Review: The Ghost Goes To The Dogs by: Cleo Coyle

Title: The Ghost Goes To The Dogs

Author: Cleo Coyle

Publisher: Mass Market Paperback 

Series: Haunted Bookshop Mystery #9

Format: paperback ( 336 p.) NetGalley

Description:

A stray dog leads bookseller Penelope McClure and her gumshoe ghost on a chase for a clever killer in this brand-new entry in the “utterly charming” (Mystery Scene) Haunted Bookshop Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Pet Mystery Week brings brisk business to Penelope’s Rhode Island bookshop, but a real mystery comes barking at her door when a lost dog turns up in a panic. Pen and her son Spencer follow the furry fugitive to a wooded area where the dog’s owner lies unconscious. Mrs. Cunningham is a warm-hearted widow who volunteers at the animal shelter and runs Buy the Book’s pet lovers book club. Why would anyone shoot such a sweet soul?

The police believe it’s an accident, a shot by a careless deer hunter, but Pen remains skeptical. To straighten out this doggone mess, she whistles for the ghost of PI Jack Shepard, an expert in hounding as well as haunting. Jack has a dog story of his own, a case from the 1940s that may help Pen sniff out clues to her present predicament. Yet even with Jack’s hard-boiled help, Pen may not be able to stop the killer from striking again or letting this whole case go to the dogs...

My Description:

Pen is getting read for pet week at her bookstore in her town. PI Jack Shepard is working on his latest case after he's been deemed a dog savior all around.  When a dog leads Spencer and Pen to his missing owner who has been shot.  Who shot the volunteer for the animal shelter and book club?  Was it someone she ticked off?  Without the victim to tell Pen while she is in the hospital with a bad head issue.  

Jack and Pen dig deep to find out what happened to the pet owner and who caused the attempt on her life?  This also coincides with a case Jack worked on back in the day.  The two work together to connect the dots and find out what really happened.

I love this series and have been a huge fan since I first picked up a copy of Alice Kimberly's book The Ghost and Mrs. McClure.  This series is such fun and wonderful to delve into the world of Pen and Jack and things they have been through I especially love Seymour the local postman he's hilarious!  

Anyone of fan of Mickey Spilane type mysteries and bookstore and mysteries will definitely find themselves drawn into the adventure of these two!  Definitely a great series to check out!

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Review: Death Knells and Wedding Bells by: Eva Gates

Title: Death Kneels and Wedding Bells

Author: Eva Gates

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Series: Lighthouse Library Mystery #10

Format: e-book ARC ( 272 p.) NetGalley

Description:

Librarian Lucy’s wedding is nearly perfect—aside from a missing guest and the strangled body she finds. Now, she must vow to find the killer in this 10th Lighthouse Library mystery.

Lucy and Connor planned for the perfect Outer Banks wedding—and that’s exactly what they got. Aside from typical rumblings of familial tensions, the late spring weather allowed for a beautiful day, the food was delicious, and everyone had a good time, until one of the guests goes missing.

Before Lucy can look forward to the rest of her life in Nags Head and the work she does at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, she gets a phone call from her boss, Bertie James. Eddie, Bertie’s friend, never made it back home after the reception. Initially, Lucy doesn’t think anything of it—sometimes wedding guests simply have a little too much fun. But this quickly turns to something darker when she discovers the body of a wedding guest strangled in a locked closet, and the police immediately start asking questions about Eddie. Lucy must figure out if the two are connected before it’s too late—both for Bertie’s friend and the rest of her wedding guests.

With the Classic Novel Reading Club reading the Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe—Lucy wonders if the master of the macabre can assist her investigation or if the hunt for the killer’s identity will remain as nothing more than an unsolved mystery.

My Thoughts: 

Finally Lucy and Connor has tied the knot and had a beautiful wedding but something is going on with the wedding guests.  The next morning at a brunch the find a dead body, strangled in a closet that they all have trouble opening.  The police have their work cut out for the them to figure what happened and why?  Who had murder on their mind a angry guest or even a protentional date?

This book was great and felt like forever to get Connor and Lucy married but alas the big day is here.  It was a cute mystery to mix in with the wedding.  Anyone who loves mysteries will love this series and find themselves soaking up time in the North Carolina Outer Banks!

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Review: We'll Always Have Parrots by: Donna Andrews

Title: We'll Always Have Parrots

Author: Donna Andrews

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Series: Meg Langslow #5

Format: e-book ( 354 p.) Personal 

Description:

Meg Langslow knew the fan convention for her actor-boyfriend's hit television series was going to be the ultimate in weird. But she came along because she figured Michael could use an occasional dose of sanity-and because it was an inspired place to sell her hand-crafted weapons. And so far, she was dealing pretty well with the costumed fans camped outside, the batch of escaped parrots and monkeys frolicking throughout the hotel...and the minefield of egos lurking behind the show's success.

But soon after Meg goes head-to-head with egomaniacal series star Tamerlaine Wynncliffe-Jones, the "Queen B" turns up brutally murdered. Now, with Michael in the running as prime suspect, Meg will go up against an all-star cast of not-even-innocent parties, hidden identities, and buried motives. And she'll cross swords with a deviously obsessed murderer determined to write her out of this picture for good.

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Meg and her family and friends and this time they are at a fan convention for her boyfriend Michael's tv show, but some would rather not be there with the Diva in charge Tamerlaine also know as Queen B.  She has crossed everyone the wrong way including Meg and her young nephew Eric who wanted an autograph to be treated badly which Meg doesn't tolerate even if she is the Queen B.  When she winds up dead in a locked room the heat is on to find out who eliminated the Queen B.

This book was great like the whole series is to date with giggle moments aplenty.  I always find myself loving going back to Meg Langslow and her family.  Nothing ever fails to fall apart, and there are definitely plenty of parrots everywhere.  

Really great mystery and comedy.  Picking up this book you totally won't be disappointed in the least you'll find yourself hooked waiting for the next book to come out!

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Review: The Body in The Wake by: Katherine Hall Page

Title: The Body in The Wake

Author: Katherine Hall Pages

Publisher:  William Morrow

Format: e-book (240 p.) Personal 

Description:

Amateur detective and caterer Faith Fairchild is at her Penobscot Bay, Maine cottage preparing for a summer wedding, when she stumbles across . . . another body in this 25th entry in the beloved mystery series.

For the first time in years, Faith Fairchild has time for herself. Her husband Tom is spending days on the other side of the island using a friend’s enhanced WiFi for a project; their son, Ben, after his first year in college, is studying abroad for the summer; and their daughter Amy is working at the old Laughing Gulls Lodge, now a revamped conference center.

Faith is looking forward to some projects of her own. Her friend Sophie Maxwell is also spending the summer on Sanpere Island, hoping for distractions from her worries that she isn’t yet pregnant. And the daughter of Faith’s good friend Pix Miller is getting married to a wonderful guy . . . with a less-than-wonderful mother. Between keeping Sophie’s spirits up and Pix’s blood pressure down, Faith has her hands full.

And that’s before a body with a mysterious tattoo and connections far away from small Sanpere Island appears in the Lily Pond. Once again, Faith will get to the bottom of this strange case—and whip up a delicious blueberry buckle on the side.

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Faith Fairchild who is spending her summer in Penobscot Bay Maine getting ready for a wedding of a friend of hers.  She is also spending time with Sophie Maxwell who is also staying Maine trying to take a break from trying to have a baby.  When they stumble on a body at the water and try to save him even though it's too late for the mysterious stranger on the island.  Who killed him and why?  What is happening on the little island.

This book had so much going on learning more about Faith's friends and what they are going through.  Where everyone is at in there life.  I really enjoyed going back to see what was going on and this one didn't disappoint in the least.  The book pulls you in until you hit the end for a total unexpected ending.

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Review: Snipped in the Bud by: Kate Collins

Title: Snipped in the Bud

Author: Kate Collins

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime

Format: e-book ( 296 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

When I swapped the thorny problems of law school for the budding business of my flower store, Bloomers, I vowed that I, Abby Knight, wouldn t be caught dead visiting that hateful campus ever again. But sometimes a girl s got to face down her dragons....

PLANT OF ATTACK

Someone orders a black rose for Abby s old law school nemesis, Professor "Snapdragon" Puffer. But her plans for a speedy delivery are foiled when he catches her putting the bloom on his desk and sends it straight into the trash. Abby flees in terror, only to run smack into Carson Reed, the professor who recently had her arrested at an animal rights protest. After a biting exchange, Abby storms out of the building. But if there s anything she can t stand, it s injustice and bullies. So, even though she knows bad luck comes in threes, she ignores the advice of her sometimes boyfriend, hunk-a-licious Marco Salvare, and heads back in to retrieve her dignity and her flower -- only to find the rose now decorating a dead professor, and herself the prime suspect....

My Thoughts; 

So much was going on with poor Abby whose in trouble when a professor ends up dead and Abby ends up in the hot seat.  She spends her time having to hide to avoid people who want her arrested.  Who killed Carson Reed and why?  Did he have other enemy's besides our beloved Florist?

This book was such fun going back and visiting with Abby and her friends and family.  I have been spending alot of time reading and defiantly loved going back to some favorite series to catch up with.  This book was such a blast seeing how it went.

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Review: Sugar Plum Poisoned by: Jenn McKinlay

Title: Sugar Plum Poisoned

Author: Jenn McKinlay

Publisher: Mass Market Paperback

Series: Cupcake Bakery Mystery #15

Format: paperback/ebook ( NetGalley) review

Description:

It's Christmastime, and this holiday season, things are heating up for the bakers at Fairy Tale Cupcakes, in the newest Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.

When up-and-coming singing sensation Shelby Vaughn arrives in town for two weeks of concert dates, she hires her old friend Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to supply cupcakes for the VIP guest lounge every night.

After overhearing Shelby in a heated argument with her manager, Mel is concerned, but she and the crew decide to make the best of their time working with the star. Just as the bakers fall into the rhythm of the job, Shelby's manager is found dead, clutching a bit of fabric from a Santa suit and a cupcake. With the bakery crew and Shelby's backup dancers all dressed in similar Santa costumes, it's impossible to say who is the killer. When all suspicions lead back to Shelby, Mel and Angie stand up for their friend, determined to prove her innocence before she's frosted for a crime she didn't commit.

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Angie and Mel who are getting ready for Christmas when Shelby Vaughn in town for two weeks to preform a Christmas concert. Mel is woried that Angie is gonna get so wrapped up in the music world again and forget those close to her.  When Shelby's manager winds up dead Mel decides to look into the death and find out what is going on around Shelby.

Shelby has had a hard time this month with her manager and being stuck doing songs others have done for Christmas instead of her own music.  As the heat gets on someone is making Shelby look more and more guilty. Did Shelby kill her manager or did someone else?

This was a great Christmas story that pulled you in and had you captivated to find out what really happened.  The ending was great and alot of fun!

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Review: The Diva Says Cheesecake! by: Krista Davis

Title: The Diva Says Cheesecake!

Author: Krista Davis

Publisher: Kensington

Series: A Domestic Diva Mystery #15

Format: e-book ( 304 p.) NetGalley

Description 

A delightful new story from a New York Times bestselling author perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen Mystery series! In this page-turning new book, entertaining guru Sophie Winston is faced with a midsummer nightmare when a celebration in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is the appetizer for murder…

Old Town’s midsummer festivities are getting a tasty addition this year. To coincide with a public performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake, has hired Sophie to organize a dinner with a dessert buffet on the waterfront. Bobbie Sue’s homegrown company is thriving, and since her baking dish overfloweth, she wants to reward her employees.

Bobbie Sue has only one menu demand: no cheesecake! But her specialty isn’t the only thing missing from the evening—Tate, Bobbie Sue’s husband, is too much to her annoyance. Next morning, however, Tate’s dead body is discovered. Bobbie Sue insists she didn’t kick her spouse to the curb, and begs for Sophie’s help finding the real killer. Digging in, Sophie discovers an assortment of Old Town locals who all had reason to want a piece of Tate. Can she gather together the crumbs the killer left behind in time to prevent a second helping of murder?

Includes delectable recipes and fabulous DIY decorating tips!

My Thoughts: 

Sophie Winston is helping out organizing a dinner on the night of A Midsummer Night's Dream as a way to reward her workers.  What Sophie is worried about is when Bobbie Sue can't find her husband anywhere even into the next morning when she and Sophie find the dead body of her husband.  What happened and why?  Who would want to kill Tate Bobbie Sue's husband?  Did he have a tryst with someone?  Or was it something worse?

This book had so much going on including the fate of Bernie a friend of both Sophie's and Mar's. When he's on the hook for the murder.  Who would think Bernie would do this clearly hasn't read any of the previous books.  It was a great read and see how those close to Bernie would jump up to protect him and get to the bottom of the whole situation!

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Review: Hidden Beneath by: Barbara Ross

Title: Hidden Beneath

Author: Barbara Ross

Publisher: Kensington

Series: Maine Clambake Mystery #11

Format: e-book ( 230 p.) NetGalley

Description:

Serving up mouthwatering shellfish, the Snowden Family Clambake has become a beloved institution in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. But when new clues rise to the surface five years after the disappearance of Julia Snowden’ s mother’s friend, the family business shifts to sleuthing . . .

Julia and her mother, Jacqueline, have come to the exclusive summer colony of Chipmunk Island to attend a memorial service for Jacqueline’s old friend Ginny, who’s been officially declared dead half a decade after she went out for her daily swim in the harbor and was never seen again. But something seems fishy at the service—especially with the ladies of the Wednesday Club. As Julia and Jacqueline begin looking into Ginny’s cold case, a present-day murder stirs the pot, and mother and daughter must dive into the deep end to get to the bottom of both mysteries . . .

My Thoughts:

This book has Julia and her mother Jacqueline trying to get to the bottom of a death on Chipmunk Island.  When an old friend of Julia's mother Ginny who had been declared for 10 years, but when her body turns up it's up to Julia to figure out what is going on and what is with the Wednesday Club.

Jacqueline feels guilty as she had an email from her friend Ginny wanting to talk to her.  She thinks she had more time to talk with her friend but all that changed when her friend Ginny disappeared.  The more baffling part is when the will is read and Jacqueline finds herself the executor of the estate of her friend.

Who killed Ginny and for what reason?  Did she see something she shouldn't have?  This book had so much going on between the clambakes they do and what is going on Chipmunk Island.  Definitely a great story everyone who has been following Julia will definitely want to check this one out!

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Review: Muddled Through by: Barbara Ross

Title: Muddled Through

Author: Barbara Ross

Publisher: Kensington

Series: Maine Clambake Mystery #10

Format: e-book ( 265 p.) NetGalley

Description:

Mud season takes on a whole new meaning in the coastal town of Busman's Harbor, Maine, when local business owners sling dirt at one another in a heated feud over a proposed pedestrian mall. Vandalism is one thing, but murder means Julia Snowden of the Snowden Family Clambake steps in to clean up the case . . .

When Julia spots police cars in front of Lupine Design, she races over. Her sister Livvie works there as a potter. Livvie is unharmed but surrounded by smashed up pottery. The police find the owner Zoey Butterfield digging clay by a nearby bay, but she has no idea who would target her store. Zoey is a vocal advocate for turning four blocks of Main Street into a pedestrian mall on summer weekends. Other shop owners, including her next-door neighbor, are vehemently opposed. Could a small-town fight provoke such destruction? When a murder follows the break-in, it's up to Julia to dig through the secrets and lies to uncover the truth . . .

My Thoughts:

This book focus's on Julia's sister's Livvie's boss Zoey Butterfield who is being targeted by someone and finds her shop busted up and Julia is determined to find out what is happening. Zoey is also trying to help advocate to help make a pedestrian mall on summer weekends to bring more business to town, but some locals aren't keen on this and are making it happen. When one of the locals is dead the heat is on Zoey for having committed murder, but did she really kill Phinney a local who didn't want all the changes that Zoey was trying to make?  Who had it in for him and why?

I really enjoyed this book and I have enjoyed this series as it has progressed and have enjoyed watching as Julia has moved on from Chris and made it clear she can't go back to him even if she does love him.  She ends up going out with a few guys which she knows don't pan out as she's not completely ready for or interested in the guys she goes out with.  Which I think sets up for when she will be ready for the right guy when she is ready!

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Review: Schucked Apart by: Barbara Ross

Title: Schucked Apart

Author: Barbara Ross

Series: A Maine Clambake Mystery #9

Format: Paperback (228 p.) NetGalley

Description:

The Snowden Family Clambake Company has a beloved reputation in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. Almost as famous is the sleuthing ability of proprietor Julia Snowden, which is why an oyster farmer seeks her out when she’s in trouble.   

When Andie Greatorex is robbed of two buckets of oyster seed worth $35,000, she wonders if somebody’s trying to mussel her out of business. Could it be a rival oyster farmer, a steamed former employee, or a snooty summer resident who objects to her unsightly oyster cages floating on the beautiful Damariscotta River? There’s also a lobsterman who’s worried the farm’s expanding lease will encroach on his territory and Andie’s ex-partner, who may come to regret their split. Before Julia can make much headway in the investigation, Andie turns up dead, stabbed by a shucking knife. Now it’s up to Julia to set a trap for a cold and clammy killer . . .  

My Thoughts: 

Julia Snowden's boyfriend Chris asks Julia to investigate when his poker partner Andie is having trouble with people in her business so she goes to find out what she can do.  Andie is being robbed of oyster seed worth 35 thousand dollars who would want to hurt her that much and why?   Could it be an ex partner or someone she has annoyed?  What makes it worse when Andie winds up dead and the pressure is on when Julia is determined to find out who killed her.

This book was full of so much secrets and mysteries going on and a turning point in Julia's relationship with Chris.  Julia has to come to terms with so much happening about why he wouldn't show Julia every aspect of his life and why he felt the need to hide his poker friends and his family from her.  Julia also learns who had killed Andie and why.  It was definitely a great page turner and showed how Julia had to make some hard decisions in life.

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Review: One Book in The Grave by: Kate Carlisle

Title: One Book in the Grave

Author: Kate Carlisle

Publisher: Berkley 

Series: Bibliophile Mystery #5

Format: Paperback (280 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

There may be grave consequences for bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright as she attempts to solve two murders tied to one book...

Brooklyn's chance to restore a rare first edition of Beauty and the Beast seems a fairy tale come true—until she realizes the book belonged to an old friend of hers. Ten years ago, Max Adams, a brawny renowned papermaker, fell in love with a stunning beauty, Emily, and gave her the copy of Beauty and the Beast as a symbol of their love. Soon afterward, he died in a car crash, and Brooklyn has always suspected his possessive ex-girlfriend and her jealous beau.

Now she decides to find out who sold the book and return it to its rightful owner—Emily. She believes a rare book dealer can assist her, but when she arrives at his shop, she finds him murdered. Is it possible that the same couple who may have killed Max are now after his edition of Beauty and the Beast? With the help of her handsome boyfriend, Derek Stone, Brooklyn must unravel the murder plot—before she ends up in a plot herself....

My Thoughts:

When Broolyn gets a copy of Beauty and The Beast to restore she is stunned to find it's a copy of the book she gave to her friend Max Adams and his fiancé Emily.  Max Adams has been dead for three years so why is Brooklyn wondering what is going on?  Is there something sinister going on?  The more she digs the more questions she has who found the book that Brooklyn has and what does this have to do with Max when he's been dead for 3 years?

I love this series and the writing style really pulls you and takes you from Brooklyn's apartment to her parent's house and Guru Bob to get to the bottom of everything!  Definitely a great adventure in California with everyone! 

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Review: A Killer Christmas Wish by: Lynn Cahoon

Title: A Killer Christmas Wish

Author: Lynn Cahoon

Publisher: Kensington 

Series: Cat Latminer Mystery #7

Format: e-book ( 174 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

From NYT bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, comes a new Cat Latimer mystery. Santa's on his way, but the house Cat shares with her best friend and a monthly writing retreat isn't even decorated yet.Christmas is coming early to Cat Latimer's Writers Retreat. Cat and the gang aren't feeling the Christmas spirit. First up on her to do list, the last retreat of the year. A group of non-fiction authors dying to get into the Covington library. When one writer is found dead before the first retreat session, Cat must find the killer before he puts her on his naughty list.

My Thoughts:

This book follows Cat, Seth, Shauna and Uncle Pete as they are ready for the newest retreat to begin.  Cat finds herself hearing more about her ex than she wanted.  Everywhere she turns it's something about Michael Latimer.  What she doesn't know is why someone is so interested with her ex?  

This retreat is all about non fiction which works well with the visit to Covington Library and the Professor who speaks to them.  Cat is also under a big deadline for her last Teen novel about Tori and magic.  She also is working on her wedding plans that don't seem to be going perfectly.

I love this series it's totally different then other series as the main thing is writers and writing retreats which has it's ups and downs.  Unfortunately someone winds up dead and this puts a major kink in the holiday cheer along with Seth being distant with Cat.  Does it have to do with the Michael talks or is it something else?

Check out this series if you haven't yet you are missing something that really pulls you in and won't let go until the end of the story and leaves you awaiting the next book!

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Review: Murder Most Frothy by: Cleo Coyle

Title: Murder Most Frothy

Author: Cleo Coyle

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime

Format: Paperback  ( 247 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

Clare Cosi’s new friend, millionaire David Mintzer, has an offer no New York barista could turn down: an all-expenses-paid summer away from the sticky city. At his Hamptons mansion, she’ll relax, soak up the sun, and, oh yes, train the staff of his new restaurant. So Clare packs up her daughter, her former mother-in-law, and her special recipe for iced coffee—for what she hopes will be one de-latte-ful summer…Soon, Clare tends the coffee bar at her first Hamptons gala. But the festivities come to a bitter end when an employee turns up dead in David’s bathroom—a botched attempt on the millionaire’s life. Thanks to the Fourth of July fireworks no one heard any gunshots, and the police are stuck in holiday traffic. Concerned for everyone’s safety, Clare begins to investigate. What she finds will keep her up at night—and it’s not the java jitters....

My Thoughts:

This book brings Clare, Joy, and Madame to the Hamptons for a summer away from the city, where they are assisting a friend of Clare's help teach his staff how to run a coffee shop.  What Clare didn't count on was someone trying to murder her friend David.  Who wants him out of the way and why?

Clare also didn't count on dealing with Joy and Madame and their summer flings.  Joy is still on the hot seat after her recent bust by her mother.  As Clare digs deeper into the life at the Hampton's the pressure is on to figure out what is going on and who has the most to lose?

I love this series it's like going back and seeing friends and finding out what they are up to now.  This one didn't disappoint in the least.

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Review: The French Paradox by: Ellen Crosby

Title: The French Paradox

Author: Ellen Crosby

Publisher: Severn House Publishers

Format: Hardcover ( 256 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

Lucie Montgomery's discovery of her grandfather's Parisian romance unlocks a series of shocking secrets in the gripping new Wine Country mystery.

In 1949, during her junior year abroad in Paris, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis bought several inexpensive paintings of Marie-Antoinette by a little-known 18th century female artist. She also had a romantic relationship with Virginia vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery's French grandfather - until recently, a well-kept secret.

Seventy years later, Cricket Delacroix, Lucie's neighbor and Jackie's schoolfriend, is donating the now priceless paintings to a Washington, DC museum. And Lucie's grandfather is flying to Virginia for Cricket's 90th birthday party, hosted by her daughter Harriet. A washed-up journalist, Harriet is rewriting a manuscript Jackie left behind about Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist. She's also adding tell-all details about Jackie, sure to make the book a bestseller.

Then on the eve of the party a world-famous landscape designer who also knew Jackie is found dead in Lucie's vineyard. Did someone make good on the death threats he'd received because of his controversial book on climate change? Or was his murder tied to Jackie, the paintings, and Lucie's beloved grandfather?

My Thoughts:

Lucy Montgomery is eagerly awaiting her grandfather Luc coming home to visit.  Lucie's sister is also back working on a big painting for Cricket's upcoming birthday. Harry Cricket's daughter is working on a showing of Jackie's paintings and a journal Jackie left behind when she visited before she died. Lucie is worried about her grandfather being hurt as he spent time with Jackie while she was in Paris.  

When a local writer Parker Lord is having issues with some of his articles he's written and winds up dead in Lucie's vineyard and her sister Mia becomes the prime suspect.  Lucie has her hands full trying to figure out who killed Parker and is Luc's secret going on come out or will Cricket change her mind!

This was great story with so much history of Luc and Jackie.  We also learn about Cricket and Harry and their relationship!  It's definitely worth reading but I would still read it in order to get a sense of various characters!

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Review: Thread and Buried by: Lea Wait

Title: Thread and Buried

Author: Lea Wait

Publisher: Kensington 

Series: Mainely Needlepoint #9

Format; Paperback ( 272 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

Haven Harbor is an authentic coastal Maine town--which makes it the perfect location for a new film production. But now it's become the scene of a crime . . .

Needlepointers Angie and Sarah are helping with set design for the movie being shot in their little New England hometown--but as the lighthouse and the wharves bustle with activity, a real-life drama is about to unfold. The producer, Hank Stoddard, has been harassing the pretty young female lead, and the two exchanged heated words at a lobster bake. Now someone's lowered the boom on him . . .

After a wayward piece of sound equipment sends him to his death, theories fly about who went off-script. Meanwhile, a local woman's tragic story about a true love lost at sea, which originally inspired the film, may lead to murderous revelations from long ago. Angie's got to unravel these mysteries, and may need to give more than one killer the hook . . . 

My Thoughts:

This book was difficult to read not to say the story isn't great but it's the last book the writer work before dying.  She was a phenomenal writer!

Angie and Sarah are helping out with a filming of a movie based on a book written by a needle pointer.  Unfortunately the director keeps changing things about the story which takes away from the published book!  When the director winds up dead it's up to Angie and the cops to figure out what happened and who set the director for death.

This book was a fun read as we sift through many possible suspects.  Everyone for actors to sound people to wives it could be anyone who was annoyed with him.  Who harbored the most anger at the director to do the deed?

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Review: Little Black Book by: Kate Carlisle

Title: Little Black Book
Author: Kate Carlisle

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime

Series: Biblophile Mystery #15

Format: e-book ARC ( 384 p.) 

Source: NetGalley

Description:

San Francisco book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright is on the case when a rare edition of Rebecca leads to murder in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling Bibliophile Mystery series.

Brooklyn and her hunky husband, security expert Derek Stone, have just returned from a delightful trip to Dharma, where the construction of their new home away from home is well underway, when a little black book arrives in the mail from Scotland. The book is a rare British first edition of Rebecca, and there’s no return address on the package. The day after the book arrives, Claire Quinn shows up at Brooklyn and Derek’s home. Brooklyn met Claire when the two women worked as expert appraisers on the television show This Old Attic. Brooklyn appraised books on the show and Claire’s expertise was in antique British weaponry, but they bonded over their shared love of gothic novels.

 

Claire reveals that during a recent trip to Scotland she discovered her beloved aunt was missing and her home had been ransacked. Among her aunt’s belongings, Claire found the receipt for the package that wound up with Brooklyn and Derek. Claire believes both her own life and her aunt’s are in danger and worries that her past may be coming back to haunt her.

 

But just as Brooklyn and Derek begin to investigate, a man who Claire thinks was following her is found murdered, stabbed with a priceless jeweled dagger. With a death on their doorstep, Brooklyn and Derek page through the little black book, where they discover clues that will take them to the shadows of a medieval Scottish castle on the shores of Loch Ness. Under the watchful gaze of a mysterious laird and the irascible villagers who are suspicious of the strangers in their midst, Brooklyn and Derek must decode the secrets in Rebecca to keep their friend’s past from destroying their future....

My Thoughts: 

Derek and Brooklyn are back in San Francisco after their trip to Dharma.  They have barely unpacked when Derek receives a package from Scotland.  Why would someone send Derek a 1st edition book?  Who does Derek know in Scotland?  

Claire Quinn is in trouble and needs some help and quick which leads her from Scotland to San Francisco  and straight to  Derek and Brooklyn.  After explaining about her missing Aunt Gwen who send a book to Derek.  Some shady people are looking for Claire but no one knows why?

This book took our threesome from San Francisco to Dharma all the way to Scotland to find out what was going on and whose responsible?  This book had so much adventure and intrigue going on.  You found yourself wondering until you reached the end.  This book series is definitely worth the adventure to see how it all played out.

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Review: Lavender Blue Murder by: Laura Childs

Title: Lavender Blue Murder

Author: Laura Childs

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime

Series: A Tea Shop Mystery #21

Format: Hardcover ( 320 p.) NetGalley

Description:

Tea Maven Theodosia Browning brews up trouble in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs, now in paperback

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 2:00 A.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 seance. All the while Theodosia worries if she's made a mistake in inviting a prime suspect to her upscale Lavender Lady Tea.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

My Thoughts: 

In this book Theo and Drayton find themselves out with people they don't know the best at a bird hunt shooting   When they find their host Reginald Doyle bleeding to death they decide to try to go home but Meredith is so upset she pleads with them to stay unwillingly they stay for the night and find more questions than answers.

As they dig into the murder the pressure is on everyone to figure out who killed Doyle and why?  When Meredith's daughter-i-law goes missing off a boat in the water the pressure is on Meredith's son of having done something to his wife.    What happened to Fawn and why? And who burned down the Doyle house and killed Reginald Dyle?

I love this series it's a fun with tea being served and Theo running around hoping for a Bruce Wills moment that doesn't come.  It's fun being with her and Dayton as they try to solve this murder and find any and all clues!  

If you haven't read the series you are missing something you will definitely fall in love with these characters and have tons of fun on their many adventures!

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Review: A Death Long Overdue by: Eva Gates

Title: A Death Long Overdue

Author: Eva Gates

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Series: Lighthouse Library Mystery #7

Format:  Hardcover ( 372 p.) NetGalley

Description:

When her former director is found dead in the water, librarian Lucy Richardson will have to get to the bottom of the mystery before the killer ends her tale.

It's summertime in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Bertie James's college class is having their 40th anniversary reunion. The opening night reception is held at the Lighthouse Library and Lucy and her colleagues have assembled an exhibit of library artifacts showing how libraries have changed over the years. After the reception, some of the women take a walk down the boardwalk to the pier, using flashlights to illuminate the dark path, but what's scarier than the dark is finding the former director of the Lighthouse Library floating lifeless in the water.

Helena Sanchez, the former director, wasn't much loved and spent the party being rude to almost everyone there. As a result, Lucy finds herself in deep water as she rocks the boat, questioning several suspects. But she'll have to batten down the hatches and fast before she's left high and dry...and right in the killer's crosshairs.

My Thoughts: 

We're back to Outer Banks and Lucy's boss is hosting her reunion from college.  Various people show up and meet up with fellow classmates but soon they decide to go out on the bluff and their a past librarian winds up dead and the pressure is on to figure out who did it.  Unfortunately she upset alot of people before her death.  Who killed her and why?

This book had so much going on Connor is trying to find a way to talk to Lucy about something personal but people keep getting in the way.  Louisa Jane has convinced alot of the people around to try to summon spirits which she seems obsessed with proving she can do.  Then there are all the attendants of the reunion what motive might they have for the killing.

This book was a blast to read with all the various people showing up and Lucy and Connor running in circles with this discussion.  It was worth reading and following to see what happens in the story to see if your murderer is the same as the real one!

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Review: Stayin' Alive by: Julie Mulhern

Title: Stayin' Alive

Author: Julie: Mulhern

Publisher: J&M Press

Series: Country Club Murders #10

Format: e-book ( 250 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

Springtime. Love is in the air. So is murder.

When Ellison Russell, reluctant finder of bodies, chairs a gala in conjunction with the museum’s Chinese funerary exhibit, she expects disaster. So, she’s not remotely surprised when a body turns up.

Ellison is willing to leave the investigation to the police till an attempt is made on her life.

Now she’s juggling evading a killer, her aunt’s overly-amorous beau, her dog’s new love interest, and Mother’s displeasure.

With bodies piling up, if Ellison’s not careful, staying alive might be impossible.

My Thoughts:

Ellison Russel is back and finding more dead bodies.  She is having her Chinese exhibit when she finds a body and the pressure is on to find out what happened add to the fact her beloved dog has falling in love with a local dog who loves to cause chaos.  Will she figure it out in time?  Or will her mother finally have a heart attack over the dead bodies?

I love this adventure as we see all the things we love seeing in Kansas City.  Ellison is up to her eyes in things going on around her romance seems to be in the air and everywhere you turn.  Then the book turns serious when someone is out to get Ellison anyway they can! Definitely worth reading series and learning about Ellison her family and friends can't wait to see what she is knee deep in next!

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Review: Carless Whiskers by: Miranda James

Title: Carless Whiskers
Author: Miranda James
Publisher: Berkley
Series: Cat in The Stacks #12
Format: Hardcover ( 289 p.)
Source: Personal Purchase

Description:

When librarian Charlie Harris' daughter is falsely accused of murder, he and his faithful feline Diesel must leap forward to crack the case in this all-new installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

Charlie Harris has sworn off investigating murder and mayhem after a recent close call. Instead, he's delighted to cheer on his daughter, Laura, who's starring in a production of Careless Whispers. The theater department at Athena College is debuting the play written by a fledgling playwright with local connections and Charlie's son-in-law, Frank Salisbury, will be calling the directorial shots.

Laura is upset to learn that Luke Lombardi, an overbearing actor she knew from her time in Hollywood will also be taking part in the production as a guest artist. Lombardi arrives with an entourage in tow and promptly proceeds to annoy everyone involved with the production. When he collapses and dies on stage, after drinking from a glass Laura handed him, she becomes the chief suspect in his murder.

Charlie knows his daughter is innocent, and he's not going to let anyone railroad his little girl. So, despite his intentions to put his amateur sleuthing days behind him, Charlie has to take center stage, and with Diesel's help, shine a spotlight on the real killer. 

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Charlie Harris as his daughter is working with her husband showcasing a play at the University.  Of course like any book it isn't long before the craziness begins.  First it seems there are two play writers?  Who is the real author of Carless Whispers?  

As the play progress someone is deliberately sabotaging the play and driving Luke Lombardi crazy.  At the night of the opening the tricks have gone too far and someone is killed Luke and Laura Charlie's daughter could have been next!  Charlie is determined to try from afar to figure out what the heck is going on.  Who had it out for the actor and just how determined are they to end the actor's life?

Even though Charlie is warned a few times by Laura to but out he can't because it could have easily have been her.  

I love Charlie and Diesel since the first time I picked up a book.  It's like going to check on old friends and see what they are up to.  Of course the interaction with Azalea and the cats is so much fun to look forward to every time I pick up this author! 

 

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