Book Review and Giveaway - Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused (The Empty Nest Mystical Cozy Mystery Series) by Marcy Blesy

My Review

Juli Tully is having a hard time with her sons growing up and moving out -- so she attends the Empty Nest Retreat in a remote estate in Michigan.  No technology, no contact with family - but that isn't the hard part.  There is a murder at the retreat, and fingers point at Juli.  She is determined to solve the mystery ... as she uncovers more mysterious (and magical!) happenings.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries.  The gentle magical twist was unique and intriguing.

This was a fun read!  Juli is a likable and empathetic protagonist.  She resists the retreat but ends up meeting a few other empty nesters who help in her sleuthing - and who become friends.

The magic details are fun -- especially, of course, Prudence, the talking cat!  I liked the surprises around the estate too;  they kept me guessing.

The mystery is well written, fast moving, and a light, enjoyable read.  It is the first in a new series that I look forward to.  I recommend Dead Focused and Hocus Pocused to other cozy mystery fans.  

Book Synopsis

The Empty Nest Retreat was supposed to help Juli find herself. Not question her sanity—or reality.

When Juli Tully’s kids fly the coop and she takes early retirement, the silence in her house is deafening—and not in a calming, spa-music kind of way. At her mother’s not-so-subtle urging, she signs for the Empty Nest Retreat at the Sand Bur Estate, a stately mansion perched on the windswept dunes of Lake Michigan.

Juli nearly bolts when she learns the retreat is phone-free. No texts. No doom-scrolling. No emergency updates from her kids. Instead, she’s stuck with an unusual group of fellow empty nesters: Nelle, a perpetually cheerful optimist; Kimmie, a bubbly influencer convinced the estate is magical; and Jedd, an arrogant dad who fancies himself Parent of the Year—and takes an instant dislike to Juli.

Then things get… strange.

Temperatures swing wildly. Lights flicker. Objects float. Juli can’t tell if her menopausal symptoms have gone off the rails or if rumors about the estate’s supernatural past are true.

Between meditation sessions and awkward financial-planning talks, one of the estate’s employees dies under suspicious circumstances. Thanks to Juli’s increasingly unpredictable “episodes,” she becomes the prime suspect.

With a murder to solve, a reputation to save, and a sarcastic talking cat who knows more than she’s letting on, Juli must uncover the truth—before this empty nest lands her in handcuffs.

If you love:

Empty nest reinvention

Midlife amateur sleuth

Retreat gone wrong

Isolated estate near Lake Michigan

Light paranormal elements

Self-help retreat chaos

Haunted (or is it?) mansion

Sarcastic talking cat

Humor with heart

Found family friendships

Wrongly suspected heroine

Cozy whodunit
You’ll adore this humorous cozy mystery set under along the shores of Lake Michigan!

Empty nests bring new beginnings… and unexpected secrets.

Author Bio

Marcy Blesy is the author of over thirty  books across genres, best known for her Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series and the Monthly Murder  Movie Club Cozy Mystery Series —humorous, heartwarming whodunits filled with senior sleuths, quirky characters, and animal sidekicks. Her cozy mysteries spotlight midlife reinvention, found family, and laugh-out-loud amateur sleuthing, perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Finlay Donovan, and The Golden Girls.

Marcy also writes the Ghost Texter Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series, starring a kindergarten teacher-turned-reluctant sleuth, and the Secrets romantic mystery duo (The Secret of Blue Lake and The Secret of Silver Beach), transporting readers to the scenic and suspenseful shores of Michigan.

For younger readers, Marcy’s best-selling Be the Vet series offers interactive veterinary mysteries for kids ages 9–13. Her early chapter book series—Evie and the Volunteers, Niles and Bradford, Third Grade Outsider, and Hazel, the Clinic Cat—delight animal lovers and growing readers alike.

When she’s not writing, you’ll find Marcy treasure-hunting along Lake Michigan in search of rare red beach glass. She believes every story should offer heart, humor, and a hint of hope—whether it’s solving a mystery or chasing a dream.

Author Links

Website    Facebook    Instagram   GoodReads

Purchase Link – Amazon 

Giveaway

Book Review - The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles

My Review

In 1995, Lily Jacobsen is living in Paris.   She was inspired to leave her Froid, Minnesota home by her neighbor Odile, who told Lily inspiring stories about her life at the American Library in Paris (ALP) during World War II.  Lily wants to be a writer.  Her best friend, who has traveled with her, wants to be an artist.  They find Paris to be enchanting ... but different than expected in terms of their dreams.  Lily chances upon a part-time job as Programs Manager at ALP, the same library that Odile once worked at.  She finds a mysterious manuscript in the archives that relates to Odile's life long ago in Paris.  As Lily finds a community at the library, she continues to work on her writing.  She finds love.  She feels she has lost her best friend ... and works to patch up that relationship, and perhaps (through time and distance) also patch up Odile's broken friendship from the 1940's.

I wanted to read this book because I absolutely loved the author's book The Paris Library, about Odile's life at the ALP during World War II.  It was one of my favorite books the year I read it.  

The Parisian Chapter has so many things I love:

• Paris setting
• Library lore!
• Perfect evocation of another time and place
• People-centric storytelling (friends and love)
• Found family
• A mysterious throwback to years ago

The storytelling is lovely!  I really cared about Lily, her friend Mary Louise, Odile, and her lost friend Margaret.  And Paris!  And of course the library itself, with passages like:

"Continuing past the nonfiction stacks, I searched for my favorite numbers— 001.9 (the unexplained, like UFOs or Bigfoot) and 808 (writing and getting published). The greeter boasted about the library’s treasures: a pair of Hemingway’s tortoiseshell spectacles; a letter from Henry Miller; and books that had once belonged to the Left Bank bookseller Sylvia Beach (the patron saint of impoverished writers) as well as Marlene Dietrich, who scrawled opinions in the margins (“ This is without a doubt the worst writing I have ever laid eyes on.”)." (eBook location 312)

I enthusiastically recommend this lovely book to other readers who love historical fiction, Paris, libraries, and life affirming stories of friendship and found dreams.  Five stars from me!

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.  The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway - Murder in a Lavender Daze (An Aroma Wellness Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber

My Review

Emma Brennan owns the Aroma Wellness spa in Carmel, California.  She's planning a "Happily Divorced" party for a customer when that woman's mother is mysteriously murdered.  Emma works as an amateur detective to solve the mystery - even though this puts her in personal danger.

I wanted to read Murder in a Lavender Daze because I love cozy mysteries.  The Carmel setting and spa details sounded interesting.  

I have read a number of Daryl Wood Gerber's mysteries, but somehow missed the first book in this series.  That said, I had no problem at all enjoying this mystery as a standalone read.  I was happy to see some familiar characters from the Fairy Garden series make brief appearances!

Emma is an interesting protagonist.  She's very dedicated to her work at the spa, providing wellness, mindful meditation, and calming techniques to her customers.  At the same time she has a talent for solving mysteries!  I like her detecting style, which includes constructing a murder board.

I enjoyed the other characters as well, including Emma's co-workers, her cousin Sierra, and her parents.  (And, of course, Emma's lovable cat Vivi!)

The mystery kept me guessing and Emma solved it before I could.  I liked the pacing of the book, with relatively short chapters and a good deal of dialogue.  The Halloween setting was a fun touch.

I recommend Murder in a Lavender Daze for other cozy mystery readers.  It's a fresh, clever mystery with a unique spa setting.  

Book Synopsis

Emma Brennan always knew that her idyllic California hometown of Carmel-by-the-Sea would be the perfect place to open her very own spa. The success of her Aroma Wellness Spa, gift shop, and café has proved her right. But while the business is located in the Courtyard of Peace, Emma finds herself privy to events that are far from serene—like murder . . .

With its soothing décor and tempting treatments, customers are flocking to Aroma Wellness for more than just facials and massages. Lately, Emma has been booking private events, from spa parties to bridal showers and birthdays. Next on her calendar is something really unique: A “Happily Divorced” party.

After eight years of marriage, Addison Lacey is divorcing her husband, whom she claims convinced her he was Mr. Nice Guy when he was really Mr. Controlling Guy. To kick off her journey toward becoming a better version of herself, Addison wants to celebrate, bigtime. Her wealthy mother, Gianna, a former model turned difficult diva, is footing the bill. . . . But when Emma goes to Gianna’s home to pick up the final payment, she and Addison find her dead in her bed amid the aroma of lavender, with an herbal-infused pillow from the party nearby.

Soon, Addison is a prime suspect. But Emma knows there are plenty of others Gianna rubbed the wrong way, including her soon-to-be ex-son-in-law. Once again, with the help of her cousin, her nana, and her trusted Birman cat, Vivi, Emma is determined to sniff out a killer—whether the police like it or not . . .

Author Bio

Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, Aroma Wellness Mysteries, Fairy Garden Mysteries, and Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense novels, including the well-received Accidental Murder, The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams trilogy. Daryl has published a standalone Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays, and her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also, she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: https://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links

WEBSITE: https://darylwoodgerber.com

FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/darylwoodgerber

BOOKBUB: https://bookbub.com/authors/daryl-wood-gerber

YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/woodgerb1

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/darylwoodgerber

GOODREADS: https://goodreads.com/darylwoodgerber

BLUE SKY: @darylwoodgerber.bsky.social

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

Giveaway

 

Book Review and Giveaway - Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery) by Michelle L. Clifton

My Review

Event planner Taryn O'Kelly is working on a reopening event for the local KOA in Silver Springs, Colorado.  Unfortunately, fires in the area postpone her plans - and endanger her community.  She works to solve the mystery of what is happening.  Her boyfriend Alex, ex-boyfriend Robert, and best friend Kandice are along for the ride.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries.  I thought it would be about camping because of the cover art and the KOA description.  Camping didn't figure as prominently in the story as I anticipated, but it was still an enjoyable read.

This is my first read in the Taryn O'Kelly series.  It took me a little bit to get to know the characters, but I enjoyed the humorous dialogue between the Taryn, Alex, Robert, and Kandice -- and the adventures they got into, like sleuthing in the mud!  The humor in this book is refreshing and fun.  

The mystery escalates and spreads, with more menace and danger as the book goes along.  I enjoyed sleuthing along with Taryn.

Sparks, S'mores, and Scandals is a fun, light mystery and I think cozy fans will enjoy this series.

Book Synopsis

Wildfires weren’t part of Taryn O’Kelly’s summer plans. Neither was arson.

When a string of suspicious wildfires erupts in the mountains, authorities clear out the KOA Campground and surrounding homes, forcing Taryn to postpone her long-planned summer kick-off picnic. As smoke drifts over town and neighbors settle in at the fairgrounds, unease spreads right along with it. Then an insurance adjuster goes missing, and rumors of arson begin to take hold.

Determined to protect her town and her livelihood, Taryn starts asking questions. Corporate land grabs, bitter zoning disputes, and simmering grudges point in several directions. Even Silver Springs’ resident prankster seems to know more than he is saying. But the deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that someone is playing a dangerous game, and the fires may be only the beginning.

Set against the backdrop of a Colorado mountain summer, Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals blends small-town charm, wry humor, and heartfelt community spirit with a mystery that smolders long after the last ember fades.

Author Bio

Michelle L. Clifton writes lighthearted, high-stakes cozy mysteries filled with humor, romance, and small-town shenanigans. She is the author of the Taryn O’Kelly Mysteries, a fast-paced series featuring party planner and amateur sleuth Taryn O’Kelly and her growing circle of friends who somehow keep stumbling into trouble. Her stories blend the charm of traditional cozies with the quick pace and comedic flair readers love in Janet Evanovich books, always with a satisfying, happy ending.

Michelle serves on the board of the Southwest Florida Fiction Writers and is Editor-in-Chief of Inkwell Magazine. She is also the founder of Salty Inspirations, her blog, journal pen name, and publishing imprint, which serves as a home for her writing, creative projects, and behind-the-scenes insights into life as a cozy mystery author.

She lives in Cape Coral, Florida, with her husband. Her books are perfect for readers who enjoy humorous mysteries with heart, memorable characters, and a touch of romance mixed with murder.

You can learn more about Michelle and her books at her website and blog, Salty Inspirations.

Links to your webpage and social media:

• Website: https://www.saltyinspirations.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichelleLClifton
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/salty_inspirations_
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50111133.Michelle_L_Clifton

Purchase Link: Amazon   B&N

Giveaway 

Book Review - Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond by Eve Plumb

 

My Review

Growing up, Friday night was my favorite TV night, with a lineup that included The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family.  I was the same age as the youngest Brady kids, so of course I found that show particularly interesting.  The Brady Bunch was an elementary school water cooler show -- we liked Jan and Marcia's groovy outfits, and debated whether Peter or Greg was cuter.

I love retro nostalgia, and have enjoyed reading previous Brady biographies by Barry Williams and Maureen McCormick, so of course I looked forward to Eve Plumb's book too.

This is a wonderful biography - a bit quieter and more introspective, but so thoughtful and well written.  I particularly enjoyed reading Eve's memories of The Brady Bunch.  They included passages like:

"In season 3 we were granted the go-ahead to increase the miles between the Stage 5 set and a remote location. The show was going to the Grand Canyon as the Brady family vacation. We were thrilled at the chance for a real adventure! It was my first time at the Grand Canyon. We arrived the evening before the first day of filming, and the dark abyss of the canyon at night, and the splay of brilliant stars like a dome from horizon to horizon, was both scary and breathtaking." (ebook location 1383).

Eve has a lifelong close friendship with Christopher Knight ("Peter"), the other Brady middle child.  She shares sweet memories of Florence Henderson (kind, bubbly, warm), Ann B. Davis (a consummate professional), and Robert Reed (who was like a second father to the Brady kids - even taking them all on a trip to London).

I didn't know much about Eve's personal background and found the stories about her parents interesting - especially her father's work in the music industry.  (He signed The Monkees as a recording act!)

There is no nightmare descent in this celebrity bio -- except for some typical teenage rebellion, Eve seems centered and happy ... especially focusing on her art.

I enjoyed Happiness Included and recommend this book to other readers who grew up with The Brady Bunch.  There were no photos included in the advanced reading copy, but I am assuming there must be pictures in the finished print/Kindle editions.