In the Blink of a Pie (Maple Syrup Mysteries Book # 3) by Catherine Bruns

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns is back with the third installment in the "delightfully sweet" Maple Syrup Mysteries, transporting readers back to the cozy town of Sugar Ridge, Vermont, where things are bound to go from sweet, to sour.

Sometimes, there's no one you can crust...

It's Thanksgiving in Sugar Ridge, Vermont, and Leila Khoury, manager of Sappy Endings Farm, is ready to usher in the holiday season by hosting a pie-baking contest. The day is meticulously planned, from the judging panel to the maple lattes, and Leila can't wait for the entire town to enjoy some sweet treats.

But when a neighbor drops dead from sampling a poisoned pumpkin pie, it's not just Leila's perfect day that's in jeopardy—her livelihood is now at stake. And after yet another near-fatal incident, she realizes an even more terrifying the killer wasn't targeting her neighbor, but someone even closer to home! 

Can Leila figure out who's behind the murder, before the dough hits the fan?

Includes delicious holiday pie recipes!   (Summary via Goodreads)

In the Blink of a Pie by Catherine Bruns is the third book in her Maple Syrup Mystery series and I hope you are a fan .... if not, you will become one after you read what I have to say .... I hope.

In In the Blink of a Pie Sappy Endings is gearing up for one of their busiest times of the year.  And to kick off the big Thanksgiving holiday, they have decided to have a pie contest.  And the rules are that the pies have to be homemade and they have to include maple syrup in the recipe.  

Main character Leila Khoury took over the family business, Sappy Endings, when her father died.  She returned home to Sugar Ridge Vermont from Florida and is now running the business with her boyfriend Noah and her mother. 

Unfortunately before the contest kicks off Leila has to run up to the main building and when she gets back her nosy neighbor Margaret Middleton has decided that she is going to be a judge and takes a bite of one of the pies.  A few minutes later she collapses and is taken to the hospital.  Sadly she does not make it and it is discovered that the pie that she tasted was poisoned.

So was someone targeted or is there a crazy person who takes joy in killing anyone ??  Well, Leila is going to find out with her trusty best friend Heather helping.  

Lelia has been able to solve a few murders in the past, with her father's being the first, but this may be more that she can handle .... but she is not going to let anything stop her when Sappy Endings is taking the hit for it with sales down drastically.  She will do anything to save her family's business and not let her father's dream end.

I cannot say enough about this series.  It is set in beautiful Vermont at a maple syrup business with some great people running it.  The town is nice and most of the residents are friendly and you will want to go visit and enjoy the day !!  

Isabella at the Pond (Summer at Mistletoe Inn vol. 1) by Margaret Evans with Julie Hatton (translator)

When Laura Keene and her husband Connor Fitzpatrick are invited to spend a summertime holiday at Mistletoe Inn with the Kovacs brothers, they expect to help with kitchen renovations. But what they find is more mysteries surrounding the fourth brother, Joe Kovacs, when his cousin Esther goes missing, and they discover a mysterious set of brass keys with nothing to open. Of course, Laura’s cat, Empress Isabella, hops a ride-along and has other plans for them all. Don’t miss her antics as she helps to unravel the mysteries with a big white rabbit!  (Summary via Goodreads)

Whenever you start reading a book with Empress Isabella in it, you know you are in for a crazy ride and a delightful treat and in this latest novella, Isabella at the Pond, she is being helped by Whiskers, a fun loving rabbit.  Author Margaret Evans knows how to pack a lot into these novellas so readers feel like they are reading a normal sized book.

Evans has written novellas with Empress Isabella helping her human, Laura Keene Fitzpatrick, with only Laura being the one who can see the cat.  But as time passed and things happened like Laura marrying Connor and they have become very close with the Kovac brothers, Empress Isabella has begun to show herself to them.

And in Isabella at the Pond not only does Empress Isabella show herself but now her friend Whiskers, the rabbit, is there to lend a hand.  

In this latest novella Laura and Connor are again joining the Kovac brothers at their old family house, Mistletoe Inn, to get to know the fourth brother they just found out about, Joe.  So instead of it being the Kovac triplets, it is the Kovac quadruplets and they all could not be happier !!  Unfortunately Joe finds out that his cousin Esther, who is supposed to be joining them all at the Inn, did not make her flight and it looks like she vanished in thin air ..... but Empress Isabella and Whiskers are on the case ..... 

There is so much that I am not telling readers so that they will go and grab their copy of this fun novella.  There is so much to love, so much to make readers turn the pages quickly and so much to make readers long for more .... which I hope Evans hurries up and writes more !!

Mingling with Murder (A Merry Wrath Mystery Book # 32) by Leslie Langtry

From USA Today bestselling author Leslie Langtry comes a mingle turned murder...

Welcome to Mingle, Iowa—We’re Putting Our Past Behind Us!

Merry Wrath, ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout leader, is accompanying thirteen year olds Mayor Ava, Betty, Lauren, and Inez from her troop to the regional conference for small town mayors. Mingle, Iowa, the home of the Mayor Mingle conference, is famous for a major scandal in the 1980s that no one seems to remember, even though the current mayor does everything in his power to keep them from forgetting!

Have dinner at the Nothing to See Here Restaurant! Relax at the It Didn’t Quite Happen That Way Bar!

Merry is excited that her husband and detective, Rex, is getting an award for having a 100% murder solve rate! But she's concerned that Ava's presenting The Most Murdery Town—How To Utilize Your Town’s Biggest Assets! Not to be outdone, Ava's right hand henchgirl, Betty, is presenting on How to Bend City Hall to Your Will & Everything I Learned From Huey Long. Merry’s hoping she can sit in on the sessions to jump in when things most likely go awry (as they often do).

We hope you survive—er, enjoy your stay!

Unfortunately, things go very awry when one of the mayors is murdered. But who did it? Was it the mayor from the town famous for its termite infestation? Could it be the snooty mayor who descended from her town’s founders? Or the mayor who always dresses like an ear of corn? How about the mayor from the lobster capital of Iowa? Or the mayor who is an actual pig? It doesn’t help that the victim's dying wish was for Rex to solve this case before the conference ends despite it being out of his jurisdiction! Can Merry and Rex solve this crime in time—or is Mingle destined to have the stain of a new scandal on their Welcome To billboard?

What critics are saying about Leslie Langtry's

"I laughed so hard I cried on multiple occasions! Girl Scouts, the CIA, and the Yakuza... what could possibly go wrong?"
~ Fresh Fiction

"Darkly funny and wildly over the top, this mystery answers the burning question, 'Do assassin skills and Girl Scout merit badges mix…?'"
~ RT BOOKreviews

"Mixing a deadly sense of humor and plenty of sexy sizzle, Leslie Langtry creates a brilliantly original, laughter-rich mix of contemporary romance and suspense."
~ Chicago Tribune

"Langtry gets the fun started from page one."
~ Publisher's Weekly  (Summary via Goodreads)

With Mingling with Murder being the thirty-second book in the Merry Wrath Mystery series by Leslie Langtry I don't think readers need any encouragement to read these books.  I would have to think and believe that there is already a huge fan base for this series ..... but just in case there are still some cozy mystery readers out there that are not familiar with this series and are looking for something new to read, here you go !!

Unfortunately I, myself, have only read a few books in this series but as soon as I opened up Mingling with Murder and started reading I was hooked !!  This series is a HOOT !!!  Besides there being a murder to solve, the characters and the towns are so much fun !!

In Mingling with Murder main character Merry Wrath is tagging along to the annual Mayor Mingle.  Her husband, Detective Rex Ferguson is receving an award for 100% solve rate on cases in their hometown Who's There in Iowa.  Also attending the Mayor Mingle is their mayor, thirteen year old Ava and her three friends of the same age.

Unfortunately on the early in the conference during dinner, the Mayor of Mingle, Mayor Michael, gets sick and ends up in the hospital.  It is soon learned that he was poisoned and before he died, he wrote a note to Rex to solve this !!  Even though it isn't his jurisdiction, he feels he should investigate.  So he works along side Detective Bill Upton from Mingle while Merry gets to know his sister, Mary, and finds out they have a lot in common.

Also Merry has to keep her eye on her young mayor and friends as they are acting strange .... well stranger than normal.

Readers cannot help but become fans of this series.  It is such a unique series with so many different things for readers to love.  I wish I had started with the first book but am glad that I was able to read the ones I did.

Death at a Scottish Christmas (A Scottish Isle Mystery Book # 3) by Lucy Connelly

Merriment, mistletoe, and murder await in the third installment of the Scottish Isle mystery series, perfect for fans of Sheila Connolly and Joanne Fluke.

Sea Isle, Scotland, is magical during the holiday season, and Dr. Emilia McRoy can’t wait to enjoy everything her village has to offer. But when the lead singer of a famous band is murdered in the village, just as they were about to launch a world tour, her holiday instantly comes to a halt. 

As the band’s future hangs in the balance, Emilia discovers that the victim was working on new music that has since disappeared. Were these new lyrics worth killing for? And if so, who is the culprit? It seems more than one person wanted this music star dead. Shockingly, beloved constable Ewan Campbell becomes the prime suspect in the investigation, putting a damper on the town’s festivities.

With an ever-growing list of suspects, Emilia will need all the help she can get to figure out who is framing poor Ewan. Between a secret Santa that wants her dead, stalkers, and killer holiday celebrations, Emilia must see the devil in the details and discover the truth before it’s too late. (Summary via Goodreads)

Reading Death at a Scottish Christmas by Lucy Connelly will definitely put you in the Christmas mood ... even though there is a murder and a murderer on the loose you cannot help but feel Christmas-y.

Death at a Scottish Christmas is the third book in Connelly's Scottish Isle Mystery series and you will fall for the little Scottish town immediately.  And with it having to do with Christmas you will fall in love even more.

Okay maybe I should talk about the murder seeing as this is a cozy mystery story ....  The little town of Sea Isle is decked out for the holidays and the residents are excited because a few of their own are coming back to town to perform with their band.  The band Bram and the Stokers are getting ready to take their band to the States and wanted to play on home turf once more and perform a few new songs to see how it went.

The night was spectacular, more that anyone would have thought.  Unfortunately the next morning when main character Dr. Emilia McRoy is on her way to breakfast, she finds Bram sitting by himself on the beach.  And when she goes to talk to him, she finds out he is dead !!  And sadly the constable, Ewan, Campbell, is on the suspect list as he and Bram have bad history.

Emilia is suppose to be on vacation until after the holidays but as one of her duties is coroner, she has to see to Bram's autopsy.  Plus she always wants to get answers and when she discovers that Bram was murdered, she jumps right into the case. 

Luckily for Emilia she has a great assistant and friends and they all help her anyway that they can and she will need it with this case.  And Ewan isn't happy when Detective Inspector Bethany Thomson shows up to also work the case .... which means she is looking at Ewan as a worthy suspect.  Now Emilia needs to work on the case because she knows he would never hurt another person, especially when the history is as ancient as his and Brams was.

Readers will love this series and if you haven't read any of the books in this series, you have time to catch up.  Once you open one of these books, you will find it almost impossible to put it down.

Gathering Mist ( Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Book # 9 ) by Margaret Mizushima

Secrets hide within the fog deep in the mossy forests of the Pacific Northwest, in this ninth thrilling installment in award-winning author Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series. 

Deputy Mattie Wray, formerly Mattie Cobb, is summoned to Washington’s Olympic peninsula for an urgent search and rescue mission to find a celebrity’s missing child. With only a week left before her wedding, Mattie is hesitant to leave Timber Creek, but her K-9 partner Robo’s tracking skills are needed.

Dense forest, chilling rain, and unfriendly locals hamper their efforts, and soon Mattie suspects something more sinister than a lost child is at play.  When one of the SAR dogs becomes ill, her fiancé Cole Walker suspects poison. Fearing for Mattie’s and Robo’s safety, Cole joins the search and rescue team as veterinary support.

Secrets that have lain hidden within the rugged terrain come to light and when it is uncovered that the missing child was kidnapped, the search becomes a full-blown crime scene investigation, forcing Mattie, Robo, and Cole into a desperate search to find the missing child before it's too late. (Summary via Goodreads)

Before I get into talking about my thoughts on the latest Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima, Gathering Mist, I really want to talk about the cover of this book.  This cover really captures the essence of the story and just by looking at the cover as you read this amazing story, you will actually FEEL the story through the cover.

In Gathering Mist main character Deputy Mattie Wray is about the marry her boyfriend, veterinarian Cole Walker, and become a family with him and his two daughters.  Unfortunately before they do that Mattie is called away to the site where a movie is fiming in the middle of the forest in Washington.  River the nine year old son of the main actress, Chrystal Winters, appears to have wondered off site and cannot be located.  They are requesting top K-9 search and rescue dogs to join in the search.  And Mattie's dog Robo is the best of the best.

But when another SAR dog becomes ill, Cole is brought in in case it was something serious.  He joins in the search and helps in anyway that he can.  Unfortunately they are up against harsh rain and cold temperatures and the searching is goinig slow with no signs of River. 

Readers will be so engrossed in the story that you will feel like you are getting wet from the rain and feel the chill in the air.  You will want to help Mattie and Robo find River safe and sound so that her and Cole can head back to Denver and get married and start their new lives together .... but you know that finding River alive is the only thing on their minds.

The Grim Steeper (Witches' Brew Mystery Book # 3) by Gretchen Rue

Bookstore owner Phoebe Winchester is putting on her first major author event when a body is discovered and the plot goes off the rails in this cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Cleo Coyle and Jenn McKinlay.

Amateur witch Phoebe Winchester is excited to host her first big author event at the Earl’s Study, her book and tea store. The author, Sebastian Marlow, is a famous birder excited to put Raven Creek on the map for his rediscovery of a presumed-extinct bird. When Sebastian is found dead before his planned bird hike, where he expected to prove the existence of the bird to fellow birding enthusiasts, it’s obvious someone wanted him to be extinct, too.

Sebastian had a few unfriendly encounters with his staff—including his recently fired manager, who was seen arguing with him at the author event. Phoebe is determined to figure out who killed Sebastian, worried that it will negatively affect her store’s image that her biggest guest author got killed. With the clock ticking, she enlists the help of Rich Lofting, the handsome local private investigator, to help her look into the murder.

It’s not long before another victim is pecked off and someone close to Phoebe is the suspect. She’ll have to work quickly to uncover the killer and figure out who’s up to fowl play in the third charming book in this warm and witchy series.  (Summary via Goodreads)

The Witches' Brew Mystery series is such a fun series !!  And with The Grim Steeper being the third book in the series, if you haven't read any, you will be caught up in no time !!!

In The Witches' Brew Mystery series main character Phoebe Winchester has moved to Raven Creek after her aunt passed away leaving Phoebe her home, store and practically the entire town ... but she didn't tell her that she had been a witch and that Phoebe herself could possess the same qualities.

Now in The Grim Steeper while Phoebe is still trying to wrap her head around being a witch, because now she has experienced things and has been able to get help from another witch in town, she is gearing up for a big event in the Earl's Study.  The Earl's Study is the book and tea store her aunt left her and she is finally feeling like she belongs and is happy to be doing more within the town.

Luckily the book signing for Sebastian Marlow at the Earl's Study goes remarkably well but when Phoebe is on her way to the site where they are suppose to meet the next day for the nature hike with Sebastian, she notices police activity at the B & B where Sebastian and his group are staying.  Phoebe stops and finds out that Sebastian is dead and was murdered !!

Phoebe cannot help but feel like it is her fault that he is dead seeing as she is the reason he came to town.  So Phoebe decides to look into his death and who better that her old friend and possibly future boyfriend Rich to assist.  

But before they can figure anything out there is another murder, another visitor in town, but not with Sebastian and his group, and two of Sebastian's group are missing !!!  And another childhood friend, Leo, is taken in for questioning.  This seems like too much for Phoebe to handle and when some of her magical abilities show up unexpectantly, she has more important things to focus on .... or does she ??

There is so much more that I could tell you but I really don't want to give anything away and I really want you to be as surprised and excited as I was when I was reading The Grim Steeper.  I honestly think readers will enjoy this cozy series and having a witch as the main character really enhances the story and seeing Phoebe try to navigate her powers will put a smile on your face as you imagine the scenes.

Killer Under Contract (Cindy York Mystery Book #6) by Catherine Bruns

There's no such thing as the perfect house when karma comes to call...

With the real estate world thriving and her daughter’s wedding around the corner, Cindy York is busier than ever. The bridal couple is searching for the home of their dreams and she's only too happy to help it become a reality.

When her daughter locates a house she wants to buy, Cindy is less than thrilled to discover that the listing agent is Hillary Ryder, a condescending snob who once dated Cindy's husband before they were married. For her daughter's sake, she decides to cooperate. But when Cindy arrives for the listing appointment and finds Hillary's lifeless body, she realizes her troubles are just beginning.

Cindy doesn’t want to get involved in another murder investigation, but it soon becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want this house to sell. What kind of secrets are lurking inside? Cindy is determined to close this deal, but she might die trying.  (Summary via Goodreads)

One thing that I love when reading books in a series is how easily you glide into the story.  As soon as you start reading a book in the series, you get the feeling like you are home and with the people you love.  That is how I feel when I start reading a book in the Cindy York Mystery series by Catherine Bruns.  Killer Under Contract is the sixth book in this series and hopefully you have read the previous books so that you also feel the connection.  If not, you have time to catch up or just die right in with this book.

In Killer Undert Contract Cindy and her husband Greg are getting ready for their eldest daughter, Darcy, to walk down the aisle and marry the love of her life.  But first they want to pick out their forever home and who better than to help but Darcy's own mother !!  So while Cindy is keeping the house in order, making dinner for her family of 6, taking care of the family pets, working her realtor job, making sure everything is in order for the upcoming wedding, keeping her bride from getting too stressed, she will help find the house of her dreams.  Unforunately she didn't know that the house of Darcy's dreams would have the realtor from Greg's past that he would like to keep in the past. 

When Darcy finds the house she loves Cindy reaches out to the realtor and finds out that the agent is Greg's old high school sweetheart and ex-fiance, Hillary.  Cindy's boss, Jacques, says that he will play interference but Cindy will have none of that and contacts her and sets up a meeting.  It seems that Hillary has returned home after thirty years to try to win Greg back but before she can do that, Cindy finds her dead in the kitchen in Darcy's dream house.

There is no reason for Cindy and her partner in crime Jacques to look into the murder as it has no affect on Cindy but because her daughter still wants the house, they decide to team up as they have in the past and play Holmes and Watson and solve a murder .... again !!!

The Cindy York Mystery series is a great series to get lost into.  You will love the every day happenings in the York family and love their close friends.  Cindy and Jacques have an amazing relationship personally and professionally and you will long for that if you don't already have that in your life.  Not to mention the love between Cindy and Greg and their relationships with the kids.  And then you add a murder or two into the mix and you are hooked !!!  

Bruns knows how to grab your attention immediately and you will be lost into the story and everything around you will fade away ..... but that's okay as long as you don't have dinner in the oven or water boiling on the stove.  I highly recommend grabbing your copy of Killer Under Contract and all the previous books in you haven't read them yet ... you can thank me later.

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Lies (Sunny Side Up Mysteries Book 1) by Misty Simon

Welcome to the Sunny Side Up Diner, where the pancakes are fluffy, the bacon is crisp, and murder should not be on the menu…

Jax Tapman has lived in the same small town her whole life. On one hand, it's helped her dream of buying the local diner with her best friend come true, and their newly opened business is hopping. On the other hand, it means everyone knows her, and she pretty much never gets away with anything. There are a lot of expectations that come along with being the town darling.

So, when Jax finds a dead body behind her Aunt Hildy’s restaurant, surely no one will truly believe she did it, right?

Wrong. The victim was strangled with swag from Jax's diner, and suddenly every eye is squarely on her, town darling or not! Enter Eliot Taylor, Aunt Hildy’s new cook and a former cop who grudgingly agrees to help Jax clear her name and save the diner's reputation. Only the deeper they dig, the more dirt they churn up, proving there’s far more happening in the small, innocent town than meets the eye.

Together they’ll uncover more secrets than Jax can shake a spatula at and far more danger than she might be ready to handle. Can Jax save her reputation and solve a murder...or will this order be her last?  (Summary via Goodreads)

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Lies is the first book in the Sunny Side Up Mystery series written by Misty Simon and I can tell you right away that this is going to be a series to watch and will become one of your favorites to read !!!

Ever since Jax can remember she has always wanted to own a diner, and not just any diner, she wanted the one that she and her best friend Dani worked in when they were teenagers in high school.  So when the owner Jeb decides to sell, Jax talks Dani into moving back to their hometown and co-owning in with her.  And now after being open for six months, they are celebrating !!!  Unfortunately things are going to turn quickly .....

While Jax and Dani are trying to celebrate their success at Jax's aunt Hildy's upscale restaurant, there is a commotion and Hildy asks Jax to go out the back and give Roderick the keys to her car so that he can make a hasty escape and not deal with Delilah's outburst.  Of course Jax does what she is asked of but when she slips out the back door, Roderick is no where to be found.  But when she walks around she finds him out in the garbage enclosure dead .... and strangled by a lanyard with her diner information on it that she just picked up from the printer and are locked in her car.

Luckily for Jax her father is a detective with the police force.  Unluckily for Jax her father is a detective with the police force.  So Jax has no choice but to play by the rules ... mostly.  But then her father asks her to do some investigating of her own with the help of Hildy's chef, Eliot, who happens to have been a police officer until recently.

Eliot has secrets of his own as well as Jax keeping a huge one from her family, friends, and business partner so working together will be a piece of cake !!  Especially seeing as Jax, with coaxing from Dani, cannot help but notice how attractive he is !!!

Readers cannot help but fall in love with this first book !!!  Simon has you laughing out loud when you read the part where Jax stumbles upon Roderick's dead body and the dilemma she goes through on what to do and how unprepared she is when she doesn't have her phone at the ready.  She is probably the most laid backed person in cozy history to ever be in that position.  And you continue to fall in love as you dive deeper into the story.  I, for many, congratulate Simon on her new release and new series and I, for one, look forward to more books in the series !!!!

A Dark and Stormy Knit (A Knit & Nibble Mystery Book # 11) by Peggy Ehrhart

Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser call their crafting group Knit and Nibble, in honor of its two main activities. But on a stormy Halloween night, their peaceful chat over spiced cider and cookies is interrupted by homicide . . . 

With the houses of Arborville, New Jersey, decked out in festively frightening decorations, it’s easy to mistake a real dead body for a fake. But Pamela and Bettina are alerted by the screams of teenage trick-or-treaters to the corpse next door. Their neighbor Adrienne’s sister, visiting from New York City, is slumped on the porch, fatally stabbed. And with countless people traipsing around in costume, the killer might be as elusive as an apple in a bucket of water. 

The victim was a charismatic college professor and fierce feminist, and soon the women are infiltrating her social and academic circles to collect clues. But some scandalous local gossip also suggests that Adrienne, not her sister, might have been the target. Now, Pamela and Bettina will need all their creative skills to solve this ghoulish crime . . .  (Summary via Goodreads)

Just in time for the fall and Halloween seasons Peggy Ehrhart releases her eleventh book in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series ..... A Dark and Stormy Knit.  Sadly I have only read novellas written about this series but that didn't take away from the story and the excitement surrounding it.

In A Dark and Stormy Knit main characters Pamela and Bettina are enjoying a treat with Bettina's husband Wilfred after attending a Halloween themed event but are roused from the house when they hear screaming and determine that it is something serious and not a Halloween prank.  The screaming leads them to Wilfred and Bettina's neighbor's house where a few last minute teenage trick-or-treater's happened on a dead body ..... It is soon learned that the woman stabbed on the front porch is not the homeowner, Adrienne, but her sister, Mel, who is in town to take a break from her city life.

Adrienne asks Bettina and Pamela for their help in solving her sister's murder seeing as she doesn't really trust Detective Lucas Clayborn to do the job effectively.  And the first thing she wants them to do with her is go to the city and look around her sister's apartment for clues.  Mel was a member of a feminist group and they took their cause very seriously but serious enough to kill over ?

While Bettina and Pamela help Adrienne they are still going on with things in their own lives like lunches with Wilfred as the chef, their Knit and Nibble group and their personal jobs.  The small town of Arborville may be small but it is hopping for these ladies.

Readers will enjoy their time in Arborville and wish they lived on Orchard Street and was a neighbor so that they could partake in the shared meals with this group.  You may even think about taking up knitting so that you can be a part of the group even more.  Or maybe just the occasional visitor when Ehrhart releases the latest book in the series.  Regardless you will be an instant fan and love your time in Arborville.

Isabella and the Missing Sphinxella by Margaret Evans

A Missing Statue, Ancient Egypt, a Camel Who Talks, and a Cat Named Isabella? Wow.

Written history, oral traditions, and hieroglyphs tell us there were originally TWO Sphinxes built at Giza. More stories tell us invaders destroyed one of them.

What if the story is different?

Join Isabella on her captivating journey through intrigue and mystery in Ancient Egypt. You’ll laugh and shed tears as she searches for the truth behind the Missing Sphinxella.  (Summary via Goodreads)

Oh where to begin after reading this latest tale of Isabella and her newest adventure ....  I honestly am still trying to wrap my head around what I read and trying to figure out what is in the brain of author Margaret Evans .... But I will try my best to explain and maybe after you have read it, you can explain what I may have missed because I know there was something I missed .... LOL.

Isabella and the Missing Sphinxella sees Isabella being sent to the hot desert in Ancient Egypt to help a cat named Zixi.  Pharaoh Rumses the 24th, a powerful local leader is building two statues and holding a contest to choice the cat whose likeness will sit atop the statues in high honor.  Zixi is one of the female contestants and Isabella is sent to get to know her and the other contestants and help as she sees fit.

Unfortunately in Isabella style, she gets into a bit of trouble and has to enlist the help of her friend Patton.

In Isabella and the Missing Sphinxella there is a lot going on that will keep the readers attention throughout this fun packed novella.  You have talking cats, and now talking camels, secrets, lies, love, envy, jealousy and so much more.  Like I said I don't know what goes on in Evan's brain but I guess readers really shouldn't look behind the big curtain to see how it all works ... all we really need to know is that when you see the words Isabella and Margaret Evans together, you know you are in for a crazy fun ride !!  So sit down in a comfy seat, grab a drink and a snack and get reading !!!

Murder at Vinland (Gilded Newport Mysteries Book # 12) by Alyssa Maxwell

Reporter and sleuth Emma Cross Andrews must stop a bold poisoner who is targeting the society wives of the Four Hundred in Gilded Age Newport, Rhode Island . . .

August 1901: A fundraiser for a new Rhode Island Audubon Society brings Emma to Vinland, the Viking-themed seaside home of her relative, Florence Vanderbilt Twombly, where the guest of honor is Edith Roosevelt, wife of Vice President Theodore Roosevelt. Listening to the speakers and observing the ladies in attendance, Emma is struck by the contrast of the Viking warrior–inspired elements in the house and the admirable but admittedly genteel cause of bird protection. Vinland bears the name of the Vikings’ first landfall in North America, but in this room today there is most assuredly no one to fear.

Emma’s observation of harmless philanthropy is proven wrong the following morning when one of Mrs. Twombly’s houseguests from the luncheon becomes mysteriously and dangerously ill. Accompanying police detective Jesse Whyte, Emma discovers a box of petit fours supposedly sent by Mrs. Roosevelt. They promptly rule out the Second Lady as a suspect, but someone has poisoned the cakes.

Soon another box of desserts as well as letters tainted with ink containing caustic toxins show up at other grand Newport cottages. Are the ladies from the luncheon being targeted? Emma and Jesse must sort through possible motives and means because now more than the birds need protection . . .  (Summary via Goodreads)

After reading Murder at Vinland, the twelfth book in the Gilded Newport Mystery series by Alyssa Maxwell, I had to sleep on it.  I have been a fan of this series since the very first book, main character Emma Cross has become a friend, her family has become family, her love of things, have become that with me as well.  I have an imaginary guest room in her Gull Manor home and I love sitting around the kitchen table with Nanny and Katie while they are preparing the meals and walking along the property with Patch and Emma and her newlywed husband Derrick.  If that was all these books were about I would be content with that but they are so much more .... Emma has a knack for assisting Detective Jesse Whyte when there is a murder in Newport, Rhode Island.  Emma has a way in with the members of the Four Hundred group, that is the rich and rich.  Emma is a distant cousin to the Vanderbilt family and they have accepted her and allowed her access to things others are not.

In Murder at Vinland Emma and Detective Whyte have their hands full when a woman who attended a fundraiser is poisoned after eating petit fours that were delivered to her.  The nature in which she was poisoned is horrible as it burned her mouth, lips and internally.  Emma does not know if attending the fundraiser had anything to do with the poisoning until another woman who was at the fundraiser is also targeted but her injuries are not as severe.  Emma begins to look at all of the attendees of the fundraiser, mainly the out of towners who are there to try to start the Rhode Island Audubon Society.  

Unfortunately Emma also has the newpaper to run with her new husband Derrick.  And they have invited Amity Carter and her niece Zinnia Lewis to stay with them at Gull Manor once they learn that Amity owns the property next to Gull Manor.  Emma and Derrick very much want to purchase the property so that they can build a house there and use Gull Manor as a school for girls.

So even without the poisoning case to work on Emma and Derrick are always busy so readers are drawn into their lives instantly.  Then add helping Detective Whyte and you are immediately hooked !!!  

Murder at Vinland, in my opinion, has a tad more excitement and will have readers on the edge, if not falling out of their seats with excitement, not to mention the hazard of receiving paper cuts from turning the pages so quickly.  Maybe the nature of the crimes, the poisoning and how it ended up in the hands of the injured, heightens the story .....  And do not get me started on the last few chapters of the story ..... I am still waiting for my blood pressure to stabilize .... however, Maxwell ends the story beautifully and I, for one, cannot wait for the next installment in the Gilded Newport Mystery series and I know you will agree !!!!!

Booked on Murder (The Haunted Library Mysteries Book # 8) by Allison Brook

Librarian Carrie Singleton must catch a killer before she can say “I do,” in the 8th delightful installment in Agatha Award-nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library Mystery series.

Carrie Singleton is ready to kiss the single life goodbye. Her wedding to Dylan Avery is just a few weeks away, and a happy ending is about to be hers. But when a body is found on the lawn of their wedding venue, happily-ever-after is looking deadlier than ever. 

The victim turns out to be Billy Carpenter, a young man recently released from prison after serving time for a bank robbery. The stolen money he’d buried is gone and Carrie and the police suspect Billy’s two alleged co-conspirators, his friends Luke Rizzo and Tino Valdez. But then Luke is murdered and Tino is nowhere to be found. 

With no leads and only a week to go before her big day, Carrie is on the hunt for clues. She hopes to wrap up this investigation with a neat bow before she and Dylan tie the knot. Carrie has something old, something new, and something borrowed ready for her walk down the aisle. Now she needs to find the killer without becoming the ‘something blue.’  (Summary via Goodreads)

Although I haven't read all of the books in the Haunted Library Mystery series by Allison Brook, I
became a devoted fan throught the books I did read.  Sometimes in your reading journey you develop feelings for a series, a book, the characters, the town or whatever and this series was that for me.  

Booked on Murder is the eighth book in the series and main character Carrie Singleton is going to have her happily ever after ..... or die trying !!!  Carrie seems to get herself in the middle of trouble but ends up helping solving a murder in the process.  However, in Booked on Murder she has to stay focused on the finish line which is walking down the aisle and saying I DO to her soon to be husband, Dylan Avery.

Unfortunately when Carrie and Dylan are doing a walk through at their friend Victor's house where the wedding is to take place in a few weeks, they find a dead body by the gazebo.  They then learn that the deceased is a recently released man who robbed a bank.  The money was never recovered and it is thought that the two guys who helped robbed the bank must have had something to do with the murder.  Then a historical artifact that is close to Carrie's heart, an ancient diary of a woman from the 1600's that was hanged because she was looked at as a witch.  Carrie read the diary and felt a closeness and protectiveness toward the woman and when it begins to get negative attention, she is on high alert.

Poor Dylan will have his hands full trying to keep Carrie safe while also giving her space to do what she feels she needs to do with both situations.  But if Dylan, and devoted readers, though that Carrie would ignore these things, they are terribly mistaken.  All we can do is sit and read and hang on for the ride and hope that Carrie is able to walk down that aisle with little wear and tear on her body if she gets in too deep.....

I was sadness to read in the Acknowledgments that this is the last book in the Haunted Library Mystery series.  I have grown to love this series and look forward to new books.  I understand that Allison wants to branch off and start new projects and I look forward to where she will go.  I, for one, know that whatever book she writes next will receive the attention and love it deserves and I will be on the lookout for it and hope to read it as soon as I possibly can .... I hope you will too !!!  Good luck Allison ..... I loved this series !!!

 

Dancing with Danger (Aloha Lagoon Book # 23) by Kimberly Griggs

What's a Southern Belle to do when she dreams of being a hula dancer? Move to Hawaii, of course!

Native Georgian Ruby Bell has her work cut out for her finding her niche among hip-swaying dancers of Kauai. But when she creates Hula Fit, a unique fusion of fitness and Hawaiian culture, she lands herself a job at the premier Aloha Lagoon Resort and Spa. Her class sparks attention from locals and vacationers alike, making Ruby feel she's finally found her bliss.

Unfortunately things go from delightful to downright deadly when Ruby discovers her new friend, Phoebe, strangled by a coconut bra in the back of Ruby's studio! With the local police investigating on "island time," Ruby fears it's up to her to find a killer, save her studio's reputation, and bring justice to her friend's memory. Navigating through a maze of deceit and betrayal, Ruby uncovers a cast of suspects more colorful than an island sunset, including a bodybuilder ex-boyfriend with a volatile temper, a troupe of senior citizens caught at a clothing-optional pool party, a jealous rival, an awkward admirer, and even the hunky owner of the local Smoothie Hut who seems to have his eye on Ruby.

Between blackmail, deception, and a mysterious box of incriminating photos, Ruby finds herself tangled in a deadly dance. Can she hula her way through the shadows and unmask the killer... before the music stops for good?  (Summary via Goodreads)

One of my favorite make believe places to visit is Aloha Lagoon Resort in Hawaii.  There are so many places to see and hang out at, plenty of delicious foods to eat and tasty adult beverages to consume, and a lot of new people to meet and hang out with .... just be careful you don't come across a dead body.  And with twenty-three books in the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series, I am sure you will want to stay as well.

Dancing with Danger is the twenty-third book and it is written by Kimberly Griggs.  This is her first book in the series and I can assure you it is only the beginning for her.

In Dancing with Danger we are introduced to Ruby Bell who moved to Hawaii from Georgia to follow her dream of being a hula dancer.  Unfortunately that dream has not come true yet so she is doing the next best thing and has opened up Hula-Fit and is helping natives and vacationers exercise with hula moves.

Seeing as Ruby is new to the island herself she hasn't made a lot of friends but she does have Phoebe who is becoming a friend.  The two will venture to the Rikki Tikki Smoothie Hut after class and talk.  However on one of their visits getting smoothies, Phoebe is acting wierd but brushes off Ruby's concerns.

Unfortunately when Ruby goes to meet Phoebe at Hula-Fit later that evening, Ruby finds Phoebe strangled on the floor of the costume closet.  

When Detective Ray announces that the fitness/dance center is closed until further notice, Ruby fears that she will be out of a job.  So she decides to look into Phoebe's death and luckily another soon to be close friend, Autumn, agrees to help.  The two bond instantly which Ruby realizes is something her and Phoebe didn't do.  As they begin to look into Phoebe's life and early death, she learns that she didn't know Phoebe at all !!

Readers cannot help but fall in love with the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series.  Each book is written by a different author and centers around a certain person and their career and life at or near the resort.  They all have a common denominator of Detective Ray and the fact that he works on island time does not bode well with the characters which always puts them in the middle of all the chaos.  No matter what book you pick up you will be a fan of this series immediately.  You will want to visit as many times as you can and it doesn't matter who you are rooming with.  

Check out the link to see everything you need to know about the books, the people and all the fun to be had !

https://www.gemmahallidaypublishing.com/aloha-lagoon-mysteries

A Poisonous Palate (A Key West Food Critic Mystery Book # 14) by Lucy Burdette

The heat is turned up for Hayley Snow and her friends in the next installment of the Key West Food Critic mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Lucy Burdette.

When food critic Hayley Snow receives an intriguing email about a mysterious, decades-old disappearance, her curiosity is piqued. Writer Catherine Davitt has returned to the Keys to research a book about Hemingway’s wives, but she’s also on the hunt for the truth about her missing friend. Hayley quickly agrees to help investigate and they hit the road to see what clues they might find.

Back in the late 1970s, Catherine and her friend Veronica were part of a group of lost souls camping in the mangroves of Big Pine Key, until Veronica vanished, and the sheriff’s office cleared out the camp. Catherine and Hayley begin interviewing Big Pine Key residents who were around at the time of Veronica’s disappearance, but uncover more questions than answers. 

Catherine and Hayley stop to speak with a motel owner who frequented the fringes of the commune, but they find him stabbed to death. Then Catherine also goes missing, and signs point to a connection between the old case and the new murder. It’s up to Hayley to unravel the knot of secrets and lies before time runs out.  (Summary via Goodreads)

How can readers not enjoy a book centered around food and family and so much more ?  The Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette is just that and with A Poisonous Palate being the fourteenth book in the series, I think Burdette knows what she's doing.

In A Poisonous Palate main character Hayley Snow is enjoying life.  She loves living on Houseboat Row with her husband, Police Lieutenant Nathan Bransford and their dog and cat.  She loves living next door to her best friend and old roommate, Miss Gloria.  She loves her job working for Key Zest e-zine visiting local eateries, sampling the food and writing about it.   She loves spending time with her mother and her husband Sam.  And she won't lie if asked if she enjoys solving a murder or two.  

In A Poisonous Palate Hayley receives an email that she is about to delete but her curiousity gets the better of her and she reads it and is instantly intrigued.  A woman Catherine is writing to her to help her try to find out what happened to a friend of her's that went missing over forty years ago.  When the two where very young, they needed a change so they packed up a car and moved to Big Pine Key in Florida and met a bunch of other lost souls camping in an area and decided to pitch their tent for a while.  Unfortunately Veronica ends up going missing and Catherine goes to the police to report it and doesn't get much help.  Instead the police raid the camp and break it up.

Now all these years later Catherine is back and wants to find out what happened to her friend.  She enlists the help of Hayley and the two venture down to Big Pine Key to see if they can find anything out.  Sadly they discover one of the old camping crew stabbed to death in the hotel he owns which now piles on more questions.

Hayley doesn't know how much she can trust Catherine and knows that she isn't getting the entire story but knows she can't push her to talk.  Plus Hayley really needs to focus on her job, her husband, her friend's upcoming wedding, and her family and friends.  But we all know how Hayley is and once she is hooked, there is no turning back.

I thoroughly enjoy this series.  It has a special place in my heart because on a visit to my mom in Florida I was reading one of the books in this series and she showed an interest and read it when I was done.  We even made a yummy treat from one of the recipes from that book while I was there.  Sadly I lost mom a few years ago and miss her every minute of every day but when I open one of the books in this series, I feel like she is reading over my shoulder.  That is how books should be .... they make you feel.  I hope the Key West Food Critic Mystery series holds a special place in your life .......

Lawyers, Dogs, and Money (A Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery Book # 2) by Tracy Carter

Veronica possesses a natural affinity for training dogs—and a passion for locating missing people. As "Lawyers, Dogs, and Money" unfolds, Veronica trains peanut allergy alert and prison contraband sniffing dogs—and joins her search and rescue colleague, a Deputy Sheriff for Boulder County, in trying to ascertain the source of threats against Kadri Ilves, a co-worker of Sgt. Donovan's daughter at a high-end import/export business. The woman being targeted is a native of Estonia and has a long history of advocating for social justice causes. As efforts to harm Kadri escalate in an alarming fashion, Veronica's team and Sgt. Donovan desperately attempt to pinpoint the person behind the threats.

Veronica's father assists the investigation by researching Kadri's background, including her work to end racial disparity in prison sentencing, and legal claims she has filed relative to disputed lands in Estonia. Has Kadri put herself in the crosshairs of the California branch of the Russian Mafia? Can Veronica and her canine partner, Leda, save Kadri before events turn deadly?  (Summary via Goodreads)

Even though Lawyers, Dogs and Money is only the second book in the Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery series written by Tracy Carter I am a HUGE fan !!  I fell in love with the first book, Dogged Pursuit, and could not wait until future books were released .... and Carter did not disappoint ... not that I thought she would.

Dogged Pursuit was action packed and a thrilling ride for readers to take and Lawyers, Dogs and Money picks up with the excitement !!  As soon as you start reading, you are instantly back in the action with main character Veronica, her father and the rest of her crew, human and canine, and you will be on the edge of your seat !!

In Lawyers, Dogs and Money Veronica and her assistant Michael are working well at Dogged Pursuit K-9, the dog training facility in Colorado.  They are working with various dogs on a number of training sessions while Veronica's dad, Bob, does his thing with reviewing items helpful in the great outdoors as well as work investigatively when needed.

Veronica's friend and a recent client, Ricardo, calls with a concern.  His niece is working at an import/export facility and a co-worker seems like she may be in trouble.  Esmeralda also works with her friend, Jane, who is one of the daughters of Sgt. Tim Donovan.  Tim and his family have become very close with her, her dad and Michael as well as Ricardo and his family so Veronica knows they will jump at the chance to assist. 

A meeting is set up for everyone to sit down and get to know each other and see if they can help Kadri.  Unfortunately there are a lot of balls in the air around Kadri and what may be causing her to be anxious.  And before the team can get any headway Kadri is attacked in her home.  Bob does one of the things he does best and sets her house and property up with surveillance cameras and security measures.

Everyone has their regular jobs as well as added work helping Kadri but that is all taken in stride with this crew.  The more work that gets piled on the better they perform it seems !!!

There is so much to love with this series, and with only two books so far, you will be amazed at the level of love you will show !!  Just hanging out with Veronica and Michael while they work at the facility training the dogs would be enough for one person, or you could hang out with Bob while he does computer work, reviews all the gadgets and things he gets, or just sitting while he prepares meals for everyone.  Or you might enjoy hiking with Michael and his friends with all the various dogs if you like exercise.  Or maybe tagging along with Veronica and Leda when they go out on a call to detect drugs in certain workplaces.  Whichever you choose to do, you will have a grand ole time or just sit back with a tasty treat and a drink and read ..... you can't go wrong doing that !!

A Very Woodsy Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery series Book #1) by Ellen Byron

New motel owner Dee Stern has checked out of the familiar comforts in the San Fernando Valley and checked in to the quaint village of Foundgold. Running a rustic getaway in the woods sure beats LA traffic—until murder ruins the peace and quiet . . .

Down-on-her-luck sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. Twice divorced and wasting her talents on an obnoxious kids’ show, the lifelong Angeleno embraces the urge to jump in her car and keep driving. It's a road trip with no destination—until she pulls into a mid-century motel filled with cobwebs and retro charm. Nestled in the shadow of a national park, it’s a time capsule of a place that, like her, could use some work. So, in the most impulsive move of her life, Dee teams up with best friend, Jeff Cornetta—who happens to be her first ex-husband—to transform the aging ranch into the Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains, a hiker’s oasis on the edge of the wilderness . . .

But Dee and Jeff soon realize there couldn’t be two people more unprepared for the hospitality business. There’s also the panic-inducing reality of prowling bears and a general store as the only shopping spot for miles. Living and working in the middle of nowhere takes some getting used to—especially when a disrespectful guest ends up murdered! Now, with the motel duo topping the suspect list, Dee must steer clear of a meddling park ranger, face her past in show biz, and determine if the killer is a local or tourist. Because as she quickly finds out, there are many things worse than a one-star review.  (Summary via Goodreads)

A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron is the first book in the Golden Motel Mystery series and you will become hooked immediately !!!

In A Very Woodsy Murder main character Dee Stern needs a change of scenery and everything else so she talks her best friend Jeff into becoming partners in a motel.  Now this isn't just any motel but a hidden gem just outside a national park and near two quaint little towns where the townsfolk love to dress in old time clothing and have fun.  The Golden Motel was built in the 1940's and has a lodge with guest rooms, ten cabins around a nugget shaped pool.  There is also a small apartment for Dee to live in.  Unfortunately the motel needs a lot of work before they can flip the sign on to open .....  

And when their first guest, who Dee knows from her old job of writing for bad sitcom's ends up dead, they may be closed before they officially open.  Luckily Dee can count on Jeff to always have her back so when she says she wants to look into Michael Adam Baker's murder, he doesn't bat an eye.  But it is not going to be easy seeing as Michael was a legend in Foundgold and it's neighboring town Goldsgone and most of the townfolk have already determined the outsiders as the murderers.

A Very Woodsy Murder is such a fun book to read.  It has loveable characters, the two towns are places you would totally want to visit and even stay at the Golden Motel.  You will be right along side Dee and Jeff as they navigate their new lives and jobs and want to see them succeed no matter what it takes.

I cannot wait to see where Byron goes with this series and future books.  I am now 100 percent invested in the Golden Motel and know that Dee and Jeff will be very good at their new careers !!!

Concession Stand Crimes (Ball Park Mysteries Book # 2) by Nicole Asselin

MADELINE BOUCHER is still reeling from her first few weeks of working for her family’s Independent League Baseball Team, the Abington Armadillos. She found a dead body and survived a kidnapping before finally clearing her brother of a murder. She didn’t think anything could be as dramatic as that, but she was wrong.

Her parents have given her more responsibility in running ballpark events in the hopes that they could retire and leave the team in her hands. Her brother is moving on to the big leagues, so this is her time to shine. Her first task? Deal with a concession stand kerfuffle. Redmond Brewery heiress, Alaska Redmond, storms her way into the ballpark making demands.

The next day, the son of the concession’s manager finds Redmond’s body in one of the beer stands along the ballpark concourse. Again, Madeline finds herself immersed in an investigation. While the suspects start piling up, including a promising young player on the team, Madeline knows she must get involved. With the help of Davis, her new love interest and head of the security department, she delves deeper into the death of the heiress.

Trying to run team events, solve a murder, and have a normal life take their toll as Madeline comes to depend on those in her baseball-loving community, including Bronia, her old family friend who runs a garden center and helps her make sense of things. She even chances a psychic for advice while at a Salem Warlock’s away game. Will anyone help her untangle the mess of suspects including the victim’s family?

Can she clear the name of the Abington Armadillos and start focusing on the season?  (Summary via Goodreads)

There is a line in the book Concession Stand Crimes that readers will totally relate the book and the series to .... "hotdogs and crackerjacks, not murder and lawsuits" .... that is what you would think when you are sitting down to read a book centered around a baseball team and everything related to it.  Even though the Ball Park Mysteries series written by Nicole Asselin is about an Independent League Baseball Team and not a Major League Team it still reads like Red Sox or Yankee status.

Concession Stand Crimes follows the Boucher family as they run the Abington Armadillos baseball stadium.  Madeline, the daughter, is slowly taking over running the family business as her parents are working at retiring and her brother, Ben, is going to be working for the Red Sox.  Madeline is fine with that as she loves baseball, the stadium and everything else her job will entail .... except when a dead body interfers.

Madeline is still recovering from finding a dead body, proving her brother's innocence when he is looked at as the killer, and also herself being kidnapped by the actual killer so when she is doing the rounds and another dead body is discovered, she may pack it in.  

Alaska Redmond is rude to Madeline's friend Eliza who runs the front desk for the office and bumps into Madeline while storming out.  Alaska's family owns Redmond Brewery and they want to do business with the Boucher family but before any negotiating can begin, Alaska's body is found by the concession stands.

There is really no reason for Madeline to look into Alaska's death as the police are not focusing on anyone she knows but her curious mind cannot let it go.  Even though she insists that she will not put herself in any kind of danger, her family and boyfriend Davis aren't so sure.

Readers will love this book and series.  You don't have to be a baseball fan to enjoy it but that wouldn't hurt.  Luckily I am a huge baseball fan, Red Sox, I will watch any baseball !!!  I can imagine running the park like Madeline is about to do would be so fun !!!  I would totally walk the park, sit in the stands and eat a hotdog every day !!!  

I highly recommend grabbing your copy and having a ball !!!