Book Review - A Fall to Remember by Ellie Alexander (Half Moon Bay Series)

My Review

Miranda Brown owns a small family store called The Green Grocer in Half Moon Bay, California.  She likes her quiet life with her adult son Pete and her niece Elise.  Then on a trip, she takes some laughably bad travel pictures and becomes a viral sensation.  A travel company makes her into a social media sensation, with a handsome PR guy, Jim Cole, covering her presence at the town's Fall Harvest Festival.  Sparks fly, but Miranda wonders if this is all business for Jim?  

I wanted to read A Fall to Remember because the small town setting, the Harvest Festival, and the sweet romance sounded very cozy and appealing.  It was!

Miranda and Jim are a wonderful potential couple, so well suited but also tentative and cautious.  I enjoyed watching this slightly more mature couple (nice to see in a rom-com!) get to know each other during the Festival.

The secondary storyline in this novel involves Miranda's son Pete, who is smitten with Jim's coworker Shelby ... but he is also involved in an unlikely (and unwanted) dating pair up with a model and social media influencer.

A Fall to Remember is a sweet, leisurely story that will appeal to Gilmore Girls fans and readers who love small towns, Autumn, and all things pumpkin!  It would make a great weekend read.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Review - We Wish You a Messy Christmas: A Holiday Novella by Melody Carlson

My Review

As the holidays near, Olivia Bradshaw is dating her childhood neighbor Malcolm McEntire.  This should be a joyful time of year, but their families are not close because Olivia's mother is a judgmental perfectionist.  Then one thing after another happens that brings their families together, like it or not - and things start to change.  But will they change enough for Olivia and Malcolm to contemplate a life together?

I wanted to read We Wish You a Messy Christmas because I found the Christmas theme appealing.  I enjoy Melody Carlson's Christmas novellas and try to read them each year.  (You will find a number of reviews of her books here at my blog.)

This was a fun read.  There are some sweet rom-com moments, some laugh out loud moments, and some gentle faith moments as well.

I enjoyed the book and wish it had been longer.  I would have enjoyed more time with the Bradshaws and the McEntires.  (Or even a sequel about what happens next!)

I recommend We Wish You a Messy Christmas for readers who enjoy light Christmas fiction with a heartwarming message.

Thanks to Revell and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review - The Cozy Nook Bookshop by Jeannie Chin

My Review

Emma Rogers-Li leaves NYC after her ex-fiance runs off with her money, bankrupting the publishing company she works for.  She takes a job managing a bookstore in Heart's Hope Crossing, Vermont.  On her first day there, she bumps into forest ranger Hunter Hall in the town's famous crosswalk which, according to town legend, means they are fated to be together.  Emma is sunny and sentimental, while Hunter is gruff and reserved.  Despite this, they get closer as Emma settles into small town life.  But their pasts get in the way, so they have to look for a way to move forward.

I wanted to read The Cozy Nook Bookshop because the small town bookshop setting was very appealing.  Big plus that it is set in Autumn - the coziest season!

This is the first book in a new series, Heart's Hope Crossing.  I look forward to the upcoming books!  

I absolutely loved the small town setting of this book, with the bookshop, line dancing night at the community center, hiking trails, and more.  Emma makes friends with two women in the town's crafting group, Hattie, who runs the diner, and Abby, who runs the florist.  I hope their stories continue in the upcoming series.

Emma and Hunter are both wonderful characters and we see both their lives and perspectives in this novel.

The Cozy Nook Bookshop is like a Hallmark movie (okay, a spicier Hallmark movie!) meets Gilmore Girls.  It is such a charming, cozy read.  I recommend it for fans of women's fiction and sweet love stories -- and especially for anyone who loves Fall small town settings and bookshops.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review - Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival (Cider Falls Orchard Mystery) by Traci Hall

My Review

After a bad breakup in Seattle, Macki Smith goes back to her family's apple orchard to help with their Fall business.  When her parents are both injured in a frightening kayaking accident, she takes on business operations at the orchard.  Then, at an apple festival bake-off, one of her competitors is discovered dead ... killed by a knife that looks like Macki's.  Macki juggles the orchard business, concern for her parents, and amateur sleuthing - with the help of Logan, a handsome friend from Seattle who just happens to be a private investigator.

I wanted to read Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival because I love cozy mysteries.  The Fall apple orchard setting sounded very appealing!

This is the first book in a new series, and I am definitely in for the series!  The author did a great job at setting the scene with an apple orchard in small town Washington.  It was so picturesque and charming, and I enjoyed spending some reading hours in this cozy little town.

The first few chapters are leisurely paced, and introduce Macki's very large family.  Then her parents are in an unexpected accident, and after that there is a murder at the town bake off ... and things just take off like a rollercoaster, up and down with lots of turns in quick succession.

The mystery aspect of this book is well done, with some strong suspects.  The murderer took me by surprise!  I enjoyed Macki's sleuthing and the big reveal.

I recommend Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival for other cozy mystery fans, and especially for readers who like an Autumn small town setting.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Review - Murder at the Toy Soldier (A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery) by Maddie Day

My Review

Mac Almeda runs a bicycle shop in a small Cape Cod town.  She stops in the local toy store to buy a gift for her daughter's fourth birthday and discovers that the young woman working there, Zia, is dead.  Mac works with her friends, the Cozy Capers Book Group, to solve the mystery ... as she finds herself in danger from the mysterious culprit.

I wanted to read Murder at the Toy Soldier because I love cozy mysteries.  The toy store caught my interest as well.

I have not read the previous books in this series, but had no problem jumping in and enjoying this book as a standalone read.  That said, I would like to continue with future books in the series.

Mac is an interesting amateur detective.  She's relatively newly married and a new adoptive mother (of a 4 year old girl and a 6 month old boy).  She is from the small town and has family and lifelong friends there.  The detecting work by her book group is intriguing;  I love the way they have a text chain and impromptu meetings with action points of what they each should do next to solve the mystery.

I had this case figured out early on, but I enjoyed Mac's detective work.  This is a fast paced read with short chapters and lots of movement with the mystery and the characters.

Murder at the Toy Soldier is a fun read that I recommend for other cozy mystery fans.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Review - Death on the Books (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries) - Victoria Gilbert

My Review

Amy Muir is working at the Taylorsford Public Library when a patron falls dead in front of her.  He drops a piece of paper with the words "hen" and "sapphire."  Before long, Amy is busy searching for answers in a twisty cozy mystery that involves a long lost Romanov empire Faberge egg, a mysterious painting by her uncle, and a second death in the Blue Ridge area.  Amy is in danger and those she love may be too.

I wanted to read Death on the Books because I love the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series.  I have read all the books in this series;  it's one of my favorites. 

As always, I love the library setting and the details of day-to-day work of a library director.  I enjoy the small town as well, with Amy's friends, her brother Scott, and her Aunt Lydia.  Amy is married to dancer and choreographer Richard and has two young twins, who are into something constantly ... as are the family cats, Loie and Fosse.  

There were a lot of twists in this series!  The art details were fascinating and pivotal to the plot.  Amy finds herself in danger more than once, and the denouement of this mystery was one, pun intended, for the books.

I recommend Death on the Books - and this series - for other cozy mystery fans.  Readers who enjoy library settings and small town fiction will especially enjoy this one.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for an advanced review copy of this book.

Book Review and Giveaway - Masked Intentions: A Camera Club Mystery by Kara Lacey

My Review

Bobbie Brooks is a photographer living in Stonebridge, Vermont.  She's busy with the annual harvest festival.  There is shocking murder at the festival, and another neighbor is seriously hurt there as well.  Bobbie is personally at risk, so she starts to investigate these mysteries.

I wanted to read Masked Intentions because I enjoyed the first book in this series.  These mysteries involve a lot of interesting photography details.

I really like the Stonebridge setting;  it's a picturesque small town.  We get to know Bobbie's friends and family, including her sister Alicia, her mother Fiona, her dog Darcy, and her camera club friends.  Bobbie is a widow and she develops a tentative friendship with a handsome new Irish man in town named Ciaran.

This is a complex case, with two mysteries needing to be solved at once.  Bobbie juggles her amateur sleuthing with her busy photography business, her camera club, and her mother's visit from out of town.  There are several strong suspects, and I enjoyed sleuthing along with Bobbie.  

There are several twists and surprises.  I was suspicious of the perpetrator as the story went along.

I enjoy the Camera Club Mystery series.  The characterizations are strong and well developed and the story is detailed and a bit more in depth than usual for a cozy mystery.  I look forward to the next book in the series.  I recommend Masked Intentions for other cozy readers, especially for anyone who likes small town settings, fall settings, or who has an interest in photography.

Book Synopsis

It’s autumn in Vermont, and the mountains are ablaze with color, just in time for Stonebridge’s annual harvest festival. The village is swarming with leaf-peeping tourists, and the celebration is off to a jubilant start as residents gather for their favorite kick-off event: a masquerade party on the village green. But the crisp fall air turns chilling when a party guest is found lifeless and another is whisked away in an ambulance, on the verge of death.

Photographer Bobbie Brooks vows to leave the investigation to the professionals until a tearful plea from a friend causes her to shift her focus from merriment to murder. The Stonebridge Keep it Snappy Shutter Club is on another case as Bobbie plunges into the world of herbal poisons and masked motives. The truth is concealed in the details captured through her lens. But as everything comes into focus, Bobbie finds herself in danger once again. Can she unmask the killer before the killer zooms in on her?

Author Bio

Kara Lacey is the author of the Camera Club Mysteries. Along with her husband, she lives in a tiny village nestled in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont—the inspiration for her novels. Kara is a photography enthusiast who also enjoys hiking, skiing, and getting cozy with a good book. When she’s not at her laptop creating havoc for her characters, you can find her rambling through the forest with her husband and spirited Labrador retriever, camera in hand.

Kara is a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime-New England.

Author Links

Instagram https://instagram.com/karalaceyauthor

Facebook https://facebook.com/karalaceyauthor

Website https://karalaceyauthor.com

Substack https://karalacey.substack.com

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51886848.Kara_Lacey

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kara-lacey

Purchase Links – Amazon – Bookshop.org – B&N – Kobo

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

Giveaway

Book Review - A Thousand Painted Hours by Barbara O'Neal

My Review

A Thousand Painted Hours is a historical novel told in two timelines -- early 1900's colonial India and London, 1940 during the Blitz.  Elsie Turner lives in India with her parents when she is a young girl.  She has a strong connection with a young prince her age, Tanveer Singh.  Friendship turns to love, but they are separated when the Turner family moves back to England.  They have other relationships but their bond remains strong over the decades ... still longing to be together.

I wanted to read A Thousand Painted Hours because I love historical fiction.  I am interested in both early 1900's India and the World War II time period, so this novel was particularly appealing.

Elsie and Tanveer are both compelling characters.  The connection between them is so strong and the scenes of them together as adults are electric.  They are separated most of their adult life and part of their story is told in letters.  This novel is so much about absence and not being with the person you love.  Elsie's friend remarks:  "Your prince is a fantasy, my dear.  It's easy to love someone at a distance" (p. 213).  Later when they are briefly reunited, Tanveer tells Elsie, "The world has color again" (p. 244).

This is my first read by Barbara O'Neal and I will certainly look for her other books.  The storytelling is beautiful - with both vivid descriptions and well drawn characters.  

I love sweeping historical sagas that move through the decades, and enjoyed that aspect of this novel.  It is a long book but I found it a fast read.

I recommend A Thousand Painted Hours for fans of historical fiction, and especially anyone interested in India or England in the first half of the 1900's.

Book Synopsis

An epic, emotionally charged novel about love, art, and survival spanning 1900s colonial India to Blitz-era London by the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids.

In the shadow of the London Blitz, artist Elsie Turner clings fiercely to her canvases, refusing to let war dim the colors that define her. The bombs test her nerve, but the struggle also stirs memories of her golden youth in India and of the long-lost love of her life.

The daughter of a British civil servant in the Himalayan station of Nainital, Elsie crosses cultural divides to forge an unlikely bond with Tanveer Singh, a Sikh prince with hopes, dreams, and far-reaching ideas. What begins as shared sketchbooks and stargazing becomes first love and a secret correspondence. When Elsie’s father is summoned to England, Elsie is severed from the world she knows—and is determined to preserve it through both her art and a connection with Tanveer that endures through the most tumultuous years of their lives.

Across four decades and two continents, Elsie navigates a journey from lush colonial India to war-torn London, amid landscapes of beauty, protest, and peril. As past and present collide, the most impossible choices and sacrifices are yet to be made in the name of love, war, and survival.

Author Bio

Barbara O’Neal is the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of twenty novels of women’s fiction, including the #1 Amazon Charts bestseller When We Believed in Mermaids, as well as The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth, Memories of the Lost, This Place of Wonder, and The Starfish Sisters. Her award-winning books have been published in more than two dozen countries. She lives on the wild Oregon Coast with her husband, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent. For more information, visit www.barbaraoneal.com.

Book Review - Death on the Lanai (Golden Girls Cozy Mysteries) by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

My Review

The Golden Girls receive an invitation to a mysterious party, along with a beautiful butterfly brooch.  There is no indication which lady the invitation is directed to, so they travel together to a little island to attend the party together.  Blanche is delighted to find the host is her long ago beau from NYC named Declan;  he was an artist while she was a Rockette when they were both young.  She is happy to reconnect with him at the party, and surprised to see he has paintings of her at his home.  There is a power outage at his house and the next morning they wake up to find that Declan has died mysteriously.  The Golden Girls work together in this winding, spooky old house to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read Death on the Lanai because I read and loved the first mystery in this series.  I am an avid mystery fan and this is such a fun, fresh idea for a series.

The author does a remarkable job at the characters' voices.  I can't even imagine how many The Golden Girls episodes she must have watched to have the characters down so pat!   The zingy humor I remember from this series (one of my favorites!) is here, but there is also a well constructed mystery.

I love the mystery trope of a murder at a house party, with all the guests naturally becoming suspects.  Add in a remote island setting and a massive power outage!  It was interesting to see how Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia work together under these trying circumstances to sleuth and solve the mystery.

Death on the Lanai is a delightful read, and I recommend it - and the first book in the series (Murder By Cheesecake) - to other cozy mystery fans, and especially for readers who love The Golden Girls.

Book Review and Giveaway - A Murderer’s Guide to Mardi Gras (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries) by Ellen Byron

My Review

Ricki James-Diaz is looking forward to a fun Mardi Gras season, with great sales in her vintage cookbook shop and being part of a Mardi Gras krewe for the first time.  Then the krewe's captain ends up dead and his wife (a friend of Ricki) is a suspect.  Ricki ends up sleuthing, as she juggles work, friends, and her boyfriend Virgil (who is being crowned king).  Then things get really dangerous . . .

I wanted to read A Murderer's Guide to Mardi Gras because I absolutely love this series.  It's one of my favorites:  vintage cookbooks, New Orleans, and an appealing cast of characters.

This was a fun read!  I have enjoyed this entire series but I think this book is my favorite.  I really liked the Mardi Gras setting.  I've been to Mardi Gras and loved the "behind the scenes" glimpses we get in this book.

A Murderer's Guide to Mardi Gras is an exciting mystery story.  We have the current mystery along with growing danger for Ricki as she investigates the murder.

As always, I enjoyed Ricki's family, her friends, her boyfriend Virgil, and her pets (two dogs and a cat with the cute name Red Beans).

I love the vintage cookbook references and tidbits in this book (and the others in the series).  I collect (and sell!) vintage cookbooks and often find myself looking up a cookbook that I read about in this series.

I enthusiastically recommend A Murder's Guide to Mardi Gras to other cozy mystery fans.  You will love the New Orleans Mardi Gras setting and the well done mystery storyline with just the right amount of twists and turns!

Book Synopsis

It’s cozy. It’s culinary. It’s Mardi Gras madness! It’s the fifth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today-bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.

Step 1: Join a Killer Krewe

It’s carnival season in New Orleans, and Ricki James-Diaz and her friends from Bon Vee are dressing up for Mardi Gras. They’ve joined the notorious krewe of Chew to support Ricki’s chef boyfriend, Virgil, who is to be crowned this year’s king. It’s all fun, throws, and over-the-top outfits until the krewe’s captain is found strangled with his own medallion.

Step 2: Survive the Festivities

The prime suspect is Ricki’s friend, the deceased’s wife who discovered he was cheating on her. It seems a straightforward case, but Ricki isn’t so sure. The krewe’s leader had many enemies including his mistress, his krewe co-founder who he ousted, and his college friend whose girlfriend he stole. One thing’s clear, Ricki’s at the center of yet another murder investigation. And if she’s not careful, her first Mardi Gras could also be her last . . .

Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, these delightful mysteries bring New Orleans to life with fun characters and delicious recipes. This series is a must-read for culinary cozy lovers!

Author Bio

Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries,  Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.

Author Links

Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ellenbyronmariadirico/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico

Goodreads:  Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico

Purchase Links – Amazon –Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books – 

Giveaway

Book Review - The Half Life by Rachel Beanland

My Review

In the early 1970's, Eileen O’Malley meets Paul Archer in Charleston.  After a whirlwind courtship, they marry and move to a small island in Italy, where Paul is a Navy officer on a Navy ship, dealing with submarines that carry nuclear material.  Paul is busy long days, and Eileen immerses herself into the community of officers' wives.  She meets a local journalist, Teo, by chance;  he is investigating what is happening with the American military presence on the island.  They click immediately and she gets to know his friends, who are wary of the military involvement.  Things begin to change, and Eileen questions what she wants and what she should do next.

I wanted to read this The Half Life because the 1970's setting intrigued me.  The plot description was unique and interesting - a military wife far from home on an idyllic Italian island.

This was such an immersive novel!  The author does a beautiful job at capturing the island of La Maddalena, and I found myself experiencing a world I'd never considered.  The island is beautiful, with some warm people, like Eileen's Italian tutor, Francesca, with wonderful food and beautiful scenery ... but there is also a discontent and danger bubbling beneath the surface.

As Eileen gets to know Teo and his Italian friends who are scientists and protesters, she also finds herself caught in a web of secrets and lies between this world and her life with her husband Paul and the military wives she has befriended.

I read this book quickly because I couldn't put it down.  It is a wonderful summer read, and a treat for historical fiction fans.  Highly recommended!

   

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book. 

Book Review - The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson

My Review

The Secret Society of Librarians is a historical novel set during World War II.  In London, Joyce Kindred is a librarian who finds her library has been bombed.  It is during the Blitz, and she starts a mobile library with the help of a young Jewish refugee named Adela.  In Poland, Dorotha (older sister of Adela) can no longer work as a librarian in the Polish Ghetto due to the oppression of the Nazi party.  She creates a small secret library.  Dorotha and Joyce are part of a group of friends from library school, and the story involves their network of friends.

I wanted to read this book because I have enjoyed Kate Thompson's other WWII novels (especially The Little Wartime Library).  I read a lot of historical fiction, and am interested in the 1940's time period.

This novel is told in alternating viewpoints by Joyce and Dorotha.  They face struggles both personally and as librarians, but they were very committed to the motto of their group of librarian friends:

"And thanks to Virginia Woolf, it came to her. “What about ‘Libertatem per Lectio’?” Joyce asked, her eyes shining. “It stands for ‘freedom through reading.’”  (eBook location 191).

Joyce shelters in the London underground along with Adela and an older friend they look out for.  The book depicts the frightening bombing that happened during the Blitz.  In one dramatic scene, Joyce and her beau are visiting St. Paul's Cathedral with its huge and winding library passages and they leave just to find the city being bombed.

The hardships that Dorotha faces are unimaginable, and heartbreaking to read.  She loses family, work, and lives with hunger and deprivation beyond imagination.

These women hold on to their ideals - the importance of books and reading, kindness and compassion for others, and a long lasting friendship. They are truly heroic figures.

I recommend The Secret Society of Librarians for historical fiction readers, and especially for anyone with an interest in World War II fiction.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review and Giveaway - All Aboard for Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery) by Ellen Byron

My Review

All Aboard for Murder is a cozy mystery set at the Golden Motel, a renovated retro motel in California’s Gold Country.  Dee Stern runs the motel with her ex-husband turned best friend, Jeff Cornetta.  It’s Halloween and they are anticipating a big spooky season at the motel.  They don’t anticipate murder though.  Moses Sprockles, who runs the town’s old railroad, is discovered dead.  Dee begins sleuthing, with a number of suspects, including a pair of spoiled former child stars who are staying at the motel.

I wanted to read All Aboard for Murder because I love this series.  It’s one of my favorites!  I really love the retro motel setting, and the California Gold Rush town is fun.  

This is a fast paced mystery with a lot of characters.  The author has included a Cast of Characters section listing all the characters and their place in this little corner of the world.  It’s very helpful!

I like Dee as a sleuth.  She’s smart and as she states herself, “I’m obsessed with people’s backstories.  You know, people’s pasts.” (eBook location 2760)

Her coworker Ma’am adds, “That’s what makes you a good writer.  And a good snoop.”  (eBook location 2761).

I like the extended cast that recurs in this series, including Dee’s father Sam, who plays Prospector Pete for family groups visiting the motel; her folksy older coworkers Ma’am and Mister Ma’am; her hound dog Nugget; and of course Bud the Bear!

I enthusiastically recommend All Aboard for Murder for other cozy mystery fans.  Anyone interested in Mid-Century motels or folksy American road trips will absolutely adore this mystery.  Do yourself a favor and read the entire Golden Motel series - it is great fun, and you will enjoy seeing the characters interact over the different books.

Book Synopsis

Dee Stern is starting to feel at home running her Golden Motel in the quaint California village she moved to, leaving behind her LA life as a sitcom writer. But a killer sees the town’s Halloween celebration as a golden opportunity to write a script for murder . . .

It’s October in Gold Rush country and all manner of tricks and treats are happening in the lead-up to Halloween. October also happens to be the birthday of Angus Sprockles, the man responsible for the town being designated a historic landmark, and the residents are celebrating his memory as well. His only living descendant, Moses Sprockles, runs the narrow-gauge railroad—once used to ferry lumber from the mountains to the sawmill, now a tourist attraction. The Sprockles Railroad is hosting a Halloween-themed fundraiser for the Historical Society.

But when a body is found on the tracks, it’s not a Halloween prank. It’s Moses himself, seemingly felled by a fallen tree branch. Dee’s dad Sam is convinced his friend is the victim of foul play and urges his daughter to apply her sleuthing skills. Dee’s train of thought leads her to suspects ranging from a former child star and one-hit wonder, the owner of a nail salon with her claws in everything, and even the mayor. When a self-proclaimed ghost hunter throws his hat in the ring and claims to know who did it, the investigation really goes off the rails. No matter how crazy things get, Dee is determined to blow the whistle on a runaway killer with a one-track mind.

Author Bio

Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries,  Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.

Author Links

Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ellenbyronmariadirico/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico

Goodreads:  Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico

Purchase Links – Amazon – Kensington – Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books – Target – Walmart 

Giveaway

Book Review - The Second Chance Trailer Park by Katie Powner

My Review

Meredith McGillicutty is 52 and life isn't going her way.  She loses out on a promotion at work, quits her job, and breaks up with her boyfriend (with very mixed feelings).  She impulsively moves to a 55 and up trailer park, intending to retire and get away from her life ... although she is only 52 and posing as someone a bit older to live there.  She gets a great deal on a trailer that comes fully furnished -- including a cat named Sir Edmund a/k/a Eddie.  She meets a wide range of people in the neighborhood, makes friends, and becomes involved in the community.  This new life makes her question her choices and think about what she really wants.

I wanted to read The Second Chance Trailer Park because it sounded so unique and charming.  It is!  This book is told with a great deal of warmth and humor, including some sly lines and a couple of situations that made me laugh out loud.  Meredith develops a great deal of affection for her older neighbors - and I certainly did too as a reader.

This is a warm book with a memorable protagonist, unlike anything else I have read recently.  I thoroughly enjoyed the author's fresh voice and some of the should-be-a-TV-series situations that Meredith finds herself in.

I recommend The Second Chance Trailer Park for fans of women's fiction, warm hearted characters, and anyone wanting to read about second chances at life.

Thanks to the author for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Review and Giveaway - Crying in the Chapel: A Swinging Sixties Mystery by Teresa Trent

My Review

In August 1965, Dot Morgan is planning her wedding to Ben Dalton.  She's at church, working on wedding plans, when the body of the church caretaker is discovered on the lawn.  Dot becomes involved in juggling amateur detection with wedding planning.

I wanted to read Crying in the Chapel because the Swinging Sixties mystery series sounds so appealing.  I love 1960's settings and also am a cozy mystery fan.

This was a fun mystery!  It is my first read in the series, but read fine as a standalone ... although I do intend to read future books in this series.

Dot is an interesting character.  She's a secretary, an amateur detective, and she wants to maintain her identity after marriage ... despite the wishes of her more conventional future mother-in-law.  Dot works to solve the mysteries that pop up in her small town with the help of her very pregnant cousin Ellie (who is also her future matron of honor).  I enjoyed Dot's sleuthing skills.

The mystery has a refreshing 1960's feel, something I don't see often in cozy mysteries.  I recommend Crying in the Chapel for other cozy mystery fans, and especially for anyone who also enjoys '60's settings.

Book Synopsis

It’s August 1965, and Dot Morgan is finally getting married to the dashing reporter Ben Dalton. Her wedding day, August 14th, promises to be perfect—if only it didn’t follow Friday the 13th. What could go wrong? Planning a wedding with the members of the Camden Chapel, Dot thinks she’s overwhelmed, but then it gets worse when a body is found on the church lawn. Dot decides to focus on her wedding to Ben, but when police reveal the victim didn’t jump from the belfry—he was pushed—she can no longer look away. Her suspects aren’t hardened criminals; they’re the same church members who bring casseroles and ask about her family. With her wedding day fast approaching, Dot must unmask a killer hiding in plain sight, or the secrets of Camden Chapel will remain buried in the summer heat.

Author Bio

Teresa Trent has been writing and publishing mysteries since 2011 starting with the Pecan Bayou Mystery Series and followed by the Piney Woods Mystery Series. She presently writes the Swinging Sixties Mystery Series and the Henry Park Paranormal Series. When Teresa isn’t writing novels and short stories, she spends her time creating narrated excerpts on her podcast, Books to the Ceiling, where she gets to use all that community theater experience from her teens and twenties along with a little audio editing she learned from her daughter. Teresa is a former English teacher, but also spent many years teaching music to preschoolers, working with children of all abilities. Teresa makes her home in Texas with her husband and son.

Author Links

Website:  https://teresatrent.com

Blog/Podcast: Books to the Ceiling   https://teresatrent.blog

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Book Review - Lost in the Summer of '69 by Eliza Knight

My Review

Lost in the Summer of '69 is the story of three women in one family -- Leanne Miller is the perfect wife and mother, living in Ossining, New York with her husband and teenage daughter Nora.  Nora is about to go to Yale as one of the first women accepted there.  When Leanne's mother, a thwarted musician, goes missing in this summer of music festivals, Leanne and Nora take off on a long road trip to find her, traveling to old fashioned motels and festivals in their search.

I wanted to read this book because I love 1960's settings and the music festivals and summer setting sounded like a fun read.  I absolutely loved Eliza Knight's book The Queen's Faithful Companion (about Queen Elizabeth and her favorite corgi dog), so that sparked my interest in this novel as well.

The book is told in the alternating viewpoints of the three characters.  They all evolve over the summer.  Leanne and Nora are not very close initially.  Leanne is very prim and proper, the perfect 1960's housewife.  She learns over the road trip summer to be more relaxed and take life a day at a time.  Nora grows closer to her mother as they search for Eleanor, stopping at diners and reading popular paperback novels out loud in the car.  Nora also experiences first love with a young man who is writing articles about the different music festivals they visit.  I have to add that I saw some similarities between Leanne and Nora and Betty and Sally Draper from Mad Men -- down to the Ossining suburbs.

Eleanor's story is a sadder one.  She takes off because she has a diagnosis of early onset dementia.  We see her having occasional memory lapses as she travels to festivals, becoming a sort of celebrity as a grandmother with a guitar - and the voice of an angel.  She performs on stage with one of the musicians she grows close to ... but she knows she will eventually have to go back home.

This is a well written novel.  The period details were exceptional.  I enjoyed the music festivals, and hearing about the singers and bands the women encounter or hear.  I especially loved the smaller moments with Leanne and Nora, the old fashioned motels, the road trip, the diners and truck stops, the books they read aloud together.

I recommend Lost in the Summer of '69 as a summer read for anyone who loves 1960's settings, classic rock, or Americana road trips ... and especially for anyone who enjoys a multi-generational family story.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair (The Detection Club) by Kelly Oliver

Book Synopsis

Scotland, 1930: Agatha Christie is getting married. She invites fellow members of the Detection Club to the windswept Isle of Skye for a quiet break while the banns are read. But tranquility proves elusive when the formidable Lord Blackwood, leader of a hunting party sharing their lodge, vanishes from the moors.

Sharp-eyed assistant to the Detection Club secretary, Eliza Baker, suspects foul play as the strange occurrences pile up: a mysterious grave in the churchyard, a missing rifle, and late-night excursions across the rugged island. There may be no body—yet—but someone at Dunmara Lodge is hiding a deadly secret.

As a storm cuts them off from the mainland, Eliza and her friend Theo must navigate lies, half-truths, and a treacherous landscape… but can they uncover the killer in the stalking grounds… or will the moors keep their secrets forever?

Head to the remote Isle of Skye in this delightful and gripping golden-age mystery series, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright and T. E. Kinsey.

Author Bio

Kelly Oliver is the Agatha award-winning and bestselling author of four mystery series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, The Fiona Figg Mysteries, and The Detection Club Mysteries.

The Fiona Figg Mysteries have been on the most anticipated list of Mystery Magazine and won the Mystery and Mayhem Award and the Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical Mystery. And The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, Detection Club Mystery book one, is currently nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery.

Kelly is Past President of Sisters in Crime National, current Education Coordinator for SinC Guppies, and a Distinguished Emerita Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.

To learn more about Kelly and her books, go to www.kellyoliverbooks.com.

Website  Bestselling Author Kelly Oliver

BookBub  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kelly-oliver

Amazon Author Page   https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Oliver/e/B001HN3HCM/

INSTAGRAM @kellyoliverbooks

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Purchase Links
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