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

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

Book Review: Murder Most Fowl by Edith Maxwell

Title: Murder Most Fowl (A Local Foods Mystery #4)
Author: Edith Maxwell
Genre(s): Mystery| Cozy
Publisher: Kensington
Publication date: May 31, 2016
Page length: 304 pages
Source: Bought (at BoucherCon!)
Format: Hardcover
Author's website: https://edithmaxwell.com/

Spring may be just around the corner, but a cold-blooded killer has put the big chill on the residents of Westbury, Massachusetts. It looks like organic farmer-turned-sleuth Cam Flaherty will have to set aside her seedlings for the time being as she tills the soil for clues in the mysterious death of a local poultry maven. 

With the weather getting warmer, Cam should be spending her days pruning blueberry bushes and taking care of the new batch of chicks that just hatched. But murder knows no season. So when her fellow fowl-raiser Wayne Laitinen is found dead at his breakfast table one morning, Cam must put down her trimming shears and put on her crime-solving hat. 
The kind-hearted chicken farmer didn't have any enemies--or did he? A wealthy financier has been working hard to convince him to sell her his land, while a group of animal rights activists recently vandalized his property. Money troubles were threatening to sink his marriage. And a thirty-year-old scandal was driving a wedge between him and one of his oldest friends.  

Murder, blackmail, cover-ups. There's a fox in the hen house. But where? With some help from her off-again, on-again flame, police detective Pete Pappas, Cam will have to crack this case before Wayne's killer flies the coop forever. Goodreads

My Review: This is the 4th and latest book in the Cam Flaherty Local Foods Mystery series. I haven't read the earlier books, but I never felt confused or like I was missing anything. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I'm definitely going to go back and read the rest of the series.

As with most cozies, my favorite part of the story was the setting. Cam Flaherty runs a small, organic farm that her great-uncle passed on to her after he was no longer able to take care of it. I wouldn't think that I'd find farming all that interesting, considering I can't even remember to water my bamboo plant (good thing it's hardy). Yet I was genuinely interested in her day-to-day affairs, and found the life and worries of an organic farmer oddly fascinating.

Also very important, Cam is a great protagonist. She doesn't put herself in harm's way, and she doesn't conceal useful evidence or information from the police, choosing to work with, not against them. She's also rather resourceful, a very refreshing change from the "too stupid to live" protagonists who are usually saved by mere luck and not their wits.

The supporting characters were mostly well-fleshed out, and the romance is realistic and well-done. It enhances and adds some sweet points to the story without overtaking it.

The subplots involving a missing girl and an overzealous animal rights group were handled quite well, and added necessary layers to the plot.That being said, the resolution of the main plot was a bit of a letdown. The big reveal of the murderer was anticlimactic and fairly straightforward, though the final confrontation had a good level of tension.

Despite my nitpicking with the ending, I absolutely devoured this book, finishing it in a day (I know author's hate hearing that since they spend so much time writing it, but I couldn't help it!). It's a fast read, but with a depth and lack of frivolity I don't often find in cozies. Definitely recommended.


Final bite: A wonderful addition to the world of culinary cozies. Great setting, great protagonist, great read. Go buy it!

Rating: 4.5/5
________________________________________________________________________

Sidenote: I think the reason I love cozies so much is that I'm a big-city girl; the charm of small-town life and running a business that's part of the community really appeals to me, but only from the outside looking in. It's not a life I'd actually want to live, so these stories let me try on lots of different hats without having to commit; one week, I'm an organic farmer, the next I'm a tea shop/cafe/bakery/clothing shop/etc owner, but with none of the woes of owning a small business in a tiny town (this reasoning goes double for my love of historical fiction. Wonderful reading, but as a woman of color and fan of modern medicine, no thank you).

Make sure to stop by Thursday and Friday, as I share snippets of the foodie scenes and an excellent recipe for carrot muffins, provided by Alexandra (one of Cam's volunteers). Have you read this book before? If not, do you plan on reading it? Let me know in the comments!

Book Review: Salem's Cipher by Jess Lourey

Title: Salem's Cipher
Author: Jess Lourey
Genre(s): Suspense| Thriller
Page length: 480 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Publication date: September 8, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: http://jessicalourey.com/

A troubled codebreaker faces an epic plot reaching back through centuries of America’s secret history 

Salem Wiley is a genius cryptanalyst, courted by the world’s top security agencies ever since making a breakthrough discovery in her field of quantum computing. She’s also an agoraphobe, shackled to a narrow routine by her fear of public places. When her mother’s disappearance is linked to a plot to assassinate the country’s first viable female presidential candidate, Salem finds herself both target and detective in a modern-day witch hunt. Drawn into a labyrinth of messages encrypted by Emily Dickinson and centuries-old codes tucked inside the Beale Cipher, Salem begins to uncover the truth: an ancient and ruthless group is hell-bent on ruling the world, and only a select group of women stands in its way. Goodreads

My Review:
WARNING: If you're not a proponent of women's rights, you will not enjoy this book. Then again, if you don't believe in women's rights, you can back the hell away from my blog 'cause ain't nobody got time to deal with your BS.

That being said...

I don't read many thrillers and I never got into the Dan Brown-craze (which seems to be a common comparison), but this was definitely a page-turner for me. The beginning had a bit of a rough start, with some clunky language that never completely goes away, though it does get better as the story progresses. However, once you get past the awkward beginning, you get a compelling, fast-paced story with some fairly complex characters.


Salem, our protagonist, has many flaws but they never make her unlikeable. Not that protagonists, especially female protagonists, have to be likeable, but it's a refreshing change in the era of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train and other books without "Girl" in the title.

In fact, it is because of these flaws that you cheer her on and want to see her overcome all the obstacles in her way. The POV changes several times throughout the book, and there are occasional flashbacks, but the short chapters keep it from slowing down or getting too confusing. 

I found the history of code-breaking interesting, but not riveting, which lead to me skimming some parts.

The bad guy is suitably terrifying, the stakes high, and the ending satisfying.

I must also commend Jess Lourey for including two things that are particularly important to me: diversity in the main cast and healthy female relationships. It's very easy for minorities of any kind to be pushed into the background, or not featured at all. And I can't even count the number of books/shows/movies based on the premise that women hate other women. There's none of that here.

Salem is mixed race and her best friend Isabel is a lesbian. Their mothers are inseparable, and so are they. The bonds between the women in Salem's Cipher get tested again and again, but they hold strong. Call me a sap, but I love it.


Final Bite: A flawed yet entertaining read, with an interesting premise and a good lead-in to the next book. Definitely recommended.

Rating: 4.25/5 

Book Review: A Story to Kill by Lynn Cahoon

Title: A Story to Kill (Cat Latimer Mystery #1)
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Genre(s): Mystery| Cozy| Romance
Page length: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Publication date: August 20, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: http://www.lynncahoon.com/

A new series from the author of the Tourist Trap Mysteries! 

Former English professor Cat Latimer is back in Colorado, hosting writers’ retreats in the big blue Victorian she’s inherited, much to her surprise, from none other than her carousing ex-husband! Now it’s an authors’ getaway—but Cat won’t let anyone get away with murder… 

The bed-and-breakfast is open for business, and bestselling author Tom Cook is among its first guests. Cat doesn’t know why he came all the way from New York, but she’s glad to have him among the quirkier—and far less famous—attendees. 

Cat’s high school sweetheart Seth, who’s fixing up the weathered home, brings on mixed emotions for Cat…some of them a little overpowering. But it’s her uncle, the local police chief, whom she’ll call for help when there’s a surprise ending for Tom Cook in his cozy guest room. Will a killer have the last word on the new life Cat has barely begun? Goodreads

My Review: A Story to Kill is a promising, though flawed, start to a brand new cozy series. I loved the premise of the protagonist being a writer who runs a writer’s retreat; as with any good cozy, I could live vicariously through the characters since I fantasize about getting away from it all (maybe in a cabin in the woods, or a beautiful, small seaside town) and putting in some serious writing time, something I definitely lack in my day-to-day life. That being said, I had some serious issues with the plot and writing.

First of all, I love a good bit of romance as much as the next girl, but if a novel is billed as a mystery (which this one is), the romance has to be well-done, subtle, and ride backseat to the main plot, which is solving the murder. For a protagonist who is a grown woman and (at least) in her 30s, the “romance” just stank of teenage hormones and wistful lusting. Literally every time her childhood sweetheart showed up in a scene, she would opine on how sexy he was, then (literally and figuratively) push him away. And when people would point out his obvious feelings for her, she would basically huff, deny everything, and stomp away. She might as well have proclaimed that Seth (her childhood sweetheart) had cooties and she didn’t want to be near him for fear of catching said cooties. After I finished the story, I took the time to look up the author’s bio and, surprise surprise, she’s released quite a few romance novels as well. Either keep your genres separate, or practice the art of subtlety.

Another issue was that the mystery was laughably easy to solve. The author introduced an interesting cast of characters, but when the big reveal happened, it was like, “…that was it? Yeah, figured that out over a hundred pages ago.” That being said, the motive and the mystery within that mystery were quite interesting.

Speaking of mysteries within mysteries, the enigma of Cat’s cad of an ex-husband is woven throughout the book and, for me, it slowed things down a bit. The fact that it ends with a slight cliffhanger as an obvious lead-in to the rest of the series isn’t bad (because what’s dangled in front of us is really quite intriguing), but I got bored with that subplot fairly early on, and it didn’t pick up until (literally) the very ending.

I know this review is coming off as very negative, but honestly, I don’t regret reading it and not once was I tempted to not finish it (which is something I’ve had to do with some of my NetGalley picks. The Assassin Game, I’m looking at you). Though flawed, there’s plenty of potential for the rest of the series, and while certain parts annoyed me, I was definitely entertained. I plan on picking up the second book in the series in the hopes that these issues will be addressed.

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Review: The Devil's Prayer by Luke Gracias

Title: The Devil's Prayer
Author: Luke Gracias
Genre(s): Thriller| Horror| Occult
Page length: 294 pages
Publisher: Australian E-Book Publisher
Publication date: February 18th, 2016 (for the e-book. The paperback should be released by the end of August)
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: Goodreads Author Page

A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognises that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago.  

In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul. 
As Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors.  

And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it.  

Can Siobhan escape an order of extremist monks determined to get the Prayer back? Can she save the world from its own destruction?  

Explicit Content Warning: "The Devil’s Prayer" is a historical horror thriller that contains brutality, rape, sex, drug abuse and murder. Readers may find its content offensive and confronting. Goodreads

My Review: I have such mixed emotions on this novel. It started off very strong and completely sucked me in. It was tense, it was suspenseful, it was horrifying...you really felt for Denise and her dilemma. In her position, you could feel her desperation and also her burning need for vengeance. And I totally supported it.

However, near the end, the story really tapered off for me. It got way too expositional, with pages and pages of religious history; after a certain point, my eyes glazed over and I found myself skimming huge sections to get back to the actual plot. 

It also suffered from "author on a soapbox" syndrome. There was one section (not a real spoiler), where Denise is reading about the havoc mankind has wreaked upon the world and how everything is terrible and the Earth will be fine but we're all screwed, and all I could think was, "We get it, Author. It's our fault that our environment is so messed up. You don't need multiple pages to hammer home that message." When I read the author's note at the end and found out that Luke Gracias was an environmental specialist, it was like, "Surprise surprise..."

Another reason I lost interest near the end was that there was no indication that this was a series. So although it ends at a perfect cut-off point to continue the series in the next book, you get all this build-up and backstory with no real climax. Siobhan, who is ostensibly our protagonist and heroine, has almost zero personality and we get none of her story, since at least 75% of the book is told through Denise's diary. 

Final bite: The Devil's Prayer has a brilliant beginning, but it doesn't quite deliver at the end. Here's hoping that the next book in the series will meet it's extremely high potential.

Rating: 3.8/5

Book Review: The Book of Beloved by Carolyn Haines

Title: The Book of Beloved (Pluto's Snitch #1)
Author: Carolyn Haines
Genres: Mystery| Historical fiction| Fantasy| Paranormal
Print length: 332 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publication date: August 9, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: http://www.carolynhaines.com/

As a young woman widowed by World War I, Raissa James is no stranger to ghosts. But when an invitation arrives from Caoin House, her uncle’s estate in Mobile, Alabama, she’s finally ready to cast off the shadows of her past. And what better way to do so than with a grand party in her honor? An aspiring authoress, Raissa’s eager to soak up more of life—and immerse herself in the dark history that haunts the estate. 

But the revelries come to an abrupt end when one of her uncle’s guests takes a deadly plunge. And when a ghost from the property’s past, a Confederate soldier, reveals himself to Raissa, she’s more determined than ever to get to the heart of the mysterious deaths that plague Caoin House. Enlisting the help of Reginald Proctor, a self-proclaimed medium, she holds a séance to shed light on old secrets. But she discovers that some secrets, even those long dead, still have a startling hold on the living…Goodreads

My Review: Historical fiction and (obviously) mysteries are two of my favorite genres, so when you combine the two and do it well, I am on board. There's just something about the genteel South and Victorian-era England that really draws me in. Probably something to do with the various social strata and all the machinations needed to survive during that time, especially as a woman. 

I enjoyed the fact that Raissa, our protagonist, wasn't particularly  beholden to the ideals of a woman's place, although there were times I wondered if she wasn't a little too forward-thinking for her time. As much as I agreed with her values, it occasionally felt like a modern writer imposing their ideals on a very different time. 

What makes this story particularly interesting is the ghost aspect. It added just the right amount of spookiness and suspense to keep me turning the pages. While I figured out who the killer was fairly early on, the various mysteries contained within this story took so many twists and turns that I was very happy with the ending.

Highly recommended.

Rating:  4.75/5

Mini Book Review: The Crepes of Wrath by Sarah Fox

Title: The Crepes of Wrath (A Pancake House Mystery #1)
Author: Sarah Fox
Genres: Mystery| Cozy
Print length: 240 pages
Publisher: Alibi
Publication date: August 16, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author website: http://www.authorsarahfox.com/

In the debut of a delightful cozy mystery series, Sarah Fox introduces a charming new heroine who finds herself in a sticky situation: stacking pancakes, pouring coffee, and investigating murder. 

When Marley McKinney’s aging cousin, Jimmy, is hospitalized with pneumonia, she agrees to help run his pancake house while he recovers. With its rustic interior and syrupy scent, the Flip Side Pancake House is just as she pictured it—and the surly chef is a wizard with crêpes. Marley expects to spend a leisurely week or two in Wildwood Cove, the quaint, coastal community where she used to spend her summers, but then Cousin Jimmy is found murdered, sprawled on the rocks beneath a nearby cliff. 

After she stumbles across evidence of stolen goods in Jimmy’s workshop, Marley is determined to find out what’s really going on in the not-so-quiet town of Wildwood Cove. With help from her childhood crush and her adopted cat, Flapjack, Marley sinks her teeth into the investigation. But if she’s not careful, she’s going to get burned by a killer who’s only interested in serving up trouble. Goodreads

My Review: A very fun and easy read. I love the setting, particularly the Flip Side Pancake House, and there's a decent cast of characters. I'm not particularly enamored of either of Marley's potential love interests, but I'm very happy to see a protagonist that doesn't make the usual "Too Stupid To Live" mistakes that you see way too often (I'm looking at you, Hannah Swensen). I also enjoyed that she had some difficult, real-life decisions to make.

The story is definitely flawed, with a few things that don't quite add up, but it's a strong enough first book that I'd like to read more.

Rating: 4/5

Mini Book Review: All-Butter ShortDead (Oxford Tearoom Mysteries 0.5) by H.Y. Hanna

Title: All-Butter ShortDead (Oxford Tearoom Mystery 0.5)
Author: H.Y. Hanna
Genres: Mystery| Cozy
Print length: 200 pages
Publisher: Wisheart Press
Publication date: August 1, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author website: http://www.hyhanna.com/

Gemma ditches her high-flying job and returns to Oxford to follow her dream: opening a traditional English tearoom serving warm buttery scones with jam and clotted cream... Only problem is--murder is the first thing on the menu and Gemma is the key suspect! And the only people Gemma can turn to for help are four nosy old ladies from her local Cotswolds village - not to mention a cheeky little tabby cat named Muesli. Who was the mysterious woman Gemma met on the flight back from Australia and why was she murdered? Now Gemma must find the killer, solve the mystery and clear her name if she's to have her cake--and serve it too. 

This PREQUEL to the OXFORD TEAROOM MYSTERIES includes BONUS CHAPTERS FROM "A SCONE TO DIE FOR" (BOOK 1). It is slightly shorter than the rest of the series - which are all full length novels - and can be read as a standalone, before or after any other book in the series. Goodreads

To force myself to write more (without adding additional time and effort to my schedule), I've decided to post the occasional mini review. I won't be going in-depth into the plot and characters, but I will give my general opinion and a rating. 

My Review: This book was a perfectly short and sweet introduction to the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, something I'm hoping to remedy immediately. Although the mystery involves Gemma making some incredible leaps in logic, I was still satisfied with the ending. The setting is charming, the characters and premise are very fun, and I love the Old Biddies Brigade. Can't wait to read more of their adventures.

Rating: 4/5

Book Review: Death at the Day Lily Cafe by Wendy Sand Eckel

Title: Death at the Day Lily Cafe (Rosalie Hart #2)
Author: Wendy Sand Eckel
Genres: Mystery | Cozy | Female sleuth
Print length: 288 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: July 26, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Format: e-galley
Author's website: http://www.wendysandeckelauthor.com/

Rosalie Hart has finally opened the café of her dreams. Decked out with ochre-tinted walls and stuffed with delicious organic fare, the Day Lily Café is everything Rosalie could have hoped for. But not five minutes into the grand opening, Doris Bird, a dear and trusted friend, cashes in on a favor--to help clear her little sister Lori of a first degree murder charge.
With the help of her best friend and head waiter Glenn, Rosalie is on the case. But it's not going to be easy. Unlikable and provocative, murder victim Carl James Fiddler seems to have insulted nearly everyone in town, and the suspect list grows daily. And when Rosalie's daughter Annie gets caught in the crossfire, the search for the killer becomes personal in this charming cozy perfect for fans of Diane Mott Davidson and Joanne Fluke.  Goodreads

The plot: Book two in the Rosalie Hart series starts with Rosalie opening up her dream cafe in the small town of Cardigan. She prides herself on serving delicious meals prepared with organic produce, the majority of which is sourced from the family farm she inherited.

The Day Lily Cafe has barely opened its doors when Doris Bird bustles in, exclaiming that her sister Lori has been accused of murdering her husband. With a grand total of one murder investigation under her belt, it seems that Rosalie is the go-to choice in proving Lori's innocence.

Throw in an asshole sheriff who is determined to pin the murder on Lori, a bad boy cook that Rosalie's daughter is smitten with, and a mess of missing money, and you've got a small taste of the obstacles in Rosalie's way.

The characters: I didn't read the first book in the series, so these are all new characters to me.

Rosalie Hart is a divorcee, with a daughter she loves more than anything and dreams of running her own cafe. She's a great cook and can make a heck of a cup of coffee. 

Her head waiter and right-hand man is Glenn, a 70+ year old man, who accompanies her on various wacky adventures. It was hard not to draw comparisons between Rosalie and Glenn's relationship with Theodosia and Drayton's relationship in Laura Childs' Tea Shop Mysteries.

Tyler Wells helps her run the farm and is obviously her love interest (she draws comparisons between Tyler and her father. Hmm).

Custer is Tyler's nephew, Rosalie's daughter Annie's love interest, The Day Lily Cafe's chef, and overall man of mystery.

The mystery: The mystery started off pretty intriguing, but about 2/3 of the way through, they make it very obvious who the killer is and drag it on for a bit.
The reveal scene (while a practical set-up in real life), was so low stakes and low tension that when Rosalie finally gets the killer to confess and is then taken away, all I could think was, "Well...that was easy. Wrapped up all nice and neat, I guess."

Final bite: It's a decently written story, with some interesting characters and delicious food descriptions, but ultimately forgettable. It took me a while to write this review because it was hard to muster up enough enthusiasm (whether positive or negative) to even attempt to dissect the story. It was a decent read, but it didn't draw me in enough to await the next addition in the series. 

Rating: 3.5/5 

Book Review: A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde

Title: A Useful Woman (Rosalind Thorne Mysteries #1)
Author: Darcie Wilde
Genre: Historical fiction | Regency| Romance | Mystery | Cozy | Female sleuth
Page length: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkeley
Publication date: May 3, 2016
Source: Library
Format: Paperback
Author's website: http://www.darciewilderomance.com/

Inspired by the novels of Jane Austen, this new mystery series set in 19th-century London introduces the charming and resourceful Rosalind Thorne, a woman privy to the secrets of high society—including who among the ton is capable of murder... The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society’s most influential women, who have come to rely on her wit and discretion.  So, when artistocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in London’s most exclusive ballroom, Almack’s, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer from a list of suspects that includes Almack’s powerful patronesses and her former suitor Devon Winterbourne, now Lord Casselmaine. Torn between her old love and a growing attraction to a compelling Bow Street runner, Rosalind must not only unravel the mysteries surrounding Jasper’s death, but the mysteries of her own heart as well... Goodreads

The plot: The book opens with Rosalind Thorne's privileged life crashing down around her. Her father and older sister have fled in the middle of the night, leaving Rosalind and her mother to face his disgrace (and his debt-collectors). Due to her mother's inability to deal with the situation, it is up to Rosalind to eke out a living for them. Luckily, her godmother, Lady Blanchard, takes them in, and under her protection, Rosalind uses both her connections and her knowledge of the inner workings of society to provide various (discreet) services to London's wealthiest and most influential women.

Fast-forward five years later, and Rosalind has left the Blanchards' care and has set up a household of her own. However, she is soon drawn back into the games that the truly wealthy play, a game that leads to the death of Jasper Aimesworth.

While waiting for her beloved godmother, Rosalind discovers the young aristocrat's body in the hallowed halls of fashionable Almack, a place he had no business being in. Jasper's death is quickly hushed up and labeled an unfortunate accident, but Rosalind senses there's more to the story, as does Honoria Aimesworth, sister of the victim. Honoria enlists Rosalind's help to find Jasper's killer, to which she reluctantly agrees.

As Rosalind uncovers more and more secrets, it's becoming dangerously obvious that those she counts among her nearest and dearest also have things to hide, and they'll do anything to prevent these skeletons from tumbling out...

The characters: Rosalind Thorne is a disgraced woman, living on the fringes of society. Her tact and intelligence, as well as her connection to Lady Blanchard, are all that keeps her among the gentlefolk. Some of her acquaintances question her decision to cling to her gentility, despite the fact that there are other avenues available to her. Rosalind has her reasons, though she's loathe to admit it (even to herself).

 Honoria Aimesworth is brash, impulsive, and honest (almost to a fault). I found her rather admirable, though I can see how these traits are problematic for a woman of those times. Her mother is overbearing, constantly trying to smother her with rules and what is or isn't done. All she wants is to break free from this oppressive force in her life.

Devon Winterbourne, now Lord Casselmaine, is Rosalind's former lover and Honoria's fiancee (whaaaat?). He was the second son and had little pretension or ambition for more. The death of his unruly brother, which then lead to the death of his father, means that he is now the sole heir and his station in life has changed. Despite all this, he still clings to the hope that someday, he and Rosalind will be together.

Adam Harkness is the Bow Street Runner (AKA cop, for those of us not versed in Regency terms) that is assigned to the case and provides a good look at another kind of life for Rosalind. He brings a good bit of romantic tension and drama, closing out the love triangle between Devon, Rosalind, and himself.

The mystery: This book is rather slow moving for a mystery, focusing very heavily on the historical aspect. I quite enjoyed those parts, but it's good to know what to expect going in. I wasn't baffled by the mystery for the entirety of the book, but there were enough twists and turns to keep me sufficiently satisfied in this department.

Final bite: Despite the length, I found that I really enjoyed this book. The characters were (for the most part) interesting and complex, and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series. Just a warning: if you're a serious history buff or prefer a more straightforward mystery, this might not be for you. If you think of this as a light historical romance with a bit of mystery thrown in, you'll have the proper context and it enjoy it as much as I did.

Rating: 4.5/5