This Week in Reading - March 22

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

What I Got:

A Stroke of Malice by Anna Lee Huber - I'm really looking forward to this book.  This series has become a favorite of mine and I'm looking forward to reading this one.  (Publisher)

Who Speaks for the Damned by C.S. Harris - I just finished the previous book in the series and really enjoyed it so I'm excited to read this one.  (Publisher)

Gone with the Whisker by Laurie Cass - This is a cozy series that I haven't read but I've really been wanting to give it a try.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, and Seaglass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne

Listening:  The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley - My goal is to finish this book this coming week.  I've really been enjoying it but it's been hard to find time to listen.

Watching:  We are almost done with Grantchester on Amazon Prime and will be looking for something else to watch soon.  Any recommendations - especially for mysteries on Amazon Prime?

Off the Blog:

What a crazy week it's been!  On the last Sunday Post stuff was just starting to close here but our libraries were staying open.  As the week went on more and more stuff started to close and we're basically in full shutdown.  Earlier this week the governor issued an order closing the beaches and all restaurants except for takeout and delivery and pretty much everything else except for necessary services.  My husband (and pretty much everyone else I know) is working from home until further notice and we're pretty much just staying put for the foreseeable future.  Luckily all 3 of us are introverts and we already home school so our lives aren't THAT different but it's still weird to have NOTHING on our calendar.  We have been eating takeout some to mix it up but that's about it.  The weather has been seriously crummy here with lots of rain so going outside hasn't seemed particularly but today we might be adventurous and go for a drive. 

I hope everyone is staying safe and sane during this weird time.

On the Blog:

What Happened:

Monday:  Lavender Blue Murder - Cozy Mystery Review
Tuesday:  Top Ten Tuesday - Spring TBR
Wednesday:  A Forgotten Murder - Mystery Review
Thursday:  Books from the Backlog - The Haunted Lady
Friday:  Friday Fives: Middle Grade Wish list
Saturday:  Holding the Dream - Contemporary Romance Review

What's Coming Up:

Monday:  Little Beach Street Bakery - Fiction Review

Tuesday:  Top Ten Tuesdays - How To Stay Out of Trouble If You're in a Cozy Mystery

Wednesday:  Seaglass Cottage - Fiction Review

Thursday:  Books from the Backlog 

Friday:  Friday Fives

Saturday:  The Read-Aloud Family - Nonfiction Review

Have a great week and happy reading!

Holding the Dream - Contemporary Review

Goodreads:  Holding the Dream (Dream Trilogy #2) by Nora Roberts

Rating: Liked It
Source: Library

Description: Surrounded by the sweeping cliffs and beauty of Big Sur, Kate Powell treasured both her life at Templeton House and the family who raised her like one of their own. Although Kate lacked Margo’s beauty and Laura’s elegance, she knew she had something they would never possess—a shrewd head for business.
Driven by ambition, Kate measured her life’s success with each soaring promotion. But now faced with professional impropriety, Kate is forced to look deep within herself—only to find something missing in her life...and in her heart.

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoyed this trilogy when I read it years ago and thought it was time for reread.  I read the first book last month.

My Impression:  I'm not sure anyone writes friendships quite as well as Nora Roberts and this trilogy is one of those series that proves that.  While yes, this is Kate's story and most of it focuses on her developing relationship the true star is the relationship between the three women - Kate, Margo, and Laura.  Not only have these three been lifelong friends but they have weathered some pretty severe storms together and have now opened a business together. 

Kate has always been a creature of habit and craves order and control. She's always been ambitious and measures her self worth in accomplishments.  When her entire world gets knocked on it's ear Kate is flailing but comes to realize what truly matters to her.  It's an interesting and unique evolution.   While Kate is not the first fictional character to have to reevaluate the way she does it and who she is in general keeps this from feeling a bit same old same old.  I loved the romance, loved spending more time with Kate, and loved seeing this next chapter in the life of the Templeton family.  I'm looking forward to picking up Laura's story next.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Of course!  Roberts is a must read and a frequent reread for me.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy Roberts' friendship based trilogies this is one you really should pick up!

Friday Fives - Middle Grade Wishlist

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  Michelle over at Because Reading is Better Than Real Life   used to do a Five on Fridays that I always enjoyed and I've seen a few other variations on the theme.  As well I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd give start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  One of my favorite bookish Youtubers - Katie from Life Between Words - has been talking a lot about Middle Grade March which has gotten my thinking about what Middle Grade books I want to read.  Because Middle Grade is one of my favorite genres to reread I'm focusing on new to me Middle Grades and not rereads.  I'm also avoiding authors and series that I'm already familiar with and already love.

1.  Tilly and the Bookwanders (Page & Co) by Anna James - a little girl who lives above her grandparents' bookshop discovers that her favorite fictional characters are appearing in the shop.

2.  The Rescuers by Margery Sharp - The Rescuers is one of my very favorite Disney movies and one I just discovered was based on a book.  So of course I have to read the book!

3.  Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein - This one has been on my TBR for years and somehow I've never read it.  Soon, perhaps?

4.  The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M. Boston - Someone recommended this to me but for the life of me I can't remember who (maybe Lark?) but regardless it looks wonderful and definitely like a book I'd enjoy.

5.  The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill - I have heard so many raves about this book and it has been on my TBR since it came out years ago.

What middle grade books are on your wish list?  Have you read any of these?

Books from the Backlog - The Haunted Lady

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 Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Blurb:  Eliza Fairbanks may be old, but she's hardly senile. So when she claims to have found bats in her bedroom and arsenic in her strawberries, Miss Pinkerton is quickly assigned to investigate. It doesn't take the shrewd nurse-detective long to discover that Mrs. Fairbanks is quite sane after all—and quite dead!

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I've read a few books by this author years ago and don't really want to remember much about them.  I picked this one up at a used bookstore not that long ago and need to read it because I'm considering trying to collect all her books.  I figure I should see if I like her before buying 30 books.

A Forgotten Murder - Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Forgotten Murder (Medlar Mystery #3) by Jude Deveraux

Rating: Just Okay
Source:  Publisher

Description:  After solving two murder cases in their hometown of Lachlan, Florida, Sara Medlar, her niece Kate and their friend Jack need a change of scenery. Sara arranges for them to visit an old friend of hers in England. Upon arrival at Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate that has been converted to a luxury hotel, Kate and Jack quickly realize that Sara is up to something. They learn that Sara has also invited a number of others to join them at Oxley.
When everyone assembles, Sara lets them know why they are there. Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event.

In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.

Sara, Jack and Kate are once again at the heart of a mysterious case that only they are able to solve. But someone is willing to continue to kill to keep the truth about Oxley Manor buried, and none of the guests are safe.

Genre: Mystery 

Why I Picked This Book:  This is an author I've seen around for years but never read and this particular story sounded like something I would absolutely love.

My Impression:  I wanted to love this one.  I really did.  I went in just knowing I was.  And... well I didn't hate it.  There's a lot of potential here and moments that I really enjoyed.  But the bulk of it felt like I was reading a detailed outline that hadn't quite made the jump to the actual finished manuscript. 

The mystery was interesting and there were definitely secrets galore which I found intriguing.  I though Puck was an unusual character and I liked that she had found a way to live life her way even if it was on the odd side.  Frankly, I would want to hide from most of the characters too.  The flashbacks which centered around her were the best parts of the story and were the only times I really felt myself connecting with what was going on. 

This was a story that I didn't mind reading but never felt fully invested in or was ever really able to just sink into the story.  I was always very aware of each word I was reading.  While this wasn't a particularly engaging read it wasn't terrible and it does make me curious to read more of Deveraux's books but this is one I probably wouldn't recommend.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  While I was underwhelmed by this book I would try something else by Deveraux as there were parts of this I liked.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Probably not.  It wasn't terrible but it was just okay. 

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

Top Ten Tuesday - Spring 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 a favorite of mine - the seasonal TBR - and since it is technically very close to spring it's the Spring TBR!

1.  The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne - I really enjoyed Thayne's last women's fiction book and this cover was so pretty I couldn't resist! 

2.  Dressed Up 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton - This came out in February and I really meant to read it then but I didn't so I'm hoping to get to it this spring.

3.  Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer - I'm a little worried this will hit a little too close to home as the main character is dealing with her father's worsening dementia (in my case it's my grandmother's) but other then that I'm looking forward to this as the main character learns more about the mother she never really knew.

4.  Miss Austen by Gill Hornby - This is a historical fiction about Jane Austen's sister and I'm really looking forward to it.

5.  The House that Vanity Built by Nancy Cole Silverman - I absolutely adored the first book in this mystery series about a psychic and a ghost  with touches of old Hollywood so I'm really excited about this one.

6.  Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett - I've had this book sitting on my shelf for years and it looks really fun so this spring seems like the time to read it!

7.  A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn - I've read books 1,2, and 5 so now it's time to read 3!

8.  Grey Mask by Patricia Wentworth - I have finally completed my collection of the Miss Silver Mysteries and am celebrating by doing a big reread.  This isn't my favorite (it's actually my least favorite) but it's the first so that's where I'm starting.

9.  The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - Another book that has been on my shelf forever and one I'm really hoping to read this spring.

10. Meet Me in Atlantis by Mark Adams - This book has been on my TBR for years and I have started it at least twice but never got very far before I had to put it away for a review book.  This spring actually finishing this book is happening!

What's on your TBR this spring?

Lavender Blue Murder - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Lavender Blue Murder (A Tea Shop Mystery #21) by Laura Childs

Rating: Liked It!
Source: Publisher

Description: Tea maven Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier Drayton Conneley are guests at a bird hunt styled in the precise manner of an English shooting party. Which means elevenses (sloe gin fizzes), gun loaders, the drawing of pegs, fine looking bird dogs, and shooting costumes of tweed, herringbone, and suede.
But as gunshots explode like a riff of Black Cat firecrackers, another shot sounds too close for comfort to Theodosia and Drayton. Intrigued but worried, Theodosia wanders into the neighbor's lavender field where she discovers their host, Reginald Doyle, bleeding to death.

His wife, Meredith, is beside herself with grief and begs Theodosia and Drayton to stay the night. But Theodosia awakens at 2:00A.M. to find smoke in her room and the house on fire. As the fire department screams in and the investigating sheriff returns, Meredith again pleads with Theodosia for help.

As Theodosia investigates, fingers are pointed, secrets are uncovered, Reginald's daughter-in-law goes missing presumed drowned, and Meredith is determined to find answers via a séance. All the while Theodosia worries if she's made a mistake in inviting a prime suspect to her upscale Lavender Lady Tea.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book: I enjoy this series and that cover is just so pretty.

My Impression:  This series is just as warm and cozy as the cups of tea that Theodosia and Drayton serve at Indigo Tea Shop.  Yes there's murder and mayhem and the occasional dangerous situation but it doesn't take away from the pure coziness of the series.  This book was no exception and the murder and mayhem were on serious overdrive.  There's murder, fire, missing people, secrets, lawsuits, intrigue, and family tensions.  The number of suspects is huge but at the same time no one has an overwhelming motive.  Watching Theodosia snoop around, ask interesting questions, and theorize with Drayton and Haley was lots of fun.  As usual even though I had a guess who the killer was I enjoyed getting to the big reveal so much that it didn't bother me at all.

The book isn't flawless.  Theodosia has a case of the "too perfects" which is a condition that plagues many a cozy heroine.  She's lovely, has perfect taste, everyone likes her, and she's an expert on just about everything there is.  However, she's not arrogant or annoying so the too perfects didn't keep me from liking her and seriously wishing that the tea shop really did exist. 

If you enjoy a cozy mystery this is a delightful series with entertaining mysteries, an enjoyable cast, and warm fuzzy cozy feelings. 

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Of course.  I keep meaning to go back and read the series from the beginning and I'll be picking up the next book.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy cozies this is one of the coziest of series!

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