76) Faux Paw by Sofie Kelly

The Blurb :

Normally, the arrival of an art exhibition at the Mayville Heights library would be cause for celebration. But thanks to the overbearing curator and high-tech security system that comes with it, Kathleen’s life has been completely disrupted. Even Owen and Hercules have been affected, since their favorite human doesn’t seem to have a spare moment to make their favorite fish crackers or listen to Barry Manilow.

But when Kathleen stops by the library late one night and finds the curator sprawled on the floor—and the exhibition’s most valuable sketch missing—it’s suddenly time to canvass a crime scene. Now Kathleen, her detective boyfriend Marcus, and her clever cats have to sniff out a murderous thief, before anyone else has a brush with death…

My Thoughts :

Another Magical Cats Mystery made it on to my audible listening list and this seventh installment actually brings me up to date with the series.  Although the next part releases this week so I will, technically, be behind again.

This series is very easy to listen to and the narrator is one I am used to and can actually switch to double time.  Which means I finish the book quicker and the speed I would most likely read it.  These books are never hard to follow or have too much information.  Maybe sometimes it feels like it but when I think about others in relation to this one, this series is very easy on the ears and brain.

It is nice to see things move along for Kathleen.  Her job, her relationship with Marcus and of course her place in the community have been slowly but surely making her feel at home and is, I am sure, a huge reason for people to keep reading.  I only wish that the cats had more of a presence and something new would happen on their end.  It is slowly becoming less magical and the series could just be called the Mayville Heights Library Mysteries.

I am looking forward to solving another murder with Kathleen soon.  I doubt I will be able to stay away from the series for long but I will try and keep the new release away from my shopping cart for as long as possible and listen to something else from my pile.  I do love everything about this series and therefore I want to make it last.  If I read the new installment straight away I will have to wait a whole year for the next one.  So I will resist!

A wonderful cozy mystery series and not just for cat lovers.  

52) The Curse of Tenth Grave by Darynda Jones

The Blurb :

As a Part-time PI and fulltime grim reaper, Charley Davidson has asked a lot of questions throughout her life: Why can I see dead people? Who is the hot supernatural entity following me? How do I get gum out of my sister’s hair before she wakes up? But, “How do I trap not one malevolent god, but three?” was never among them. Until now. And since those gods are on earth to kill her daughter, she has little choice but to track them down, trap them, and cast them from this dimension.

There’s just one problem. One of the three stole her heart a very long time ago. Can the Razer, a god of absolute death and destruction, change his omniscient spots, or will his allegiances lie with his brothers?

Those are just a few of the questions Charley must answer, and quick. Add to that a homeless girl running for her life, an innocent man who’s been charged with murder, and a pendant made from god glass that has the entire supernatural world in an uproar, and Charley has her hands full. If she can manage to take care of the whole world-destroying-gods thing, we’re saved. If not, well…

My Thoughts :

Another superb installment in the Charley Davidson series awaits fans in The Curse of Tenth Grave.  It has everything that, anyone following the series, would expect from Darynda's amazing series about Grim Reaper Charley Davidson.  The continuing story is filled with the usually wit and fun while the regular characters show up when they are needed and sometimes when they are not.  The plot in this tenth installment is on par with all the previous books and there isn't a bad word you can actually say about this or any of the installments in this fantastically original series.

If you haven't already had the pleasure of reading this series then get to it as fast as you can.  Charley is funny, crazy and sometimes annoying but she solves cases and looks after the good people.  She even gets involved with cases that don't even pay.  In this case she checks out a children's home where the inhabitants have been mysteriously dying due to a curse.  All the while she tries to solve the mystery surrounding a disappearance that could see an innocent main going to jail.

But it isn't just murder and mystery in Charley's world that makes this series so readable.  There is the supernatural aspect that weaves its way into the story.  Ghosts, gods and lots more are all entwined in the story which gives away a few secrets in each installment.  Despite many questions getting answered there are always more discoveries and twists that keep things going.  Which makes this series even more exciting, addictive and original.

I absolutely love this series and even though I managed to get a review copy of the book I still waited until the Audio version came out.  Why?  Because this is just one of those series that is made even more special and amazing by the wonderful narrator.  If you are looking for an audio, love audios or just want to try one, then I highly recommend this series.  The whole sass and wit that is Charley is captured by the narrator so well.  It makes the story even more enjoyable.

So in conclusion, make sure you check out this series.  Make sure you start from the beginning.  Oh and definitely give the audio version a chance.  Can't wait for more!  Keep them coming!

129) Murder of the Cat's Meow by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

When ex–Vegas showgirl and local business owner Bunny Reid starts an online dating service called Cupid’s Cat’s Meow, out-of-town visitors flock to her bowling alley for the speed dating and cat show events that she hosts to bring in extra cash. Bunny’s scheme sounds harmless enough, but school psychologist Skye Denison knows all too well that an influx of strangers in Scumble River always spells trouble….

Meanwhile, Skye is convinced that her house is haunted and is afraid her fiancé, police chief Wally Boyd, won’t move in until the ghost moves out. But ghost-hunting takes a back seat when Skye is called to the bowling alley, where a riled up contestant is choking a cat show judge for insulting his feline. Skye breaks up the scuffle, but the next morning the judge’s dead body is found, strangled with a cat toy. Now Skye must solve this purrplexing mystery—and show a devious killer that her sleuthing skills are the cat’s meow.

My Thoughts :

I am getting through this series so so quickly!  I am nearly up to date with the series and only started in May.  I am pretty sure the next audio book I listen to will be the next in this series.   I am addicted to the Scumble River Mysteries!

This time around I didn't have a clue who the murderer was or why.  It was pretty complicated in the end but it all made sense and it made for great reading.  I love the way that Skye and Wally work together and I enjoy all the characters that pop up each time.  The sub plots keep me coming back for more and it looks like the next installment with see Skye getting married!

Looking forward to the next book.  It will be interesting to see if Skye's ghost problem gets sorted and if she is about to become an aunt.  Of course it will also be interesting to see what kind of murder investigation she gets caught up in next.

This series is just your ordinary cozy mystery series but there is something about it that makes it addictive.  With already eighteen installments I guess I am not the only one that loves Scumble River and its residents.

125) Murder of a Creped Suzette by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

When megamillionaire and imitation cowboy Rex Taylor proposes building a country music theater in Scumble River, everyone's ready to do the boot-scootin' boogie except school psychologist Skye Denison. She's been asked by Suzette Neal, Rex's assistant and a rising county star, to investigate her mother's suspicious death twenty-seven years earlier. No sooner does Skye agree to help than she finds Suzette literally flattened- and very dead.

This has fast become a case of two questionable deaths, and suspicion seems to be hovering over Suzette's inner circle: Rex's jealous wife, a mysterious man in a black pickup truck, and the sizzling-hot singer Flint James, who also happens to have been Suzette's bitter rival for country-western fame. With a honky-tonk full of suspects and a tangled web of motives that stretches back two decades, Skye has two options: Rise to the occasion or end up as flat as a crepe.

My Thoughts :

When I wrote my review for the thirteenth book in the Scumble River Mystery series yesterday morning, I didn't think I would already be writing a review for the fourteenth installment today.  Despite already having listened to a few hours of this book I didn't think I would finish it so quickly.  However it turned out I did.

The plot this time around was ok.  It wasn't overly impressive but at least it kept me guessing.  I didn't have a clue who the murderer was until Skye started to put things together and then I didn't understand the how and why until it was explained.  There wasn't much in the way of a continuation in the on-going story with just a little plot sideline regarding the annulment Wally is trying to get.

There isn't much else I can say about this book.  The title gives away who gets murdered but the plot is definitely a twisty one.  I missed Skye's family in this one.  They were there but not as much as they usually are.  Also Bunny and the other minor characters like Franny were absent and missed.

Of course I have the next book waiting for me on my Audible app.  I will start it tomorrow on the way to work.  I just can't get enough of listening to this series and look forward to getting up-to-date very soon!

124) Murder of a Bookstore Babe by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

Who could be driven to kill by books and sweets? While school psychologist Skye Denison eagerly anticipates the grand opening of a new bookstore called Tales & Treats, many of Scumble River's most outspoken citizens want to shut down the owners before they even open and one is angry enough to commit murder...

Dropping off some books at Tales & Treats, Skye trips over a toppled bookcase, which has crushed a woman beneath its weight. While police search for motives, Skye sees the messy aftermath of a half-baked plot to murder somebody else. Skye is juggling her own busy life, but when all the clues lead to dead ends, she turns up the heat on her own investigation ... and stumbles upon the deadly secret that got this bookstore babe done in. And if Skye isn't careful, the killer just might make her the sequel...

My Thoughts :

This is the thirteenth book in the Scumble River Mystery series and wasn't overly impressive.  However this series remains to be very addictive and I already started listening to the next installment.  I think the on-going Scumble River story/ the characters are the ones that make this series so much fun to read.  Or in my case listen to.  I have to say the narrator is also a great selling point as far as this series goes.  She does a great job of bringing the story to life.

The plot this time around was mediocre and slightly uninteresting.  I figured out 'whodunit' way very early on but just didn't know what that persons motive was.  This has become a bit of a pattern in this series but it doesn't ruin the story at all.

There isn't much else I can say about this book.  The title gives away who gets murdered and as always there is some Scumble River events that everyone has to get involved in/have their say in.  Skye always manages to get into the middle of everything and despite this being a reoccurring storyline it is a good one.  

Expect a review from book fourteen soon.  I just can't stop listening and my new Audible credits will be arriving soon!  But there is an end in sight!  I am nearly all caught up with the series so I will have to listen to something else pretty soon.

122) Murder of a Wedding Belle by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

School psychologist Skye Denison reluctantly agrees to act as maid of honor in her California cousin's over-the-top platinum-style wedding- and is also expected to assist the control-freak wedding planner. But when Skye discovers the planner dead, just one week before the big event, Skye is suddenly working double-duty.

While overseeing every nuptial detail, she's also helping the police find out who hated the bridal consultant enough to kill her. Can Skye get her cousin to the church on time-and save herself from a killer who may actually be on the guest list?

My Thoughts :

Murder of a Wedding Belle is book number twelve in the Scumble River Mysteries.  I only started this series back in May and I was worried that it would take me ages to catch up on this eighteen book strong series.  How wrong was I?  I just can't get enough of this simple but exciting cozy mystery series.  It is quite addictive.

It is hard to say what is so addictive about this series.  There are some great strong characters and an interesting location.  The mystery plots are always well thought out and the continuing story is fun to keep up with.  However the series as a whole isn't as special as some of the other cozies out there.  There is something about it though and I can't stop going back for more.

As the title of the book suggests, there is a wedding in Scumble River.  How Skye is involved and who gets murdered is pretty obvious from the get go.  Who the murderer is remains a mystery until the end but the big question the whole book through is will Skye accept Wally's proposal?  We get our answer by the end but she keeps you guessing.

Audible are enabling my addiction and made a sale this week.  Which means I have the next three, yes three, books in the series ready to listen to on my Audible app and I am actually pretty deep into the next book already.  So expect yet another Scumble River review very soon.  The books are a delight to listen to and I can't seem to stop myself from starting the next one.

120) Murder of a Royal Pain by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

When school psychologist Skye Denison stumbles over the body of pushy promfest chairperson Annette Paine during a Halloween fund-raiser, it looks like a clear-cut case of promicide. Annette was not the only prom mom desperate to see her daughter crowned queen; and her skirt-chasing hubby is no prince either.

Skye's anxious to investigate, but she keeps getting sidetracked by the overeager new social worker at school and also by her beau's emotional distance. Still, one question haunts her: Since Annette Paine was wearing a witch costume identical to Skye's, which witch was the intended victim? Will Skye realize too late that finding this killer is a matter of her own life and death?

My Thoughts :

My Scumble River addiction continues.  I just can't stop myself.  The further I get into the series the more I want.  Also I know I am nearly up to date so I want to keep going.  I listened to the first book back in May and I am already finished with book eleven and have book twelve ready to listen to next.  Despite having other books I could listen to I still keep on moving on to the next in this cozy mystery series.

I still can't decide what makes this series so addictive.  Skye is a nice enough character and her life is pretty normal.  That's if you don't count the fact that she keeps finding dead bodies.  Maybe it is Scumble River as a whole that keeps me wanting to go back for more.  The weird characters, the strange ways or the on-going story all get points but this series doesn't stand out above some of the others I have read so maybe it is the narrator who makes this series so good?  I can't decide.

This time around the person who was responsible for the many weird things going on in Skye's life was pretty obvious.  Not that I could figure out a motive or decide if the murder was intended or not.  I find Scumble River is catching up with the times a little and Skye is certainly getting a little more fun with her comments and actions.

There was a bit of a cliffhanger ending to this one which was definitely a big reason for grabbing the next installment straight away.  Anyone who has been following the series will be very interested in Skye's love life and it seems that there will be another change coming and it will be fun to see how Skye's mum over reacts ;)

A review for the next book will be coming soon.  I already have it on my Audible app ready to start.

118) Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

Skye Denison has never aspired to culinary excellence. In fact, she can't tell the difference between mousse and meringue. So when Grandma Sal's Soup-To-Nuts Cooking Challenge comes to town, competing is the last thing on her mind. But that's before she's bullied into entering by her mother, who has four recipes - one of which she has submitted under Skye's name.

Right from the start, trouble brews among the contestants, among the judges, and even Grandma Sal's own family. But a spiteful saboteur takes things too far when cocky contestant Cherry Alexander is discovered drowned in a chocolate fountain. Still struggling with the basics of cooking, Skye must catch a killer. And when it comes to suspects, there are just too many cooks in the kitchen from whom to choose.

My Thoughts :

The Scumble River Mysteries have me hooked and even though the last installment wasn't my favourite of the series so far, I couldn't resist getting the next part to see what happens next in the life of Skye Denison.  This is the tenth book in the series and gets things back on track after the 'Spa incident' that made me wonder if the series had run its course or if it was just a dud.  After all there are seventeen?  Eighteen? books in the series and I didn't think things would continue that long if the series really went down hill.

Of course the title of the book gives away who the victim will be.  Actually that is something the series seems to do, name the victim in the title.  Sometimes their maybe a few options but this one was a sure bet and it also gave away how the victim was found.  However this doesn't spoil the mystery at all.  The story twists and turns making the mystery complicated but not too hard to follow.  When everything comes to light it makes sense and you realise you always kind of knew who the murderer was but wasn't sure why and how.

Listening to this series has become a bit of an addiction.  After finishing this tenth installment I moved straight on to number eleven.  There is something about this simple cozy mystery series that makes it so compelling.  I have to wonder if I would enjoy the books as much if I was reading them in print and not listening to the audio versions.  The narrator does a great job!

Expect to see me catch up with this series very soon.  I just can't stop myself!  I have enough other audio books I could listen to but for some reason this series is all I can listen to at the moment.

116) Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich

The Blurb :

Something big is brewing in Trenton, N.J., and it could blow at any minute.

Stephanie Plum might not be the world's greatest bounty hunter, but she knows when she's being played. Ken Globovic (aka Gobbles), hailed as the Supreme Exalted Zookeeper of the animal house known as Zeta fraternity, has been arrested for beating up the dean of students at Kiltman College. Gobbles has missed his court date and gone into hiding. People have seen him on campus, but no one will talk. Things just aren't adding up, and Stephanie can't shake the feeling that something funny is going on at the college - and it's not just Zeta fraternity pranks.

As much as people love Gobbles, they hate Doug Linken. When Linken is gunned down in his backyard it's good riddance, and the list of possible murder suspects is long. The only people who care about finding Linken's killer are Trenton cop Joe Morelli, who has been assigned the case, security expert Ranger, who was hired to protect Linken, and Stephanie, who has her eye on a cash prize and hopefully has some tricks up her sleeve.

My Thoughts :

Twenty-two books into the series and some readers may think that things in Plum Land are getting old and boring.  Sure you know that Stephanie is going to save the day and solve the mystery but the question of how she will do it is always open and it is always entertaining.

This new installment keeps the entertainment level high with all your favourites and more.  Lula is being Lula with her outrageous outfits, comments and actions. Grandma Mazur is promising people she doesn't have a gun and using Stephanie's details to do some catfishing.  Morelli is acting strange and Ranger is being as strange as always.

There is a certain amount of done deals in every Plum books.  Cars are ruined, Cluck in a Bucket gets a visit and Vinnie is locked in his office.  Some things don't change but the how, who and why is always fresh and funny.  You will roll your eyes, laugh out loud and do some giggling.  You can't help it.  Evanovich and Plum are a great team

I will always pick up another chapter in this series because not only is like visiting an old friend, it is also one of the funniest series I have read.  I love the humour and the characters are each hilarious in their own way.  There was a little action from Stephanie's mother this time around and it may even look like Stephanie has picked a guy and will settle down.  Although I won't hold my breathe on that one!

Keep writing these and I will keep reading.  Things maybe seem a little boring after twenty-two installments but this is way too funny to miss.

115) Murder of a Botoxed Blonde by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

A health spa complete with tofu turkey and "Dress for Sexcess" lectures is the last place school psychologist Skye Denison wants to spend Thanksgiving. But when her best friend, Trixie Frayne, convinces her to take a complimentary weekend at the new Scumble River Spa, Skye accepts her fate and prepares to be slathered, wrapped and roasted.

Then an annoying quartet that includes both Skye's mom and her ex-boyfriend's mother impulsively joins her for a girls-only holiday, and Skye wonders just how bad things can get. She soon finds out - when she's confronted with treatments only a masochist would enjoy, a diet plan fit for a Barbie doll, and a troublesome trespasser searching for a cache of jewels supposedly hidden in the spa seventy years ago. Worst of all, a famous former model turns up dead in the Miracle Mud bath. It looks like no one will be leaving the spa until Skye can identify which of the eccentric guests, pesky local protesters or sneaky treasure hunters is also a killer deserving of special treatment; in the county jail.

My Thoughts :

Murder of a Botoxed Blonde was my audio book this week and is the ninth installment in the Scumble River Mystery series.  I have been enjoying this series a lot over the last few months and have made great progress in catching up with the series which is eighteen books long.  So now halfway through, I finally came across one installment that I didn't particularly like.

It wasn't that this book wasn't good or interesting.  There was all the usual characters, a great murder mystery and some surprising twists.  However there were a couple of things about this one didn't sit right with me and make the book less enjoyable.  Thee Spa setting was a little over the top and unbelievable at times.  The Simon vs Wally aspect?  I like the change in Skye's relationship but Simon has totally gone weird.  Then there is the constant talk about her weight and clothes.  I thought she is happy with herself the way she is?  The references to expensive clothes from fashion magazines and the reoccurring food talk is really getting annoying.  

Still a great series and I am sure there are more good installments to come but this was finally the bad one in the bunch for me.  I look forward to the next part and am really eager to see what happens next in Skye's life but I really hope she doesn't go to the Spa again , that Simon becomes a thing of the past and that the author also stops having a problem with her leading lady being over weight.

113) Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments by Denise Grover Swank

The Blurb :

Rose Gardner hates seeing her normally flamboyant best friend Neely Kate struggle with depression. So when Rose stumbles onto a piece of evidence indicating her birth mother might have been involved in a crime, she does the one thing guaranteed to cheer Neely Kate. She convinces her friend to help her solve a mystery. Though their penchant for investigating has gotten them into plenty of pickles in the past, what can go wrong if they’re looking into a case that went cold a quarter of a century ago? But the deeper they dig, the more dirt they unearth.

While she’s busy unraveling the past, Rose must also reprise her role as the Lady in Black as part of her ongoing agreement with the king of the Fenton County underworld. In so doing, she discovers a mysterious enemy is intent on attacking her friends, and her assistant DA boyfriend might be next on the list.

As both situations reach a boiling point, Rose must face the possibility that certain secrets were meant to remain buried and not even her special talent can get her out of every predicament.

My Thoughts :

I have been looking forward to listening to this seventh installment in the Rose Gardner Mysteries for a few weeks now.  I am practically all caught up with the series with the eight book already out this month but not yet available on Audio.  I have to admit that I had completely forgotten the majority of what happened at the end of the previous book and it shocked me to find Neely Kate in such a bad place.  She has always been a joy to spend time with and it made the book a little dull without her usual mouthy attitude.

Despite the duller tone to this installment there was a lot of action, revelations and twists.  If you haven't read the previous books then you really don't want to start here.  You also need to make sure you read the novellas in between to get the full picture.  There are some little bits and pieces you learn in those short stories that make the full length novels even more interesting than they already are.

I find myself not liking Rose as much as I used to.  I don't know what has made me find her slightly annoying but it may have something to do with her friendship with Skeeter Malcolm.   Things have been very interesting between them and it was thrilling to see what unfolded as far as the Lady in Black was concerned.   However in this book Rose had a chance to get out of her dealings with him and she didn't take it.  I couldn't totally agree with her reasoning and thinking and it left me feeling disappointed with her.

There are so many secrets in this series that it is getting a little confusing.  However in this installment we finally find out more about Rose's real mother and why she got killed.  This however opens up even more questions and problems, something that keeps the series alive but it is also making things a little heavy.  There isn't any fun and laughter and things are getting bleaker and bleaker.  I miss that little touch of lightness the series had at the beginning.

Don't be put off by my ramblings.  I am totally and utterly addicted to this series and can't wait for the next installment to come out on Audio.  The author has already done some nasty cliffhanger endings during this series but this one was a worrying one.  A confusing one.  A wow! one.  I am actually contemplating getting the Kindle version of the next book but I just love listening to the series and it wouldn't be the same.

The paranormal aspect of this series, Rose's visions, are in full force again in this book and she is starting to use them to help her on many levels.  I only wish she would use them more in other situations and more often.  I am sure they would have helped her see what was happening around her and stopped her from making so many mistakes.

This is a series you really need to check out if you enjoy cozies and don't mind getting tangled up in a web of so many stories and mysteries that you can't see the next twist coming.  Everything is somehow related and the deeper the series go the more incredible the story gets.

111) Murder of a Real Bad Boy by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

Still recovering from breaking up with her boyfriend and alienating half the people in town, Skye Denison has sworn off men—but she hires sexy contractor Beau Hamilton to renovate the old house she inherited. After all, who can ignore his qualifications? Golden hair, bronzed chest, muscular thighs—he’s just too good to be true.Sure enough, he has a reputation for conning the ladies. But before the not so naïve Skye can fire the hunk, he turns up dead. Since even bad boys deserve justice, Skye has to juggle more than a passionate police chief, a cagey brother with a secret, and a possibly haunted house. She’s got a killer to catch.

My Thoughts :

I am making up for lost time with this series and I just can't keep away from Scumble River.  I am already up to book eight and at the rate I am going I am pretty sure I am going to be all caught up within the next couple of months.  I am really making myself listen to another audio book in between each Scumble River Mystery but it is getting harder and harder to keep to that rule!  I don't know what it is about this series that makes it so addictive but I am really hooked.

This time around there are some new developments in Skye's love life.  Although there were hints at this in the last book and a nasty cliffhanger, it wasn't sure where Skye would be in this next book.  So this installment is interesting enough due to the ups and downs in Skye's private affairs without the murder mystery.

Skye, as usual, gets involved in the murder of a local.  This time she is even a suspect.  As the case unfolds it seemed pretty obvious to me who the murderer was but I was sure what motive that character had.  It was also clear to me what Skye's brother was up to and with whom....and I am pretty sure I know what a certain 'cheater' was up to as well.  I was slightly disappointed in Skye's long lasting search for her cat.  I thought she would have figured that out sooner.  I certainly had.  Anyway, this is still a great read and another great story.

I am really enjoying the audible versions of this series and highly recommend listening to the series if you like Audio books.  The narrator does a great job and I really have to wonder if I would enjoy the books as much as I do if I was reading them.

108) The Single Undead Moms Club by Molly Harper

The Blurb :

Widow Libby Stratton arranged to be turned into a vampire after she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. It wasn’t the best idea she’s ever had, but she was desperate—she’s not about to leave her seven-year-old son to be raised by her rigid, overbearing in-laws.

On top of post-turning transition issues, like being ignored at PTA meetings and other mothers rejecting her son’s invitations for sleepovers, Libby must deal with her father-in-law’s attempts to declare her an unfit mother, her growing feelings for Wade—a tattooed redneck single dad she met while hiding in a closet at Back to School Night—and the return of her sire, who hasn’t stopped thinking about brave, snarky Libby since he turned her.

My Thoughts :

Half-Moon Hollow is the place to be if you are a vampire.  Libby Stratton finds this out when she takes the plunge into the undead life when the big C threatens to stop her from seeing her son grow up. It may not of been the best decision she made but a mother will do anything to make sure her child is safe.

The problems start piling up around Libby from the first day of her Vampire life.  They range from a custody fight to Sire issues and include some PTA haters and a sexy redneck.  Every night is a challenge as she makes sure her son is cared for when she is asleep in the day and that she manages her feeding and doesn't hurt anyone.

With Molly Harper's typical wit this story manages to be fun and inspiring instead of weepy and exhausting.  Libby is likable from the beginning and is realistic as a character.  It is an interesting story and many may not like the twists and turns or concept of this latest Half-Moon Hollow installment but as always I enjoyed the vampire book quote at the beginning of each chapter from 'My Mommy Has Fangs',  I loved the new characters and catching up with the regulars and most of all I enjoyed the usual Molly Harper banter and action.

Listening to this series is highly recommended if you like audio books.  Molly Harper is extremely lucky to have such a great narrator for her books.  It is slightly confusing at first because it is the same voice from the previous books, told from another characters perspective, but once the story gets going there is just fun times ahead.

A must read and pre-order author.  I can't wait for the next Half-Moon Hallow adventure and look forward to listening to this great narrator again.

107) Murder of a Smart Cookie by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

Yard sales can bring out the worst in people. So when Scumble River school psychologist Skye Denison organizes a 100-mile yard sale, otherwise neighborly folk get downright nasty: her own mother creams a woman, and a battle of the sexes breaks out. But when her former boss is found murdered, nobody knows for sure how this cookie will crumble.

My Thoughts :

I am getting very addicted to this cozy mystery and I think it is due to the amazing narrator.  So my praise goes to her first and I recommend anyone who like listening to audios to give this one a try.  The series is a good one but the audio version is just a delight!

So I am up to book seven in the series.  Only eleven more to go before I am all caught up.  It sounds like a lot but the way I am going I will be there pretty soon.  The stories are not too long and they are easy to listen to.  The mystery is always good and keeps me listening at any opportunity.  All the small town goings-on are keeping me grabbing the next book as well as the regular characters and Skye's relationship.

This time around the plot revolved around a yard sale.  It sounds boring at first but when Skye gets tangled up in another murder the plot gets interesting.  Things get even more interesting when it appears that the town limits have been changed and it isn't Skye's favourite local law enforcement in charge of the investigation.  Also Skye's parents are getting on very well and Simon is away for the week.  Lots of little twists and turns in this one and very entertaining.

The ending of this one was a little mean.  First there was some news for Skye that I expected but it ended up sounding like bad news.  However the very end, the cliffhanger, was very unexpected and an interesting twist after what Skye got up to in this installment.  I am very very curious to see what happens next and am really holding myself back from listening to the next part straight away.

I am really enjoying this series, despite the fact that it is a little old and I am way behind.  A great cozy series that is obviously enjoyed by many because there are already eighteen books in the series.

104) Boundary Lines by Melissa F. Olson

The Blurb :

Fitting into the Old World isn’t going very well for Boulder boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther: she may have earned a place in a vampire’s service, but now it seems as if every supernatural creature in town has found a reason to hate her. And when Lex and her partner are assigned to investigate the suspicious disappearance of two vampires during the night of the full moon, they find themselves with more questions than answers.

Was it murder…or mutiny?

The crusade for answers will lead Lex all over the Colorado Old World, from a prison cell for a broken werewolf to a haunted Denver brothel. And when Lex determines the responsible party, the hunt is just beginning: something has been awakened in Boulder, something as old and powerful as it is terrifying. Only the woman with death in her blood can stop what’s coming.

My Thoughts :

I actually got an e-copy of this book to review but after playing catch up and listening to the first book in the series, Boundary Crossed, last week I went and bought the audio version of this book too.  The narrator was just too good to move over to reading the book and I also enjoyed the Scarlett Bernhard books, also by this author, on audible.  So before telling you how amazing this book was I will highly recommend listening to it.  There are just some books that are made even better because they have a great narrator and this is definitely one of them.

Boundary Lines is the second book in the Boundary Magic series and you really need to read the first book and the novella in between, Malediction, before making a start on this installment.  With such great world building and plot there is no way things will make sense if you haven't already heard how Lex's story began and what she has already been through.  So go get the first book and enjoy it so much that you won't believe that this one is even better.

I loved Boundary Crossed but Boundary Lines rocked even more.  The whole Boundary Witch aspect got much bigger and the paranormal elements expanded.  Things got complicated and there was enough mystery and action to keep me grabbing my earphones whenever I had time to listen to more.  The story was gripping and exciting.  On one hand I wanted to listen to it all in one go but on the hand I was scared to finish it because then it would be over and I would have to wait for the next part.

This is one of the best Paranormal Urban Fantasy books/authors I have read in a while.  Nothing has been as thrilling and addictive for me in the genre lately and I have been slowly moving away from this kind of read.  So I am really happy I found this new and original story and plot by a very talented author.  I can't wait for more from this world and writer.  I just hope I don't have to wait too long.

101) Boundary Crossed by Melissa F. Olson

The Blurb :

After her twin sister’s brutal murder, former US Army Sergeant Allison “Lex” Luther vowed to protect her niece, Charlie. So when two vampires try to kidnap the baby, it quickly turns into a fight to the death—Lex’s death, that is.

She wakes up to two shocking discoveries: she has miraculously survived the fight, and baby Charlie is a “null,” gifted with the ability to weaken supernatural forces...and a target for creatures who want to control that power. Determined to guarantee her niece’s safety, Lex makes a deal with the local vampires. She sets out with the mysterious—and undead—“fixer” Quinn to track down whoever’s responsible for the kidnapping, sharpening her newfound magic skills along the way. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her powers become.

My Thoughts :

I really enjoyed the Scarlett Bernhard series by Melissa F. Olson and was looking trying this new series set in the same world.  Somehow I got sidetracked by all those other books I have (how can that happen? hehe) and completely forgot to add this is my pre-order wishlist and then was happy to see it on Netgalley.  That was until I realised the book I got from Netgalley was already the second installment!

Anyway...long story short I picked up this one on Audible and started listening to it straight away!  It was amazing! I couldn't stop! I thought I liked the other series by this author but this debut in the new series was even better.  I was hooked within minutes and it is no wonder.  That opening scene started off all daily routine and ended up in a fight with two vampires.  From then on it was just lots of exciting twists and turns on a supernatural rollercoaster ride.

Melissa's previous series already stood out because of the unique aspect of a Null.  Now she went and did it again with a Boundary Witch and she throws in another Null and some vampires for good measure.  I really enjoyed Lex's story and character as well as the other major players who were involved.  I am looking forward to that second book more than ever.

Actually, I will be honest and say, that despite having the review copy of the second installment, I went to Audible and got the next part as an Audiobook.  I loved the version so much that I can't imagine reading the book any other way.  The narrator was great and even if the audio version wasn't out yet I would have waited for it to release.

Well worth checking out.  Unique, full of action and paranormally good.  This is a great author who obviously has some amazing ideas that haven't already been done.  Refreshing and exciting.  Will be listening to part two asap!

98) Murder of a Pink Elephant by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

When Skye Denison's brother forms a band called Pink Elephant, the town goes wild-maybe too wild. First, a groupie turns stalker, seducing the band members one by one. Then, one of the Pink Elephants winds up murdered. Who's to blame? Everyone seems to think it's the drummer-and now Skye has to clear her brother's name.

My Thoughts :

Another installment in the Scumble River Mysteries and once again a great listen!  I am really enjoying this series and am itching to listen to the next part but managed to stop myself and listen to something else.

The mystery was well written as always although I put a lot of the pieces together before Skye did.  However, as with Skye, I only got the final pieces of the puzzle when she did.  A style that I like about these mysteries.  While most of the clues are easy to put together there is always a little bit left out, that 'Ah' moment when it really becomes clear.

As always I am enjoying the on-going story of Skye and the regulars in Scumble River.  I like the way Skye thinks and find her job interesting.  What really makes this series fun is the fact that it is 'old'.  Set in a time where mobile phones are still not a big thing but computers are starting to be a 'thing'.  The internet was even mentioned in this installment and it is amusing to visit the world how it was.  Always looking for a phone ;)

Looking forward to the next book and the next twelve!  I am sure this series isn't going to take long for me to catch up with because the audio versions are really well read and easy to listen to.  Well worth checking out this series if you are a cozy fan.