Cozy Mystery

Cozy Mystery Review – Off the Books by Lucy Arlington

~ Erika K ~ 2 Comments

Off the Books by Lucy Arlington
A Novel Idea Mystery, #5

Off the Books (Novel Idea, #5)

Goodreads description: 

Literary agent and amateur sleuth Lila Wilkins is back to seal the deal in the New York Times bestselling Novel Idea Mystery series.
 
Lila is showcasing some of her biggest authors at a bridal expo. But when the joyous event turns deadly, she’ll have to figure out who penned the perfect crime…
 
The Novel Idea Literary Agency has planned a wedding-themed week for Inspiration Valley, celebrating not only North Carolina’s best vendors but also some of the agency’s most popular bridal books. The fact that Lila can use the event to plan her own impending nuptials is just the icing on the cake.

But wedding bells turn to warning bells when Lila finds a dead man facedown in the frosting. Soon it’s discovered that the victim was connected to several Novel Idea authors, all of whom quickly become suspects in the case. It’s up to Lila and her fellow agents to find the real killer before one of their clients winds up scribbling stories from behind bars…

Genre: Cozy Mystery
My Rating: ***** 5 of 5 stars)

I have been lucky with my book choices lately, and this cozy mystery was another great read. I jumped in at book #5, but still felt a connection with the characters almost right away. You definitely don’t need to have read the first four books in the series before diving into this installment.

In Off the Books, Lila is helping prepare for a bridal expo jointly presented by an event organizer and the literary agency she works for. The event no sooner gets started than Lila, already nicknamed the “murder magnet” by some in town, finds yet another corpse. This one turns out to have been murdered in a way suggestive of scenes from two of her agency’s authors’ books. With A Novel Idea’s reputation at stake, Lila’s boss decides that the staff of the agency need to band together to find out who the real murderer is.

An unusual method of murder and a plethora of suspects kept me guessing until the end, and Lila’s personal life kept it interesting as well. I enjoyed getting to know the staff at A Novel Idea and Lila’s family and friends, and can’t wait to return to Inspiration Valley to learn more about them. I’ve already picked up book #1 in the series so that I can catch up.

I would highly recommend this one to all cozy mystery lovers, or to anyone who has ever thought about publishing a book (or is even a little bit curious about the process). I enjoyed the glimpses into Lila’s professional life – enough to give you a taste of a literary agent’s life but not bog down the story with too many details. 🙂

NOTE: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Excerpt and Giveaway (ENDED) – Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna by Maia Chance

~ Erika K ~ 4 Comments

Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna by Maia Chance

Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna (Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery, #3)

A Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery, #3

Genre: Cozy Mystery / Historical
My Rating – **** (4 of 5 stars)
Available 2/2/16

Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna is the 3rd book in the Fairy Tale Fatal series, set in 1867. I love cozies and historical fiction, and this story was a wonderful mix of the two. Variety hall actress Ophelia Flax finds herself at a hunting party in France, pretending to be someone she is not, and trying to figure out how to avoid getting herself married to the Compte de Griffe. When an unexpected guest turns up dead after a string of petty thefts, she must try to find both the thief and the killer to get herself out of more than one entanglement. I absolutely loved the colorful characters, the time period, and the setting in this story. I plan on going back soon to read this series from the start!

Today, I’m pleased to share an excerpt and Q&A with the author, as well as a chance to win your own copy of this fun cozy mystery! (US addresses only please!)

Continue reading →

#WAYRW – Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna by Maia Chance

~ Erika K ~ 6 Comments

participate, open the book you are currently reading to page 34 (or 34% in your ebook) and answer these three questions.

The Questions are:
1. What’s the name of your current read?

2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a complete sentence. (or two!)

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Now for my answers this week…

2. You may have noticed, but I’ve been on a cozy mystery kick for a while! 🙂
Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna by Maia Chance
Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna (Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery, #3)
Available 2/2/16 ~ I’m reading an advanced copy for an upcoming blog tour…

2. It was snowy, yes, but until the police came and went, she wouldn’t have a chance to break things off with Griffe. How could she simply sit still?

3. It would be fun to visit 1867 for a short time, but I wouldn’t want to stay there!

Now your turn – what are you currently reading?

 

 

WAYRW – Off the Books by Lucy Arlington

~ Erika K ~ 4 Comments

whatareyoureadingwed

What Are You Reading Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by It’s A Reading Thing. To participate, open the book you are currently reading to page 34 (or 34% in your ebook) and answer these three questions.

The Questions are:
1. What’s the name of your current read?

2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a complete sentence. (or two!)

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Now for my answers this week…

1. Off the Books by Lucy Arlington
Off the Books (Novel Idea #5)
A Novel Idea Mystery, #5

I received an advanced copy for review from the author, but you can pick up your own copy on 2/2!

2. Page 34 only contains about 1/2 of a paragraph at the end of a chapter, but here goes…

So I simply shrugged and turned away, busying myself with gathering files and paperwork I’d need for the status meeting. Behind me, I heard the scurried clicking of claws against the hardwood floors, then a loud hiss and a sharp doggie yelp, followed by Bentley’s own form of barking: “Ms. Crump, get that cat into the break room now!”

3. Inspiration Valley North Carolina sounds like my kind of place, with all the southern charm you’d expect from a town in a cozy mystery. I’m sure it would be a great place to live.

 

WAYRW – Murder on Wheels by Lynn Cahoon

~ Erika K ~ 7 Comments

whatareyoureadingwed

What Are You Reading Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by It’s A Reading Thing. To participate, open the book you are currently reading to page 34 (or 34% in your ebook) and answer these three questions.

The Questions are:
1. What’s the name of your current read?

2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a complete sentence. (or two!)

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Now for my answers this week…

1. Murder on Wheels by Lynn Cahoon
Watch for a guest post from the author along with my review in a couple of weeks!
Murder on Wheels (A Tourist Trap Mystery Book 6)
Tourist Trap Mystery #6

2. I put the cheesecake into boxes and rang up Darla’s purchase.  She used the Examiner credit card.  I guess she was on assignment with this one.

3. Yes, yes, yes! Right now especially, (It was -1 F when I left my house this morning) I would LOVE to live in South Cove, California! 🙂

 

I can’t wait to get farther into this cozy – I’m loving it so far. What are you reading this week?

 

Sweet Pepper Hero – Review / Giveaway (ENDED) / Blog Tour

~ Erika K ~ 5 Comments

 

SWEET PEPPER HERO large banner640

Hi everyone! I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for Sweet Pepper Hero, by J. J. Cook. Click the banner image above to go to the tour page where you will find links to all of the participating blogs. I was lucky enough to get a review copy of the book (see my thoughts below), and I get to give another copy away to one lucky reader! (US only, sorry) Link to the Rafflecopter giveaway (ENDED) is at the end of the review, so please keep reading…

Sweet Pepper Hero
by J.J. Cook

sweet peppet hero
Sweet Pepper Hero: A Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
Published by Penguin Random House, LLC.
Release Date: January 5, 2016
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425279236
E-Book ASIN: B00W2ZKNZ8
goodreads-badge-add-plus

Synopsis

Old rivalries heat up in the fourth Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade mystery from the national bestselling author of In Hot Water.

Fire chief Stella Griffin has been put in charge of judging the annual recipe contest, but Eric—her resident ghost and true culinary genius—has vanished. Before she can track down his latest haunt, she’s called in to investigate a local moonshine distillery that was set ablaze, making her realize there’s more than pies and cakes cooking in Sweet Pepper.

As rumors of a revived whiskey war ignite, Stella turns to the town’s elders to help her find answers. The past might have some clues as to what has sparked the present fires. But when following a lead lands her in buried rubble, Stella realizes she must extinguish this case fast or she might be going down in flames.

My Review:
**** (4 of 5 stars)

I really enjoyed this cozy! It was my first trip to Sweet Pepper Tennessee, even though this is book 4 in the series. There was plenty of explanation along the way regarding people and places, so I didn’t feel at all lost jumping in at this point.

In this story, Stella has to find her kidnapped ghost friend, Eric, and investigate a string of illegal still explosions and fires. There are an abundance of suspects, some within the police department itself, and as she gets too close to the truth, Stella finds her own life may be at risk.

I always enjoy a story with a strong, intelligent female lead character, and Stella fit the bill perfectly. She is not perfect, and needs her circle of volunteer firefighters, friends, and her ghost-roommate to keep her out of trouble, but she has a good head on her shoulders and does a decent job taking care of herself.

As with many cozy mysteries, Sweet Pepper Hero includes some great looking recipes in the back. Personally, I am a big fan of the sweet / hot combination of chocolate and chilis, so I can’t wait to give one of these a try!

Recipes include:
Chocolate Cookies with a Bite
Tennessee Whiskey Cake with Cherries
Lemon Habanero Cookies

GIVEAWAY: Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway (ENDED) for a chance to win a paperback copy – sorry, US addresses only.

About The Authors

J. J. Cook is a pseudonym for a married couple who writes mysteries, mostly set in the South, with a touch of paranormal and romance.

Author Links:
Webpage       Facebook      Twitter

Purchase Links:
Amazon     B&N     Google Play

#WAYRW -Sweet Pepper Hero by J.J. Cook

~ Erika K ~ 5 Comments

whatareyoureadingwed

What Are You Reading Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by It’s A Reading Thing. To participate, open the book you are currently reading to page 34 (or 34% in your ebook) and answer these three questions.

The Questions are:
1. What’s the name of your current read?

2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a complete sentence. (or two!)

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Now for my answers this week…

1. Sweet Pepper Hero by J.J. Cook

sweet peppet hero
Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery Book #4

2. When Eric had been there, the door had always been open for her when she got home and the porch light was on.

She realized that she didn’t expect to see him anymore. He’d been gone so long, it almost seemed like a weird dream that he’d been there at all.

3. I think Sweet Pepper Tennessee sounds like a great place, if you overlook the murder and arson going on! 🙂 It’s also close to Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, which I love. Overall, yes, I would like to live there.

I’m part of the blog tour for this newly released cozy! Be sure to come back tomorrow to read more about it and enter a giveaway to win a paperback copy.

Top Ten Halloween Themed Cozy Mysteries

~ Erika K ~ 29 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday they post a new Top Ten list prompt. This week’s list is a Halloween Freebie. I do enjoy reading spooky books at this time of year, but I also love to read fall themed cozies. I always have a stack of cozy mysteries on my night stand – I find them to be somewhat quick reads, and usually very enjoyable. With that said, here’s my list of the Top Ten Halloween Themed Cozy Mysteries. Let me know if you have a favorite Halloween mystery (cozy or not!) or leave a link to your top ten post in the comments.

Continue reading →

Audiobook Review – By Book or by Crook by Eva Gates

~ Erika K ~ 6 Comments

By Book or by Crook – Eva Gates
Read by Elise Arsenault
By Book or By Crook (Lighthouse Library Mystery #1)
Lighthouse Library #1

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: **** (4 of 5 stars)

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of book #2 in this series (Booked for Trouble) to review a while ago. I enjoyed the book, so I decided to go back to the beginning while the series is still young!

In By Book or By Crook, we meet Lucy Richardson, a librarian who has moved from Boston to the Outer Banks area to escape both her mother and a relationship that she doesn’t see a future in. She has family, an aunt, uncle, and cousins, in the area, and her aunt introduces her to the head librarian at the Bodie Island public library. Soon Lucy has a new job and a new home – an apartment on the top floor of the lighthouse in which the library resides.

At a reception to celebrate the arrival of a collection of first edition Jane Austen novels for display at the library, a member of the board is found dead in the rare books room. Soon afterwards, the first editions begin disappearing one-by-one from their display case. With Bertie, the head librarian, suspected of the crimes, Lucy and the rest of the library staff do some investigating on their own to clear Bertie’s name and protect the remainder of the Jane Austen novels.

I enjoyed this book, but I had to keep reminding myself that this story took place before Booked for Trouble. There is a bit of a love triangle (one of my least favorite tropes, but not too bad yet) going on in book number two that is just developing in this first book. It was fun to go back and see how Lucy met all of the recurring characters from the second story, and to see that her sense of justice has been there right from the beginning. I will definitely be reading Lucy’s future adventures.

While the narrator does a good job with her not-too-Southern accent throughout, I wasn’t thrilled with her pacing while reading. If you’re thinking of giving this series a try, print would be the way to go.