Fans of Joyce and Jim Lavene will thrill at this collection of thirteen short stories—many are set in the worlds of their national bestselling mystery series, including the Missing Pieces Mysteries, the Renaissance Faire Mysteries, the Retired Witches Mysteries, and an upcoming mystery novel!
These stories contain the elements of mystery and fantasy the Lavenes are famous for, as well as some new things their readers have never seen. Several stories feature characters interacting with ghosts, magic, and the supernatural—the healing woman in “Courtship;” the Civil War widow in “One with the Darkness;” the city girl who summons a wizard from the past in “The Magician and the Sorceress/Accountant;” and the young introvert in “Aunt Edna” who finds her calling with help from a ghostly visitor.
Poignant, charming, and captivating, Joyce and Jim Lavene bring their characteristic wit and heart to these stories and introduce each one with a passage about its origin or how it ties into the universe they’ve created. Gone by Midnight is a treasury of tales that will delight the mind and touch the heart from one of the most prolific writing duos of our time. (Summary via Amazon)
If you are not familiar with the extremely talented writing duo of Joyce and Jim Lavene, Gone By Midnight is the perfect book for you. The Lavene's write a lot of books with an array of topics and subjects. There are so many to choice from that any reader will find a story they enjoy. Here is a collection of short stories that will help narrow down the choices.....or you may end up like me and enjoy ALL of them.
I don't think that there is any topic the Lavene's could write about, that wouldn't be captivating to the reader.
If you already are a fan of the Lavene's you know what I am talking about. I know you will enjoy these short stoires as a quick fix to get your through until you pick up the next Lavene book and continue on an amazing journey ......
Review by Missi S.
The busy summer tourist season is winding down in Busman's Harbor, Maine, but Julia Snowden senses trouble simmering for the Snowden Family Clambake Company. Shifty David Thwing - the "Mussel King" of upscale seafood restaurants - is sniffing around town for a new location. But serving iffy clams turns out to be the least of his troubles....
When Thwing is found sleeping with the fishes beneath a local lobsterman's boat, the police quickly finger Julia's brother-in-law, Sonny, as the one who cooked up the crime. Sure, everyone knows Sonny despised the Mussel King...but Julia believes he's innocent. Proving it won't be easy, though. It seems there's a lot more than murder on the menu, and Julia needs to act fast.... (summary via Goodreads)
I love going to Busman's Harbor and spending time with the Snowden family and all the residents there. Barbara Ross has such a way with her writing that you feel like you are there. You feel like the invisible sister of Julia and Livvie or you will want to be.
Julia returned home in the first book of the Maine Clambake Mystery books, Clammed Up, to help run the family clambake business before her mom loses everything. As with Clammed Up, the second book Boiled Over, both involved murders that Julia was involved in "helping" the police solve the crimes.
Now here we are with Musseled Out and Julia is still there. Julia is facing a huge life-changing decision. Her job in the city has been kept vacant but the bosses need to know if she will be returning and when or they will have to fill her position. As she struggles with thoughts of leaving Busman's Harbor, her family, friends and her boyfriend, Chris, David Thwing is found tangled in the lines of a lobster boat. And her brother-in-law Sonny seems to be on the top of the suspect list.
As Julia works on proving Sonny's innocence, helping at the local's only restaurant, she uncovers some town secrets that involve those close to her. She can't walk away from her family and town now or can she ??
The Maine Clambake Mystery series books are a treat to read. The town is a town you could see yourself living in, the people are people you can see yourself helping out with whatever is needed. You will be so inolved in the story that the end will be upon you before you know it. But don't worry Fogged Inn will be here soon enough !!!
Review by Missi S.
Moira's deli is doing well when tragedy strikes. The loss of a dear friend drives her to team up with her favorite P.I. again to get to the bottom of a heartbreaking mystery. The clues seem to point way too close to home, and Moira wonders exactly whom she can trust in this action-packed book.
What a fun quick read! I finished it in a sitting because it was so good. At the beginning of Corned Beef Murder: Book Two in The Darling Deli Series a big snow storm is coming. And she has reconnected with an old friend, Emilia Washburn. She used to babysit for Candice. She was really excited to see her and her sister Martha in the deli. Martha has been taking care of Emilia since her health has been failing. Martha had to go out of town for a few days and asked Moira if she would check up on her sister. Of course Moira agreed and Martha gave her a key.
Next thing she knows the snow starts and she and Candice are stuck at the house with no power. Moira begins to worry about her friend but then receives a phone call from her. Only problem is that the line is full of statics and can't really hear her. The roads are impassable and decides she will stop by tomorrow when the roads clear. When she is able to get to the house it is eerily quiet. She finds her friend at the bottom of the stairs dead! Everyone is telling her it was just an accident but Moira's gut is telling her something else.
Why would anyone want to kill Emilia? The police have ruled it an accident, what is she going to do??? Moira decides to call her PI friend David to try and get to the bottom of it.
This was such a fun cozy read. I love these characters and how they are developing. Every time I read these books I get so hungry. The author does an amazing job of describing the food that you want to eat everything they're eating.
Can't wait for the next installment of The Darling's Delicious Deli Series.
Review by Penny M.
For many years Father Robert has called the old rectory at Seattle's Grace Church home. No longer. An enterprising volunteer has come up with a scheme to convert it into a thrift store. With great reluctance, the priest moves to a condo, realizing that the struggling Episcopal parish needs the revenue. As predicted, money is soon rolling in. That is, until disaster strikes: one of the employees, a charismatic young man named Nick, is killed execution-style. Though well loved, Nick had a criminal past. Did his past catch up with him, or was he simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? Detective Joyce Hitchcock and Officer Raymond Chen are on the case, and once again their efforts are bolstered by the colorful staff and members of Grace Church-Father Robert himself, his fiancee Molly, Deacon Mary, manager of the food bank Terry, Lester the formerly homeless sexton, Daniel the organist, Arlis the church secretary, and senior volunteers Lucy and Mae. Other incidents follow-an explosion, vandalism. The already dwindling congregation is being scared away, and Grace Church may soon be history. Meanwhile Nick's friends and colleagues can't help but wonder: will the killer strike again? (Summary via Goodreads)
What a great cast of characters in Death in the Old Rectory !! Death in the Old Rectory is the second book in the Grace Church Mystery series by Kathie Deviny. I haven't read the first book but I know I will and hopefully soon.
Death in the Old Rectory takes place in the church setting with the church and the rectory next door where Father Robert resides just like I remember when I was growing up. Even though it is set in a busy section of Seattle, it still feels like its my old church in the country. And the people in the story, from Father Robert all the way down to Spike the dog, you feel like you know them. (even without reading Death in the Memorial Garden)
I specifically fell in love with Nick, you will see why when you read the book, but he seemed like the glue between the thrift store, the food pantry and the church plus all the people. I was devastated when he was murdered and even though I had to step away for a bit to collect myself, I went right back to the story. I was on a mission !! I was right along side Father Robert, Terry, Mae, Mrs. Evans and the rest of them trying to figure out who the murderer was.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, religious or otherwise. I also suggest picking up the first book, Death in the Memorial Garden, and put the third one on your to read list. I know its on mine !!!
Review by Missi S.
The first warning is swift and to the point, but bookstore owners Glenn and Lindsay Reade don't 'get it' until their lives are threatened a second time. All they've done is read a young girl's diary and attempt to locate the owner. Just because the journal describes the girl's rape and subsequent murder of the rapist is no reason for anyone to want them dead, is it? The book is obviously more than forty years old. Who in the tiny Berkshire town of Paris, Massachusetts could still care? But someone does. And that someone is willing to kidnap and murder to protect their long buried secret. (summary via Goodreads)
This book was AMAZING !! I could not put it down !! You will fall in love with Glenn and Lindsay. If you are like me when you're reading a book, you let your imagination go, you will want to read A Page From the Past.
Glenn and Lindsay own a big house in a small Massachussetts village. The downstairs is their bookstore while they live in the upstairs. The way Cindy Davis describes the store, their living area, the yards and the people, you are instantly in love and will want to move there.
On one of their trips seeking old, collectible books, they come across a young girl's diary from years ago. Lindsay, who loves to read diaries, was about to toss it aside when one word jumped out at her......murder. She was curious so she started reading it. She became obsessed with the diary which got Glenn curious also. They decided to investigate a bit and see if they could find the owner of the diary. Unfortunately as they dig for clues and follow up on leads, a black pick-up truck wants to do everything possible to prevent them from learning too much.
If you like a good story, a story that grabs you from Chapter 1 and doesn't let you go until the last page, this is the book for you. If you like trying to solve the puzzle no matter how dangerous it gets, this is the book for you. If you like reading a book that takes your breath away and totally shocks you with its ending......THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU !!!
I LOVE this book so much that I am going to GIVE one AWAY ! ! ! And it will be autographed and I bet I can get the author to personalize it for you !!!! Just send me a message telling me why you want to read this story and I will pick a lucky winner ! ! ! ! ! !
Review by Missi S.
A forbidden kiss. A death in plain sight. And the faculty meeting’s just begun.
When the lecherous Kent Lovely, Mahina State’s one-man hostile work environment, collapses face-first into his haupia cheesecake, the faculty retreat goes from dull to disastrous. Now Professor Molly Barda has to fight to keep an innocent out of prison—and herself off the unemployment line. If you like Dorothy Parker, Sarah Caudwell, P.G. Wodehouse, or E.F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia stories, you'll enjoy this tale of passion, pilferage, and petty politics.
I loved this book! I was caught laughing out loud. The sarcasm and humor are superbly written. I was hooked from the start and dare say forgot all about the time while reading.
We all think of Hawaii as a paradise where everything is always in bloom and perfect weather with beautiful beaches. Molly, a literature Ph.D at Mahina University is teaching of all things business. Not exactly her dream job. And she is not a fan of rain and guess what, it rains a lot and with curly hair she is a frizzy mess and her clothes stick to her. Yuck! This is not exactly the paradise people think of but at least she has a job. She and her colleagues are going through a lot right now because of budget cuts, committees and working in the summer with no extra pay. Molly has been having trouble with a student getting violent in class and looks forward to a nice dinner out with her boyfriend Stephen for her birthday. Stephen stands her up and she ends up at her best friend Emma's who is also a professor of Biology at the university. Emma is one of my favorite characters because she is a hoot. She is funny, straight forward person who btw told Molly that Stephen the jerk would stand her up again.
Meanwhile back at the university Molly and Iker, professor of accounting have been working on budgets and possibly inappropriation of funds in the music department. This is where Molly's life goes from bad to worse. Kent Lovely is the professor who oversees the budget for the department and seems to have a "special " relationship with a staff member who is looking the other way. I'm sure you guessed that Molly and Iker are told to stop looking into the budget. This doesn't sit well with either of them. Then they find out that everyone is to attend a retreat with all the trimmings to hand out the best teacher award. Gee, what happened to the budget! After everyone is seated and they are ready to announce the winner Kent ends up face down in his haupia cheesecake . Things spiral out of control when he dies and her best friend Emma's brother Jonah is supposedly the prime suspect. Now with the help of her friends Emma and Iker they have to solve this mystery before the wrong person ends up in jail.
The adventure, mystery, and twists and turns in this book were so much fun. I loved being on the edge of my seat throughout reading and being totally surprised at the end. I didn't see it coming! I look forward to reading more by Frankie Bow.
Review by Penny M.
Two bakery owners get mixed up with murder in the first adventure in the all-new Bread and Batter Mystery series...
As the co-owners of Bread and Batter Bakery in Destiny, New York, Molly Tyler and Olivia Williams have plenty on their plates. Molly is recently divorced and looking for a place to live, but they’re also both preparing for Destiny’s annual Apple Harvest Fair. The bakery has a booth where they’ll be selling not only delicious cupcakes and cider doughnuts, but also tote bags and t-shirts emblazoned with the bakery’s logo.
Tensions rise at the fair when local orchard owner Calista Danforth discovers organizers have assigned her usual booth to Bread and Batter. Although a heated argument ensues between her and Molly, the bakery manages to rake in lots of dough. But when Calista is found strangled to death with one of their t-shirts, Molly is named the prime suspect. Now these two friends must whip up some answers quickly before the future of their business crumbles...
Once you begin reading Bun for Your Life you are going to want to move to Destiny, New York. How can you not fall in love with Molly and her one best friend, Olivia, who co-own a bakery which is right on the main street with all the other quaint shops ? A few doors down from Bread & Batter Bakery is their other best friend Emily's bookstore, Barking Mad Books.They even have a famous author taking up residence in Destiny who gives talks regularly at the bookstore and the library.
Molly's mother runs the library, Molly is still friends with her ex-husband, Brian, and his parents and grandmother. Molly even moves into an apartment in an old Victoria style house with a wonderful land lady, Dottie, who treats her like shes family. And Molly finds out that the new, hot detective, Sean, is also a tenant of Dottie's. Everyone knows everybody and things are usually nice and quiet.
That is until Calista, owner of one of the local apple orchard's is found murdered and one of Bread & Batter Bakery's t-shirt was used in the murder. Molly knows that neither Olivia or herself murdered Calista even though Detective Sean keeps questioning her. There were other people that she can think of that would have wanted Calista out of the way. But once Molly starts doing her own research and she is determined that she knows who the murderer is, she keeps getting deeper and deeper into the research and cannot believe what she uncovers.
You must read Bun for Your Life ! Even though there is a murderer on the loose, you will still fall in love with the quaint little town and the people. And when Molly discovers who murdered Calista and why it will blow your mind !!!!
Reviewed by Missi S.
