88) Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron

The Blurb :

The Crozats feared that past murders at Crozat Plantation B&B might spell the death of their beloved estate, but they’ve managed to survive the scandal. Now there’s a très bigger story in Pelican, Louisiana: the upcoming nuptials between Maggie Crozat’s nemesis, Police Chief Rufus Durand, and her co-worker, Vanessa Fleer.

Maggie, inexplicably tasked with being Vanessa's Maid of Honor, quickly discovers why everyone else refused the assignment when the Bridezilla hands her a long list of duties — the most important of which is entertaining Vanessa’s cousin, Ginger Fleer-Starke, a mysterious woman with dangerous secrets. But just days before the wedding, Ginger’s lifeless body is found on the bayou behind Crozat Plantation and the Pelican PD, as well as the Crozats, have another murder mystery on their hands.

There’s a gumbo-potful of suspects, including an ex-Marine with PTSD, an annoying local newspaper reporter, and Vanessa’s own sparkplug of a mother. But when it looks like the investigation is zeroing in on Vanessa as the prime suspect, Maggie reluctantly adds keeping the bride-to-be out of jail to her list of Maid of Honor responsibilities.

My Thoughts :

I really enjoyed the series debut, Plantation Shudders, and had this book on my pre-order list as soon as it showed up on Amazon.  Unfortunately I got behind with my reading and didn't get to it straight away and then when I did start it I kept having to put it down as I couldn't concentrate or didn't have enough time.  I was enjoying it but with life throwing other things at me I just wasn't getting far.

Finally I finished this one and have to say that I really liked it.  It wasn't as good as the debut but it was still a great book.  The mystery kept me guessing and there are some wonderful characters involved in the series.  This time around it seems they got a little crazier than I remembered them to be but it all made for good reading so I don't care one bit.

Some of the plot was a little annoying in a way.  The whole wedding debacle was slowly getting on my nerves but I wasn't the only one.  Even Maggie had had enough and I felt it brought us a little closer.  Sometimes the Bo angle frustrated me but I think that was intended.  After all there is nothing like a romance problem to keep people reading.

All in all this series got off to a great start and is continuing to shine in this second installment.  I can't wait to read part three and hope that there are many more Cajun Country Mysteries to come.  I will definitely be picking them up and checking out what Maggie gets mixed up with next and how things progress with her guy and all the other wonderful characters in her life.

87) Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich

The Blurb :

Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Larry is just stupid enough to attempt almost the exact same crime again. Only this time he flees the scene, leaving behind a freezer truck loaded with Bogart ice cream and a dead body—frozen solid and covered in chocolate and chopped pecans.

As fate would have it, Stephanie’s mentor and occasional employer, Ranger, needs her to go undercover at the Bogart factory to find out who’s putting their employees on ice and sabotaging the business. It’s going to be hard for Stephanie to keep her hands off all that ice cream, and even harder for her to keep her hands off Ranger. It’s also going to be hard to explain to Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, why she is spending late nights with Ranger, late nights with Lula and Randy Briggs—who are naked and afraid—and late nights keeping tabs on Grandma Mazur and her new fella. Stephanie Plum has a lot on her plate, but for a girl who claims to have “virtually no marketable skills,” these are the kinds of sweet assignments she does best.

My Thoughts :

It has been way too quiet around here and I apologise.  I won't bore you with the details but will just say that life got in the way and there hasn't been much reading going on.  It hasn't been from lack of trying though and when I realised the new Stephanie Plum book was out I got an Audible copy and started it straight away.  Finished it quickly and then didn't get around to coming here until today to write about it!

So another Stephanie Plum!  Twenty-Three books in and sometimes you have to admit it feels like deja vu.  Stephanie goes out to get a bail skip, finds a dead body, gets sucked into the investigation and finally after madness and mayhem she solves the whole thing.  Insert Morelli and Ranger problems and sex, include some craziness from Lula and Grandma Mazur then wait for the typical jokes, wit and sarcasm.  It sounds monotonous but to tell you the truth I love each and every installment as much as the last.

Stephanie never ceases to amaze me.  She gets into some really unbelievable and funny predicaments while making some very stupid decisions but there are always laughs and the plot keeps you hooked.  Despite following more or less the same pattern, each book manages to stand out and be different in some way.  Even though the whole Morelli vs. Ranger angle is one of the things you finally want solved, you know that it would be extremely boring it that chemistry and indecision was gone.

Kudos to Evanovich for another Plum success.  I only wish that they would come out more often.  After all they don't seem like much and I sure she could get out two or three a year.  Maybe that would ruin things but I just want more of the funniest and most relaxing series there is out there.  I love visiting Trenton and catching up with the crazy characters.  I could do with more of this getaway in my life.

If you have the chance make sure to check out the audio version of the books.  Lorelei King, the best audio book narrator there is, lends her voice to this series and she does it as well as she does to all the others she brings to life.  She is amazing.

82) Dangling by a Thread by Lea Wait

The Blurb :

Hermit Jesse Lockhart lives alone on King’s Island, three miles east of Haven Harbor, Maine, where he’s created a private sanctuary for the endangered Great Cormorants. But when a wealthy family wants to buy the island and Jesse’s cousin Simon petitions for power of attorney to force him to sell, Jesse is the one who becomes endangered.

Mainely Needlepointer Dave Perry, who befriended Jesse in the VA hospital, rallies the group to his defense. Angie Curtis and the ravelers stitch “Save the King’s Island Cormorants” pillows and sell T-shirts to pay for Jesse’s legal counsel. But tragically, on a visit to the island, Angie and Dave find Jesse dead. Now the search is on for a common thread that can tie the murdered man to his killer . . .

My Thoughts :

It hasn't been a good month, reading wise.  Despite having some great reads lined up and a huge selection of books on my to be read pile, I am constantly struggling to read as fast as I usually do.  Distracted or just busy, I am not getting enough read quick enough.  I hope that as Winter comes along I will be more prone to curl up in bed and read.  Especially if they are books like Dangling by a Thread.

I have really enjoyed this series so far and couldn't wait to start this fourth installment.  Not much time has passed story wise since the third book, Thread and Gone.  Angie is still in Haven Harbor and things are going well.  So well that she is thinking of staying longer than the six months she has promised.  Unfortunately this book also sees Angie getting involved with another murder investigation but once again there is a great location, some interesting facts and a nice plot.  I enjoyed it as much as the previous books.

However there were some little minor problems I had with this installment.  One thing was that I can't believe it has only been three months since Angie arrived back.  A lot has happened and this is the fourth book and therefore fourth murder investigation.  It seems all a little too much in such a small amount of time.  Also I find the whole premise that Angie is only staying for six months completely unnecessary.  She has had the house signed over to her, gets a pet, is running the business, getting involved in everything and can even carry her gun because the laws changed.  Does the author think we are stupid?

This time around I also had a problem with how the characters spoke to each other.  It is hard to explain but there were so many conversations that sounded sarcastic, unsure, a little nasty...Sometimes it felt like there was a tone that wasn't all nice and friendly even when the characters involved have been great friends.  Especially between Angie and Dave but also with others.

All in all I am still loving this series.  I may have figured out who the murderer was before everyone else and I did think the ending was a little too quick but I enjoyed it and look forward to more.  I really like the little needlepoint references and history at the beginning of each chapter and only wish there were some pictures attached to them as they are hard to imagine.

Well worth checking out if you are looking for a nice welcoming cozy series.  This fourth part in the series may have had, in my opinion, a few little bumps but it was still a great read and continues to be a good well though out and well written series.

78) Murder of a Cranky Catnapper by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

With her morning sickness finally abated, Skye Denison Boyd is ready to pounce on the pertinent problems she faces as Scumble River School’s psychologist. After trying almost every trick in the book to aid a handful of socially awkward fourth grade boys, Skye opts for the innovative approach of pet therapy with the assistance of the local vet, a Siberian husky, and a Maine coon cat.

Unfortunately the first session only breeds disaster and draws the ire of cantankerous school board member Palmer Lynch. But Skye’s worry over the episode changes to dread after Lynch is found dead in his home with the therapy cat hidden in his garage. With a clowder of questions unleashed, Skye finds herself dealing with a killer who isn’t pussyfooting around...

My Thoughts :

I basically binge listened to the Scumble River mysteries and when I was done with installment eighteen I was annoyed that I had to wait for a new addition to the series.  So when this nineteenth book finally released I was even more annoyed to find that there was no audio book version available.  Despite wanting to read the new release straight away I have listened to the whole series and wanted to listen to this new part.  Then finally nearly a month after the book released, an audio version appeared!

After the wait I was eager to start this book and actually finished it pretty quick too (Did you know you can speed up books on Audible?  If you can put up with it...).  I enjoyed every minute even if things were a little less exciting due to Skye's pregnancy.  However on the other side I am happy the author didn't decide to put her through some kind of crazy chase or injury while she is expecting.

Things progress nicely in the on-going story and it was great to catch up with all the usual characters.  The plot and mystery weren't as good as some of those in the previous books but it was still interesting and compelling.  It was nice that the author kept to the usual style and didn't decide to fast forward too far into the future or change things completely now Skye is married and with child.

Now the wait begins again.  I am pretty sure the series still has a few more books in it but how the author will keep things exciting is the question.  I feel happy for Skye for everything she has achieved during the series but I wonder if she is now too weighed down to go out amateur sleuthing.  It certainly will be a challenge for the author.  I can't wait to see what happens.

75) All The Little Liars by Charlaine Harris

The Blurb :

Aurora Teagarden is basking in the news of her pregnancy when disaster strikes her small Georgia town: four kids vanish from the school soccer field in an afternoon. Aurora’s 15-year-old brother Phillip is one of them. Also gone are two of his friends, and an 11-year-old girl who was just hoping to get a ride home from soccer practice. And then there’s an even worse discovery—at the kids’ last known destination, a dead body.

While the local police and sheriff’s department comb the county for the missing kids and interview everyone even remotely involved, Aurora and her new husband, true crime writer Robin Crusoe, begin their own investigation. Could the death and kidnappings have anything to do with a group of bullies at the middle school? Is Phillip’s disappearance related to Aurora’s father’s gambling debts? Or is Phillip himself, new to town and an unknown quantity, responsible for taking the other children? But regardless of the reason, as the days go by, the most important questions remain. Are the kids still alive? Who could be concealing them? Where could they be?

With Christmas approaching, Aurora is determined to find her brother…if he’s still alive.

My Thoughts :

A decade after the last installment in the Aurora Teagarden series, Charlaine Harris has delighted and surprised us all with a new story!  This ninth book in the series starts a few weeks after the last book finished but the author manages to bridge the ten years difference very well making this one feel more up to date but not too advanced.  Aurora is as pleasant and inquisitive as always and all the regular cast of characters are either mentioned or play a part in the story.  All The Little Liars was a reunion and an update of sorts and it was a wonderful read.

I have read and enjoyed every single book in the Aurora Teagarden series and then, like all of Charlaine's other books, I read them again via Audible book.  So when I saw All The Little Liars pop up I couldn't believe that fans of her series were being so blessed!  It was always a little annoying how the series ended.  A nice happy cliffhanger but not the place I felt it should have been left.  Thankfully it seems many more readers of the series also had the same attitude and the author managed to make something happen.

The mystery was a complicated one that wasn't too confusing but mostly mind-boggling.  This is just the way Harris does things.  A great twisted plot that keeps you guessing until the end.  You may think you know what has happened but you really only get there when the amateur sleuth does.  The author does a great job of keeping the reader hooked and offers up a good amount of information to keep you in the know and not confused or overwhelmed.  This series is one of the best cozy mysteries out there and it shows even in this new release years after what we thought was the end.

So many things could be said about the plot and I could write a lot more about the story.  However I don't want to give away all the surprises to fans who have been waiting for this new addition or spoil things for anyone who haven't gotten this far into the series yet.  All I can say is that it was worth the wait.  All The Little Liars was not a disappointment and I read it all in a few hours.  I was completely and utterly hooked from the first chapter.

Now I hope that there will be more Aurora books.  It would make me really happy to have a few more stories but maybe one more would be enough.  However if there aren't any more I could handle it.  After all this ninth book was a surprise I wasn't expecting and am very grateful for.  I wonder if the author has plans for any other of her series to get new installments. I wouldn't mind catching up with Lily Bard or Harper Connolly but for now I will just say thanks and well done for All The Little Liars.

74) Death by Pumpkin Spice by Alex Erickson

The Blurb :

Bookstore café owner Krissy Hancock would rather spend Halloween serving pumpkin goodies than wearing costumes with Pine Hills’ wealthiest at Yarborough mansion, especially when the soiree shapes up to be more trick than treat . . .

As if a run-in with an old flame and a failed marriage proposal weren’t enough to horrify Krissy for one night, a woman is found strangled to death in a room filled with ominous jack-o’-lanterns. All signs suggest a crime of passion—but when the hostess’s jewelry disappears, malevolent intentions seem way more likely . . .

With the estate on lockdown and a killer roaming the halls, Krissy must help Officer Paul Dalton investigate each nook, cranny, and guest for answers—while also confronting a few demons of her own. Someone has lots of skeletons in the closet, and Krissy better tread lightly to expose them . . .

My Thoughts :

Well it seems my reading slump is over and my reading is back on track again...if not a little behind.  So it was only natural that instead of picking up one of the many books that have been on my to be read pile for ages that I went to the review books and picked up the one that releases next.  Death by Pumpkin Spice is the third book in the Bookstore Cafe Mysteries and I was looking forward to reading the new installment after enjoying the first two so much.

Unfortunately while this was nice, easy and quick read I have to say it wasn't as good as the previous two books in the series.  While the story was set in the right time of year and fits into the whole Halloween holiday that is soon upon us, that was one of the only things Death by Pumpkin Spice really had going for it.  Actually I felt a little disappointed by this one.

While the murder mystery plot wasn't a bad one and kept me guessing, the majority of the book took place at a party in a house that I had a hard time visualizing and had nothing to do with the bookstore cafe.  The idea wasn't a bad one but it was totally different to the previous books in the series and felt wrong from the beginning.  The rushing around, being allowed to help and the relationship woes were all a little over the top sometimes and I couldn't keep track of the time frame of the story and wasn't completely convinced that the other guests wouldn't have made more of a ruckus.

I didn't enjoy Death by Pumpkin Spice as much as the previous books but I am still hopeful for the series.  Maybe the author thought it would be good to have a change of scenery or she wanted to try something a little different.  However I missed the Bookstore and Cafe setting, I was sad that Krissy's cat wasn't around as much and I was hoping to get to know the regular characters a bit better.  Also the love triangle was bleh and Krissy putting herself down all the time was annoying.

All this said, I want to read more.  Every series has its ups and downs and despite having some problems with this installment I still liked it enough to keep reading and I still want to read more.    This is a nice cozy series that is still finding its feet but has a lot to offer.  Worth trying and giving a chance to!

73) Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd by Alan Bradley

The Blurb :

In spite of being ejected from Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Canada, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is excited to be sailing home to England. But instead of a joyous homecoming, she is greeted on the docks with unfortunate news: Her father has fallen ill, and a hospital visit will have to wait while he rests. But with Flavia’s blasted sisters and insufferable cousin underfoot, Buckshaw now seems both too empty—and not empty enough. Only too eager to run an errand for the vicar’s wife, Flavia hops on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, to deliver a message to a reclusive wood-carver.

Finding the front door ajar, Flavia enters and stumbles upon the poor man’s body hanging upside down on the back of his bedroom door. The only living creature in the house is a feline that shows little interest in the disturbing scene. Curiosity may not kill this cat, but Flavia is energized at the prospect of a new investigation. It’s amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one’s spirits. But what awaits Flavia will shake her to the very core.

My Thoughts :

I haven't read much in last couple of weeks and instead of listening to audio books I have been listening to music.  For some reason nothing appealed to me and also a book I was waiting to listen to doesn't seem to be available yet on audible so that put me off a bit.  Then I noticed a new Flavia de Luce installment was coming out and waited for its arrival.  Nothing like a bit of Flavia to get me busy listening to books again.

Now I basically listened to all the Flavia de Luce mysteries in one go sometime last year so this first time I have had to wait for a new installment.  The series is unique and funny with a wonderful main character who you can't help but love.  Flavia is too big for her boots, a nosy troublemaker and twelve going on thirty but she is also clever, amusing and entertaining.

After getting home from Canada, Flavia gets some bad news.  Her father is in hospital and despite the pull to go and see him, she is stopped from visiting by various reasons and excuses from others.  So Flavia does what only Flavia can do and finds a dead body and distracts herself with the murder investigation.  With Gladys helping and a bit of a support from Dogger and her new friend Mildred, Flavia goes about unraveling a mystery that has been around longer than she has.

Once again I was pulled into this postwar world that has only started to get some resemblance of the modern amenities that we take for granted of today.  Delighted by her naive but genius logic as she solves another mystery I couldn't stop myself from listening to just a little more every time I had the chance.  The talk of Steepholm, an island I have unfortunately never visited but saw nearly everyday growing up, made me a little homesick.  However this whole Britishness, even if from another part of history, makes me want to go home and visit.  The author just does a wonderful of job of capturing the place so well.

Anyway, well worth getting a hold of if you are a fan of the series.  If you haven't tried the series yet then think about doing so!  I didn't think I would like it at first but there is something special and addictive about Flavia de Luce.  Also I highly recommend the audio books as the narrator does a brilliant job of bringing the characters to life.  I couldn't even think about reading these.  I have been spoilt by the outstanding audio versions.

Now the wait is on for the next installment.  It should be another interesting one with the ending this eighth book left us with.  I feel for Flavia but I know she is strong.  I wonder if the author will ever jump ahead a little and give us an older version...I would love to find out what becomes of the youngest de Luce.

72) Paint the Town Dead by Nancy Haddock

The Blurb :

Leslee Stanton Nix—aka “Nixy”—thought moving to small-town Lilyvale, Arkansas, would be about as thrilling as watching paint dry. But keeping up with her retired Aunt Sherry and her troublemaking housemates—collectively known as the Silver Six—has proven to be as exciting as it is exasperating.

To kick off the grand opening of their craft shop, the Handcraft Emporium, Nixy and the Silver Six invite Doralee Gordon to teach a gourd painting class. Doralee’s spirit gets squashed when her ex-husband crashes the class with his new fiancée, but things really get messy when the bride-to-be later turns up dead. Now it’s up to Nixy and the Silver Six to use their melons to find the killer—before someone else gets painted out of the picture...

My Thoughts :

It hasn't been a very productive couple of weeks in regards to my reading.  I have been in a bit of a slump and hopefully this wonderful book has pulled me out of it!  Because this is the first book I have managed to read in the last two weeks.  Nothing else has interested me, nothing else could grab me and I certainly couldn't be bothered to pick up anything else to read.  However when I realised that this second book in the new cozy mystery series by Nancy Haddock was out I suddenly felt like reading again.  Once again this author has brightened my day!

Now I know Nancy from way back when!  She wrote an amazing vampire series that I miss terribly!  So when her new cozy mystery series came out last year I was eager to start it and I remember enjoying it so much that I wanted to get a sequel a lot faster than the author can write!  Now that sequel is here and I nearly missed it.  I feel ashamed to say that even though I had it on pre-order it managed to get past me and lay in wait for a couple of weeks.  It was however worth the wait and I spent a nice few hours in bed curled up with it.

I needed a few chapters to get my head around all the characters.  After a year it is normal to have forgotten who is who.  Especially if you read a lot of books.  Once things were back into place I could start enjoying this wonderful sequel in a very unique and well thought out series.  It took a few chapters to get to the murder mystery but I have to admit that I was actually more interested in Nixy and everyone else anyway and enjoyed the chance to hang out before the sleuthing started.

What else can I say without giving the whole plot away?  I can only recommend you try this series out!  It's a great cozy mystery and has so many cute and interesting things going on.  This book even saw the arrival of some fascinating pets (even though as an Amber and as a cat person....well it was weird being the dog!) and of course the whole craft shop angle is not only fun but inspiring. I can't wait for more and look forward to visiting this lovely town again and finding out more about the secrets it holds and the people within it!

70) A Story To Kill by Lynn Cahoon

The Blurb :

Former English professor Cat Latimer is back in Colorado, hosting writers’ retreats in the big blue Victorian she’s inherited, much to her surprise, from none other than her carousing ex-husband! Now it’s an authors’ getaway—but Cat won’t let anyone get away with murder…
The bed-and-breakfast is open for business, and bestselling author Tom Cook is among its first guests. Cat doesn’t know why he came all the way from New York, but she’s glad to have him among the quirkier—and far less famous—attendees.

Cat’s high school sweetheart Seth, who’s fixing up the weathered home, brings on mixed emotions for Cat…some of them a little overpowering. But it’s her uncle, the local police chief, whom she’ll call for help when there’s a surprise ending for Tom Cook in his cozy guest room. Will a killer have the last word on the new life Cat has barely begun?

My Thoughts :

I have been enjoying the Tourist Trap Mysteries a lot so when I saw that the author, Lynn Cahoon, had another series coming out I couldn't wait to try it.  A Story To Kill may have a not so spectacular cover but the contents definitely make up for it.  It seems that the author has managed to come up with another interesting and unique cozy series with another set of great characters to get to know.

At first, I will admit, things didn't seem like they were going to be that good.  The couple of chapters were a little off and while I can see what the author was trying to do, it just left me a little confused.  If I hadn't already read her Tourist Trap Mysteries, I may have just given up on this one within the first few chapters.  The jumbled information, leaving important information for later and the general mystery about Cat's circumstances was not welcoming.  Luckily I kept going because the rest of the book was worth it.

Now the plot was a little twisty but the story was well thought out and I managed to follow it with no problems.  I have to say I had a inkling who the murderer was but it was fun to go through the paces and get to know Cat, her friends and the other characters.  Also there was always a hint of a much bigger mystery which actually turned out to be a cliffhanger.  Even though I was already interested in more from this series I have to say this sealed the deal for me and I knew I would be back for more.

It is a shame that this book didn't get a nicer cover,  I don't usually focus on covers when I write reviews but this one really doesn't do the book justice and doesn't even give you a feel for the great story hidden inside.  This was a great cozy mystery and it deserved a better cover with more effort.  This looks like some kind of stock photo off the internet.

Anyway, well worth checking out.  Great debut in the new series and I am looking forward to more.  The author manages to change her style a little and make A Story To Kill feel completely different to her other series.  Actually it felt like she has evolved her style which made this book feel more mature and somehow better than her other series.  Can't wait for more!

67) A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett

The Blurb :

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra has been faltering-but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Katie can find the answer.

My Thoughts :

Well August is nearly over and I haven't made much progress reading wise.  Apologies to authors who are waiting for me to review their books!  Maybe don't release in Summer when there are so many other things to do and holidays to be enjoyed!  I did however manage to squeeze in another audio book and because I didn't have any Audible credits I took one from my library that has been waiting for my attention!

I have enjoyed many a book by this author.  Lorraine Barlett's Booktown Mysteries (written under the name Lorna Barrett) is a favourite of mine and I am eagerly awaiting a sequel in the Lotus Bay series.  She has always had some great characters lined up and a great mystery.  So naturally I wanted to try the Victoria Square series and have to say I kept putting it off and this is why I ended up with the audio version.

Now while I love the two series I already mentioned I have to say I am left with mixed feelings about this debut in the series.  I had a very hard time envisioning what Victoria Square and Artisans Alley are supposed to look like.  Despite the descriptions I was left confused about the whole set up and couldn't place everything where it should be.  Which didn't help when following the plot.  This was strange for me because the author has left me with a very vivid idea of how her Booktown location would look and even, after only one installment, the Lotus Bay location.

Another problem I had with this first in the series was the amount of characters involved.  I found it really hard to keep track of the many people who were involved in the story.  I managed to keep the main few characters in check but I couldn't tell you who the others were, why they were involved and where they fit into the Artisan's Alley/Victoria Square concept.

The plot was actually mediocre and not very compelling.  I found I could follow it will no problem despite the location and character confusion.  However it wasn't the most exciting or interesting.  It wasn't bad enough to make me give up but I guess my expectations were higher or I am just used to a different style where this author is concerned.  It didn't feel like the same writer that I have come to like so much.

Despite my less than glowing review I am going to give the second book a chance.  Why?  Because I did actually like the main character and I think the concept shows a lot of promise.  The strength and determination Katie shows to get Victoria Square up to scratch is inspiring and I want to know how she does.  What I am not sure about is if I will listen to the next book.  This means it could take a long time for me to get around to the next installment but the narrator sounded like she had a blocked nose.  This made it sound like Katie was ill with a cold all the time and the other characters too.  It was pretty weird sometimes.  Not at all the quality of audio book I am used to.

In conclusion...not bad but not that good either.  This author has many other great books out there and I guess if you are a fan of her work and love cozies then you won't be able to stay away from this one.  However be aware that this first book in the series isn't totally on par with her other work.  That isn't to say it won't get better.  Who knows, the second part could surprise me!  Only time will tell.

62) The Cat, The Collector and The Killer by Leann Sweeney

The Blurb :

Jillian Hart and police chief Tom Stewart are enjoying peaceful, newly wedded bliss in Mercy, South Carolina, until a woman is found wandering the streets one night. She's in her night clothes, disoriented, and carrying a kitten in a tote bag. A search of the woman’s house reveals many more cats, a maze of cardboard boxes—and a dead man.

Although the evidence suggests the frail woman is the killer, Jillian doesn’t believe she’s capable of such a crime. The dead man had many enemies in town, which means finding the real murderer may prove to be its own cat and mouse game...

My Thoughts :

The Cat, The Collector and The Killer is the eighth installment in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries.  This is one of my favourite cozies to listen to and sometime last year I started the series and listened to all seven installments.  That meant I was waiting for a new part in the series for the first time.  So my anticipation and expectations were very high.  Which may be part of the reason why I didn't find this newest release to be as good as the previous books.

There was everything I have come to know, love and expect in this new addition and the story has progressed so nicely with Jillian and Tom now man and wife.  Some time has passed since the last book and I expected the couple to be more lovely dovey than they actually were.  They actually seemed to be more like friends who lived together.  There was hardly a married feeling despite the continuous references and reminders to them now being wed.  Maybe the author still needs to convince herself that she really got them to tie the knot?

Despite this slightly weird feeling about the new couple, I just felt the plot this time around wasn't very interesting.  There was definitely enough for me to keep listening but it wasn't as good as the previous books in the series.  The mysteries in the other seven books were much more compelling and made me wonder about various aspects of the characters, reasons and decisions.  This one fell a little flat and left me just wondering if the marriage has broken the series.

Of course I will be continuing the series and look forward to another installment.  After all every series has a book that isn't as good as the others.  Some will even think this is the best of the bunch.  It is only my view and I am sure the many fans of the series out there will love this book even if it felt a little off for me.  Definitely a series worth listening too and a must read for cat lovers!

59) A Midwinter's Tail by Sofie Kelly

The Blurb :

Winter in Mayville Heights is busy and not just because of the holidays. Kathleen is hard at work organizing a benefit to raise money for the library’s popular Reading Buddies program. She has her hands full hosting the event. And when a guest at the gala drops dead, her magical cats, Owen and Hercules, will have their paws full helping her solve a murder.

The victim is the ex of town rascal Burtis Chapman, but she hasn’t lived in the area in years. And though everybody is denying knowledge of why she was back in town, as Kathleen and her detective boyfriend, Marcus, begin nosing around, they discover more people are connected to the deceased than claimed to be. Now Marcus, Kathleen, and her uncanny cats have to unravel this midwinter tale before the case gets cold.

My Thoughts :

A Midwinter's Tail is the sixth book in the Magical Cats Mystery series and was, like the previous installments, a pleasure to read.  Well actually this is a series I am listening to because the narrator really does a great job bringing this series to life with her voice.  I actually am not sure if I would be getting so far into the series this quick if I was reading the books.  The audios are just too addictive.

If you haven't read the series yet then you may find some of this review to be a bit of a spoiler.  However I am sure, like me, you know that all those 'will they or won't they' relationships always end up with them getting together so it is no surprise that Kathleen and Marcus are finally a couple.  It works well even though I am not entirely sure how far their relationship has really taken them.  The author doesn't go into details which is fine because this a cozy mystery and not a romance but I wasn't sure if I could trust their relationship yet.  Will it stick?  Are they really close?

Again the magical cats played a part in the solving of the mystery and one of the felines was lucky he didn't go woof!  Because there was a bit of a fire at the end that trapped our leading lady and one of her kitties.  The plot that got them there was an interesting one and while it wasn't the most exciting it kept me hooked.

I can't wait to read (listen) to the next book in the series.  I am nearly all caught up and have really been enjoying the paranormal kitty twist.  Although I wish there was just a bit more of it.  Also it would be nice to have someone else in on the secret.  Which may come along sooner than later because the author mentioned it a lot this time around.  I think Marcus will be the one to get a shock and I can't wait to see how that all plays out.

56) Crowned and Moldering by Kate Carlisle

The Blurb :

When Mac Sullivan—famous thriller writer and Shannon’s new beau—first moved to Lighthouse Cove, California, he bought the historic lighthouse mansion that the town is named after. Mac needs help cleaning up the place, and Shannon is more than happy to get her handywoman hands on the run-down Victorian.

But during demolition, a grisly discovery is made among the debris—the bones of a teenage girl who went missing fifteen years ago. Locals had always assumed Lily Brogan ran away from her difficult life, but it seems her troubles followed her to the grave. If Shannon has any chance of getting her renovation back on track, she’ll need to tackle the cold case. But with new suspects coming out of the woodwork every day, she’ll have to be careful to pry the right secrets and clues from the poor girl’s problematic past…

My Thoughts :

This third installment in the Fixer-Upper Mysteries was another pleasant read.  While the murder mystery plot this time around was a bit of a cold case there was quite a lot going on all over the place to keep things nice and fresh.  A new face appeared and some old stories were told.  It was another lovely visit to Lighthouse Cove.

I really enjoy the concept of this cozy.  The renovation/contractor angle is an interesting one and it isn't too forced.  There are always some nice little bits and pieces mentioned but it isn't too much.  I also really like the characters.  The suspense regarding Shannon's relationships is also keeping me reading.  Actually so much of this series is enjoyable and I can't wait for more.

Lighthouse Cove is a place I would love to visit and Shannon is someone I would love to call a friend.  I am really looking forward to the fourth installment which comes out later this year and I will definitely continue to listen to this series because the narrator does a great job.

Definitely worth reading and one I can recommend listening too.  Also there is a little, tiny paranormal twist.  Don't get your hopes up though!  It is really very very minuscule but it is still there and I like it.

53) Decaffeinated Corpse by Cleo Coyle

The Blurb :

When an old friend of her ex-husband develops the world's first botanically decaffeinated coffee bean and smuggles it into the country, Clare Cosi, manager of Village Blend, believes it's a business opportunity she needs to investigate...at least until the first dead body shows up.

My Thoughts :

Sorry for the radio silence here but it is Summer and I have been away enjoying a little time off.  Hopefully things will get back to normal now that I am home again.

I actually finished listening to this fifth book in the Coffeehouse Mysteries about a week ago but didn't get around to posting about it before my little trip.  I have to admit it is now, a week later, hard to remember exactly what happened in the story but I do remember how annoying this series is.

Clare is so aggravating!  Her know it all attitude, the way she treats her daughter, the constant coffee snobbishness and her bad detective skills all make me want to smack her.  However there is something about this series that keeps me going back for more.  It obviously appeals to many readers because there are sixteen books in the series and it doesn't seem to be over.

The plot this time around was very weak, confusing and also quite boring.  I had no idea what was going on most of the time but I still managed to finish this one and wonder why I had bothered. Though I am sure at some point in the near future you will see a review here for the sixth book because there is something that makes me want to come back for more.  Maybe I am hoping Clare changes?  Maybe that her daughter disowns her?   To see how things go with her detective? or maybe I am just hopeful for a nice big 'fall'.

48) This Old Homicide by Kate Carlisle

The Blurb :

Valentine’s Day is approaching, and while Shannon is delighted to be friends with not one but two handsome men, not everyone in town is feeling the love. After her elderly neighbor Jesse Hennessey fails to make his daily appearance at the local diner, Shannon swings by his place to check on him. Not only does she find Jesse dead—of an apparent heart attack—but she also realizes that his home has been ransacked.

Someone suggests that a thief was searching for a priceless necklace Jesse claimed to have retrieved from a capsized sailing ship, but Shannon doesn’t believe it. Everyone knows Jesse had a penchant for constructing tall tales—like the one about him having a hot new girlfriend. But his death is soon ruled a homicide, and shady suspects begin popping out of the woodwork. When another victim turns up dead, Shannon is convinced she must find the killer before someone else gets nailed....

My Thoughts :

This second Fixer-Upper Mystery was a wonderful book to listen to.  The narrator does a lovely job of pulling you into the story and I found myself grabbing my earphones whenever I could.  The location, the characters and the mystery were once again well written and interesting and I enjoyed going back to visit them all again so soon.

While the story and sometimes the writing is a little weak, this was well worth reading.  There was less construction talk which was nice in one way but sad in another.  After all this is supposed the Fixr-Upper Mystery series so there should be a little more of the Fixing!  Despite that the murders were interesting and easy to follow but the case was a nice and hard one to solve.

I had my suspicions but like Shannon I didn't put all the pieces together until she did.  Mainly because the author didn't give the reader all the facts until Shannon had them.  Which is a nice change.  I hate main characters who have all the pieces and still can't get the puzzle solved.  It is frustrating and not as interesting.

Looking forward to listening to the next installment sometime soon.  I know I read too many cozies but there are way too many good ones around.  Also this one showed some promise of becoming a little paranormal.  So maybe the series will get more ghostly!

47) Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon

The Blurb :

The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there’s nothing cozy about murder . . .

Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi’s sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi’s name—without getting herself in hot water.

My Thoughts :

The Tourist Trap Mysteries have been a favourite of mine since I came across the first one a couple of years ago.  It is one of those series that doesn't leave you waiting around for a year until a new installment comes along and has a lovely variety of characters that you look forward to visiting again.
Tea Cups and Carnage is the seventh book in the series and although the murder mystery in this book is a little weak and distant, it was still interesting enough to keep me reading.  However there could be no murder mystery and I would of still kept reading because I just love the location, people and general feel of everything else in the series.

The series is well written and interesting but the mystery solving is getting a little too distant.  I understand that Jill is supposed to stay out of things, which she actually does pretty well, but I wouldn't mind her getting a little bit more involved or even see her relationship gather some speed.  All the characters are nice and all play their parts well.  It is always fun to see where the story is taking them too.

I am really enjoying this series and can't wait to see what happens next.  Things are constantly evolving in the town of South Cove and I look forward to every visit.  The lack of waiting is definitely a positive factor for this series and always keeps the people and previous stories fresh in my mind.  I can always jump straight into a Tourist Trap Mystery without feeling lost or confused.  No need to try and remember anything.  It is all there because the last installment wasn't that long ago.