Freezer I'll Shoot by Victoria Hamilton

October 15 - October 31

  Jaymie is trying to get the family cabin repaired in time for a get together but plumbing problems aren't the only issues that keep popping up in her backyard on Heartbreak Island. Her boyfriend's family are in town and are causing disruptions with Jaymie's family but the murder on the island seems to be a bigger issue.   Trying to keep everyone calm while writing her first vintage cookbook newspaper column keeps not just Jaymie but the reader guessing unil the end.   recipes and fun galore.

In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster ★★★½ by Stephanie Laurens

The mysterious Scottish Laird is at again and has Eliza Cynster abducted from her sister's engagement party at her brother's home.  Realizing that she is in the same predicament that her sister had faced, Eliza, trying to stay calm, endeavors to formulate a plan to seek help.

When the  carriage is slowed by narrowness of the road, Eliza sees a familiar face and cries out even though her words can't be heard.  The other rider continues on and reflects on what the saw and realizes that the frightened woman was Eliza Cynster.  Carefully backtracking, Sir Jeremy Carling devises a plan to rescue and return Eliza to her family, but the captors have other ideas and their pursuit is constant and unrelenting.

I enjoyed the story and the romance evolution, the Cynster always are a great story

Series/ Progress: Cynster Sisters 2/3
DATE READ: October 4 - October 12
NO. OF PAGES: 448
Type of Book Audiobook
SOURCE: Public Library

Dangling by a Thread ★★★½ by Lea Wait

Challenge Book# 79


Having just visited the coast of Maine, I really enjoyed reading this cozy set in Haven Harbor.  Angie's curiosity gets the better of her when she sees a stranger at the docks and follows him in town.  When she realizes that he is a friend of one of Needlepointers, Dave,  she questions who he is.

The story centers around the stranger who suffers from PTSD  and lives a solitary life on King Island where he watches over a threatened species of seabirds.  When he is discovered murdered and it turns out that he had recently changed his will to leave his half of the island to Dave, Angie sets out to find the murderer who sees Dave as a threat as well.

Loved the story, the characters and the writing.  Looking forward to the next visit to the Haven Harbor.

Series/ Progress: Mainely Needlepoint Mystery 4/4
DATE READ: October 3 - October 5
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Engaged in Death ★★★½ by Stephanie Blackmoore

Mallory is weeks away from marrying Keith when her future Grandmother-in-law, Sybil, passes away and at the same time she receives a batch of photos showing her fiancée cheating on her with his assistant.  Calling off the wedding and going into "hiding" she is finally rescued by her sister, Rachel, and when they discover that Sybil left her home to Mallory instead of her grandson, things start to take an unusual turn.

Finding a dead body on the lawn, trying to cancel all the wedding arrangements or give them away, Mallory has to find a way to get her life back on track as well as help her sister find her own path.

I loved the characters, they were great to meet or love to hate (Keith and his mother),  Just wish Sybil could have stayed around - she sounded like a nifty lady.

Looking forward to the next one!

Series/ Progress: Wedding Planner Mystery 1/1
DATE READ: October 2 - October 3
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Coolidge ★★★½ by Amity Shlaes

This was a detailed biography of our 30th president and though at the beginning it was a bit over detailed, causing it to seem sluggish, once the political issues of the day surfaced it truly took my interest.

A well-researched book, Calvin Coolidge was apparently very reserved which earned him his name of Silent Cal but he was determined to maintain his New England roots and brought fiscal responsibility wherever he served.

As the Governor of Massachusetts, he was in office when the police force in Boston decided to strike for better wages and his resolve to not cave in earned him national recognition and the Vice Presidential bid in 1920 with Warren Harding.

After Harding's unexpected death, and exposure of the Teapot Dome affair, Coolidge worked diligently to restore the trust in government.  He also attempted to balance the budget, reduce unnecessary spending, and cut the size of the Federal Government.

"Coolidge believed that immigrants should come only if the United States could absorb them and only if they were prepared to make an effort to assimilate."  He also believed "that citizens must know their country and learn its language to become good citizens."

The Wall Street Journal's obituary of Calvin Coolidge in 1933 read :

“….In due time, the good fortune of the United States to have had such a man as Calvin Coolidge in just the years he filled the office will be more clearly realized than it has yet been."

After reading this book I regret that so many of our current citizens are unaware of this man and his endeavors to make our government what it should be.

Too bad that the current candidates can't learn from his example.

DATE READ: April 29 - Sept 22
NO. OF PAGES: 1007
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Public Library

Silenced by Syrah ★★★½ by Mchele Scott

Nikki is overseeing the opening of the new restaurant, resort and spa connected with Malveaux winery but things get a bit messy when the chef is found dead at the spa in an apparently locked room.  Nikki doesn't realize but she is in danger too not just from the killer but the men in her life may be breaking her heart.

I really like this series set in Napa Valley (one of my favorite places).  The characters need to continue to evolve while keeping the mysteries coming.

Series/ Progress: Wine Lovers Mystery 3/7
DATE READ: Sept 10 - Sept 11
NO. OF PAGES: 241
Type of Book ARD
SOURCE: Public Library

Murder in the Secret Garden ★★★★ by Ellery Adams

Storyton Hall is hosting a retreat for the Medieval Herbalists and a wedding for family of one of its members.  Along with those festivities the newest  merchant in town is hosting a duck race on the river where the ducks are named and dressed for literary characters.  Sounds like loads of fun until Jane finds one of her guests floating face down in the river.

The herbalists are all experts in poisons so Jane has to find out who is responsible before anymore of her guests leave permanently.

I love the setting of this series.  I so wish that there really was such a hotel, I think I would book a room quickly, even if there were unnatural deaths occurring.  Just sounds like a peaceful place to visit.

Series/ Progress: Book Retreat Mystery 3/3
DATE READ: Sept 6 - Sept 9
NO. OF PAGES: 262
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Barnes & Noble

The Champagne Conspiracy ★★★ by Ellen Crosby

Lucie Montgomery and her winemaker/beau, Quinn, have decided to expand their offerings and delve into the making of champagne/sparkling wine.  However, while working on the development they are dragged into a conspiracy by one of Quinn's distant relatives and their investigation into the details of a long ago family member's prove dangerous because of historical implications.

I love this series because the characters are well developed and the setting is very well researched. (I know because I live nearby.) And of course, I just love wine!

Series/ Progress: Wine Country Mystery 7/7
DATE READ: Sept 2 - Sept 6
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Picture Miss Seeton ★★★ by Heron Carvic

The re-release of this 50 year old series was a delight.  The reader is immediately thrown into the arms of Miss Seeton, a retired art teacher who has inherited a cottage in a rural area who in celebration goes to the opera before leaving for her new home.  Little does she know that on leaving she will involve herself in a dangerous situation that will follow her to her new home.

Miss Seeton is a mix of Jane Marple and Emily Pollifax wielding her umbrella as well as D'Artagnan his sword.  The inhabitants of Plummergen village kept this reader laughing throughout. I look forward to her next adventure.

Series/ Progress: Miss Seeton  1/5
DATE READ: Aug 31 - Sept 1
NO. OF PAGES: 170
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Drape Expectations by Karen Rose Smith

4th  Caprice De Luca Mystery



Caprice is back at it, supporting her family and friends.  This time her friend Ace discovered his fiancée dead so Caprice adopts her cat as well as working to clear Ace of any suspicion in the murder.  At the same time, Caprice has to deal with issues in her own life - basically decide which man she wants to be with - Seth or Grant.

A Story to Kill by Lynn Cahoon

1st Cat Latimer Mystery



I love the books by this author and when a new series appeared on the horizon via NetGalley, I had to grab it!  The central character Cat Latimer received an old house as an inheritance from her ex-husband and she's decided to turn it into a B&B, hosting writers' retreat one week a month while she writes the rest of the time. The first guests start things off with the top writer in attendance failing to appear because he's murdered.  Cat feels that to make sure that her new venture doesn't die also, she needs to find the murderer before the rest of the attendees leave town.  I like the premise and look forward to getting to know these characters better.

Gilt by Association by Karen Rose Smith

3rd Caprice De Luca Mystery



This series centers around Caprice DeLuca and her relationships with her family so when a good friend of her mother is found murdered, Caprice works to determine who did it while supporting her sisters in their life adjustments (new baby, expanding business) and training her puppy and animal rescues.  This s a fun series with great characters.

Killer Look ★★★½ by Linda Fairstein

Alex is still recovering from the PTSD of her kidnapping but she gets involved unofficially with a case of the murder of a famous dress designer. Her knowledge of the garment district and the fashion houses is vital as Mike and Mercer work to find the murderer.

I continue to marvel at the depth of knowledge that is transmitted over the pages in his series that always centers on a particular area of NYC and yet creates a great mystery. The ending was a stunner!

Series/ Progress: Alexandra Cooper 18/18
DATE READ: July 13 - July 16
NO. OF PAGES: 400
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

A Most Curious Murder ★★★ by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli

Jenny Weston returns to her home after a messy divorce hoping for some peace bu instead she finds her mother traumatized by the destruction of the Little Library that her father had built before his death.  The next day she discovers a neighbor murdered in his yard and things just keep happening.

There appears to be some possibility for this first in a series,  the characters are a bit odd and the story a bit pat.  Could possibly use an influx of originality.

Series/ Progress: The Little Library Mysteries 1/1
DATE READ: July 7 - July 13
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

For Cheddar or Worse ★★★½ by Avery Aames

Providence is holding the annual Cheese festival and along with the usual activities there is going to be a Brain Trust at one of the farms.  Charlotte and Jordan are attending but are unfortunate in that they discover the body of a well-known cheese specialist dead the morning after she criticized just about all of the other guests.  Having faith in friends, Charlotte sets out to clear them of any connection with the murder which took place in "a locked room".

I love this series and when I heard that the publisher was not going to continue, I was very unhappy.  I sincerely hope that the author will find another publisher so that these wonderful characters can continue to live in her stories.


Series/ Progress: Cheese Shoppe Mysteries 7/7
DATE READ: June 30 - July 4
NO. OF PAGES: 290
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook

The Black Reckoning ★★★★ by John Stephens

The final book in the trilogy of the Books of Beginning finds Emma traveling to the Land of the Dead alone because as the keeper of the Black Reckoning she is the only living being allowed.   She must reach and retrieve the Reckoning before the Dire Magnus so that together with her siblings they can defeat him and save the world from destruction.

This book was a great finish to the series and all the issues/characters were tied up nicely.  A fun series and well-written.


Series/ Progress: Books of Beginning 3/3
DATE READ: June 13 - June 22
NO. OF PAGES: 424
Type of Book audiobook
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile

Murder at the Mansion ★★★★ by Janet Finsilver

Kelly Jackson is returning to Redwood Cove to take up her new job as the manager of the Redwood Cove B&B but since the renovations aren't quite finished, her boss asks her to help with the inventory at Redwood Heights, a sister property in the area that has had some problems.  Little does she know but the problems are going to be getting worse.

One of the guests at Redwood Heights has been a complainer but when Kelly finds her dead, she has to wonder if some of the complaints may have been the cause.

The characters have some depth, the story weaves around the new characters while incorporating the established ones well.  This reader watched carefully trying no to be misdirected however, some clues seemed to be missing and weren't revealed until the end.  All in all an enjoyable story - looking forward to the next.

Series/ Progress: Redwood Inn Mysteries 2/2
DATE READ: June 14 - June 15
NO. OF PAGES: 192
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop ★★★★½ by Rosanna Chiofalo

First of all I loved this story.  It was rich and full of the flavor of the love of baking and nuns life complete with the love of God as well as their fellow man.  It could have been dark and depressing and instead it was filled with light and love and hope.

The story transports the reader back in time to a period when rape victims were faced with blame and their families had to live with shame.  Rosalia is a young woman who becomes the object of an obsession by a creepy youth who eventually kidnaps her, rapes her and forces her to send a letter to her family saying that she ran away willingly.  When she is found  by the nuns abandoned in a cave, bruised and naked, she is unable to remember her name and where she is from. The nuns nurse her back to living and teach her to bake in their pastry shop.  Eventually her memory returns but when she is taken back to her village, her family have moved on because the shame related to her disappearance.

Rosalia returns to the convent but continues to search for her family believing that one day she will be reunited with them.

The depth of emotion that is related in this story was  overwhelming at times but the reader is rewarded throughout by the beautiful story telling and characters.


DATE READ: June 5 - June 11
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Corridors of the Night ★★★½ by Anne Perry

In this 21st installment of the William Monk series, Hester Monk takes front and center when she agrees to fill in for a nursing associate from the Crimea at a private hospital.  Being on the night shift, she unexpectedly meets a small girl in the corridor saying that her brother is dying.  What Hester finds is a small boy who has been used for a blood donor excessively and is now extremely dehydrated.  Taking the responsibility of nursing this child instead of the main ward where she was assigned, Hester gets herself caught in a web of secrecy and eventually is kidnapped.  Realizing that the only way to protect the children used in an unauthorized medical experiment is to participate, Hester is caught up in the intrigue.

Monk, in the meantime, is determined to find his wife when she doesn't return home and no one at the hospital can tell him where she is.

The medical aspects of this tale were interesting, relating the out of date procedures of over 100 years ago for the treatment of Leukemia.  Using transfusions at this time were a hit or miss event since the discovery of the current blood types wasn't made until 1901.

Series/ Progress: William Monk 21/21
DATE READ: April 27 - May 31
NO. OF PAGES: 473
Type of Book AUDIOBOOK
SOURCE: audio stockpile

And Only to Deceive ★★★½ by Tasha Alexander

Lady Ashton is unexpectedly widowed shortly after the wedding when her husband dies on safari. Knowing very little of him, she embraces his interests in antiquities and finds herself caught wondering what really happened.

Combining the Victorian period restrictions for a woman with the mystery was thoroughly gripping, leading the reader along an unexpected path.

Series/ Progress: Lady Emily Ashton Mystery 1/11
DATE READ: May 24 - May 28
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Type of Book e book
SOURCE: Nook