86) Pressed to Death by Kirsten Weiss

The Blurb :

Perfectly pressed. Perfectly proper. Perfectly deadly.

Paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski thinks she has the perfect paranormal exhibit for the harvest festival—a haunted grape press. But before she can open the exhibit, she’s accused of stealing the antique press. And when her accuser is found murdered, all eyes turn to Maddie.

Solving the crime is the last thing on Maddie’s mind, but her mother insists she investigate. Does her mother have a secret agenda? And why has the local charity, Ladies Aid, seemingly gone gangster?

In this light, cozy mystery, haunted houses, runaway wine barrels, and murder combine in a perfect storm of chaos. Facing down danger and her own over-active imagination, Maddie must unearth the killer before she becomes the next ghost to haunt her museum.

My Thoughts :

Sorry for the silence.  I had to go on a business trip and it was all very short notice and not a lot of internet.  Also didn't get to read much either!  However I did finish this book before I left but I just didn't get a chance to write about it.  So after nearly two weeks I am finally able to write a little about the book. Not much though, because I realised now that this one doesn't release until next year!  For some reason I thought it released this month so I was a little premature with reading this and don't want to give anything away!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and was really looking forward to the next installment.  However I have to say straight away that this sequel, although good, wasn't as good as the debut.  I can't really put my finger on why but there was something that didn't sit right the whole time I was reading it.

Once again there was an interesting enough mystery.  It was a little far fetched but the plot was ok and kept me interested.  The whole Ladies Aid angle seemed a little unnecessary but it gave the reader a chance to get to know some of the characters better and added some strength to the story.  I really was annoyed with the Mason plot.  It may have added another mystery to the story but in my honest opinion it was too soon in the series to go that route already.

While the paranormal aspect of the series is still a little 'up in the air' I found that this time it wasn't as well written.  I liked the whole idea but there wasn't much of the paranormal to deal with and it was all circumstance.  The murder mystery was readable and nice and cozy but I expected something better after the debut book.  This one seemed like it was patch worked together from many ideas without having a clear decision on how it would look in the end.

I still want to keep reading this series.  There are some great cozies out there and there are always room for more.  Especially paranormal ones.  I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with for book three and hope that she finds another interesting story to base a murder mystery and paranormal mystery on.  Maybe less drama and more stability is needed but for now I am happy and will keep reading.

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!

79) Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris

The Blurb :


Lightning-struck sleuth Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver take a break from looking for the dead to visit the two little girls they both think of as sisters. But, as always happens when they travel to Texas, memories of their horrible childhood resurface...

To make matter worse, Tolliver learns from his older brother that their father is out of jail and trying to reestablish contact with other family members. Tolliver wants nothing to do with the man - but he may not have a say in the matter.

Soon, family secrets ensnare them both, as Harper finally discovers what happened to her missing sister, Cameron, so may years before.

And what she finds out will change her world forever...

My Thoughts :

I read the whole Harper Connolly series back when it released.  However I have a thing with Charlaine Harris and always end up reading her books again but via Audible.  Why?  One reason is that she has been graced by the audio book gods and always has amazing narrators.  Another reason is that her books are just so good they are worth reading again.  Especially when the series is over and you can binge listen to them.

The Harper Connolly series was always hard to get hold of on Audio but I noticed a while ago that they had become available and I couldn't wait to revisit the series.  Despite having read the whole series I found that I had forgotten so much about all the books.  I knew the general story about Harper and the lightning strike, what happened after, her abilities, her family and so on but the details that I had completely disappeared were the mysteries from each book.  The plots came across, in most instances as completely new.  Sounds bad in a way but it meant that this second visit to the series was even more fun.

This fourth and last book in the series tied up the loose ends.  As everything started to come together there is a sense of shock but relief as Harper finally finds out what happened to her sister all those years ago and more surprisingly finds out she lost another family member around the same time.  She just didn't know.

In Grave Secret is all about family.  Harper and Tolliver go back to their hometown to visit some family, both welcome and unwelcome.  People get hurt and people die.  It is dim at times but the story is compelling and has a story you can't give up on.  Especially if you have read the rest of the series.

Charlaine Harris recently released a new Aurora Teagarden Mystery and I have to wonder if she will do the same for her other series.  It would be nice to catch up with Harper and Tolliver.  See how they are doing.  Maybe a collection of short stories.  Other cases they have worked on.  I feel like Harper's ability keeps filling their lives with mysteries.

A great series, interesting characters and an unique paranormal twist.  Well worth reading.  Definitely worth listening to.

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.  

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.

66) An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris

The Blurb :

Hired to find a boy gene missing in Doraville, North Carolina, Harper Connelly and her brother Tolliver head there, only to discover that the boy was the only one left of several who had disappeared over the previous five years. All of them teenagers. All unlikely runaways.

All calling for Harper.

Harper soon finds them—eight victims, buried in the half-frozen ground, all come to an unspeakable end. Afterward, what she most wants to do is collect her fee and get out of town ahead of the media storm that's soon to descend. But when she's attacked and prevented from leaving, she reluctantly becomes a part of the investigation as she learns more than she cares to about the dark mysteries and long-hidden secrets of Doraville—knowledge that makes her the next person likely to rest in an ice-cold grave.

My Thoughts :

August hasn't been a great month for reading any kind of Kindle or physical books.  However I am doing pretty well on the audio book front.  All fans of Charlaine Harris will of, like me, have already read the Harper Connelly series but Charlaine Harris has managed to achieve something that rarely happens.  I want to read her books again.  So far I have read listened to all the Sookie Stackhouse, Aurora Teagarden, Midnight and Lily Bard books so I only have the Harper Connelly ones left.  Yes I have read all of them before but the audio books are so good!

I only just listened to the second book in the series, Grave Surprise the other week.  While I have many other books to listen to I just couldn't resist this third installment.  Just like the second book, I couldn't really remember anything about what happened.  It has been a long time since I read An Ice Cold Grave and the majority of the plot was forgotten long ago.  Which made listening to this one even more interesting.

As with all other books by Charlaine Harris it was a great listen and once again a pleasure to read.  The series is unusual, exciting and keeps you guessing until the end.  I was happy see Manfred again in this third book.  A character who also appears in the Midnight series. Most of the characters from Midnight have made appearances in other books but they have been forgotten over the years. One thing I didn't forget is Harper and Tolliver changing their relationship status.  You can see it coming throughout the series but it was still an interesting development.

I am looking forward to listening to next and final book in the series.  I really can't remember why this series stopped after the fourth book but with a new Aurora Teagarden installment due for release soon maybe there will also be a new Harper Connolly book sometime in the future.

64) Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

The Blurb :

When I was fifteen, I was struck by a bolt of lightning through an open window of the trailer where we lived...I recovered, mostly. I have a strange spiderweb pattern of red on my torso and right leg, which has episodes of weakness. Sometimes my right hand shakes. I have headaches. I have many fears. And I can find dead people. That was the part that interested the professor...

At the request of anthropology professor Dr. Clyde Nunley, Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver come to Memphis to give a demonstration of Harper's unique talent. And what better place to have that demonstration than in a very old cemetery?

Dr. Nunley doesn't bother to hide his skepticism, especially when Harper stands atop a grave and senses two bodies beneath her - one of a centuries-dead man and the other of a young girl, recently deceased. When the grave is opened, Harper's claim is proven true.

The dead girl is Tabitha Morgenstern, an eleven-year-old abducted from Nashville two years previously - a child whom Harper had tried, and failed, to find. The coincidence raises suspicions about her among the police - so she and Tolliver undertake their own hunt to find the killer. They make a nocturnal visit to the cemetery, hoping that Harper can sense something further about the murder.

And then, the next morning, a third dead body is found in the grave...

My Thoughts :

Any fans of Charlaine Harris will of, like me, have already read this series.  However Charlaine Harris has managed to achieve something that no other author has.  She has me going back to re-read or at least to listen to her books again.  I have read nearly all of her books and slowly but surely I have been listening to them all too.  I have already read and listened to all the Sookie Stackhouse, Aurora Teagarden, Midnight and Lily Bard books so I only have the Harper Connelly ones left.

Grave Surprise is the second book in the series and even though I definitely read it when it releases, I couldn't remember anything about it while I listened to it.  Sure this book was released ten years ago and a lot has happened since then but I expected to at least remember some of the plot.  Which I didn't.

The book was a great listen and once again a pleasure to read.  The series is unusual and exciting with some interesting details.  I was pleasantly surprised to meet Manfred in this book.  A character who also appears in the Midnight series.  I know a lot of the characters from Midnight have made appearances in other books but some of them have been long forgotten over the years.  So I love putting those pieces together.

I can't wait to listen to the next book in the series.  Luckily they all seem to be available on Audible and I can revisit the series in full.  Well worth the listen, the narrator does a great job of bringing the series to life and I look forward to hearing her voice again soon.

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.

58) A Toxic Trousseau by Juliet Blackwell

The Blurb :

Even the most skilled sorceress can’t ward off a lawsuit, and Lily is not at her enchanting best with her hands full as the temporary leader of San Francisco's magical community. So after her potbellied pig Oscar head-butts rival clothier Autumn Jennings, Lily tries to make peace without a costly personal injury case.

But any hope of a quiet resolution is shattered when Autumn turns up dead. As one of the prime suspects, Lily searches for a way to clear her name and discovers a cursed trousseau among Autumn’s recently acquired inventory. Lily must deal with a mysterious dogwalker and spend the night in a haunted house as she delves into the trunk’s treacherous past. She’s got to figure out who wanted to harm Autumn fast, before the curse claims another victim…

My Thoughts :

The Witchcraft Mysteries are an old favourite of mine and I can't believe this is already the eighth installment!  Juliet Blackwell is one of the best Paranormal Cozy Mystery writers and this series, as well as her other, have been keeping me happy for years!  I really look forward to the books and A Toxic Trousseau was one of my favourites so far in the series.

It seems things are heating up in the series and there are a few things that happen in this latest installment that are obviously setting the scene for things to come.  Maybe the next book will tie everything up and see the series coming to an end but I really hope it is just the beginning of the storm to come.  Fans of the series will have a squee moment next the end and right at the end a wow moment.  Also right from the beginning there is a certain mystery regarding a satchel that doesn't get explained completely but offers some interesting twists to the story as a whole.

Dog lovers will be happy with this book because they four legged pooches are everywhere.  There is also some great history tidbits and of course a very exciting mystery, a haunted house and Oscar shenanigans!  Everything that I have come to expect and enjoy from the series and this author with some wonderful characters and a lovely location.

Well worth reading if you like your cozies to have a paranormal twist.  Also worth reading if you just like cozies or witches.  There is something for both here.  Can't wait for the next installment!  It should be very very interesting if all that happened in the last few chapters of a Toxic Trousseau is anything to go by!

55) A Hiss-tory of Magi by Harper Lin

The Blurb :

Cath Greenstone, her cousin Bea, and her hippie aunt Astrid live in Wonder Falls, a small town near the mystical Niagara Falls. They run the Brew-Ha-Ha café, and naturally, they’re witches hiding in plain sight along with their three magical cats, Treacle, Peanut Butter, and Marshmallow.

When Brew-Ha-Ha's baker is burnt to a crisp, along with their beloved café, Aunt Astrid lets out a big family secret: a powerful spell book, a Greenstone heirloom from the Salem days, has been stolen from its secret hiding spot in the café. If it’s fallen into the wrong hands, black magic could destroy not only Wonder Falls but the world.

A secret society… A new detective with a shady past… A once-bullied local returning to town as a multimillionaire.

Who in town could know Cath’s family secret? Cath, Bea, and Astrid must use their witch powers to uncover the deadly truth. Cath communicates with their cats, also magically inclined, and they help uncover more than one secret lurking in wonderful Wonder Falls.

My Thoughts :

This book has been on my radar for a while and on my Kindle waiting for me.  As part of a challenge to read some of those older to be read books on the pile, this book was picked for me to read in the month of July and I managed to be pretty punctual about it!

A Hiss-tory in Magic is the debut book in the Wonder Cats Mysteries and I have to say I really enjoyed it.  There was a great combination of magic, cats and mystery to keep me hooked until the very end and I found myself reading this one really quickly.  Actually it was just one morning of curled up in bed with this one, it was that lovely.

Not a totally new concept, witches, cats and all but this series certainly has some nice little twists here and there to keep it feeling fresh.  Also the lovely characters and cats made this one even more enjoyable to read and I can't wait to read more in the series.

Well worth checking out if you love a good paranormal cozy mystery and also a nice quick read for your Summer reading pile.  I am sure I will be reading the next book in the series very soon!

54) Looking for Mr. Good Witch by Joyce & Jim Lavene

The Blurb :

A sea witch has been leaving bodies in her wake up and down the Carolina coast, baffling authorities who are finding drowning victims with no water in their lungs. The fin-icky female will continue to kill young male witches until she finds her perfect man—the one who survives her mating ritual—so she can live for another hundred years. And now coven hopeful Brian Fuller is about to be ensnared in her net.

Retired witches Molly and Elsie, along with the ghost of Olivia and her daughter Dorothy, need all the help they can get to stop the sea witch. Aided by a selkie and a crème puff–craving mermaid, they’re determined to keep Brian out of her murky clutches. But are they all about to get in over their heads?

My Thoughts :

It was sad to read this second book in the Retired Witches Mysteries and know that both authors have passed away in the last year.  They have written so many amazing cozy mysteries and I haven't even read half of them.  I even thought about not reading this one because I was sure there would be no third installment.  However there is a third part listed for release on Amazon so I decided to read this one asap.

Now I don't remember really liking the first installment and I can't honestly say I loved this second installment.  The content and concept is good but there is some kind of fluency missing that I am used to from this husband and wife writing team.  I often felt like the story jumped/had gaps and I also kept forgetting how old the witches are supposed to be.  It is a good series but this hasn't been one of the best.

The plot this time around was interesting and it kept me reading until the end but the ciffhanger ending made me glad that I checked to see if there was indeed a third installment.  Of course I will be checking out, what is most likely the last installment in this series but I have to say that the Missing Pieces series is much better.  Although I haven't read all there other books yet and may find another favourite.

One thing is for sure, even if this isn't my personal favourite, both writers had a gift and it will be greatly missed.  Make sure you check out there books.  Definitely one of the best cozy mystery writers!

39) Watch for the Dead by Sheila Connolly

The Blurb :

Looking to take a break from busy home renovations, Abby and boyfriend Ned Newhall jump at the chance to vacation on Cape Cod. Not only do they plan to get away from the dust and grime, but since Abby has no known ancestors in the area, the trip promises to be free of the unsettling ghostly appearances that have darkened her recent days.

Dreams of a relaxing vacation are soon dashed, however, when a storm blows in and brings with it a scene from the past more disturbing than any Abby has ever experienced. The long-dead woman who appears to Abby is someone she’s met before, but this time her presence defies any explanation at all.

Determined to unravel the mystery of the woman’s recurring appearances, Abby follows a trail of family history and upheaval that spans generations and may yield the biggest revelation of all, not just about Abby’s ancestors but about her living relatives as well.

My Thoughts :

I have been enjoying this series ever since I came across it on Netgalley.  This fourth installment has been on my Kindle for a while but for some reason or another has continuously been bumped down my to be read pile.  So yesterday I finally decided it was high time to read this one and read it within a day.  I just couldn't put it down.

What I really love about this series is how unusual it is.  There is a amazing well thought out paranormal twist that I haven't come across before.  This aspect of the series has been developing with each book and this fourth part in the series offers up even more interesting and strange revelations in regards to the appearances that Abby and the others witness.

The other part of this series that I love is the genealogy.  Keeping track of everyone is sometimes a little hard and confusing but with each book I find myself always remembering everything from the previous installments.  Which is definitely due to Sheila's wonderful writing skills because this is something that I usually have trouble with.  The mystery of Abby's gift tied with the family history is an addictive story and I can't get enough.  Also the way that Ned and other the characters involved twist into the story is just wonderful reading.

I can't wait to see what happens next and look forward to discovering more about Abby's gift and her ancestors.  I hope the author doesn't make us wait long for the next part especially because this one felt like it ended very abruptly.  I just wasn't prepared for that to be it.  I am really hooked.

This isn't your usual cozy mystery but it is an amazing trail of clues that Abby is following.  Historical aspects included this is a must read series for me and definitely like nothing else I have read.  I hope one day to have more time and to read some of the authors other books/series.  She really is a talented writer.

36) Gone With The Witch by Heather Blake

The Blurb :

Darcy and her dog Missy are determined to put their best foot forward at the Enchanted Village’s annual Pawsitively Enchanted pet contest. She’s happy to lend a hand when the show’s organizer hires Darcy to keep an eye on things among growing suspicions that someone is sabotaging the event. But Darcy’s quest for justice is thrown off the scent when her lead suspect is found dead at the competition.

As if a murder weren’t bad enough, someone begins snatching up prize-winning pets right from under their owners’ noses. Darcy is determined to protect the pampered participants at whatever cost. But she’ll have to work fast to sniff out the thief before she becomes the next victim of a killer determined to stop her dead in her tracks...

My Thoughts :

I have been throughly enjoying this series since it started and this sixth installment was just as good as all the previous ones.  With some very interesting twists and turns, all fans of this series will be excited about the surprises this new release in the series holds.  I have known for a while who the Elder is, and maybe you have too, but this book sees the reveal being made and there are some other interesting developments too.

Now I won't go into the plot or spoil any of the surprises.  I will just say that this one is well worth reading if you have been enjoying the series.  The character development continues and the magical aspect widens.  The story flows and the mystery is interesting.  I found that I couldn't put this book down for long and finished it in record time and it was finally one of those books that really enjoyed and couldn't be distracted from.

Anyone who likes cozy mysteries and enjoys a paranormal twist will love this series.  Start from the beginning to follow the on-going story and magic.  If you just like cozies then still give this one a try.  Heather Blake writes intriguing mysteries and the magic isn't too over the top.  Actually this Wishcrafter installment was lacking in wishes but that doesn't mean there was enough spells going on.

Can't wait for the next installment and any other cozies this author releases.  She has a lovely style and great characters.  One of my favourites.

35) Final Catcall by Sofie Kelly

The Blurb :

Small-town librarian Kathleen Paulson gets plenty of entertainment from her extraordinary cats, Owen and Hercules. But when a theatre troupe stumbles into more tragedy than it bargained for, it’s up to Kathleen to play detective....

With her sort-of boyfriend Marcus calling it quits and her ex-boyfriend Andrew showing up out of the blue, Kathleen has more than enough drama to deal with—and that’s before a local theatre festival relocates to Mayville Heights. Now the town is buzzing with theatre folk, and many of them have their own private dramas with the director, Hugh Davis.

When Davis is found shot to death by the marina, he leaves behind evidence of blackmail and fraud, as well as an ensemble of suspects. Now Kathleen, with a little help from her feline friends Owen and Hercules, will have to catch the real killer before another victim takes a final curtain call.

My Thoughts :

Final Catcall is the fifth installment in the Magical Cats Mysteries.  While the fourth book wasn't my favourite of the bunch, I have to say that this one was even worse.  Now it wasn't bad, should have given up and I am writing a bad review but the series started off better, the plot this time around was boring and I kept losing interest.

As this series continues I have to wonder why this is labeled with the series name 'Magical Cats' because despite there being two cats that are a little magical, they are absent most of the story and hardly do anything.  The whole magical cat angle hasn't been explored, in my opinion, to its full potential and the series title is slightly misleading.  There are two things that have kept me coming back for more, one being the 'will they or won't they' in regards to Kathleen and Marcus and the other is the expectation regarding the Magical Cats.

This time around the murder mystery plot was slightly boring but it was nice to have Kathleen's mother come visit.  Although I felt the story ended without closing that aspect of the story.  Also the appearance of someone from Kathleen's past was interesting, especially with her decision of whether she wants to stay Mayville Heights or not still not decided.  There was enough in the story to keep me going but Final Catcall was weak plot wise

I will keep up with the series, I do enjoy listening to this one,  However I think I will take a little break and come back in a few months.

34) A Watery Death by Joyce & Jim Lavene

The Blurb :

It’s the Fourth of July weekend in Duck, North Carolina and twenty-thousand visitors are on hand to enjoy the parade, the festivities – and learn about the murder of Captain Bill Lucky.
Lucky is the captain of the new gambling ship, Andalusia II, which is modeled after the famous ghost ship that haunts the small town on the Outer Banks.

Whispers of unusual sea creatures surround Lucky’s death. It isn’t the first time that mermaids have been seen in Duck, but it’s the first time one of them has been accused of murder.

Mayor Dae O’Donnell has her hands full with setting up the parade, convincing her friend Trudy she shouldn’t call off her wedding, and getting her shop, Missing Pieces, ready for the summer crowd.

Dae doesn’t ask to be involved in Lucky’s death, but she can’t ignore it. If someone from the sea isn’t his killer, who is? And will he or she strike again to lay the blame on the town’s watery visitors?

My Thoughts :

This book was picked for me to read by a book friend as part of a little 'Pick it for me' reading challenge we are having each month.  A Watery Death is the seventh installment in the Missing Pieces cozy mystery series that I have been throughly enjoying up until now.  I have to start this review by saying that this was my least favourite of the bunch and it makes me sad to think that this could have been the last.

I really liked the concept of this series, being able to touch items and see their past and being able to find items by touching the owner.  There were lots of possibilities and the authors even spread their wings a little by adding some ghost like aspects and some other psychic twists.  However this seventh story took a huge leap from the small little paranormal going-ons by jumping to mermaids.  Something that definitely wasn't on the cards as far as I could tell but if it was coming I didn't expect right now.  As mentioned, it felt like a huge leap.

The location and characters still felt nice and welcoming but there was more off in this book than just the appearance of some mermaids.  Dae was a little annoying, for the first time I can remember and the whole thing with her grandma felt a little off too.  The mystery was weak and wasn't as compelling as the previous ones plus I found the ending/reveal to be too late and too quick.

Despite the less than raving review I have to say I did like the book and enjoyed reading it.  Mainly because I have always been fond of the series as a whole.  Unfortunately the wife of this writing couple passed away and I am not sure if there will be another Missing Pieces story to bring the series to a proper end.  It would be a shame to see the series finish on this book but obviously it is understandable.  I do hold out hope of one more release, maybe there was already an eighth installment written or the husband will finish the series himself.

Whatever happens, this is a lovely cozy mystery series and well worth reading.  I have enjoyed all the books I have read by this writing team and look forward to reading more of their books and hope the husband will continue writing.

Edit : I just found out that Jim Lavene passed away a couple of days ago.  As least they are together again! The cozy mystery genre has lost two of the best!

27) Breach of Crust by Ellery Adams

The Blurb :

Ella Mae LeFaye’s delicious pies are still drawing long lines—as well as the attention of Beatrice Burbank, president of the Camellia Club, a philanthropic organization comprised of high-society Southern ladies from the charming and affluent town of Sweet Briar, Georgia. To ensure the success of their centennial dessert cookbook, Bea hires Ella Mae to teach the tasty tricks of her trade to the club’s members at their annual retreat. Eager to work on new recipes for customers with food allergies and dietary restrictions, Ella Mae readily agrees.

But when Ella Mae finds Bea’s body floating in Lake Havenwood, she wonders what she’s gotten herself mixed up in. Someone certainly wanted Bea to eat humble pie, and the retreat offers no shortage of unsavory characters, including Ella Mae’s longtime nemesis, Loralyn Gaynor. Ella Mae definitely doesn’t need magic to tell her she must find the killer before someone else gets panned.

My Thoughts :

I will start off this review by saying that I really love this cozy author.  She has some amazing paranormal cozies under her belt and also some great regular cozies too.   I have enjoyed all of her books so far and I actually have a couple more of her books on my to be read pile that need my attention.  However I picked this one to read first because I have always enjoyed the series.

This time around I have to say I wasn't as impressed as I have been with the previous books.  I wasn't too happy with how the last installment ended but this latest release (which comes out next week) wasn't my favourite so far.  There was a severe lack of the magical and a very dragged out mystery that wasn't very exciting.

While I did enjoy reading more of Ellery Adams work I have to say that the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries are not turning out to be what I hoped.  The first few books were excellent but now the series seems to be taking a weird turn.  Despite having a lovely ending, some lovely characters and a nice location, Breach of Crust fell short of my expectations and I feel sad having to write not so positive review.

A nice read but not as good as some of Ellery's other books.  Make sure you check out this installment if you have been following the series.  Maybe I didn't enjoy it but that doesn't mean nobody else will.  Also make sure you check out some of the books by this author.  She can write a great cozy and they all prove that.