Friday Linkups - The God of the Hive

It's Friday linkup time!  I'm linking up with the Book Blogger Hop hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer, Book Beginnings of Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, and the Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice

This Week's Book Blogger Hop Question:
In one sentence describe your passion for reading.

My Answer:
Reading is my constant.

This week's book is The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King which is about an elderly Sherlock Holmes and his wife Mary.  While Sherlock is much older and lives a quieter life he and Mary can't seem to escape mysteries!  This is a later book in the series which I've been reading since the beginning and always enjoy.  As well this continues a major mystery from the previous book, The Language of Bees.  Sometimes this series can be a touch dry but I always enjoy it and can't believe it's taken me months to get around to reading this one after loving the last book!

The Beginning:
A child is a burden, after a mile.
After two miles in the cold sea air, stumbling through the night up the side of a hill and down again, becoming all too aware of previously unnoticed burns and bruises and having already put on eight miles that night - half of it carrying a man on a stretcher - even a small, drowsy three-and-a-half-year-old becomes a strain.

My Thoughts:
This starts right after the previous book ends so I have a pretty good idea of what's going on here.  Seriously though,  even without the previous 8 miles carrying a guy on a stretcher carrying a 3 1/2 year old 2 miles would be pretty exhausting!

The 56:
The the world exploded in a racket of tearing metal and crackling trees, the scream of three human voices, and an unbelievable confusion of sound and pain and turmoil as we tumbled end over end and fell crying into the dark.

My Thoughts:
Well that sounds ominous!  I'm not quite here yet but it doesn't sound like things are going very well!

So what do you think?  Keep reading?

Lowcountry Bonfire - Cozy Mystery Review

Lowcountry Bonfire (Liz Talbot #6) by Susan M. Boyer

Rating:  Very Good
Source:  NetGalley

Description:  Private Investigators Liz Talbot and Nate Andrews have worked their share of domestic cases. So when Tammy Sue Lyerly hires them to find out what her husband is hiding, they expect to find something looney but harmless. After all, this is the guy who claims to have been a DEA agent, a champion bull rider, and a NASCAR driver. But when he turns up dead the morning after Liz and Nate deliver the incriminating photos, Tammy is the prime suspect.
Questioning the truth of Zeke Lyerly’s tall-tales, Liz and Nate race to uncover small town scandals, long buried secrets, and the victim’s tumultuous past to keep Tammy Sue out of jail and the case from going up in flames.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series and I love that description!

My Impression:  This is without a doubt one of my favorite cozy mystery series.  I love the characters, I love the setting, and above all the mysteries are always fantastic.  This one is no exception.  There's no waiting around for the action to start here as in the first pages Tammy Sue is setting her husband's beloved car (with his belongings packed in it of course) on fire.  When a body is discovered the normal cheating spouse case turns into a murder investigation and an investigation into just what of Zeke's tall tales might have had some truth to it.

Liz and Nate are newly married and getting adjusted to living and working together.  I love their relationship.  They're really partners in their working relationship as well as their personal one and it's just nice to see.  Since the bulk of the book takes place on Stella Maris we really see a lot of the Talbot family which I enjoyed.  They're characters without being over the top and just seem like nice people.

This may have been my favorite mystery of the series so far.  It starts out as Zeke just being a bit of a liar who is trying to make himself sound important but as Liz and Nate look into his life more and more bits and pieces just don't quite fit.  Could there be some truth to Zeke's lies?  This was a fun read because I really had no idea how things were going to go so I felt like I was going right along with Liz testing theories and investigating.  

This is really a fantastic cozy mystery series with likable characters and interesting mysteries that never lets me down.  This may be my favorite yet though I think I say that about each new mystery that Boyer writes!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm anxiously awaiting the next book already.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Definitely!  If you enjoy mysteries this is a series not to be missed.  While this is the 6th in the series you can certainly jump in here though if you start at the beginning you won't be sorry as all the mysteries are fantastic!

Cafe by the Sea - Contemporary Fiction Blog Tour Review

About The Café by the Sea

• Paperback: 416 pages • Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (June 27, 2017)

 The beloved author of The Bookshop on the Corner returns with a sparkling, sunny, soulful new novel perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand. Years ago, Flora fled the quiet Scottish island where she grew up -- and she hasn't looked back. What would she have done on Mure? It's a place where everyone has known her all her life, where no one will let her forget the past. In bright, bustling London, she can be anonymous, ambitious... and hopelessly in love with her boss. But when fate brings Flora back to the island, she's suddenly swept once more into life with her brothers -- all strapping, loud, and seemingly incapable of basic housework -- and her father. Yet even amid the chaos of their reunion, Flora discovers a passion for cooking -- and find herself restoring dusty little pink-fronted shop on the harbour: a café by the sea. But with the seasons changing, Flora must come to terms with past mistakes -- and work out exactly where her future lies...

Funny and heartfelt, The Café by the Sea is a delightful summertime novel that puts a modern twist on the classic Seven Brides for Seven Brothers story.

My Thoughts:

The Bookshop on the Corner was the bookish equivalent of my happy place so I couldn't wait to read this newest one.   While there are big differences (food not books, paralegal not bookstore owner, etc).  Flora seems so young, so desperate to impress but so unsure of how to do it.  At the beginning especially she's very much a child - all about image and appearance without really understanding how to have substance behind it or the knowledge of what makes her happy.  It took me a few pages to really get in the flow of the book because I felt so sorry for her but once she returns to Mure I was completely hooked.  I loved seeing the island and the dysfunctional relationships of her family.  All her brothers seem so one note on first meeting but as the book progresses it quickly becomes apparent that all is not what it seems.  This is a lovely story.  While there is a bit of a romance what really seemed to stand out was Flora, her family, and the people of Mure getting to know each other again and figuring out what they really want.  The romance was the cherry on top of a deliciously tasty ice cream sundae.  Rating:  Very Good

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan is the New York Times-bestselling author of numerous novels, including The Bookshop on the Corner, Little Beach Street Bakery, and Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery, all international bestsellers. Jenny is married with three children and lives in London and Scotland. Find out more about Jenny at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Ten Series I Want To Continue Reading

Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and the Bookish is on vacation until August so until then I'm left to my own devices!  Earlier this summer I talked about Series I Want to Start which led me to thinking about a connected topic - Series I Want to Continue.  So often I read the first book in a series and really enjoy it but it takes me ages to get around to the next book.  As well there are so many series that I've read for years but over the last little while have gotten away from me and I'm not several books behind.  Here are the top ten series I want to catch up on!

1.  The Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James series by Deborah Crombie - This was one of the first police procedural series I ever read and I fell in love pretty much immediately.  I'd really love to go back and start at the beginning since it's been 20+ years since I've read the first one but unfortunately who has time for that?  For now I'd be happy to get caught up on the series by reading #14 through 17.

2.  Chief Inspector Armand Gamache by Louise Penny - I read the first Armand Gamache earlier this year and really enjoyed it.  I've heard the series gets even better as it goes along and I'm excited to see how the characters develop.

3.  Ruth Galloway by Elly Griffiths - I love a little history mixed in with my mystery and Griffiths does just that in her Ruth Galloway series.  I read the first one last year and really liked it.

4.  The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - I read Cinder and Scarlet last year and loved them but haven't picked up Cress yet.  I'm really excited to spend more time with the characters and see how everything works out.

5.  Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud - I read The Screaming Staircase last year and really enjoyed this dark middle grade book where only children can see and fight the ghosts that threaten everyone.  The 2nd one looks even better.

6.  Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan - I listened to the first book and really loved it. It was fun to see how Riordan wove mythology into the modern world and I loved the team of characters.

7.  Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - I've read the first book in the series several times but never advanced beyond that.  I love Adams' sense of humor and way of looking at the world.

8.  Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - This isn't a series I'm really behind on but more one I want to revisit.  Years ago when there weren't so many cozy mystery options I read a number of the Mrs. Pollifax books but I was limited to what was in my library.  I'd really love to go back and read them all in order.

9.  Mary Russell by Laurie R. King - I've really enjoyed this series about Mary Russell and her husband, an elderly Sherlock Holmes.  I'm working on catching up but I'm still several books behind.

10.  Lord Peter Wimsey by Dorothy L. Sayers -  I've read and reread all of Agatha Christie's books more than I can count and quite a number of Ngaio Marsh and Patricia Wentworth but I've sadly neglected Sayers.  I read the first Wimsey book a year or two ago but I'd really like to continue the series.

Any series that you've started, loved and then neglected?

A Stardance Summer - Contemporary Romance Review

A Stardance Summer by Emily March

Rating:  Good
Source: Publisher

Description:   Lili Howe took a leap of faith when she decided to join the Tornado Alleycats, her elderly landlady’s all-female glamour-camping club. Lili’s always given everything to her career, putting herself on track to become her CPA firm’s youngest partner. But now that Lili’s carefully planned future is shattered, she’s willing to let summer work its magic on her―at all costs.
There’s never a dull moment at Stardance Ranch, the Colorado resort Brick Callahan built from the ground up. Still, a late night skinny-dipping session involving a bunch of “glamping” grannies. . .with his best friend’s kid sister Lili among them? He couldn’t have made up such story if he tried. The undeniable mutual attraction between Brick and gorgeous, spirited Lili is a reminder that life is full of surprises. But when Brick’s ex-girlfriend suddenly shows up, he’s faced with a desperate choice: Do right by a woman he once loved or take a chance on Lili. . .and do everything he can to win her heart?

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I've enjoyed every book I've read in this series so far and loved the sound of this one!

My Impression:  I came into this book with crazy high expectations. I had loved the last 2 books (Christmas in Eternity Springs and Reunion Pass) and expected to fall in love with this book in just the same way.  Plus, I love the best friend's little sister/big brother's best friend trope.  With all of that put together I just knew this was going to be on of those books that just pulled me in and didn't let go.  But it wasn't.

I mean I liked it.  I'm not sure it's possible for Emily March to write a book that I don't enjoy.  I loved catching up with the town of Eternity Springs and all the people I've met over the previous books.  I haven't been with the series from the beginning so there are a number of couples whose stories I haven't read.  It is never confusing but always makes me want to go catch up immediately!  I liked Lili a lot.  She's in a tough spot after an entire life of being the good girl and doing what she was supposed to do.  Now she's in trouble and it seems like no one is in her corner except for her landlady, Patsy, who may have been one of my favorite characters in this book along with the rest of the all female camping group, the Tornado Alleycats.  I also really liked Brick.  He's a good guy.  He's part of his community, he's working hard to make his RV park work.  He's had some bumps but isn't angry or bitter though he's not particularly interested in relationships since a bad breakup years ago.  Lili and Brick are good together.  She's still recovering from a childhood crush she had on him but she actually sees him for who he is and not this ideal she's developed in her head which is my usual problem with childhood crushes.  They have a shared history and they both need a friend. It seems natural when it turns to more.

So what was it that kept me from falling in love with this one?  Tiffany Lambeau.  She's Lili's childhood nemesis and Brick's high school sweetheart and she's just so awful that I groaned every time she was mentioned.  A lot of this is really personal as I'm not a fan of flashbacks back to school days or high school sweethearts.  If this doesn't bother you at all you're going to love this book.  If you're like me and would rather high school stay far far in the past than this is still worth reading though it might not be quite as much of a home run.  The story and the characters are wonderful and I always enjoy a visit to Eternity Springs.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author:  Absolutely!  March is one of my favorite authors.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would!  This wasn't my favorite of the series but my issues were strictly personal.  This is a series you can jump in anywhere with and March always delivers a good read.

This Week in Reading - July 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:

Wicked Deeds by Heather Graham - I don't think it's too big of a shock that I can't resist a Heather Graham book!  Especially not one that's part of the Krewe of Hunters series.  I'm especially excited about this one because it features the couple of the previous 2 books and I really like them.  (NetGalley)

Dead of Winter by Wendy Corsi Staub - Staub is an author I really want to read more of but just haven't managed it yet.  I loved the previous book about Lily Dale and am really excited about this one.  (NetGalley)

Death Overdue by Brook Allison - There's a haunted library and a man who dies right before he gives his theory about who killed someone else.  How was I supposed to resist that?  (NetGalley)

Nine Lessons by Nicola Upson - This is one in a series of books where actual mystery author Josephine Tey becomes a fictional amateur sleuth.  While I'm jumping in mid series this one looked really good and I have high hopes.  (NetGalley)

A Cajun Christmas Killing by Ellen Byron - So far this series has been firmly on my list of favorite cozy mystery series so I'm really looking forward to this latest book.  But seriously, how can we be talking Christmas already??  (NetGalley)

Currently:

Reading:  Lowcountry Bonfire by Susan M. Boyer and No River to Wide by Emilie Richards

Listening:  I'm still listening to podcasts though I'm starting to miss audio books.  This week I've really been enjoying The Simple Show from Tsh Oxenreider who blogs at The Art of Simple.

Watching:  J and I are watching The Great British Bake Off (or Baking Show if you're PBS) and really enjoying it.  I'm struggling to catch up with Doctor Who.  I've really loved this season but I have a hard time finding time to watch it because it's a show you really have to sit down and pay attention too.  Most of the time the TV is more just on while I'm doing other things.

Off the Blog:

This week was a little odd.  The town I live in surrounds a military base and almost everyone I know (including myself) has worked on base at one time or another.  On Tuesday all of a sudden there were reports of a active shooter on base and I think the entire town came to a screeching halt and stared at the news.  The shooter was reported to be in the building I used to work in which made it really feel personal.  After hours it came out that the 911 calls that started everything where incorrect.  There's been a lot of backlash about the big reaction and how much of a waste of time it was since there was really nothing going on.  I'm grateful it ended up being a big nothing.  Everyone is safe and hopefully the response team are able to be even more effective from what they learned just in case there really is an active shooter one day.  It did make for an eventful day!

The Tornado has finished up his first week of Space Camp and has loved it.  He's sad it's over but is looking forward to going back for Robotics in a couple of weeks.  He's already lobbying to go back next year and I'm pretty sure is counting down the days until he can go to real Space Camp which is overnight.  Apparently there are bunk beds involved which is incredibly exciting.

Other than that not a very eventful week.  We're getting ready for our 2nd RV trip later this week which I'm really excited about.  We're heading up to Chattanooga to go to the aquarium and the children's museum and a few other things.  I think it'll be a fun trip!

On the Blog:

What Happened:

Monday:  The Swallow's Nest - Contemporary Fiction Review
Tuesday:  Top Ten Tuesday - Best Books of 2017 So Far
Wednesday - Book 4 Murder - Cozy Mystery Review
Thursday - My Cousin Rachel - Classic Mystery Review
Friday:  Friday Linkups with No River Too Wide
Saturday:  Crime of Passion Fruit - Cozy Foodie Mystery Review

What's Coming Up:

Monday:  Stardance Summer - Contemporary Romance Review

Tuesday:  Ten Series I Want to Continue

Wednesday:  Cafe by the Sea - Contemporary Fiction Review

Thursday:  Lowcountry Bonfire- Cozy Mystery Review

Friday:  Friday Linkups with Current Book

Saturday:  A Paris All Your Own - Short Story Review

Have a great week and happy reading!

Crime of Passion Fruit - Cozy Mystery Review

A Crime of Passion Fruit (A Bakeshop Mystery) by Ellie Alexander

Rating: Very Good
Source:  NetGalley

Description:  Jules Capshaw is trying to keep her cool as Torte gets set to make its transformation from quaint, local confectionary cafe to royal pastry palace. Meanwhile, Jules's estranged husband Carlos is making a desperate plea for her to come aboard his cruise ship and dazzle everyone with her signature sweets. She may be skeptical about returning to her former nautical life with Carlos but Jules can't resist an all-expense-paid trip, either. If only she knew that a dead body would find its way onto the itinerary . .

Now, instead of enjoying tropical drinks on deck between whipping up batches of sea-salted chocolates and flambeing fresh pineapple slices in the kitchen, Jules is plunged into dangerous waters. Her investigation leaves her with more questions than answers: Why can't anyone on board identify the young woman? And how can she help Carlos keep passengers at ease with a killer in their midst? Jules feels like she's ready to jump ship. Can she solve this case without getting in too deep?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This is a series I've really been enjoying and I'm excited to see Jules in cruise ship mode.

My Impression:  I've been reading this series since the beginning and have completely enjoyed every single mystery.  This one might just be my favorite.  The bulk of this book takes place on Jules' former cruise ship when she takes over as temporary pastry chef. Working on cruise ships has always been a big part of Jules' story so to see her actually at work there was really fun as well as getting a peek at what ship life is like for the crew on a cruise ship.  Typically in the out of Ashland books I've really missed the Torte setting and the characters there but my enjoyment of the cruise ship more than made up for it.

The mystery as expected from this solid series was well done and I enjoyed the not just whodunnit part but the who exactly is the victim aspect.  Jules role in the investigation is a little more official in this one as the Professor asks her to help him navigate the politics and personnel of the ship.  I do love when an amateur sleuth has a reason to poke around!

And then there's the food...  Jules is a pastry chef and the descriptions of her creations make my mouth water.  There's peach coffee cake, crepe cakes (stacks of super thin cakes with pastry cream in between), lemon jelly rolls, cupcakes, and all kinds delicious and decadent sounding desserts.  Luckily, the back has several of the recipes that are mentioned throughout the book (I'm most excited about the lemon jelly roll) and for when you're feeling a little desserted out you can try Asian Noodle Salad or make a Monte Christo Sandwich,  All will pair well with a Mai Chai - one of Torte's top barista's creations - full of chai spices and tasty tropical accents.

If you enjoy mysteries and love foodie books this is one of the best combinations I've found. The mystery is solid, the characters are interesting and likable, and the food descriptions are enough to make me want to get into the kitchen and start whipping up my own creations.   This is a series I always enjoy and always look forward to the next book though I don't recommend reading on an empty stomach!

I'm linking up with Weekend Cooking hosted by Beth Fish Reads