Review: Mum's The Word by: Kate Collins

Title: Mum’s The Word
Author: Kate Collins
Publisher: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 304
Series: A Flower Shop Mystery #1

Description:

Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits-and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She’s determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

My Thoughts:

When Abby arrives at work that last thing she expects is that someone is going to hit her 1960 Corvette and drive off.  She is beyond upset about this and determined to find out who swiped her classic car, she and a local bar owner Marco do everything to get to the bottom of the mystery.  Corrupt cops, drug dealers and jerky husbands make this one rock ride.  I loved the series, learning about Abby and her co-workers and her family what a great story.  Definitely glad I checked this series out.  Great for anyone who loves cozy mysteries and florists.

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Stacking The Shelves # 4

This is a meme created and hosted by Tynga's Reviews where blogger can spotlight books they have received in the mail. 

I haven't done this in a while so this month I got:

For Review I got:

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Cozy Mysteries In Time For Halloween

I thought I'd share some spooky good mysteries in time for Halloween!  What better time of year to curl up with a good cozy mystery then at Halloween!

Title: Trick or Treat Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Haunted-house parties and ghostly galas…grinning pumpkins, mayhem and murder. It’s going to be one heck of a Halloween for Lucy Stone and Tinker’s Cove…

It’s October in Maine, and everyone in Tinker’s Cove is preparing for the annual Halloween festival. While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes, recycling tutus for her daughters’ Halloween costumes, helping her son with his pre-teen rebellion, and breast-feeding her brand-new baby, an arsonist is loose in Tinker’s Cove. When the latest fire claims the life of the owner of the town’s oldest house, arson turns into murder…

While the townsfolk work to transform a dilapidated mansion into a haunted house for the All-Ghouls festival, the hunt for the culprit heats up. Trick-or-treat turns deadly as a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke…

Title: Frill Kill 

Author: Laura Childs

 This Halloween, the bestselling mystery author makes New Orleans even spookier than usual.

Carmela's friend Ava is having a Halloween bash at her scrapbooking store, and she hires a sexy Tarot reader named Giovanni to work the crowd. What he doesn't foretell is that on her way home Carmela will find the body of a beautiful model behind a Dumpster, and be attacked herself. But he's the one who appears to save her-or was he already there?

Giovanni's the number one suspect, but Ava is determined to stand by her employee...even if he does have a way of dodging questions. Ava and Carmela have plenty of other strange leads to follow up, like the tooth marks around the victim's neck, and the non-human hairs found at the scene. As the witching hour draws closer, Carmela must discover what's lurking in the shadows of the French Quarter-or the only thing left to scrapbook will be her death certificate.

Title: The Diva Haunts The House

Author: Krista Davis

Domestic diva Sophie Winston is getting into the Halloween spirit- her decorations for a community haunted house are so good, it's scary. Not to be outdone, rival domestic diva Natasha is throwing a spooktacular Halloween party at her house. But when Sophie arrives, she discovers one of Natasha's guests dead in a Halloween display, and a pale, fanged partygoer fleeing the scene.

Could the killer be a real vampire-the same one rumored to have lived in Sophie's haunted house back when it was a boardinghouse? Good thing a domestic diva never runs out of garlic.

 Title: Scared Stiff

Author: Annelise Ryan

 Mattie Winston continues her adventures in this Halloween-themed follow-up to"Working Stiff"--where she is out to solve the murder of a waitress/model and clear the name of a friend.

 Title: Murder by The Slice

Autor: Livia J. Washburn

At this year's school carnival fund-raiser, the obnoxious president of the Parent Teacher Organization is found stabbed through the heart with Phyllis Newsom's own knife, with traces of incriminating frosting. Clearing her name will be no piece of cake...

Title: Inked Up

Author: Terri Thayer

 Halloween is scarier than ever in Aldenville, Pennsylvania, when professional rubber stamper April Buchert discovers a dead body in a "haunted" corn maze. The police suspect the victim's husband murdered her, but April knew the couple, and she and the Stamping Sisters are determined to find the real killer before he catches another in his murderous motif.

 Title: Wicked Witch Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

With planning the town's annual Halloween Party, the drought wreaking havoc on her garden, and her brood of four children, Lucy Stone's got her hands full this fall. As the air turns crisp and the trees blaze red and gold in the tiny town of Tinker's Cove, Maine, a newcomer arrives who seems to suit the Halloween season. Diana Ravenscroft has just opened Solstice, a charming little shop featuring candles, crystals, jewelry, and psychic readings. But after an unnervingly accurate reading by Diana, Lucy starts to get more than a little spooked.

Then there's the dead body Lucy finds, way up on one of the old logging roads behind her house. The deceased is identified as Malcolm Malebranche, a seemingly harmless magician who worked at children's birthday parties. When it turns out that Diana knew the murder victim, Ike Stoughton, a prominent local businessman, starts a campaign against Diana, blaming 'the witch' for everything from the unseasonal dry spell to his wife's illness and his pumpkins' lack of plumpness. But Lucy's not so sure that Ike himself is innocent. Still, as the town Halloween party approaches, Lucy's more concerned about the costume competition, pin-the-nose-on-the-pumpkin, and baking three dozen orange cupcakes and Beastly Bug cookies. But as the October moon rises, a killer plans a lethal celebration of his own and Lucy's the guest of honor.

What are you planning to read this Halloween I know me I'm reading The Diva Haunts the House and Town in a Pumpkin Bash by B.B. Haywood!  Share your books below.

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Review Big Numbers by:Jack Getze

Title: Big Numbers
Author: Jack Getze
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Pages: 204
Series: Austin Carr Mystery #1
Format: ebook
Source: Book Tour
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

Root for divorced dad Austin Carr, a funny, oversexed scamp who'll use anything and everything to get his kids back. Think Bugs Bunny with guns and a penis.

                           

Divorced dad Austin Carr wakes up every day in a beat-up camper, parked on someone else’s private property. Why? Because his alimony and child support payments were established by New Jersey’s family court system when his income was double, and for the last two years he has failed to earn the legally mandated monthly nut. He’s had his savings drained, his Maxima repossessed, his salary attached, and his visiting rights suspended. He bought the twelve-year-old Chevy pick-up with the rusty camper for $800 last month because another landlord tossed his butt in the street. Will stretching the rules, his own morals, and the boundaries of common sense raise the cash needed to get his kids back? Or will his bad behavior set him up for a nasty double-cross? Find out if Austin can redeem himself and win back his children.

My Thoughts:

This book was definitely different then your cozy mysteries we come to read and love, not that there isn't anything to love about the dysfunctional Austin Carr.  His life is a mess he lives in a camper that he parks at the local bar and is fighting to see his kids and running from the law when his ex-wife spots him.

When he finds out his only loaded client is about to die of terminal cancer, he ends up hooking up with his client's hot wife.  When she starts getting him to do things he knows he shouldn't he thinks with the wrong head and pursues whatever she wants.  This book was everything opposite of a cozy mystery.

It definitely had humor, and alot of head shaking at the luck that Carr is given.  He stumbles in and out of hospitals so much he should have them on a monthly fee.  But everything he does in the end is to be reunited with his children.  Every bad choice is to get Carr one step closer to his kids.  Which I can value as many would do just about anything to keep our kids in our lives.  I think alot of people will love the situations that Austin gets himself into and watching him wiggle his way out of!

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Review Wilson by: Daniel Clowes

Title:Wilson
Author: Daniel Clowes
Publisher:  Drawn and Quarterly
Pages: 80
Format: Hardcover
Source: My sister's bookshelf

Description:

AN ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL FROM THE OSCAR-NOMINATED SCREENWRITER AND AWARD-WINNING CARTOONIST 

Meet Wilson, an opinionated middle-aged loner who loves his dog and quite possibly no one else. In an ongoing quest to find human connection, he badgers friend and stranger alike into a series of onesided conversations, punctuating his own lofty discursions with a brutally honest, self-negating sense of humor. After his father dies, Wilson, now irrevocably alone, sets out to find his ex-wife with the hope of rekindling their long-dead relationship, and discovers he has a teenage daughter, born after the marriage ended and given up for adoption.Wilson eventually forces all three to reconnect as a family—a doomed mission that will surely, inevitably backfire. 

In the first all-new graphic novel from one of the leading cartoonists of our time, Daniel Clowes creates a thoroughly engaging, complex, and fascinating portrait of the modern egoist—outspoken and oblivious to the world around him.Working in a single-page-gag format and drawing in a spectrumof styles, the cartoonist of GhostWorld, Ice Haven, and David Boring gives us his funniest and most deeply affecting novel to date.

My thoughts:

Wilson, I've recently met. But I do know the Daniel Clowes from Ghost World and Art School Confidential. Just like these two, Wilson is also quite "bittersweet," but I think he needs less bitter and some more sugar. I wanted to slap Wilson, his ex-wife, his daughter, and everyone he gets involved with throughout the book. The only character I could tolerate was Wilson's puppy Pepper, and that's because he doesn't do much. Plus, animals are always better than humans.

Here's the story line in a nutshell: Wilson is a middle-aged man who doesn't like anyone except his dog. But that doesn't stop him from butting into people's business on the bus, etc. First, he strikes up a conversation with them, then the next thing you know he's insulting them right to their face. After his father passes away, Wilson realizes he's all alone (there's no surprise there, I must admit; you'll know what I mean when/if you read it). That's what makes him decide to look for his ex-wife-- the way he did this I really couldn't stand because he was going around asking people "have you seen a whore?" He does find her, eventually, and it turns out that they had a daughter together, but the ex-wife gave her up for adoption. Then they go find the daughter. And yes, it gets more and more downhill from there...

I must admit that even though he's pessimistic and someone I definitely wouldn't want anything do with, he does make quite a few valid observations. When he's sitting at this computer, he goes, "I can reach millions of people through here, yet why do I feel more alone than ever?"* There are more of these observations throughout the book, especially in relation to technology and social habits of today.

I must admit Wilson really wasn't for me. But I did like the Ghost World movie, and I would like to read the comic book as well.

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Seperated by: Anna Therrien Book Spotlight

Connor Sullivan goes in search for his biological parents. Although it doesn't seem to take long to find them, he gets much more than he bargained for.

Purchase Link
Facebook Link

I am so proud of Anna as she is a school mate of mine from high school and this is her first book can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

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Tiaras & Texans by: Laina Turner

Title: Tiara's & Texans
Author: Laina Turner
Publisher: Five Seas Ink
Series: The Presley Thurman Mysteries
Format: ebook
Source: Book Tour
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

Presley wins a bet and thinks she finally is going to get a chance to work with Cooper and show her she’s got the potential to be a good security detail for his company. She is miffed when she finds out her first assignment is to protect a bunch of self absorbed beauty queens at a Texas pageant. It soon becomes a more interesting gig than she thought, much to her delight and Cooper’s dismay, when one of the beauty queens turns up dead and the fierce competition leave the door wide open to suspects.

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Presley Thurman as she has won a bet against her boyfriend Cooper and he has to take her and work a job including her.  What she doesn't count on as the job being pageant contestants, and everything that entails.  Which drags them to Texas to find out what is going on with the beauty queens and who is out to hurt them.

When one of the beauty queens Hollie winds up dead it's up to Sands Security to find out who wanted to kill her, along with the stupid pranks being played on the contestants.  

I enjoyed this book and love seeing what Presley will uncover next.  It was great to see her and Cooper work together to get to the bottom of things.  Ms. Turner writes a fabulous cozy mystery series.  With just the right amount of action, adventure and romance.  I can see her writing for many years to come, she definitely has alot to share with her storytelling!

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Review Abe Lincoln Public Enemy #1 by: Bill Walker & Brian Anthony

Title: Abe Lincoln Public Enemy #1
Author: Bill Walker & Brian Anthony
Publisher: Lowtide Books
Pages: 343
Format: Paperback
Source: Book Tour

Description:

When John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln with a bullet cursed by the notorious Chicken Man, a local voodoo practitioner, he unwittingly sets in motion a chain of events extending far into the future. Instead of killing Lincoln, the bullet puts the president into a coma for sixty-eight years, his body remaining limber and ageless. When he awakens in 1933, Abe Lincoln is a man out of time, a revered icon...and a political pariah. FDR and J. Edgar Hoover not only do not want him around, they want him to retire. But their plan to be rid of him backfires and Lincoln is on the run, a fugitive from justice. 

Determined to reach Chicago and retrieve the small fortune left in trust for him by his long-dead son, Lincoln discovers that Hoover has confiscated all his money, leaving him destitute. With Bureau of Investigation agent Melvin Purvis in hot pursuit, Lincoln finds his way to a hobo camp where he befriends a young runaway, who agrees to accompany the former president back to Washington. There Lincoln hopes that Hannah Wheelhouse, the Chicken Man's granddaughter, can help him find the peace he longs for. 

Then fate deals Lincoln another strange hand when he and the boy end up as hostages to infamous bank robber John Dillinger. Instead of leaving them by the side of the road after the robbery, Dillinger takes a liking to Lincoln and invites him to join the gang, promising him he'll get all his money back. 

Will Lincoln survive long enough to recapture his fortune and get away, or will he be hunted down in a manner unbefitting a martyred President?

My Thoughts:

This book starts out with Abraham Lincoln breaking out of jail and then goes back to the fateful day when Abe Lincoln was killed by John Wilkes Booth and the cursed bullet that places him in a coma for 68 years.  Prior to shooting Lincoln Booth takes the bullet and brings it to a voodoo practitioner who performs magic on the bullet.  Hours later the Chicken Man and his granddaughter learn that Booth did shoot Lincoln with the cursed bullet.

Upon waking up 68 years later Abraham finds much has changed.  He is no longer president and people would be happy if he would retired to Springfield and stop messing with politics.  Abraham tries to reason with both the current president and Hoover head of the FBI to make his case but no one is listening.  Having his hand forced Abraham escapes on the train taking him back to Springfield.    He heads to Chicago to find the bank where his son left him money for when Abraham would awake.

This book had so much action, adventure and drama it kept going and going. It was an incredibly twisted turn the fateful night with John Wilkes Booth and what that "magic" bullet did to Lincoln, and how he life ended up.  Was incredible to read such a great work of fiction I loved it!

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Review Sherlock Homes by: Pamela Rose

Title: Sherlock Homes
Author: Pamela Rose
Publisher:  Pamela Rose
Pages: 205
Format: ebook
Source: Book Tour

Description:

Life imitating art?  That’s Finn Sherlock’s first bizarre thought when she stumbles across a dead body within the Civil War era hiding place inside Sherlock’s Home Mystery Bookstore.  Thinking that it’s her gnome-like Uncle Oz costumed to play the part of a fortunetelling druid for ‘All Hallows’ Eve,’ she is relieved when she learns that the hooded figure is not her favorite uncle, but the town’s favorite outcast, Odds Bodkins.

Unfortunately, murder suspects abound due to the fact that the mystery bookstore and its adjoining 221b Bakery were the first stop on the Leapers Point’ Halloween circuit and any number of people were on the scene for the annual ‘Fright Night’ tour.   More than that, Odds Bodkins was almost universally detested; far too many would agree that the assisted demise of the loathsome little witch was more treat than trick…possibly even a community service.

With a little help from Uncle Oz and her identical twin sister, Echo, Finn sets out to discover who amongst the congenial southern townsfolk had the audacity and plain bad manners to murder the contentious crone right under the Sherlock family noses.  Was it the fire and brimstone preacher Willie Ping?  ‘Blooming Idiots’ talented but slightly mental florist?   Or what about fluffy nonagenarian Eula May Binks…can anybody really be that sugary sweet?  But, when the local Sheriff, Wavy Davey, learns that it was Uncle Oz’s Halloween prop – a bona fide hangman’s noose – that was the murder weapon, there’s more heating up inside the 221b Bakery than just the ovens.

Join the heart of Dixie’s new sleuth Finn Sherlock as she resolutely follows in the footsteps of her namesake to create more than a little mayhem and detect a folksy murderer.   Sherlock’s Home Mystery Bookstore…where the game is always afoot.

My Thoughts: 

This book was sent to me for a honest and fair review in exchange for reading it.  Finn and Echo Sherlock run a mystery bookstore with a bakery next door.  When death happens nearby it is up to Echo and Finn and their Uncle Oz to figure out who murdered Odds Bodkins a recluse.

This book was great with characters that you can really connect with which is refreshing with a mystery book you can't always connect with characters.  This book had so much going for it humor, mystery, and of course drama.  This is also a great book for those who like seasonal reads like halloween, christmas, holiday added to your mysteries. This book had me guessing on who murdered Odds.  Definitely a great book to pick up to satisfy your mystery urges.  Can't wait to see what Ms. Rose comes up with next!

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Review Deadly Notions by: Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Title: Deadly Notions
Author: Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Pages: 286
Series: Southern Sewing Circle #4
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchase
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

Librarian Tori Sinclair would do anything for her new circle of friends-including throw a birthday bash for a fellow sewer's daughter. While the party is a hit, self-important pageant mom Ashley Lawson leaves the ladies wanting to permanently shut her high maintenance mouth. But when Ashley turns up dead, Tori and the girls need to figure out who really murdered the monster mom, before the finger-pointing causes their friendship to unravel.

My Thoughts:

This book opens up with Melissa getting ready for her daughter's birthday and trying to get everything right so Ashley Lawson will be satisfied with the event.  Not long into the book everyone has an idea on how to take out Ashley.  The next morning theories become reality when Ashley Lawson is found dead in her car strangled to death.  The whole southern sewing circle is in a world of trouble as they are all being looked at by the police for this crime.

Milo's ex has come back to town and wants her boyfriend back, unfortunately for Beth he wants Tori.  And after playing wolf one too many times and spelling it out to Tori that she wants her man back Milo decides enough is enough and sends her packing.

While leads Tori to suspect more is going on then meets the eye and realizes that Beth's life really is in danger.  So Tori sends Milo to save his ex-girlfriend one last time.

I loved going back with the southern sewing circle to see what adventures they are up too.  And learning a thing or two about the Belles!  What a great series and am about to start the next one!

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Review: Pinned For Murder

Title: Pinned For Murder
Author: Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Pages: 278
Series: Southern Sewing Circle #3
Format: ebook
Source: Purchase
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

The members of South Carolina's Sweet Briar Ladies Society sewing circle are as loyal and close-knit as the day is long. But when the richest and meanest woman in town turns up murdered, the new Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair finds that some threads can bind dangerously tight.

My Thoughts:

I loved this series from book one and this was no different when mean old Martha Jane accuses Kenny of stealing her money when it is impossible that Kenny would do that as he can't concept money.  Not long after this Martha Jane winds up dead, it's up to Victoria to figure it out and free Kenny from the mess he is in.

Also in this book is a bad storm Roger that has reeked havoc on Sweet Briar, and it's up to hard workers to repair the damage.  The question now is did one of those drifters kill the cranky old lady.

Also we meet Milo's mom in this book and watch more of their relationship develop.  I love this series so much with fun and adventure and even some giggles.  Definitely a great series and can't wait to read more by Ms. Casey!

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Review: Stilettos & Scoundrels by: Laina Turner Molaski

Title: Stilettos & Scoundrels
Author: Laina Turner Molaski
Publisher: Five Sea Ink Publishing
Pages: 305
Series: Presley Thurman Mysteries #1
Format: ebook
Source: Book Tour

Description:

Presley Thurman tells her boss what he can do with her job in HR, and embarks on a new career as a freelance journalist. What seems like a simple interview with a Senator turns to murder when, the day after her interview, the Senator turns up dead. Does the fact that Presley was one of the last people to see him alive make her a suspect? Her ex-boyfriend Cooper, who was in charge of the Senators security, might think so. Presley is determined to clear her name but can she do it and resist Cooper’s charms?

My Thoughts:

As this book starts out Presley has just told her boss where to shove it and quit her job.  Tired of the sexual harassment he keeps delivering to her she has walked away.  Now that reality has set in Presley needs a job to keep her apartment.  

She takes up an offer her friend had offered of writing a freelance article about a Senator who's wife is from Presley's hometown.  She also figures while she is there she can visit her family.  

What she doesn't count on is the Senator ending up dead, and her ability to want to find out what happened to him.  Then there is  Cooper and old flame of Presley's and what is he doing?  And should she give him a second chance.

I love this book for it's adventure and quirky characters it brings in this story.  The mystery being solved and sometimes good people make bad choices and not by choice mainly cause they don't see any other option.  I can't wait to read her next Presley adventure to see where Presley will wind up next!  I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves mystery, along with good shoe sense!

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Review - Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by: Mindy Kaling

Title: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
Author: Mindy Kaling
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Pages: 222
Format: Kindle Edition
Source: Personal purchase

Description:

Comedy's fastest-rising star takes to the page in a book of essays, personal anecdotes, and impassioned pleas.
Multi-hyphenate Mindy Kaling is an Emmy-nominated writer, the actress famous for playing the beloved Kelly Kapoor on The Office, and the author of one of Twitter's most popular and quoted feeds.  She is a keen and witty observer of life, romance, and pop culture, whom the New York Times recently called "an entirely original and of-the-moment" performer and Entertainment Weekly deemed “one of the ten funniest actresses in Hollywood.” 

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy shares her observations, fears, and opinions about a wide-ranging list of the topics she thinks about the most: from her favorite types of guys (including Sherlock Holmes, NBA players, Aaron Sorkin characters, and 19th-century fictional hunks) to life in the Office writers' room to her leisure pursuit of dieting (“I don’t travel, speak other languages, do crafts, or enjoy sports, but I love reading about new diets”) and how much she loves romantic comedies.  Loaded with personal stories and laugh-out-loud philosophies, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? is a must-read by one of the most original comedic voices working today.

From the Hardcover edition.

My thoughts:

I know Mindy Kaling from The Office. I know her as the hilarious side character on NoStrings Attached and The Five-Year Engagement. When I found out she had her own show, I started watching The Mindy Project and found myself laughing out loud more than once during a 20-minute episode. I wanted to laugh more, like any normal person would (!), so I decided it was a good time to pick up her book, too.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? is autobiographical for the most part. Kaling tells us her high school stories, college stories, stories about how she ended up writing for The Office. As soon as you start reading, you feel like you’ve been best friends with Mindy as long as you can remember and she’s chattering away while you’re having coffee or getting ready for a sleepover. Some parts make you laugh out loud, some parts are more serious. She goes back and forth so well that you don’t get bored or think anything’s overdone.

I especially loved her comments about Hollywood’s beauty standards and how “real” women, one of them being Mindy, don’t fit into them. She bravely tells a story about how at a photo shoot, she had a hard time finding something to wear because everything that was brought was in sample sizes. Triumphantly, she got creative and told the person in charge to fix it the way she wanted to wear it. This anecdote also reminded me of how they told Barbra Streisand in the past that she should fix her nose and teeth. But she didn’t. Not only did that make her a role model for girls all over the world, she’s still f’ing gorgeous.

If you’re looking for a fun read that’ll make you think while you’re giggling, I definitely recommend this book. Her show The Mindy Project isn’t too different from the book either, and it’s a lot of fun and recommended to all comedy fans.

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Review: A Secondhand Murder by: Lesley A. Diehl & Giveaway

Title: A Secondhand Murder

Author: Lesley A. Diehl
Publisher: Camel Press
Pages: 250
Series: Eve Appel Mystery Series #1
Format: Paperback ARC

Source: Partners In Crime Book Tour

Description:

Spunky and outspoken Eve Appel moves from Connecticut to rural Florida intent on starting a new life, free of drama, and more importantly, her soon-to-be ex-husband. The rural Florida town of Sabal Bay, situated only an hour from West Palm, proves to be the perfect spot for her consignment store. Thanks to the recent economic downturn, Florida’s society matrons need a place to discreetly sell their stuff and pick up expensive-looking bargains. But Eve’s life, and her business with it, is turned upside down when a wealthy customer is found stabbed to death in a fitting room. As accusations fly and business slows, Eve decides to take things into her own hands. With the help of an unlikely bunch of friends—including her estranged ex, her best friend, a handsome private eye, and a charming mafia don—she struggles to find answers and save lives. Through a maze of distorted half-truths, dramatic cover-ups, and unrequited passions, Eve learns just how far the wealthy will go to regain what they have lost. A Secondhand Murder is Book 1 of the Eve Appel Mysteries Series.

My Thoughts: 

This book has everything in it from a divorce that was never finalized to a murder of someone that Eve doesn't really get along with, to a mysterious P.I. that has eyes for Eve.  When she and her friend Madeline open their high end consignment store, it's a huge event that ends with a murder.

There were so many characters that I really enjoyed everyone from Eve's crazy ex-husband Jerry to Alex the Private Investigator to her grandmother and grandfather.  They all had their quirks that I loved.  Definitely a great new refreshing series that I can't wait to read more when the author writes more!

Now for the giveaway.  I have on ebook copy to giveaway in the comments below with your email address answer my one question which is Do you have a cozy mystery favorite which ones is yours? And I will pick on random winner.  This contest is open to USA residents only.

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Review - Doctor Sleep by: Stephen King

Title: Doctor Sleep
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Scribner
Pages: 531
Series: The Shining #2
Format: Paperback
Source: Personal purchase

Description:

Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the “steam” that children with the “shining” produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant “shining” power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.”

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of devoted readers of The Shining and satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

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Review Death Threads by: Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Title: Death Threads
Author: Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Pages: 280
Series: Southern Sewing Circle #2
Format: ebook
Source: Purchase
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair is basking in the warmth of her new circle of friends from South Carolina's Sweet Briar Ladies Society sewing circle. That is until local author Colby Calhoun reveals an unflattering secret about the town's historic past-and then disappears, leaving a bloody trail behind him. And when Tori begins to see a pattern of the townsfolk's age-old Southern pride standing in the way of justice, she knows it's time to unravel the mystery.

My Thoughts:

When author Colby Calhoun writes a stirring piece about Sweet Briar and what happneed many years ago when it was burned to the ground.  Colby and Debbie find themselves on the outs in a town Debbie was born here.  What makes it worse is when Colby disappears.  What happened to him?  Is he dead or alive?  Also who is the mystery man in Ella May's life?  Will the town of Sweet Briar finally meet Ella May's mystery man?

This is a great second book to the Southern Sewing Circle where we continue to follow Tori Sinclair.  At this point she has hooked up with Milo and they are dating.  When things go wrong this book really heats up.  The shut out that Colby and Debbie experience felt so real and I felt so bad for them.  I was so drawn into this book and couldn't put it down.  It was a great mystery I loved it!

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Review Sew Deadly by: Elizabeth Lynn Casey

Title: Sew Deadly
Author: Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Pages: 280
Series: Southern Sewing Circle #1
Format: ebook
Source: Purchase
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

Ever since she moved to Sweet Briar, South Carolina, Yankee librarian Tori Sinclair has been the talk of the tiny town. But she's been so busy at work, winning over the sewing circle, and trying to forget her cheating ex that she hasn't even had time to baste together a pillow, let alone mind local gossip. Then she finds the hometown sweetheart dead at her back door...

Everyone believes the police investigator, who's just fixin' to link Tori to the murder in a love triangle gone bad. To clear her name, Tori will have to rely on her new sewing sisters and stitch together the truth- or be darned.

My Thoughts:

I started this series with Let It Sew and fell in love with the residents of Sweet Briar.  In this book Yankee Tori Sinclair is the new librarian in Sweet Briar and the tongues are wagging about the Yankee girl.  Not long into this book a young girl winds up dead behind the library.  All fingers are pointing in Tori's direction.  

In this book we also meet Milo Wentworth who is a third grade teacher who meets Tori while she is working at the library and the sparks are flying.  Milo believes in Tori and her innocence  as do a few other residents of Sweet Briar.  Tori is still dealing with Dixie Dunn who use to be the librarian and is very bitter about loosing her job to the young Yankee gal.  In the end Dixie is offered a spot in the library as a volunteer.  Which makes Dixie Dunn very happy.

Tori decides during this book to find out who killed the young girl. 

I loved this story, it was a great adventure to go on with some great characters.  I loved taking a trip to Sweet Briar and learning how the sewing circle got together and how the included Tori even though she is an outsider, and watching the relationship between Tori and Lulu was so cute.  This book was a great ride to take on a quiet day! 

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Some movies ARE as good as the books

I'm currently reading Stephen King's new novel, Doctor Sleep, which meant I had to revisit The Shining. The girls from my blog tour group are reading the book as well, and they asked me if they should read The Shining first. I told them they could get away with just watching the movie if they could because it was just as good. That got me thinking: we complain about movies not portraying books well most of the time, but there are actually good ones out there. Here' s what I've come up with so far:

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Editorial Tom Clancy Dead At 66 there goes Jack Ryan

World known author Tom Clancy died Tuesday night in Baltimore hopsital.  He was well known for his books about the military including CIA agent Jack Ryan.

The following is the chronological order of the Jack Ryan series:

1 Patriot Games

2 Red Rabbit

3 The Hunt for Red October

4 The Cardinal in the Kremlin

5 Clear and Present Danger

6 The Sum of All Fears

7 Debt of Honor

8 Executive Orders

9     Command Authority

 He was a great author and will be greatly missed as will Jack Ryan the character he wrote a few books about.  May he rest in peace and know that he will be sorely missed!

Mr. Clancy had this great ability to write stories about various military situations, I know for one we have The Hunt for Red October and have watched it many times.  We have also seem The Sum of All Fears and I'm gonna look into getting his other books to review those on the site as a tribute to Tom Clancy.

 RIP Tom Clancy!

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Review: Just Listen by: Sarah Dessen

Title: Just Listen
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 371
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchase
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

When Annabel, the youngest of three beautiful sisters, has a bitter falling out with her best friend—the popular and exciting Sophie—she suddenly finds herself isolated and friendless. but then she meets Owen—a loner, passionate about music and his weekly radio show, and always determined to tell the truth. And when they develop a friendship, Annabel is not only introduced to new music but is encouraged to listen to her own inner voice. with Owen’s help, can Annabel find the courage to speak out about what exactly happened the night her friendship with Sophie came to a screeching halt?


My Thoughts:

In this book we meet Annabel and her sisters who are models each have their own personality Kirsten is the outgoing bubbly one, Whitney the middle sister not knowing where she fits and Annabel the baby and the one who kept everything inside.

In the beginning Annabel spends her time with Clarke her best friend for as long as she can remember but when the bad girl Sophie arrives Clarke and Annabel eventually become friend with  her.  But Sophie is all about boys and being this tough girl. Even to the point of ending Annabel's relationship with Clarke.  Then one night at a party Annabel's  life turned upside down when Sophie's boyfriend rapes Annabel and Sophie finds them in this compromising position and quickly believes her boyfriend Will Cash leaving annabel as the total outcast.

Annabel meets Owen who screams bad boy, but something about him draws Annabel in.  Meanwhile in NY Whitney is living with Kirsten and her life is falling apart.  Whitney has an eating disorder and doing her best to hide it from her family.  Finally the breaking point is when Kirsten brings Whitney home and goes back to NY where Whitney collapses in the bathroom only to be found by her younger sister Annabel.  Whitney is diagnosed with the eating disorder and put into therapy.  Which helps Whitney deal with the middle child syndrome.

Meanwhile Annabel's life is falling apart the only bright part in her days is Owen and what she learns from him about music but can she be honest with him, about what happened to her?  Will Owen accept this big secret Annabel has or will he leave her all alone.

I loved this story so far I haven't met a Sarah Dessen book I didn't like.  I liked how all three girls over came things to be better women.  How they each had life changing things and none of them had to do with modeling.  They all seemed to move on from modeling and find their way in the world and I thought it was great.  I really enjoyed it!

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