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.

85) Otherworld Chills by Kelley Armstrong

The Blurb :

Embrace the obscure. In the final installment of the Otherworld anthology series, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong once again opens the gates to the Otherworld. This collection of rare and never-before-published novellas and short stories brings the clever wit, dark twists, and intense suspense Otherworld readers have come to expect. Favorite characters return, secrets are revealed, and several important storylines reach their conclusions.

My Thoughts :

Once again there is another collection of tales from the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong.  Once again I rush around hoping to get a copy because I really miss this series and love this author.  While I usually hate anthologies this is an exception to the rule because the stories are all by Kelley, are all from the Otherworld and are all short stories.  No this isn't just a bunch of really short stories these are stories that actually have chapters because they are so long.  This is a book you can get your teeth stuck into and enjoy.  This author gives the fans the good stuff.

BRAZEN

This story is all about Nick.  The threat of Malcolm is topic of the story but the romance aspect seemed to take front stage most of the time.  This one was a little flat and a poor choice for the first story in the collection.  I spent the whole story just hoping that things will get better because this one, while not boring, wasn't exactly exciting either.  Nice to see things from Nick's perspective but sadly not as good as the other stories in the book.

CHAOTIC

A tale about Hope and Karl and how they met. It felt familiar and I had the feeling throughout the story that I have read it before somewhere.  Maybe I have.  Despite that 'I've been here before' déjà vu I still read the story until the end.  It was action packed and interesting but not the best of the bunch.

AMITYVILLE HORRIBLE

I really like Jamie so this one was one of my favourite stories.  Being tricked into taking part in a haunted house reality show, the necromancer manages to find more ghosts that expected.  With Jeremy around for support it was a great read.  I like their relationship and combined with the ghostly mystery I was hooked.  Creepy and definitely putting the chills into the book title, this was definitely my favourite of the bunch.

SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD

A vampire story.  It seems the author tried to cover every character or at least every Otherworld supernatural.  Cassandra and Zoe were always around somewhere but they never really got to tell a story like the other women. However this still wasn't their chance.  The story was the shortest of all and disappointing.

OFF-DUTY ANGEL

You can't have an Otherworld collection of stories with one about or featuring Eve Levine.  She is one of the well known and prominent characters in the series and it was a done deal about her being in here somewhere.  However the story wasn't the best of the bunch and not my favourite about her.  It was ok but I wouldn't have missed the story, although I would have missed Eve, if this one had been left out of the book.

THE PUPPY PLAN

So I am very sure I read this one before somewhere and skipped most of this story.  A tale about Elena and Clay's twins and of course, as the title suggests, a puppy.  A nice read and one that all fans of the series will appreciate.  It is always great to check in with Elena and Clay. They really made the series and nearly everything revolved around them.

BABY BOOM

The other characters that took up a lot of the series is Paige, Lukas and Savannah.   So it was a nice surprise to have this story come in at the end.  A good story and a good end to the book.  It's all about pregnancy and may not be the best plot but it was a nice read and I loved catching up with them all.

All in all this is a nice book that fans will appreciate and enjoy.  I really would prefer more full length books in the series but I know that this is most likely never going to happen.  It also sounds like this is the last time any of the characters will be seen again.  Such a shame but it was an amazing series and one I will be re-reading sometime soon.

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.

80) The Witch and the Dead by Heather Blake

The Blurb :

When Darcy moved to Salem, Massachusetts, she never expected her life to change as drastically as it did. But within a short time, the Enchanted Village has become her home, its mystical residents have become her family, and As You Wish, the personal concierge business formerly run by her Aunt Ve, has become her calling. Still, the time has come for change—and for Darcy to move out of Aunt Ve’s house.

Darcy’s belongings are stashed in Aunt Ve’s garage, alongside a mess of memories, forgotten possessions, and, to both Ve and Darcy’s horror, a pile of old bones. It turns out they belong to Ve’s long missing second husband. Now Darcy must unpack old secrets to solve a cold case—and make sure her aunt isn’t looking at a spell behind bars.

My Thoughts :

The seventh Wishcraft Mystery was a wonderful, compelling and satisfying a read as the previous six books in the series.  Everything I have come to know and love about the Wishcraft books was there and the story continues to make me excited and happy about the next instllaments.  Darcy and the other characters that make this series a joy to read were all out in force and it was spellbinding and magicial.  I enjoyed it all.  I love it all.

Murder and mystery once again finds its way to Salem and once more Darcy is given the task of finding out who the killer is.  This case is a little more close to home when the body is found in her Aunt Ve's garage but as things progress it is clear that the secrets surrounding this mystery are not Ve's.

Once again I was sucked into the lovely little village atmosphere, the unique magical elements and the on-going story.  I enjoyed every moment even if I did, at times, find it hard to keep track of who was who in the case.  With so many characters, a long break between books and trying not to mix this series up with Heather's other amazing Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series, It is easy to have some moments of 'huh...'

I can't wait for more.  I love everything there is about this and I am really happy that things are progressing the way they are.  I am also continuously intrigued by the on-going story and the little cliffhangers and secrets that are unveiled in each installment.  Well worth checking out even if don't like cozies and also worth checking out if you aren't a paranormal fan.  This series is just too magical not to try!

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!

69) Unraveled by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

As the current queen of the Ashland underworld, you would think that I, Gin Blanco, would know all about some secret society controlling things from behind the scenes. I might be the Spider, the city’s most fearsome assassin, but all my Ice and Stone elemental magic hasn’t done me a lick of good in learning more about “the Circle”. Despite my continued investigations, the trail’s gone as cold as the coming winter.

So when Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, gets word of a surprising inheritance, we figure why not skip town for someplace less dangerous for a few days? That place: Bullet Pointe, a fancy hotel resort complex plus Old West theme park that Finn now owns lock, stock, and barrel. At first, all the struttin’ cowboys and sassy saloon girls are just hokey fun. But add in some shady coincidences and Circle assassins lurking all around, and vacationing becomes wilder—and deadlier—than any of us expected.

Good thing this assassin brought plenty of knives to the gunfight …

My Thoughts :

It is a great week in the reading world because the newest installment in the Elemental Assassin Series was released.  Unraveled is the 15th book in the series and there can be no way that this series will ever get boring.  I don't think I could ever give any book in this series a bad review.  This has got to be one of my all time favourites and I don't think I ever want to see this one end.  Ever.

Another installment filled with the characters I have come to know so well and love.  Once more there is a great plot with the on-going story developing, twisting, evolving and making progress.  Gin has been through so much and her strength and determination continue to leave me in admiration of her even if she is only a character in a book.

The story this time around focused on the revelations made in the previous book and even though Gin gets that little bit closer to finding out the truth, once again it is snatched away from her.  She does get some answers but there are always more questions.  However the progression isn't boring or annoying. You just find yourself even more invested in Gin's future as well as all the others who are along for the ride.

Jennifer Estep does it again.  She really can't stop this series from being amazing.  I dread the day it will end and only take comfort in the fact that I can then finally read the whole series again.  Yes I could do that now but it isn't done yet.  It isn't over.  It won't be over until the assassin of Ashland puts away those knives forever.  Hopefully it will a while.

One of the best Paranormal Urban Fantasy series out there.  Unique, exciting and compelling this is a must read, a pre-order and a devour in one sitting kind of series.  I look forward to the next installment and anymore that come along.  I also can't wait for anything else this author releases.  She has a talent and style that I can't get enough of.

68) Spells and Scones by Bailey Cates

The Blurb :

When the bookshop next to the Honeybee Bakery hosts a signing for a Savannah radio celebrity's new self-help book, magical baker Katie Lightfoot is happy to provide some delectable desserts. A big crowd has turned out for the event, curious about the book (and maybe to sample some goodies), but the final chapter comes too soon for the author when she is found dead at the event.

The prime suspect is Angie Kissel, a former witch whose familiar was once Katie’s own terrier, Mungo. Katie is at first hesitant to help, afraid of losing the little dog who has become so important to her. But after a little nudge from Mungo himself, Katie decides to try to conjure up the real killer—before Angie gets served...

My Thoughts :

The sixth book in the Magical Bakery series was a pre-order of mine that I nearly forgot about.  Only when I was deciding on which book to read next did I come across this one hidden amongst everything else on my Kindle. Suddenly all my other reading commitments and deadlines went out the window and I had to start the latest installment in this magical cozy mystery series.

I wasn't disappointed, much.  There was a severe lack of magic, in my honest opinion.  I expected much more in the way of spells and general development in the magical aspect of the series.  However this book was more about sleuthing and I felt the paranormal twist wasn't as present as it could or should of been.  My opinion and maybe not one that other readers will agree with but for me it just wasn't enough.

However the plot was good, the mystery interesting and the development of the characters and the on-going storyline was excellent.  There were some nice surprises as well as some interesting twists with the end of the book bringing things to a nice happy conclusion.  Hopefully this wasn't the last book but if it was then I wouldn't be too sad.  Although I do believe that Katie has many a more stories to tell and it would be nice to keep visiting her and everyone else in this lovely magical series.

A must read for any paranormal cozy mystery lovers but definitely something that both paranormal and cozy fans will enjoy and appreciate.  Cute but not too soft. Yummy but not too over the top.  Serious without being too dramatic.  I really love this series and look forward to more reads from this author.

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!

60) Where the Wild Things Bite by Molly Harper

The Blurb :

Delivering a rare book to a valued customer is definitely part of mild-mannered archivist Anna Winthrop's job description. You know what isn't? Protecting her precious cargo from mid-flight theft by the very pilot who is flying her to Half-Moon Hollow...while trying to appear as unappetizing as possible to the only other passenger, a vampire. Undead bookstore owner Jane Jameson could be waiting a very long time for her book. Possibly forever.

Fortunately, Anna's dashing fanged companion Finn Palmeroy helps her fend off the attack, but not before their plane crash lands in the forest hundreds of miles from civilization. Great, now she's stranded with a priceless tome and a rakish vampire whose bedtime is fast approaching. Why does everyone want this book so badly, anyway? Anna just wants to get it to Jane before Finn decides to turn her into dinner-or sweep her off her feet. Okay, the second option is really tempting. But they're not out of the woods yet...

My Thoughts :

I love Molly Harper's books and I couldn't wait to download the audio version of this new release.  The narrator is amazing and the stories are always enjoyable.  So what can else I say? Other than this was another fun and quirky installment in the Half-Moon Hollow series?  I can say you should be off reading it instead of reading this....

Once again there were hilarious moments, sarcastic wit and hot romance.  This time it was all about Anna and Finn but it was always implied that at some point the crew from Half-Moon Hollow would get involved.  So if you are a huge fan of Jane and the others, don't despair! They appear in the story but this one isn't located in the Hollow so you will have to be patient.

The author managed to come up with another great plot and introduce some wonderful characters.  I enjoyed listening to both of their stories and grew to like them a lot.  I just hope that we hear more about them in upcoming books because I fear they are going to be too far away for regular appearances.

If you haven't read any of Molly's books then you should really give them a try.  She has a great humour which works both on paper and on audio.  However I can highly recommend the audio versions because the narrator does a brilliant job bringing Molly's books to life.  If you have already read some or all of Molly's books then I expect it won't be long until you get to this one.  Don't wait too long though!

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!

50) Big Vamp on Campus by Molly Harper

The Blurb :

How will Ophelia adjust to living in a dorm room now that she has been banished from the Council and forced to matriculate at college with Jamie? Communal showers! Horrible, pretentious roommates! Humans who try to be FRIENDS! The horror!

My Thoughts :

I actually listened to this one last weekend but for some reason or another I didn't get around to posting a review.  So a week too late, I have to say, I still love Molly Harper!  I still love the Half-Moon Hollow Series and I can't wait for more!

Luckily the wait until the next book isn't too long but I am a little annoyed that this novella was released before the next novel.  Why?  Because apparently this short story takes place after the next novel.  Stupid order to release the books...but luckily it didn't make any difference.  Otherwise I would have been really mad.

As it was, this was all I have come to expect from the author and series.  Funny, witty and worth reading.  I love listening to this series because the narrator is just amazing.  Give me a review copy and I will still wait for the audio version to come out because the actress just brings the series to life.

I don't want to go into details regarding the story because it is a short one and it may give away too much of the plot.  I can say it is a must read for all fans of the series and a definite must read if you wanted to hear Ophelia's side of things.  Interesting and well written.  Love this author and series.