to each other.  I also really loved the friendship between the three women and how supportive they are of each other.  The ending was also pretty fantastic.  My only issue is that I listened to the audio and for the most part I was good with the narrator but her voice for Eve drove me up the wall.  It was very Marilyn Monroe-esque and just felt so overdone.  I read the third book (Eve's story) years ago and now have added it back to my TBR as I enjoyed this enough I want to revisit it.  My Thoughts:  Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I Read That Provided a Much Needed Escape

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Books That Provide a Much Needed Escape.  Sometimes there is just the right book at the right time and these are ten of those books.

1.  The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett - This was just a breath of fresh air when I was feeling a bit low and stressed.

2.  Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - I was teetering on the edge of a reading slump when I got the audio of this one and was thoroughly delighted by this one.

3. Be My Ghost by Carol J. Perry - Carol J. Perry is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and this one involving a haunted inn was just what I wanted.

4. Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie - Every time I think of this book I picture Miss Marple sitting on the verandah at the seaside resort thinking over things and I can almost feel the sea breeze.

5.  Midnight at the Blackbird Care by Heather Weber - This was just one of those right books at the right time.  I was tired and needed a pick me up and this was just the right book.  

6.  Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan - I listened to this while my son was in the hospital and it was wonderful.  I had a good cry and was fully captivated by the story and the characters.  Visiting a winter-y England was a lovely escape from a hospital room.

7.  Shattered Silk by Barbara Michaels - When I was in college this was one of my go-to rereads after finals to give my brain a little break.  I loved the characters and adored all the vintage fashion.  It's still one of my favorite rereads after a brain draining time.

8.  Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto - I read this book last year while recovering from Covid and it was just the right book for recovering.  It kept me entertained enough that I was able to just sit and read and most importantly get some rest!

9.  Hotel of Secrets by Diane Biller - This was just a fantastic mini vacation to Austria with intrigue and romance and gorgeous gowns.  It was just a delight to pick up this book and tune everything else out for a bit.

10.  What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama - Just looking at the cover of this brings my blood pressure down a notch I think.  This was such a lovely bookish calming book.  It's like a deep breath and a warm blanket with a cozy cup of tea.

The Grim Steeper - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Grim Steeper (A Witches' Brew Mystery #3) by Gretchen Rue

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

Description:  Amateur witch Phoebe Winchester is excited to host her first big author event at the Earl’s Study, her book and tea store. The author, Sebastian Marlow, is a famous birder excited to put Raven Creek on the map for his rediscovery of a presumed-extinct bird. When Sebastian is found dead before his planned bird hike, where he expected to prove the existence of the bird to fellow birding enthusiasts, it’s obvious someone wanted him to be extinct, too.

Sebastian had a few unfriendly encounters with his staff—including his recently fired manager, who was seen arguing with him at the author event. Phoebe is determined to figure out who killed Sebastian, worried that it will negatively affect her store’s image that her biggest guest author got killed. With the clock ticking, she enlists the help of Rich Lofting, the handsome local private investigator, to help her look into the murder.

It’s not long before another victim is pecked off and someone close to Phoebe is the suspect. She’ll have to work quickly to uncover the killer and figure out who’s up to fowl play in the third charming book in this warm and witchy series.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy 

Why I Picked This Book:  I have enjoyed the previous two book sin the series so of course I had to pick this one up!

My Impression: This was an entertaining read - a fun cozy with a hefty dose of magic, books and cats. In the first book Phoebe arrives on the scene knowing nothing about magic or running a bookstore but she quickly jumps in trying to figure everying out and by book three she's doing great with the bookstore but the magic part isn't going particularly smoothly.  Both aspects take a hit when the celebrity author is murdered right after a signing at the bookstore.  

I really like the characters in this series.  Phoebe is smart and creative and has a great cast of characters around her.  I like Honey and her help with magic and just an ear for Phoebe to vent to.  She contrasts nicely with Imogen who is no nonsense and gifted at helping run the bookstore.  And of course there's Bob, the bookstore cat to end all bookstore cats.  

The mystery isn't the fastest paced.  There's a lot of day to day activity and there's also a decent amount of page time devoted to Phoebe working with her magic and dealing with a few side catastrophies.  As a regular reader of the series, I found this really enjoyable and liked the time spent with the side characters.  But if you're new to the series it may be a bit slow.  

This is a cozy read with fun characters, an interesting mystery, and some fantastic bookstore time.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would!  I've really enjoyed this series and am looking forward to reading anything else by this author.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you're a cozy fan and like a bit of magic with your mysteries (as well as magic and books) this is a great series though I do recommend you start with the first book.

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

Reading Recap - August 2024

 

Monthly Recap:

Monthly Reading Count -  15 -This is probably my lowest count for the year but this month has been crazy busy.  I think things are settling down soon though.

Print - 3

Ebook - 5

Audiobook -7

Mystery - 10

Fiction - 3

Romance - 2

Favorite Books of the Month:

Favorite Audio:  Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - This was funny, entertaining, and a super solid mystery with a few surprises.

Favorite Read:  The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen - This was one of those right books at the right time kind of reads.  I liked the characters and got caught up in this historical mystery.

Between a Flock and a Hard Place by Donna Andrews - This is the latest in one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series.  Lots of hijinks and shenanigans and a good mystery.

Least Favorite Read of the Month:  Little GIrl Vanished by Denise Grover Swank - I did enjoy the mystery but disliked all the characters.

This Month's Armchair Travel: 

Domestic Travel:
I visited Colorado and Arkansas for the first time this year.  I also revisited California (twice), New York, Washington, Virginia, Maine, and Massachusetts.

International Travel:
In addition to my usual visits to England (three times) I also visited Scotland, Australia, and Singapore.

What was your favorite read this month?  Where did your books take you?

Friday Fives - September 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. This is the first Friday in Septembery so I'm picking out five books I hope to read this month.

1.  The Grim Steeper by Gretchen Rue - This is the third book in a series about a magical book and tea shop.  There's a cat involved as well so it's pretty much the cozy trifecta.  I've really enjoyed the previous books.  

2.  Dead Storage Mary Feliz - Well for one thing there's a dog on the cover so how can I resist it?  This has also been on my NetGalley shelf for literally years and it is time to give it a listen.

3.  Arsenic with Austen by Katherine Bulger Hyde - This has been on my TBR since it came out and so I had to put it on my Library Priority List for this year!

4.  Jane Austen's Lost Letters by Jane K. Cleland - This is the last book in the Josie Prescott Antique Mystery series and I'm really looking forward to reading it.

5.  You Can Run by Rebecca Zanetti - This is my TBR Tarot read for the month.  The prompt was Choose a Book that Starts With You and I've been wanting to read this one for ages.

What are you hoping to read in September?

Books from the Backlog - Murder at the Mill

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: Murder at the Mill by M.B. Shaw

Blurb:  A picture hides a thousand lies . . . And only Iris Grey can uncover the truth
Iris Grey arrives at Mill Cottage in a picture-perfect Hampshire village, looking to escape from her crumbling marriage. She is drawn to the neighbouring Wetherby family, and is commissioned to paint a portrait of Dominic Wetherby, a celebrated crime writer.

At the Wetherby's Christmas Eve party, the mulled wine is in full flow - but so too are tensions and rivalries among the guests. On Christmas Day, the youngest member of the Wetherby family, Lorcan, finds a body in the water. A tragic accident? Or a deadly crime?

With the snow falling, Iris enters a world of village gossip, romantic intrigue, buried secrets and murder.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  It's been sitting on my shelf since I bought it soon after it came out.  The premise sounds fantastic and the blurb says that it's a must read for Miss Marple lovers.

What I'm Reading Wednesday - September 4

I always have a few books going.  Here is what I'm reading and what I'm thinking about them.

Print Book: 

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca - I just started this one so I don't have an opinion on it yet but the premise was really calling my name and I've really been looking forward to reading it.

I think I'm going to pick up a book off my September TBR list next but not sure which one.

Ebook:  

The Cold Light of Day by Anna Lee Huber - So far so good with this one which isn't surprising as I really enjoy everything I've read by this author and every book in this series.

Next up is A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delaney

Slow Read: 

Wonderdog: The Science of Dogs and Their Unique Friendship with Humans by Jules Howard - This is really interesting though a bit on the techincal side.  It's definitely not the easiest read but it's given me a lot to think about it.

Audio Book:  

Peppermint Barked by Leslie Budewitz - This is the next book in the Spice Shop series that I've really been enjoying.  This has been another entertaining read so far though just the title has me wanting Peppermint Bark!

What are you reading today?

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books About Food on My TBR

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Books About Food Thar Aren't Cookbooks so I'm looking through my TBR to find some foodie books I'm looking forward to reading.

1.  A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor by Darci Hannah - A new cozy msytery with food and ghosts and a manor in England.  What's not to love!

2.  Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan - I have a huge sweettooth and typically enjoy Colgan's books.

3.  The Food Explorer: The True Adventures of a Globe Trotting Botanist Who Transformed What America Eats by Daniel Stone - I don't know much about this one but it sounds fascinating and I love food history.

4.  Rosemary and Crime by Gail Oust - I read a later book in this series and enjoyed it.  I always meant to go back and read the first book but of course I haven't yet.

5.  Wrapped Up in You by Jill Shalvis - The main character runs a taco truck so I suspect I will want lots of tacos as I read this one.

6.  Crust No One by Winnie Archer - This cozy mystery involves a bakery that focuses on bread.  I read the first one and loved it but never continued the series.  

7.  32 Yolks:  From My Mother's Table to Working the Line by Eric Ripert- Eric Ripert kind of terrifies me but he's an amazing chef and I'm curious to hear more about his philosophies on food.

8.  Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day - Another cozy mystery and this one has been on my TBR for years.  I'm not even going to guess how many books in this series I already own yet somehow haven't read.

9.  The Cookbook Club by Beth Harbison - I love foodie books and main characters figuring out what they really want in life and this has both!

10. Eating for England: The Delights and Eccentricies of the British Table by Nigel Slater - I love Nigel Slater and this looks interesting!

What foodie books are on your TBR?

Furever After - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Furever After (Magical Cats Mystery #16) by Sofie Kelly

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

Description:  Kathleen is busy running the library and planning her upcoming wedding to detective Marcus Gordon when she suddenly stumbles across a body in the library. She is surprised to learn that the deceased was in the middle of an unlikely heist—it seems he was trying to steal one of the paintings that had been in a box in the library’s workroom. Kathleen never knew any of the library’s rotating artwork was valuable and can’t imagine what the dead man wanted with it.

But then an art history expert called in by the police identifies the almost-purloined painting as a piece that might have been part of a previous high profile art theft. Owen’s and Hercules’s whiskers are already twitching, and events soon make Kathleen realize that whoever killed the wannabe art thief has more than murder on their mind. Kathleen and her clever cats will have to work fast to prevent anyone else from getting hurt.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This series has been on my TBR for ages and the blurb of this one really caught my attention so I thought I'd give it a try.

My Impression:  I love the books this author writes under her Sofie Ryan series and have been meaning to try this series for ages.  I'm so glad I finally picked this one up.  This was such a fun read! Kathleen is in the middle of wedding preparations when a bit of her past comes back to haunt her.  Specifically a person from her past is found dead on the library floor in front of a painting that may have a mysterious history.  

This is definitely a series best read in order as there are a lot of characters that have a lot of connections.  That said, even though I'm jumping in with this book I was able to appreciate the relationships and enjoy the interactions.  It made me want to go back to the beginning of the series and meet Kathleen, Marcus, Roma, and all the rest of the community at the beginning.  I also really loved the cats.  Hercules and Owen have powers but for the most part they're powers I think anyone with cats would recognize - and wonder if their cats might have a power or two as well!

The mystery really kept me entertained and I flew through this book.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this author's series under Sofie Ryan and I am adding the Sofie Kelly Magical Cat series to my series list to get started on reading from the very beginning.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm really excited to start this series from the beginning.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy cozy mysteries with books and cats this is a series that you must try.  If all the books are as enjoyable as this one you're in for a treat.

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