Death In The Memorial Garden by: Kathie Deviny

Title: Death in the Memorial Garden
Author: Kathie Deviny
Publisher: Camel Press
Publication Date: October 15,2012
Pages: 141

Description:

Just as the sexton is about to inter the ashes of one of Grace Church’s last wealthy patronesses in the Memorial Garden, he unearths a wine crate containing the ashes of an unknown. Next to the ashes is a distinctive pair of shoes. Not only are the woman’s relatives furious at the interruption, but they soon have grounds for a lawsuit: yet another piece of the church’s tower comes crashing to the ground.
With their congregation dwindling and their world literally falling in around them, Father Robert Vickers and his colorful staff members and volunteers put their heads together to solve the mystery of the anonymous ashes and find the means to save Grace Church from the developers … all in time for the Bishop’s visit.

My Thoughts:

This was a great cozy that takes place in Grace’s Church where the church is having some issues.  First the Church is falling apart and the pastor is feeling depressed, secondly while burying the ashes of a church member the congregation finds a pair of patent leather shoes and a box of ashes.  It is up to the members to find out what is going on.  Meanwhile someone also used this to murder another church member who spent time with birds.

This book was typical cozy mystery with a big mystery to solve and colorful characters to meet I look forward to reading her next book!

Curveball by: Jen Estes

Title: Curveball
Author: Jen Estes
Publisher: Camel Press
Pages: 312
Format: ebook
Source: Partners In Crime Book Tour
Series: A Cat McDaniel Mystery #1

Description:

BACK ON THE BENCH

Baseball reporter Cat McDaniel specializes in exposes. Now that very talent has left her unemployed. Desperate to get off the bench and back into the lineup, she is thrilled to land an interview with the Buffalo Soldiers’ General Manager Roger “Rakin’” Aiken–Baseball legend, eight-time All Star… and oblivious father to a Major League bratty co-ed named Paige.

A CURVEBALL WITH A CAVEAT

Aiken offers Cat the team writer position for the following spring, but the opportunity is tempered by a curveball of a caveat: she must first spend the winter as a blogger reporting on the Latin American training facility. She is also supposed to look out for Paige, nominally the team’s newest scouting assistant. Being a glorified babysitter and chaperone still beats being an out-of-work sportswriter. Cat reluctantly leaves behind her gorgeous boyfriend Benji and accompanies the party girl to sunny Santo Domingo to balance baselines and conga lines.

HARDBALL FOR REAL

Paige falls for Chance Hayward, an agent who plays hardball–the figurative kind. Joining them on the field is Paige’s ex, Junior DeLeon, one of the coaches who’d really like to score with Cat. When an aspiring player turns up dead, it is up to Cat and Junior to devise a game-changing strategy. Will Cat’s snooping work in her favor this time, or will she strike out … losing her job, her boyfriend and her life?

Curveball follows Big Leagues as Book 2 of the Cat McDaniel Mysteries, also known as the Foul Ball series.

My Thoughts:

This was a great new mystery series involving Cat McDaniel who is trying to land a job with Buffalo Soldiers.  Instead she ends up babysitting the Paige Aiken the daughter of General Manager Roger “Rakin’” Aiken.  The two girls end up finding a body down in Santo Damingo quickly into the story, and Cat decides to investigate what is going on involving baseball players.  Paige on the other hand is smitten or so it seems with Chance Hayward an agent who hooks up kids with trainers.  What you slowly notice is something with Chance Hayward is way off.  I really enjoyed the adventure and mystery with this story.  Wondering if Cat will survive Thunderstorm Paige and get her dream job!

Drop Dead on Recall by: Sheila Webster Boneham

Title: Drop Dead on Recall
Author: Sheila Webster Boneham
Pages: 408
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Series: An Animal in Focus #1
Format: Ebook Arc
Source: NetGalley

Description:

Dogs, cats, and murderous misdeeds

Animal photographer and dog show handler Janet MacPhail knows it’s the sure-footed, finely trained canine competitors that steal the attention in the obedience ring. But all eyes are on widely disliked star handler Abigail Dorn when she falls down dead at the drop on recall command with her border collie, Pip, an Obedience Trial Champion.

Janet suspects foul play when she uncovers a bitter rivalry between Abby and Suzette, the owner of Fly, Pip’s top-ranking competitor. Balancing her dementia-afflicted mother, threats aimed at her beloved pets, and a flirty-hunk dog handler, Janet investigates as another mur¬der takes place. And her nosing around reveals an ugly scandal in the dog show circuit.

My Thoughts:

This book was sent to me via NetGalley for a honest and fair review.  This is the story of Janet and what is happening in her circle of dog lover friends when Abigail Dorn falls dead, it’s up to Janet to find out what is going on.  There is alot of cat and mouse with this book.  Someone is targeting Janet of what she might know and what she might not realize that she knows.

I loved this book was great that no animals got severely hurt in this book.  While the owners of some of the animals…well some just wound up dead regardless.  This book also introduced you into the world of show dogs and dog breeding that you may not know about but as I was reading I wound up learning alot about them.

The Ghost and The Dead Deb by: Alice Kimberly

Title: The Ghost and The Dead Deb
Author: Alice Kimberly
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 260
Series: Haunted Bookshop Mystery #2

Description:

Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure wants her resident sleuth-ghost, Jack, to stop haunting her customers. But when a pretty author is murdered, Jack can’t rest in peace.

 

My Thoughts:

Oh my gosh I love this series so far.  In this one Penelope finds herself having missing people all over the place when a controversial author Angel Stark writes a tell all about the rich and famous she meets with people who’d rather not flash murder around for profit.  Lots are angry about this book and someone is angry enough to kill over it.  When the body of the author is found in a body of water by the local inn, it’s up to Penelope and her ghost of companion Jack the very dead P.I to find out what is going on and who’s out to get whom.

This is definitely not your typical cozy mystery as Penelope likes to look at people with rose contacts/glasses.  She I think in a lot of ways is still reeling from the suicide of her husband.  The impact that has on Penelope and her son.  She seems to be trying to give her son the good things in life without the money her husband came from.  Shying away from the money and power that the McClure’s represent.

Jack is a true to his time era type of P.I. full of slang of his era girls being dolls, and P.I.’s being Dicks.  I enjoy how he helps Penelope but also needs her to help him find out why he was killed. He has finally got some of his story out to Penelope through old case files.  I just enjoy the back and forth between the two.

The town I love how the neighbors rally together and times and generally care for one another which can be rare nowadays you don’t see that as much as you did then.  I definitely enjoy going back to Rhode Island time and time again!

File M for Murder by: Miranda James

Title: File M for Murder
Author: Miranda James
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 304
Source: Purchase
Format: ebook

Description:

Athena College’s new writer in residence is native son and playwright Connor Lawton, known for his sharp writing-and sharper tongue. After an unpleasant encounter, librarian Charlie Harris heads home to a nice surprise: his daughter Laura is subbing for another Athena professor. Unfortunately her old flame Connor Lawton got her the job.

But before Connor finishes his newest play, he’s murdered-and Laura is the prime suspect. Charlie and his faithful cat, Diesel, follow Connor’s cluttered trail to find the true killer before his daughter is forever catalogued under M…for murderer.

My Thoughts:

Charlie Harris is back to work and meeting interesting people at the library enter Connor Lawton a pain in the rear playwright.  Charlie also discovers his lovely daughter Laura is home to teach a semester at Athena College.  When not long into her teaching career she finds Connor dead and herself the prime suspect, and the hidden secret to what is going on all sitting on a thumb drive.  Will Charlie solve it in time or will his house go up in smoke.

With everything from attacks on Laura Harris to letter bombs and attempted fires on the Harris household it’s up to the Harris Kid’s and boarders Stewart and Justin along with Dante, Diesel and Charlie to find out who’s out to get the Harris’s.  I enjoyed this so much.  Seeing Charlie with a new relationship starting and getting to see how the kids interact with their father and how they all show love to Dante and Diesel.  A great cozy mystery I have fallen in love with.  I especially love reading about Athena!

High Five by: Janet Evanovich

Title: High Five
Author: Janet Evanovich
Pages: 317
Format: ebook
Series: Stephanie Plum #5

Description:

The speaker is Stephanie Plum, the glamorous if slightly ditzy bounty hunter from Trenton, New Jersey, and one of the most original creations in recent mystery fiction.

In this fifth entry in Janet Evanovich’s increasingly popular series, Stephanie’s problems are many and varied. She’s not making enough money picking up FTAs (Failures to Appear) for her cousin Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds; her red-hot love affair with Detective Joe Morelli has cooled off; and her giant extended family is no help at all. For instance, Uncle Fred the cheapskate has disappeared, leaving behind some suspicious photographs of body parts in garbage bags and links to some really dangerous people.

When Stephanie turns to her friend and mentor, Ranger, for financial advice, he gets her involved in a gang of toughs doing instant evictions for landlords. (She complains to Ranger about the job and its dangers, prompting one of the hired thug to say, “Man, you don’t like to get shot. You don’t like to get arrested. You don’t know how to have fun at all.”)

Most of Stephanie’s charm, of course, comes from her attitude–a combination of the brazen bravado that turns a failed lingerie buyer into a bounty hunter in the first place and the normal fears of a person in over her head.

My Thoughts:

Stephanie has herself in all sorts of trouble now, when the FTA’s aren’s appearing except for a little man she has to apprehend Stephanie decides to go to Ranger for some work.  Which has it’s ups and downs.  She’s also on again off again with Joe Morelli which has her all upside down.  I love this series and especially Stephanie’s crazy grandmother who up to her usual antics taking pictures of a dead corpse.  It’s always full of great humor and adventure.

Splitsville.com by: Tonya Kappes

Title: Splitsville.com
Author: Tonya Kappes
Publisher: Tonya Kappes
Pages: 300
Series: An Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery #1
Format: ebook
Source: Purchase

Description:

Splitsville.com is more than Olivia Davis ever dreamed of when she launched the online break up service where she does the dirty work under the alias of Jenn. No one can find out she’s the mastermind of her internet sensation, especially when they threaten her for breaking their hearts.

More importantly, Olivia can’t keep a job. The problem is, she has a “gift”. Or what she considers a curse- reading auras. When a bunch of auras collide, Olivia isn’t able to function. So having an online business works out great.

But when two of her clients turn up dead and puts her company at risk, she’s the first one on the trail. With Splitsville.com future on the line, it’s time to use her “gift” to figure out who the killer is and who’s trying to set her up.

You never know who’s behind the monitor!

My Thoughts:

This was a great book that I got through Barnes and Noble.  It’s the story of Olivia Davis who spends her days dumping people for her clients anything from a date breakup to a divorce break up.  She uses the alias of Jenn so people who meet her don’t know who she is.  Her company is Splitsville.com and she does just that.  When someone from Olivia’s past ends up dead curiosity strikes Olivia even more so when her best friend Erin’s boyfriend ends up murder and Splitsville.com’s identity is about to be revealed Olivia decides to find out who, what and why.  Olivia also meets Bradley and they start dating which is a cute relationship while the main thing going on is who is killing people and who is threatening Olivia.  This book in a way made me think of Victoria Laurie’s psychic eye mysteries and I loved it can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Never Say Pie by: Carol Culver

Title: Never Say Pie
Author: Carol Culver
Publisher: Midnight Ink Books
Pages: 261
Series: A Pie Shop Mystery #2
Format: ebook Arc
Source: NetGalley

Description:

It’s summertime in Crystal Cove, California, and sales are brisk at the outdoor Food Fair. There’s fresh bread, artisan cheese, gourmet cupcakes, plus Hanna’s delicious pies. When despised local food critic Heath Barr is found stabbed to death, no one is sorry to hear the news—except perhaps Hanna, the main suspect. It doesn’t help that Hanna’s high school crush is the police chief. Hanna must track down a killer while up to her elbows in pie dough.

My Thoughts:

This book picked up real quick when local pie maker Hanna and a bunch of local of folks of different abilities, a cupcake maker, a chicken grower, meat grower and cheese maker to say the least are all ripped apart by Heath Barr a local food critic, there are so many suspects and finding out who did it will take a lot of detective work.  Many people were hurt by the local critic’s opinion of their work.  Was it the local merchants who were insulted?  Or someone who paid off the food critic?  Many possibilities.  Add to the mix Hanna’s relationship with the local chief of police.  Hanna finds herself in hot water everything from a toss into a pool, to breaking and entering, what’s a girl to do?  This was a great new mystery series that I definitely will be following.  Can’t wait to see what Ms. Culver bakes up next!

Deadly Row To Hoe by: Cricket McRae

Title: Deadly Row to Hoe
Author: Cricket McRae
Publisher: Midnight Ink Books
Pages: 263
Series: Home Crafting Mystery #6
Format: ebook arc
Source: NetGalley

Description:

As a member of a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm, Sophie Mae wrangles weeds in exchange for tasty, organic treats. But she almost loses her appetite when a dead body is found in the compost heap. The murder victim is Darla Klick, an ornithologist. Between baby-making dates with her husband, the police detective, Sophie Mae decides to really get her hands dirty and discover who killed the young, sweet-natured “bird lady.”

My Thoughts:

What a great cozy mystery when a woman is mysteriously murdered on the community farm it’s up to Sophie Mae and the police to find out what is going on.  Lots of people seem to know the victim from time spent on a commune together.  When tragedy early on strikes some wonder if that has anything to do with the current murder.  A great cozy mystery full of all sorts of adventures.  I really enjoyed reading about people in this community.

The Diva Digs Up The Dirt by: Krista Davis

Title: The Diva Digs Up The Dirt
Author: Krista Davis
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Pages: 370
Format: e-book Barnes and Noble
Source: Purchase
Purchase: Barnes&Noble / Amazon
Series: The Domestic Diva #6

Description:

Determined not to be a garden-variety diva, Sophie Winston’s neighbor, Natasha, cultivates a plan to shine on television—using Sophie’s backyard. As the cast and crew of the makeover show Tear It Up With Troy bulldoze through her backyard—and vacation—Sophie retreats to her perennial boyfriend Wolf’s to replace a dead rose bush. But her tender deed goes awry when she digs up a purse belonging to Wolf’s missing wife.

As speculations sprout, Wolf bolts, and then a body crops up in a garden. Is Wolf’s thorny past raising a dead head? This is one case the domestic diva can’t let wither on the vine…

My Thoughts:

All I can say is wow and Natasha is at it again.  Now Natasha is having Sophie’s yard ripped apart to install a garage.  Sophie grudgingly agrees to allow it happen.  In a desperate attempt to flee Natasha’s madness Sophie buys a rose bush and takes it over to her boyfriends house to plant it after retrieving the old bush she discovers a purse with a wallet inside that belongs to her boyfriend Wolf’s missing wife.  The fingers all point at Wolf having killed his wife and it’s up to Sophie to find out what is going on, also someone is poisoning The Greene’s and Sophie is also trying to figure out what is up with the poisoning.

I felt bittersweet at the end of this book, while somethings were resolved I began to wonder what is in store for Sophie and I felt bad for her and found myself weeping at the end of the story.  Will something ever happen between Sophie and Mars?  What will happen with her relationship with Wolf?  Will Mars ever ditch Natasha once and for all?  I can’t wait to see what Krista Davis hands us next!