Friday Fives - Five Short Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

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. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently

1.  An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson - This was an interesting murder mystery with a clever take on Henry IIIV's story complete with beheaded wives and "fixers" and all the other people who surrounded Henry in his life.  Seeing the Tudor court in modern day New York was interesting and well done.  The pace of the story was well done and I was intrigued by all the different characters and found the diary entries so interesting.  My only complaint is that I would have liked the ending to be a little more fleshed out.  I would have liked to see a bit more of the killer's motives and what happened.  Overall, this was an interesting and very clever mystery and I will look for this author's books in the future.  My Rating:  Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  Holmes, Marple, & Poe by James Patterson - I haven't read anything by Patterson in literally decades but this one had me intrigued.  There was a lot I liked about it.  I really liked the three main characters and what is revealed about them.  I enjoyed the way they investigated and worked together.  There are several supporting cast members who added quite a bit to the book.  That said the mulitple plot points kept me feeling a bit distracted and I never felt like I was fully hooked on the story.  I will read more of this series but it isn't on my top reads list.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  Wonderdog: The Science of Dogs and Their Unique Friendship with Humans by Jules Howard -  This was an interesting read if you're interested in the evoloution of theory on how dogs think and on how dogs think in general.  It's definitely on the techinal side and can be disturbing at times as the history of scientific experiments is not always the most ethical.  It's  a bit dry but the information is solid.   My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

4.  The Troublemaker Next Door by Marie Harte - This is the first romance I've read by this author and it was a fun read.  I like the setup with the three women roommates and how they have a strong friendship despite the fact they frequently drive each other crazy.  I liked how the romance between Flynn and Maddie developed.  They have their issues - especially Maddie - but both are nice people and it was nice to watch their relationship progress.  I also liked Flynn's brothers and their relationship.  My main issue with this one is that it was a bit too spicy for my taste.  I'm more of a closed door romance reader and this was a doors and windows wide open romance.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this series.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

5.  Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire - I have had this series on my TBR since this book came out but since I'm not much of a fantasy reader I kept putting off picking it up.  It was definitely weird but kept me absolutely hooked and was a story and a world that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Nancy is the perfect main character for the first book as she is coming into the school new and is just as confused by all the new terms as I was.  I enjoyed meeting all the different (in all senses of the word) characters.  While I did guess the who well before it was revealed the ending still had my jaw dropping a bit and I definitely want to pick up the next book.  Despite the characters being teenagers, the language and level of violence does not make this a middle grade or even young adult book.  This was a weird but wonderful read and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.  

Books from the Backlog - And Only to Deceive

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:  And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Blurb:  For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the Viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when Emily's dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife. Emily becomes fascinated with this new image of her dead husband and she immerses herself in all things ancient and begins to study Greek.
Emily's intellectual pursuits and her desire to learn more about Philip take her to the quiet corridors of the British Museum, one of her husband's favorite places. There, amid priceless ancient statues, she uncovers a dark, dangerous secret involving stolen artifacts from the Greco-Roman galleries. And to complicate matters, she's juggling two very prominent and wealthy suitors, one of whose intentions may go beyond the marrying kind. As she sets out to solve the crime, her search leads to more surprises about Philip and causes her to question the role in Victorian society to which she, as a woman, is relegated.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I have several books in this series sitting on my shelf and I think I'm going to pick this one as the next long running series I start making progress on.

A Holiday Homicide - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Holiday Homicide (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #4) by Ellie Alexander

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

Description:  As whispers of foul play swirl like snowflakes, Annie soon finds herself tangled in a web of secrets, small-town rivalry, and long-buried mysteries.

With pub-owner and new love Liam by her side and the help of her loyal bookstore colleagues, Annie sets out to solve Redwood Grove’s latest murder mystery. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she discovers that the baking community isn’t as sweet as it seems…

Can Annie unwrap the truth before the killer strikes again? Or will this be one Christmas she won't live to remember?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've enjoyed the three previous books in the series and I love pretty much everything I've read by this author.

My Impression:  This is one of the coziest cozy mystery series I've come across.  There's a strong community, the main character has a good group of friends that are practically family, and the bookstore is on my list of fictional places I wish were real.  How can I not enjoy a book set in a mystery bookstore with fun characters - especially when written by Ellie Alexander?  

This was a fun mystery.  A not so likable influencer drops dead in the bookstore during a heavily publicized event with a local bakery.  While Lily had seemed sweet and bubbly on camera there are a number of behind-the-scenes actions that has Annie wondering just what the real Lily is like.  A number of characters - local and otherwise - seem to have a motive but it takes some serious digging to figure out who would want to kill her.

I really wasn't quite sure who the killer was until Annie figured it out and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to that point.  The book is full of Christmas-y cheer and a bit of suspense.  I really enjoyed that there is progress being made in Annie's personal life as well as her quest to find out who murdered her best friend, Scarlet.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I've read three series by Alexander and really enjoyed everything she's written.

Would I Recommend this Book?   If you enjoy cozy mysteries and love some holiday cheer mixed in with your murder this book is a great choice!  While you can easily jump in with this book the previous three books are lots of fun and not to be missed.

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books I've Read in the Past 5 Years That I"m Thankful For

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 a Thankful Freebie.  I don't think I'm the only one who has found the last 5 years a bit hard so I'm looking through my reading logs and finding 10 books that made me happy during that time.

1.  The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - This book is peace and happiness for me and the last time I read it was right at the beginning of the pandemic.  It feels like it's time to pick it up again.

2.  The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards - This is one of the last books Will and I read together before he got sick and he absolutely loved it.  We had such a good time reading it together.

3.  Summer at Lake Haven by RaeAnne Thayne - This is the first book I picked up in the hospital a few weeks after Will was diagnosed with Leukemia.  It was the first time I was able to distract myself and I will always be thankful for that moment of escape.

4.  Ammie, Come Home by Barbara Michaels - Really I'm thankful for all of Barbara Michaels books but this one especially always comes to mind. They're cozy and Gothic-y and fast paced enough to pull me in and allow a nice little reading break.

5.  Pretty much anything by Agatha Christie - I love all of Christie's books and have a lot of favorites.  No matter what's going on or what mood I am there is always a Christie that will work.

6.  The Key by Patricia Wentworth - While not all of Wentworth's books are winners when her books are good, they are the perfect cozy reading for tired frazzled brains and I'm always thankful to be able to grab one off the shelf.

7.  The Mrs. Pollifax Books by Dorothy Gilman - I love the world that Mrs. Pollifax inhabits and there is nothing like her empathetic good sense to make me happy.

8.  The Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander - This is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and I love the world she has created in Ashland, Oregon around a family owned bakery.  Reading it is like finding the perfect table for people watching in a warm cozy bakery with the best treats to snack on.

9.  Nora Roberts books - They're incredibly unrealistic and everyone is gorgeous and talented and kind (except for the ones that are really really not) but I love the friendships and relationships she creates, and they're always fast enough paced for a perfect escape which I am always thankful for.

10. The Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews - This is another of my favorite cozy series and while it doesn't provide the same warm cozy bakery feel that the Alexander books do there is no author that I've found that does chaos quite like Andrews.  The titles make me laugh and I love all the characters and seeing what they're up too.  Oh - and the mysteries are always entertaining too.  This series is a perfect treat to relax with after a long day or when you need a laugh.  

What books and authors are you thankful for?

Madrigals and Mayhem - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Madrigals and Mayhem (Cambridge Bookshop Series #4) Elizabeth Penney

Rating: Really Liked (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  In Madrigals and Mayhem, the fourth in Elizabeth Penney's charming Cambridge Bookshop series, Molly Kimball finds that even the holidays can come with a healthy dose of mystery.

Molly is eager to experience her first English Christmas with family and friends now that she's adjusted to her move to Cambridge and her restoration of her family’s ancestral bookshop, Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios. When local toyshop Pemberly’s Emporium reopens, Molly is excited to meet the new owner, Charlotte Pemberly, who is determined to make the toy store a success after unexpectedly becoming her grandfather Arthur’s sole heir.

Arthur's new wife Althea Winters and her unpleasant family loathe Charlotte for inheriting what they believe was theirs and have set their sights on a valuable Madame Alexander doll that's gone missing. When Althea's grandson is poisoned by cakes from Tea & Crumpets, Charlotte becomes the top suspect. Molly believes Charlotte was the intended victim and investigates the Pemberly’s home, only to discover that Arthur had been murdered.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed the previous three books in the series so I was excited to pick this one up and see how Molly's first English Christmas was.

My Impression: Molly is getting settled into her new hometown and enjoying her time with her friends, family and boyfriend. She's excited to see that the local toyshop is opening up and is glad to get know the new owner.  But the excitement is short lived when a man is found passed out in the back and Molly finds herself pulled into a tangled web of family feuds and stolen objects.  

I loved the bits about the dollhouses and getting the store ready for Christmas.  I also really enjoyed getting to know a bit more about Molly's mom and her relationship with her family when she was young.  It was also good to touch base with Kieran and Daisy and just to see how Molly's life was progressing.

The mystery was good though it took a bit to develop.  We hear about what's going on with the Winters/Pemberly family and we meet Charlotte's cousin (who just happens to have been poisoned) fairly early on.  However, I did find the mystery interesting, and I loved the scavenger hunt part.  I would have liked some more Christmas-y aspects but overall, I enjoyed this mystery.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I've really enjoyed this series and am looking forward to continuing with it.  I would also pick up any other series this author has written as I really enjoy the cozy mystery worlds she creates.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy English cozy mysteries with a bookish elements this is a good series though I would recommend starting from the first book.

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

Overture to Death - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh

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

Description:  It's murder in the little English village, but the two local spinsters, Miss Campanula, the victim, and Miss Prentice, her friend who may have been the intended victim, are not exactly the beloved little old ladies of song and story. They were (and are) waspish, gossiping snobs, passionate only about their own narrowly defined religion .and, perhaps, about the local vicar. But could they have been sufficiently unpleasant to provoke a murderer?

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm slowly reading my way through classic mysteries and while I have read some Ngaio Marsh but not anywhere close to all of them.

My Impression:  This was the first time I have picked up this mystery and it was an absolute delight!  In the past I have found some of Marsh's mysteries a bit dry or stodgy so I didn't have the highest expectations when I started this one.  However, I was quickly pulled into small village life with lots of scandals and two spinsters who believe they are rivals for the handsome reverend's affections.  The method of murder was incredibly unique and the motives are many.  

 Alleyn and Fox show up right after the murder happens and I remembered just how much I love Alleyn in full detective mode.  He's clever and oh so polite and most of the time the person trying to hide something from him ends up confessing without ever knowing what's happening.  It was fun to see the investigation through his eyes.  I also really liked the characters of Henry and Dinah so I couldn't help but root for them.  

I did guess a part of the mystery ahead of Alleyn but didn't put all the pieces together until Alleyn led the way.  I really enjoyed the book from beginning to end and it may just be my favorite Marsh book!  I'm looking forward to discovering more of her books.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm looking forward to finding more books from her that I have yet to read.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy classic mysteries with a very traditional English village setting this is a good one!

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 five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  I love the concept of Nonfiction November but never end up participating because I usually have too many other books going or needing to be read.  So, in honor of nonfiction here are 5 nonfiction books on my TBR.

1.  The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria:  The Sinking of the World's Most Glamorous Ship by Greg King - I know very little about this, but it sounds fascinating, and I want to know more.

2.  Funny Farm: My Life with 600 Rescue Animals by Laurie Zaleski - How could I resist the subtitle and the cover?

3.  The Scandalous Hamiltons by Bill Shaffer - There's a disgraced descendent of Alexander Hamilton, scandal and crime.  It sounds fascinating.

4.  The Churchill Sisters: The Extraordinary Life of Winston and Clementine's Daughters by Rachel Trethewey - I just finished a historical fiction about Clementine Churchill and am very interested to read more about her daughters.

5.  Billy the Kid and Jesse James: Legendary Outlaws of the West by Bill Markley - I fell down a rabbit hole on these two back in school but it has been decades since I've read about them or any Old West history.  I'm curious about this book.

What nonfiction books are on your TBR?

Books from the Backlog - How to Walk Away

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:  How to Walk Away from Katherine Center

Blurb:  Margaret Jacobsen has a bright future ahead of her: a fiancé she adores, her dream job, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in one tumultuous moment.

In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Margaret must figure out how to move forward on her own terms while facing long-held family secrets, devastating heartbreak, and the idea that love might find her in the last place she would ever expect.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  This one has been sitting on my shelf for ages and I really want to read this author.  I think if I don't get to this one this year, I'm going to put Katherine Center on my Must-Read Authors list for 2025.

We Three Queens - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads: We Three Queens (A Royal Spyness Mystery #18) by Rhys Bowen

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

Description:  New mother Lady Georgiana "Georgie" Rannoch finds herself trying to separate fact from fiction when a murder occurs while a film is being made on the grounds of her estate in a new Royal Spyness Mystery from beloved bestselling author Rhys Bowen.

It's late 1936, and King Edward is in turmoil, having fallen in love with the scandalously divorced and even more scandalously American Wallis Simpson. He wants to marry her but knows that doing so will jeopardize his crown. Edward confides in his dear friend Darcy, Georgie's husband, and the couple agree to hide Wallis in their home while Edward figures out what to do. But unbeknownst to Georgie and Darcy, Sir Hubert, the owner of the estate, has given a film crew permission to shoot a motion picture about Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn on the grounds. Trying to keep Mrs. Simpson hidden while raising a newborn baby seems like it couldn't be any more stressful for the Rannochs, until one of the stars of the film is found murdered on set. Georgie must solve the murder for king and country before scandal threatens to envelop them all.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy/Historical

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really been enjoying this series so of course I had to read the newest book!

My Impression: Oh, what a long way Georgie has come since her Royal Spyness days!  Of course, the Royal family is still meddling in her life - this time with King Edward (aka Georgie's cousin David) foisting "that woman" on Georgie's household to keep her out of the way of the media.  But it isn't only Georgie's royal cousins that are causing chaos.  Her godfather, Sir Hubert, has invited a film crew to film a movie on the grounds of the estate.  Georgie learns to late the true meaning of "give someone an inch and they'll take a mile".  The film crew quickly finds their way inside and what was supposed to be a quick few days and an easy way to add to the estate's coffers turns into tripping over film crews on the way down to breakfast.  Add in kidnapping and eventually a murder and Georgie isn't really able to enjoy her quiet life in the country as a new mother.

I love seeing Georgie more comfortable in her role both as lady of the manor and just in her own skin.  I normally cringe whenever Fig and Queenie get in any page time but here they added some comic relief and I enjoyed their roles.  Fig is still the worst and Queenie still breaks everything she touches but their hold over Georgie isn't quite as strong as it was previously.  

While chaos and hijinks started pretty early on in the book it took quite a while for the crimes to show up.  The murder doesn't happen until almost three quarters of the way through the book and the kidnapping doesn't happen until almost halfway through.   While the pacing is fast and there's a lot going on well before than this didn't bother me at all but if you are new to the series it might impact your enjoyment.  

This is a fun series that just seems to be getting better.  I can't wait to see what happens as the timeline gets closer to World War II - especially considering that Georgie's mother is living in Germany at this point.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I've enjoyed everything I've read by this author and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!

Would I Recommend this Book? I would definitely recommend this series if you enjoy mysteries and especially if you are interested in the between the wars time period.  I would recommend starting with an earlier book as there are a lot of characters and complicated relationships.

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Oldest Books 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 Oldest Books on My TBR.  There are so many classic mysteries and books I haven't read so my TBR is full of books published quite awhile ago.

1.  The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins - (pub 1868) This may be the classic I read in 2025 - it's in the running as I loved the previous book I read by Collins.  

2.  The Rose and the Yew Tree by Mary Westmacott - (pub 1948) I've read everything Agatha Christie has written multiple times but somehow have yet to read her Mary Westmacott books.  This one especially appeals to me.

3.  Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey - (pub 1946) - This is one of the next books on my Josphine Tey list and it's one I've heard really good things about.  

4.  The Rescuers by Margery Sharp - (pub 1959)  I love the Disney movie and just recently discovered that it was based on a book which I of course now need to read.

5.  Miss Plum and Miss Penny by Dorothy Evelyn Smith - (pub 1959) I suspect this was added after a review from one of my favorite YouTubers - Lil's Vintage World - and it sounds lovely.

6.  The Blind Side by Patricia Wentworth - (pub 1939) Patricia Wentworth is one of my favorite mystery authors and this is one I haven't read.

7.  The Secret of Terror Castle by Robert Arthur - (pub 1964) This was mentioned in a Gigi Pandian book and it sounded really fun so of course I need to read it!

8.  Murder a la Mode by Patricia Moyes - (pub 1963) I've been enjoying reading through Moyes' Inspector Tibbett books and this is the next one on my list.

9.  The Secret Island by Enid Blyton - (pub 1938) Somehow, I never ended up reading Blyton as a child but I feel like I should make up for that now.

10. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James - (pub 1881) This is another book on my list of classics I might read in 2025.  I didn't love the other book I read by James but I feel I should give this one a try.

What are some of the oldest books on your TBR?

The Mirror - Paranormal Romantic Suspense Review

Goodreads: The Mirror (The Lost Brides Trilogy #2) by Nora Roberts

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

Description:  When Sonya MacTavish inherits the huge Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine, she has no idea that the house is haunted. The footsteps she hears at night, the doors slamming, the music playing, are not figments of her imagination. In her dreams she sees glimpses of the past. In the present she finds portraits of brides. And when she has visions of an antique mirror, she is drawn to it, sensing it holds dark family secrets.

Then one night the mirror appears and Sonya glides through this looking glass, into the past—and sees a bride murdered on her wedding day, the circle of gold torn from her finger. It is a scene that will play out again and again—a centuries-old curse that must be broken—and a puzzle she must solve if there is any hope of breaking the curse.

Genre: Romance - Paranormal Suspense

Why I Picked This Book:  I absolutely loved the first book in this trilogy and couldn't wait to pick this one up.  

My Impression: I adored the first book and could not wait for this one.  I love Sonya, Cleo, Owen, and Trey and I absolutely adore the house and its ghostly residents.  This starts up right where the first book left off.  The four friends are fully engaged with a long dead woman who has stalked the Poole family and the Brides of the Manor house for generations.  The 3 dogs and the cat add some humor, and I love getting to know the ghosts a little better.   I love Jack and Molly and Clover's musical editorials.  I would also pay serious money for a chance to explore the Manor, and it is now at the top of my list of fictional places I wish were real!

This atmosphere in this book is perfect.  It's spooky and heartwarming all at once with ghosts both good and really really bad.  I love that Sonya is learning more about her family as she becomes more comfortable in the family home.  The romantic relationships are really nice with great communication but what really makes this book special to me is the friendships between the four main characters.  

This is definitely an in-between book.  The story starts off where the first book left off and nothing is resolved by the end.  I do wish I had reread the first book before I picked this one up as while there is not a huge cast of living characters there are a lot of ghosts and brides and intricacies of relationships that I couldn't fully remember.  I very much enjoyed this one, but I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the book closer together.  I won't make that mistake for book three and am already looking forward to a reread! 

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  Roberts is one of my comfort read authors and this is shaping up to be my favorite trilogy by her. 

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like a book with a little bit of spookiness, friendship, romance, and fantastic animal side characters this is a must-read trilogy.  

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

Classic Mysteries I'm Reading - Or Going to Be Reading Soon

 

Right now, I'm about a third of the way through Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh and thoroughly enjoying it.  I don't think I've read it before and it is proving to be a delight with meddling spinsters, a small English village, secrets and scandals and an incredibly ingenious method of murder.  I've read a number of Ngaio Marsh books, but I can't think I've enjoyed any of her books as much as this.  I'm not sure if it's me or the book.

After I finish the Ngaio Marsh, I have Third Girl by Agatha Christie to read.  It's not one of my favorite Christies but it's the November pick for the 2024 Read Christie Challenge.  It has Ariadne Oliver in it and she's one of my favorite side characters so it's not a total loss.

I also have Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers and A Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey to read by the end of the year to finish my Classic Mystery List for 2024 as well as the December Read Christie Challenge pick.  

I'm also looking ahead to my reading in 2025 and trying to pick some classic mysteries to read. I'm planning on doing the Read Christie Challenge again and I definitely want to read more Ngaio Marsh and Dorothy L. Sayers but who else should I read?  What mystery authors past and present should I try?

Friday Fives - Series I Started This Year That I Want to Continue

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 read a lot of genres that tend to focus on series and while I have a series project where I focus on 10 series at a time there are always new series sneaking onto my reading list.  Here are 5 that did that this year that I'm really looking forward to continuing and focusing on when I clear off a bit of space on my current list!

1.  Beryl and Edwina Mysteries by Jessica Ellicot - This was one of my first books of the year and it was such a fun classic British village mystery with a oh so proper village resident and her not as proper school friend who suddenly arrives.  The mystery was fun, and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters.  I'm looking forward to seeing what trouble they get up to next.

2.  Rockton/Casey Duncan by Kelley Armstrong - I LOVED the first book in the Rockton series and am so looking forward to reading more in the series - or really anything else by Armstrong.

3.  Westcott Series by Mary Balogh - It'd been awhile since I read anything by this author so I was so excited to pick this one up and I so enjoyed it.  It's a great premise for a series and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to the rest of the Westcotts.

4.  Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen by Marthe Joceyln - This is a middle grade mystery series loosely based on a young Agatha Christie with her very open Hercule Poirot sidekick.  I loved all the Agatha Christie mentions and the mystery was a good one!

5.  Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey - I have had this book on my shelf forever and am so glad I finally read it.  It had more depth than I expected, and I really enjoyed meeting all the characters.  I'm already looking forward to reading the next book.

Have you started any new to you series this year that you're looking forward to continuing?

Books from the Backlog - The Art of the Con

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 Art of the Con by Anthony M. Amore

Blurb:  Art scams are today so numerous that the specter of a lawsuit arising from a mistaken attribution has scared a number of experts away from the business of authentication and forgery, and with good reason. Art scams are increasingly convincing and involve incredible sums of money. The cons perpetrated by unscrupulous art dealers and their accomplices are proportionately elaborate.
Anthony M. Amore's The Art of the Con tells the stories of some of history's most notorious yet untold cons. They involve stolen art hidden for decades; elaborate ruses that involve the Nazis and allegedly plundered art; the theft of a conceptual prototype from a well-known artist by his assistant to be used later to create copies; the use of online and television auction sites to scam buyers out of millions; and other confidence scams incredible not only for their boldness but more so because they actually worked. Using interviews and newly released court documents, The Art of the Con will also take the reader into the investigations that led to the capture of the con men, who oftentimes return back to the world of crime. For some, it's an irresistible urge because their innocent dupes all share something in common: they want to believe.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  This has been on my TBR for ages and I've been especially fascinated with cons and forgeries lately so now seems like a good time.

Guilt and Ginataan - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Guilt and Ginataan (Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #5) by Mia P. Manansala

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

Description:  Autumn is in full swing for the town of Shady Palms—the perfect time for warm drinks, cozy cardigans, and…dead bodies?

The annual Shady Palms Corn Festival is one of the town’s biggest moneymakers, drawing crowds from all over the Midwest looking to partake in delicious treats, local crafts, and of course, the second largest corn maze in Illinois. Lila Macapagal and her Brew-ha Cafe crew, Adeena Awan and Elena Torres, are all too happy to participate in the event and even make a little wager on who can make it through the corn maze the fastest—but their fun is suddenly cut short when a dead body is found in the middle of the maze…and an unconscious Adeena lies next to it, clutching a bloody knife.

The body is discovered to be a local politician’s wife, and all signs—murder weapon included—point to Adeena as the culprit. But Lila knows her best friend couldn’t have done this, so she and her crew put on their sleuthing caps yet again to find the killer who framed Adeena and show them what happens when they mess with a Brew-ha…

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This series has been on my radar since the first book came out and this one looked good.  

My Impression:  I'm always a bit nervous starting a series this far in but I had absolutely no problem jumping in with this one and getting the who is who stuff all figured out.  I enjoyed all the fall fun happening in during the corn festival and the murder was an intriguing one.  The victim had some people who might have wanted to end her life and then there's her wife's position of mayor in the neighboring town to consider.  All Lila knows is that it was not her best friend Adeena who ended the mayor's wife's life in the middle of a corn maze even if she was found clutching the bloody knife.  The real question is who had the strong enough motive.  

The investigation was interesting with small town politics and personal secrets to be dug through as well as a motive for murder to be found.   I did struggle a bit with the writing style.  I like a good food description but the description of everything felt a bit bulky and slowed the pace down.  As well, I had a hard time warming up to Lila and Elena (especially Elena).  Luckily, I liked Adeena, Jae and the Aunties enough to make up for it.  This wasn't my favorite cozy I've read this year but overall, I did enjoy it and liked that it dealt with a cuisine I'm not that familiar with.  This is a series I'll continue with though it may not be at the top of my list.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely!  While this wasn't perfect I did enjoy it and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you're a mystery fan this is a series worth trying - especially if you like lots of interesting and quirky characters with more than a few opinions!

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books on My TBR With Destinations in the Title

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 Ten Books with Destinations in the Title.  This was a bit of a challenge for me since I read a lot of cozies which usually are set in fictional small towns but it was fun to dig through my TBRs and find books with place names in their titles.

1.  The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

2.  The Fleet Street Murder by Charles Finch

3.  Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn

4.  Murder on Brittany Shores by Jean-Luc Bannalec 

5.  To Scotland with Love by Patience Griffin

6.  A Nantucket Wedding by Nancy Thayer

7.  The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin

8.  The House on Tradd Street by Karen White

9. The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

10. Lost and Found in Paris by Lian Dolan

Do you have books with destinations in the title on your TBR?  

I'll Be Home for Mischief -- Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: I'll Be Home For Mischief (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #5) by Jacqueline Frost

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

Description:  It’s Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine, and the Historical Society has launched a widespread campaign to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary. Descendants of the founding family, the Snows, have returned for the first time, and Holly is determined to make the family’s visit magical. In an attempt to put Mistletoe on the map, Holly’s mother, a respected local baker, attempts to break a record by baking the world’s largest gingerbread man, but her plans are whisked away when Mr. Snow’s body ends up in the batter.

When Mr. Moore, the local mistletoe farmer, is accused of the crime, Holly reprises her role as amateur sleuth to protect the sweet older man. Between hosting the inconsolable Mrs. Snow and other guests at the inn, receiving threatening messages telling her to stop her investigation, and preparing for her first wedding anniversary with Sheriff Evan Gray, she might need a Christmas miracle to survive.

When someone breaks into Holly’s office and scratches a warning into her desk, she knows she has little time left. Can Holly uncover the killer before someone else gets burned, or is her involvement a recipe for trouble?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed every other book I've read in this series so of course I had to pick this one up.

My Impression:  I always look forward to my annual visit to the Christmas Tree Farm and the Reindeer Games.  Once again, the town of Mistletoe is gearing up for Christmas with the usual influx of tourists, events and this time a Victorian theme.  Over on the farm Holly's mother is also trying to break a World Record with the biggest gingerbread man.  Unfortunately, the return of the last remaining members of one of the founding families of Mistletoe isn't as jolly as expected - especially when a body is found in a very un-merry place.  

This series cannot be beat for setting.  It's so Christmasy and full of holiday fun with winter events and lots of yummy treats. The cast of characters is wonderful with Holly's family and friends.   These are always characters I'm glad to catch up with.  I also liked that they're not matter of fact about tripping over corpses on a weirdly regular basis.  Holly's mom especially worries about Holly's safety and Holly really tries to stay out of the investigation to keep her mom and husband from worrying.

However, that's frequently easier said than done and Holly can't help but getting involved a bit.  I did figure out a few things before Holly and Evan did but getting to the end was fast paced and kept me reading so I didn't mind.  This is a fun read and a great way to kick off the holiday season.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  This author is pretty much an auto-read for me.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy cozies this is a fantastic series.  While you could easily jump into the series with this mystery it's even better if you read the series in order.

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

Monthly Reading Recap - October 2024

 

Monthly Recap:

Monthly Reading Count - 19 -I had some books left over from September that got finished up and other than that I had a pretty good reading time!

Print - 6

Ebook - 6 

Audiobook - 7

Mystery - 14

Romance - 1

Nonfiction - 2

Fiction - 3

Favorite Books of the Month:

Rockin' Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews - I love this series and while this Christmas mystery didn't have blue jays dive bombing unsuspecting family members inside like a previous book it was still a lot of fun!

Least Favorite Book of the Month:

Arsenic with Austen by Katherine Bolger Hyde - I really wanted to like this one because it had a great premise but an immature main character and an odd romance kind of killed it for me.

Where My Reading Took Me in October:  

While I had a good reading month I didn't travel to any new places!

Domestic Travel:  I visited Florida, California (twice), New York, Connecticut, Oregon, Virginia, and Massachusetts

International Travel:  I visited England and Scotland multiple times.

Where did your reading take you in October?  What were some of your favorite reads?

Friday Fives - We Got to Hang Out With Wolves!

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.  We went to Seacrest Wolf Preserve in Chipley, Florida before our cruise and it was such an amazing experience.  They are a rehab facility for wolves and various small animals and do guided tours where you get to interact with the animals (under very strict rules and guidelines).  We did a private tour and it was amazing and so interesting.  Here are five pictures from our time there.

1.  

This guy was very affectionate and quite determined to give me a kiss

2.  

Even wolves do big stretches!

3.  

Isn't this big guy gorgeous!  

4.  

This girl is actually a wolf/German Shepherd hybrid that had been surrendered.  She was a big of belly rubs.

5.  

This is Will and Pesto the possum.  Pesto got shaken by a cat at an early age and his back end is paralyzed but he is the absolute sweetest.

If you're ever near Chipley, Florida I highly recommend visiting Seacrest Wolf Preserve.  You can only take a tour with a reservation and the dress code is very strict.  If you're in the mood to splurge a bit I can't recommend a private tour enough.  I learned so much and the animals were just fascinating to watch.