Shattered Silk - Keeper Shelf Review

Goodreads:  Shattered Silk by Barbara Michaels

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

Description: A Killer Lurks In her quaint vintage clothing boutique in picturesque Georgetown, Karen Nevitt' s laces and white linens seem so innocent. Her aunt' s aged friends have even ransacked their attics to help the novice entrepreneur launch her business. The dresses they produce are exquisite--valuable designer originals from decades past--but unwittingly Karen has discovered something far more lethal than fashion trends. Concealed by the delicate fabrics is the hidden clue to a forgotten mystery, and someone is willing to kill to keep it that way.

Genre:  Mystery - Romantic Suspense

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm reading through all the books on my keeper shelf to see if they still deserve their place.

My Impression:  I love this book!  If you asked me what is my favorite Barbara Michaels book is this would be either first or second (the other favorite is coming up in a few books and I can't wait!).  I adore vintage clothes and history and this book has both with an intriguing mystery, hidden agendas, and likable characters.  

At the beginning of the book Karen is pretty much at her lowest point.  Newly separated from her dismissive jerk of a husband she feels frumpy, unattractive and unwanted.  She just wants to hide from everything and everyone.  As the book goes on, Karen finds her voice, her purpose and her passion as well as making new friends and renewing relationships with old friends.  And I haven't even mentioned the clothes yet!  The clothes are amazing - especially Mrs. Mac's dresses.  My only complaint about this book is that there aren't illustrations or photographs of the dresses that are mentioned.  Granted, this is a fictional story but a lot of the clothing and designers mentioned are not and you can go down quite the rabbit hole looking up all the designers mentioned.  

This is a delightful bit of escapism with an entertaining plot and main characters you can't help but like.  If you've read Michaels' previous book, Ammie, Come Home, then many of the characters will be old friends that you will be excited to see again.  If you haven't read it yet no worries!  You'll enjoy meeting them and will probably want to go back and read the earlier book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I absolutely love her books and this was a delightful treat of a read.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Definitely!  If you need a bit of escape then this is a perfect read!

Friday Fives - Five Cozies With Ghostly Characters

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.  Since Halloween is quickly approaching I'm looking at 5 cozy mysteries that have ghosts as characters.  I do love a ghostly mystery!

1.  A Skeleton in the Family by Leigh Perry - This series features not only a ghost but a ghost skeleton and sounds like such a fun read.

2.  The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly/Cleo Coyle - I've read the later books in the series but have never read the early books.

3.  If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey - This involves vintage clothes and a ghost - what's not to love!

4.  Last Wool and Testament by Molly McRae - I own the first couple of books in this series about a haunted yarn shop and it sounds really great.

5.  Dead Bolt by Juliet Blackwell -  This is involves a home renovator who sees ghosts which makes the whole home renovation thing complicated at times!

What ghostly books are on your TBR this October?

Books from the Backlog - The Paris Key

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 Paris Key by Juliet Blackwell

Blurb:  As a girl, Genevieve Martin spent the happiest summer of her life in Paris, learning the delicate art of locksmithing at her uncle's side. But since then, living back in the States, she has become more private, more subdued. She has been an observer of life rather than an active participant, holding herself back from those around her, including her soon-to-be-ex-husband. Paris never really left Genevieve, and, as her marriage crumbles, she finds herself faced with an incredible opportunity: return to the magical city of her youth to take over her late uncle's shop. But as she absorbs all that Parisian culture has to offer, she realizes the city also holds secrets about her family that could change her forever, and that locked doors can protect you or imprison you, depending on which side of them you stand.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I have really enjoyed Blackwell's fiction and this sounds exactly like the kind of book I'm in the mood for.  Now I just have to dust it off and read it!

Dashing Through the Snowbirds - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Dashing Through the Snowbirds (Meg Langslow Mystery #32) by Donna Andrews

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

Description:  Christmas in Caerphilly is wonderful! Unless you’re a Canadian whose inconsiderate boss is forcing you to spend the holiday there, far from family and friends, with only a slim chance of a white Christmas. Meg already has her hands full, trying to make the season festive for the dozen programmers who are staying with her and Michael while working on a rush project with her brother’s software company. At least it’s an interesting project, since the Canadian company is doing forensic genealogy and DNA analysis.

When the inconsiderate boss is found murdered, there are too many suspects. Even before their Christmas in exile, his own employees had plenty of motives, and the growing number of people suing the company for faulty DNA analysis and invasion of their genetic privacy include at least one notorious murderer. Can Meg crack the case in time to keep the Yuletide bright?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I absolutely love this series and I always look forward to seeing what chaos Meg is going to end up right in the middle of.

My Impression: I love the absolute chaos that happens in every Meg Langslow book and the Christmas ones are always the most fun.  While we are missing the dive bombing blue jays that were flying around in the last Christmas book we have snow, murder, a stalker (or several), a host of relatives running around all being expertly directed by Meg's mother, and a flock of quite unhappy Canadians who would rather be anywhere else then in this house in Virginia right before Christmas.

The murder doesn't happen until almost halfway through the book but there is so much going on that it never feels like the plot is dragging.  I liked how much Rob's company is pulled into the plot and seeing more of Kevin and Festus in their professional roles.  There are a number of plot points going on from corporate malfeasance to the identity of potential stalkers to just the regular Langslow family Christmas chaos and I loved each and every one of them.

This is such a fun series but there are a lot of characters and side characters and animals so it can be a bit hard to keep up with whose who.  While you really can jump in anywhere the more books you read the better the series will get as you get to know the characters more and more.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I will definitely be keeping an eye out for upcoming books and I'm really looking forward to picking up the earlier books in the series.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy cozy mysteries I can't recommend the series enough.  I've heard the earliest books are a bit weaker but this is a series that is worth sticking with.

* 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 Read On Vacation

 

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 about books I read on vacation.  I keep one of those 5 year journals where you are supposed to write a sentence for each day.  I use mine to record what books I read that day and what I ate for dinner.  I'm not exactly sure why I started doing that but I really enjoying paging back through it and I'm about to finish up my first five year journal.  Because of that I can tell exactly what books I read on vacation and where though the past few years haven't been the best for vacation.

1.  Claw Enforcement by Sofie Ryan (New Orleans, LA)

2.  The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman (Disney World)

3.  Ladies' Bane by Patricia Wentworth (Baton Rouge, LA for a St Jude family event)

4.  Forgotten Bones by Vivian Bars (Gatlinburg, TN)

5.  Owl Be Home For Christmas by Donna Andrews (New Orleans, LA)

6.  The Collector by Nora Roberts (Pensacola, FL)

Those are all the vacations we've taken in the last few years which isn't too terrible since we haven't really been able to travel since March of 2020 thanks to Covid and then Will's diagnosis.  So here are 4 books that I've used to travel vicariously in the past few years.

7,  Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells (Sequoia National Park, California)

8.  Booked for Trouble by Eva Banks (Outer Banks, North Carolina)

9.  Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander (Leavenworth, Washington)

10. 'Til Death by Carol J. Perry (Salem, MA)

What books have you read on vacation and where have your books taken you?

The Plot and the Pendulum - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Plot and the Pendulum (Library Lover's Mystery #13) by Jenn McKinlay

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

Description:  Library director Lindsey Norris is happy to learn the Briar Creek Public Library is the beneficiary of the Dorchester family’s vast book collection. However, when Lindsey and the library staff arrive at the old Victorian estate to gather the books, things take a sinister turn. One of the bookcases reveals a secret passage, leading to a room where a skeleton is found, clutching an old copy of The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Lindsey does a quick check of missing persons, using the distinctive 80s era clothing worn by the deceased to determine a time frame, and discovers that Briar Creek has an unsolved missing person’s case from 1989. A runaway bride went missing just weeks after her wedding. No suspects were ever arrested and the cold case remains unsolved. Lindsey and the crafternoon crew decide that justice is overdue and set about solving the old murder mystery, using some novel ideas to crack the case.

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I love this series and I couldn't resist this one with a cold case runaway bride premise.

My Impression:  This was such a great Halloween cozy!  Not only does it take place during the fall but it involves a creepy old mansion, a hidden room complete with skeleton, a decades old feud, and an old mystery with very current emotions running very close to the surface.  

The pace of this story was super fast.  I finished it until two days but if it wasn't for the need to sleep I would have happily finished it in one night.  Right at the beginning we get introduced to William Dorchester and the story of the Runaway Bride.  William left town decades ago under quite the cloud and his return to town brings back all kinds of rumors.  And it allows Lindsey to get into the Dorchester mansion and start cataloging and packing up the library full of rare books.  

I really enjoyed seeing more of Lindsey and Sully's relationship as they are settling into marriage as well as having the crafternooners have more of a full time role.  As well since it was a cold case Emma welcomes more assistance in the investigation which makes for some interesting scenes.  I did miss Ms. Cole and seeing Lindsey in the library more but I enjoyed this book more than enough to make up for it.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I have really enjoyed every book in this series and really every book I've read by this author.  

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy a fun cozy with spooky overtones then I think you'd really enjoy this book!

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

Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle (Mrs. Pollifax #8) by Dorothy Gilman

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

Description:  Although Mrs. Pollifax is determined to give up spying for good, she can't help but agree to carry a small object to an agent in Thailand, and get one in return. The moment she lands, however, Mrs. Pollifax is horrified to find her contact dead and her husband kidnapped. The next thing she knows, she's tramping through the ominous Thai countryside, led by a curious fellow who may be trying to help her find her husband. Or he may have other, more sinister plans....

Genre:  Mystery - Classic 

My Impression:   Emily Pollifax and her husband Cyrus are planning on having a simple vacation in Thailand when suddenly someone from Mrs. Pollifax shows up at the door with a simple little job.  This being Mrs. Pollifax adventure things don't go as planned and things quickly get complicated.

I really liked that there's a bit more heart to this series then I first expected.  Mrs. Pollifax's last adventure was traumatic and she is still dealing with the aftereffects.  I loved how considerate Cyrus is with her feelings and how he wants to protect her but at the same time doesn't try and tell her what to to do even when she decides to go back into the field.  And despite the previous trauma, Mrs. Pollifax is still Mrs. Pollifax and can never resist a challenge.  

This was a good read that I flew through in just a couple of hours.  I loved exploring post-Vietnam War Thailand and following Mrs. Pollifax through the jungle was entertaining.  I do wish the reveal had been a bit longer.  I love seeing Mrs. Pollifax and Carstairs interact and I missed that in this book.  Otherwise, this is a fun read with a fantastic lead character.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm already looking forward to the next book.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would recommend this book and this series.  It's really become one of my absolute favorite series.