Review: All-Butter Shortdead (Prequel. Oxford Tearoom Mystery Book 0) by H.Y. Hanna

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All-Butter Short Dead is the story of how Gemma comes back to Oxford and sets up her lovely new business, The Little Stables Tearoom.  There is also, of course, murder afoot! Gemma is the prime suspect when the mysterious stranger that she sat next to and befriended on her plane ride home is murdered. It's now up to her to clear her name and find out who the real killer is! 

Whether you read this prequel before you actually start the series, in the middle of it, or after you've finished the current installment it truly does not matter.  It can be read as a standalone book and won't ruin anything in the series.

I was really excited when I received this book! I'm already a huge fan of the series (as you know!) and this peek into how everything came about was just my cup of tea. It was fun reading the history of how things actually started, and some insight into how her relationship with "The Old Biddies" started, and of her first meeting of good old Muesli :) 

As with Hanna's other books in the series, there are lots of great laugh out loud moments and I did not want the story to end.  It's a great little story to tide me over until the next book is released, which I am looking forward to immensely! 

*This book was being offered by H.Y. Hanna free at the time of posting. I don't know how long it is going to be free so head on over and download it and get started!*

Review: Grilled For Murder (Country Store Mysteries #2) by Maddie Day

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Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.  

Grilled For Murder by Maddie Day is the 2nd book in the Country Store Mystery Series. In the small town of South Lick, Indiana, Robbie Jordan has turned a run down store into a wonderful, successful restaurant in which she also sells retro cookware called Pans n Pancakes.  She's stayed open late to cater a welcome home party for Erica, but the next morning when Erica turns up dead... in the STORE!... it's up to Robbie to figure out who hated Erica enough to commit the crime, and there is no shortage of suspects! 

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery it really has everything that a good cozy should!  There are some really great characters, a wonderful small town setting and a great mystery that will just keep you guessing! I loved the local dialect, I admit it did take a bit of getting used to, but that's part of what makes the characters unique.  I wanted to read it as quick as I could, but at the same time I wanted to slow down. I wanted to know what happened, but just didn't want the story to end.  

I liked this book so much that I went online right as I finished it, and purchased the first book in the series "Flipped For Murder"  If you are a cozy mystery fan, I definitely recommend this series, you won't be disappointed! 

Review: Two Down, Bun To Go by H.Y. Hanna

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(If you missed my reviews of the previous 2 books in the series, you can find them HERE and HERE)

If you are looking for a fantastic cozy mystery series to read, look no further! 

Two Down, Bun To Go is the third installment of the Oxford Tearoom Mystery Series by H.Y. Hanna.  

Right from the start, you are drawn into the book with Hanna's excellent story telling, well rounded characters and laugh out loud moments.  

Gemma gets a strange late night phone call from her friend, Seth... begging, pleading with her to help him.  Of course she has to help Seth, they've been friends forever!  As it turns out, Seth ends up being arrested for murder (but.. he could never commit murder... or... could he??) and who ends up being assigned to the case, none other than  CID Devlin O'Connor!  Gemma begins looking for clues to the real murderer (no matter what Devlin says!) and of course the "Old Biddies" are there to lend a helping hand.  Gemma has her hands full, with Museli getting into mischief, trying to find a new baking chef for the tearoom, trying to solve a murder mystery all while trying to figure out her love life since she's caught between two wonderful men.  

This series just gets better and better with each book. As usual, I was completely drawn in to the story and loved revisiting some of my favourite characters.  I really do love the "Old Biddies" and can picture them holding court in Gemma's tearoom.  The relationship between Gemma and her mother is hilarious as ever and doesn't disappoint.  As for the mystery, I wasn't able to piece together the whodunnit until quite late in the book, and there isn't a shortage of suspects or twists to keep you wondering. There were some moments where I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen, it got pretty intense!  During the entire book, I was wanting to read faster to see what was going to happen, all the while wanting to read slower because I didn't want it to end. Another fabulous book!  

I recommend this to anyone who loves a good cozy mystery, you will not be disappointed! I look forward to the next installment in the series. 

Thank you to H.Y. Hanna for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.  

Review: Killer Takeout by Lucy Burdette

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First off, thank you to NetGalley. I received an ARC of this book for an honest and unbiased review. I am glad that I was approved for this book, I really enjoyed it!  I honestly just tore right through it, I'd started it before bed and woke up early to finish it first thing in the morning. 

When I had started reading it, I didn't realize that this was actually the 7th book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery Series. That being said, it didn't really matter that I read it out of order. The book did refer to a few things from past books, but nothing that made me feel like I was out of the loop or I missed something important that was necessary for the story that I was reading. 

Haley Snow is a foodie who writes a food critic column, along with a few other things, for a magazine called Key Zest on the island of Key West.  It's Fantasy Fest Week, and the island is just hopping with tourists joining in on all of the crazy activities... zombie bike ride, body painting, and pet parade just to name a few! Haley's friend, Danielle, is elected the Queen of Fantasy Fest and is soon involved in an altercation with one of the women who were also vying for the crown.  When she turns up dead, Haley starts asking questions.. she needs to help Danielle prove her innocence, all the while covering events her work, having her mother in town who is getting married, and dealing with the threat of a hurricane! 

The story was very well written, and I loved the characters. The descriptions made me feel like I was there at the events, and I wanted to be, it sounded like so much fun! (Except the whole body painting stuff, definitely not for me! haha)  The mystery wasn't easy to solve at all. I did end up figuring it out partially, but it was really far into the story and I still got part of it wrong! All in all, definitely a huge 2 thumbs up. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, you need to add this to your 'to be read' list.  I need to go back to book one and catch up on all the stories I missed! 

This is the first book that I've read by this author, but it definitely will not be the last! 

Book Review: A Tale Of Two Biddies by Kylie Logan

Well, I actually wrote a review on my goodreads page about this book. I feel like I should be writing reviews more. I always want to, and I always mean to.. but it always falls by the way side.

I did enjoy this book, there were a few twists I wasn't quite expecting. If you decide to read this book you really must read the first in the series titled "Mayhem At The Orient Express"  It explains why these women of different backgrounds are spending time together, and how it all came to be.

I didn't post the review itself on the webpage yet, I'm still throwing the idea around of having a separate section for reviews. But it's really just for me. Feel free to read, comment or share your opinions as well if you read or have read any of the books that I have. Or if you have a suggestion for a book or an author, I'm all for it!

What book to start next... I've got 13 library books on the shelf at the end of my bed. I think it's easy to say that it will be 1 of those.. since I have 3 other books on request from the library. I need to get my butt in gear!

The Whirlwind Continues

So I seem to be on a huge reading kick, which really is wonderful since I am more than 20 books behind on my goal to read 100 books this year. Yesterday we went for a nice long drive and I brought along the latest book to capture my attention called "Button Holed"
I know the saying is "Don't judge a book by it's cover" but I actually do. I can usually tell by the title of the book along with the cover design if it's a book that I am going to enjoy or not. Don't get me wrong, I will still read the descriptions of the books and read the first page or so to see if it grabs me, but a clever title and an interesting cover design will get me every time. Especially with a cozy mystery. They are the cutest!
ANYWAY... the story is about Jo, an expert button collector and the murder that happens in her shop. The beginning pages captured me right away and I was hooked. As it turns out, I got an email from my library that I had a book requested and it was there waiting for me and it was one of the next books in the series. So on the drive (I was the passenger NOT the driver don't worry!) I finished "Button Holed" and even started the other book that I had with me.

I seriously need to update my goodreads page with reviews and such, and I will be creating a new shelf for 'what I've got on loan from the library' to keep track. I think I currently have 14 books out!

Happy reading!

The "Cozy Mystery" Genre

I often talk about the books that I often like to read, a nice light read, mysteries, no blood and gore, just a nice story.. I've discovered that they actually have a name, silly me!  And all this time I just called them nice fluffy reads ;)  They are called Cozy Mysteries, and us Cozy Mystery lovers are described on a site that I have come to love and find lots of new authors to try.. as " intelligent women looking for a 'fun read' that engages the mind as well as provides entertainment...something to look forward to getting back into"

Well, I will accept her description as an intelligent woman :)  You really must check out this website for some new authors:

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/

A Delayed Update

I've been quite sick for a bit and haven't really been able to update anything. So I've been on a huge reading spree, I've read at least 6 books since my last update here and have 3 more on the go. I am also battling a short attention span, I am having great difficulty getting into longer books. Which I need to break free of, there are so many books that I want to read...

I've been captured by another new author that I have tried reading, her name is Elizabeth Lynn Casey and she writes "The Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries"  (She also writes under the name Laura Bradford which I will also have to investigate) I have already read her first book titled "Sew Deadly" and have jumped into "Death Threads" and if it is as enjoyable as the first, I will be a very happy reader. I do like that the author includes the directions to sew the project that the main character is working on in her sewing circle. If this series sounds like it might tweak your interest and you would like to read more about the author, her blog can be found by clicking ~~HERE~~

I have updated my goodreads read/currently reading shelf and will update everything else shortly. I need to get back into this book and see what is going on next. And I still have to pick out my classic read for this month.
And I have 2 library books due back this week and have been so involved in my other series I have neglected to read them. So.. back to my reading corner to snuggle up with a mug of hot chicken soup, a nice blanket and my books.

Happy Reading!

Finished Reading: Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck

Earlier today i finished reading Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck. I really enjoyed this book and I will be writing a proper review once my Mom finishes this as well. She decided to read this story as well and we would talk about it, however I read a bit faster than she does so I will wait until then. I will say however that I enjoyed this book a lot more than I did the first installment. I meant to read for just a half hour today, and I just couldn't put it down. Recommend reading this one for sure to all of you that like these light, comedic and slightly romantic mystery stories. If you are someone looking for an intense whodunnit with lots of dark eerie chapters..then this is definitely not for you!

Time to hit the next one, titled Sinister Sprinkles

Enjoy!

Currently Reading: Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck

I'm currently reading this 2nd installment in the Donut Shop Mystery Series.
Again the main character finds herself with a murder investigation. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this second book I am finding much more interesting than the first. Perhaps it is that the characters are now established as are their stories, but the story seems to flow much better in this book. With this read, I picked up the book and before I knew it I was halfway through in no time! I am still enjoying the recipes in between chapters, it's a cute idea and I've found some I would actually love to try! I will do a proper review once I am finished the entire book. For now, I am going to look for books to read that are out of my normal scope. 2014 will be filled with new authors, new books and new challenges.
What are you reading today?