Home for the Homicide by Jennie Bentley

Home for the Homicide by Jennie Bentley ISBN-13: 9780425260494 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: December 3, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
For Avery and her husband Derek, renovating the Craftsman Bungalow was like stepping back in time. The quaint old home was just as its original owners had left it—from the beautiful butler’s pantry to the surprisingly exquisite ribbon tile. But it’s the attic that yields the most heart-stopping surprise.

In a discreetly hidden antique crate, Avery finds a clue to a decades-old missing persons case. As Avery works on the house and delves deeper into the sinister story, it becomes clear that someone very crafty wants the Craftsman home’s secrets to stay that way!


My Review:
Home for the Homicide is a cozy mystery. It's the seventh in a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one and this story didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous novels.

The history behind the mystery was an interesting event that I could see really happening. Based on the current-day and historical clues, I had a pretty good idea of who was whodunit and why before Avery even got started on the right track. But no one said Avery was a great sleuth, just very nosy. She wanted to know things that were none of her business and she'd pout (yes, pout) and manipulate people to get her own way. She wasn't mean, just self-centered, insecure, and childish. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't admire her, either, and that detracted from my enjoyment of the mystery.

There were no sex scenes. There was a minor amount of explicit bad language. I'd recommend this mystery to people who like both mysteries and doing home decorating projects (since several are described in detail in the story).


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Sayers Swindle by Victoria Abbott

The Sayers Swindle by Victoria Abbott ISBN-13: 9780425255292 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: December 3, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Jordan Kelly is delighted to make money tracking down rare and valuable mystery novels for her employer, Vera Van Alst, an avid collector and the most difficult woman in Harrison Falls, New York. But now her boss’s complete set of Dorothy Sayers is missing, and finding them may lead Jordan to a murder suitable for Sayers’s esteemed sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey…

When Jordan manages to locate her boss’s missing books, they are in the possession of Randolph Adams, an elderly man in a nearby town. Offering a valuable Hemingway first edition as an incentive, Jordan thinks she’s about to seal the deal—but some of Randolph’s family think he shouldn't take it.

Then the entire family disappears—and a dead body shows up. Jordan tries to find Randolph (so she can get those Sayer books)—and makes sure a killer gets booked.


My Review:
The Sayers Swindle is a cozy mystery. It's the second book in the series. It doesn't spoil the whodunit of the first book, but you'll probably understand the second one better if you've read the first book. The author assumed you read the first book and didn't explain some could-be-confusing references.

The story is a situation comedy, going from one funny situation to another. The characters were enjoyable, but it was hard to take them too seriously. Since I've read so many mysteries, it wasn't too difficult to spot the suspicious behavior, take the information that Jordan discovered, and have a fair idea of where the story was headed. The question was more "how many awkward situations will Jordan get into while figuring this all out."

There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Quilt Trip by Elizabeth Craig

Quilt Trip by Elizabeth Craig ISBN-13: 9780451240637 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Obsidian Released: December 3, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Retired folk art curator, Beatrice Coleman, and her fellow quilt guild member, Meadow Downey, are headed to a Victorian mansion in the mountains. Meadow is determined to convince elderly Muriel Starnes to pick their guild to receive a quilting scholarship instead of one of the quilters that she has summoned to a meeting.

But once they arrive at the mansion, it seems they may never leave. An ice storm sends an old tree crashing across the driveway, leaving them stranded for the night. And by the next morning, they are one fewer—for Muriel has been sent to meet her maker. With everyone in the house a suspect, it’s up to Beatrice and the Village Quilters to figure out who has a guilty conscience before someone else gets tied up in knots.


My Review:
Quilt Trip is a cozy mystery. It's the third book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to follow this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous novels.

Though set in modern day, it was a classic murder-at-the-mansion setup. A number of guests arrive at a mansion, someone dies, and they can't leave. Beatrice and her friends question the other guests to determine whodunit since they are a neutral party. Everyone had the opportunity to kill and secrets to hide. While there were clues, I wouldn't call this a clue-based puzzle mystery as the clues didn't slowly build up to point at one suspect.

Though I prefer puzzle-mysteries, I still enjoyed the varied characters who acted in realistic ways. The heroine and her friends were likable, nice people. I don't know enough about quilting to follow the various designs they were working on, but they did sound pretty.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable cozy mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Merry Market Murder by Paige Shelton

Merry Market Murder by Paige Shelton ISBN-13: 9780425252352 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: December 3, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Bailey’s Farmers’ Market is this season’s go-to holiday destination. Jam and preserve maker Becca Robins is excited about the extra business that the Ridgeway Christmas Tree Farm is bringing to the market this holiday season, but not all the vendors are happy to see the Ridgeways.

Then a competing tree farmer, Reggie Stuckey, arrives with a truck full of trees and says that he has exclusive selling rights at the market. When Reggie is found with a tree stake in his chest, Becca sets out to untangle the relationships of those involved and is helped along by mysterious ornaments that begin to show up in her stall.


My Review:
Merry Market Murder is a cozy mystery. It's the fifth book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to follow this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous novels.

The mystery was a clue-based puzzle mystery. I saw how the clues were fitting together long before Becca caught on, but Becca didn't have many "this is obviously a clue" to work with. She had to untangle the relationships of everyone involved before she ventured to guess why people didn't like each other. Reserving judgment and not jumping to conclusions is a good thing.

The characters were realistic and interesting, and the "good guy" characters were likable. The motives behind people's actions were understandable. Most of the clues were gathered by Paige chatting with people and her speculation about some odd Christmas ornaments that were mysteriously left for her. Her boyfriend was the lead detective and appreciated the potential leads that she brought to him, so their relationship seemed like a healthy one.

There were no sex scenes. There was a minor amount of explicit bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Murder, She Barked by Krista Davis

Murder, She Barked by Krista Davis ISBN-13: 9780425262559 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: December 3, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Holly Miller has just quit her job on moral grounds when a troubling phone call about her grandmother sends her rushing home to the family inn on Wagtail Mountain. Wagtail is the country's premiere vacation hot spot for pet owners who can’t bear to leave their furry friends behind. Along the way, she is adopted by an abandoned Jack Russell Terrier who scatters crumbs all over her borrowed car and witnesses a car going off the side of a mountain road.

Once at the inn, her grandmother reveals that a inn employee was recently murdered--but the true target might have been her grandmother! While helping at the inn and enjoying her new dog and a frisky Calico kitten who lives in her room, Holly looks into the recent increase in crimes in the area. Holly and her furry companions will have to nose out the murderer before someone else gets hurt.


My Review:
Murder, She Barked is a cozy mystery. It's the first book in a fun new series. I loved how the animals were connected into the mystery yet they still acted realistically as an untrained, energetic dog and curious kitten. The book is full of pets and is set in a pet-oriented town, so it's appealing to pet-loving readers. I also enjoyed the varied and realistic characters, and Holly is a likable, nice person.

The mystery was a clue-based puzzle and was fairly complex since there were multiple crimes (theft, murder, etc.) that needed solving. I got a sense of what the various hidden motives were and who was involved, but I didn't see how all the pieces fit together until about the same time Holly did.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable cozy mystery to everyone, but I'd highly recommend it to pet-lovers.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

And the winner is...

It's time to announce the winner of the Gratitude Giveaways Hop. We had 58 entries. Using a random number generator and numbering the entrants in the order I received them, the winner is:

Carol M
who won "Death in the Vines"

Congratulations! I'll be contacting you for your address.

For those who didn't win, you can always buy a copy of these books from your favorite bookstore or see if they have them at your local library.

Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer

Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer ISBN: 0-451-17345-7 Mass Market Paperback: 284 pages Publisher: Signet Regency Romance Released: 1972, 1992

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Independent and spirited, Miss Annis Wychwood gives little thought to finding herself a suitable husband, thus dashing the dreams of many hopeful suitors. When she becomes embroiled in the affairs of the runaway heiress Lucilla, though, she encounters the beautiful fugitive's guardian - as uncivil a rogue she has ever met. Although chafing a bit at the restrictions of Regency society in Bath, Annis does have to admit that Oliver Carleton, at least, is never boring.


My Review:
Lady of Quality is a Regency romance. The author used her excellent understanding of human nature to craft realistic characters and a fun story. The different personality types rubbing up against each other created the humor and relationship tensions in this story. There was a nice level of historical detail woven into the story.

There was no sex. There was some explicit bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Fixing to Die by Elaine Viets

Fixing to Die by Elaine Viets ISBN-13: 9780451240989 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: November 5, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Mystery shopper Josie Marcus has been happily married to veterinarian Ted Scottsmeyer for months, and they’re ready for the next step: buying a house. Ted’s business partner, Christine, has one she’s willing to sell, but it needs a lot of love.

When they tear down a rickety gazebo in the backyard, they find the body of Christine’s sister, a free spirit who supposedly took off six months before. The police arrest Christine for murder, leaving Ted to work overtime at the office to cover for his partner. Josie will have to find the real killer quickly, before both her house and marriage are beyond repair....


My Review:
Fixing to Die is a cozy mystery. It's the ninth in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The characters were interesting and acted realistically. The story rotated between house shopping and renovation, mystery shopping, and the mysteries. One "mystery" followed how Joise's daughter proved that some rich kids were cyber-bullying her.

The main mystery was Joise questioning the obvious suspects and placing herself in potentially dangerous situations. Though the detective was very rude, at least the detective worked from the forensic clues found in the grave. Josie worked from "who was the most violent who also had a motive?" In the end, it was never explained how whodunit left the forensic "grave clues" or how they were even connected to whodunit. We had the motive, but the author skipped explaining how. Since I like logic-puzzle mysteries, this "just trust me that whodunit did it" approach didn't leave me feeling satisfied.

There was no sex. There was some explicit bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to those who don't care if the how-done-it of a mystery is clear.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Gratitude Giveaways Hop

As a part of the Gratitude Giveaways Hop, I'm holding a giveaway for your choice of one of the following books:


Trapped by Irene Hannon is a Christian romantic suspense novel. You can read my review.

When librarian Laura Griffin's sixteen-year-old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned PI James "Dev" Devlin to help. But the deeper he digs, the more he begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And the closer he gets to uncovering the truth, the clearer it becomes that the situation isn't just dangerous--it's deadly.


Death in the Vines by M.L. Longworth is a mystery novel. You can read my review. (Note: This novel did contain some bad language.)

Olivier Bonnard, the owner of Domaine Beauclaire winery, is devastated when he discovers the theft of a priceless cache of rare vintages. Soon after, Monsieur Gilles d’Arras reports that his wife, Pauline, has vanished from their lavish apartment. As Judge Antoine Verlaque and Commissioner Paulik tackle the cases (with a little help from Marine Bonnet), they receive an urgent call: Bonnard has just found Madame d’Arras--dead in his vineyard.


This contest is for USA residents only.


To enter the giveaway:

You can leave a comment to this post asking to be entered and naming which book you'd like to win. (I have comment moderation on to prevent spam comments, so don't worry if your entry comment doesn't appear immediately. It will soon.) Please also leave some way for me to contact you--or follow this blog so you can see the winner announcement.


This giveaway ends on November 30, 2013 at midnight. The winner will be randomly selected. I'll announce the winner on December 1, 2013 on this blog.

If you entered using twitter, I'll send you a @ or DM telling you of your win and asking where to send the book. If you entered using the blog comments, you'll need to leave your e-mail address or check back to see if you won so you can e-mail me your mailing address. If the winner hasn't responded with a mailing address within four days, I reserve the right to pick a new winner.

I hope everyone has fun with this!


The blogs participating in the Gratitude Giveaways Hop:

Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay

Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay ISBN-13: 9780425260722 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: November 5, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
When the Briar Creek Community Theater mounts their newest production of Shakespeare, library director Lindsey Norris has no intention of leaving the stacks for the stage.

Former Broadway actress Violet La Rue is holding auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream—and everyone from the sour spinster librarian Ms. Cole to Lindsey’s youthful library pages are trying out for parts. Brought in to play the mischievous Puck is the flirtatious professional actor Robbie Vine, who seems to have eyes for Lindsey. Before her blush has faded, the Bard’s dream turns into a nightmare—when one of the cast is poisoned. Now Lindsey must unmask the culprit before the final curtain call.


My Review:
Read It and Weep is a cozy mystery. It's the fourth in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous mysteries.

The mystery was interesting, but Lindsey was slow to pick up on certain clues. Whodunit made a rather obvious slip, yet it took pages for her to even consider whodunit as a possibility. I'd considered and settled on whodunit long before Lindsey, but it wasn't obvious until near the end. There's a twist at the end, though, where it turned out that the case would have been solved even if Lindsey didn't exist. She was unnecessary to the mystery part of the book, which I always find disappointing.

Lindsey also came across to me as a bit hard on her admirers. She had specific problems with how her admirers were behaving (like Robbie flirting with her while having a wife and a girlfriend). Yet she outwardly seemed to be playing hard-to-get rather than plainly stating what underlying problems she needed fixed to go forward in a relationship. Still, I've known women like her and understood why she was acting that way, so I found the characters complex and realistic.

There was no sex. There was some explicit bad language. Overall, it was an enjoyable novel if you like romantic triangles, intrigue, and Shakespeare plays.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer

Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer ISBN: 0-373-83624-4 Mass Market Paperback: 408 pages Publisher: Harlequin First Released: 1956

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
En route to propose to his sensible acquaintance Lady Hester, Sir Gareth Ludlow finds young, pretty Amanda unattended and headed for trouble. He knows it is his duty to bring her back to her family, but this turns out to be a challenge as Amanda refuses to tell him who she is and escapes his protect at every opportunity. He takes her to Lady Hester to ask for her help as well as her hand in marriage.

Lady Hester stuns both him and her family when she refuses to marry him. At her age, no one would expect her to turn down such an eligible suitor. But Lady Hester has met the indomitable Amanda. How can the quiet, intelligent Hester hope to compete with such a lively young lady...especially since she reminds Gareth of his lost love from his younger years?


My Review:
Sprig Muslin is a Regency romance, but the first half is more an adventure filled with funny mishaps which is followed by the romance coming into bloom. The book starts out like a few other Heyer stories with the older hero running into a young lady who has run away while he is on his way to propose to a woman he doesn't love. I was glad that this was a new variation, not new names on an old storyline.

The characters were all likable and the situations were very funny. Heyer even managed to make me wonder for a while which characters would end up together. I really enjoyed the novel even if it didn't rate as one of my favorites.

There were no sex scenes. There was some explicit bad language (mostly swearing using "God"). Overall, I'd recommend this hilarious romp.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Funerals Are Fatal by Agatha Christie

Funerals Are Fatal by Agatha Christie ISBN-13: 9780553350166 Hardcover: 226 pages Publisher: Bantam Released: 1953; May 1984

Source: Borrowed from the library.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When Richard Abernethie, the master of Enderby Hall, dies, his heirs assemble at the vast Victorian mansion to hear the reading of the will. It is then that Cora, Abernethie's sister, comes out with an alarming proposal: "But he was murdered, wasn't he?" The next day Cora is found brutally bludgeoned to death in her home.

None other than Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot is summoned to Enderby in pursuit of the murderer. Suspects abound including a wayward nephew unlucky with women and horses, a favorite and seemingly blameless sister-in-law, two feuding nieces, a nosey housekeeper, and a disingenuous art collector.


My Review:
Funerals Are Fatal is a historical mystery (though it was a contemporary at the time it was written) set in England at about 1952. This story can also be found under the title, "After the Funeral."

Poirot was asked to solve if Richard had been murdered, and of course he solves the whole sequence to discover whodunit. While Poirot knows whodunit for some pages before the reveal, I also figured out whodunit at the same time. It helped that I had a day to think all the clues over. I was tickled that I got the whole sequence right, including motives. I love it when the clues are all there, but the answer isn't immediately obvious.

We didn't get to know any of the characters very well, but they were interesting and had varied personalities. The details about the setting and time period were minimal but interesting. There was a very minor amount of bad language. There was no sex or gore. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Amazon's Look Inside feature.

The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama

The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama ISBN-13: 9780312144074 Trade Paperback: 211 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Released: May 4, 1995

Source: Bought at a library book sale.

Book Description from Goodreads:
The daughter of a Chinese mother and a Japanese father, Tsukiyama uses the Japanese invasion of China during the late 1930s as a somber backdrop for her unusual story about a 20-year-old Chinese painter named Stephen who is sent to his family's summer home in a Japanese coastal village to recover from a bout with tuberculosis. Here he is cared for by Matsu, a reticent housekeeper and a master gardener.

Over the course of a remarkable year, Stephen learns Matsu's secret and gains not only physical strength, but also profound spiritual insight. Matsu is a samurai of the soul, a man devoted to doing good and finding beauty in a cruel and arbitrary world, and Stephen is a noble student, learning to appreciate Matsu's generous and nurturing way of life and to love Matsu's soulmate, gentle Sachi, a woman afflicted with leprosy.


My Review:
The Samurai's Garden is a historical novel set during September 15, 1937 to October 29, 1938 in Japan. It's written in a diary format, but it reads more like a fully detailed narrative story. It's a story for those who are interested in other cultures and time periods as the details immerse you in that world. The story moved along at a slower pace, but that pace suited what the story was trying to convey.

The characters came across as real people dealing with real struggles, and I cared about what happened to them. The story is as much about Matsu and Sachi as it is about Stephen. There were relationship tensions between family members and between friends as well as how a Chinese outsider staying in Japan is treated as the Japanese invade China.

There were no graphic sex scenes, though there was a dream about sex with a little more description than kiss-and-fade-to-black. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer

Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer ISBN: 0-553-11040-3 Mass Market Paperback: 250 pages Publisher: Bantam Released: 1961, 1979

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Sampson Warrenby was shot with a bullet through his brain under an oak tree. His niece, Mavis, discovers his body and stands to inherit, but many of the people in the village disliked Warrenby. Unfortunately, those who had the greatest motive were at a get-together at the time Warrenby was killed. Only Chief Inspector Hemingway can uncover who had both motive and opportunity.


My Review:
Detection Unlimited is a humorous historical mystery set in England (though it was a contemporary when written in 1953). The story is full of quirky but generally likable characters. Chief Inspector Hemingway is clever and has a sense of humor, but the story also follows the speculations of the village folk about the murder.

The mystery was clue-based. I was pretty certain of whodunit from the beginning and turned out to be correct, yet the answer wasn't as obvious as I'm making it sound. It could have easily been someone else.

There was no sex. There was a minor amount of explicit cussing and some swearing (using "God"). Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Murder at Hatfield House by Amanda Carmack

Murder at Hatfield House by Amanda Carmack ISBN-13: 9780451415110 Mass Market Paperback: 282 pages Publisher: Obsidian Mystery Released: October 1, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
1558. England is in tumult under the rule of Queen Mary and her Spanish husband. Confined to house arrest at Hatfield House, young Princess Elizabeth is the country’s greatest hope. Far from court intrigues, Elizabeth finds solace in simple things: the quiet countryside and peaceful recreation, including the melodies of her chief musician and his daughter, Kate Haywood.

But Kate will prove herself most valuable when an envoy of the queen—sent to flush out heretics in the princess’s household—is found dead on the grounds of Hatfield. Acting as Elizabeth’s eyes and ears, Kate is sent out on the trail of a killer whose mission could destroy her family, friends—and the future of England


My Review:
Murder at Hatfield House is a historical mystery set in the autumn of 1558 in England. Purely as a historical novel, I enjoyed the story. The historical details brought the time period vividly alive in my imagination. The main characters reacted realistically to events and gained my sympathy. I felt suspense about the physical danger to Kate and Princess Elizabeth even though I knew how it had to turn out; yes, they'd survive, but at what cost?

However, there were some serious flaws with the mystery. I could quickly guess who was intended to be whodunit by the hints given throughout the story, yet logically that person couldn't be whodunit. The murderer would have had to know something no one else knew and be at two places at once during at least two murders. I expected the author to explain these problems away, but they never were explained.

[VAGUE SPOILER] Whodunit would have had to know when the target, Braceton, would be coming to Hatfield House. However, no one at Hatfield House expected him. He was running late by his own schedule. Even if someone knew when he was coming, they'd have to wait for him for some time and hope their absence wasn't noticed. Whodunit was then closely pursued into the house after the murder. When you know who the murderer is, though, this seems impossible for whodunit to pull off, or at least with no one noticing anything.[END SPOILER]

There was no sex. There was one use of "modern" bad language and a minor amount of swearing using God's body parts (teeth, toe, wounds, blood). Overall, I'd recommend this as a historical novel to Queen Elizabeth fans, but not as a mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Chocolate Moose Motive

The Chocolate Moose Motive by JoAnna Carl ISBN-13: 9780451414809 Mass Market Paperback: 246 pages Publisher: Obsidian Mystery Released: October 1, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
As much as the chocolate concoctions at TenHuis can tantalize people’s tongues, Lee’s newest hire is more likely to make them wag. Forsythia “Sissy” Smith is the granddaughter of Warner Pier’s only remaining resident hippie, but that is the least of Lee’s concerns. The previous winter, Sissy’s husband, Buzz, was found shot to death, and local talk named Sissy the number one suspect.

Even though her alibi was airtight, the gossips are still pointing their fingers at her. Lee sympathizes with the young woman—even more so when Buzz’s dad, a tough retired Army colonel, threatens to sue Sissy for custody of her son. Then the chief gossip is found dead, with Sissy on the scene. Was she lured there? Or is she the killer?


My Review:
The Chocolate Moose Motive is a cozy mystery. It's the twelfth book in the series. You don't need to read the others to follow this one, and this novel doesn't spoil any of the previous mysteries. This story had the unique ability to make my mouth water--fine chocolates, yum!

The characters were complex and reacted realistically to events. I liked that the heroine didn't think she was smarter than the police or some great detective. It was more that she heard things, and she wanted to help her friend.

She calls herself "nosy," but she wasn't rude and didn't come across as someone who felt they had the right to know and judge everyone else's business. It was more that she was super-curious. I liked her. Even when she did not-so-smart things, I understood why she did them (as they were mostly heat-of-the-moment, impulsive reactions). There was also a mild humor throughout the book that I enjoyed.

The mystery was clue-based and could be guessed before the big reveal. The clues seemed pretty straight forward, though, and I had no trouble identifying whodunit. The clues progressively confirmed my guess. Often it's the gossip that reveals clues in cozy mysteries. I liked that the heroine in this mystery kept discovering how wrong the gossip was.

There was no sex. There was a very minor amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Runaway Princess by Kate Coombs

The Runaway Princess by Kate Coombs ISBN-13: 9780374355463 Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Released: August 8, 2006

Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Book Description from Back Cover:
“A dragon darkens our dells. A witch haunts our woods. Bandits roam our moors” . . . King Stromgard swept on. “In the tradition of so many monarchs, I offer my daughter’s hand in marriage and half my kingdom to the prince who can rid us of these evils, restoring peace and prosperity to our realm.”

And so the contest in the Kingdom of Greeve begins. But Princess Margaret is not your traditional princess. Meg firmly objects to her parents’ giving her away, and she certainly has no intention of remaining in the tower where she is sequestered. Instead, she sets out to win the contest herself by enlisting the help of her good friend, her loyal maid, an eager guardsman, a young wizard, and a tenacious witch. Does Meg find her distinct place in the kingdom, or is she doomed to fulfill her royal duties?


My Review:
The Runaway Princess is a young adult fantasy novel, though females younger and older will probably also enjoy it. Boys do play a support role in the story, but there is no romance beyond the "I guess he's kinda cute" sort. It's more about friendships, loyalty, and protecting the helpless from selfish and mean people.

There's a lot of humor to it, so it's a fun romp. The characters were fun, interesting, and acted realistically. The story was fast-paced. It didn't always go were I expected, but I enjoyed were it went.

The magic was the usual fantasy-type magic, with princes turned into frogs, a magical scarf with mind of it's own, and such. There was a very minor amount of "he cursed" style of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, fun novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Giveaway for Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman

I haven't read this book yet, but I've liked books by this author.

In Chasing Hope, Sabrina Rice is a gifted runner and Olympic hopeful who’s had her dreams shattered by a devastating diagnosis. One forfeited scholarship and several years later, she’s focused on building new dreams. Dreams that have nothing to do with running.

Until the day she sees Brandy Philip running across the community college campus, easily outpacing security. Sabrina immediately recognizes world-class speed, and it’s all the more painful that it belongs to a teenage graffiti artist.

When a chance encounter brings the two young women together, Sabrina gets the uncomfortable feeling her life plans are about to be toppled…again. And that God may be asking her to help this troubled but talented girl see her dreams past the starting block.


Katie Cushman and Bethany House Publishers are pleased to present the CHASING HOPE Giveaway, and your chance to win one of three fabulous prizes connected with the story!


How to Enter: Go to http://www.katiecushman.com/chasing-hope-giveaway/ and complete the entry box, anytime between September 16 and October 3. Entry is open to US residents only, age 18 and over. Winners will be selected Friday, October 4, 2013, and announced at KatieCushman.com.

Excerpt: Read an excerpt.

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer ISBN-13: 9780373773404 Trade Paperback: 334 pages Publisher: Harlequin Books Released: July 1, 2008

Source: Bought from Half.com.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, crosses paths with Léon, a youth of low birth who is fleeing a beating at his brutal brother's hands. Avon buys the boy and makes him his page. It soon becomes clear, however, that Léon is not what he seems, and that Avon has an ulterior motive for bringing him into his household.

Set in pre-Revolutionary France, These Old Shades follows a twisting course as young Léon (or is it Léonie?) is swept up in a dangerous mystery: how to account for her amazing resemblance to the sinister Compte de Saint Vire, and why the Compte will go to any lengths to get her in his power.


My Review:
These Old Shades is a Georgian-era romance novel set in France and England. It's helpful if you have a good grasp of French as it's not always obvious what the sentences in French are about. Still, you can follow the story even if you don't know French.

There was a nice level of historical detail woven into the story. As usual for Heyer, there were a lot of humorous scenes, and Léonie's and Rupert's antics kept me laughing. The story was more an adventure than a mystery for the reader. Only Justin understood everything that was going on, and the other characters wondered at the unexpected happenings, like kidnapping. I never really feared for the characters welfare, but I did wonder how Justin was going to get his revenge...and he did it brilliantly.

The large age difference between Justin and Léonie may bother some readers. Léonie acted like an adoring puppy toward Justin (and she didn't care if people thought so). But they brought out the best in each other and will likely be happy together, which is good.

There was no sex. There was a fair amount of explicit bad language (mainly the swearing use of "God"). Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Going Through the Notions by Cate Price

Going Through the Notions by Cate Price ISBN-13: 9780425258798 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: September 3, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
While her husband renovates their old house, Daisy happily runs her small shop, Sometimes a Great Notion, selling sewing bits and bobs, antiques, and jewelry.

Daisy has her eye on an antique dollhouse and a classic Singer Featherweight at the local auction until her friend and mentor, auctioneer Angus Backstead, is led away in handcuffs. He's accused of bashing in the head of a drinking buddy over a missing set of fancy fountain pens. Daisy’s sure the sprightly old-timer couldn't have done it, but the detective has an old grudge against Angus. Angus' friends start doubting him after no new evidence turns up, but Daisy isn't about to give up on her friend.


My Review:
Going Through the Notions is a general fiction with moments of thriller and mystery. It starts out like a normal cozy mystery, and I liked how Daisy was kind and seemed smart. Then the facade of the perfect family falls apart, and Daisy isn't sure what to do. I liked the depth that this realistic family conflict gave the characters. Then the story turned into a thriller. A side thread of the story puts Daisy in serious danger several times, but this isn't completely wrapped up as we're never sure who shot at her.

I was also disappointed with how the mystery ended. I strongly suspected whodunit long before Daisy. It was realistic that Daisy didn't suspect even though she had a faint feeling that she was missing something obvious. When she figures it out, though, she rushes off to put herself if mortal danger without telling anyone or calling the police even though she was surrounded by friends during her "aha!" moment. She had the presence of mind to think through avoiding a traffic jam, yet she simply hopes that the detective will figure out whodunit, too, and make it there in time to save her. Um, not smart.

I also didn't like how Daisy treated her husband. Daisy calls to set up a dinner date with him, then impatiently hurries her friend along so she can get home. But, suddenly, she has to drive way out of her way to do an errand that could be done anytime. She follows that up by doing two chores in her shop that could be done anytime, and she doesn't even have the courtesy to call her husband and tell him that she'll be late.

So the clue-based mystery--what there was of it--was clever and even made Angus seem like a valid suspect. The thriller scenes were thrilling. The characters were complex, flawed, and realistic. I simply ended up with no respect for the heroine by the end. There were no graphic sex scenes. There was a fair amount of a wide variety of explicit bad language (averaging about 1 bad word every 2 pages).


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

RL Advice for cozy mystery heroines

I saw this post shared by a friend of mine of Facebook. I'm copy-pasting it exactly as it's found there, but I'm not sure who the actual author is. Cozy mystery heroines certainly should read it! But, seriously, it's good advice for real life, too.

WRITTEN BY A COP: Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life. In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, & everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do! (personal note: Keep keys out, one between your fingers in a fist you can always use that as a weapon, also take your hands cup them and slam them upside the persons ears as hard as you can trust me it will burst both ear drums and hurt like hell dropping them unless they are on pcp (drug), Take you hand: curl up your fingers (so u don't break them) then w/ur base of your hand (back where the bone is) ram it as hard as you can in an upward direction into their nose this will break their nose and start it bleeding ALOT. And always remember ANYTHING can be used a weapon ANYTHING trust me!)

2. Learned this from a tourist guide. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you... Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE..

If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

A.) Be aware:look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor , and in the back seat.

B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird.. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door..' The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby.. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

10. Water scam! If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and then attack.

Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors!

Trapped by Irene Hannon

Trapped by Irene Hannon ISBN-13: 978-0-8007-2124-4 Trade Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Revell Released: September 1, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Back Cover:
When librarian Laura Griffin's sixteen-year-old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned PI James "Dev" Devlin to help. But the deeper he digs, the more he begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And the closer he gets to uncovering the truth, the clearer it becomes that the situation isn't just dangerous--it's deadly.


My Review:
Trapped is a Christian romantic suspense novel. This book is the second in the series, but you don't need to read the first one to understand this book and this book didn't spoil the mystery/suspense of the first book.

The characters were likable, realistic, and we got to know them well. However, one suspenseful moment didn't work for me precisely because the characters were well-developed. Early in the story, we're shown how terrified Laura is about driving on icy roads because of an accident in her past. I'm convinced she's terrified. Yet later she convinces herself to drive with potentially bad brakes on an icy road with excuses that would work for a normal person, but not for someone with a deep-seated fear.

The suspense was created by uncertainty about finding the runaway before something bad happens to her and by physical danger to those trying to find her. The romance came across as realistic, and I liked that Dev was interested in Laura even though she wasn't his "usual type." The details about the setting and the jobs were excellent and brought the story alive in my imagination.

The Christian element was shown more in how the characters treated people and acted than through their talking about God. One main character was finally able to forgive himself and renew his relationship with God by the end.

There was no sex. There was a very minor amount of "he cursed" style of bad language and one instance of abbreviation-version swearing. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable and intriguing novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton

The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton ISBN-13: 9780425244630 Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: October 4, 2011

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
1773: The Massachusetts colony is torn between patriots who want independence from British rule and loyalists who support the King. The educated and beautiful Abigail Adams is the wife of John Adams, a member of the Sons of Liberty--a secret organization opposing the Crown.

When a murder occurs in the home of their friend and fellow patriot, Rebecca Malvern, John is accused of the crime. Rebecca is missing--probably a captive or dead. The Sons of Liberty are desperate to find a document with revealing information about them that is missing from her home. This gruesome murder is similar to older, unsolved murders. With justice in the balance and the lives of her husband and other Sons of Liberty at stake, Abby is determined to uncover the truth.


My Review:
The Ninth Daughter is a historical mystery set in 1773 in Massachusetts. This is the first book in the series. The vivid historical details about the everyday life and politics were skillfully woven into the story.

The characters were fairly true to the time period (their ideas and ideals reflected the time period, including some comments about religious debates of the time). I found the characters engaging and interesting, and they reacted realistically to the situations. I always understood why the characters--including the "bad guys"--were acting the way they were.

The mystery was an interesting clue-based puzzle. Whodunit was guessable but not obvious to me. I realized where the clues were pointing at about the same time Abigail did.

There was some talk about religious topics, but it was as a background/historical aspect of the story. There was no sex, though rape and prostitutes were mentioned in conversation. There was a some explicit bad language (about 16 instances). Overall, I'd recommend this intriguing and well-written novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Cover Story by Erika Chase

Cover Story by Erika Chase ISBN-13: 9780425252116 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: August 6, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
It’s time to celebrate when Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society member Molly Mathews’s childhood friend, Teensy Coldicutt, moves back to town—complete with a published book. But as the club plans Teensy’s book launch, Molly is attacked and Teensy’s books are stolen. Who would be so desperate for 150 copies of a sexy novel written by an elderly widow? Then Ashton Corners is hit with another shock when Teensy’s publisher turns up dead—and fellow club member and former police chief Bob Miller is taken into custody.

Convinced that Teensy’s missing books hold the key to the murder, Lizzie Turner and her band of readers are determined to hunt them down. But the plot thickens when their search leads them straight into a counterfeiting ring. Now they must unravel this surprise twist before the killer gets the chance to write someone else off…


My Review:
Cover Story is a cozy mystery. This novel is the third in the series. You don't need to read the previous novel to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the mystery in the previous books.

The characters were interesting, but they seemed a bit out of touch with reality in this one. They seemed more concerned about the books and being able to continue the book launch than the fact that people were dead. When some of the missing books are found, Lizzie is angry that the thugs threw them in a place that was hidden were they'd be ruined instead of politely returning them. She seemed more upset by the ruined books than by these guys leaving a trail of bodies behind.

Lizzie also repeatedly promises her boyfriend that she won't snoop and then promptly does so. I didn't like Lizzie much in this one. There were a lot of detail about the clothes everyone was wearing and what food they ate for every meal and snack, but I don't personally find that interesting.

I identified the main whodunit at the beginning of the book based simply on "cozy mystery writing rules," but then clues backed it up. Whodunit wasn't obvious and the characters had no reason to suspect whodunit, so it's good for them that whodunit panicked and exposed self at the end. The sub-mysteries in this story were not really ones you could puzzle out based on clues.

There were no graphic sex scenes. There was a very minor amount of explicit bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery to those who like clothing and food.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong

Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong ISBN-13: 9780800722463 Trade Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Revell Books Released: August 1, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Lainie Davis' car breaks down in the tiny town of Last Chance, New Mexico, and it will cost more money than she has to repair it. But the people of Last Chance don't leave her stranded. They're interested in helping her, which is an entirely new situation for her.

She finds the people entirely too nice, too accommodating, and too interested in her personal life for her comfort--especially since she’s trying to avoid her drug-dealing ex-boyfriend and wants to remain unnoticed. Yet surely he would never look for her in this small town.

Lainie is increasingly drawn in to the dramas of small town life. An old church lady who always has room for a stranger. A handsome bartender who loves to paint. A single mom running her diner and worrying over her teenage son. Could Lainie actually make a life in this little hick town? Or will the past catch up to her even here in the middle of nowhere?

Cathleen Armstrong pens a debut novel filled with complex, lovable characters making their way through life and relationships the best they can.


My Review:
Welcome to Last Chance is a Christian general fiction novel that involves some romance. The characters were complex and acted like real people with both good and bad points, but they were also likable. I was pleased that the fictional small town was not populated by "quirky characters" but by people from varied backgrounds with realistic personality traits. It felt like this could really have happened somewhere.

The romance read like a side thread rather than the main focus. Most of the scenes didn't involve the romantic pair doing things together, and they didn't act like they expected it to be a lasting relationship. He was going to leave the town to return to his city life and felt that there were too many personality issues between them to overcome. They never really talked about a future together. Yet at the end, though the personality and where-to-live issues were never talked about or resolved, they're suddenly getting married. After making a big deal about these issues, I felt like there was a transitional scene missing where these issues were resolved.

The book covered about a year of time, so the story is a series of highlight moments and life-changing events for a number of different characters. Time frame allowed the changes in Lainie to seem natural and reasonable, but the author also left out a few transitional scenes. For example, a choir member made it clear that Lainie wasn't welcome in the choir and Lainie had no desire to join the choir. Yet the next time the choir is mentioned, Lainie is singing a solo part in the choir. I would have liked to know what changed her mind and the other person's mind.

Many of the main characters were Christians, and they're portrayed realistically with good and bad points. The few mentions of God flowed naturally from the character's beliefs. God wasn't the focus of the story, yet you could see He was at work arranging events, like the car breaking down when it did. There was a very minor amount of fake bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Link to Amazon so you can read an excerpt using Look Inside.

Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz

Death Al Dente by Leslie Budewitz ISBN-13: 9780425259542 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: August 6, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Murphy’s Mercantile, known as the Merc, has been a staple in Jewel Bay for over a hundred years. To celebrate their recent makeover as a gourmet food market, Erin has organized a town festival, Festa di Pasta, featuring the culinary goods of Jewel Bay’s finest—including her mother Fresca’s delicious Italian specialties.

But Erin’s sweet success is soured when the shop’s former manager, Claudette, is found dead behind the Merc on the Festa’s opening night. With rival chef James Angelo stirring up rumors that Fresca’s sauce recipes were stolen from Claudette, Erin’s mother is under close scrutiny. Now Erin will have to hunt down some new suspects, or both her family and her store might wind up in hot water...


My Review:
Death Al Dente is a cozy mystery. Erin was generally a nice person, and the characters had realistic reactions to the various situations. However, Erin wasn't very clever.

We had obvious clues about who wanted to buy what shop, but she was blinded by her assumptions. She didn't connect those clues together until she was practically told what was going on in plain language. I also was certain about whodunit before I'd read halfway through the book. Since no one claimed that Erin was clever, I was okay with her not catching on to things quickly.

Erin's vision for the store and the details about running it were interesting. Readers who like romance will enjoy the two hunky guys who are interested in Erin, one of whom provides a vital clue to the mystery. I liked that the detective was a female and an old friend of Erin's, but one who had mysteriously stopped being her friend.

There was a very minor amount of explicit bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer

The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer ISBN-13: 9780373834488 Mass Market Paperback: 408 pages Publisher: Harlequin Books Released: 1940; July 1, 2000

Source: Bought from Half.com.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Sir Richard Wyndham, an accomplished Corinthian, comes across a beautiful young woman climbing out of a window in a bid to escape, he finds the ideal opportunity to realize his own escape. His family is pressuring him to marry a women that he doesn't like and who doesn't like him. But he hasn't met any woman he could love, until now.

Penelope Creed is an heiress pressured by relatives to marry to a man she loathes. She's returning in disguise to her country home to contact a man she hasn't seen for years--a childhood friend that she promised to marry. Surely he's still waiting...

Richard and Pen become friends through danger and adventure. Only Pen's uncertain young heart will tell where their destiny lies.


My Review:
The Corinthian is a Regency romance with a grand adventure. A diamond necklace has been stolen, and the police are searching suspicious-looking people. Pen is worried they'll uncover her disguise and send her home to her relatives. After several twists and turns, one of thieves end up dead, and it's up to our hero (and heroine) to set everything straight.

The characters were all enjoyable, and the main romantic couple was well suited to each other. The story was very funny with the many scrapes that the various characters got into. As is fairly typical for Heyer, the novel ended abruptly. However, it was still clear how everything would resolve itself. This is one of my favorite Heyer romantic adventures.

There were no sex scenes. There was some explicit bad language (mostly swearing using "God"). Overall, I'd highly recommend this hilarious romp.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

General Winston's Daughter by Sharon Shinn

General Winston's Daughter by Sharon Shinn ISBN-13: 9780670062485 Hardback: 342 pages Publisher: Viking Juvenile Released: October 18, 2007

Source: Borrowed from my local library.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Eighteen-year-old heiress Averie Winston travels with her guardian to faraway Chiarrin to reunite with her father, who is the commanding general, and to see her handsome fiancé Morgan. She's excited about exploring the strange new country. Yet Chiarizzi rebels are fighting the invaders. Averie also realizes that Morgan doesn't share her views on the locals, and she finds herself falling in love with Lieutenant Ket Du'kai, who himself comes from a conquered society.


My Review:
General Winston's Daughter is a young adult fantasy. It's a look at how imperialism affects the conquered using a British-like society that has taken over several "more primitive" societies for economic gain. Averie has an increasingly sympathetic view of the conquered peoples.

I enjoyed the world-building as Averie learned about the new culture. I liked Averie even though she was head-strong because she tended to be willful about neutral or good things, like wanting to wear a new dress style or helping care for an injured friend. She wasn't cruel to Morgan, and Ket was an honorable man. I could see why attraction grew up between Averie and Ket.

However, I was disappointed with the ending. I could see the "surprise twist" coming from the start, but my problem was with how it has handled. No real society has such a complete unity in emotion or ability to keep a mass secret. I can't believe that the imperialist war-machine had no spies and didn't catch wind of what was going to happen. I also stopped liking Averie. Her reaction wasn't realistic and was too shallow for what had happened. Rather than becoming more mature and cautious, she became more immature and trusting. I also didn't like how she tried to force someone she supposedly loved to do things her way so she could get what she wanted.

There were no sex scenes, magic, or explicit bad language. Overall, I found the book enjoyable even though the ending was disappointing.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer

A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer ISBN-13: 9780373810895 Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: Harlequin Released: January 1, 2005

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Adam Deveril, the new Viscount Lynton, is madly in love with the beautiful Julia Oversley. But he has returned from the Peninsular War to find his family on the brink of ruin and his ancestral home mortgaged to the hilt.

Then Adam is introduced to Mr. Jonathan Chawleigh, a City man of apparently unlimited wealth. He has no social ambitions for himself, but he's determined to marry off his only daughter, the quiet and decidedly plain Jenny Chawleigh, to a suitable man who has a title. Adam feels forced to sacrifice his happiness to provide for his family and so cuts things off with Julia, but he feels ashamed by his mercenary marriage.

Jenny has long loved Adam, but can she win--in her quiet way--his love away from Julia, or do too many things stand in their way?


My Review:
A Civil Contract is a Regency romance. It's not highly humorous like Heyer's usual writing. If you believe that a true, lasting love can occur between two people who have decided to honor and behave in a caring way toward each other, then you'll probably enjoy it.

The characters were all nice people who were trying very hard to make things work out so everyone ended up happy. But the characters were also realistic, so they're not always successful. For example, Jenny's father kept trying to give Adam gifts, but they don't have the same tastes or ideas about what makes a good gift. Not to mention that Adam didn't want "handouts."

Most of the suspense came from relationship tensions as Adam, Jenny, and her father learned to appreciate each other for who they are while all hope that Adam and Julia grow disillusioned with each other. The high suspense came at the very end, with Adam's great gamble...perfect.

There were no sex scenes. There was a fair amount of "God" being used as a swear word. Overall, I'd highly recommend this well-written book and count it as one of my favorites.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Prelude by Helen Taylor Davidson

Prelude, A Novel & The 1854 Diary of Adeline Elizabeth Hoe by Helen Taylor Davidson, Richard Davidson ISBN-13: 978-1931807807 Hardcover: 296 pages Publisher: Peter E. Randall Publisher Released: August 1, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Publisher's Website:
A book in two parts, Prelude, A Novel and The 1854 Diary of Adeline Elizabeth Hoe. In the spring of 1854, a seventeen-year-old girl began to keep a daily diary. Filled with six months of the details of a young girl’s life, the diary itself offers a wonderful window into the mind of an educated young woman from a well-to-do family living in Lower Manhattan in the turbulent decade before the Civil War. Her meticulous record of the elegant music, dances and literature she and her sister enjoyed is juxtaposed with her matter-of-fact relation of epidemics and sudden deaths, conveying a vivid picture of mid-nineteenth-century life.

Adeline was the daughter of a famous nineteenth-century inventor and industrialist Richard March Hoe. Family friends included William Sidney Mount, noted as the first American painter to accurately depict African-American life; William Batchelder Bradbury, the NYC choral director and founder of the Bradbury Piano Company; and Robert Nunns, also of piano-making fame. The Davidsons’ footnotes to the diary explain Adeline's enigmatic references to the events and culture of this time.

Prelude, A Novel, is a captivating thriller about the Underground Railroad inspired by the Davidsons’ research into Adeline’s life and times. Davidson recreates the social milieu of Adeline around the most dramatic movement in the America in which she lived.


My Review:
This book is actually two books: a historical fiction, Prelude, and historical nonfiction, The 1854 Diary of Adeline Elizabeth Hoe. The diary is set in New York and the surrounding areas from May 26 to December 27, 1854. The novel was based on the diary. The author used the entries in the diary as an outline for the story and then added details to fill out entries--like having the characters drying apple slices rather than using the less specific description of helping in the kitchen.

These historical details and the historical notes on the diary were clearly carefully researched and helped to bring the time period alive. Suspense was added in the novel by giving Adeline a romantic interest and providing a secret life of working on the Underground Railroad to her love interest. I liked the characters in the novel, and they reacted realistically to various situations. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I enjoyed the interesting novel, Prelude.

The diary recorded Adeline's daily activities, like her chores, which friends dropped by, going to a party, or going out for ice cream. She talked about to the illnesses of her family and relations, the books that they read while sewing, and traveling to visit relatives. It was interesting due to the variation in activities from day to day. When she got home from travelling and the days became less remarkable, her diary petered out.

Black and white pictures were included that showed people and places mentioned in the text. There were also notes related to the diary which explained who certain people were or how billiards was played back then, or the story behind a fire in a city that was only briefly mentioned in the diary. Though the diary wasn't written with the intent that descendants might read it one day, it was still an interesting look at the time, place, and her lifestyle.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

And the winner is...

It's time to announce the winner of the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop. Including Twitter entries, we had 16 entries. Using a random number generator and numbering the entrants in the order I received them, the winner is:

Kim Reid (@kimbreid)
who won "In Times of Trouble" by Yolonda Sanders

Congratulations! I'll be contacting you for your address.

For those who didn't win, you can always buy a copy of these books from your favorite bookstore or see if they have them at your local library.

Rubbed Out by Riley Adams

Rubbed Out by Riley Adams ISBN-13: 9780425259993 Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: July 2, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Even Lulu Taylor—proprietress of Aunt Pat’s Barbeque Restaurant in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee—needs to get out of the kitchen now and then. But at the Rock and Ribs festival, she finds more than a taste of trouble…

Reuben Shaw rubs a lot of people the wrong way—including Lulu’s best friend, Cherry, who has the misfortune of being in the booth next to his at the festival. The pigheaded pit master thinks he’s a shoo-in to win the barbeque competition, but he spends more time stirring up trouble than seasoning his spare ribs.

Hours after she gets into a quarrel with him, Cherry finds Shaw dead with a butcher knife in his chest. Now it’s her turn to get grilled—by the police. Lulu sets out to clear her friend’s name and finds Shaw had more secrets than his BBQ recipe. She’ll need to act fast, because the real killer will spare no one…including Lulu.


My Review:
Rubbed Out is a humorous cozy mystery. It's the fourth in a series, but you can follow this story without having read the first novel, and this novel didn't spoil the mysteries in the previous novels.

The characters were engaging and reacted realistically to the situations. The details about the area, the festival, and the people brought the story alive in my imagination without slowing the pacing. Whodunit was high on my suspect list, but so many people had a motive that whodunit wasn't obvious.

There were no sex scenes. There was a very minor amount of fake bad language (as in, one "heck"). Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop

As a part of the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop, I'm holding a giveaway for your choice of one of the following books:


In Times of Trouble by Yolonda Sanders is a Christian general fiction novel. You can read my review.

Lisa Hampton has started a new life after a scandalous betrayal by her husband led to their divorce. But their teenage daughter, Chanelle, seems determined to lie about where she's going and who she's with and to back-talk her mom when Lisa gets protective. Luckily, Lisa has best friends in Isaac and Olivia Scott, the most influential and powerful couple in the state. But when Chanelle accuses the Scotts’ son of rape, Lisa discovers how quickly her friends become foes. Olivia and Isaac use their wealth, prestige, and power to manipulate justice and threaten everything Lisa holds dear.


Death in Vinesby M.L. Longworth is a mystery novel. You can read my review. (This novel has some bad language.)

Olivier Bonnard, the owner of Domaine Beauclaire winery, is devastated when he discovers the theft of a priceless cache of rare vintages. Soon after, Monsieur Gilles d’Arras reports that his wife, Pauline, has vanished from their lavish apartment. As Judge Antoine Verlaque and Commissioner Paulik tackle the cases (with a little help from Marine Bonnet), they receive an urgent call: Bonnard has just found Madame d’Arras--dead in his vineyard.


This contest is for USA residents only.


To enter the giveaway:

1) You can leave a comment to this post asking to be entered and naming which book you'd like to win. (I have comment moderation on to prevent spam comments, so don't worry if your entry comment doesn't appear immediately. It will soon.) Please also leave some way for me to contact you--or follow this blog so you can see the winner announcement.

OR

2) you can twitter me saying "Hi @genrereviewer. Enter me in the giveaway for [give the book name and author's name]."


This giveaway ends on July 9, 2013 at midnight. The winner will be randomly selected. I'll announce the winner on July 10, 2013 on this blog.

If you entered using twitter, I'll send you a @ or DM telling you of your win and asking where to send the book. If you entered using the blog comments, you'll need to leave your e-mail address or check back to see if you won so you can e-mail me your mailing address. If the winner hasn't responded with a mailing address within four days, I reserve the right to pick a new winner.

I hope everyone has fun with this!


The blogs participating in the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop: