Angel White

Jillian: “I thought you said these double-fudge brownies were foolproof.”

Bertie: “I underestimated your ability to commit double-fudge murder.”

3.5 rounded to a 3

I'm beginning to realize, the more I read these types of books, that they just aren't my thing. While I absolutely loved all the aspects of mommy-hood this book covered and the need to feel important via social media, the rest just didn't resonate with me. From personal experience, I understand the struggles of being a mom and the image issues it presents and this book does great in that aspect.

I guess what ruined it for me was the backstabbing, high school pettiness. I've had enough of that type of silly drama through friends and TV...I don't need it in my books too. Maybe this will teach me to actually read the synopsis of a book BEFORE I read it

Misty Falls is once again thrown into chaos except this time murder hits closer to home. Local resident and real estate agent, Samantha Sweet, is caught coming out of a showing covered in boold. Her husband has been murdered and Stormy can't help but get herself involved.

Being friends with a suspected murderer isn't easy as Stormy's duty to the law and her own conscience has her making enemies all over town. Will she be able to solve the murder while keeping herself in one piece?

I love this cozy mystery series so much. Not only is there a library located in a huge manor turned literary retreat, there is a cute, tuxedo cat named Watson. I love the little blurbs into his mind throughout the story and his assistance in solving the crime.

In each book we follow Faith, the Castleton Manor's librarian and her book club friends solving mystery and murder. A quick, fun and charming read and one I highly recommend.

Again....this author's imagination

Annie has inherited her grandmother's estate - Grey Gables. While there she comes across a gorgeous cross-stitch in the attic with a mystery as to who the woman in the piece is. And so begins her quest into unraveling the secret of ‘The Lady in the Attic'.

This wasn't filled with thrills or cute pets intervening like most I've read BUT it is jam-packed with solving a mystery, heartfelt intentions and love for friends.

So I've seen this cute book running around and finally decided to take the plunge and buy it for my nightly reading time with the grandbabies. I sat down to read it and just wow!!

What a wonderful, fun, lyrical journey of the Pretzel Boy who (a lot like the Gingerbread Man) is running away from people trying to eat him and people trying to nab him for the disasters he set upon them. I can't wait to see what his next adventure will be and I can't wait to share in this fun with the grandbabies. If you need a fun and adventurous book for your young ones .. this is a great option!

I recently started reading more cozy mysteries and find that I love them. They are a nice, quick break from my usual reads.

This is book 1 in the Secrets of the Quilt series and was a very fun read. Sophia inherits a family heirloom when her grandmother passes away. She starts reading a diary that is associated with the quilt she received and so begins the unraveling of a mystery. Mona Lisa has been scrutinized for many years and this was such a creative way of revealing her “true identity”.

I love the idea of a quilt being a family heirloom and can't wait to read further books in this series that will reveal the story behind each piece added to the quilt by Sophia's ancestors.

While attending a play (Medea) Elizabeth suddenly remembers her childhood friend April and begins to wonder what happened to her. She starts experiencing blackouts that she believes are triggers from her memories of April. This sets her on a path to find out what happened so long ago and why it haunts her now.

Not sure what I was supposed to be reading here. From the synopsis I gathered a mystery of some sort but that is a huge stretch. This was really more of an emotional drama about the aspects of motherhood and post-partum depression before it was a recognized mental health issue.

There are a lot of unresolved issues with Elizabeth and her husband and I feel like those should have been addressed since it seems to be a huge part of why Elizabeth has some of the problems she does. There is also a traumatic event from her past that one would assume would be discussed with her husband as it is another reason she is the way she is. Alas...that is not what happens.

Overall it was an ok read but with all the unresolved issues and the so-so ending it's not one I would recommend.

Rose's mother has passed away and while cleaning out the attic she comes across a death certificate, her death certificate. Confused, Rose tells Jan and Elaine and asks for their help. Will they be able to solve the mystery of the living death certificate? What secrets is Rose's mother hiding?

I love this series so far. It's small-town mystery fun. I also love the writing and glimpses into small-town life. Makes me want to pack up and move to a town like this.

“...For you are the sky. I am the restless sea. Endlessly drawn to you.” Sunset Hearts

I really enjoyed journeying through the author's thoughts of love, hope, self and meditation. She writes with such feeling you are left thinking of the words long after you've done reading. This is one book I will refer back to anytime I need a little pick me up. Sometimes poetry is just the medicine needed for a dreary day and if ever you feel this way, grab this book and read a few poems. It will lighten your heart.

I was contacted by the author to read and review her book of poetry. All thoughts are my own.

Camilla Courtenay is a Regency romance writer. She is holding the final round of a contest to find the next Regency romance writer at the Castleton Manor. During the week, however, accidents seem to happen that makes one wonder...is someone out to hurt or kill Camilla?

Join Faith, her mischief-making, clue-finding kitty Watson, and the members of the Candle House Book Club as they find clues, discuss possibilities, and solve the case.

These just keep getting better and better. I absolutely adore these and will be sad when they are eventually done. Such a cute and fun cozy mystery series.

Tea for Two is becoming a successful place for lovers of tea. Jan and Elaine are presented with a chance to host a wedding. During the planning the groom mysteriously disappears. At the same time the local bank has been robbed. Are the two connected?

This series is a bit different from other cozies I have been reading. Plenty of mysteries to solve while filled with hope and all things cozy. It makes for a very calm and joy filled reading experience.

Absolutely love this classic. Written so many years ago, yet still celebrated and loved and I can see why.

⭐⭐⭐

Lilly is retiring as President from her local Chamber of Commerce. Her last official act is to oversee the 4th of July celebration. During the celebration, while Lilly is giving her speech, local merchant, Cerise Deveau, keels over...and rumor has speculates it's from something she ate.

Noley Appleton, the caterer and Lilly's best friend, is on the hot seat since she made all the food and served Cerise a salad right before she died. Can Lilly figure out who really wanted Cerise dead in time to save her friend?

Meanwhile the town is being riddled with fires of unoccupied homes. Who is behind these fires and why are they targeting homes with no one living in them?

I really wanted to love this one since I adore cozies so much. I enjoyed the mystery itself but I had trouble connecting with Lilly, and honestly her character is what ruined this book for me. She had such a negative attitude about people and situations and rolled her eyes so often I could barely finish this.

Don't get me wrong, I understand how people can be annoying and how some situations can make people irritated but the amount of times she bad mouthed people in her head while smiling to their faces annoyed me. I may give another book in this series a try but if Lilly's attitude is the same then this series is dead in the water for me.

Thank you Maggie K.C. Au for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this debut novel. First to any who read this there are triggers of sexual and physical abuse.

I loved the concept of this coming of age story. It is never easy growing up, at any age, and the obstacles in Becca's life are harsh lessons to live through. Having a family so unabashedly cold and cruel was heartbreaking. Being taken advantage of by people she believed were friends and cared about her was difficult to read as well. Watching Becca come into her strength, realize her worth, and work through her naivety was refreshing.

That being said I had a very hard time with Becca's character and connecting with her. I remember myself at 17 and Becca is an extremely unbelievable naive girl of 17. If she was younger, say 12 or 13, I could understand her character better. Girls in this day and age, even 10 years ago, know what drugs and sex were and are not so easily fooled into that sort of lifestyle. Yes, some girls at 17 are innocent and naive of life but not to this degree.

I think with further editing and drafts this will become a really great YA book about a young girl who learns she has value, learns to stand up for herself, and learns while life may not be easy, it is worth living.

3.5 rounded to a 4
Although the flow of the poetry could be placed better, I really enjoyed this book. He writes with heart, sincerity and with experience. Can you dance with life, love, or heartache and still have hope and positivity? Read the Divan of Shah and let the author show how he can.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book of poetry. Thank you Shah Asad Rizvi.

Sisters Grace and Charlotte own and run the Magnolia Harbor Inn with a little mischievous assistance from Aunt Winnie. The Inn at Magnolia Harbor is where you come to find peace, good advice, and maybe a little healing during the stay.

What I thought I was going to get was a memoir on food and fat shaming in our society. What I actually got is a journey that broke my heart in so many different ways. This wasn't just about food and how society portrays women. It was about a horrific event that occurs to the author when she was young, how she had nothing and no one to turn to...except food. How food sheltered her and made her feel safe. How that safety hurt more than helped and how she managed to find the strength to push through it all and survive.

I could not imagine experiencing what this author did at the age of 12!!! The years after, how she coped, how lonely she felt... completely tore open my heart. How she managed to move forward, even as she ate to feel secure, is nothing short of amazing. The only reason I gave this a 4 instead of 5 stars is that it does become repetitive. I'm in no way discounting her story, her feelings, or what she went through but restating her thoughts over and over in varying ways took away from the book overall.

Another fun escape into mystery and danger as Sarah, Conrad and Amanda set out to solve the murder of a local park ranger in Snow Falls, Alaska. Although the scenarios in this series so far are a stretch for a small, sleepy town I think it adds to the cozy fun. With these being short books the action kicks in early and flies throughout. Fun way to spend my sleepy Saturday morning.

When I first read the synopsis on this one I was excited to dive in. Despite the author's warning of religious sensitivity issues, that had nothing to do with my dislike for this one.

I enjoy historical fiction and the setting of this book had me intrigued BUT the delivery of said story fell flat. I assume the rapes, violence, and sex scenes that take place are meant to somehow shock and make you uncomfortable. I also assume the whole ‘be careful of the way religion is mentioned in the story' is also supposed to do the same.

Yes, to be sure, it was a tad shocking, then just boring and then over the top. I had the HARDEST time staying awake to even read this one. The story could have been cut by half and would probably still be too long. It's inundated with characters and dialogue that, to me, don't matter to the story itself and was seriously distracting. I had such high hopes for a well rounded historical fiction on this period in history and ended up sorely disappointed.

I appreciate NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

During this installment of the Alaska Cozy Mysteries we join Sarah, Conrad and Amanda as they travel to Minnesota to ferret out details on who killed Conrad's childhood friend. While in Minnesota they are harassed by the town mayor and his thugs as they uncover the truth. I love these quick cozies in the morning.

⭐⭐⭐⭐