Great Escapes Book Tours Book Spotlight: Hollyberry Homicide

 

Hollyberry Homicide (A Berry Basket Mystery) by Sharon Farrow

About Hollyberry Homicide 

Hollyberry Homicide (A Berry Basket Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 5th in Series Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2020) 

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages 

ISBN-10: 1496722620 ISBN-13: 978-1496722621 

Digital ASIN: B082WQTC18

A cold wind is blowing off Lake Michigan, and murder is scaring the dickens out of everyone . . .

Considering her name, Marlee Jacob is an obvious choice for the role of Jacob Marley in Oriole Point’s production of A Christmas Carol. It’s just sad that the role has opened up because of the death of the elderly actor who’d originally been cast.

But Marlee, the proprietor of The Berry Basket, will do her best to keep spirits high—that is, until clues start mounting that there’s danger behind the scenes. There are accidents on set, the tree in the village square topples over, and worst of all, a body is found with a sprig of holly draped over it. If Marlee can’t wrap up the case, she may not have a berry merry Christmas . . .

Includes Berry Recipes!

Review:Trying to read in the weeks leading up and after oral surgery is not easy, at least not for me, and I feel super sad about not being able to get this review posted. 

This book is the fifth installment of the Berry Basket Series, which features Marlee Jacob as the proprietor of the Berry Basket shop.  

Hollyberry Homicide is really an amazing cozy that revolves around a small town's production of A Christmas Carol. The classic tale plays a huge part in the plot and as part of the plot of this story.

Everret Hostetter is the wealthy old man that is found dead at the start of the novel. He's also the actor that plays Jacob Marley in Oriole Point's production of A Christmas Carol.  Now at 95 years old, most think that he simply died of old age, but then Marlee feeds one of the gingerbread cookies he had with him to a squirrel. When that critter up and dies, she knows there's more to his death than just old age.

Its a shame the local PD isn't taking her seriously, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to find out how he really died, all the while preparing for Hollyberry Festival and taking over Everret's part in the play. (She's not doing too well with the play)

Ms. Farrow does a wonderful job with her usual cast of characters and the list of possible killers that all have a chance at profiting from Everret's death. There are quite a few of them an let's just say Everret didn't lead the best of lives. So this old guy had few friends and he also knew to keep his enemies close.

When one of his only friends (and his attorney) also ends up dead, Marlee is sure there is more to both of these deaths.

I really loved how everything was tied together and a nice touch of drama at the end to wrap the story up.

If you love cozy mysteries with a whole lot of Christmas spirit (pun intended) this is definitely the book for you.

Rating: 5 flowers

About Sharon Farrow

Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award-winning author Sharon Pisacreta. A freelance writer since her twenties, she has been published in mystery, fantasy, and romance. Sharon currently writes The Berry Basket cozy mystery series for Kensington. The series debuted in 2016 and is set along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline where she now lives. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.

Author Links –  

  WEB PAGE           http://sharonfarrowauthor.com/ 

  FACEBOOK         @SharonFarrowAuthor 

  TWITTER             @SharonFarrowBB 

  BOOKBUB          @SharonFarrow 

  Purchase Links – Amazon  –  B&N –  Kobo  –  Google Play  –  IndieBound

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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: The Gun Also Rises

 

The Gun Also Rises (A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery) by Sherry Harris

 

About the Book

 

The Gun Also Rises (A Sarah W. Garage Sale Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 6th in Series 

Kensington 

(January 29, 2019) 

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages 

ISBN-10: 1496716965 

ISBN-13: 978-1496716965 

Digital ASIN: B07CWF942Q 

TO RECOVER A PRICELESS MANUSCRIPT . . .

A wealthy widow has asked Sarah Winston to sell her massive collection of mysteries through her garage sale business. While sorting through piles of books stashed in the woman's attic, Sarah is amazed to discover a case of lost Hemingway stories, stolen from a train in Paris back in 1922. How did they end up in Belle Winthrop Granville's attic in Ellington, Massachusetts, almost one hundred years later?

WILL SARAH HAVE TO PAY WITH HER LIFE?

Before Sarah can get any answers, Belle is assaulted, the case is stolen, a maid is killed, and Sarah herself is dodging bullets. And when rumors spread that Belle has a limited edition of The Sun Also Rises in her house, Sarah is soon mixed up with a mobster, the fanatical League of Literary Treasure Hunters, and a hard-to-read rare book dealer. With someone willing to kill for the Hemingway, Sarah has to race to catch the culprit—or the bell may toll for her . . .

Review: The Gun Also Rises is the first book by Sherry Harris that I've read and I'm glad I did. It was very easy to slip into Sarah Winston's world. I absolutely love Sarah. She's kind and smart and wonderful.

I love how books and especially Hemingway play a huge part in the book. It is great angle for any book but a fabulous one for a mystery. I especially loved that because after reading The Paris Wife several years back, I became very interested in Hemingway's life.

I enjoyed meeting the regular cast of characters that fans of the series will already know. I especially loved the new characters we meet in this book. Miss Belle was a true southern lady really sweet. Her late husband's family made things very interesting too.

Sarah is bit different from the cozy heroines I'm used to. She investigated but not necessarily in a way that put her life in danger. Even better is the fact that the police are competent. Sarah also keeps close ties with the military families she was close with when married to CJ and how she still worked to help vets and their families.

For me it was how Belle's household/family really ties in with the murder and the mystery of the Hemingway stories and book. That's all I'll say, because I don't want to spoil this wonderful book.

This was a great page turner for me. I can't wait to read more of this series

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

  Agatha Award-nominated author, Sherry Harris, started bargain hunting in second grade at her best friend’s yard sale. She honed her bartering skills as she moved around the country while her husband served in the Air Force. Sherry uses her love of garage sales, her life as a military spouse, and her time living in Massachusetts as inspiration for the Sarah Winston Garage Sale series.
  Author Links Webpage – https://sherryharrisauthor.com/
  Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sherry.n.harris.1
  Twitter – https://twitter.com/SHarrisAuthor
  GoodReads  – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6208827.Sherry_Harris Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/snhgrad/
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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Shattered at Sea

Shattered at Sea (A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery)

by Cheryl Hollon

About the Book 

Shattered at Sea (A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

5th in Series

Kensington (August 28, 2018)

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

ISBN-10: 1496711777

ISBN-13: 978-1496711779

Digital ASIN: B077WY2SRQ

A Mediterranean cruise gives glass shop owner Savannah Webb a chance to demonstrate her expertise—and fire up her skills when it comes to foul play . . .

When Savannah signs on to perform glassblowing on a ship, part of the appeal is that she’ll get a chance to reconnect with her boyfriend Edward’s family. An added bonus is that Edward’s cousin, Ian, will be joining them on board. But when Ian disappears at the beginning of the cruise, the ship’s authorities initially consider it suicide.

Savannah tries to balance her growing suspicions with work on her shows, but her relationship with the other glass artists begins to crack. And she can’t let love color her judgment when Edward suddenly jumps to the top of the suspect list. His fate is in Savannah’s hands, and she’ll do everything she can—on land and sea—to clear his name . . .

Review: I've read 3 out of 5 of the Web Glass Shop mystery series. I really enjoy Savannah and Edward and I love how their relationship is growing in this book.

I have to admit that I was kind of sad about the victim in this book. I liked Ian from the first scenes that he was in. As things went on, I was getting antsy, because I didn't want Ian to be dead. Again, he was such a lovable character and he seemed to have a lot of trouble in his life, from his shared past with Edward, to some girls he dated that showed up on the cruise.

Savannah is working for a few week's on a cruise ship. On her way to the ship she gets to spend time with Edward's family in England. I love his mom and dad. They were absolutely great. I also got a kick out of the superstition about the broken teapot being a bearer of bad luck.

Having the mystery take place somewhere other than Savannah's home town was a nice twist. That gave the book a little different feel from the average cozy series, although a few of the "at home" characters did pop up on the ship.

Since the mystery involves Edward's cousin, we get to learn more about Edward's past as well, which was a little unsavory. I liked how that tied in with the mystery as well along with one of the other glass blowers that Savannah was working with.

The ending was wonderful and I really didn't start to figure out who was at the heart of it all until the very end. Oh and speaking of endings! Bliss!

I loved this book!

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks. Visit her online at http://cherylhollon.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @CherylHollon.

Purchase Links:

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 17 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 18 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

September 20 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

September 20 – MJB Reviewers - AUTHOR INTERVIEW,

September 21 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

September 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT  

September 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

September 23 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

September 25 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

September 26 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

September 27 – Valerie's Musings - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

0September 28 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 29 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

September 30 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

Goddess Fish Promotions Book Review: A Mother's Gift

A Mother’s Gift

by Charlotte Hubbard

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Inspirational Romance (Amish)

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BLURB:

For Leah Otto, marrying Jude Shetler is a long-held dream come true. As a young girl, she was captivated by his good looks and talent as an auctioneer. When Jude, now a widower with three children, begins to court her, Leah doesn’t hesitate. Other men may not appreciate her tomboy ways, but Jude values Leah’s practical nature and her skill with the animals she tends, and both enter the marriage with joy and optimism.

Three months later, Leah feels as if her world is coming down around her. Her twin teenage step-daughters, Alice and Adeline, are pushing boundaries and taking far too many risks, while five-year-old Stevie deeply misses his mother. Leah, more at ease in a barn tending her goats and chickens than in a kitchen, struggles with her housekeeping duties.

Then a baby is abandoned on their doorstep, and Leah must search her soul. Caring for little Betsy fills her with renewed purpose and the strength to begin pulling her family together. With Jude’s steadfast support, Leah finds that what she once thought of as a happy ending may be something even better—the beginning of a life rich in love, faith, and unexpected blessings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt :

“Leah, your life will change in ways you can’t anticipate when you marry,” Lenore began softly. She rested her head against the headboard, grasping her daughter’s hand. “When you move into a man’s home—”

“Oh, Mama, you’ve already told me what to expect in the bedroom,” Leah interrupted with a nervous giggle. “It’s not as though I haven’t seen the deer and the horses mating.”

Lenore closed her eyes, praying for words that would gently pierce the balloon of maidenly naiveté in which Leah seemed to live. “There’s more to marriage than mating,” she whispered earnestly. “You’ll be moving into a home where Jude and his kids have established their routine. We’ve both heard the rumors about how Alice and Adeline might be behaving inappropriately during their rumspringa—”

“They’re sixteen, and they’re very pretty,” Leah quickly pointed out. “Twins are inclined to get into double trouble as part of their nature at that age. I certainly found mischief during my running-around years.”

Lenore sighed again. She wished Raymond were here to help her with this difficult discussion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review:  Charlotte Hubbard is one of my favorite writer's of Amish romance, any time I see a book by her, I do my best to get a copy.

With this book we see Leah wed a local auctioneer that is a widower. No one feels that this match is a good one, even though Leah and Jude are really in love. Jude has three children and they are quite a handful. The girls are more than a handful. In fact, Alice and Adeline are more than a handful, at times they are downright hateful creatures. It is really hard to figure out why they are the way they are. Jude's son, Stevie is absolutely precious and a tiny champion for Leah, once he realizes she's not a wicked stepmother.

Leah and Jude have a huge handful with the twins. I never wanted to reach into a book to shake characters before, but these two girls needed shaking. They definitely acted like willful teenagers and then some.

This is a beautiful story of a family with issues coming together. Leah is not your typical Amish wife, but she has a lot of love to give and she is learning to be a good mother.

Then there is the abandoned baby, who becomes the glue that cements the new family together. Little Betsy precious and through her Leah finds herself becoming more and more of a mother. She cares so deeply for the children.

Ms. Hubbard has written a book about life and about love. Its more than a romance. Its a story of family and there are many times that will have you wiping tears.

If you love sweet Amish stories, you have to read this lovely book by Charlotte Hubbard.

Rating: 5 flowers

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Charlotte Hubbard is the acclaimed author of Amish romance and fiction that evokes simpler times and draws upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi. Faith and family, farming, and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle—and the foundation of all her novels. A deacon, dedicated church musician and choir member, she loves to travel, read, try new recipes, and crochet. A longtime Missourian, Charlotte now lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and their border collie, Vera. Please visit Charlotte online at www.CharlotteHubbard.com.

CharlotteHubbard.com

Facebook: Facebook www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1

Order Ebook

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Order Print

Kensington Bouquet

March 27, 2018

ISBN-13: 9781496712189

ISBN-10: 1496712188

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1496712188/

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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Tours Book Review: The Silver Gun

The Silver Gun (An Art Deco Mystery) by L.A. Chandlar

About the Book

The Silver Gun (An Art Deco Mystery) by L.A. Chandlar Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Kensington (August 29, 2017)
Paperback: 336 pages 

ISBN-13: 978-1496713414 

Digital ASIN: B01MQSAJO7

New York City, 1936. In the midst of the Great Depression, the Big Apple is defiantly striving toward an era infused with art, architecture, and economic progress under the dynamic Mayor La Guardia. But those in City Hall know that tumultuous times can inspire both optimism and deadly danger . . .

It’s been six months since Lane Sanders was appointed Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia’s new personal aide, and the twenty-three-year-old is sprinting in her Mary Janes to match her boss’s pace. Despite dealing with vitriol from the Tammany Hall political machine and managing endless revitalization efforts, Fio hasn’t slowed down a bit during his years in office. And luckily for Lane, his unpredictable antics are a welcome distraction from the childhood memories that haunt her dreams—and the silver gun she’ll never forget.

When Lane gets attacked and threatened by an assailant tied to one of most notorious gangsters in the city, even the mayor can’t promise her safety. The corrupt city officials seem to be using Lane as a pawn against Fio for disgracing their party in the prior election. But why was the assailant wielding the exact same gun from her nightmares?

Balancing a clandestine love affair and a mounting list of suspects, Lane must figure out how the secrets of her past are connected to the city’s underground crime network—before someone pulls the trigger on the most explosive revenge plot in New York history . . .

Review: The first thing I noticed upon starting The Silver Gun, was how much the book reminded me of Beatriz Williams recent books. There was a nice mixture of history, mystery and romance going on in the story.

This is the first book in the Art Deco series and without giving out any spoilers, this is a series that you are going to want to read in order.

The Silver Gun is set in the 1930s NYC. It is a perfect mixture of fact and fiction. with one of the primary characters being Fiorello La Guardia, the 99th mayor of NYC. Lane is his fictional assistant. La Guardia is a colorful character in history, so he really makes this book more interesting. The cast of characters is fabulous here. I adored Finn, he was a great romantic interest.

The mystery is one that will keep you on your toes, with a mixture of the mob and Lane's back story, which gets more and more intriguing as things go on. This is really an edge of your seat mystery, with some twists and turns on the way. Just when you think you know who's who, things change.

The title of the book also figures into the story, in a big way. I love when this happens, even though you don't know the full significance until the end.

This is a great start of a new series. I can't wait to read more about Lane especially with the ending, which wasn't quite a cliffhanger but more a harbinger of what's to come.

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

L .A. Chandlar is the author of the Art Deco Mystery Series with Kensington Publishing featuring Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and a fresh take on the innovation and liveliness of 1930s New York City. Her debut novel, The Silver Gun released August 29, 2017, and the sequel, The Gold Pawn, will release September 25^th, 2018. Laurie has been living and writing in New York City for 16 years and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences for over 20 years including a women’s group with the United Nations. Her talks range from NYC history, the psychology of creativity, and the history of holiday traditions. Laurie has also worked in PR for General Motors, writes and fund-raises for a global nonprofit is the mother of two boys, and has toured the nation managing a rock band.

Author Links Website: http://www.lachandlar.com
Social Media Quick Link to all my social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Newsletter): http://www.lachandlar.com/social
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GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7656965.L_A_Chandlar
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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Survival of the Fritters

Survival of the Fritters (A Deputy Donut Mystery) by Ginger Bolton

 

Survival of the Fritters (A Deputy Donut Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Kensington 

(January 30, 2018) Paperback: 256 pages 

ISBN-13: 978-1496711878 

E-Book ASIN: B071HKMK38

Emily Westhill runs the best donut shop in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, alongside her retired police chief father-in-law and her tabby Deputy Donut. But after murder claims a favorite customer, Emily can’t rely on a sidekick to solve the crime—or stay alive.

If Emily has learned anything from her past as a 911 operator, it’s to stay calm during stressful situations. But that’s a tall order when one of her regulars, Georgia Treetor, goes missing. Georgia never skips morning cappuccinos with her knitting circle. Her pals fear the worst—especially Lois, a close friend who recently moved to town. As evening creeps in, Emily and the ladies search for Georgia at home. And they find her—murdered among a scattering of stale donuts . . .

Disturbingly, Georgia’s demise coincides with the five-year anniversary of her son’s murder, a case Emily’s late detective husband failed to solve before his own sudden death. With Lois hiding secrets and an innocent man’s life at stake, Emily’s forced to revisit painful memories on her quest for answers. Though someone’s alibi is full of holes, only a sprinkling of clues have been left behind. And if Emily can’t trace them back to a killer in time, her donut shop will end up permanently closed for business . . .

Review: I love discovering new cozy mystery series. Survival of the Fritters is the first book in the Deputy Donut series. Its one of the smarter cozy mysteries that I've read.

Emily owns and operates a donut shop with her father in law. Her husband was a police detective, killed in the line of duty.

When a regular goes missing Emily and her friends go searching for her only to find her murdered. She becomes friends with Lois, who was the bff of Georgia, the murder victim.

What made this book stand out for me was the characterization. Emily, Tom, Brent, Lois and even Dep the cat were really well rounded. If an animal is going to be an integral part in a book they should have a personality and they should be more than a prop to the story. Dep definitely had personality.

Lois is another stand out character. She was likable and yet hard to figure out, as a possible suspect or someone close to a suspect. She was a character that really inspired a lot of emotions in the reader. You hurt for her, because she lost her friend and she was trying to protect the nephew that she loved. You were a little wary of her too, because you weren't a hundred percent sure she was honest.

The pacing of the story was a little slow which is the only problem I had with this book, but that's common for first books in a series.

The ending was definitely not what I was expecting, which is a plus for me.  I love it when I can't figure out the killer.

This was a fabulous start to a new series.  There are just enough crazy character and a lot of twists and turn, so it kept everything interesting.

A great read.

Rating: 4 flowers

Ginger Bolton writes the Deputy Donut mystery series--cops, crime, coffee, donuts and one curious cat. When Ginger isn't writing or reading, she's crocheting, knitting, sewing, walking her two rescue dogs and generally causing trouble. She’s also fond of donuts, coffee, and cafes were folks gather to enjoy those tasty treats and one another’s company.

Author Links Webpage: http://gingerbolton.com/ Ginger has joined Killer Characters! http://www.killercharacters.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGingerBolton/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ginger_bolton GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16834862.Ginger_Bolton

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Book Review: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder

Author Joanne Fluke
Title: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Feb 1, 2004
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Hannah Swensen thought she'd finally discovered the recipe for a perfect life. But her sometime beau Norman Rhodes tosses a surprise ingredient into the mix when he phones to tell her he's just bought a house from local drugstore clerk Rhonda Scharf - which he plans to tear down in order to build the dream home he and Hannah designed.

It seems the plan has been cooking for quite some time, and Hannah is shocked - especially since her ring finger is still very much bare. The good news is that the soon-to-be-torn-down house is full of antiques - and Norman has given Hannah and her mother first dibs.

They uncover some gorgeous old furniture, a patchwork quilt ... and Rhonda Scharf's dead body. A little more sleuthing turns up the half-eaten remains of a very special dinner for two - and one of The Cookie Jar's famous lemon meringue pies.

Now it's up to Hannah to turn up the heat - and get busy tracking down the clues. Starting in her very own kitchen.

Review: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder is book 4 in the Hannah Swensen series. I've been reading these totally out of order, as I can find them at my library and other libraries. The earlier Hannah books are the best, and this one is definitely a great read.

I love Hannah, because this woman is so not right. She's a baker, a little overweight, (as the author likes to drum into our heads, in this book particularly so) she's a bit overbearing and grammar nazi-ish, but because she's so quirky you have to love her.

To me, this book felt like it focused more on Hannah's relationship's rather than Rhonda's murder, though she did do her best at sleuthing. I really felt that she unearthed the killer more by accident than through actual deduction.

This book finds Hannah's mom discovering a dead body in the home Norman purchased to demolish so he could build the dream house that he and Hannah designed. (Don't get any ideas, they aren't engaged or anything like that)

Hannah's diet bugged the hell out of me, again because I've read other books in this series, Hannah's weight and her fashion sense or lack thereof seem to be a really big deal, and I'm not sure why. Also, I don't see why Norman wouldn't propose if Hannah put on weight, you either love someone or you don't

I have also never been able to figure out why and how Hannah didn't make a choice between Norman and Mike. I can't quite figure out why the guys aren't fighting for her or dumping her for dating them both.

Also, I kinda had an idea of who the killer was midway through the book. That isn't really a plus for me, but I loved seeing what was happening to Hannah and Co.

There is also a matter of some stolen money tied into this book, which weaves  two characters, Freddie and Jed, into the mix.

The ending, though I knew who the killer was, had a wow factor.

There's so much weirdness in this series, but for some reason, I read these stories like they are some kind of drug.

As always there are some great recipes in this book. I think it would be fun to live in a town with a bakery that specializes in cookies.

Rating: 4 flowers

Book Review: Key Lime Pie Murder

Author: Joanne Fluke
Title: Key Lime Pie Murder
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publish Date: Feb 1, 2008
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: It promises to be a busy week for Hannah Swensen. Not only is she whipping up treats for the chamber of commerce booth at the Tri-County fair, she's also judging the baking contest; acting as a magician's assistant for her business partner's husband; trying to coax Moishe, her previously rapacious feline, to end his hunger strike, and performing her own private carnival act by juggling the demands of her mother and sisters. With so much on her plate, it's no wonder Hannah finds herself on the midway only moments before the fair closes for the night. After hearing a suspicious thump, she goes snooping - only to discover Willa Sunquist, a student teacher and fellow bake contest judge, dead alongside an upended key lime pie. But who would want to kill Willa and why?Now Hannah needs to crank up the heat, hoping that Willa's killer will get rattled and make a mistake. If that happens she intends to be there, even if it means getting on a carnival ride that could very well be her last..

Review: Key Lime Pie Murder is the ninth installment of the Hannah Swensen series. I always fall back on Hannah when I need a light easy read. I also read these for the recipes.

This book featured a pretty awesome recipe for popovers, which I tried.

In this book, Hannah is judging a baking contest at the fair, while trying to try a deep fried candy bar. When one of her fellow judges is found murdered (well into the story though), Hannah gets to sleuthing.

I've found that as these books go, the further into the series, the longer it takes to get to the mystery. I swear it was around page 100 when Willa was finally offed.

This is one of the interesting cases where the victim is someone you genuinely liked. Willa seemed like a sweet person that most people liked, but as Hannah investigated her murder, she had secrets. Willa was not only a judge of the bakery competition but she was also working for the Tri County Beauty Pageant and she was well liked by all. It makes it hard to believe she's the one killed.

Then there's the rodeo and the people that follow it. I loved Ruby and how the cowboy's figure in with the mystery.

What I love about cozy mysteries is how ridiculous they are for the most part. Hannah is a tall red head and she has terrible fashion sense, as we hear so often from her sister and mother. When she is helping her friend's husband Herb as his magician's assistant you see the myriad of horrible gowns she owns, and several times you hear her discuss the colors she can't wear because of her hair color.

How does an awkward woman, who also has zero tact end up with two hot men vying for her affections? Only in a cozy mystery! (Especially as these are clean books, and she's never done more than kiss either of them!!!!)

How does one small town have so many murders? You know, without making national news? I can't get over the fact that they don't mention this in these books. I mean, Lake Eden is a small town, and there are an awful lot of people winding up dead.

Those are the things that make a cozy series good, but often bog them down as a series goes on. This is 9 in the series and already the love triangle with Norman and Mike is old. (Though I have to say I love Norman the most, because he's kind)

There's a part after Willa's murder when they are discussing what happened when Hannah goes off on them for acting like Willa was not a friend. As she does this I find it hard to believe she could have two guys that she dates in the same room together without a fight.

The story was solid and I loved all the side stories,  like Moishe's lack of appetite and her mother's side project that is a secret from the family. The other thing that's different in this book is that the recipes are more from the baking competition than The Cookie Jar. (I'm hoping to try the Swedish Oatmeal cookies soon)

This was a good addition to the series.

Rating: 3 flowers

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table

Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table by Janet Finsilver

Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table (A Kelly Jackson Mystery) Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series Kensington Publishing Corporation/Lyrical Underground (March 14, 2017) Paperback - Approx 200 pages ISBN-13: 978-1616509347 Kindle ASIN: B01HA435CI

Poisons, prophecies—and a peculiar past . . .

When a local woman begins searching for a couple she hasn’t seen since the 1960s, Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast manager Kelly Jackson and the crime-solving group, the “Silver Sentinels,” are quick to help out. They’re also quick to guess that they’re in over their heads after the woman is found dead beside the body of a Greek fortune teller—and a fellow Sentinel gets attacked. As Kelly juggles work and her responsibilities at a food and wine festival in town, she and her sleuthing posse must confront a killer obsessed with old secrets . . . and solve a murder mystery more than fifty years in the making . . .

Review:  Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table is the 3rd book in a series. Its a stand alone novel like most cozy series. Its very easy to pick up on everyone in the book.

I really got pulled into this book pretty quickly. The favor that the Silver Sentinels were asked to do, really explodes into something big, and by big, I mean a death that ends up being a murder, ok 2 deaths

Early on, I had ideas on who would have caused the two deaths but it was fun to watch as the mystery unfolds to find out if I was right in my suspicions or not.  It was nowhere near right, so that was really awesome.

Kelly was a smart character but it really was the Silver Sentinels that pulled the story together, though Kelly did had all the bad things happen to her as a result of their looking for answers.

The mystery involved the death of a woman who had adopted a child years ago and an herbalist/fortune teller, that has ties to the couple involved. This is the first cozy mystery where the victims really were people you liked. Summer and Auntie are characters you will be sad to see gone and as you learn more about their lives as the story goes on, you like them even more.

I also loved the Lunch time thief, which adds another layer of mystery to the story and the way it ties in at the end...whooo weee.

This is a book you won't easily put down!

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

Janet Finsilver is the USA TODAY best-selling author of the Kelly Jackson mystery series. She worked in education for many years as a teacher, a program administrator, and a workshop presenter. Janet majored in English and earned a Master’s Degree in Education. She loves animals and has two dogs–Kylie and Ellie. Janet has ridden western style since she was a child and was a member of the National Ski Patrol. One of the highlights of her life was touching whales in the San Ignacio Lagoon. MURDER AT REDWOOD COVE, her debut mystery, was released on October 13, 2015. Her second book, MURDER AT THE MANSION, was released on June 7, 2016.   Author Links Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/janetfinsilverauthor/?fref=ts Twitter – https://twitter.com/JanetFinsilver
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/janetfinsilver/
Web – http://janetfinsilver.com/
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