Book Review: Cheddar Off Dead by Julia Buckley

Title: Cheddar Off Dead (Undercover Dish Mystery #2)
Author: Julia Buckley
Genre(s): Mystery| Cozy
Page length: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkeley
Publication date: September 6, 2016
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Author's website: http://www.juliabuckley.com/

Caterer and cook Lilah Drake is up to her elbows in deadly trouble in the latest mystery from the author of The Big Chili...  The Christmas holidays are one of Lilah’s favorite times of the year, filled with friends, family, and, of course, tons of food orders for her Covered Dish clients. But Lilah’s Yuletide cheer ends when she sees a most Grinch-like crime: the murder of a Santa in a school parking lot. It turns out the deceased Kris Kringle was a complicated tangle of naughty and nice, with a long list of people who might have wanted him dead. And whoever did the deed wants to make sure that Lilah keeps quiet. Now, Lilah will have to team up with her former fling, Detective Jay Parker, to unwrap the mysteries of a deadly Christmas killer and stay alive long enough to ring in the New Year... Goodreads

My Review: 

The second book in the Undercover Dish series (first book reviewed here) continues the adventures of Lilah Drake and her frustrating love interest, Detective Jay Parker. I didn't care much for his character in the first book, and though he's got more of a personality now, I'm still not sold on him. However, the wider cast of characters are much more complex and interesting.

The book opens up with Lilah dropping off a delivery for her friend Jenny, a teacher at the local elementary school. It's the school holiday party, complete with a Christmas clown (yeah, I don't know what that is either) and jolly old Saint Nicholas. Lilah is feeling down after her fall out with Jay, and chats up St. Nick on a whim. Santa is oddly philosophical (which was initially very off-putting until I found out more about his character), but gives Lilah a bit of a pep talk and she leaves feeling a bit better. Until she sees Santa being gunned down in the school parking lot, that is. The sole witness to the crime, Lilah has to go into hiding and cooperate with her ex-fling if she wants to make it through the holidays.

Most of the tension of the first book was due to the fact that Lilah's side business caters to those who either don't have the time or skill to cook, but still want to be known as a great cook to those in their circle. Her client list is completely confidential, and the main source of conflict was whether or not her secret would come out. It's not a factor in this second book, which I found rather odd, but there's still plenty of tension as some of the danger directed towards Lilah starts hitting a little closer to home.

A very enjoyable read and great addition to the series.

Final bite: Good food, good fun, and murder. What more do you want in a holiday read? Recommended.

Rating: 4.25/5

[Meme] It's Monday! What Are YOU Reading? + My "Acting" Debut

How is it already October? September was an incredibly busy month, what with BoucherCon and various writing/author-related activities. The last couple of weeks were especially busy as I helped my boyfriend prepare for his pilot reading. 

His dream is to be a TV screenwriter, which is what he went to school for, and lately has been taking classes at Second City and iO Chicago. Both these theaters are famous for comedy and improv, and October 1st was the reading of his original pilot script.

A pilot reading is exactly what it sounds like: a group of actors sit on stage, reading out the dialogue from the script to a live audience. The writer reads the stage directions, so that the audience has a sense of the context of the scene, but it's basically all dialogue. Pilot readings provide incredible feedback for the writer since how words "sound" on paper are very different from how they sound when actually spoken aloud. Plus, we could actually hear the audience's reaction to certain lines; if they laughed when they were supposed to, we nailed it. If the words felt clunky as we said them, or if there was zero reaction from the crowd, we knew it needed work.

I say "we" because even though it's my boyfriend's original script, I've read it over so many times and am the sounding board for all his ideas. Plus, I somehow got roped into being one of the actors.

In typical James (my bf) fashion, he was so focused on his script that he forgot to plan all the practical logistics til the last minute: contacting the actors, getting an artist to design programs, inviting people, etc. He ended up contacting the actors less than a week before the performance, and was only able to wrangle three actors, so he had me, his best friend Matt, and my friend Oscar fill in the rest. It was a little nerve-wracking, but a lot of fun and a great experience.

Now, on to my reading week.

Hosted @ The Book Date

Last week I managed to knock out three new release cozies, as well as finish an audiobook. Hoopla is such a glitchy app, but so useful during my daily commute.

What I Read Last Week:

This was a pretty lackluster lineup. The only new release I found worthwhile was The Book Club Murders. You can check out my mini review for all three here. The other three cozies I read the week before are reviewed here.

The audiobook to Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters was excellent. I can't believe it's taken me so long to start the Amelia Peabody series, but you better believe I'm going to continuing read/listening to it.

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

What I'm Currently Reading:

I'm about 1/3 of the way through A Kind of Justice and I'm liking it a lot. It took me a while to get into; not sure if it's because of the writing style or the fact that it's the second book in the series (I own the first, but haven't read it yet), but once I did, I really started to admire the protagonist, a transsexual woman trying to make it in the world. I'm trying to make an effort to read more diverse fiction, and this is a good start.

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

What's Up Next:

I'm still trying to get my NetGalley list under control, but after next week, I think I can finally start fitting in more of my library reads. Or, heaven forbid, I might actually start reading the giant stacks of books that I've bought but haven't touched. We'll see how it goes.

Goodreads

Goodreads

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What are your plans now that Fall's here? Was your September as jam-packed as mine? What reads are you looking forward to? 

I'm sorry that I've been terrible with responding to comments, but I plan on catching up with all of them soon, and also with all the blogs I need to visit. Chat with you all soon!

Mini Book Reviews: Death by Pumpkin Spice; High Kicks, Hot Chocolate, and Homicides; The Book Club Murders

Another batch of cozies that were released on September 27th. Read on for my short (but not necessarily sweet) reviews. They are written in both the order that I read them, and also from my lowest rating to my highest (so make sure to read to the end).

Title: Death by Pumpkin Spice (Bookstore Cafe Mystery #3)
Author: Alex Erickson
Genre(s): Mystery| Cozy
Publisher: Kensington
Publication date: September 27, 2016
Page length: 320 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: https://alexericksonbooks.com/










My Review: I try to avoid writing negative reviews. I feel uncomfortable voicing criticism, unless I can sandwich it with some positive. Unfortunately, the best thing I can say about this book is that I finished it. I've gotten to the point where I stop reading books after a certain point if I'm just not feeling it, so the fact that I read to the end (although I skimmed a vast majority of it to get to the ending) is saying something.

However, this book made me so mad at several points. The main character is crushingly insecure, and her constant self-deprecation became really annoying, really fast. Also, she makes absolutely ridiculous and dangerous decisions THAT SHE ACKNOWLEDGES ARE DUMB, yet goes and does them anyway. She was the definition of a "too stupid to live" heroine. 

Not only that, but she has no actual connection to the victim or situation, which makes her burning need to be part of the investigation more of a sick thrill than a need to clear her name or bring closure to a loved one's death. I found it rather detestable.

I rarely let myself get so worked up over cozies (I love them, but hold them to a different standard), but there was so much here that I just couldn't overlook.

This was the first book I read in this series and definitely the last. Save your money. There are so many worthwhile cozies out there that deserve your support.

Rating: 2.5/5

Title: High Kicks, Hot Chocolate, and Homicides (A Happy Hoofers Mystery #5)
Author: Mary McHugh
Genre(s): Mystery| Cozy
Publisher: Kensington
Publication date: September 27, 2016
Page length: 352 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: http://marymchugh.org/









My Review: This was the first book in the series that I've read and it started out great; the premise of a group of women in their 50's who love dancing and travel the world to perform as a hobby/side job was a refreshing change from all the 20-early-30-something-year-olds with cafes that seem to populate the cozy universe. Don't get me wrong, I still love those, but when you read as many cozies as I do, a little variety is nice. 

However, as the story got near the end, the reveal of the murderer was so laughably obvious, and the third act just wouldn't end.It's always a bad sign when the murderer has been caught and you glance down at the page count and wonder why there's so much left. Some dangerous element kept popping up and having to be dealt with, even when the main plot was already wrapped up. There were several points where I said (out loud), "Are you serious?!" when the next ridiculous bit of danger was introduced. It might as well have been a farce.

Unfortunately, this book showed a lot of promise in the beginning that just wasn't delivered in the end.

Rating: 3.5/5

Title: The Book Club Murders (Oakwood Mystery #1)
Author: Leslie Nagel
Genre(s): Mystery| Cozy
Publisher: Alibi
Publication date: September 27, 2016
Page length: 224 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author website: http://www.leslienagel.com/










My Review: What a great premise; an intrepid member of a mystery book club (awesomely named "The Agathas" after Agatha Christie) realizes that a series of local murders have been set up to resemble the murder scenes from the club's reading list. That realization leads her to believe that the murderer must be someone in the group, and she uses her connections within the group, as well as her tenuous connection to the lead detective on the case, to bring the murderer to justice.

It was a little heavy on the romance, but it wasn't enough to ruin my enjoyment. An intelligent heroine, great cast of characters, and satisfying ending make this a great debut series. Already looking forward to the next installment.

Rating: 4.5/5

Mini Book Reviews: The Semi-Sweet Hereafter, British Manor Murder, Murder of a Queen Bee

There are so many cozies coming out this week that I have to resort to mini reviews to get to them all. These reviews are short and sweet, but (hopefully) get the main point across.

Title: The Semi-Sweet Hereafter (A Chocolate Whisperer Mystery #3)
Author: Colette London
Genre(s): Mystery| Culinary Cozy
Publisher: Kensington
Publication date: September 27, 2016
Page length: 352 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: https://colettelondon.com/










My Review: This is the first book I've read in the series, and I find Hayden a very fun and likeable heroine. However, I found her constant rambling when nervous, and continuous need to reassure us that Danny was “just a friend” rather annoying after a while. 

The final clue that helped her nail the murderer was great, and her quick thinking was both amazingly resourceful and also pretty funny. 

Although I don’t feel an intense need to read the previous books in the series, I will definitely keep an eye out for the next one. For all you chocolate-lovers out there (and honestly, if you don’t like chocolate, I just…I don’t know about you), make sure to check out this fun and tasty entry to the Chocolate Whisperer series. (also, what an awesome, fun, and unique job)

Rating: 4/5

Title: British Manor Murder
Author: Leslie Meier
Genre(s): Mystery| Cozy
Publisher: Kensington
Publication date: September 27, 2016
Page length: 304 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: http://www.lesliemeierbooks.com/










My Review: This was a short and sweet read. A few of the characters felt like cliches, and there was at least one throwaway character, but I do applaud the complexity of the relationships between the characters. A decent way to pass the time on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Rating: 3.8/5

Title: Murder of a Queen Bee (Henny Penny Farmette Myster #2)
Author: Meera Lester
Genre(s): Mystery| Cozy
Publisher: Kensington
Publication date: September 27, 2016
Page length: 288 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: http://meeralester.com/mlls/










My Review: Let me start by saying, mystery-wise, there's not much there. It's less of a whodunnit (not because they tell you who it is, but because it's so obvious), and more of a "How will they prove it's them?"

That didn't really bother me because I found the characters both interesting and engaging, though the role of Kat (her best friend) felt rather thin. The fact that Abby, our protagonist, is a former cop was interesting and brought a certain level of authenticity to her sleuthing. She didn't make the typical dumb decisions, and even when she was overly aggressive in her search, she was smart enough to know how to handle the situation.

I was worried that her myriad love interests would be annoying, or take away the focus of the story, but overall, it made Abby's life and problems feel more realistic.

I haven't read the first book in the series, though I may check out new additions. Great protagonist and interesting premise. A worthy addition to Kensington's cozy lineup. 

Rating: 4/5

It's Monday! What Are YOU Reading?

A bunch of cozies are about to come out, so expect nothing but cutesy covers and adorable/ridiculous pun titles for the next two weeks. I've done a ton of reading, a bit of writing, and a whole lot of reviewing, so keep an eye out for that. And I know I still haven't blogged about my BoucherCon experience, but the longer I wait, the lazier I get. I might manage a very short update sometime this week, but if not, here's my favorite photo from the convention:

The legendary Sara Paretsky. We're totally gonna become besties

Time to organize my week by posting about what I've read, what I'm currently reading, and what I plan on reading in the near future.

Hosted @ The Book Date

What I Read Last Week:

Mostly cozies, but I managed to pull myself away from my usual cache of mysteries to read Americanah and it was fantastic. Definitely need to read more of her stuff.

Review later this week

Review later this week

Review later this week

Absolutely wonderful. 5 stars

Review here

What I'm Currently Reading:

All NetGalley cozies set to come out September 27th

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

What's Up Next:

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

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What have you been reading lately? Which of these picks are you most interested in? Let me know in the comments!

Recipe for Fun Friday - Alexandra's Carrot Muffins (Murder Most Fowl)

So, muffins: a convenient breakfast/snack, cake masquerading as breakfast, or the ugly stepsister of cupcakes? Personally, I absolutely love muffins and quick breads. I'm not really a fan of frosting, so cupcakes are pretty meh to me. Pretty to look at, but not a lot of substance. The only frosting I like is cream cheese frosting, which I love so much I could eat it with a spoon (which I have, leaning over the sink with shame).

Carrot cake has always been one of my favorite cakes, heavily spiced and topped with thick layers of cream cheese frosting. And since there's carrots in there, I can always pretend that it's actually healthy! Luckily, I don't have to do that with these muffins. Since these are meant to be breakfast, there's no cream cheese frosting (sadly), they are absolutely packed with carrots and very lightly sweetened with honey and not sugar.

These are fast and easy to put together, with a wonderful, moist texture. They make a quick grab-and-go breakfast, which I like to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea on the front steps while my dogs romp in the yard before work.

Despite how tasty these are, there are two changes for the next time I make these muffins: a tiny bit more sweetness (either by increasing the honey to 1/2 cup or adding raisins) and a lot more spices (probably 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cloves).

Enjoy!

Alexandra's Carrot Muffins
Mia's Note: I prefer using coconut oil in my baking, since it's tasty and healthy. Also, I never keep buttermilk around, preferring to mix a bit of vinegar with regular milk. Works like a charm. Lastly, I use Ultragrain All-Purpose Flour, which packs in the nutrition of whole grain flours while working like a regular all-purpose flour. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Makes one dozen. Use as many locally produced ingredients as possible.

Ingredients
2 eggs
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup safflower or canola oil (See Note)
1/4 cup buttermilk (See Note)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (See Note)
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups grated carrots (about 4 medium)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

Beat eggs light, and then mix in honey, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla In a large measuring cup, combine flour, baking powder and baking soda, salt, and spices. Add dry ingredients, carrots, and nuts to the egg mixture, and mix lightly with a fork until just combined.

Bake in greased muffin pan for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown on top (mine only took 15 minutes).

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts - Murder Most Fowl by Edith Maxwell

Hosted by Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme where I share tasty snippets from the book(s) I'm currently reading.

This week, I'm focusing on Murder Most Fowl by Edith Maxwell. I'm including two parts from a rather long scene: one focusing on drink, the other food.

The scene: It's St. Patrick's Day and Cam (the protagonist) and her friend Lucinda have just been served been served their Irish stew, fish and chips, and requisite green beers at the local pub. Paul Underwood, a suspect in the ongoing Wayne Laitenen murder investigation, has just joined their table.

"A double Irish whiskey neat, with water back." At the waitress's look of confusion, he groaned. "Just bring me a small glass of water when you bring the whiskey." 

When she'd gone, Cam remarked, "I don't know what a water back is, either." She took a bite of the stew and let a chunk of meat dissolve on her tongue as she saved the stew's rich flavors. 

"Adding a little water to whiskey opens up the flavor," Paul said. "I should stop saying it anyplace but at the bar itself. The server ought to know the term, but..." 

Cam swallowed. "So you weren't friends with Paul anymore? But I saw you driving away from his place Saturday afternoon." 

"Yes, I went to see him." Paul looked at the band. "We were trying to sort of work through a couple of things." 

"You mean the reason you stopped being friends?" Cam asked. 

"Yes," Paul said without meeting her eyes.

***

They ask more questions, and Paul gets upset and leaves. They continue on with their meal.

She pulled her attention to the most delicious beef stew she'd ever tasted. 

"Is that good?" Lucinda asked, popping another French fry into her mouth. 

"Very." Cam poked her spoon around in the bowl. "Beef, carrots, onions, potatoes, of course. But the flavor is what does it. I wonder what their secret is."

"I read a recipe that calls for a bottle of stout in it. Can you taste beer?" 

Cam rolled a spoonful around on her tongue. "That might be it. I'm going to try this at home. Make it for Pete whenever he solves this case." 

"You could do it all local, too." Lucinda waggled her eyebrows. 

"Absolutely, and then give the recipe to the shareholders next summer or fall, when I harvest carrots and potatoes. Good idea."

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Beef stew is probably in my top 5 of delicious comfort foods. I'm definitely going to try this recipe once the weather cools down, but until then, stop by tomorrow to check out a recipe for carrot muffins. They're cooling on the counter as I speak/type!

So everyone, what would you include in your top 5 comfort foods?