Crepe Factor by Laura Childs

Scrapbooking Mystery 14/14
October 3 - October 26

I love the books by Laura Childs and this one is always fun especially when it is set and released just before Halloween.

Carmela always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and this tale is no different when she and Ava are around when first Martin Lash has a vicious argument  with Quigg Brevard and then appears a little later murdered by a chef's fork.  Quigg prevails upon Carmela to find out what happened since he appears as the prime suspect.

She and Ava dig into the background of the victim and eventually are placed into a dangerous situation that leads to the proper solution.
Great Story!

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

For Your Love by Beverly Jenkins

I love this series!  No matter what nasty things happen to the residents of Henry Adams, KS they are still loving and supportive to each other, helping when others have hard times and the head do-gooder is Ms. Bernadine Brown.  But don't think that Ms. Brown is a push over, no siree.

Bernadine Brown may have millions and has worked tirelessly to help the residents in the town she bought but she makes them earn every blessing by working together.

This time we see a young couple who are friends of Bernadine's adopted daughter who because of a disadvantaged upbringing are battling to stay afloat with their young offspring.  They come to town at the invitation of the friend and find not only a well-paying job but a home to live in and a truck to get them around.

In the meantime, Mayor Trent July is informed that his birth mother has come to see him.  Ms. Brown has to deal with the mayor of Franklin, the next town over, who is jealous of the success and revitalization of Henry Adams and whose mean spirit has the HA residents welcoming refugees.

I look forward to the next visit to Henry Adams, Kansas.

★★★★

GENRE: Fiction
CHARACTERS:
Series/ Progress: Blessings 6/6
DATE READ: September 14 - September 14
NO. OF PAGES: 295
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , 
SOURCE: LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Clobbered by Camembert by Avery Aames

This was the 3rd installment and the descriptions of the yummy cheeses, special recipes and unusual ice sculptures only added to the enjoyment of this mystery set at the Winter Wonderland Faire.

Kaitlyn Clydesdale returns to Providence, OH and sets out to buy up land stating she's starting a honey farm but when she is found dead, the local honey farmer, Ipo Ho,  is at the top of suspect list.  Charlotte's assistant, Rebecca, is positive that he's not guilty (they were smooching in the park) but the sheriff is convinced otherwise, so Charlotte starts her own investigation.  The results are "chilling".

 ★★★½
 
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Charlotte Bessette, Rebecca Zook, Ipo Ho, Chippendale Cooper, Kaitlyn Clydesdale
Series/ Progress: CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY/3
DATE READ: February 21 - February 24
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: ARD Stockpile

The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Continuing the stories in Oz, hoping to finish this year, I've found new characters mixed with the old and wondering why, after the success of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz,  Hollywood abandoned the stories.

Patchwork Girl is made by the Crooked Magician to help his wife with the household chores but she and the magician's friend are accidently petrified. The Patchwork girl along with several others set out to finf the ingredients to fashion a cure.

New generations should read these.

★★★

GENRE: Children's Classic
CHARACTERS: Patchwork Girl, Ojo, Shaggy Maan, Dorothy, Scarecrow
Series/ Progress: Wizard of Oz/#8
DATE READ: January 5 - January 7
NO. OF PAGES: 116
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: Nook

Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King

For those that follow the characters of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes in this series, the time frame of the story falls after Pirate King and Garment Shadows when they are cruising to Japan before returning home.

On the cruise Mary meets Sato Haruki, a current day ninja, while at the same time Holmes spies Lord Darley who he recognizes as a blackmailer.  The story carries Holmes and Russell with Sato through Japan and into the presence of Prince Regent Hirohito.  They are petitioned to aid in the recovery of a unique artifact.

Just as the reader thinks that the issues in the story have been resolved, Mary is back in Oxford and comes face to face with Haruki again asking for assistance for the same problem.

The actual resolution is exciting and totally unexpected.

★★★★

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, Haruki Sato, Hirohito
Series/ Progress: Mary Russell/#13
DATE READ: December 30 - January 5
NO. OF PAGES: 330
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: LTER, NetGalley

Death Checks Inn by Sara Robbins

Lacey Washburn is ready for the grand opening of her Bed and Breakfast but all does not go well especially when a dead body is found at the bottom of the stairs the first night.  Feeling that she needs to solve the apparent murder to protect her investment, Lacey with her sister Charlotte work to find the murderer.

A cute little start for a new series.

 ★★★

GENRE: Cozy mystery

SUBJECT: fraud

Setting: Elkville, CO

CHARACTERS: Lacey Washburn, Charlotte Washburn, Wyatt Graves, Heather Mason, Det. Peterson

DATE READ: December 16 - December 17

NO. OF PAGES: 104

Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 

SOURCE: NetGalley

Twisted Threads by Lea Wait

Angela Curtis is called back to Maine when her mother's body is finally found after 19 years.  On her arrival, she learns that her grandmother started a business with her fellow needlepoint enhusiasts but now she has a problem - the man who was suppose to sell their products is unreachable.  Angela offers to help since she has some skills having worked for a PI previously.

Successfully locating the salesman, Jacques Lattimore, and bringing him back to a meeting of the Mainely Needlepointers, everyone is stunned when he falls ill and then dies.  They are all suspects.  

The investigation and conclusion were interesting and well thought out.

Lots of fun!

 ★★★½

GENRE: Cozy mystery
SUBJECT: fraud, embezzlement
Setting: Haven Harbor, Maine
CHARACTERS: Angela Curtis, Charlotte Curtis,Lauren Greene Decker, Jacques Lattimore, Joe Greene
DATE READ: December 11 - December 16
NO. OF PAGES: 272
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Arabian Nights

This book was a group read for the entire year.  I finished a few weeks early.

I can honestly say that I have read [The Arabian Nights].  I'm sure that at the time of publication the stories were fascinating, however, in this day and age when many of the individual tales have been adapted to the silver screen, the stories have lost their luster.  Some I had never heard before, others far too many times.

 ★★★

GENRE: Historical Fiction
SUBJECT: morality tales
Setting: Baghdad, Middle East
CHARACTERS: Scheherazade, Sinbad, Ali Baba
DATE READ: January 15 - November 13
NO. OF PAGES: 765
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile

Love Letters by Debbie Macomber

The story lines are great, I can't say it any different.

 The Rose Harbor Inn is the gather spot for two different romances - the Porters who are trying to keep their marriage together and Ellie Reynolds who is finally spreading her wings and meeting her Internet boyfriend.  Both are full of surprises!

 ★★★★

GENRE: Romance
SUBJECT: Internet relationships, widowhood
Setting: Cedar Cove, WA
CHARACTERS: Jo Marie Rose, Mark Taylor, Ellie Reynolds, Maggie Porter, Roy Porter
DATE READ: October 7 - October 12
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: LT ER

The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith

 ★★★★

GENRE: Fantasy
SUBJECT: Fairy tale continuation
Setting: Gutefehia
CHARACTERS: Snow White, Prince Charming, The Mirror, Lady Arglist, Duke Gewissenhoft
DATE READ: June 3 - June 7
NO. OF PAGES: 155
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , 
SOURCE: ebook from author for review

PLOT:....................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................4.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.00
STYLE:..................................................................3.50
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................4.00
Average..............................................................................................4.00

…and they lived happily ever after.  Fairy tales always end with those words, but did you ever wonder what happened?  This book takes the story of Snow White to the ever after and tells the reader what happened before and after the Dwarfs.

We see how Snow White's evil stepmother treated her, how Snow White escaped to the forest, her treatment upon her return, and life with Prince Charming.  We see Snow White look into herself through the magic mirror and learn how the lessons of her life made her the woman we never knew.

What fun!

My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

★★★¾

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT: inheritance, municipal harrassment, hidden treasure
Setting: South Cove, CA
CHARACTERS: Jill Gardner, Miss Emily, Amy Newman, Greg King, Bambi, Sabrina Jones, George Jones
DATE READ: April 13 - April 15
NO. OF PAGES: 209
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: NetGalley for review

PLOT:....................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................4.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.50
Average..............................................................................................3.75

Jill Gardner left her legal job 5 years ago and moved to South Cove, CA to open a cozy store that sells coffee and books.  One of her first friends was cranky old lady, Miss Emily.  When Miss Emily runs into problems with the city Council, she turns to Jill for help.  Miss Emily turns up dead one day and all her problems are literally left to Jill -  stocks, house, and threats.

The council has given her 30 days to bring Miss Emily's house up to code so while working inside and out on the repairs, Jill is fighting off the dangers related to Miss Emily's murder and the efforts of the Mayor and his friends to force the sale of the old house that Miss Emily left to Jill.

I loved the story line as well as the characters that had me rooting for their safety.  A touch of romance was thrown in for good measure.  Hope the next installment gets here soon!

Prime Minister's Secret Agent by Susan Elia MacNeal

★★★½

GENRE: Mystery
SUBJECT: Biological warfare development
Setting: Scotland
CHARACTERS: Maggie Hope, Clara Hess, Sarah Sanderson, John Stirling, Winston Churchill
DATE READ: March 31 - April 5
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: NetGalley for review

PLOT:....................................................................3.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................4.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.00
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.50
Threshold Quality.................................................4.00
Average..............................................................................................3.50

Maggie Hope has returned home from her undercover assignment in Berlin, injured both physically and emotionally. Assigned as an instructor at a spy training site in Scotland, her spirit remains scarred as her body recovers.  Entangled in a new network of secrets, Maggie must put aside her own feelings to discover what is threatening the life of her friend and other civilians while the war rages and the global threats increase.

I thought that the plot on this mystery was a bit thinner than any of the previous but possibly that was in preparation for Maggie's next adventure.  Moving forward historically, there may have been lulls that needed to be handled to get the characters to the next phase of the adventures.

Seeing Maggie battle her inner demons was enough to carry the story.  Waiting for the next one!

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

 ★★★¾

GENRE: Fantasy YA
SUBJECT: shyness, insecurity, magic
Setting: Midnight Gulch, TN
CHARACTERS: Felicity Pickle, Frannie Jo Pickle, Holly Harness Pickle, Boone Harness, Cleopatra Harness, Jonah Pickett, Threadbare Brothers, Iasbelle Thistle, Oliver Weatherly
DATE READ: March 27 - March 30
NO. OF PAGES: 311
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Publisher for Review

PLOT:....................................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.00
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................4.50
Average..............................................................................................3.81

This is an entertaining story of a young girl who finally thinks that she has found home - a place with family and a friend but also magical. Felicity Pickle arrives in Midnight Gulch with her little sister and her mother. Felicity is a word gatherer - she sees words everywhere but she is so shy is unable to articulate them.  

Felicity feels a connection with Midnight Gulch and sets out to find out why her mother is a wanderer and works to free her from the family curse.

I really enjoyed the story - each character has their own kind of magic and the solution to the curse is simply magical!

Steeped in Evil by Laura Childs

 ★★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT: wine distribution
Setting: Charleston, SC
CHARACTERS: Theodosia Browning, Drayton Conneley, Jordan Knight, Andrew Turner, Tanya Woodson
DATE READ: March 17 - March 18
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,  
SOURCE: Signed ARC  from the Author

PLOT:....................................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.50
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................4.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................4.00
Average..............................................................................................4.00

Just because Theodosia and Drayton run the Indigo Tea Shoppe, that doesn't stop them from enjoying other beverages even when murder is involved.  Visiting a friend's winery, Theo and Drayton are present when a body tumbles out of a wine cask and because of Theo's special talents at uncovering answers, she sets out to expose the villain and help her friends. 

Reading a tea shoppe mystery is like visiting some of your favorite friends while enjoying your preferred activity. I keep wishing that there was a real  Indigo Tea Shoppe in Charleston.  I'd be there in a heartbeat just to meet these characters.

My sincere thanks to Laura Childs for the signed ARC - I loved it anyway.

Inherit the Word by Daryl Wood Gerber

 ★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT: jealousy, secrets
Setting: Crystal Cove, CA
CHARACTERS: Jenna Hart, Vera Hart, Natalie Mumford, Lola Bird, Sam Sykes
DATE READ: March 5 - March 8
NO. OF PAGES: 283
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,  MysteryMarch
SOURCE: Signed ARC from the Author

PLOT:....................................................................3.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.00
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.50
Threshold Quality.................................................3.50
Average..............................................................................................3.50 

Jenna Hart had moved back to Crystal Cove to help her aunt Vera with the project of her heart - a cookbook store/café. After weathering the murder of their guest chef in the first installment, now Jenna and her aunt are hosting the annual Grill Fest competition where 8 chefs - amateur and professional grill against each other for the prize.

Things don't start off well this time either - the defending champion is found murdered in the back alley apparently done in by a competitor with one of Cookbook Nook's panini press.  

Jenna's dear friend, Lola, is the chief suspect since the victim and she were seen arguing shortly before the victim was found. 

The murder at the Grill Fest is not enough however, because at home Jenna has discovered a mysterious key inside a figurine that she received from her deceased husband shortly before his death. What does the key unlock and how does Jenna go about finding the answers to the questions exposed.

This is the second installment in this series and one that I have found to be entertaining and captivating.  I'm waiting for the next book impatiently.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

 ★★★½

GENRE: Children's, Young Adult
SUBJECT: good vs. evil
Setting: the city
CHARACTERS: Ophelia Jane Worthington Whittand, Marvelous Boy, Alice Worthington Whittand, Miss Kaminski (Snow Queen), Malcolm Whittand
DATE READ: March 1 - March 4
NO. OF PAGES: 220
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: ARC from publisher

PLOT:....................................................................3.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.00
Average..............................................................................................3.33  

Ophelia is in the museum while her father works on a special exhibit.  Bored, she starts to explore and discovers a boy who is locked in a room.  He tells her his story and she works to free him and find the sword he needs.

The adventures that Ophelia encounters are entertaining and seem to be exactly what an 11 yr old would want to do.

Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

 ★★★★ 

GENRE: Classics
SUBJECT: unusual land
Setting: Oz
CHARACTERS: Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion
DATE READ: February 4 - February 5
NO. OF PAGES: 74
Challenges: TIOLI, CATEGORY, RANDOMCAT
SOURCE: Nook Stockpile

PLOT:....................................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.00
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................5.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.50
Threshold Quality.................................................4.00
Average..............................................................................................3.88  

Having watched the movie just about every year for many years, it was extremely interesting to read the story behind it.   The story had several differences which increased the fun of reading his story for the first time.  It's sad that the Golden Cap and China Town were lost in the adaptation.

League of Delphi by Chris Everheart

 ★★★★ 

GENRE: Young Adult
SUBJECT: Secret society
Setting: Washington, DC
CHARACTERS: Zach White, Ashley Sloan, Crazy Larry
DATE READ: January 27 - February 4
NO. OF PAGES: 292
Challenges: TIOLI, CATEGORY, 
SOURCE: Publisher for review

PLOT:....................................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................4.00
Average..............................................................................................3.88 

Zach White has returned to Arcanville after his mother's death - unsure of why he is drawn to this little PA town.  Working at the coffee shop, he sees  and meets most of the other highschoolers but he is still confused until he and Ashley find a way into the library and discover the secrets of the town.

The story was well written and gripped my attention so that I am looking forward to the next installment of the trilogy.

A Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer

★★★★

GENRE: fiction
SUBJECT: divorce and family
Setting: Nantucket, MA
CHARACTERS: Nicole Somerset, Sebastian Somerset, Kennedy, Maddox, Katya
DATE READ: December 12 - December 14
NO. OF PAGES: 209
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:   yes, NetGalley

PLOT:....................................................................3.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................3.50
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.50
Threshold Quality.................................................3.50
Average..............................................................................................3.50 

A lovely little Christmas story where a divorced father remarries and has his married pregnant daughter and her son and spouse to his home in Nantucket.  When a Christmas Eve storm pops up and Maddox, the little boy disappears, well, you can imagine.