Customer Comments

This thriller lives up to the name. I could hardly put the book down. The characters were well done and believable. I'll be sure to look for the next book in this series.

Jade Anne used to work with Stephan Peltzini, and they had a relationship, but when things at that job literally fell apart, she fled and started a new life. When she receives a letter from Stephen telling her about a family fortune she's entitled to, and sending her on an adventure to an abandoned farmhouse, she finds herself back with him, and on an adventure she never dreamed of. With a bizarre event, and knowing she's in an unhealthy relationship, she tries fleeing again, only to find her life has been tipped upside down. I enjoyed this book immensely. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Greg was an ordinary guy, with one friend, and a father who was pretty cool. So what if his family history was filled with bad luck, the curse only strikes on Thursday. The rest of the week is usually normal. Well, there was the bear at the zoo trying to attack him. Then his dad was attacked and kidnapped by this ugly looking guy. Then he found out he was a Dwarf, a real Dwarf, is introduced to the Dwarf colony beneath Chicago. Just a normal day...NOT. I enjoyed this book, and the characters, and the concept. I won this book, and all opinions are mine alone.

Michelle Turner is returning to the Montana town her father lives in to donate a kidney to him. She hasn't been back since that summer when she fell in love, and wound up pregnant and alone. Now she's tougher and a successful advertising executive. But can she save her father, save her out-of-control teenage son, and confront the man who left her? I loved this book, and i found myself rooting for the characters. There were lots of things going on, but I was satisfied when I finished the book. I won this book, but all the opinions are mine.

This was the first book that I've read by Anthony Horowitz, and quite possibly not the last. This is a book within a book, with lots of clues in both books to keep the reader intrigued. It starts out with editor Susan Ryeland sitting down to edit the newest novel by Alan Conway, Magpie Murders, the book that Mr Conway wrote, and finishes with the aftermath of that manuscript. To me it was a very interesting concept, and a very interesting novel. I won this book from Goodreads, and all opinions are my own.

This is the seventh book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. One thing I like about this series is the backdrop of Ashland, OR, it is almost a character in the series, not just the setting. All of the major characters are back (except Carlos), and again the Shakespeare Festival is featured. I enjoyed the story, the mystery, and the opportunity to get to know the characters better. I keep saying that one of these days I'm going to make it to Ashland (native Oregonian, have never been there). At one point, Jules was making doughnuts, and I almost got out of bed and went in search of doughnuts. I also like the recipes in the back of the book. I particularly want to try one of the coffee drinks (Doughnut Latte). I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Doris Kearns Goodwin has written a wonderful book about the leadership qualities of four presidents, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. All four were different, influenced by different ideas, and were outstanding leaders. I learned so much about all four men. Lincoln was a true leader, he wanted to improve lives. When he was elected President the country was literally being torn apart. He assembled a group of people who were not yes men, but who he could trust them to tell him the truth. His decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation came with much thought. Theodore Roosevelt solved a labor problem, paving the way for better labor relations. Franklin Roosevelt had to solve the problems caused by the great depression. Lyndon Johnson had the opportunity to pass bills that John F. Kennedy had supported, and were going nowhere. The book was broken up in 3 major sections, their young lives and their decision to enter politics, the major crisis that made them the men they became, and their dealings with the major crisis problems during their presidencies. This book was well researched and well written. I won this book, but all opinions are my own.

She vanished. He lied. The past won't stay buried. A young couple returning from vacation stop at a restroom, he uses the facilities, when he comes back she has vanished. He called the police, but only told them part of the truth. Now he's engaged and has moved on, but the past is not done with him yet. This book was fascinating and had very interesting characters. It grabbed me and it kept my attention. There were lots of twists and turns, and the ending surprised me. I would definitely recommend it. I won this book from Goodreads with the hope I would review it, all opinions are my own.

Amber has had some kind of horrific incident, she wakes up in the hospital, she can't move, open her eyes or speak. She doesn't remember what happened. While she's in her coma state she alternates between her current reality, able to hear everyone, but not respond; the week before her incident; and a series of childhood diaries. It becomes clear while reading this book that not all is right in her world. Many people are not what they seem, and the truth seems to be elusive in many ways. This is a very well written psychological thriller and kept me guessing until the very end. I won this book on Goodreads with the hope I would review it. All statements are my own.

This is a thriller that is a cross between Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. It's definitely an impressive debut novel. Zac Miller was never trained to be a field operative, he was given a simple assignment, which went terribly wrong. While being pursued by Iranians and Western authorities, he literally has nowhere to hide. I enjoyed this book tremendously, it kept up the tension and intrigue. Well done. I won this book and all opinions are mine.

Sasscer Hill knows racing. Even though I've never been to Saratoga Racetrack, the people are the same that work on the backsides of almost any track in the nation. Fia McKee, working for the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, goes undercover to investigate Mars Pizutti, a trainer whose wins are suspicious. A jockey inexplicably commits suicide and another jockey, and his sister, are threatened. The mob seems to be involved, and it's up to Fia, and her very hot coworker Calixto Coyune, to solve the case before anyone else dies. This series has horses, a gritty, down to earth protagonist, and some extremely fascinating charters. Some of Fia's family makes their appearance too. I would like to read more in this series.

Another FBI Agent Manny Tanno case. This centers around three dead bodies buried in the Stronghold, an area formerly used as a bombing range during World War II. When an ordnance removal company discovers human remains in a car, Manny and the Tribal Police are called in. I really liked this book, I like the character development, the snarky humor, and the presentation of the struggle between keeping the tribal culture and leaving it behind. I'm looking forward to reading more from Mr. Wendelboe.

Dani Sloan has left the past behind, she left her job and broke up with her totally jerky boyfriend. While trying to figure out her future, she inherits a wonderful, remodeled, old mansion. With her college student friends as borders, and helpers, she launches her own catering company, Chef-to-Go. While her new business is still in infancy, a popular student is killed at a party Dani catered. The characters were down to earth and the head of campus security hunky. I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint was no recipes, since the descriptions of Dani's creations made me hungry.

While Lisa Jackson is best known for her thrillers, she previously wrote some romances. Now long out of print, three of them were put in this one book. The three novels are: With No Regrets, Double Exposure, and D is for Dani's Baby. These have three of her favorite heroes: Attorney Jake McGowan, world class skier Gavin Doel, and developer Brandon Scarlotti. And each book highlights Oregon's unique scenery. I really enjoyed these books, I liked the characters, the Oregon flavor, and the intense relationships. They were fun to read. There were some interesting twists along the way and some surprises. I won this book on Goodreads with no expectations of what to say.

This book is fascinating and quite realistic. The characters are well formed, and Tate and Rachel very likable. Whether or not the illegal marijuana industry is accurate the way depicted, what little I know of it sounded plausible. Somewhat a coming of age story combined with a mystery and crimes, I enjoyed this immensely and I would recommend it to any one who wants to read a well-written novel.

This book is riveting. Michelle McNamara became interested in cold crime cases as a child when a neighbor was murdered, and the crime was never solved. She became obsessed with the man she knew as the EAR (East Area Rapist) and the GSK (Golden State Killer), who was a serial rapist (approximately 50 rapes) in Northern California then moved south and murdered at least 10 people, this all in the 1070's and 80's. He was chased by detectives, task forces, civilians, and Michelle. He has not been apprehended. He started his crime spree before DNA typing was developed, before DNA was collected,and before there was a large database. His crime scenes were distinctive. When DNA tying became a reality, investigators were able to clearly place him at some of the scenes. However, his DNA has not been found with any known suspects. Michelle unfortunately passed away while writing this book. She said "There's a scream permanently lodged in my throat now." I won this book on Goodreads with no expectations to give it a good review. All opinions are mine.

I wanted to read the book because of my interest in that particular area. The Big Muddy Ranch segment (Faith) tells the story of Eva Cora Thompson Bruner and her sheepherder husband Dee "D.L." Bruner who killed a man and was sentenced to prison. Eva eventually homesteaded on the Big Muddy and never gave up hope that she would see her husband out of jail and free. Eva overcame obstacles including well-meaning relatives, homesteading on her own with only her child, but still finding the Big Muddy a place of shelter and hope. The Rancho Rajneeshpuram segment (Hope) tells the story of a grandmother coming to the ranch to take her grandchild back with her. As an Oregonian who viewed the Rajneesh, at best, as invaders and watched in horror as they took over the peaceful town of Antelope, tried to kill several Wasco County officials, and then poisoned an unknown number of people who ate from salad bars in The Dalles, I found this story particularly interesting. She told their story partially from the point of view of the grandmother and her daughter who was a Rajneesh follower. It was interesting to see the story from their viewpoint, since I had always viewed it from a totally different point of view. The Young Life segment (Charity) was also interesting since they managed to take the run-down buildings left behind and create something so amazing for young people and present them with a spiritual opportunity.

Jane Kirkpatrick, who is an Oregon writer, is an expert at crafting historical novels. This is about Marie Dorian, an Ioway woman married to a French-Canadian/Yankton Sioux man Pierre Dorian. She went west with her husband with the Astor Overland Expedition, taking her two young sons with her. She endured the many miles into the wilderness with hostile landscapes and weather, an inexperienced leader, and an alcoholic, sometimes violent husband. She became pregnant, met Sacagawea, and other Native women in her travels, protected her two sons, and not only survived, but endured with love and courage. She was one of the first women to settle in the west, was a resident of Astoria, and earned her name in her own right.

Oregon author Jane Kirkpatrick specializes in historical fiction based on fact with an inspirational tone. This book about Eliza Spalding Warren, the daughter of Henry and Eliza Spalding, missionaries to the Nimiipuu/Nez Perce. In 1847 Eliza was being schooled at the Whitman Mission, when it was attacked by the Cayuse Indians and Eliza was taken hostage until the British could ransom her and the other survivors. This incident, understandably colored her life. The Spaldings were ordered to leave their mission and resettle in the Willamette Valley, where Henry was tasked with founding churches. Shortly after the trial, where Eliza was a witness, her mother died. Eliza then had the duty of running the household and taking care of her siblings. She met Andrew Warren when he helped dig her mother's grave, fell in love with him and married him without her father's consent. This book is told from the perspective of the daughter Eliza, who is also reading her mother's journal. Eliza suffered both from PTSD and survivor's guilt. I learned a lot about the history of the Oregon Territory, and about the Spalding and Warren family. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Dave Barry is funny, not giggle funny, but laugh out loud, fall off your chair funny. So you just know that when Seth Weinstein gets to Miami for his destination wedding to Tina, and he knows she is way out of his league, things are definitely going to go sideways. Seth with his groom posse manages to get into more trouble than he ever thought possible, starting with the cab ride to the hotel, for some reason the cab driver cannot find the correct hotel, which leads to a drink, lost suitcase, Russian hookers, an eleven foot Burmese albino python named blossom, a desperate Haitian refugee with her two children, drug dogs, pirates, a plus-size hooker, a pimp, Russian gangsters, "medicated" brownies, and an orangutan named Trevor. A fun read.

Elsa is seven, almost eight. Her best friend is her out-of-control grandmother who smokes, shoots paintballs at strangers, and tells wonderful, marvelous stories. Elsa particularly loves the stories, because while they are being told, she can forget her reality. Elsa is different, wise beyond her years, bullied at school, the daughter of a divorced couple who both remarried. Only in the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas can she relax and be herself. When her grandmother dies, she is sent on a quest to deliver letters to the residents of her apartment building, all the letters are apologies, and all the people are tied in with her grandmother in many different ways. It took me awhile to get into this book, but once I did I laughed and cried at all of Elsa's adventures. I loved this book, and plan to read more of Mr. Backman's books.

This is the second in the series about the residents and visitors to Christian Bend, Tennessee. Burdy Luttrell, the local healer, makes a fateful trip to learn more about healing roots in 1987. She is shot by a robber and ends up at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Burdy knows she has to tell Rain, the boy she's cared for since birth, the secret she's been keeping for years. This book deals partially with PTSD and survivor's guilt. The characters are well developed and I found them to be characters I cared for. While I've never been to the South, I have lived in a small town. Ms. Zacharias nailed it. I read the first book in the series and am looking forward to reading the third book.

Stunning fantasy, extensive world building, characters who are complex, well worth the read. Three worlds, three human races, then a fourth comes out of the void and upsets the balance, and trapping the majority of the survivors on one world. All of the characters are complex and have faults, even the elders and gods. There were secrets revealed, a mission gone terribly wrong, and each race hiding secrets from the others. Between violence and trickery, with sorcery thrown in, none of the characters are truly safe. This is book 1 of the 4 book series, I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

Sasscer Hill knows horse racing, from the backside to the frontside. This launch of the Fia McKee series is powerful. Fia's late father had race horses and she used to exercise them in the morning, so when she is put on leave from her job as a Baltimore cop for excessive force, her second chance is a job with the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau. She is sent to Gulfstream as an exercise rider, undercover, to discover who is drugging horses, and how. She also gets involved investigating the illicit horse slaughter business. While this is ambitious, it satisfies. It was realistic, suspenseful, and kept me awake reading it. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.

Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, what a great team. They certainly hit this out of the park. Amanda Pierce vanished the night of her bachelorette party just prior to her lavish wedding. Five years later her mother begs Laurie Moran to feature her cold case in Laurie's show Under Suspicion. I love this concept of a reality show that covers cold cases in the hopes of actually solving the crime. Laurie and her staff and family are all interesting and complex characters. I stayed up late at night to finish this book. I'll certainly read more of this series.

This is the first Joe Pickett Novel by C. J. Box. I immediately liked Joe and his family. As a new Game Warden in an area of Wyoming where everyone hunts, some out of season, and where he is the outsider, Joe struggles to maintain his integrity. He's made a few enemies, and a few friends, but he's not always sure who he can turn to. His daughter Sheridan, is a central character in this book. I plan to read more in this series. I not only loved the very real descriptions of Wyoming, but the characters.

Gregg Olsen always delivers. This is the second in his Stark and Waterman series. Nothing is truly what it seems, Kendall is on a committee planning her class reunion, while she also has work and family to keep up with. Secrets from the past keep rearing their ugly heads. I had trouble putting this down. Olsen's characters are realistic and the plot is realistic. I would recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers that will keep you awake at night.

This was not a well publicized Indian US Cavalry War, but still was an important one. The Bannock and Paiute Indians, banded together to fight white encroachment, but that was not all, there was a religious component, and they wanted to join Sitting Bull in Canada. There were divisions among the Indians, and some of the atrocities were not approved of by some members of the large band that had gathered. The authors did a large amount of research and interviewed relatives of participants, in fact they had relatives who had fought. This book was not the usual dry retelling of history, but was well written, and could be categorized as historical novel, in that the characters spoke and had feelings, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed learning history with this book.

This is one of the stand-alone thrillers David Rosenfelt wrote, not part of the Andy Carpenter series. That being said, it was scary and had plenty of twists and turns. Tim's wife was killed in a boating accident, one New Jersey cop thinks Tim murdered her, he didn't. When a stranger approaches Tim with "Can you keep a secret?" and gives him information about a murder, and says "Now it's your problem" and walks away, the cop is more convinced Tim murdered his wife. Now Tim needs to find out what happened, before the cops lock him up. While it was a very scary book, there was still some humor, and a dog, I loved it.

The name tells a lot about the book "Dogtripping, 25 rescues, 11 volunteers, and 3 RV's on Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure", and yes the trip and the planning that went into it was fascinating, funny, and well worth the read. But the background about the Tara Foundation, that David and his wife Debbie founded, which was named after their first Golden Retriever and was the reason behind becoming a rescue, was touching. The stories about the dogs was humorous, touching, and occasionally brought a tear to my eye. All in all, it was a great read, and I enjoyed every single page.

This was hysterical. His descriptions of ranching life in the west, and when he worked for the Cattleman's Association, were both accurate and funny. He captured life in Wyoming and made it real. All those city slickers out there should read it.

This was an interesting debut novel. It was fast paced, with interesting characters, and lots of intrigue. I thought he did a good job of world building also. I stayed up late to finish this, and am looking forward to the sequel. He left lots of loose ends at the book's conclusion, and left the reader wondering about the fate of most of the main characters.

Meg is back! How wonderful. Meg is probably the least outdoor-type person writing for Portland's Northwest Extreme magazine, and keeps getting assignments outside of her comfort zone. While she did train over the summer, she still is not ready for Mt. Hood in the winter, at the Silcox Hut. Meg is feisty, keeps trying, even though she would rather be curled up in front of the fireplace with a good cup of hot chocolate. She has personal issues she needs to solve, and there is a secondary mystery, making her a complex character. I love this series, as always Kate Dyer-Seeley has hit it out of the park. I love it too that it's set in the Pacific Northwest, we have so many outdoor activities and locations for Meg to learn her skills

Molly, Elsie, and Olivia, three witches running a curio shop, found they were losing their powers, spells weren't working, and they seemed to have somehow qualified for AARP. Before they could retire they had to train replacements, give up their magic, and pass on their spell book. However, when Olivia ends up dead and their spell book is stolen, they now have a new priority. What a great story, I absolutely loved it.

Candy and murder, particularly chocolate. Who could possibly resist? A fun story, engaging characters, and recipes. Very satisfying

I really loved this book and stayed up long into the night to finish it. Set in the wilds of Utah, featuring Summer "Sam" Westin, a writer and wildlife biologist, who helped rehabilitate and release cougars a year ago. When a little boy goes missing, everyone blames the big cats, but Sam knows it's more complicated than that. With the help of the FBI agent Chase Perez, she goes to the high country to save both the cats and the boy.

Quirky and Fun. Shannon is the best contractor around and successful. However, when a blind date turns out badly, and then he's found dead in a home she is restoring, then she has to use all her spare time to try to solve the murder. She has quirky friends and relatives, and cute guys helping and it is an fun read. I love this series.

This was a lot of fun to read. Georgia is not exactly the typical reality show participant, she's convinced to join the show Love or Money by her best friend and who is the associate producer. The cast is her and ten men. The goal, to figure out which of them are there for love or the money. But when men start being killed, and her ex-boyfriend the cop comes onto the show, things get really interesting.

Home renovation in San Francisco and ghosts. Mel has her hands full with her most recent renovation. I really like this series, Mel and the other characters are well developed and engaging. I like the concept, since I know next to nothing about home renovation, especially Mel's specialty, Victorian and other classic homes.

Candy, I love candy, and I loved this book. Recipes too. This was a well written, fun cozy. I did want to eat candy while reading it, because Abby's candy sounded so good.

This cozy mystery is set in the world of doll collecting. Who knew that it could be so cut-throat? I found the mystery and the characters to be well developed. There was lots of information about dolls and collectors, which was fascinating. I'm looking forward to finishing the series.

This was a very interesting read. I liked the characters, they were complex and well developed. The premise for this novel was intriguing, does a serial killer in your family history mean that you will have a killer gene? Will you be more likely to kill than someone else? The plot was also well done, and I had no idea what was going to happen at the end.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about Dave Barry? Probably nothing. But this book made me laugh, stay up half the night, and thoroughly enjoy it. I've read lots of other articles by Mr Barry, but never before fiction. I absolutely loved this one.

Lisa Alber's debut novel. Wow. This was a intriguing read. I had trouble putting it down, and stayed up far too late at night reading it. I started out not particularly liking the characters, they had lots of baggage and personal conflicts. However, as I read along, I started to like them and care abut them. I also found a lot of interest in Ireland and found the descriptions fascinating.

Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit are caught in a tornado, rolling the police car (and really not amusing Brigit), and get into the middle of a violent gang. Enough to frustrate both of them. When Megan tries to investigate an old murder case with one of the gang members named as a suspect, she and Brigit keep barking up the wrong tree. I absolutely love this series. Diane Kelly writes with humor and intellgence, I find I care about the characters, and the outcome.

What is one of the worst things that can happen to a family? The Courtland family gets an answer to that question when on vacation in the Rocky Mountains, their son and daughter go out for a run, and only their son returns, badly injured at that. Their family will never be the same again, as they try to come to grips with their missing daughter, their injured son, and their now dysfunctional family. This novel brings up one any family's worst fear, and plots out how this family dealt with it. Frightening in intensity and all too real family emotions, this keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

This thriller kept me interested until the very last page. September Day has relocated after losing her husband and dog, and is trying to make a new life as an animal behaviorist, she is trying very hard to "stay under the radar" and heal her confidence. When her autistic nephew disappears during a freak blizzard, she races to save him, not knowing what the consequences will be. This book is partially narrated by a German Shepherd (a very young dog) being trained as a service dog for her nephew and it provides a very interesting outlook. When you see it from his point of view, it makes sense on a different level. Shadow knew some critical information, but had difficulty getting the humans to understand.

I really liked this book, it definately had some very interesting facts about the Napa Vally wine industry. The characters were likeable, and I hope to get to know them better in future books in this series. There were some very unpreditable twists.

This is going to be a great series. Juliet is a pastry chef who returns home after working on a cruise ship. She returns home to Ashland, OR to help her mother in their pastry shop and because she got her heart broken by Carlos (who she is currently married to). I loved the characters and the recipes and I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

Trish Yearly has the worst day of her life when she is evicted and fired on the same day, and her mother refuses to let her come and stay. So Trish does the next best thing, and goes to her grandfather Tobias' place. There she finds out that Tobias used to be a CIA Agent and then finds his best friend dead. Since there's nowhere else to go but up, Trish and her grandfather start investigating. I loved this book. There were quirky characters, including a hunky, but straight-laced deputy and a real feel for the San Juan Islands.

This is the second book in the Paw Enforcement series and it's as good and as funny as the first book. Police Officer Megan Luz and her trusty K-9 partner Brigit are roped into working at the local rodeo. Megan isn't a rodeo fan, but Brigit finds some of the activities enticing. However when "Robin Hood" a young Texas golddigger starts stealing from the rich to give to the poor, herself, Megan and Brigit are on the case. This series is very, very good, with suspense as well as delving into Megan's relationships. It was funny in the right places, and I found myself literally laughing out loud. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.

Walt Longmire, Sheriff of Wyoming's Absaroka County, takes some time off to go to Philadelphia with Henry Standing Bear, so he can see his daughter Cady. They barely arrive when Cady is violently assaulted and ends up in critical condition in ICU. Between sitting with Cady and investigating (with the help of the entire Moretti clan, Henry, and Dog), he discovers she unwittingly became involved in a deadly political cover-up. This series rocks. I love Walt, Henry, Vic, and everyone. Walt just does what needs to be done with common sense and humor. He dispenses justice with an even hand.

Maggie was a damaged woman. She had a dysfunctional childhood, her parents locked into age old conflicts. When she was at college, she had a relationship with Thomas, who was her greatest love, but when she saw him in an embrace with his ex-fiancee, Maggie fled. She's been working at the library and still working on her degree, one class at a time, but has given up on love. But when she meets motherless, 8 year old Izzie, she falls completely in love with her. With her maternal instincts full-force, she agrees to marry Izzie's father, Donald. The thrill is never there, and her eating disorder increases, but she keeps telling herself that Izzie is worth it. When she runs into Thomas, she finds she has a decision to make, does she stay in her loveless marriage, or does she follow her heart? I loved this book. Maggie was so conflicted and unhappy, that I wanted to tell her that she was worthwhile. This was a story of Maggie and how she became the way she was. It was a story of love and relationships and loyalty, and hope.

Elise Beckett's family owns River Bend vineyard, and she's been working on hybridization to make the crop more drought resistant. Her long-distance boyfriend has offered her a dream job with him in Dallas in organic horticulture research, but before she can discuss it with her family her Uncle Edmund is found dead. When it turns out to be murder, Elise and her family friend Sheriff's Deputy Jackson Landry must catch the killer. This was a very fun read, I enjoyed it immensely. Elise was enjoyable character. I particularly liked her cat Chunk, a Siamese Snowshoe, since I have one myself (although not with the same bad habit). I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Zoe Chambers paramedic and deputy coroner in the tight-knit rural Vance Township in Pennsylvania, has been privy to many secrets over the years, some of them her own. Secrets explode when a dead body is found in the abandoned car of the Township Board President. While a blizzard ranges Zoe and Police Chief Pete Adams launch the investigation to find the killer, uncovering secrets that could destroy them all. I loved this debut mystery by Annette Dashofy. Zoe was realistic and her friends (and not so much friends) jumped off the pages. I'm planning on reading the second book in this series when it comes out.

Iris Oakley, pregnant and still recovering from her husband's murder works at the small Finley Memorial Zoo in Vancouver, Washington. After her volunteer night shift she hears the elephants making a ruckus, when she investigates she finds Damrey, a usually mild and reliable elephant mauling her boss, Kevin Wallace. Without training and only with help by phone, she rescues him, only to learn later that he did not survive the mauling. When it turns out the elephants did not kill him, Iris is nominated by fellow employees to investigate. She finds lots of people with motives, the elephant keepers are feuding, the net veterinarian is keeping secrets, and an old flame still hated him. Add animal rights activists picketing the zoo, and there seem to be suspects coming out of the woodwork. I really like this series. Iris is down-to-earth, and is coping with the situation to the best of her ability. There's lots of information about how the zoo is operated. I'm planning on reading the next one.

Maggie Grady is forced to give up her high-flying New York lifestyle and return to her home town after she's unjustly accused of cooking the books at the bank where she worked. Her Aunt Clara greets her with open arms and a job at the family-owned business that has baked the best pies for over forty years. When Maggie's boss shows up and declares he's found the real crook, she's elated, until he turns up dead in back of the pie shop. The police not only turn the spotlight on Maggie, but they suspect Aunt Clara's damson pie might be deadly. Now Maggie has to clear herself and her aunt. This was a fun read, I loved the characters, and when Aunt Clara was teaching Maggie how to make pie crust her way, I felt sorry for Maggie. Pie crust is hard. I'm looking forward to the next in this series.

This is the 16th FBI thriller, and it certainly is a good one. FBI Agent Dillon Savich is delivered a note "For what you did you deserve this", just as he and his partner Lacey Sherlock are preparing to go to San Francisco to investigate the shooting of the friend Federal Judge Ramsey Hunt. As usual this series does not disappoint. I love Savich and Sherlock, and the rotating cast of characters that have been in other books, or who are new to this one.

Randi Sterling, equine journalist, bonds with the horses she writes about, but has trust problems with men. When her former college flame, Jaydee Hill, asks her to move to his ranch, Rancho del Zorro in San Diego, she is torn. On one hand, he burned her in college, leaving her hurt, and on the other hand, has he changed his mind and is offering her the chance of a lifetime? When she arrives in San Diego practically the first person she runs into is Jaydee's wife. That was a big shock, but when his wife is found dead in her prize stallion's stall, with Randi's fingerprints on the murder weapon, things go from bad to worse. Randi dives in to prove that she is innocent. I loved this book, partly because of the horses and the setting, and partially because it was riveting and well written. I learned a lot about artificial insemination. This is Susan Union's debut novel, and I'm looking forward to her second in the series.

Maya Rivers moved to the coastal town of Newport, Oregon after her father died and her marriage imploded. Part of the reason was to get closer to her brother Harley.Even though working as a waitress wasn't her idea of a long-term career, it did put food on the table, and paid her bills. She finds Harley involved in an environmental group, the Coast Defenders, and even though he claims they are non-violent and don't engage in damaging property, some people think otherwise. With acts of vandalism increasing, arson fires on fishing boats, and one of the activists gone missing, things look bad for his group. But when an arson turns deadly, Harley becomes the prime suspect. Maya is determined to prove his innocence. I loved this book. Partly because it was set in Newport, a place I've been several times, and partly because it was well-written. This is a debut novel for Christine Finlayson, and I hope she writes more. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

Lucky Jamieson inherited her parent's soup shop in Snowflake, Vermont, and is running it while she decides what to do with the rest of her life. Does she sell her parent's house or move into it? Along with that goes lots of other questions. However, when her soup chef finds the body of a blonde in back of the cafe, the game plan radically changes. Then when he is arrested for her murder, Lucky goes into investigative mode. Lucky and her friends all pull together to keep the soup shop open, and the soups sound so good, my mouth watered. Believable characters, good food, I'm planning on reading the next in the series.

Hayley Snow, the food critic for Key Zest magazine, has a full plate, not just with work, but with her best friend Connie's wedding. If that isn't enough, when her family comes into town for the wedding, her stepbrother, goes missing in the Key West spring break scene. When she finds him, he is barely conscious, and he is accused of murdering the girl he was seen with. With the setting of this series in Key West I enjoy the locale. Hayley is always running into difficult people, and often hilarious situations. Her friends and family are a charming collection of interesting characters. I also love the recipes in the back of the book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I won this book with a request for an honest review.

Reagan Summerside's mother is running for alderman against Kip "Scummy" Seymour, and the mud-slinging is intense Reagan would much rather run her consignment shop, The Prissy Fox, and spending time with her dog, Bruce Willis, than help with her mother's campaign. However, when Kip is murdered, and the evidence points to her mother, she starts her own investigation. I do love this series, Reagan and her friends are genuine and down-to-earth. Her Aunt Kiki is lots of fun, and her on/off/on....relationship with Boone is intriguing. I'm definitely going to read the next book in this series.

Hayley Snow's boss signs her up to be a judge in a TV reality cooking competition show Key West Topped Chef contest to get some positive publicity. When Hayley shows up, one of her fellow judges, Sam Rizzoli, owns the restaurant Hayley just panned. She just knows things aren't going to turn out good. However, when things go from bad to worse and Sam turns up dead, Hayley begins to investigate. I like this series, Hayley lives on a houseboat with a roommate, who is charming, her friends are colorful, and the background is beautiful. Add the recipes in the book and this is a win-win series for me.

Tracy Weber's debut mystery is a great start to a new series. Kate Davidson's yoga studio in Seattle is generally a peaceful place until one day when George and his dog Bella show up selling a local paper. George is a homeless alcoholic, and Bella is an intimidating German Shepherd, and while trying to get rid of them, Kate becomes friends with them. When George turns up dead behind Kate's studio and the police dismiss it as a drug-deal gone bad, Kate knows that's wrong. George wasn't a drug dealer. Kate then starts asking questions and tries to find Bella, who has a medical problem, a new home. I loved this book. The characters were fresh and likeable. Bella won my heart. I learned about EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) in dogs. All in all, I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Walt Longmire, too tired, too old, too heavy......um, maybe, but a great protagonist. Sheriff of Absaroka County in Wyoming doesn't quite believe former sheriff Lucien Connally when he states that Marie Baroja, fellow resident of the Durant Home for assisted living and former wife (for about 3 hours and many years ago), has been murdered. However, after the autopsy, it becomes clear that she was poisoned. Events of the past connect to the present, and investigating this crime leads Walt into a complex maze of lies, half-truths, odd friendships, and danger. I have to admit, I love this series. I love the books, the TV series, and I enjoy seeing the author at book signings. This book did not disappoint. Not only do I like Walt, but also his friends and associates, Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Vic Moretti, newcomer Deputy Santiago Saizarbitoria, former sheriff Lucian Connally, and everyone else.

The first book in a new series. Zoe Chase quits her job when she's once again passed over for a promotion at work and sets out to fulfill her dream. She has always wanted to open a restaurant, so she gives up her apartment and takes all her cash to buy a run-down diner (a definite fixer-upper), and to make a living she buys a used food truck. The diner is in a strip mall near a homeless shelter, and her first employee Ollie comes from there. Things start out all right, but go downhill when she is threatened by a competing food truck for taking their spot, someone tries to rob her, and then to take the cake, the guy who threatened her turns up dead in her food truck. When a friend is accused of the murder, Zoe decides to do own investigating on her own, and takes her deep fried biscuit bows with her to get information. I loved this book, Zoe, Ollie, and Delia make a good team. Her cat Creme Brulee reminds me of my cat. Miguel, the attorney is a pretty cool guy, sparks between him and Zoe make me wonder where their relationship will go in future books. Zoe's family provides plenty of distraction, her overbearing mother, divorced from her father who has trouble standing up to his ex-wife, Uncle Saul, who's a character, and her overbearing, social climbing ex-boyfriend are all fun to read about. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

The owner of Pants On Fire Detective Agency, Cat DeLuca, knows a train wreck when she sees one, and seeing her old friend, Billy Bonham, in a Santa suit being chased from a bar she knows she's watching one. When she finds out Billy has taken the correspondence course on how to become a PI and has purchased a trench coat, she reluctantly gets involved. Billy is in way over his head with a case involving murder and a stolen pair of Marilyn Monroe's earrings, not to mention a client who has the potential to get everyone killed. When Billy is gunned down on the street, Cat takes over and finds herself dodging bullets and knee-deep in trouble. Third in the Cat DeLuca Mystery series does not disappoint. With her sexy FBI boyfriend, ex-spies, her family of Chicago cops, and her mother, it makes for laugh-out-loud reading. I really enjoyed this book and enjoyed the characters. If I ever need a PI, I'd like to hire Cat.

Emma Taylor returns to her hometown of Paris, Tennessee from her big-city life in New York, to help her aunt Arabella to update and renovate her lingerie boutique, Sweet Nothings. She doesn't plan on settling down in Paris, but looks at the experience as temporary. Her idea is to renovate the shop, and re-create Sweet Nothings into a vintage lingerie boutique. While she's busy reuniting with old friends and making some new ones, her philandering French ex-boyfriend breezes into town and promptly gets murdered, inside the shop. Well, of course that makes Emma the prime suspect. I loved this book. Emma and her aunt were fun characters, however the cigarette-smoking, oxygen breathing, Sylvia stole the show. With gallons of sweet tea, vintage lingerie, delayed armoires, and murder,this book was fun to read.

Devereaux Sinclair quit her job in the city and moved back to her home town in Missouri and bought the old fashioned five-and-dime. There she not only has merchandise, but an old-fashioned lunch counter/soda fountain, and puts baskets together for special occasions. However, when her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend is found murdered with a champagne bottle from the gift basket Dev had put together, she finds herself the prime suspect. I really liked this book. The characters, Dev and her friends were very likeable, and the plot moved along nicely. I'm going to read the next book in the series.

Annabelle Starkey is at a book convention as part of her job, and she meets an interesting man, Mickey Paxton, he invites her to go with him to Las Vegas. On a whim she takes him up on it. She loves movies, and her life just hasn't been matching up. One delightfully, slightly sinful weekend in Las Vegas, what could possibly go wrong? Almost from the time they arrive in Sin City, things become complicated to say the least. Annabelle and Mickey find themselves running from, who? Definitely running for their very lives, but have no idea what is going on. Then when her BFF is murdered in Annabelle's San Francisco apartment, things become even more mystifying. They spend their time running from bad guys, bad cops, and don't know who to trust or why this is happening. I really liked this book. The characters were fun, there were lots of movie references. It was a quick read, in places funny, in places sweet. I'm looking forward to Annabelle's next adventure.

Lainey Garcia is a successful television personality, with an important job interview coming up, but she puts everything on hold to return to Texas when her sister Tessa dies. Lainey and Tessa have quite the past, Lainey left town when Tessa married the man she loved. So, after Tessa's house exploded, and it was ruled murder, the last thing Lainey expects to see is Tessa, as a ghost. Lainey is the only one who can see and hear her, but Tessa asks the sisters to find out who murdered her. Tessa had made a lot of enemies, leaving a long list of suspects, some of whom don't think anyone should be snooping into this situation. I loved this book. Tessa was a hoot, smart-mouthed, wisecracking, knows the dirt on everyone in town. It was funny, original, and I loved the story. This is not a cozy due to some steamy scenes, and some language, but I did love it. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Jenna Hart leaves the world of advertising the help her aunt Vera open a culinary bookstore and cafe in Crystal Cove, California. She invited her old college roommate Desiree Divine to be the grand opening event because she's a celebrity chef and an author. However, when Desiree hits town she stirs up more than just a hornet's nest. Then she turns up dead. Judging from the amount of people that Desiree stirred up, it will take reading between the lines to catch a killer. I really liked this book. The characters were fun to get to know, and the recipe looked good, and I enjoyed the story. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Stella Griffin has a good job (even if it is temporary), a nice cabin to live in (even if it is haunted), and a nice dog (Hero). She is the chief of the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade and is responsible for organizing all the volunteers into a n efficient group of firefighters. She is also concerned and working on solving the death of her favorite ghost, Eric, the former fire chief and her current roommate at the cabin. She knows that she either needs to return to Chicago, or lose her job there, but she's not ready to leave without answers and solving Eric's sudden death. When retired Deputy Chum comes to talk to her about the night Eric died, he gives her more information, but then he is apparently the victim of a traffic accident. However, things really heat up when her parents and ex-boyfriend Doug come to town to convince her to return to Chicago. What is Stella going to do? I really like this series. Stella is a capable, confident fire chief with an unusual group of volunteers who are shaping up into a good team. Hero, the puppy is just precious. The small-town gossip mill is spot-on. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Mandy Tanner, River Ranger, rescues a man in a white-water river rafter accident who turns out to die, and it turns out he was murdered. Mandy and the sheriff's office work to solve this crime. The victim, Tom King, a local developer has lots of enemies, but the question is just who exactly sent him to his death. I really liked this book, lots of colorful characters and likeable characters. I found that I really cared about what happened to them, and to the river-rafting company that Mandy and her brother inherited when their uncle died. I'm looking forward to getting the next book in the series.

Tess McCrae investigates what starts out looking like a brutal cartel hit on a retired cop at a ghost town. With her phenomenal memory and her cop instincts, she knows something is off. When she and her partner discover that it definitely was not a cartel hit, she starts investigating by going back to ground zero and where that leads. It leads to more murders, people who have lots to hide, and many more locations than her piece of Arizona. I really liked this book. It was hard for me to put down, and when I did, it invaded my thoughts until the very end. It was definitely one of those edge-of-my-seat books, with complicated plot lines, interesting, sometimes not particularly likeable characters. I won this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a novella, a Walt Longmire Story. Walt is reading "A Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve, when he is interrupted by a ghost of Christmas past, a young woman who wants to talk to his predecessor, Lucian Connally. This takes them back to a night just before Christmas of a record breaking storm, a critically injured child from a wreck that killed her family, and a Lifeguard Flight that must make it to Denver to save that child. "Steamboat" is a decommissioned World War II bomber, that just may save that child's life. Not only did I love the story, but I learned that the symbol on that plane, a cowboy on a bucking bronco, with the word Steamboat, actually means something. That symbol on the Wyoming license plates and for the University of Wyoming are actually based on a real bucking horse used in rodeos in Wyoming, and all over the west. That horse was named Steamboat because of a nose injury that left him "whistling" that sounded like a steamboat.

This is the fifth book in the series, and Diane Kelly does not disappoint. This book has Tara working twice as hard as normal, literally. They are investigating the "Tennis Racketeers" who bilked unsuspecting people out of millions with their mortgage scam, and working undercover at a strip joint who may be serving more than pole dances and alcohol. Tara is working as a bookkeeper at the joint, while Nick is a security/bouncer, and Christina is working as a cocktail waitress. Lobo has started a workout program, and Tara is going with her, wearing the pink legwarmers Lobo gave her. As usual, there are plenty of laughs. some sexy scenes, and unexpected events. I always wait impatiently for her books to come out.

Dixie Hemingway, no relation to you-know-who, accepts a simple job of cat sitting for celebrity football player Cupcake Trillin. Who knew that Dixie would find a woman in Cupcake's house who claims to be his wife, but is not. When Dixie finds herself spun into the world of counterfeit high fashion, she knows she's way out of her comfort zone. Once again this series satisfies. Blaize Clement died, and her son finished the book. Kudos to him. This book seamlessly fits into the series.

Former world-class rider and adept trainer Tink Elledge struggles with the reality that after an accident leaving her with neurological problems, she may not be able to ride competitively again. Since her talented young colt Exit Laughing is entered in the Brandywine Three-Day Event, she has to let another rider compete with him. It's hard enough getting used to being a spectator, but before the event even starts, an accident on the road kills a respected trainer and a talented colt and a young groom disappears. Tink finds that just watching the event leaves her with more excitement and danger than she ever anticipated. I really liked this book. I liked the strong personalities and the characters involved. The descriptions of the three-day event certainly sounded accurate, even though that's a part of the horse world I know less about. I'm looking forward to Tink's next adventure.

This book set in the tiny town of Pelican Bay, with the mysterious Captain Shelby and Ethan and Morgan, deals with a lot of the mysticism surrounding the sea. Who is Captain Shelby? Ethan and Morgan discover old gravestones under the water that have been hidden for centuries, and they begin to get very curious about the town and its history. Captain Shelby seems to have been there forever, maybe centuries, how can that be? While this book isn't the traditional mystery, there is still lots of mystery involved. Who is Captain Shelby, and just how old is he? Do Ethan and Morgan, best friends forever, fall in love. What is the answer to all those mysterious deaths/ I found that while I was reading this book, all those questions, and more, kept coming up. I loved the book.

White House gardener, Cassandra "Casey" Calhoun, loves her job, but when a simple tree planting goes wrong everything else does too. The tree planting debacle was caused by a missing schematic historical documents go missing from the curator's office, and the gardeners are being blamed. On top of that Casey has been receiving death threats, the President's dog has been digging holes, and the curator is found dead in the garden's with Gordon Sims found face-down in a pond and not breathing. To top that off, the new assistant curator is acting suspicious and living in the basement apartment right under Casey's apartment, Gordon is the prime suspect because his fingerprints are on the murder weapon, and Special Agent Jack Turner isn't acting right. Casey has a lot on her plate. This series is fun to read, I like the characters, and I think the book is well written. I look forward to more in this series.

Story Fisher's sister needs lots of help. Her husband brought home a trio of employees that need to be entertained. Holly asks Story to help. So Story shops the well-stocked aisles of her grocery store, The Wild Clover, for the guests. The agenda includes a visit to Story's back yard to learn about the bees. However, during that trip one of the employees dies, putting a damper on the visit. Not only that, Story becomes the prime suspect because she provided the deceased's carrot juice. There was a lot going on in this book. Not only does Story have to investigate to clear her name, but her hunky boyfriend, Hunter Wallace, has just moved in with her, her mother and her boyfriend are looking at the rental house next door, and Pity-Party Patti is acting more strange than normal. I like this series and look forward to whatever Story and her friends get into. They are all smart, likeable, and a little eccentric.

Alison Kerby's guesthouse came with two guests who can't leave, because Paul and Maxie are ghosts. With a blizzard coming to New Jersey and two real guests who are not really enjoying their vacation, it doesn't help that Alison's mother has been dating a ghost: Alison's father. However, when he stands up her mother three times in a row, it's obvious something has happened. The bearer of bad tidings is an overly dramatic, and sometimes unhelpful spirit with the stage name of Lawrence Laurentz who won't tell the entire story until Alison solves his murder. Alison, once again, puts on her PI hat to investigate and finds some unexpected help and some sinister characters. I love this series, it is funny, the characters are likeable, and the ghosts are quirky. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Katie Bonner, the reluctant manager of Artisans Alley, is hot, literally hot from a heat wave. It doesn't help that she moved into the apartment over her boyfriend, Andy's pizza parlor without air conditioning, however, it's hot everywhere. Artisans Alley doesn't have air conditioning either. When a fire strikes a small woodworking store Wood U in Victoria Square, the store is destroyed, but there is a dead body inside. It seems that the victim was not killed by the fire, he was shot. Katie is determined to find the murderer, even if Detective Davenport gets hot under the collar. I really like this series. Katie keeps busy with Artisans Alley, and its sometimes difficult crafters, she's President of the Merchant's Association, and shes investigating a murder. In this book the old Webster Mansion sells again, this time to a couple of people who aren't likely to back out, and even worse their plans for the bed and breakfast are almost the same as Katie's. These characters get more depth as the series goes on.

Katie Bonner's late husband invested their life savings in Artisans Alley, a craft fair, now Katie is the owner and responsible for keeping it in the black. She still mourns that the old Webster Mansion could have been hers to remodel and turn into the bed and breakfast of her dreams. However, a young couple just bought it, and are planning to do just that. When a skeleton is discovered sealed in one of the walls, work comes to a halt. The bones are Heather Wilson's, whose aunt is jewelry vendor and Katie's friend Rose Nash. Rose asks Katie to help her find Heather's killer. I really like this series. In this book Katie has her hands full, managing Artisans Alley, which includes refereeing various crafters disputes and making schedules, and she is the President of the Victoria Square Merchants Association, looking for a new place to live, trying to spend time with her boyfriend, Andy, and of course investigating the murder. The characters are interesting and are fun to read about.

Sage Singer is a baker, and damaged. She works all night and avoids people, partially due to the scar on her face, but also due to other events in her life. At grief counseling she meets an old man Josef Weber and becomes friendly with him. When Josef makes a shocking confession and asks Sage to help him die, her whole world is tipped upside down and she questions the beliefs she has adopted. This book is about the holocaust and it takes the reader into the horrific conditions of the Jewish people under the Hitler Regime. It was hard to read, I often was crying. The absolute horror of 6 million Jews, Gypsies, and other dissidents being executed by the Third Reich is difficult to understand, but the absolute horror of living in the work camps is almost beyond comprehension. This book is fiction, but Ms. Picoult has done her research, and has written a book, that while it's difficult to read, also tells a story that needs to be told.

Tintaglia, dragon queen, forged an agreement with the inhabitants of the Rain Wilds to help protect her from dangerous invaders if they would protect an unhatched brood of dragons. When they actually hatched, and were misshapen, weak, not only could not feed themselves, but could not take care of themselves, keepers were chosen. One by one the dragons chose "their" keeper. As time went by, the people tired of hunting for the dragons, and they and their keepers were sent to search for their ancient homeland, Kelsingra. Against all odds, they not only found it, but became more beautiful, and capable and their keepers were changed into Elderlings, the race who cared for the dragons. Once they reach home there is much to learn if the dragons are going to continue to exist. I love this series. I was not disappointed that I had to wait a year to read this final book in the series. I became involved with the characters, including the dragons, and felt like I had lost friends at the end of this book.

Red Riding Hood, well... not like the much told fairy tale. Roudette is the hunter, an assassin known to the world as the Lady of the Red Hood. Lorindar is now the home of Danielle (Cinderella) she is the Princess of Lorindar, as well as Snow (Snow White) and Talia (Sleeping Beauty). They are actually Queen Beatrice's security team. When Roudette arrives because there is a contract out on Talia, things get very complicated, very fast. The four have to join forces and permanently dismantle the fairy magic that was responsible for the curse put on Talia. This series gives the reader a different, and darker, twist on the old fairy tales. While I loved the fairy tales as a child, as I grew older I thought there should be more to them. This series has provided that.

Kate Reilly, talented and aspiring race-car driver is following the American Le Mans Series looking for a job driving. When she stumbles over the body of a driver, she ends up getting his job. That not only puts her at the top of the list as a suspect, but possibly in more trouble than just figuring how to drive a Corvette at Lime Rock Park. She finds herself playing catch-up getting to know the car, the track, her teammates, the sponsors, and other drivers. She keeps finding more and more clues, a little black notebook, with possible blackmail victims in it, cars having performance problems at race speed, drivers and crew happy that her predecessor is dead, and at least one jealous husband with his adulterous wife. This is a great read. I really liked the characters, Kate with her strength and drive, Holly, her friend, with her fierce defense of Kate, and her teammates. Not only is there lots of behind the scenes car racing information, but there is lots of action. This is going to be a good series to follow.

Claire Weatherly found the simple life she always wanted when she moved to Heavenly, Pennsylvania, in the heart of Amish country. Claire moves in with her aunt at Sleep Heavenly, the local inn and opens a gift shop. She also finds that she's attracted to two men, one of whom is Amish, and the other was Amish, left and is currently the Detective in Heavenly. When toy manufacturer Rob Karble comes to town with the idea of producing a line of Amish toys, everyone is excited, until it gets around that he has decided to make the toys in his manufacturing plant. When he turns up dead, there are lots of suspects and Claire and Detective Fisher need to work together to solve this crime. This series is fantastic. I love that it's set in Amish country, and that it deals with the differences between the "English" and the Amish. The characters are interesting and it's a good read.

EJ Ferris doesn't have her dream job, but protecting the people in Fernglen Galleria is important to her. Dealing with a new boss, who keeps trying to design new uniforms, each one worse than the other, and trying to keep security sane doesn't help when her father comes to town with his film production company to film in the mall. Things go from bad to worse when a gun loaded with blanks discharges on the set, then the prop master, Zoe is found dead on mall property. This series is not only an enjoyable read, but Laura Disilverio, keeps making the characters more complex, giving them more depth.

Charlotte Bessette, owner of the Fromagerie Bessette, or better known as The Cheese Shop, has lots on her plate as usual. She is feeding the actors in her grandmother's production of Hamlet, planning the menu for Matthew and Meredith's wedding,setting a date to marry Jordan, and running The Cheese Shop. Her new creation, Brie blueberry ice cream has turned out sinfully delicious. So what could possibly go wrong? Well, a dead body in the freezer of the Igloo Ice Cream Parlor for one, even worse his head was bashed in with a container of her Brie blueberry ice cream. Charlotte finds out that the victim, while visiting, is not a stranger to some of the people she loves, so she races to solve the murder before everything she loves is destroyed. I love this series, Charlotte and her family are people that I care about, and I want to see them be happy. Their personalities jump off the page. I particularly love the cheese tipe, the wine tips, and the recipes.

Gwen Katz inherits her late uncle's kosher deli, Murray's Pastrami Swami, and moves to Nashville from New York. While getting to know the town, her customers, and her employees, she is also having to answer some tough questions about herself. Does she really want to stay in Nashville running the deli, or go back to New York? While struggling with all of that, she gets her first catering job at social butterfly, Lolo Baker's audience participation mystery party. When a "real" victim comes crashing through the ceiling, landing in Gwen's gravy, that puts a damper on the party. The victim Hoppy Hopewell had lots of problems, including squandering his inheritance and having affairs with several of Nashville's wealthiest women. So, who wanted him dead? I like this series. Gwen struggles with getting along in Nashville and running the deli. She also struggles with getting to know her employees and make friends. I also like the recipes in the back.

Full-time literary agent Lila Wilkins in Inspiration Valley, North Carolina, is looking forward to The Book and Author Festival, sponsored by her employer the Novel Idea Literary Agency. What could possibly go wrong? Well, a dead body or two can really spoil the festivities. Not only dead bodies to deflate the Festival, but Lila has some more personal problems. I love this series. I found and tried the recipe for Althea's (Lila's psychic mom) banana bread and loved it. I'm looking forward to the nest book.

Marla Jean Bandy's no-good, ex-husband left her for the Bookmobile-driving librarian 20-years her senior, talk about a blow to her ego. Now Marla Jean is looking for a Mr. Right Now, since shes not quite ready for Mr. Right. The problem isn't exactly the lack of men, although the men she keeps dating leave a little something to be desired. So part of the problem is the quality of men. However, her biggest problem of all is her childhood crush Jake, who doesn't help matters by being everywhere, as protective as a brother. and he lives just across the street. Maybe the other men just don't measure up to Jake, but he's never been one to settle down and be Mr. Right. Marla Jean admits that Jake curls her toes, but he's not only her brother's best friend and her enforcer (whether she wants one or not), and he keeps doing everything in his power to keep her at arm's length. I loved this book. I like romance novels that are fun and full of humor. I laughed all the way through and sympathized with Marla Jean's attempts to find a quality date.

Once again the Cackleberry Club owned by Suzanne, Petra, and Toni becomes the center of a murder investigation. During a blizzard they hear a loud crash and Suzanne goes out to find the town's most hated banker involved in a snowmobile crash and he's been beheaded. Some of their customers become prime suspects, so Suzanne, Petra, and Toni launch their own investigation. They not only have a murder investigation to run (along with Sheriff Doogie's help), but they have to keep the cafe running, participate in the winter festival, try to keep track of Toni's husbands most recent get-rich-quick scheme, solve the mystery of a runaway, but they have personal lives too. I thought Junior's (Toni's husband) get-rich-quick scheme was hilarious. I also enjoyed Suzanne's relationship with the very hunky Sam. These women could easily be friend's of mine. I love the recipes in the back of the book. The Red Velvet Pancakes look delicious.

Jaymie Leighton, vintage cookware and cookbook collector, sees an original, single owner, 1920's Hoosier-brand at an estate auction, she fell in love. She manages to get in the winning bid (after tow of the bidders get into a fight). She takes it home, puts it on her summer porch of the nineteenth-century yellow brick house she and her sister share in Michigan. However, that night her porch is broken into and a man is murdered with the steel meat grinder from the Hoosier. The man is a stranger, and the police struggle to find not just the man's identity, but to find the killer. Jaymie can't resist digging for clues, after all the crime was on her porch and involved her Hoosier. Jamie has a three-legged Yorkie-Poo, Hopalong, and a cat named Denver. I loved the small-town atmosphere in a part of Michigan close to Canada, and the characters. The recipe in the back for Queen Elizabeth Cake looks interesting. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Lindsey Norris, library director at Briar Creek, Connecticut, loves her job. She loves answering tricky reference questions. She's settling in for her second year, and has been happily dating tour boat captain Mike Sullivan. When a salvage company comes to town looking for buried treasure, Lindseys neighbor Charlie Peyton takes a job with them. However, when Trudi Hargrove, the local director of tourism, is found murdered at the construction site, and Charlie is the only one there, he is accused of murder. Lindsey does some digging of her own to find the truth. This series is fun to read, and I like the characters. I'm eagerly waiting for the next book in this series.

Katie Lightfoot is still trying to learn how to be a witch and be the head baker at Savannah's most enchanting bakery, but still has time for fun. She and her hunky fire-fighter, Declan McCarthy are having a picnic, when they discover a dead body. A tattoo shows that he belonged to a secret society, and it turns out he's missing an important item. Katie and her coven, along with her friend Steve Dawes, set out to discover not only who the corpse was, but who killed him, and why. I love this series, and the recipes in the back of the book. I'm thinking I should try "Margie's Coca-Cola Cake."

This is the sequel to "Thistle Down". While some Pixies are ready to go to war, and in fact are attacking other Pixies and even humans, Thistle Down (who was exiled in the previous book) and her human friends try to right the wrong. Desdemona "Dusty" and her brother Dick, Carrick along with Police Sergeant Chase Norton attempt to help Thistle Down stop the war started by half-Pixie/half-Faery. Chickory Up who has been happily living in Mable's garden also tries to stop it. I loved this series. It was fun to read, and fun to imagine that there really are Pixies living among us.

Glory Martine's souvenir shop Southern Treasures in Kayhole Bay, Florida has lots of unique items, not to mention the parrot Bluebeard (who is not for sale). Bluebeard makes life interesting for Glory with his extensive, and usually unprintable, vocabulary, with words that would make a sailor blush, and his all too realistic personality traits of her late great-uncle Louis. Is Bluebeard really a mouthpiece for a ghost? However, Glory's best friend Karen wants help proving that her ex's brother is not guilty of murder. That is not as easy as it sounds. I really like this series, there are likeable characters, an interesting story line, and recipes.

Richard and Kahlan have ended the war and want nothing more than to enjoy peacetime. However, that is not to be. Omens start being whispered about the palace and rumors start that Richard is trying to withhold prophecy from the people. When the omens start coming true, and a machine is discovered that is also giving the same omens, distrust and unrest start spreading. There is also one Hannis Arc who is possibly manipulating events. I love this series of books, the characters act like adults and make credible decisions. However, this also ends with far more questions than answers, and I am anxiously waiting the next book.

E J Ferris, mall cop, at Frenchglen Galleria, generally spends her day catching people who "forgot to pay" and watching the monitors. However, when an entire bank of cameras go black, she feels like she's missing something. When she goes to work in the morning, and finds a sleeping homeless man, who turns out not to be sleeping or homeless, but dead, she knows she can solve the case. Detective Hellend, however, has different ideas. When her boss is murdered, and she finds some suspicious evidence, things heat up. I really like this series and the characters. E J has a good relationship with her ex-CIA (or is he?) grandfather, and has some interesting friends. She also has some baggage left over from her military career-ending injury. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Jocelyn Shore and her cousin Kyla are on the trip of a lifetime to Egypt. Their fellow travelers are a definite mix of personalities and ages. On the first leg of the trip, one of their group, Millie Owens, takes a fatal fall off a Pyramid. Jocelyn is convinced it wasn't just a simple fall and she starts suspecting other members of their group. I loved this book, there were the quirky characters, the Dr. who loved to haggle for trinkets, the geriatric honeymooners, and of course the attractive single man who seemed to be more than he said he was. I liked the relationship between Jocelyn and Kyla, cousins, not sisters. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Marcy Singer is learning Mountmellick embroidery, a traditional Irish craft, from one of the books she's selling at the Seven-Year Stitch, her specialty embroidery shop. The St. Patrick's party at the Brew Crew includes a get-together of Blake and Todd's fraternity brothers from Oregon State University. By the night ends, one of the frat brothers is dead and both Blake and Todd are in the room with a gun. Since both of them are friends, Marcy's determined to find who really did the crime. I really like Marcy, her dog Angus, and her friends. But what I really want to know is, where is Tallulah Falls, Oregon? I have it narrowed down to a particular part of the coast. Living in Oregon, I love to try to guess where a fictional town would be and what real town it's based on.

Reagan Summerside's divorce left her with nothing but her precious Victorian house that she is restoring and designer clothes. The book starts with Reagan drinking a toast good by to all her designer clothes arranged around the dining room table. Her ex got everything else (with the help of his devilish and cunning lawyer Walker Boone), including the car, and a young blonde cupcake. However, when cupcake is found dead in the Lexus by Reagan and her Aunt Kiki, and her ex is charged with murder, Reagan sets out to find the murderer or lose her house. She sells a purse to her UPS driver, and finds that there's money in selling her clothes, so her main floor becomes the Prissy Fox, a consignment shop. I really love this series. Reagan is down to earth, and has a love-hate ( or is it a loves to hate) relationship with Walker. She also adopts a stray dog that she names Bruce Willis (BW for short). The setting is Savannah, Georgia, and it's all good fun.

Amanda Thorne, recently divorced from the love of her life, Alex, when he came out of the closet, is trying to make it on her own as a real estate agent. However, the open house for her first big listing goes terribly wrong from the beginning. Her car won't start, she has to ride her bicycle, and she has a close encounter with a cactus, and that's just the beginning. When she arrives (late of course), impatient realtors follow her into the house only to find a dead body. I loved this book. Amanda has her hands full with her soul-mate (but unfortunately gay) ex-husband, the hunky Detective Ken Becker (Is he straight?), her neighbor Regina, and other real estate agents. I'm looking forward to the next one in this series. It's also one of the funniest I've read.

Nell Pratt is invited to the Philadelphia Children's Museum for a sneak preview of the new Harriet the Hedgehog exhibit. That turns out to be quite a shocker when an installer is shocked by one of the animated creatures. That's bad enough, but when a second man is shocked fatally, things get really interesting. I really like this series, I like Nell and her boyfriend FBI Special Agent James Morrison, and I like the descriptions of the workings of the Philadelphia Antiquarian Society.

Jane Serrano is 42, widowed, raising a 19-year old daughter, Bianca, working part-time at Thornton's Books, and trying to keep up with everything with self-help books. The newly formed mystery book club is filled with hostilities. When there is a murder and Bianca gets involved, Jane has to use all of her wits to solve it. I liked this book and look forward to reading the next one. I particularly liked Wendell, the one-eyed dog (who is based on Tar who was the author's dog).

Welcome to Stoneham, New Hampshire, the home of niche shops, mostly book shops. Tricia Miles owns the Haven't Got a Clue mystery bookstore, but has been called on to solve more than the mystery on the pages of a book. It's Founder's Day with a celebration in the town square. Tricia and the rest of the town are in attendance while her friend and event organizer Deborah Black gives the opening speech. With the entire town watching, a small plane crashes into the village gazebo, killing both the pilot and Deborah. Tricia has a feeling that the this was more than an accident, and she sets out to investigate. I love this series. Tricia, her employees, her sister, and other characters are down-to-earth and have believable feelings and interactions. I'll definitely keep reading this series.

E.J. Ferris, used to patrol with her military unit until she was injured and sent home. Now she patrols the halls of Fernglen Galleria shopping mall as a mall cop. Usually, there's not a lot of excitement at the mall. However, when E.J.'s day starts out with the janitor finding a lizard from the Herpetology Hut, and she finds out all the reptiles were released into the mall by an animal rights group going by the name of L.O.A.F. it promises to be an interesting day. When a mall walker sees a dead body in the display window of one of the stores, things get more interesting. When detective Anders Helland dismisses her with a "We can take it from here," and tells her to go do whatever it is she does, E.J. sets out to solve the case. With the help of retired CIA agent Grandpa Atherton, fellow officer Weasel, and the support of her friend Kyra, she starts piecing together leads. I liked this book, the characters, and the background. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

This book is about child abuse. This book is so much more. Karen Spears Zacharias, investigative reporter and teacher, never thought she would write a book like this where she knew most of the people involved. Sarah had once lived in Zacharias' house. She knew David Sheehan, the father of Karly Sheehan, who was murdered at age three by Sarahs boyfriend Shawn Field. She went through court documents, did interviews, and has put together a book that told the story of this unspeakable crime. Karly seemed to have fallen through the cracks, there were reports to the authorities, but due to unknown reasons, protocol was not followed and there was never an in-depth investigation. This book was disturbing in so many ways. The fact that Sarah had been not just an at-risk teenager but a relatively uninvolved mother. David was a doting father who loved his daughter unconditionally, but the finger was pointed at him without fully investigating. Karly was a beautiful, engaging, child whose life was terminated. This must have been the hardest book Karen Spears Zacharias has written. She is a voice for all of the abused children and asks that people get involved when they see something wrong instead of turning away. I had trouble putting the book down, it is well-written and tells an incredible story of Karly's short life.

It's almost Christmas in Bliss, Texas, and Harlow Jane Cassidy is working hard designing the fashion show for the Winter Wonderland Festival in the most prominent historic mansion. Of course, there are problems, the mansion is not quite completed, the weather threatens to turn the streets into a skating rink, and Harlow is having trouble finding an outfit for her pregnant friend Josie. While meeting with the committee at the mansion, Dan Lee Chrisson plunges to his death from the widow's walk. Now Harlow is not only involved in finding the truth, but Dan Lee was supposed to play Santa. It's going to take all of her energy and friends to solve this mystery. Including the help of her great-grandmother Meemaws ghost. I really like this series because I like the characters. Harlow is an engaging sleuth with lots of secrets that often make her very uncomfortable.

Claire Hanover, empty nester, feeling neglected by her workaholic husband, with a part-time job making gift baskets, has way too much time on her hands. Her best friend Ellen talks her into joining her aerobics class, taught by the hunky Enrique. All the women in the class flirt with him, and its rumored that he's had affairs with most of them. Claire makes it clear she's married, but when Ellen pays for a massage by Enrique for Claire, she agrees to that. He insists he has to do it at her house. During the massage someone shoots him with Claire under him, in the master bedroom. Before she can do much more than maneuver herself off the bed, into the corner, screaming, her husband rushes into the room with a gun. Her husband, Roger, is arrested for the murder. No matter what it takes, Claire is going to find the real murderer. To solve this murder takes her into some dangerous and shocking situations. I admired her tenacity in tracking down the murderer so that her husband could be cleared.

Brooklyn Wainwright, an expert in restoring rare books, is invited to her neighbor Suzie's Aunt Grace's fiftieth birthday party. The party is a week-long celebration at Grace's incredible house at Lake Tahoe. Grace is the recently retired founder of a major video game corporation, and has designed her house to be one big game. During a seance one of the other guests is found dead, and Brooklyn thinks the intended victim was Grace. Brooklyn's friends Vinnie and Suzie are trying to help, but her boyfriend Derek is out of town on a job and a woman answered his cell phone, and Gabriel shows up unexpectedly, supposedly to help, but Brooklyn feels like she needs to solve this before there are any more dead bodies.

Beth Kennedy has her hands full with her children's bookstore, being the PTA secretary, and single mom. When she finds out one of her customers, Amy Jacobson died from a bee sting she's upset. She's also excited about the Senior Story Project where students pair with the residents of Sunny Rest Assisted Living to tell their stories in a book the PTA can sell for fundraising. Her son gets paired with Maude Hoffman, who is a friend of Auntie May (known by that name to everyone). What Maude really wants is for Beth to find proof that her niece Kelly was murdered 20 years ago. I like the characters, Mariana, Beth's best friend, Claudia Wolff on the PTA who argues with her on every little thing, and her employees. This was a fun book to read.

Holly Winter, Dog's Life Columnist and malamute owner, is helping with the Malamute Rescue list of potential adopters and not making many friends. Holly trusts dogs, particularly Rowdy, Kimi, and Sammi, her malamutes and her husband's dogs Lady and India. However, it seems that she could use a human friend. Rita, her friend and tenant, had a fight with her boyfriend and went out of town. Kevin, who used to live next door, now lives with his girlfriend. So when she meets another malamute owner, Vanessa, she thinks that she has a new friend. However, things are still going wrong, there's a snippy breeder, an young girl dies in a car crash, an elderly member of her dog-training club dies, and there is intrigue involving her father, Buck, and her beloved stepmother Gabrielle. I really like this series, Holly is someone I'd love to have lunch with and get malamute hair all over me.

Jaine Austen (no relation) is presented with a deluxe spa getaway by her friend Lance, she and her cat Prozac hit the road. However, when she arrives she finds it's a fat farm, with diet food, exercise, and public weigh-ins, everything Jaine hates. They even put Prozac on s diet! Not to mention that Olga, the owner, is beyond strict, making it difficult to sneak food in, and the maid is selling goodies for a huge profit. Jaine's fellow inmates, uh, companions aren't her choice of company either. Then when B-list movie star Mallory Francis is strangled during a seaweed wrap, things really get interesting. I love this series, it's funny, both the main story and the e-mails Jaine exchanges with her parents. I can hardly wait for the next one.

The temperature is 114 Degrees in Scottsdale, but Fairy Tale Cupcakes has not been selling cupcakes. As Melanie Cooper and Ange DeLaura are debating whether to close for two weeks or not, their employees Oz and Marty show up with a van. Not just a van, but one that used to be an ice cream truck with a customer window, which promptly breaks down. They are rescued by Slim Hazard, who invited them to take their cupcake van to the rodeo up North at Juniper Pass. Tate Harper, their business partner insists on joining the venture, so off they go. When the bull-rider Ty Stokes is found dead in a bull's pen. Things get interesting. I really liked this book, yummy recipes included. I thought I was going to fall off my chair when the loose bull is re-captured. Not to give out spoilers, but I'll stick to the old tried and true solution, you don't have to out-run the bull, just the guy in back of you.

Dolores (Lola) Cruz, full-fledged PI, working for Camacho and Associates, gets her first case. Emily Diggs, mother of three was missing. Dolores investigates, using a journal of Emily's supplied by a former roommate. However, her investigation leads to an encounter with Jack Callaghan, her crush from high school and her brother Antonio's friend. Lola had wanted to be a PI even in high school, and she took some pictures of Jack and another girl while she was practicing. If she isn't busy enough, she promised to help her cousin plan her fifteenth birthday party, her quinceanera, by making it traditional enough to satisfy the adults, but hip enough to please Chely. Then Emily's body is found and things get tense. I loved this book. Lola is smart, outspoken, and determined. I liked her attraction to Jack, and his attraction to her. I'm planning on reading more about Lola Cruz.

I loved this book and I love this series. Nikki Latrelle is a struggling jockey at Laurel race track in Maryland. She's also assistant trainer for Jim Ravinsky. Jim offers her the opportunity to go to Colonial Downs in Virginia for a special meet with several Virginia-bred horses and Nikki's filly Hellish, where she would be the assistant trainer, exercise rider, and jockey. She takes her friend Lorna with her and Ramon to be the groom. Prior to shipping out, an apprentice jockey, Paco Martinez, dies following a race, possibly from some sort of drug ingestion, possibly to make weight. At his funeral she is contacted by Jay Cormack, a member of the Virginia Racing Commission, who was asking for her help with the "jockey problem". When she arrives in Virginia everything that could go wrong does. She acquires two new horses from a very difficult owner, Amarilla Chaquette, Lorna starts dating bad-boy Bobby Duvayne, they're staying in a cottage with secrets, and there are strange noises and strange people coming out of the woods behind the barn. When another jockey drops dead from ingesting a "super weight loss cocktail", things start happening quickly. Lorna suddenly disappears and it's up to Nikki to find her, the hidden meth lab, and discover the old family secrets. I love this series, the people are so realistic, I feel like I know them.

Dewey Pellicano is trying to make a name for her quilting shop, the QP, during the annual Quilter's Crawl (12 shops in 4 days, participants need to get their "passports" stamped at each shop in order to be eligible for prizes). Her assistant manager, Vangie, has come up with a Twitter promotional giveaway, and has a lot on her plate. So while Dewey's police officer boyfriend Buster is working day in-day out, her favorite customer/teacher Pearl is having problems and takes in a "GrandSon" from the local college, and the shop's bathroom isn't done, it's enough to give Dewey a bad case of anxiety. When the unthinkable happens and Vangie's boyfriend is murdered, and Vangie is suspect number one, Pearl's grandson is behaving strangely, and Dewey is blamed when a customer is killed in a Twitter promotional stampede, Dewey needs to sort it all out and get back to normal. I really like this series. The characters are realistic and interesting.

Charlotte "Charlie" Smith, former U.S. Air Force Investigator, now PI, has her own agency, a hunky neighbor, Father Dan, and a hunky detective, Montgomery, for friends, so what could go wrong? She likes being independent. She takes a missing person's case involving a teenager who recently gave birth, the baby, and the woman who found the baby on her doorstep. That quickly becomes complicated when the woman confesses that she had a daughter when she was a teenager, and a DNA test proved that the infant was her granddaughter, and she had no desire to meet the mother. However, when Charlie walks into her office to find a gun-toting older woman, her live really gets complicated. Gigi (Georgia) Goldman was married to Charlies silent partner Les, until he ran off with Heather-Anne to Costa Rica with all the liquid assets, leaving her with the house, the Hummer, and half interest in Swift Investigations. But she doesn't want Charlie to buy her out, she wants to be a PI and be Charlies partner. This was a fun read, the tension between Charlie and Gigi was interesting, Charlie kept sending Gigi out on all kinds of cases that should have been boring, only to have Gigi end up with unexpected consequences. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Lila Wilkins lost her job as a journalist, got a job as an intern at a literary agency, and things went downhill from there. Her first day at work started with a stack of 500 query letters, a dead body, and then got worse. Her 17 year old son, gets in trouble trashing the school football field and wrecking Lila's car. So she puts her house up for sale and moves in with her psychic mother Althea. A bright spot is she meets the very attractive detective Sean Griffiths, and Makayla, the owner of Espresso Yourself. Her concern for the murdered would-be author Marlette, leads her to investigate his murder. Lots of interesting characters including Lila's co-workers and the members of the Red Fox Mountain Co-op. I liked this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I want the recipe for Althea's banana-chocolate chip bread, it sounds yummy.

Penelope Hoffstra, the manager of an island resort, knows what the tropical paradise is not as much as what it is. Pen, as she is known by, has been there four years and lets her assistant Vivian do most of the "heavy lifting" in running the resort. Pen seems to have an abundance of secrets and rather questionable work habits. When Hannah Sheridan appears to work at the resort, Pen finds her a mystery. With Beulah, the maid, Conrad, the annual visitor, Roger, the rooster, and other colorful characters it is an interesting story. Add the Amina Slave Princess from the 1733 Slave Revolt on St John, and everything gets very complicated. I liked this, the first book in the series, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. I also liked learning about the local history, including the story of the Amina Slave Princess.

Dana Lewis returns home to Blossom Valley, California, to live with her mother and sister after she loses her job. Her mother is recently widowed, her sister is trying to date all of the town's eligible bachelors, and her new job at the O'Connell Organic Farm and Spa isn't quite what she expected, but the feels like she's adjusting. Opening week brings a full house, lots of healthy food, and a mix of nice and snarky employees. Things seemed to be going well until Hollywood producer, Maxwell Mendelsohn is found dead with a yoga book in his cabin. When it turns out he was murdered there seems to be a glut of suspects. Then when the neighbor who provides the farm's organic honey is found murdered, things really get complicated. Between trying to hold on to her job, balancing the attentions of Jason Forrester, the local reporter, and finding the murderer, Dana has her hands full. This is a delightful read and has organic and healthy tips in the back.

Pies, charmed pies, what a great idea. Ella Mae LeFaye bakes pies when there's a crisis, however, hers are charmed. She left her husband when she found him in the elevator cheating on her with twins. She left the big city and went home to Havenwood, Georgia with her tail between her legs, back to her loving family. When she learns that the pies she makes can influence other peoples moods and actions, she's shocked, but learns how to use her gift. Her family wants her to open a bakery, her old enemy Loralyn Gaynor wants the building and will stop at nothing to get it, and when she sees her old crush Hugh Dylan she might have to rethink the old part. When Loralyn's fiance' dies, killed with Ella Mae's rolling pin, she becomes the prime suspect. I loved this book, the beginning of a new series. It has recipes too.

Gigi Fitzgerald's business is preparing and delivering delicious and low-calorie meals to the dieters of Woodstone, Connecticut. Not only is her business picking up, but her new client, Martha Bernhardt, could give her a favorable review, and Branston Foods wants to talk to her about producing a line of gourmet diet foods. Looking up until Martha drops dead literally in front of Gigi after eating part of her newly delivered lunch. The hunky police detective, Bill Mertz, tells her there was peanut oil on Martha's lunch, and that she had a severe allergic reaction to the peanut oil. Gigi knows the peanut oil didn't come from her, so what's a girl to do? With the help of her friends Sienna, Carlos, Alice, Emilio, and her newly acquired dog Reg, Gigi tries to juggle fixing meals and solving the murder. This series is promising. I liked the characters and the recipes in the back along with the diet tips were good.

Katie Lightfoot is not only tired of being the assistant manager of an Ohio bakery, but has broken up with her boyfriend, so when her aunt and uncle invite her to Savannah to open a bakery with them, she agrees and moves. She finds a place to live and works with her aunt to develop recipes for the Honeybee Bakery, named after Aunt Lucy's cat. She meets the members of Aunt Lucy's book club, Mimsey, Bianca, Jaida, and Cookie. She is also adopted by a cute little black dog. However, a difficult and rude customer is killed outside the bakery and Uncle Ben is the prime suspect. Katie then learns that Aunt Lucy is a witch, her book club is a coven, and it appears Katie is also a witch. With their help, along with a couple of cute guys, Katie throws herself into investigating the murder. I think this series is great, I also like the recipes in the back. A fun read.

Stacy Graysin and Rafe Acosta own Graysin Motion a dance studio. Rafe was her fiance' until she caught him doing the horizontal mambo with the samba queen Solange. When Rafe became totally unreliable and wanted to add hip-hop and tap classes with recitals, Stacy thought that was the last straw. However, when she found Rafe dead in the ballroom, Stacy became the prime suspect. Not only that, but Rafe had changed his will, leaving his half of Graysin Motion to his half-brother Tav. I like this series, Stacy, her sister Danielle, and the dancers both the students and professionals had personality. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Aunt Pat's Barbeque restaurant, named after Lulu Taylor's great aunt, is in the heart of Memphis. When a restaurant named Eppie Currian blasts several restaurants, including Aunt Pat's, people are steamed, especially one owner who had to close his doors. When Lulu and the Graces find out that Eppie is really Adam Cawthorne who is dating their friend Evelyn, they are all really angry. They already thought Adam was a dead beat boyfriend. When Adam gets murdered, things go from bad to worse. Lulu jumps in to save the day. I like this series and I would love to sit on Aunt Pat's porch with Lulu, the dogs, Elvis, and a tall glass of iced tea. The recipes in the back look good and someday I will try them.

Tara Holloway is a special gun-toting IRS agent. She (and her co-workers) get the really hard cases. In this book Lu Lobozinsky, her boss is out of the office fighting lung cancer, and Eddie, Tara's regular partner is in charge of the office, which leaves Tara without a partner. She has been given two particularly challenging cases, one a minister who's using his mega-church as a tax shelter, and the other is a radical militant separatist who's trying to turn Texas into a separate country. Nick Pratt is the only agent free to be her partner, the only problem with him is he's the sexiest agent in the office (probably in the entire state). Tara's involved with Brett, who just happens to get a job out of town for a month. Tara has also promised Lu an wig to replace her own rapidly falling beehive. What's a nice IRS agent to do? I love this series, it is laugh-out-loud funny, with characters that jump off the page. I'm eagerly waiting for the next book.

Tara Holloway, who is a CPA and Criminal Investigations Division agent with the IRS, has just been assigned the biggest case of her career along with her partner Eddie. Unfortunately, she's also gained a couple of pounds, which really doesn't help her mood. This series is smart and funny, laugh out loud funny, and keeping up with the gun-toting Tara, her partner Eddie, her boyfriend Brett, her two BFF's, and her boss Lu, can be addictive. I love the series.

I love this series. While there wasn't a murder, mystery essentially means something that is not known, and therefore, a problem that needs solving. Meg Corey has harvested her first crop of apples, and Bree (Briona) Stewart her orchard manager and roommate, has not yet finished the paperwork. Meg doesn't know if she made or lost money yet. Seth Chapin, her next door neighbor and friend comes by with his dog, Max, and Meg's two goats just before a big storm hits and her furnace dies. Bree is with her boyfriend, so Seth and Max come over to stay with Meg. During this time there are a series of little, annoying acts of mishaps, which together add up to a bigger issue, and she and Seth find an ancient sampler. Part of the book is about the sampler and genealogy and part is solving the annoying acts of vandalism and harassment. All in all, I love this series and the characters, and of course the recipes.

Story Fischer owns the only grocery store in Moraine, Wisconsin and supplies it with products from her Queen Bee Honey Business from her own hives. When one of the hives decides to find a new home and Story, her sister Holly (who speaks in text-speak) and P. P. Patti ("Pity Party" Patti Dwyre, her next door neighbor) go searching only to find them in the Lost Mile which is rumored to be haunted by Lantern Man. When it became obvious that getting the bees would have to wait until daylight, they retreat to Stu's Bar and Gill for food. They discover while there that Lauren Kerrigan, a local woman recently released from prison, has disappeared with her mother's gun, Story's boyfriend Hunter Wallace and his police dog Ben join the search along with Story. When they find another local woman dead and Lauren also dead not far from the area where Story's bees had stopped, things get sticky. I love this series, partly because of the awesome characters, all who fit into the small-town atmosphere, and partly because of the recipes.

Grace Terhune is working at her mother's salon Violetta's as a hairdresser, and loves working there. She works with great people including Stella Michaelson, the manicurist and Althea Jenkins, the aesthetician. It's seldom boring at Violetta's, but August is a little slow and even Rachel Whitley, the shampoo girl has asked for the week off, so when Audrey Faye came in and asked for help with the Miss Magnolia Blossom beauty pageant, Grace jumps at the chance. Audrey is paying $300 a day for Grace and Stella to work the pageant. When she arrives she find anti-pageant protestors, angry mothers, difficult contestants and a very unhelpful Audrey Faye. Rachel turns out to be one of the contestants. However, Grace finds Audrey Faye dead, with a nail file in her neck and there are accidents occurring to the contestants, and to make matters worse Stella's husband was having an affair with Audrey, Althea's dating one of the protesters. Grace needs to find out who has it out for the pageant and who killed Audrey. I love this series, and the characters.

Beth Kennedy is busy, busy, busy, she's divorced with children, owns a book store, and is secretary of the PTA. Oh yes, and solves a murder or two in her spare time. It's almost Thanksgiving, and Beth is hosting the festivities, her employee Marcia doesn't seem to be interested in working, and following a meeting of the PTA, Sam Helmstetter is strangled in his car. Her new employee Yvonne served time in prison for a murder, but was later found innocent. However, the PTA vice-president thinks Yvonne killed Sam and organizes a boycott of the bookstore. So while trying to keep her business afloat, her employee from being wrongly accused, and keep her new romance on the right track, Beth and her best friend Marina go looking for the real killer. An enjoyable series, I'm looking forward to more.

Ellie Engleman is a dogwalker in New York City with a special talent, she can hear what the dogs are saying. She and her yorkipoo Rudy are getting the opportunity to head for the Hampton's and the beach for the weekend with her best friend Viv and her terrier (that's Mr. T to you) for the wedding of Viv's sister. Dogs are also invited to the festivities, which ought to liven everything up. When Ellie and Viv arrive they find that the wedding planner quit suddenly and that not everything is going as planned. There's a murder before the I do's, sending Eliie and Rudy off to find the killer before the entire wedding party is in jeopardy. I love this series and I was saddened when I heard that Judi McCoy died, I'll miss reading about Ellie, Viv, Sam, the dogs, and all the other characters.

Jolene Asdale owns a boutique car dealership selling exotic cars to people who can afford them. She is one sale away from being successful, and she has just the car. A shiny Ferrari in her showroom, a possible buyer, and she wore her dress boots. What could go wrong? Well, for one thing, when she opens the door to show the interior a dead body falls out. Not just any dead body, but one belonging to Tim Lapham, whom she formerly dated and more recently had a heated discussion with, or was it an argument? And who should show up to investigate the dead body, but her soon to be ex-husband Deputy Ray Parker. I love this series. Her mechanic Cory Kempe is a delightful character and Jolene's best friend. Her sister Erica who is bi-polar and escaped from the psychiatric center with a sociopath named Sam. All of the characters are lively and entertaining, the mystery is compelling, and all in all a good read.

I love Charlotte Adams. I want her to come organize my house and bring her two adorable mini dachshunds Truffle and Sweet Marie. This book is the first of a series. Charlotte is a professional organizer and her first job since she moved home to to clean out an old house that her former terror of a teacher Miss Helen "Hellfire" Henley has inherited. Charlotte cannot afford to pass up the job, which becomes more difficult when Miss Henley informs her that she needs all that stuff sorted through looking for important, but unknown, important documents. The job becomes even more difficult when Miss Henley turns up dead underneath some of the debris. Almost everyone hated her, so where to start sorting through the suspects is a problem. There are organizing tips at the beginning of each chapter. I'm definitely reading more in this series.

I love Rita Mae Brown's books. This is a new series set mostly in Nevada. The characters Mags Rogers and her wirehaired dachshund Baxter, Jeep Reed, her great-aunt and her German Shepherd mix King, Deputy Pete Meadows, and all of the others are interesting, sometimes funny, and generally make the book a good read. Part of the mystery is why a water pumping station was pipe bombed, and who did it. Water is a huge issue in Nevada and this book tackles some of the environmental issues along with keeping a good mystery forefront. The other mystery involves the remains of a Russian soldier, buried on the barn, and how he got there and what killed him. Mags researches the ranch's history and finds a connection to Buffalo Bill. In the meantime the two dogs Baxter and King learn to work together and so do Mags and Pete. All in all a satisfying read.

One of the reasons I love this series, is that it's set in Tallulah Falls, Oregon. A fictional town set on the Oregon Coast. I'm having a great time trying to figure out if anything is actually based on real places on our coast. However, I also love Marcy Singer and her specialty embroidery shop, her dog, Angus, an Irish wolfhound, and all of her friends. This book begins when a bride-to-be brings in a wedding dress to be updated with jewels and pearls. Cassandra Wainwright, the bride-to-be, gets off on the wrong foot with Marcy and turns into a bridezilla. Her future mother-in-law was supposed to provide the jewels, however, she is found stabbed outside of Marcy's shop and things go downhill. Some of the jewels are missing and Marcy becomes the prime suspect. She needs to extricate herself from this mess before anything else happens.

Lauren Vancouver is the administrator of HotRescues, and once again finds herself in need of her sleuthing skills. Her old mentor, Mamie Spelling, is an animal hoarder, so Lauren assists with the rescue and rehoming of Mamie's animals. However, in addition to helping Mamie, she meets the woman Mamie says has been threatening her, Bethany Urber from Pet Shelters Together, a network of pet rescues. Unfortunately Bethany is found dead, and Mamie is accused of murder, so Lauren has to find answers quickly sometimes with the help of Matt Kingston, the Animal Services Captain. Other characters are a cross over from Linda O Johnston's other series Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries, including Kendra and Dante DeFrancisco the CEO of HotPets and HotRescues. This was a good read, and dealt with some of the real problems of small animals that need rescued and rehomed.

This is the first book in this charming series. Becca Robins sells homemade (or farm made) jams and preserves at Bailey's Farmers Market. However, on a day she's late to work she finds that murder has been committed. It is the peach vendor, and one of Becca's favorite people, Abner Justen, who sells wildflowers, seems to be the prime suspect. With help from her sister Allison, the manager of the market, and some of her other friends, Becca tries to find evidence that Abner is innocent. I loved the book, and the recipes. The lemon meringue pie from Mama Maria looked like it's a winner, I'll have to try that one.

Kate McCall and her fellow Bunco players are always willing to try something new. Life in a senior citizens community like Kate's has more surprises than just what the dice will show. Even though Kate is not the gardening type, she agrees to go with her fellow Bunco Babe Rita Larsen to a gardening club banquet. Rita needs moral support because her old college roommate and rival Sheila will be the guest speaker. However, when the food doesn't agree with Sheila and her significant other, and Vaughn doesn't make it, it looks like more than food poisoning to Kate and the Bunco Babes. Even if she has to get dirty, Kate will get to the bottom of this mystery. I love this series, the senior community not only has Bunco, but theater, several of the members have an active love life, and of course their children have to know every little detail. Who knew senior citizen communities were so active?

I love this series, and the recipes. The Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery owned by Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura have entered the Scottsdale Food Festival's chef's competition. They have to create a dessert using a "secret ingredient", which is different each day of the competition. They want to win, but they also want to beat their rival Olivia Puckett. They have been practicing for days and they think they're ready for anything. That is, until Mel's mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, who is also a judge, turns up dead in a freezer truck. The competition continues, but Mel and Angie are now also trying to find the killer. With their partner, Tate Harper, Mel's new boyfriend Joe DeLaura (One of Angie's brothers) and other friends and family they have to work fast. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Becca Robbins sells homemade (on her own farm)jams and preserves in her local farmers market. Her best friend Linda, who sells pies in the booth next to her, asks Becca to be her Maid of Honor at her wedding to the Navy Seal Drew and Becca can't say no. Becca is overwhelmed by all of the preparations, but then when the future mother-in-law is murdered and a fellow merchant disappears Becca really has her hands full. I love this series, all of the regular characters are likeable and in this book additional characters are downright quirky. It's well written, with lots of charm, and I love the recipes,

Jolene Parker owns a boutique car sales and repair shop, specializing in high end and rare cars. But the love of her (and her husband, Ray) life is Noelle, the baby who was given to them when their alleged birth parents left town just one or two steps ahead of the law. When they try to adopt Noelle, they find out that the birth mother was using the name of a dead girl. As Jolene attempts to find the truth, she runs into not just road blocks, but murder too. I like this series. I particularly like the characters Jolene, her deputy husband Ray, Corey her mechanic, and Erica her sister. They are all interesting and I found myself rooting for them.

Harlow Jane Cassidy moves from New York to Bliss, Texas, into her grandmother's old farmhouse and opens her own dressmaking business "Buttons and Bows" in the downstairs. Harlow is related to the famous Butch Cassidy and legend has it that all the Cassidy women have special gifts. Harlow's is creating beautiful dresses. Business is slow to start, but Harlow also senses another presence in the house. Her childhood friend Josie asks Harlow to make her a gown for her wedding, but when Josie's boss turns up dead, Harlow has to solve the mystery too. It seems that she may have some help from beyond. I loved this book, it was a fun read and I liked the characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

This series is original and fun to read. Who knew cosmetics could be so exciting. Carrie Mae seller, uh operative, Nikki Lanier has botched and operation and still reeling from that and her messy love life, or lack of, since her break up with CIA agent Z'ev Coralles she gets an assignment to protect fellow operative Camille Masters' son Kit. Kit is a bad-boy pop star on tour and he has threats against his life. Who knew it could get even messier when she gets fired from the mission, she has to duck people trying to kill not just her, but Kit and Camille, and she has to recruit people to help her be a rogue agent.

This is the second book of a three book series. White horses are Gods, they dance in patterns that will show the future. Their riders are "called" and then tested to become Riders. In the first book Valaria is the first female ever "called." She disguises herself as a boy and passes all the tests, only to be revealed as female and is told she cannot be a rider. Head rider Kerrec takes her as his responsibility and his aide. When this book starts, both Valaria and Kerrec are trying to recover from earlier events. Kerrec leaves the mountain and Valaria follows. They must attempt to save the Empire. I thought the characters were well developed and likeable. Their struggle to save the Empire dictated they act alone, without the assistance of the military. However, they did have the help of the Gods. I loved this book. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in this series.

What's not to love? Horses, romance, conflict, and danger all survive in Valeria's world. The book starts with Valeria being "Called" to the Mountain where the gods, powerful and beautiful beings appear as white horses. A woman has never been called, so she becomes a "boy." She passes the final test to become a Rider, and is "unmasked" and discovered to be a girl. Kerrec, a Senior Rider, speaks out to defend her and she becomes his servant. She is seduced by Euan, a barbarian prince, who thinks he can use her in a plot against the Empire. The big question is whether or not Valeria will aid the plot against the Empire or not. I loved this book and found that even after I finished it I cared about the characters. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series.

Once again Jillian Hart finds herself in hot water. When Isis is found alongside the highway and taken to Shawn, he asks Jillian for her help. Isis is the spoiled, princess cat belonging to wealthy and quirky Ritaestelle Longworth. Shawn tried to reach her repeatedly without success, so he turned the entire problem over to Jillian. When Jillian goes to the Longworth estate, there is an incident, and she leaves without talking to Ritaestelle. When Ritaestelle shows up on Jillian's doorstep in the middle of the night wearing her nightclothes and says she is being set up and that someone has been giving her drugs and have been keeping her away from Isis, Jillian feels like she needs to help. But before they can even scratch the surface of the problem, there is a body in the lake and Ritaestelle and Jillian's cat Chablis are on the dock covered with blood. Jillian knows she must get to the bottom of this quickly before someone else dies. I love this series. Jillian and her friends are portrayed in such a way that I feel like I would like to meet them. I care about what happens to them, and feel like I am involved in their situations. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Once again J A Jance comes through with an edge of the seat mystery. Ali's old friend Brenda Riley turns up and is a mess. She has gotten involved with some man she met on the internet, is drinking heavily, and is living in her car. A long way from the news anchor she used to be. When Ali does some digging, she discovers that the man Brenda met is not what he seems to be. Brenda comes up missing and is the prime suspect in the murder of that man, Richard. I loved this book because Jance has done such a good job of writing that I really care about the characters.

Another Reigning Cats and Dogs Mystery with mobile Vet Jessica Popper. Jessie and Nick, her longtime fiance', are standing at the alter starting to exchange vows when there is a scream and the ceremony is interrupted by the discovery of a long lost "black sheep" cousin murdered. Nicks mother insists that Jessie solve this murder and make all the humilation "go away." It seems that Cousin Nathaniel was teaching art at an exclusive private school and Jessie manages to start teaching the students a class in taking care of their pets as a part of summer term. She finds lots of hate and discontent, and the number of people who wouldn't mind seeing Nathaniel dead growing by leaps and bounds. As Jessie's suspect lists grows, her relationship with Nick hits a bump and she needs to work on that too. Part of the appeal of this series is the characters and the suspense of when, or if, Jessie and Nick are actually going to tie the knot.

Harriet Truman thinks she at least has control over her life. Angry because her husband had a terminal genetic illness that he failed to tell her about, and that could have been treated. She was perfectly happy, thank you, holed up in her apartment having her very own pity party. However, her aunt Beth summons her to Foggy Point, Washington to operate her long-arm quilting business while she takes a well-deserved cruise. When Beth leaves Harriet discovers that she now owns the house and the business. Harriet has no other choice but to run the business until Aunt Beth returns and she can get this all straightened out. She meets her aunt's friends, including her best friend Avanell and her son Aiden. Avenell is soon murdered, Harriet's studio is vandalized, several quilts are destroyed, and she keeps running into Aiden at the everywhere she turns. It's obvious she's not going to have any peace of mind until Avenell's murder is solved. I liked this book, partly because of the setting (and if I was going to name a Western Washington town Foggy Point fits perfectly) and I liked the characters. The plot had some interesting twists too.

Chloe is still upset over Josh moving to Hawaii and absolutely in love with Adrianna's new baby Patrick. She is also short of money, so she takes a job helping to write a cookbook based on restaurants in the area. However, she has to deal with Digger, one of Josh's best friends. When he dies in a fire, Chloe knows that was no grease fire. As she works on solving his murder she has to deal with her new employer and the possibility that this tragedy will bring Josh back to Boston. Always entertaining, and including recipes. What's not to like?

Joanne Fluke has again written not only a cozy mystery, but a very delicious recipe book. The recipes are great. However, the mystery with Hannah Swensen as Lake Eden's favorite baker and cookie shop owner is the real jewel. Hannah definitely has her hands full with her cat, family, and the two men in her life. When there is a murder, and obviously Lake Eden is one of the murder capitols of Minnesota, Hannah is right there to help solve it. This time when the minister Bob's friend Matthew comes to fill in for Bob while he goes on his honeymoon, Matthew is murdered. Hannah feels responsible since he was eating a piece of cake she made when the deed was done. This time there is a witness, a mynah bird named Jacob. Hannah really has her hands full solving the murder, baking cookies, and keeping up with the two men in her life, Norman and Mike. There does seem to be a speed bump in her road to romance, since Bev, a former classmate of Norman's has joined his practice. I always love these books.

Kristan Higgins is a breath of fresh air in the romance department. I've enjoyed each of her books. In this book Callie has a wonderful chair that she is saving for that "perfect" relationship, marriage, and happily ever after. She has been in love with her boss forever, she went to school with him and he was her "first kiss." Understandably after a five-week relationship, that seems to be stalled, when he announces he not only is dating a new woman, but bringing her into the company he runs and Callie works, Callie is upset. When she meets the new Vet in town, and seems to run into him at the worst possible times, she starts to date him. When her boss responds by getting engaged to Muriel, Callie is crushed. Her relationship with Ian, the new Vet has possibilities, but there seem to be lots of roadblocks. Her family doesn't help, her mom throws her 30th birthday party at the family funeral home. Even her grandfather that she lives with, picks this time to be not only difficult, but be unpredictable. I laughed, cried, and generally rooted for Callie.

Tallulah Falls, Oregon on the coast sounds like a delightful place to visit. Like a lot of small coastal towns it has some delightful shops including Marcy Singer's Seven-Year Stitch. It would help if people didn't have a habit of being murdered there. Marcy, understandably, feels responsible and investigates. An elderly woman comes into the store with an antique sampler and collapses and dies. When it becomes obvious she did not die of natural causes, Marcy thinks the sampler has something to do with it. I really like Marcy, her friends and family, her dog Angus, and of course Marilyn, the shop mascot. A nice cozy and fun to read.

Lobster Stew, who would think the recipe was worth killing for? However, in Cape Willington the Lobster Stew Cook-off has been won by the same recipe for several years, and apparently someone did think it was worth killing for. Candy Holliday is again involved in solving the mystery. She is drawn in by a former contestant, who is a judge this year, and through a series of events Candy ends up being a judge. She also investigates and clashes with the town busybody. This series is not only a fun read, but there are recipes.

Georgiana Neverall, plumber's apprentice, was never fond of her mother's boyfriend, soon to be husband, but when she crawled under her mother's house and found him dead in the crawlspace, her mother becomes the prime suspect. I love this series. I also like her two dogs Daisy and Buddha. Georgiana and her mother find themselves sharing Georgiana's house while the police investigate the murder. Between the plumbing tips and the mystery this series is highly entertaining.

I loved this book. Kathleen Paulson leaves Boston and moves to Mayville Heights, Minnesota to take a job at the local library. Of course, her boyfriend getting married while on vacation had something to do with her move. She adopts two stray cats, Owen a catnip addicted tabby and Hercules the Barry Manilow loving tuxedo cat. Kathleen finds that life in a small town is much different than it was in Boston. When there is a murder that seems to have happened in the library, she finds herself the prime suspect. She also discovers that her cats are special, indeed possibly magical. I can hardly wait for the next book in this series.

A very enjoyable cozy. Kate's friend Claudia returns to the retirement community (and the Bunco Babes) with a new husband, an actor. He plans to direct, produce, and star in a play he wrote. While the community gets involved, Kate and the Bunco Babes try to understand Claudia. However, during rehearsal, Lance is killed and his wife is literally holding the smoking gun. This is a lively retirement community, and between Bunco games and play rehearsals, Kate and her friends navigate through relationships, children (disapproving), new friends, a new guest at Kate's, and they all try to solve Lance's murder before Claudia goes to prison.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. The three ideas that go into the book: Bigfoot expeditions, the insertion of meth into the Reservations, and mid-eastern-type terrorists attempting to set up training camps in Oregon, all are integrated into the plot. Some of the characters are likeable, some are truly evil. The descriptions of the scenery are awesome. This book is worth reading.

I really like the Aunt Dimity series. It's a different twist on ghosts. Aunt Dimity is a unique ghost. Lori is the original rags to riches girl, with a loving husband (picked of course by Aunt Dimity), two lovely children, and an independent streak. In this book, she goes to a creepy mansion, wrecks her car, is attracted to a stranger, and strangely influenced by a different ghost. One of the great things about this series is that there is not usually a murder, it is appropriate for all age groups, and I generally get a good laugh or two from the story.

Olivia and the Bayside Book Writers, not to mention Captain Haviland, have again encountered a mystery, a murder and several burglaries. Each crime seems to be the work of the same suspect(s). In each case there was some kind of Cliche' suggested. Add that to a hurricane, an old very personal mystery for Olivia, and the possibility of romance, it all adds up to a very good read. I really liked this book and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

I loved this book, the entire concept of a soverign nation and the declaration of war was unique. And the author is very engaging and friendly.

This book is set in the world of horse racing, the main character is a surgeon and describes his surgeries. The "bad guys" range from misguided to really, really evil. Dean M. DeLuke has a good understanding of racing behind the scenes and is a surgeon, so the medical portion seems to be accurate. I'm looking forward to his next book.

This book starts out at a high intensity level and just keeps on going. I could not put the book down. Jonathan Grave is not a super-hero, in fact he has flaws. But, I felt that he believed in the "rightness" of his cause and operation. Some of the characters are more likeable than others, but all are interesting. I really liked this book.

Charlie and Diesel are a wonderful team. I only wish my cats were as smart as Diesel. I quickly became invested in the characters lives and cared about their outcome. I'm going to be looking forward to more mysteries in this series.

Frogs and more frogs. Rupert and Izzy (the two cats) do find the frogs to be an interesting development in their routine. With Rebecca and her very eccentric friends and associates, frogs are just one more very quirky development. The directive to "Follow the Frogs" is almost not necessary, but is also a puzzle. I enjoyed this book partially for the mystery and partially for the very interesting history of San Francisco.

I loved her first book in this series. I'm sure I'll love "Scoop to Kill". Tally is fun, her family and friends are fun, and there are great ice cream recipes. I am looking forward to it.

Fromagerie Bessette in Providence, Ohio is reopening with Charlotte in charge and during the grand opening a body is found just outside her shop and the Chief of Police suspects her grandmother. I liked all the characters, they were human, quirky, and for the most part someone I would like to get to know. The cheese and wine, and all the good things that went along with them, all sounded yummy. The recipes all look interesting and worth trying. All in all, I really liked this book.