And the Winner Is....

 I just pulled the winner of A Plus One for Murder.  And that winner is...

...Michelle!

I just sent you an email, so be on the look out for it so I can be sure to connect you with your prize.

Book Review: Stitched in Crime by Emmie Caldwell (Craft Fair Knitters Mysteries #2)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong mystery that kept me engaged

Cons: Characters might be a bit thin (but that might just be me)

The Bottom Line:

When crocheter falls

Lia searches for the truth

This will keep you hooked

Accidental Fall?  Or Murder?

I really need to read more crafting mysteries.  Since I’m not a crafter myself, the hooks don’t connect with me as much as some of the other cozy mystery themes, but the ones I’ve read I’ve enjoyed.  A case in point is the Craft Fair Knitters Mysteries from Emmie Caldwell.  I enjoyed the first, and I found Stitched in Crime to be just a strong.

It’s been a few months since we last checked in with Lia Geiger, and life is beginning to return to normal.  She’s enjoying having her daughter live with her again, even if the house is a bit crowded, and the crowds are beginning to return to the craft fair where she sells the things she and her friends in the Ninth Street Knitters make.

The crowds really return after an article spotlighting Cori Littlefield, the newest vender to the craft fair, and her wonderful crochet items.  Sadly, just a couple of days after that comes out, Cori dies in a tragic fall to the base of a nearby waterfall.

Cori’s death mirrors a death that happens a couple of decades ago, a death that Cori claimed to have witnessed as a child.  In both cases, the police rule the deaths accidents due to lack of evidence, but that conclusion doesn’t sit right with Mia.  So, she sets out to investigate and find some evidence to turn over to the police.  Will she uncover anything?

The mystery in this book in wonderful.  We have several viable suspects, and the further I got into the book, the more confused I got, but in a good way.  Each suspect kept doing something to move them to the front of the suspect list.  But once we reached the end, everything made perfect sense, including a question I had that the characters never brought up.

I do feel like the characters could be a tad stronger.  Don’t get me wrong, I like them, and I’m not completely sure why I feel that way.  Maybe it’s the plethora of background characters.  I never had an issue keeping the characters straight, so maybe that’s just me.  This is a very minor issue overall.  As I said, I do like the characters and the suspects are strong.

When I read the first book, I had an issue with one of the main characters being too prickly.  I’m happy to say she has softened significantly here.

If you are looking for a fun cozy, you’ll be happy you picked up Stitched in Crime.    Just a word of warning: You might have a hard time picking up your knitting needles until you’ve finished this book.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Music Review: Evergreen by Pentatonix

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Creative, vibrant arrangements

Cons: A few of the songs are a bit odd

The Bottom Line:

Mixed Christmas music

All the arrangements shine here

Some songs don’t connect

Will This Be an Evergreen Christmas Release?

At this point, I am pretty much amazed when Pentatonix comes out with a new Christmas CD that has any traditional songs on it we haven’t already gotten from them.  We have a good selection of familiar tracks on Evergreen, but with the wonderful Pentatonix twist.

Depending on how you count traditional Christmas songs will determine how many you say are on this disc.  There are a couple of very easy contenders.  “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and “Frosty the Snowman” are prime examples.  The group is joined by Alessia Cara on “Frosty.”  They go with an up-tempo take on “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” which I really enjoy.  The rhythm on “I Saw Three Ships” is delightful.  And they close things out with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Then there are the almost traditional Christmas songs.  They seem to be showing up more and more, at least on the discs I buy.  We’re talking about songs like Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.”  I’m not usually a fan of this song, but I really do like the take on it here.  We’ve also got “Home for the Holidays” and “Little Saint Nick.”

The title track is a song that the members of Pentatonix wrote themselves.  It’s more about a mother’s love than Christmas itself, but they are using the season as a launching point.  Still, you’d do just fine if you pulled it out in May.

And then there are the other tracks.  I’m not sure some of these really belong on a Christmas disc.  For example, the short intro track “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” is more about romance.  The same is true with Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” and “My Heart with You” also fall into this category, at least for me.  Now, that isn’t to say I don’t enjoy the tracks.  Their arrangements are fantastic, sometimes achingly beautiful.  I’m glad I have them.  I just am questioning their place on a Christmas disc.

If you aren’t familiar with Pentatonix, you really are missing out.  This group of five is an outstanding a cappella group.  The harmonies they achieve, and the full sound they get is outstanding.  Their arrangements are fresh, and sometimes extremely dramatic.  It’s hard not to enjoy the songs even if you struggle to follow exactly what the songs are about, like “River.”

The one exception to Pentatonix’s a cappella here is “Over the River.”  Lindsey Stirling joins the group with her exceptional violin playing.  Once again, the arrangement is perfect at combining the violin to their amazing vocals, and it’s great to have this song included since I don’t think I have it anywhere else.

The first time through the disc, I didn’t quite connect with it, but as I’ve been listening to it over the last few weeks, it is quickly growing on me.  Still, I think a few of the odder song choices will keep this from being one of their top Christmas releases.

Fans will hardly complain, however.  The creative and perfectly executed arrangements will keep them pulling out Evergreen every Christmas.

CD Length: 39:35

Tracks:

1. It’s Been a Long, Long Time

2. Wonderful Christmastime

3. I Saw Three Ships

4. Home for the Holidays

5. River

6. Over the River (Featuring Lindsey Stirling)

7. The Prayer

8. Evergreen

9. Frosty the Snowman (Featuring Alessia Cara)

10. I Just Called to Say I Love You

11. Little Saint Nick

12. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

13. My Heart with You

14. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Book Review: How to Book a Murder by Cynthia Kuhn (Starlit Bookshop Mysteries #1)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Solid mystery and main characters

Cons: A few niggles but overall enjoyable

The Bottom Line:

A deadly event

Past hurts complicate the case

Overall, it’s fun

Murder Mystery Night Ends with Real Murder

Cynthia Kuhn is back with a new mystery series.  Since I enjoyed the Lila Maclean Mysteries, I was anxious to meet her new characters in the Starlit Bookshop Mystery series.  I’m pleased to say that How to Book a Murder is a fun debut.

Emma Starrs has returned home to help her sister, Lucy, run the bookstore they’ve inherited from their parents.  Starlit Bookshop is doing even worse than Emma realizes, so she decides to put her event planning skills to use to supplement what the store is bringing in.

Emma’s first client is Tabitha Baxter, an old schoolmate.  Time hasn’t made Tabitha any kinder to Emma, but Emma figures she can get through one night, especially since all she has to do is run the mystery event that is supposed to take place over the course of the dinner.  The evening is really for Tabitha’s husband, Tip, and his colleagues at the local university, including Emma’s aunt Nora.  The evening ends when Emma finds a dead body.  With rumors spreading around town that Emma or Nora committed the murder, Emma tries to find the truth.  Can she clear her name?  Or has she doomed the family bookstore as the backlash drives customers away?

I was actually surprised at who the victim was, but it was a great choice since it allowed for some additional conflict for Emma.  The story does get lost a time or two in the sub-plots, but they were fun sub-plots, so I didn’t mind too much.  The climax was wonderful – logical and creative – and it wrapped up everything perfectly.

The book has a plethora of suspects, which is a good thing for a mystery.  Unfortunately, they are mostly introduced in group scenes, so it was hard for me to keep them all straight early on, but as the book progressed, it became easier to remember who the key suspects are and what their motives might be.  There were a variety of motives, which I truly appreciated since it made the book more fun and helped separate the suspects.

Emma, Lucy, and Nora are fantastic main characters.  Yes, Emma is the lead character, but Lucy and Nora are just as important to the story.  I loved them and their relationships, and I can’t wait to see more of them.  The romantic relationships are just as interesting, and I look forward to seeing how they grow in the future.

I mentioned the fun sub-plots earlier.  There is one in particular that added some great humor to the book.  At times, it was a bit over the top, but at other times I gave me the laughs it was supposed to be giving me.  There are some other laugh out loud moments over the course of the book.

How to Book a Murder sets up an intriguing new cozy series.  I’m anxious to see just what trouble Emma can get into next.

Note: I received an ARC of this book.

Movie Review: Annie Live!

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: It’s Annie, so I love it

Cons: Taraji P. Henson’s over the top performance among other nitpits

The Bottom Line:

Annie gets filmed live

A mostly good production

Pleased musical fan

Mix of Stage and Screen in Annie Live!

While I’ve been faithfully watching each of NBC’s live musicals since they started, I was especially thrilled when they announced they were going to be doing Annie this year.  Yes, I love the musical.  Yes, I know it is sappy and predictable and all those things.  I don’t care.  It is fun, so I sat down looking forward to seeing how this live adaptation would go.

If you aren’t familiar with the musical, it follows Little Orphan Annie (Celina Smith) who is living in an orphanage in New York City in the 1930’s.  When she was left under the care of Miss Hannigan (Taraji P. Henson), she was left with a note from her parents saying they would be back for her.  And she clings to that hope.  Her life changes significantly when billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Harry Connick, Jr.) decides to ask for an orphan to spend the holidays with him.  What will happen next?

This production is not going to change your opinion of the musical at all.  If you love the musical, you’ll find much to enjoy here.  If you don’t like it, you will still hate it.  I’m not going to get into any of that but focus on how this particular production approached the story.

I was highly impressed with the choreography.  It was a step up from what I’m used to seeing in these musicals.  Everyone, including the actresses playing the rest of the orphans, were so talented.  Likewise, the singing was wonderful.

I’m a huge fan of the stage version and the 1999 film.  I’m not a fan of the 1982 film, and I’ve only seen it a couple of times.  In the past, these productions on NBC have been live productions of the stage version (on specially built stages in a studio), so I was surprised to find some of the songs from the 1982 production made it into this version.  I’m not sure what the thinking was.  The cast did fine with them, but I’m not a fan of those songs, so I would have been happy if they had just stuck to the play.  I’m especially disappointed that they included the duet between Miss Hannigan and Warbucks, but it was infinitely better here than in the original movie.

The 1999 version tried to leave the 1930’s setting behind, but this production played into that, including the Hooverville scene and song and keeping President Roosevelt’s appearances in the second act.

The cast was good.  Celina Smith was fantastic as Annie.  She was earnest and believable, walking the fine like of making Annie optimistic and precocious without being too sweet.  Her singing voice was outstanding as well.  It was truly a joy to watch her.  Most of the rest were just as good, but she really stood out to me.  On the other hand, there was Taraji P. Henson’s Miss Hannigan.  It’s a hard part to nail, and I felt she went too far over the top, making the character a borderline cartoon.  Based on the costume, I’m sure it was a directorial choice, but it still distracted.

I noticed some of the lines of dialogue were changed or edited from the play as well.  While I get it, this is a new production and they can do whatever they want, in this case, it took out some jokes and setup that I always enjoy.  They also changed the ending slightly.  I can get what they were going for, but I’m still looking to see the play’s ending finally filmed.

The production itself was fantastic from a technical standpoint.  Yes, at times, it is weird to see the audience or see the characters walking between sets, I also found it fun for something different.  Then again, I do love going to plays, where that kind of thing is much more common, so I am more easily able to accept that.

Most of what I’ve point out fall into the nitpick category for me.  Overall, I enjoy Annie Live!  If you are looking for a new production of this beloved musical, you’ll enjoy it as well.

Book Review: A Dangerous Breed by Glen Erik Hamilton (Van Shaw #5)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Van and the regulars, interesting stories

Cons: Stories don’t quite come together; one brutal scene

The Bottom Line:

Two conflicting plots

Weaken overall story

Only for the fans

Learning About the Past – Danger in the Present

I appreciate it when authors try for something new.  Sometimes, those breaks in their formula turn out to be favorite books in a series.  And sometimes, they don’t quite pay off.  Unfortunately, for me, that was the case with A Dangerous Breed, the fifth Van Shaw novel from Glen Erik Hamilton.

If you are new to the series, Van is an unusual hero, at least for me.  He was raised to be a thief by his grandfather before entering the Army after high school graduation.  Now out of the Army Rangers, he is having a hard time fitting back into civilian life, especially when he gets caught up in situations that require his skills, some of which are on the shady side.

It all started because Van was trying to help out a friend.  Hollis needs help with an injured sailor, so Van goes along when Hollis takes him to a private doctor Hollis knows about.  However, that puts Van on the radar of a criminal willing to use extortion to get Van to do his dirty work.  And that dirty work?  It involves a heist from a biotech firm in downtown Seattle in just a few days – not enough time for Van to properly plan.

Meanwhile, an invitation to a high school reunion addressed to Van’s long deceased mother sparks Van’s design to know about his past.  By speaking to his mom’s friends from when she was in high school, Van thinks he might have figured out who is father is.  But does he want to know this man?

I’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series, so I was expecting this book to be just as entertaining.  And it certainly had its entertaining moments.  Both stories feature Van against overwhelming odds, which is usually a recipe for a page turner.  Here, I feel like neither story quite lived up to its full potential.  It’s almost like the author took a couple of ideas he was playing around with and put them in the same book since he couldn’t figure out how to fully flesh them out.  I kept expecting one more big twist that never quite came.  Don’t misunderstand, we get resolution to the stories, but some of the other books have had better resolution.

Of course, series fans will want to read the book to check in on Van.  He and the limited series regulars are all in top form, and I appreciated getting to learn what is going on in their lives.  Plus, it was interesting to learn more about Van’s background.  The characters that pop up in this story are great.  I wouldn’t say exactly likeable, which is no surprise to those who are familiar with the series.  Van has to face some pretty nasty people in these books, but that’s what keeps us coming back.

This is the part of the review where I would normally remind you that the book will have more language and violence than I would normally read since they are thrillers and not cozies.  And that holds true.  However, I have to call out one particularly nasty scene that I definitely could have done without.

As usual with this series, I listened to the audio book.  We have the third narrator for the series.  After three books with the same narrator, it took me a bit to get used to Stephen Mendel, especially since he was the first narrator to not try to give Hollis an Irish accent.  I’m sorry that the previous narrator didn’t come back, but by the end, I was used to Stephen’s work.

It’s disappointing that A Dangerous Breed didn’t quite come together as it should have.  But fans of the series will still be glad to see Van in action.  If you haven’t met him yet, don’t start here.

Here are the rest of the Van Shaw mysteries.

December 4th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Spent quite a bit of time catching up on TV this week.  Don't think I would have made it expect only about half my shows were on this week.  And I'm not complaining.

Hawkeye (11/24) – I almost didn’t watch this show based on my reaction to some of the others, but I’m glad I’ve given this a chance.  So far, it’s been fun.  Great cliffhangers.  Kind of glad I get to see what happens next quickly since I didn’t watch it when it premiered (obviously).  Curious how all these plot threads are going to tie together.  Wish we didn’t have the “I’ll be home by Christmas” ticking clock, however.  I’m sure he will be, but I don’t need any more pressure in my life, and somehow that is stressing me out.

Survivor (11/24) – Wow!  They got rid of Shan!!  I honestly thought she was going to win, but I’m glad to see her gone.  Of course, Ricado can leave next as far as I’m concerned.  I find it rich her calling out a “snack” on her way out since she was one all along.

Legends of Tomorrow (11/24) – That scene with Ava on the floor that turned into an I Love Lucy tribute?  Classic!  I would have seen it coming even if a friend hadn’t messaged me, but it was fantastic either way.  The lecture I could have done without.  Not that integration isn’t a great thing, but the lecture took away some of the thrill.  But what I really want to know is what is going on with that cliffhanger.  Because seriously, who are those legends who showed up at the end?

Batwoman (11/24) – I’ve been describing Alice as Batwoman’s version of The Joker.  Clearly I am wrong about that as Marcus is clearly going to become the Joker.  I’m curious where they are going to go with that storyline.  Got to say, I am loving this new version of Mary.  Obviously, something in between will be good when the arc is over, but seeing her turning bad is fun, and the dynamic with Alice is working, too.

The Equalizer – Here’s a tip, if you want to make a point, don’t have a character who is supposed to be a terrorist making it.  Seriously, could their lecture be any more tone deaf and annoying.  But that cliffhanger!  Yikes.  I can’t wait to see where they go with that.  Although if they don’t tone down the lecturing, I might not make it through the rest of the season.

The Flash – I feel like that was a bit more about the rest of the team, especially Iris and Cecil than Barry.  Not that I’m complaining.  I get where they were both coming from when they had their argument.  I’m glad to see my theory that Joe isn’t really dead is coming into play already.  I did not see that cliffhanger ending coming.  Nice to see a bit more of Alex Danvers, too.  Maybe she will be in these episodes more.

Hawkeye – I’m seriously having a blast with this show.  Great action sequences, some pretty funny humor, and plenty of plots twists to keep me engaged.  Really glad I gave this one a chance.

Survivor – Based on how long they had when they went to tribal, you knew they’d have a vote.  That conversation did take up some time (I was surprised we went there with 25 minutes left in the episode).  It was the easy vote.  Now to see if they make another easy vote next time or if the alliance of four starts eating itself.

United States of Al – Predictable story, but there were some good laughs in there.  And plenty of heart as well.  No, I don’t think this will ever be a truly classic sitcom, but I’m glad I stuck with it.  It has really found itself, and I’m enjoying it.

Ornament Review: A Futuristic Freeway to Fun - 2021 Hallmark Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Captures a fun memory from the Disney parks

Cons: Noticeable tip forward.

The Bottom Line:

A ride vehicle

Ornament does tip forward

Lovely nostalgia

Race to Get This Ornament

There isn’t a ride at Disneyland I’m not willing to do.  Even those that appeal more to kids hit the nostalgia factor perfectly for me, so when I am there with friends, it is quite possible they will get dragged on Autopia.  For that reason, I had to get A Futuristic Freeway to Fun!

This ornament features Mickey riding in one of the Autopia cars.  It’s red, which means it will stand out well on your tree and is a classic Christmas color.  Plus, they do have red cars in the attraction.  It’s perfect!  How do I know this is an Autopia car?  It’s got the rails around it that the cars in the attraction have to minimize the impact that a collision would have.  And it’s on the license plate in the back of the car.  The steering wheel is in the middle of the car, and Mickey is clearly enjoying himself since he is smiling.

We’ve gotten a few ornaments of Mickey on ride vehicles from the Disney parks, and I hope we get more.  As a lover of all things Disney, including the parks, I love having these reminders or times at the parks on my tree.  While an official series would be great, I’ll gladly take this unofficial series.

The ornament rests on the wheels of the car.  Yes, they do stick down below the cage on the ride vehicle.  In a fun touch, they also spin.  I wouldn’t want to actually use it as a toy since it isn’t designed for it, but it’s still a nice touch.  You could easily set it out as part of a display as long as you set it on a flat surface.

When you go to hang the ornament, you’ll find that Mickey is on a downhill portion of the course.  That’s the explanation I am giving for the tip forward.  It is pretty pronounced, but not completely horrible.  It makes since given the design of the ornament, and I’m not sure where else to put the ring that would be balanced.

It’s too bad that Mickey tips like he does, but overall, I’m going to enjoy having A Futuristic Freeway to Fun! in my ornament collection.

Book Review: A Plus One for Murder by Laura Bradford (A Friend for Hire Mysteries #1)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun characters and well told mystery

Cons: One character a bit overbearing

The Bottom Line:

Starting new business

But an early client dies

Great series debut

A Friend in Death

A new mystery series from Laura Bradford is always a reason to celebrate, so as soon as I heard about A Plus One for Murder, the first in her new A Friend for Hire mystery series, I put it on my list.  I wasn’t disappointed.

Emma Westlake is watching her small business as a travel agent die thanks to the internet.  When an elderly friend first suggests that Emma start a new business as a paid companion, she dismisses it.  But then, figuring she has nothing to lose, she gives it a try.

One of her first clients is Brian Hill, a local writer who has a reputation for being a bit of a conspiracy theorist.  He wants Emma to be his cheering section at an open mike night where he intends to read a new poem he’s written.  Emma doesn’t think the crowd will be that tough, but a job is a job.  To her horror, Brian doesn’t get too far into his poem before he dies on stage – literally.  Suddenly, his insistence that there were people in the room who wanted to kill him seems far from a laughing matter.  Emma feels she owes it to Brian to figure out what really happened to him.  With the help of a couple of her friends, can she do it?

Since this is the first book in the series, it has the job of setting up Emma’s new profession as well as giving us a murder to solve.  I was impressed with how the book balanced that, especially in the beginning.  The plot only gets stronger as we get further into the book and Emma begins to uncover the secrets Brian was going to expose.  And yes, the climax perfectly explains everything that has come before.

The cast is filled with a colorful selection of characters, and I enjoyed getting to know them.  I did find Dottie, the friend that starts Emma on this new venture, a bit overbearing at times, but that was minor.  Stephanie, another of Emma’s friends we meet here, quickly turned into a wonderful character.  Plus, there’s Emma’s dog and hints of romance.  No surprise given the series theme of friendship, but the bonds between these characters was wonderful.

Which I think is one thing I really liked about this book.  It shows the importance and power of friendship.  In a time when we have all been isolated more than we are used to, I know I am appreciating my friends so much more.  The relationships here may be new, but they are already showing signs of becoming strong bonds, and I can’t wait to see how these relationships grow as the series progresses.

I can’t leave out the humor.  No, this isn’t a laugh a page kind of book, but there are some very funny passages and lines.

I often talk about the characters in cozy mysteries becoming friends.  These characters are fast on their way to becoming friends for me.  And all it takes to hire them for yourself is purchasing A Plus One for Murder.  You’ll be very glad you did.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Giveaway:

I'm giving away a copy of this book.  The winner will have a choice of a physical copy (US addresses only) or a digital copy (open to everyone).

Just leave me a comment with your email address.

I'll pull the winner next Thursday, December 9th, so please enter before then.

November 2021's Reading Summary

We've made it to December!  Can you believe that we are facing the end of 2021 so soon?  Christmas will be here before we know it.

But before we get there, let's take a look back at what I read in November.  No, I didn't get the index updated this month.  Hopefully next month.

Links will take you to my full review.  All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

 

Killer Research by Jenn McKinlay (Library Lover’s Mysteries #12) – 5

The election for mayor is six months away, but the politics is already heating up.  Mayor Hensen is upset that Ms. Cole is running against him, and he’s making life difficult for Lindsey Norris and the rest of the library staff.  Then, Ms. Cole finds a dead body in her trunk.  When her connection to the victim comes to light, the mayor uses everything he can to drive Ms. Cole out of the library and out of the race.  Can Lindsey figure out what is happening before Ms. Cole’s reputation is ruined?

I love it when background characters get time to shine, and I’ve enjoyed watching Ms. Cole go from a one note character to a fully developed character over the last few books.  That continues here.  The rest of the cast is just as fantastic, and I loved seeing them again.  The plot is strong with plenty to keep me engaged as I read.  The climax was a bit theatrical, but it was also fun, so I’m willing to let it go.  Speaking of fun, I laughed multiple times over the course of the book.  We’ve got the usual book discussion, craft, and recipe extras at the end.  Fans will enjoy this book, and if you are new to the series, be sure to check it out.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Debonair in Death by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran (Murder, She Wrote #54) – 4

Everyone in town, especially the women, seem captivated by Nelson Penzell, the new co-owner of the art gallery on the water front of Cabot Cove.  Jessica Fletcher feels like something is off about him, however.  Still, she didn’t expect him to be murdered.  Sheriff Metzger is sure that Coreen, the nail tech from the hair salon, is a good suspect since she was seen screaming outside the gallery where Nelson was found covered in his blood.  But Jessica thinks something else is going on.  Can she prove it?

As much as I enjoyed the Murder, She Wrote books that came out over the last few years, I felt like something was off with the characters we loved from Cabot Cove.  This book fixes so much of that.  The characters and their relationships to each other feel like a natural extension of the series.  The suspects are just as strong.  Unfortunately, I did feel the pacing could have been better in the first half, but we get plenty of fun twists in the second half.  Any fan of the TV series will be happy they picked up this book for a visit with old friends.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Honeymoon with Murder by Carolyn Hart (Death on Demand #4) – 4

Annie and Max’s wedding turned out beautifully, despite Max’s mother’s attempts to hijack the ceremony.  Their plans to leave the next morning on their honeymoon are sidetracked, however, when they get a panicked midnight call from Ingrid, Annie’s employee, friend, and matron of honor.  Ingrid is cut off before they can get much out of her, so they race over to Ingrid’s cottage, where they find a dead body in the middle of her living room but no sign of the woman herself.  The victim is Jesse Penrick, one of the residents of the cottages that Ingrid manages.  With the police looking to Ingrid to arrest her for murder, Annie starts her own investigation to find and clear her friend.  Can she do it?

I was very impressed with Max in this book.  While he did grumble to himself a bit about the way these days played out, he showed his love for Annie by digging in and helping out.  We get the usual assortment of colorful supporting players and suspects strong enough to keep us guessing.  The wedding doesn’t really slow down the beginning of the book, and the mystery is strong.  It kept me guessing until Annie put everything together at the end.  I know the series is known for its mystery author name dropping, but it did get excessive at times.  Also excessive was the foul language.  Still, I did enjoy this book overall and look forward to Annie and Max’s next case.

 

Doggone Deadly by Deborah Blake (Catskills Pet Rescue #2) – 5

Kari Stuart has taken a booth at a regional dog show to promote her newly renovated pet rescue shelter.  Her best friend, Suz Holden is grooming dogs for the event and helping to run it.  The first night, Kari is helping Suz make sure everything is shut down when they find the dead body of a local dog breeder.  The murder weapon appears to be a pair of Suz’s distinctive grooming scissors, so she leaps to the top of the suspect list.  Naturally, Kari adds playing detective to her weekend plans.  Can she figure out what is going on?

I enjoyed the first book in this series, and I’m thrilled to say that the second is just as much fun.  The set up before Kari and Suz find the body is good, and things only pick up from there.  The background of the rules around dog shows is presented in an entertaining way, so it never feels like a data dump.  It’s wonderful to see the returning characters again, and the suspects are just as strong.  Plus, there’s plenty of cuteness from the four-legged animals.  You are in for a treat when you pick up this book.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

It All Began with a Scream by Padraic Maroney – 3

This book covers the history and production of all four movies released to date in the franchise.  With new interviews and research into previously released articles, Padraic dives into what went into the creation of each movie in the franchise.  He starts with the origins behind Kevin Williamson writing the first script and covers casting, production, releases, and everything in between for all of the films.

Despite my normal cozy mystery reads, I am obsessed with the Scream franchise, so as soon as I learned about this book, I knew I had to get it.  I appreciated the interviews and research that went into this book.  There were fewer bits of trivia I didn’t know about the original movie, but the sections on Screams 3 and 4 made me understand some of my issues with those films better.  I did feel that the writing lacked a bit of passion that kept me out, and many of the quotes could have been cleaned up for clarity to make the reading better.  I would have really appreciated it if the author had included a person’s full name and their position in the crew more than the first time he mentioned them.  There are a handful of typos throughout the book, and that wouldn’t bother me, except that each time my alma mater was mentioned by name, it was listed as Santa Rosa high school instead of Santa Rosa High School.  Yes, it’s silly, but it bugged me.  I also take exception to the producer interviewed about that controversy saying not getting to film at the school was censorship.  While there is much to be said on the subject (and both sides behaved poorly during the controversy), it was never censorship.  Overall, the writing issues keep me from giving the book a full recommendation, but I am glad I read it.

 

Tropical Depression by C. Michele Dorsey (Sabrina Salter Mysteries #3) – 5

Sabrina Salter has returned to St. John from a disastrous vacation to New England to find out that one of the seasonal employees she and her business partner, Henry, have hired has been murdered.  The police are looking at Henry as the killer since the weapon had his initials on it.  As the fallout from Sabrina’s vacation shows up on the island, Sabrina tries to find a killer.  With Hurricane Irma bearing down on the island, can she do it?

Yes, there is a lot going on in this book, but it all fits together perfectly.  Honestly, I can’t imagine this book without any of the elements.  We get a logical conclusion to the mystery, and the other storylines allow the characters to grow.  I did find some of Sabrina’s behavior a little irritating, but it also allowed for some good development.  There were more typos than there should be in the book.  Since this is more a traditional mystery, there is a smattering of foul language.  Both are worth noting only in passing.  The book makes good use of changing the point of view character to fully develop the characters and tell the story.  Overall, I loved getting to spend time with Sabrina again.  I’m hoping we get to see how she is fairing after the events of this book soon.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

 

Murder at Morrington Hall by Clara McKenna (Stella and Lyndy Mysteries #1) – 4

American Stella Kendrick is thrilled to join her father on a trip to England in 1905 until she learns that he has arranged for her marriage to Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst.  Before she can fully process this news, Stella and Lyndy find the body of the vicar who was supposed to marry them.  What does this mean for their future?  Can they figure out what is going on?

I might have passed by this series had I not won the first three in a contest earlier this year.  I’m glad I did.  The romance is a stronger part of the story than I would normally like, but I’m torn on that here since I really found it easy to root for Stella and Lyndy.  The story is told from multiple points of view, and early on, it is the scenes from the local inspector’s point of view that really advanced the mystery.  Ironically, I found myself wanting to get back to Stella and Lyndy when we got those scenes.  There is a solid mystery here, and I appreciate how the clues were scattered throughout the story.  While I loved Stella and Lyndy and some of the others, some of the characters fell into the love to hate category, which was actually fun.  I definitely want to find out what is next for the lead characters, so I’ll be picking up the next book soon.

 

Fogged Off by Wendall Thomas (Cyd Redondo #3) – 5

When Shep Helnikov, a regular client of Redondo Travel, dies while in London, Cyd Redondo quickly realizes that her family’s travel agency is on the hook for the expenses to get him home.  A chance to do it for the college where he worked in exchange for the fees is too good to pass up, so Cyd heads over there with her uncle Leon in tow.  As soon as they arrive, Leon makes it clear he has his own agenda.  Some of Shep’s colleagues in London start hounding Cyd for his Jack the Ripper research.  Then comes the news that Shep might have been murdered.  Can Cyd figure out what is going on?

This book has so many plot threads that it is truly amazing how much is crammed into the book.  Yet author Wendall Thomas does an excellent job of balancing it all, so that we are always able to follow what is happening.  Even more impressing, everything comes together for a logical climax.  Obviously, the pace was fast.  Some of the characters are realistic, but others are a bit broad, which is in keeping with the caper ton of the book.  There are plenty of smiles and laughs.  There’s also a smattering of foul language that I could have done without, but that is a minor point.  If you haven’t discovered this series yet, you are in for some fun and wild rides.  Fans will be thrilled with Cyd’s latest outing.

 

Pearls Gone Wild by Diane Vallere (Samantha Kidd #6) – 4

It’s the week before Christmas, and Samantha Kidd is looking forward to a relaxing week off from work and the return of her boyfriend from Italy.  That’s before her friend, Cat, calls upset.  Cat is eight months pregnant, but her husband just announced he needs some space.  Things get even worse when Cat and Samantha interrupt a burglary at Cat’s boutique only to discover her husband’s body behind the counter.  Can Samantha figure out what is going on?

If you are familiar with the series, you’ll know what to expect here.  We get another plot with plenty of surprises to keep us engaged the entire time.  I did feel the resolution left a few things out, but it was a minor issue overall.  The characters, both new and returning, are fantastic.  There is some humor in the book, but it mixes well with the more serious elements, and we get some nice growth in Samantha.  This book is a little edgy for a cozy, but it’s nothing too bad.  Christmas is more in the background than in some cozies set during the season.  Both of these are worth nothing only in passing.  If you are as behind on this series as I am, you are in for a treat when you pick up this book.

 

Gingerdead Man by Maya Corrigan (Five-Ingredient Mysteries #7) – 5

Bayport, Maryland, is kicking off the holiday season with a Victorian themed Christmas event.  While Val’s granddad is upset about being demoted from Santa to Scrooge this year, Val is looking forward to helping out at the teas throughout the afternoon.  The final tea of the day is for the event’s volunteers.  As it is getting started, someone in a weird costume comes and starts passing out gingerbread cookies.  When this year’s Santa eats his, he drops over.  Can Val figure out what is going on?

I really do appreciate the relationship between Val and her granddad in these books.  While Granddad is a senior citizen, he isn’t a stereotype.  He acts appropriately for his age and yet still contributes to Val’s investigation.  The other characters are strong enough to keep us engaged in the story and keep the suspects straight.  The story seemed to wander a bit at the beginning, but I was ultimately impressed with how everything came together.  Naturally, we get more five-ingredient recipes at the end of the book, including several seasonal delights.  If you are looking for a cozy to curl up with this Christmas, this is one you’ll enjoy.

 

Bear a Wee Grudge by Meg Macy (Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mysteries #5) – 4

Silver Hollow, Michigan, is hosting a Highland Fling weekend, and the Silver Bear Shop is getting in the spirit with teddy bears wearing kilts that Sasha Silverman and the rest of her family plan to sell at the event.  Unfortunately, before the event kicks off, their rival, Teddy Hartman, is found dead near the festival’s grounds, and Sasha’s dad is the prime suspect.  Can Sasha clear his name and still be ready for the festival?

As a fan of the series, I’m surprised that Teddy lasted as long as he did, he’s been that obnoxious in earlier books.  It was nice to see this series thread come to the forefront.  While the plot starts well, it does stall a bit in the second half before coming to a logical climax.  I still have a hard time keeping all the supporting players and their relationships straight, but they are supporting players.  Sasha and her immediate family and friends are strong, and the suspects keep us guessing.  This mix of Scottish and teddy bears is one that fans will enjoy.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.